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President Obama is heading back to the Gulf region tomorrow, the White House just announced.
Here's the White House statement:
On Friday, June 4, President Barack Obama will return to the Louisiana Gulf Coast to assess the latest efforts to counter the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. More details will be released later today.
Leave a Comment:
As I said earlier, it would be great if he would stay there a while. He needs to be among the people. In addition to all of his other duties, he is also Consoler-in-Chief.
So, will his private director, James Cameron, be coming with him to direct him?
Maybe Paul McCartney will be on hand to sing a song.
Or maybe he will hand out another safety award to BP.
This guy is seriously out of his element in the White House., He needs to go back to academia, where he can't do as much harm.
You're right. Are you wearing your GWB "Miss me yet" t-shirt? I mean, if GWB were here he would stop the leak just by telling the leaking pipe "I'm the decider!" and the oil would stop and the hole close up all on its own. Then again, on second thought, he would probably just cut more oil industry regulations to the point that this wouldn't even count as a disaster.
Depending on what the administration wants Cameron to do, it would probably be a good idea for him to be there. The most practical use for Cameron's expertise would probably be to come up with a plan for how to most efficiently get another group of underwater film cameras a mile deep in the ocean so that we would no longer have to rely on BP's cameras as the sole source of information regarding the leak.
I have been reading your posts for some time now and thought that maybe you were just trying to annoy the people that are optimistic about the person that the majority of America elected to the highest office in the land being able to get us out of this mess. But, I am now persuaded that you maybe one of the most negative Americans that post here.
Why not try to give our President a chance to make right some of the things that have been made wrong from some of the previous leaders that we have had. Then, if he can't do it, we do what is really American and take a chance on someone else. Afterall, that is what we really do each and everytime there is a presidential election isn't it? All Presidents have their short commings and President Obama has his also. The "American" thing to do is to give them a chance. "Get it"?
NoJoAllBlow is our resident 'Debbie Downer' who just so happens to be fond of certain prescription medications by her own admission... if ya catch my drift!
It is people with your mindset that is the problem with our country. You only complain about your President. You never offer any solution other than have President resign. He will not do that, so get off your pity potty and work with us to make things better.
If you were president, what would YOU be doing in the Gulf, right now, no joe? Any ideas?
Give him a minute Gail, he had to run to Fox to get his answer. His answer will probably be he's a socialist. Be careful no joe all blow will get a splitting headache if you make him think for himself.
I would be asking what plans are in place to mitigate the possible effects of the oil leak continuing until August or possibly Christmas. I would be traveling the affected areas to meet local people and asking them is the federal government doing everything it can to help. If not, what help would you want and we'll see if its possible. I would be looking for long-term ideas to maintain employment in the scenario that there may be no fishing or tourism of any kind for the foreseeable future.
Gail, what do think he should be doing apart from chilling to Paul McCartney?
Alan, I agree he should be among the local people. I believe that asking what the federal gov't can do to help is what he did in the 2 1/2 hour meeting with the mayors, governor, etc. last week. As far as I'm concerned, he can't do enough of that kind of thing.
I'm not knocking the President. I applaud all his efforts and encourage him to keep the pressure on BP and on Congress for regulation and step it up as Consoler-in-chief.
That's right folks! The president himself will be making an appreance at the gulf where he will either attack the oil well with a full military assault of army, navy airforce and marines OR he will swim down to the broken pipe, put the pipe into his mouth and drink up all of the oil until the relief wells get there in August! Hooray!
We've all seen how well the Obama Administration did in the five weeks they had to prepare for the oil moving towards Louisiana's marshes and beaches. Then Mississippi and Alabama.
Next up:
Florida.
Gail, if I were president, I would not be in the gulf. Why?
I would have stopped handing out waivers for safety inspections on day one. Since I had been given a report on the malfeasance at MMS, I would have demanded that my appointee to that immediately.
I sure as heck would not have given a safety award to a company that comeptely disregarded good safety practices.
That well would not have been operational, and there would have been no spill, if those waivers were not granted.
They were granted by the OBAMA administration. Not the Bush administration. Not the for-crying-out-loud REAGAN administration, which was the last 'blame target' by this president who takes no responsibility for ANYTHING.
Hope that answers your question.
