Sunday Roundup

Now, I'm a huge Paul McCartney and Beatles fan. But when I saw that the president will be hosting a concert honoring Sir Paul next week, my first reaction wasn't, "I hope they play 'Hey, Jude.'" Given the White House's decidedly tame response to the BP disaster (perfectly summed up by James Carville as "hands-offy"), it was, "Are you kidding me?!" This is not the time for a White House sing-along. It's time to set up a temporary White House in New Orleans until the well is
capped. And if there is a concert to be held, why not make it a fundraiser for all those whose lives are being destroyed by the oilpocalypse? We need less of the president's anger-with-no-follow-through and more hands-onny leadership. Without it, Obama risks turning into a real Nowhere Man.

 

 

 

Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff

Comments

[mwechopeds]

07:04 AM on 06/04/2010

I grew up on the Beatles but was never much of a McCartney fan until his comments at the White House. (I was always a Lennon, Harrison fan).

Right on Paul!

It is about time we had a president that can read.

[mooncricketindc]

02:30 AM on 06/01/2010

OIL BAMA HAS BEEN THE NO WHERE MAN SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE. LAST YEAR HE GIVES BP A SAFETY AWARD > AND TOOK HUGE BUCKS FROM BP . OIL BAMA IS A JOKE TO THE WORLD. HES A ONE TERM WONDER IF HE DOESNT GET IMPEACHED BEFORE THAT.

SOON HE WILL HAVE PIC ON BOTTLES OF OIL OR MAYBE HIS OWN BRAND OILBAMA SO SAD

[mwechopeds]

07:33 AM on 06/04/2010

Did you ever bother to take an English class in the twelve years you went to school? You do not need to capitalize everything. Further, you should learn to use periods, commas and grammer appropriately.

Turn the caps lock off!

[Brian Ross]

12:13 AM on 06/01/2010

Your point is a bit histrionic, and playing into the hands of a GOP that is manipulating the news cycle to the benefit of their political ambitions, and Wall Street's need to put reform on a low burner. Presidents don't bug out to New Orleans or California during a major quake recovery or Tornado Alley after a major twister.

My take is a bit more pragmatic. There are no magic wands, and Superman must be otherwise engaged: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian-ross/gop-spews-hypocrisies-as_b_594856.html

[grizhead63]

11:44 AM on 05/31/2010

Well said and to the heart of the matter. Everyone who wants the Prez to succeed must wonder who is advising him regarding the current course of events.

[sfkjeld]

10:51 AM on 05/31/2010

I agree with Ariana. This is an ongoing man made death watch in the Gulf, happening right in front of our eyes. What could be more urgent now than capping this thing? I don't want to see the President dancing with the stars or shoot hoops until it is. Then we can worry about whose fault it is. And then, like Ariana said, Obama can become the 5th Beatle at $1000 plate fundraisers for relief projects.

I would have said 3rd Beatle, but that is too sad.

[whisperindave]

01:50 AM on 05/31/2010

As I spoke about in a recent blog, it is time to stop playing the "Blame Game." This is a major disaster caused by our nation's ever hungry and urgent need for oil. We want it. Every plastic bottle we toss out, every piece of plastic wrapper on a plastic encased electronics item is made of oil. We consume hug quantities and we are scared there will be no more. We want to stop Arab and Middle Eastern influences on our society and govt. by having our own oil, which you see, we have in abundance. But disasters like this will ALWAYS happen if we drill and it is up to each individual citizen to get busy and get behind the President and be prepared to clean this spill up. As long as we cry for oil, we will be crying over spilled oil. How a president or anyone "reacts" on the lame news media to such a disaster is not important. Katrina was utterly different. We could SEE the President being lazy and smirking about PEOPLE being in trouble and dying! This is about our environment. And there is little or nothing anyone can do until this thing is capped.

[nkrempa]

02:27 AM on 05/31/2010

Fanned and faved, great post!

[mwechopeds]

07:58 AM on 06/04/2010

It's amazing what you can recycle these days, from plastic bottles, plastic bags, food cans, aluminum cans to newspapers. Our family puts out very little trash anymore. I just hate it when people throw out recyclables.

[Karen Dalton-Beninato]

01:36 AM on 05/31/2010

Very well said, Arianna. Hopefully the song for our endangered wetlands will never be, "Yesterday."

[ZachWayne]

11:48 PM on 05/30/2010

We need a little less bitter criticism-without-all-the-facts and a more honest account of the situation.

