Obama Plans Return Trip To Louisiana Gulf Coast On Friday

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama said Thursday he was "furious" about the situation in the Gulf of Mexico and that BP hasn't moved fast enough to respond to the massive oil spill there.

The president said in an interview for broadcast on CNN's "Larry King Live" that BP has felt his anger – although he said "venting and yelling at people" won't solve the problem.

Using his strongest language to date on the spill, Obama said: "I am furious at this entire situation because this is an example where somebody didn't think through the consequences of their actions."

Obama had not previously voiced such sweeping criticisms of BP. But Thursday the president said he hadn't seen the kind of "rapid response" from BP that he'd like.

Obama is returning to the Gulf on Friday for his third trip since the spill that began when a BP-leased drilling rig exploded on April 20, killing 11 workers and releasing millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf. He said BP caused the ongoing spill and had to pay, but the federal government has the responsibility for making sure recovery and mitigation efforts were proceeding and local fishermen and businesses were getting hired and paid properly.

"All those efforts are ones where we can do it better," the president said.

Comments

[Gilliam G]

04:08 PM on 06/04/2010

Well as it turns out I have a friend who knows Bill and Hillary Clinton personally and knows how to contact them direct (this is NOT a joke). I told him about my Letter to the President and he was intrigued and thought it was a good idea. He asked me to forward it to him, which I did last night, and he would get it to Hillary Clinton to make sure President Obama sees it.

That's one way of getting the President's attention. Otherwise I fear my letter just gets buried in all the noise and hype out here. If any of you feel inclined to leave a comment on the letter just know that it will most likely be seen by President Obama.

(Text of the letter is in the video description if you don't want to watch the video):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_NjPcDmktk

[JB BRADLEY]

12:35 PM on 06/04/2010

My fellow americans this is not a left or right issue this is a American issue. I just want our president to stop campaigning and lead. I did not vote for him, however I wanted to give him a chance however with that said. His lack of leadership skills is showing and with all the major issues facing our country lets team together forget left or right lets get our country back on track our children need us to fight for there future. We are the government they work for us. We need to start giving out pink slips my fellow americans...lets stop just talking and act. The media and our present government is not dividing us we are dividing us at a time when we have to join together.
Think about it my fellow americans....................................

A voice to stop this juvenile behavior in Washington...Its not what one says thats important its ones actions....................and that we are lacking big time

[Just ME in T]

06:30 AM on 06/04/2010

http://just-me-in-t.blogspot.com/
Were you taught whilst growing up that Real Men Don’t Cry Mr. Obama? Well let me tell you now – that is a fallacy! Emotions right this moment, are what will touch those suffering on the Gulf Coast the most, and give them a sense of your love for them.

I believe they are sick and tired of the same old lines. “We’re making good progress” just does not cut it any longer.

[hearmeloudandclear]

03:05 AM on 06/04/2010

Mr President:

Good luck and God bless you in your efforts to lead this country. With such a full plate - a one crisis after another seemingly - you're amazing.

The many of us who voted for you - did so because we appreciate who you are. We did not, nor do we want phony emoting, nor emulation of the previous folks that held the office.

The media however is not your friend as I'm sure you're quite aware. They've all become mind-readers - TRUE, some even suggest what you are thinking, or MAY think. They KNOW what you should say, or should have said, or what manner you should have used in saying it...

They will suggest that your motives are not genuine no matter what you do or don't. If you go to Louisana too many times - some, like those early-morning TV shows - will suggest you're only doing it because "THEY" had suggested ALL ALONG that you needed to do so........you understand Mr President.

Most importantly - keep being who you are - the leader of the Free World, and they can't take that away from you, no matter the sometimes venomous rhetoric.

You're winning - and that makes it all the more difficult for your would-be detractors.

God's on your side - and let him always bless you, your family and America --- OUR COUNTRY !

[againest the grain]

03:51 AM on 06/04/2010

Dear Mr president
I was wrong this isn't your katrina i opologize,it's your iran hostage crisis.
The people are now starting to count the days[46\ as of now, that nothing gets done and the oil keeps flowing and you arn't getting it fix.
Maybe you could have gotten Harry Stamber from the Armagedon movie to fix it if he hadn't gotten killed on that astraroid?

The longer this goes on the more it will hurt your presidency if it makes it up the east coast you are toast,but i don't think the oil spill makes a difference the way yours is going?

I hope you had a nice vacation,that trip to arlington would have been a drag for you,but hey you got to have paul macartney to sing michelle my bell to you thats more important.

AS for that person who says the media is againest you,what are you kidding me they have a slobering love afair and drool all over you. The ones who are it's because of your non chlant handeling of the spill. But hey don't worry you'll only have another 2 1/2 years to worry about it.