No joe:
You still have not answered Gail's question. If President what would you be doing or have done to stop the explosion, stop the leak, and round up all the spilled oil in the gulf. Let's hear it Mr. Smart guy who likes to lay blame on others without answers themselves. And not some lame response as above. If you want to blame anyone try looking to Bush and Cheney who deregulated many of the proposed additional safety features tro these rigs when they were in office. $500,000, that's all it would have cost to place an additional safety item on this rig that would have shut down the well (leak) when the explosion occurred. $500,000 in cuts and savings by BP oil because they failed to place this additional safety item on their rig because why? Because Mr. Dick Cheney agreed not to make such safety items mandatory for these rigs. And why? Try asking Mr. Oil Dick Cehency and his child puppet, G.W. Bush.
I'll give you the first two, bo bo, I mean No Bo. Ha! Couldn't resist.
The first two are good points but the 3rd has much deeper underpinnings that extend back to the previous admin. There is some room for blame for the president but the vast majority of this problem can be traced to the gross deregulation of the industry by GWB's special energy crew.
Why does everyone think that the minute the election results come in that the president is omnipotent? There are 1000's of offices under the president, 1000's of reports.
Maybe if congress was working with the president, he would have time to address items such as the corrupt offices left over from the past. MMS should be folded right under the EPA...then lets see the oil hags lobby for deregulation.
For anyone who may have missed it... NoJoALLBlow is a SHE!
He takes credit for Health Care Reform, Financial Reform, the Stimulus , Bailouts of the auto and financial industries which along with the stimulus saved us from the NEW Great Depression, Turning around the job market {losing 750,000 jobs a month when he took office} and rolling back tax breaks for the likes of the BP's of the world while lowering our taxes {we enjoy the lowest taxes since 1950} and educational aid , Russian arms treaty,killing and capturing MORE terrorists in 1 year than Bush since 9/11 etc..etc.. all alone while the republicans sat on the sidelines and fought tooth and nail to protect BIG business with constant "NO" votes to EVERYTHING in hopes of him failing the entire time, while offering absolutely no help cleaning up the mess they made over that 8 year span...
NoJOAllBLOW I just happen to know that you are one of the drill baby drill crowd. So what do you now mean that there would be no waivers....this well was not just built for heaven's sake. And when MMS has been screwing up (literally) for years, I believe they would be the ones to blame for recommending a safety award. This President is doing all that is humanly possible for him to do. From day one. All you want to do is take these cheap shots...why don't you give it, and us, a rest. Go listen to Beck or something.
Obama signed an order waiving a safety inspection on this well.
So all that being said, WHAT WOULD YOU DO NOW?
Just look at the posts written before this comment. Full of Political Hatred. This is the worst man-made disaster the United States has ever experienced. And the comments are...political hatred. It's almost as though you would like to spill to continue so you can attempt to score political points. Shame on you!
Ron that's exactly what he teabagging conservatives want, anything to make the President look bad regardless of what it does to our Country.
Well, Ron-
Looks like your post attracted the first real example of political hatred...the use of an obscene epithet favored by the left in attacking those with whom they disagree. I always find that those who use this particular word say far more about themselves than they do their opponents.
Would you agree?
Hey Mixed Nuts...
If you're referring to teabagger being the 'obscene epithet' it was the baggers themselves who didn't bother doing the research about what it meant prior to proclaiming it as their own!
They picked it... now they're stuck with it! And NO I wouldn't agree!
Mixed Bagger- The Tea Party as a show of strength would send a tea bag to a republican congressman,senator etc.. to show them what they had "BETTER DO!!!" or else...they would say let's tea bag um' . Of course as ignorant as they are they had NO IDEA what it means in today's terms. They CHOSE this name NOW DEAL WITH IT teabagger!
It's always nice to have others make your argument better than you could ever have hoped to...
Thanks, Feisty Redhead and Ole Chicago.
Your responses were predictable...and typically classy.
Still waiting to hear from you though, Ron...
Regards...
MB
Think Progress:
The Democrat-led Congress is racking up a record of landmark policy changes in
reports the LA Times. Nevertheless, Congress is facing high levels of disapproval because “they have not done a good job of communicating the virtues of their policies, even to potentially receptive voters.
