"If, in order to get that passed, we have to compromise in terms of a careful, well thought-out drilling strategy that was carefully circumscribed to avoid significant environmental damage — I don't want to be so rigid that we can't get something done."

In Congress, both parties have fought bitterly over energy policy for weeks, with Republicans pressing for more domestic oil drilling and Democrats railing about oil company profits. Despite hundreds of hours of House and Senate floor debate, lawmakers will leave Washington for their five-week summer hiatus this week with an empty tank.

"The Republicans and the oil companies have been really beating the drums on drilling," Mr. Obama said in the Post interview. "And so we don't want gridlock. We want to get something done."

"The Republicans and the oil companies have been really beating the drums on drilling," Mr. Obama said in the Post interview. "And so we don't want gridlock. We want to get something done."

Flip, Flop, Flip, Flop. Sounds like March of the Penguins!