The Oil Spill and the Oil Economy

The Gulf oil slick reached Alabama's inland waterways today as President Obama said it's time to update laws and regulations. Does his moratorium on deep-water exploration threaten the local economy as much as the spill? What are the trade-offs? Also, another long, hard slog, this time in Afghanistan, and an unknown candidate who didn't campaign or spend money is South Carolina's Democratic nominee for the US Senate. How did he get there? What is he planning now?

Banner image: A local grocery store in Gulf Shores, Alabama offers customers an opportunity to donate to wildlife cleanup and rescue efforts by purchasing a cleanup kit on June 9, 2010.