What I would do now would be to get scientists from Woods Hole, MIT, and every other science expert I could find to help stop the flow of oil, and mitigate the damage.
Here's a clue-one of them would not be a movie director. And I would have cancelled my 'fun stuff', like meet and greets with athletes and singers so that I could focus on the truly IMPORTANT things.
Like the oil spill.
And North Korea. And Iran. and all the other crisis facing my presidency.
Sounds like a real plan to me no joe all blow. I suppose in your little pea brain you don't think President Obama is already doing all those things plus a lot more.
I think poor no Jo is confused. President Obama is good at muti- tasking, he is not Georgie Bush. And the truth is no joe, you have NO idea what the administration is doing since you are not a part of it. I bet quite a lot is going on. But, do answer the question: How would you President no joe (God save us) stop that leak in the Gulf?
Like I've said for about the third time today, there is a very PRACTICAL reason for James Cameron to be involved in this. Your apparent disdain for the profession notwithstanding, he has worked in underwater environments for the last 23 years of his life and his work has pushed the technology for working in that environment forward.
And unless you want to KEEP relying on BP to be the sole source of information regarding the leak, can you think of anyone BETTER than a film director who has spent the majority of his career directing underwater shoots to come up with a plan for lighting the area and getting more cameras with different angles down there?
Granny Poll Dancer only likes to rant.
She has no clue about how to solve any of the many problems that face this administration.
“W” entertained many WH visitors between mountain-bike riding, reading 186 books in his last 3 years and spent 1/3 of his 8 years on vacation while fighting 2 wars and passing tax breaks for the rich and corporations that yielded no jobs in 8 years.
But don't you understand, "no joe"?
Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and all the other states down there don't need President Obama and his Big Government to come in and fix the mess.
BP and all of its employees can fix it themselves...just like they should have been able to stop the accident from happening in the first place. After all, Americans can do anything...just like Governor Bobby Jindal said over a year ago!
newdayDAWNING
I think poor no Jo is confused. President Obama is good at muti- tasking, he is not Georgie Bush. And the truth is no joe, you have NO idea what the administration is doing since you are not a part of it. I bet quite a lot is going on. But, do answer the question: How would you President no joe (God save us) stop that leak in the Gulf?
You hit the nail on the head. We have NO idea what the administration is doing. I bet a lot is going on too, but are we not entitled to this information? Why the secrecy? This is the problem there is no communication.
That's already been done!!! Answer the question !!! If you can, you've already had 3 try's
It's time to stop the crap of blaiming Obama for this explosion, leak and the Oil Industry's inability to resolve these kinds of diasaters when occuring 5,000 feet below the surface. Read my lips....Obama could not have known or to have stopped the explosion. Obama cannot stop the leak. Obama cannot contain al lthe oil spilled that is now damaging the gul coast line. What Obama can do is to establish policy and regulations and over-sight procedures that will help to ensure that this type of irresponsible catastrophe will not happen agan. And he is doing that, including the potential conviction of those i nthe industry who cut corners and safety items in order to increase their profits. The botom line on this leak is that BP Oil cut corners by failiing to install an additional safety item on this rig that would have cost $500,000, and that would have shut the well down (sealed the leak) at the time of the explosion. And who gave them the right to cut such corners because he agreed not to make it a standard required piece of safety equipment when he was in office - try Mr. Dick Cheney. So those criticzing Obama - get off his back with your backwards logic thinking of baliming him for weverything because you persoanlly don't like the guy in the first place.
CA, you are right about establishing policy and regulations and oversight. But who is really in charge of that? A grid-locked Congress! Again, only so much the president can do. Let's put the pressure on our senators and congressmen!
CA, Tuscaloosa, AL
your 100% correct. no jo hates the president, once i asked her if there was any thing she liked or agreed with the president on and all she could say is that he has a nice family.
i just don't understand what makes people hate like this, is it because to some he is a uppity well educated black man and his wife is gracefull and beautuful. as much as i did not like the policies of reagan and both bush's, i did not hate or wish bad or want them to resign. this is all i here from this lady.
she is in charge of the blame game from jersey.
That includes Chris Matthews, Joe Scarbourough and the Crew, you know, all those so called experts who know nothing about oil drilling. All they want to do is criticize and make really bad jokes and comments.
