How's that offshore drilling working out?

I've previously noted that I wasn't fond of new Virginia Governor Bob "Caveman" McDonnell's plan to open up Virginia offshore waters to oil drilling; and it's a plan pushed by the Obama Administration to raise cash. Whether or not they actually intend to let companies drill is another matter entirely.

Based on some recent news, they may wish to rethink this plan, and go with a mixed-alternative source plan (solar, nuclear, a bit of wind) combined with aggressive conservation. It sure beats a gushing oil well on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, I think.

Oil spill burned in Gulf of Mexico, in hopes of saving coast

"The unusual strategy has been used for damaged tankers in World War II, in an oil spill off Britain and in rare cases on inland waters in Louisiana and Texas. But a burn off U.S. shores and the prospect of oil landing on the gulf coastline could become powerful symbols of the perils of offshore drilling, just as President Obama and Congress appear set to open new areas to offshore oil and gas exploration."

This is certainly not good PR for that idea.