Richard Nixon went to China, and Ronald Reagan sat down with the Russians. Today President Bush has the same kind of opportunity to change his course. But it will take more than just a speech to do it.

We need something. There are bills that would totally lift the moratorium and the lease sale area has always been problematic. This bill greatly expands protections that Florida and the rest of the country currently has in place and also addresses the problems of the existing 90 or so leases.

This could truly be a defining moment for his presidency or, depending on what he does, empty promises.

the Senate caved in to oil and gas companies that are rolling in record profits.

It is giving the moderates a lot more courage to stand firm, which means they have a more powerful block to get things taken out,

It's so far in the future that it's not something you can hang your hat on right now.