There's got to be some way to stop this leak. I read yesterday about an idea of putting uninflated tires inside the broken pipe, and then pumping them up. How hard it would be to do this a mile underwater - no clue. But there has to be something.
And what pray tell would keep those inflated tires inside the pipe afterwards? There's a lot of pressure going upwards that would blow them right out of the pipe. Are you factoring in that there is a 21 inch pipe that has a 5 inch pipe inside? Nope because if you had thought of that you'd know there's no way to stuff tires inside that can then be inflated.
I'm thinking the best thing that BP Oil can do is stop screwing around trying to stop the leak and just let it flow until they can get a relief well successfully drilled and lined up to stop the oil leak the only real way it can be stopped, at the source. If cut and cap fails we'll have 10%-20% more oil gushing out, a step backwards. A shame they can't just crimp the pipe and slow the flow down until a permanent solution can be affected. You know keep it simple and stupid and it may work!
Actually, Eric, the inflate-a-seal is not a bad idea if you put the inflatable around the outside of the 21" pipe. The inflatable seal would be attached to the inside of a second pipe that iis much larger than 21". Place the end of the pipe with it's inflatable seal (deflated) around the end of the 21" pipe, inflate and serve! I believe that is the concept anyway.
It sounds so simple but at a mile below the ocean's surface there are different physics involved that I am not familiar with. It may or may not work.
My initial reaction to the idea when I first heard it yesterday was that if them shooting a high pressure jet of mud and gunk wasn't enough to push back the flow of the oil, the inflated tire would melt under the 400 degree heat and be blasted off of the pipe in short order.
I am not an engineer though and have no idea whether that would happen or not.
If it were possible to get the tires inside of the pipe they could crimp the end of the pipe to keep the tire or tires inside and then inflate them.
I have worked in the pipeline field and there are rubberized inserts that are used to stop the flow of natural gas or liquids after a line has been severed. I have used them myself although not at such high pressures.
The only idea I've really had on it would be to figure out a way to inject a lot of melted plastic resin into the pipe and then then employ some method that cools it down quickly so that it seals the inside of the pipe with about a 10 foot long continuous pipe-shaped block of hard plastic. However, I don't know if there would be any way to keep the resin in a liquid state long enough to get it down to the well.
It's the same sort of principle as an industrial extruder, but I doubt it would be feasible at this depth.
A scientist yesterday was talking on Public Radio, mentioning that they "scientists" believe the entire pipe all the way down to the oil is mostly likely cracked. That really anything they try to stop the gusher would result in the pipe fracturing further down stream and releasing more oil - just in different spots. The sea floor is just really thick mud and would let oil escape in multiple areas to the point that the entire sea floor could rupture. But again, this is speculation. But all that pressure there is certainly changing the approach to stopping this.
I think one of the problems with sealing this leak is that there are thousands of pounds of pressure per square inch in the well, it is also extremely cold. I heard someone on one of MSNBC's shows that said why not try squeezing the pipe closed. I had thought of that a few days ago, however, with that much pressure I believe they would have to squeeze it very slowly, over a period of some time, to start to limit the amount of pressure inside the well head. I know it sounds stupid for us to have ideas, I surely don't know what the h@ll I'm talking about, but it seems as logical as anything that BP has come up with. That's the problem, those who should have known how to deal with this incident do not, because they have been so deregulated that there is no chance of safely combating this kind of horrendous spill. Therefore, they should not be allowed to drill in an area where there is no plan in the event of this ever happening again.
As this leak continues and the multitude of mehtods used to stop the leak, one thing has become extremely clear-------the oil industry and its puppeteers have never had an actual workable plan that actually works to stop the very thing that is playing out. That is the true travesty. The auto industry is held to higher standards than the oil industry and yet which has the most damaging prospect to our resources? While the auto clugs along and spews carbon monixied and is heavily regulated, the oil industry and its powerful puppeteers have been able to buy off any politician to the degree of deregulating the industry helped by a previous administration heaped in oil men. Now we are witnessing the most damaging result of these puppeteers and their greed. I can only hope that all people put aside their differences and pray that President Obama and all of the people that he enlists along with BP and any other person who can contribute to a viable solution to stop this leak can prevail.
