Ranger from the North

President Obama:

We consume more than 20% of the world's oil, but have less than 2% of the world's oil reserves. And that's part of the reason oil companies are drilling a mile beneath the surface of the ocean - because we're running out of places to drill on land and in shallow water.

John Hinderaker's response:

This howler is a favorite canard of Democratic politicians. As is so often the case, they are relying on the public's ignorance. Most people don't realize that in the U.S., oil isn't counted as part of our "reserves" unless it is legally available for drilling. Thus, ANWR, to take one of many examples, isn't counted toward the total "reserves." The U.S. government could cause our reserves to skyrocket overnight by opening new areas, on land and in shallow water, to drilling. But the U.S. is the only country in the world that has deliberately chosen not to develop its own energy resources. No one else is that dumb.

And from Hugh Hewitt:

The president's pratfall reinforces the widespread and growing impression that he is simply way in over his head, and that his team of advisors are similarly overmatched. His dismal handling of the Gulf crisis is a reminder to future generations of voters that it is best to discover whether presidential candidates have executive ability as opposed to, say, debating skills, before entrusting the nation's defense to them.