Interior Secretary Ken Salazar yesterday announced that, just as soon as they managed to stop the oil, team Obama would spearhead an effort that would return the Gulf of Mexico to a condition better than it was before the spill.

Now take a minute and think about that. How many years will it be before all the oil has been dispersed, all the wildlife replaced, all the wetlands renewed, and every business and family restored to status quo ante? Surely this Administration will be history before the effects of this disaster are finally eradicated. After all, researchers can still find abundant evidence of the Exxon Valdez spill, now so many years ago.

So just how does Secretary Salazar and team Obama plan to accomplish this herculean feat? Certainly it's a noble aspiration; every American should participate in some way to restore the Gulf of Mexico and the way of life of those who live along the coast. But as good as new? No, better!?

Well, this President did remark that on the day he was inaugurated the earth and seas would begin to heal. Maybe he's getting ready to conjure a little miracle in the Gulf, just to show he really meant it?

Or maybe the hubris of this Administration, with its Messianic promises and fantabulous expectations and aspirations, is beginning to show through. Does Mr. Salazar think we're all stupid? To return to the Gulf to a condition better than it was before the spill would require the ability to manipulate the forces of creation in ways reserved only to One - and He does not rule in Washington.

Herod regrets forever the moment he encouraged the people to think that he was God. There's a lesson there for Ken Salazar and the rest of this crop of pretenders.

T. M. Moore