Looks like President Obama has to head back to the Gulf to hold the hand of the Albino Cajun Whiner James Carville. I think that President Obama made a big mistake allowing BP Oil to go forward with that cut and cap procedure that looks like it's going to fail with more oil gushing out as a result. The more we watch the Three Stooges oil companies try to stop the leak the more we can see they have no clue as to what to do.
People just don't get it, booms will not stop all of the oil from coming on shore. Booms will stop some oil but they are not foolproof by any means. Why hasn't Tony Baloney Wayward Hayward called in a bunch of oil supertankers capable of sucking up the oil? All I hear from BP Oil are excuses as to why they won't work. As long as the oil stays in the ocean the more damage it will create to shorelands.
Rachel Maddow did a great show on the Gulf oil spill and it's effects upon Louisiana wetlands. She really nailed it showing how after Katrina Louisiana completely fell down on the job of trying to restore the damaged wetlands, Booby Jindal certainly did nothing to fix them up. Nope after decades of neglect repairing the wetlands that protect Louisiana it serves them right for neglecting just how important their wetlands are. Nope the repugnant ones never wanted to waste one thin dime on environmental projects and now it's coming back to haunt Louisiana and New Orleans will likely flood again when the next big hurricane strikes.
I'm thinking of a military solution to this mess that we are in right now. Since it is obvious that BP is not capable to handling this affair, President Obama should get ahold of ADM Mike Mullen, CNO, and see if we can't put 8 torpedoes into this: Four into the blowout preventer and riser; 4 into the ocean surface where the oil is leaking from.The let's ask COS USAF abiut getting with the Navy and see if we can't use a Cruise missle corverted over to a Fuel Air Explosive (FAE) and sent dead center tho the heart of the biggest oil plume and detonate it from the inside.
Now about your chiding about James Carville: Yes, he is a "Nawlins Native" and a CNN Commentator, but he is also a staunch Democrat AND a President Obama supporter, just like I support the President, but for him to slam him for this tragic affair, IT IS WARRANTED, and I will tell you why: Although President Obama is doing all he can for this thing, and I admire him for it, the truth of the matter is that this shouldn't have gone on this long. This should've been acted upon within the first 72 hours, and with BP using now failed attempts to contain this, President Obama should've relieved them from ANY leadership role, and taken control over this. We did not Bush off the hook when he didn't act when Hurricane Katrina struck, which was an abject failure, and I am aware that President Obama has a full plate to work on, but MOREemphasis should've been place on getting this spill cleaned up. Any time you have a sitting Congressmen, who is from that area, gets emotional after seeing a disaster threatening the area that his father, sons, and grandsons call home, it should compel to act. A fire should burn in you when your daughter asks you if got the leak fixed.
We may agree on alot of things, and I like your postings, but this probably one time I have to disagree with you.
They were also talking about the impracticality of this last night, that "bombing" the ocean floor could potentially cause craters in the floor, making it unstable, and that might create an even bigger mess, if the well just opened up....then they would have to allow it to empty itself. What a nightmare.
I have a question. Any scientists out there? What happens with all the cavernous void under the Gulf floor that has been formed by the loss of pressure from the quick oil loss? Does it sink under the sea water pressure, forming a gigantic sink-hole? Does it further destabilize marshland and other Louisiana lowlands?
It's really not nice to mess with Mother Nature.
The void is filled with water
LOL John! Duh!!!! I'm an idiot! :)
It's certainly not a dumb question....would it create a tsunami? We all know it would fill with water, but what would follow from that? Any one know?
Cathy... thanks... we've been discussing this amongst ourselves over on FB!
I'm wondering why none of these 'ace' journalists aren't asking this VERY question? Oh wait... it's much easier to Obama bash than do your freakin jobs! And talk about nuking the Gulf... let's have the beaches glow in the dark for the next 200 years as well.. shall we?
Anyone out there know what the repercussion would be! It's my understanding that while they are extracting the oil (from a working well) they are filling the void at the same time with drilling mud?
Ps: and YESS Chris Matthews you've been beating a dead horse for the last 2 weeks! Gotta run and change the channel!