[hearmeloudandclear]

03:06 PM on 06/04/2010

Just reading your struggles with writing a coherent line makes me not want to say too much --- you may not understand it....but I'll try.

The sign-carriers like yourself won't put a dent in his re-election for another 4 years. Now I know that's troubling to you - but just watch. He will TRULY be able to carry his own sign saying "Mission Accomplished". (Is that familiar to you?)

Console yourself with the leader of your party - Limbaugh

[Cailleach Echo]

09:37 PM on 06/04/2010

Fanned and Faved and I agree completely. He is a remarkable man and has managed to accomplish so much in a very short time. How in the world this mess is his fault, I can't imagine. Utterly stupid to say it is.

And, still, no one can tell me EXACTLY what was lost during the 2 hours he had dinner and enjoyed Paul McCartney's music.

Why do people think THAT is a waste of time while believing that flying to and from the gulf is not?

Having said all that, I truly hope he takes on real change. Its time we stopped using petroleum, stopped building cars that run on gas, stopped drilling on or off shore.

Yeah, I know, our entire culture is built around the gasoline engine but we can change. There was a time when businesses that made buggy whips went out of business because they were obsolete.

Its time we moved into the 21st century.

[Orly Holmes]

12:42 AM on 06/04/2010

Obamas Gulf ''return'' should be played to the backround music of ''The Old Brown Mare''....

[Solja]

03:13 AM on 06/04/2010

http://www.whitehouse.gov/search/site/gulf%20oil%20spill

[Hwrd Sprague]

10:40 PM on 06/03/2010

What happened?? No more concerts to go to ??

[Recycle congress]

10:28 PM on 06/03/2010

Sorry too little, too late. BP is probably thumbing it's nose to Obama just like Iran, Korea have. Remember when campaigner Obama said he was not afraid of Iran, its just a "little" country, no threat.

[A Meat Beetle]

10:57 PM on 06/03/2010

BP is thumbing its nose at every man, woman, and child on Earth, and getting away with it. You want to know why? Because they know that there are a lot of people out there who are stew-pid enough to blame Obama for this disaster and completely overlook the simple, irrefutable fact that this happened because BP CHOSE not to comply with safety and environmental regulations. And why did they CHOOSE not to do so? Because the previous administration told them that such compliance was voluntary.

I'll be the first to admit that President Obama has dropped the ball several times during this crisis, and some of the decisions he has made don't exactly have me brimming over with optimism, but this whole "blame it all on Obama" thing is the most immature bunch of kvetching I've ever seen in my life. And I've taught elementary school.

I don't even know how people like you live with yourselves.

[Recycle congress]

11:34 AM on 06/04/2010

Actually beetle it is pretty easy to live with myself. I never blamed this diaster on Obama, only his response. He is not totally innocent. His "peoples" are also to blame, for making bad decisions. This is not Bush's fault. As a side thought, I see that some people think that Bush is to blame for the separation of the Gores. Do you people ever take any responsibility??? Did you blame Bush for Katrina??? If so, did you ever blame the local and state government??? Did you ever blame the networks who had TV anchors in NO who had water but never tried to get water to those who were crying for it but had none. Couldn't the networks get water to them as well as their personnel??? To identify a problem and not do anything is sinful. I don't know how they or you if you agreed with them can live with yourselves.

[MarieB]

01:34 AM on 06/04/2010

It's more than a fly over when Katrina hit.

[Recycle congress]

11:42 AM on 06/04/2010

And for you Marie.....that fly over happened a hell of a lot sooner than Obama's visit to Louisana, and also he had said earlier that he didn't want to impede progress with a visit to the gulf. Better try again.

[Joseph Bethea]

09:50 PM on 06/03/2010

as far as the comment give obama a break ? i have for almost two years i from the start didnt think he had any leadership ability and after almost two years i see i was right it dont matter what color or religious back ground he comes from he is a weak as jimmy carter full of ideas yes, ides into results lol you answer that one thing i will give him is the ability to speak to the people to tell them what they want to hear maybe thats why so many people are deceived into thinking he's such a great leader he's health care reform is a disaster only rewarding the status quo by giving the insurance companies more people on their rolls to steal from and how long is he going to let BP keep killing the gulf with their childish ideas of how to deal with the situation down there those people have suffered enough BP is only concern with their bottom line why are they not drilling of the coast of england ? i am a devoted democrat but when our elected leaders con only lead by the gift of gab maybe its time to take a good look at what we put in office and come up with a better choice that what politics have to offer what i mean is doing away with the professional politician and putting a normal mo up in office that will benefit the people

[markm8128]

11:12 PM on 06/03/2010

Using Periods:
Periods end declarative sentences and requests or mild commands.
If a sentence ends with an abbreviation, no additional period is needed. If the sentence requires a question mark or exclamation point, one may be added after the period.