In April, the Icelandic volcano eruption cost airlines at least $1.7 billion in six days, and yet not one news pundit claimed that "people are dying" or called on the president to stop his events. Although much is needed to be done to repair the environmental and economic damage tormenting the people of the Gulf states, reporters and commentators would be right to resist shameless politicization and recognize that, even with reasonable criticisms, the governmental cleanup response is and never has been hands-off or offhand. The president has and continues to oversee burning and skimming operations, make resources available to state and local governments and respond to their requests for a better command structure and quicker responses. Even where the underestimated flow and bureaucratic tendencies have caused hang-ups, local and state officials have been encouraged by the president.

While we legitimately vent our frustrations that oil has reached the Louisiana marshes and shores, it is negligence to not point out that, with the hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil spilling every day, defense booms are an inadequate solution; dispersants do not simply wash away the problem; and, in reality, even the best scientists would not be surprised if the leak persists.

The truth is, the president is hands-on. He's just not hands-down the most astonishing, incredible, biggest-oil-spill-thwarting-in-no-time superhero.

[David Olson]

12:03 AM on 05/31/2010

Finally something and someone saying something...worth reading.

[nkrempa]

12:07 AM on 05/31/2010

Fanned and faved!!! Thank you for stating quite clearly what people need to consider!

[DaisyDog]

11:44 PM on 05/30/2010

I'm sorry, but I agree with you Arianna. What made people most mad about Bush and Katrina was the lack of demonstrated care and concern and support by FEMA and the White House. If this is the nations' worst environmental disaster ever, then Obama needs to look like he cares more than he is doing right now. I voted for him, but I think he's not getting it. Yet.

[David Olson]

11:35 PM on 05/30/2010

I say lets get us the whole Cheney clan in white suits and shovels...to help with this. Seems only fair to me.

[David Olson]

11:07 PM on 05/30/2010

Mr. President. I got your back......I still believe in you.. and believe your doing all you can. I do.

[David Olson]

10:57 PM on 05/30/2010

Perhaps Obama...should gear up his family in wetsuits...and plug the well themselves...would we all then be happy with his performance?

[David Olson]

11:02 PM on 05/30/2010

Our government...yep the USA here ...and this would include you and me....are stifled here. There is no off switch for this in the white house. You really believe...if they could figure out what TO DO to stop this thing...the wouldn't? REALLY?

[LFox6]

10:46 PM on 05/30/2010

The following link is one of the most comprehensive and factually based assessments of this "incident" and its mishandling from day one that I've seen to date - and you know, there are a TON of 'em out there.

PLEASE NOTE: at the bottom of the article is a ton of information on 'how you can help' - so LET'S HELP!!!

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/ybenjamin/detail?entry_id=64175

[nkrempa]

11:12 PM on 05/30/2010

This article is not comprehensive, nor is it even completely factual. It is an opinion piece done by the author, in which he makes many assertions that don't stand up. I submit that if you went to the official response site, or the *gasp* White House site that I've repeatedly posted, you will find far more "factual" information than this poor man managed to dredge up with his accompanying erroneous assertions.

[LFox6]

02:03 AM on 05/31/2010

Helllloo....I said it was an assessment, which is kinda sorta the same thing as an opinion piece. An opinion piece based on researched facts. Instead of continuing to spout rhetoric, reading is your friend - try it :-D

You claim the author's assertions are erroneous - back that up with something other than repeated government websites, and maybe I'll listen

[David Olson]

11:20 PM on 05/30/2010

the most comprehensive and factually based assessments of this "incident" and its mishandling from day one that I've seen to date ...and you basis for this...is?

[LFox6]

02:04 AM on 05/31/2010

We call it "research" where I come from....

[David Olson]

10:39 PM on 05/30/2010

Arriana...its time perhaps...instead of just telling us what Obama is doing wrong in your opinion....and tell us what your method of actually fixing this situation might be. If you can condemn someone for not do "anything" to fix this...please at least have a solution as to how YOU would attempt YOU might fix it. Else...say nothing.

[David Olson]

11:19 PM on 05/30/2010

Arianna? You there? C'mon with it...what would you suggest?

[David Olson]

11:27 PM on 05/30/2010

one last note here...you have money...your wealthy....you sharing your time or your wealth to help with this disaster? Have you picked up a shovel...? Just asking.

[Indra]

10:36 PM on 05/30/2010

Yeah your right! I hope he gets it together soon. Time is running out for him. I know its a tough job but some things are just not jiving with him.