Morning Joe and company doing everything they can to label the President as needing to just sit by the dock of the bay in the Gulf for appearences sake and stop walking and chewing gum at the same time
Sad that Morning Joe and the gang most, don't recognize that a President's job is to Multi-Task, you know those other pressing issues
Unemployment
Two Wars
Enviromental Issues
Immigration Issues
Middle East Peace Process
Financial Reform
And all those other pesty little issues that apparently Morning Joe and Mica particularly don't seem to understand
Well that's why they are not the President
Morning Joe seems to think that Americans are stupid, as if having the President go out in a boat or stay on the coast qualifies for doing something, you know Joe's political appearence
No Americans don't want to see this President sit on the dock of the bay in the GUlf for Appearences sake we want him working to PLUG THE HOLE
Morning Joe has made this his one an only subject and no Joe, it's not Katrina and no matter how many references you make will not make it so.
Katrina hundreds died, starved because the government would not deliver food nor water from the airplanes within 24 hours of the hurricane you know like we did when we started the war with Iraq, you know dropping food and water from the air
To compare Katrina with the Gulf disaster and it is a disaster is irresponsible and disrespectful to those families who suffered and lost so many loved ones their homes and their livelihoods
Appears Mark Haleprin is finally getting it right and recognizing that the Americans people are feed up with comments made by Morning Joe and the gang because while they blame the PResident and say he does not connect with ordinary Americans, it Joe And Mica and Chuck Todd who don't connect with us
Chuck Todd keep sinking to the bottom on morning Joe, this a.m. Morning Joe and Mica got him to ride along with it being important that the President worry about where he goes rather than doing his job. With all the stress of this President's Joe, it's good to seem do something stress releaving with an evening
Morning Joe stop telling the President how to do his job based on your personal opinions because you certainly have no concept of what Ordinary Americans think
I agree. My family has been in this great country for 4 generations and each generation has had at least one family member serving our country. My grandfather fought in WWI, My father and both uncles fought in WWII, I served during the Viet Nam era and was retired with a service connected disability and my daughter is a Naval Officer stationed in San Diego. I love this country and am really pissed off at all those people that appear to hate their very own country that has provided us all with so much. I am tired of Joe and his days in congress. Was he serving during the deregulations of the oil and financial industries, if so how did he vote.
Our President is doing what he can to correct years of abuse. No he is not perfect and I do not agree with everyting he does, but he is ours and he needs to see some respect. That is for you Chuck.
MSNBC is going down hill is some respects. It appears they are trying to be Rush or Glenn wantab's.
I wholeheartedly agree. I used to listen to them, and sometimes they were very negative and sensationalistic, and some other times they were more positive. Now when I turn it on, it almost makes me sick to my stomach to listen to their constant incessant egomanial jabbering about nothing but trying to make President Obama look bad. Chuck also. And Mike also. I asked my husband this morning if he thought maybe Rupert Murdock had bought MSNBC, cause when watching their show and listening to the I gotcha's of Chris Matthews, I may as well be watching Fox Noise.
Totally agree with the comments on Chris Matthews many of us have just turned him off and he will stay off because as someone said his comments are just ridiculous
Chris Matthews should take a page from Rachael Matthews, do some real journallistic investigations so you will have some real news for your show rather than screaming ridiculous stuff about the Gulf and critizing the President who was not in Congress when Chris was and is part of the problem himand morning joe.
Congress is totally to blame for the past 31 years for Deregulating industries and catering to Big businesses and corporations and Wallstreet
Just how does Chris Matthews think we got into this mess? Because of people in congress like him and Morning Joe who supported Deregulation or Kept MUM
One thing Americans can count not hearing is the Truth from Chris Matthews and Morning Joe about why BP and other Oil companies were allowed to operate without a Fail Safe for 31 years
But no Chris Matthews and Ex congressman now wants the President to Fix what he and congress allowed
Try addressing the Root Cause Chris and Joe and try recommending Real suggestions to solve the issue, like Regulations, you know correcting those very laws that you two either allowed or sat on the sideline in congress and went along with the Deregulation program.
The "void" is not filled with water!?!?! If anything should be pumped into the 'void", it should be CO2. Carbon sequestration should be the chosen way to extend the output of a reservoir of oil.
The President can do his job from anywhere in the world. I think he should be doing it right now from the Gulf. His PRESENCE is needed down there.
Give him time. He had to have a PARTY and CONCERT with Paul mcCartney, you know!
