There is simply no excuse after 30 days for the Obama administration to show such incompetence in managing the Gulf Oil catastrophe. President Obama seems aloof, uninvolved, with the White House more upset about reporters asking tough questions than anything else. That the Administration is still going full speed ahead on oil drilling even with evidence that oil companies aren't prepared for the exploring they're doing is irresponsible. From the New York Times:
In the days since President Obama announced a moratorium on permits for drilling new offshore oil wells and a halt to a controversial type of environmental waiver that was given to the Deepwater Horizon rig, at least seven new permits for various types of drilling and five environmental waivers have been granted, according to records.
The records also indicate that since the April 20 explosion on the rig, federal regulators have granted at least 19 environmental waivers for gulf drilling projects and at least 17 drilling permits, most of which were for types of work like that on the Deepwater Horizon shortly before it exploded, pouring a ceaseless current of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.
At least the White House is moving from whining to the press about pesky questions to having Thad Allen in the briefing today with Robert Gibbs.
The real issue is that this isn't what we expect from Democrats.
Obama ran for president and he's the manager in chief of the Gulf Oil catastrophe whether he likes it or not. He needs to start acting like he's in charge and illustrate that Democrats actually know what government's purpose is.
We expect Republicans to be incompetent when in charge, because they don't like government, want to starve it out of existence, and don't respect its purpose. So when they attempt to lead they stumble over themselves and end up making matters worse.
Democrats are supposed to know government's role, respect the force of what it can do and launch it into action using all means necessary when a national security crisis meets an environmental and economic one. President Obama has not shown that he knows what he's doing, which is a depressing a sight to witness. It's a Democrat revealing incompetence I've come to expect of Republicans.
It's true Barack Obama received significant campaign funds from BP. His decision to allow BP to control their volcanic spill at the beginning was correct. It passed that point two weeks ago.
The politics of this are the least of it, so hearing the princess of "drill, baby, drill," Sarah Palin talk about Obama's "connection with the contributions" with big oil like Republicans and Palin herself aren't the political poster children of big oil strains credulity.
Palin's comments would be hilarious if this whole situation hadn't long ago passed the political stage into wondering what we're paying taxes for if the federal government, especially under the auspices of a Democratic majority, can't get its act together to save one of our most valuable assets, the Gulf Coast.
Democrats are supposed to know how to use government power in a crisis to help the people. It's depressing to watch them flounder like inept Republicans.
Perhaps if I put it in military terms people would get it. This is a national security issue. The economics and environmental costs will be calamitous for one of our most precious regions, already suffering, further straining our economy. We are at war against the evil oil volcano that BP has imploded off our shores. We're at DefCon 1, people. All hands on deck.
Taylor Marsh is a political analyst out of Washington, D.C.
Follow Taylor Marsh on Twitter: www.twitter.com/taylormarsh
The Obama administration is giving BP cover while they commit ecocide on the entire Gulf and Atlantic Ocean. Tragically, the whole corrupt lot of them can safely assume that Americans are so apathetic and dumbed-down by corporate media that they will literally die from this toxic apocalypse before they will rise up in protest.
BP is has NO interest or intent of "plugging" this oil geyser, because by law that would make this oil deposit off limits for future drilling. This is reportedly the second largest offshore oil deposit in the world, so from BP's perspective, which is profit only, closing the well is not an option. BP is determined to recover as much oil as possible and maintain access to this deposit. BP's patently absurd efforts thusfar are intended to keep the public from becoming restless while the Gulf dies.
The Obama administration is giving BP cover while they commit ecocide on the entire Gulf and Atlantic Ocean. Tragically, the whole corrupt lot of them can safely assume that Americans are so apathetic and dumbed-down by corporate media that they will literally die from this toxic apocalypse before they will rise up in protest.
Everyone got tired of hearing all the government agents repeating BP talking points after the first week...Everyone knows its a difficult job to stop the leak, thats up to the Experts...Containment
of the spilled oil as well as clean up is what people want to know that the government is doing &
implementing...There are other cleanup materials ready to be used and they are not being used because BP is not allowing their use...
Bobby Jindal and others took the first steps the other day to taking the helm, though they should have done it weeks ago, announcing their plans to protect the wetlands & beaches etc...
The Dems should Heed the Call...
“Democrats are supposed to know government's role, respect the force of what it can do and launch it into action using all means necessary when a national security crisis meets an environmental and economic one.” What primal understanding of government’s role in a crisis is embodied exclusively in a Democratic administration?
