Anyone who thought that there was even one smidgen of hope that the leases would not be affirmed is foolish.

Sadly @1 is correct

Hate to say it, but this horse got out the barn when the feds leased the fields to Shell in 2008. For the feds to go back on the deal 7 years later would only have put the gov't on the losing side of a very expensive lawsuit.

And I'd love to pretend the gov't could've told Shell to pound sand back in 2008, except this.

Why didn't Inslee step up and write to Jewell like the city council did, and earlier? Why did Sally TOOL rubber stamp Shell's leases? Because top down politics flat out doesn't work, especially at the federal level. I hope Greenpeace and their allies blockade the crap out of these rigs. Seattle is so greeeeeeeeeen. Fuck us all.

Those Greenpeace activists look bored more than anything. Aren't there some UNESCO World Heritage Sites they should be desecrating right now?

Glad to see you're still following the hard-hitting activism of the Greenpeace models. Just a couple of days ago, they were intently posting with binoculars, but now they are PISSED. If things don't change soon, there may even be a strongly worded hashtag on Twitter.

Those young persons that are "upset" about the drilling rights have to get a little older and wiser to think they can have an influence on big oil and the Govt. I give them credit for their altruistic views on the environment but it won't happen in their lifetime, if at all. Govt. (especially republican interests) are heavily invested in big oil and politics and $ are at stake with the elections coming up. Don't hold your breath for any republican win, it's just not going to happen in 2016. The Democrats have the advantage by the republican refusal to live with the times. They are an outdated party that lives in the past and the American voters are tired of the rhetoric.

Keep up the peaceful protest! That'll totally change things. The lease will probably be revoked when Seattle is underwater. I imagine the government of "New Seattle" will immediately renew the lease though, so there'll still be something to peacefully protest. Whatever you do, don't do anything like this! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raid_on_Ale…). You'll totally get bad press! People will write op-eds, doncha know.