Talk about denial

Re “No love for Obama in the oil fields,” Dec.22

Your article about the Petroleum Club in Midland, Texas, was a study in American denial. These men apparently do not acknowledge that the crisis gripping our nation and the world -- and the bailouts -- happened on President Bush’s watch. They attack Detroit’s $80-an-hour sweet-roll eaters and Barack Obama’s “lack of experience.” They say the president-elect won’t be able to live up to his promises.

What I remember most about Obama’s victory speech is that he bravely said that we have an enormous challenge in front of us and that we won’t make it in a year, and we may not even make it in a term. That took courage to say. Obama seems to be very realistic about our future.

These gentlemen, who don’t get dirty but pay those who do, seem to me to be bitter that their own long-running private party is over. Welcome to the reality that the rest of us deal with every day.

James Grey

Los Angeles