Perhaps if you put your arguments in more unbiased terms people would get it.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-04-02-federal-spending-inside_x.htm?loc=interstitialskip
But they are rich and you aren't.
I've criticized Obama for very nearly everything he's done since he took office and even before. But on this crisis he has done all he should have.
and just like every crisis he's tried to manage. or mess he's tried to clean up. they offer no solution or expertise yet feel free to write opinion pieces criticizing him either with failed solutions or none.
and the trolls feed on them like manna from heaven. while the ones who created the mess or mismanaged the crises . or just plain made the mess either suddenly go silent. or jump on the blame wagon.
Obama has done nothing except pray that BP will solve the problem.
President Obama ain't perfect. But a lot of us are very tired of the media and pundits trying to convince us when we and they know better that he is responsible for everything that is wrong with this country.
I for one am very tired of the gop trying to rewrite history to excuse bush and blame Obama. tired of people like progressives that act as though they are solely responsible for him being president therefore he needs to do things their way. yet they sat silent while bush was destroying the country.
tired of the tea party being held up as though they speak for the majority.
tired of the media pundits and gop leaders who suddenly become crises experts over night. who demand this president behave like no other president history. during a crisis that effects them either personally ,economically-they want superman.
but when it comes to what's best for the common majority-they want him to sit back and let things be .
Boy, that'll show 'em!
Whether it's justified or not, the perception is that Obama is not doing enough. In politics, perception is reality. And what is Obama doing about that perception? As reported in the NY Times yesterday, Obama is now talking about future drilling in the Gulf. He said, "Because it represents 30 per cent of our oil production, the Gulf of Mexico can play an iimportant part in securing our energy future. But we can only pursue offshore oil drilling if we have assurances that a disaster like the BP oil spill will not happen again."
Note to Obama: We HAD such assurance from BP before the Deepwater Horizon explosion. During the permit process, BP said such a disaster was virtually impossible. Also, Obama says the Gulf produces 30 per cent of our oil. Wrong. The oil BP is drilling goes into the world market and is not just for domestic consumption. Obama seems politically obtuse.
From day one those in the media have been trying to paint this some how as President Obama's katrina, which if you look at how inviolved he and his admin has been is false. All teh media is trying to do now is make good on thier first assertion.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/deepwater-bp-oil-spill
The only way to get proper assurnces is to have proper regulations which we didnt have before and should be easy to obtain now.
You might want to read your last paragraph to clear up your own obtuseness...if that even a word, but you get my drift. The oil BP drills for the most part does go out to the world market and we only get 30% of that
Obama will never be elected to a national office again; with his "response" to this disaster, he's lost the entire south east U.S. Better get a primary opponent to take the nomination from him in 2012, unless you want to hand Republicans the presidency. I nominate Alan Grayson.
Maybe it will help you to know what realy is going on:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/deepwater-bp-oil-spill
Big oil Republicans? Let's see...who is BP favorite politician? Who have they donated the most money in their entire corporate life to? Oh, yeah. Barack Obama.
Surprise, surprise. The Savior is corrupt. But we silly small-government types already knew that. All politicians are corrupt. Always have been, always will be. That's why you're wrong when you say
you're the ones who "respect the force of what it [government] can do." We do respect the force of what it can do. That's exactly why we want to contain it.
"BP and its employees have given more than $3.5 million to federal candidates over the past 20 years, with the largest chunk of their money going to Obama, according to the Center for Responsive Politics."
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-440501
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You're right about the "silly" part. You so-called small government types are the ones screaming the loudest that Obama needs to do a Big Government takeover from BP. Frankly, I'm having a bit of difficulty feeling sympathy for the Red State residents who are now crying for Big Government to save them. BP has given them the "free enterprise" they voted for over and over again when they voted Republican -- and the rewards thereof.
Please. The reason Obama hasn't responded is because the spill is good for his policy initiatives. The worse the disaster, the easier it is to stop off-shore drilling. Nevermind that it's an ecological disaster. Nevermind that offshore drilling absolutely has valid and necessary place in our future energy policy if we're going to be competitive.
It's like his main main Rahm Emmanuel said, "Never let a good catastrophe go to waste."
BP ain't exactly bothered by the whole thing either. Hell, their damages are capped. They're only going to pay but so much anyway. In the meantime, they're heavily invested in alternative energy. Market leader in solar panels, in fact. What better way to overtake Shell and Exxon, who aren't quite so diversified.
That's the best you got you partisan hack!
Funny how you don't have problem with corruption in the white house now that your man's in power. Nooo! It's all A-OK now.