There must be some irony in the timing of President Obama's recent trip to Disney World. He returned to his home base of "fantasy land" to give an address regarding the need to boost tourism. He looked a tad on the silly side using Cinderella's Castle as his backdrop while exclaiming "America is open for business!" Taking a vacation in the middle of a depression is hardly a choice when you are unemployed.

Yet just hours earlier, the president was turning "thumbs-down," killing the Keystone XL Pipeline in our midwest.

He seems more interested in growing Brazil's petroleum industry, than ours. Remember when Obama said he wants the U.S. to become one of Brazil's "best customers?"

Didn't he loan Petrobas, Brazil's state-owned oil company, billions of dollars to finance their off-shore drilling?

And, when the U.S. isn't paying for drilling offshore for Brazilian oil, Obama is busy awarding no-bid weapons contracts to Brazilian airplane manufacturers to build airplanes for our Air Force?

Isn't the President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff (Workers Party), one of Ahmadinejad's dear friends? Does that mean Brazil is cozy with Iran? Of course, these instances are probably just some goofy coincidence.

In his speech to a throng of Disney characters that included the "Big Mouse in Charge," the president blamed Republicans for forcing him to make a quick decision on the Keystone pipeline.

To my amazement, Senate and House Democrats are finally complaining.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, complained: "President Obama's decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline is a major setback for the American economy, American workers and America's independence."

"This rejection of the Keystone pipeline permit is a missed opportunity to drastically turn this economy around. This pipeline would have created thousands of new jobs and helped to ensure our energy independence," said Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pennsylvania.

"This delay is just playing politics with American jobs and American energy security," said Rep. James Matheson, D-Utah.

Our president couldn't have picked a more perfect place to make his announcements, in "fantasy land."

He recently ran television ads bragging of his many energy accomplishments while in office.

Killing jobs is hard work.

Oh well, I guess there are solar panels?

Bob Turpen
Dawson County