Was Chris Mathews ever a congressman? I know that he was a senate staffer for Moynihan.
No, the only time he ever ran for office was in 1974 as far as I know. He fed the rumor mill about running for Spector's seat a couple of years ago, but I imagine he likes his current gig too much to follow through on any of that.
First Read, love the new format. I have posted in the past although not very often but this is great. Kudos!!
I am not opposed to criticzing Obama where criticism is due. I'll be the first to criticize his handling of the Afghanistan policing action after becoming President and how in my opinion how he should have refused to continue to support a corrupt leader in Karzai and a corrupt government where half the officials are making a mint involving themselves in the poppy drug trade inclusing Karzai's brother. I realize it takes time and planning to draw down troops but the increase the number of troops as Obama was a mistake. He should have laid the law down with Karzai and scheduled earlier withdrawal dates for our troops (certainly not increase the same). I am also not opposed to criticizing Obama for those times when again in my opinion there have been times when he should have put aside his analyitcal side and to let loose with a bit more forceful leadership, especially when dealing withthe party of NO on several occasions. Attempting to achive bi-partisanship is fine but Obama has to learn that the republicans have one purpose in mind and one purpose only, and that is to do all they can to see that he fails.
And there may be some other issues where I am not opposed to disagreeing with or criticzing Obama. But these constant criticisms and complaints towards Obama, esprecially from the right. everytime he sneezes is nothing but pure politics and a deep resentment towards Obama for kicking their a**es in the general election. This constant badgering and blaming Obama for everything does more harm to the country than it helps. Yes, criticize Obama when he rightly deserves to be criticized, but criticizing him for everything just because people do not like him personally is immature, irresponsible and frankly, gutless. And such behavior will come back and bite the republicans in the rear in 2012 when Obama is re-elected.
Too bad Obama can't do what Nixon did in 1969 and create the EPA to deflect people from blaming him for something he is not to blame for. What exactly should he do? I don't remember Nixon camping out in Santa Barbara and holding hands and staying there for days on end. Of course, there wasn't a 24 hour news cycle that needs to have something to talk about.
As others have posted here and in other sections of FR, I am glad that President Obama is the type to stay calm, collected, and to work on finding solutions rather than run around like Chicken Little. Like the old saying, "The milk is spilled - no way to put it back in the bottle." In this case, the damage is done - this oil reserve has been unleashed. The only thing that can be done is to try to get the gusher under control or stopped. The best method to achieve that is to get those relief wells done. Afterwards, we will have to focus on trying to reverse as much environmental damage as possible. Personally, I'm aware that the Gulf Shore won't ever be the same, but at this point, that can't be changed.
Going forward, what we can do is use this disaster as a wake-up call. We American's need to get used to the idea of wind, solar, and nuclear energy. We should stop being little spoiled brats, suck it up, and usher in a new age of energy. Remember the industrial revolution? We can do that again! Imagine all of the new technology, new businesses, new jobs that can be generated, new way of life we can begin . . . and we can begin to save the planet while doing it. We need to tighten restrictions and regulations, ramp up inspections and fines, and stop catering to these massive oil entinties that have too much influence in Washington, DC.
It seems simple to me . . .Not easy, mind you. I love my car, too. But the idea, the consequences if we do nothing and continue to live and consume oil the way we have been is just too horrible to contemplate. Any day now, we could be facing another Gulf Coast Oil Spill.
And I don't know what President Obama's presence in the region will actually accomplish, but if the people there want him, then I do think he should be there. I just hope that they remember (although they are grieving and mourning the loss of lives and an entire industry) that there are so many issues that must be addressed. I wish we didn't have to deal with Israel and Palestine, but we do. I wish we could leave Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan to their own destruction, but we can't. To leave them alone would invite another 9/11 event. I wish we could expect Mexico to morph into a more prosperous country so that America would not have the issue of illegal immigrants, but that isn't happening anytime soon, so we must deal with illegal border crossings. I wish Haiti's government were more honest and not corrupt, and that its people were able to rebuild without assistance, but it's not and they can't, and hurricane season is upon us.
I wish we cared about humanity the way we cared about profit, religion, skin color, sexual orientation . . .I'm getting depressed thinking about the state of the globe today, so I'm going to stop