[AllenD]

12:44 AM on 06/04/2010

That post must be pregnant. Too many missed periods.

[Solja]

03:15 AM on 06/04/2010

Go learn something and stop posting here. You sound dumb.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/search/site/gulf%20oil%20spill

[jujugago]

09:33 PM on 06/03/2010

More fake outrage?

[AllenD]

12:44 AM on 06/04/2010

From the rightards? Absolutely.

[VoteThemAllOut]

09:10 PM on 06/03/2010

Despite all of the assurances from Robert Gibbs that Obama has been totally engaged from ‘day 1’ in the Gulf oil spill, Obama seems able to multi-task exceedingly well. I must commend Obama for being totally engaged while he:
DAY 2 – April 21
Obama attends reception for G-20 Labor Ministers
DAY 3 – April 22
Obama hosts Rose Garden reception to honor Earth Day
DAY 4 – April 23
Hey, let’s go on vacation to Asheville, North Carolina!
Lunch at Twelve Bones for ribs and mac & cheese
No worries! How about a mountain hike?
Obama squeezes in a round of golf!
DAY 5 – April 24
Let’s go golfing again — at Grove Park Inn GC
A nice gourmet dinner at the Biltmore!
DAY 6 – April 25
A scrumptious brunch at Grove Park Resort
DAY 7 – April 26
Obama hosts NY Yankees for White House event
DAY 8 – April 27
Obama visits Iowa for rhubarb pie at Jerry’s Diner
DAY 9 – April 28
Obama flies to Missouri for lunch at Peggy Sue’s Diner
DAY 10 – April 29
Obama attends DNC fundraiser at swank DC residence
DAY 11 – April 30
Obama flies to MD to view Secret Service binoculars
DAY 12 – May 1
Obama joins Leno for comedy routine at WHCD
DAY 13 – May 2
Obama finally visits Louisiana

For the next 28 days of being fully engaged go to:
Source: http://politipage.com/2010/05/28/obamas-days/

[MardiGrasGirl]

09:22 PM on 06/03/2010

I love how you ONLY put one thing per day. I am sure he didn't do anything else :p

As someone who lives in the region, I don't think he needs to hold anyone's hand all day. Bobby and his minions want "state's rights" and now he can do the heavy lifting. Plus, the president has more on his plate than this spill....2 wars, immigration, Israel-Palestine, the two Koreas,.....and on and on. What do you think he has a cabinet for? His EPA and Energy person are on it!

[Missy7]

09:41 PM on 06/03/2010

"What do you think he has a cabinet for? His EPA and Energy person are on it!"

Pensacola resident here, praying for those who live in the region. But federal officials have delayed for weeks to approve Louisiana state requests for permits to protect livelihood and way of life, not to mention marine life and sensitive ecosystems. EPA and Energy persons are not on it - although they do hold the reins. However many things he did per day, President Obama could INSIST his administration rush through emergency measures to protect the shores. Please don't blindly rubber stamp the administration's actions in an effort to defend the president.

[hearmeloudandclear]

11:18 PM on 06/04/2010

You're right MardiGrasGirl ---- They scream about "too much government"...."let the States handle their affairs".... Now the tables are turned and Jindyl wants his TV time and has found a reason to shout.

The President said during his campaign that he can "walk and chew gum at the same time." And he's definitely doing that in spite of his detractors.

GO ON MR PRESIDENT....real Americans are still with you.

[Recycle congress]

10:40 PM on 06/03/2010

Very interesting article Votethemallout............that is a new site for me that I will visit again, thanks.

[iridium53]

08:40 PM on 06/03/2010

political kabuki

[dispatches]

08:27 PM on 06/03/2010

for a sideways look at the spill, visit www.dispatchesfromtheend.com
it's the news, but more fun to read.

[Duppy]

08:22 PM on 06/03/2010

Give the guy a break ! He cannot fix the leak himself...........he is doing the best he can

[Martin Musetsky]

08:05 PM on 06/03/2010

Live feed of all eleven cameras on the ocean floor: http://climate.the-environmentalist.org/2010/06/live-video-feeds-of-gulf-oil-disaster.html

[Enroh Mot]

07:56 PM on 06/03/2010

"It turns out, by the way, that oil rigs today generaly don't cause oil spills. They are technologically very advanced"...President Obama tomdispatch.com

[Solja]

03:07 AM on 06/04/2010

You have only proven, without a shadow of a doubt, that the Bush/Cheney cronies in the oil industry are epic liars.

[Enroh Mot]

03:42 AM on 06/04/2010

That was a quote from Obama, check the link.