exactly what it is they suggest he do. He really cannot walk the water.

about at least addressing the nation on this.

I know that all pertinent agencies within the government are scrambling and doing what they can to bring the crisis to resolution. At this point if anybody has a solution, I think the greatest minds would accept it without hesitation. The last thing I need is for him blabbing about what the MSM is already feeding us. That will do little for the people of the Gulf Coast who need real solutions to ease their fears of losing everything they have worked so hard for.

When did he use the bully pulpit to address the nation from the White House about the oil spill? I missed that broadcast.

and let reporters, scientists and other observers get into the area to fucking find out the truth about the situation, FOR STARTERS

:grr:

Nobody, NOBODY is saying he should walk on water. What a ridiculous bunch of fluffy straw to throw about. It would be better used to sop up oil, not try to deflect valid criticisms.

Because if the general public knew how bad this whole situation was, there would be rioting in the street.

:grr:

I can't get that out of my head. :rofl:

my existence is justified ;)

oh, wait, they did that. Shit, what else could we ask for?

Set on your ass for 30 days before deciding it might be a good idea
to start gathering information?

Hell this might prove to be serious!

Might prove you are as smart as he is?

Works for some people, huh?

Bring in the army corps of engineers.

Stop letting BP stonewall the public!

That is just a few things he needs to do!

of little help since they cannot even build dams to keep water out of New Orleans.

actual construction work. Maybe the Army Corps of Engineers should hire Exxon-Mobil to clean up after BP? After all, they have all that experience after the Valdez....

with respect to this "MAJOR" disaster! BP seems to be the boss and Obama the order taker in this screw up. Right from preventing (so called, I realize) news media from taking pictures of this night mare right down to the dispersant's that they are using.

this around his neck.

He is not living up to my expectations, and that's an understatement! If Obama is not a member of the DLC, it is only because he has not registered (or something like that). I'm sorry, but we need a real Progressive Democrat in the office of the White House, and at this point, I don't see that.

Heckuva job, DLC.

Let American Workers Clean Up the Oil Spill Using Eco-Friendly Techniques

Why is our government allowing BP to use chemicals to disperse the oil when other eco-friendly solutions are available? Why are inexpensive, easy solutions being ignored while the process currently employed may be doing more damage than good? Are we missing an opportunity to let Americans damaged by this spill—the fishermen and waterfront workers--play a part in its cleanup?

We’ve all read the stories about people packing nylons with human hair and using them as booms to contain the oil. The stories show the desire to help and the willingness to take action on the part of the American people. At the same time, we’re also aware of the dispersant currently being used by BP. What we aren’t aware of is the safety of those chemicals currently being dumped in the ocean and how effective they will be. We’re also not aware of other possible solutions.

Eco-Friendly Solutions

Recently I’ve been reading up on possible solutions for dealing with the catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico. One eco-friendly solution floats and draws the oil to it. It can then be netted or scooped up and used to provide energy for producing electricity or recycled for some other use. What is this solution you ask? It’s grasses: hay or straw, which works for sure, and possibly other grasses that grow so abundantly. To see a demonstration, just do a video search under “hay oil cleanup” and you'll watch a couple of ordinary people demonstrate how their solution works.


I also had the opportunity to view a demonstration of another possible solution produced by a now-defunct company by the name of Sustainable Technologies Corporation out of Lewisburg, Ohio (video search “Aerohaz”) whose product actually solidifies the spill and enables it to be picked up. The company may be out of business, but the technology still exists! We have the ability to use multiple technologies to clean this mess up, but it's all practically being ignored by the mainstream media and the government.


Who is benefiting by allowing these solutions to be ignored and the tragedy being allowed to grow by the hour? Why is a questionable product being employed to disperse the oil? Could it be because BP is making even more money (they do have a vested interest in the company that is providing the dispersant currently in use) by allowing this disaster to grow with no end in sight?

The news reports that Americans are angry at the lack of progress corporate America and the US government is making in handling this spill while yet another commission gathers to wring their hands over what to do.

U.S. Government Should Act Now

The government needs to step in, put a lien against BP and their cohorts (to ensure payment for the cleanup) and get the job done. The U.S. has the technology, the resources and the labor pool. BP needs to concentrate on stopping the flow of oil coming out of the ocean floor. Let's make BP outsource the cleanup to the government.

He could tell BP that it doesn't lead the Coast Guard or law enforcement of the Gulf states, and it was one hot second to stop trying to use the CG and law enforcement to keep the press out.

Of course, I stopped waiting for him to lead a long time ago.

Number 2. Require knowledgable and skilled workers who can properly install booms.

Number 3. Evaluate BPs solutions before they disperse toxic chemicals in the ocean.

Number 4. Declare a national emergency and dedicate anything and everything necessary to clean this up.

... question.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x308193

Read the replies. The solution is SO SIMPLE: Get a bunch of guys together who know how to stop the leak, and let them do their job.

Who are "those people"? What will they do? What expertise do they bring to the table? What equipment is at their fingertips to solve the problem?

Oh, sure, NOW you want everything spelled out for you ...

Maybe a coalition of DU experts can be sent to DC to explain to Obama how this should be dealt with, which is:

Get a bunch of guys together who know how to stop the leak, and let them do their job. Because there's a bunch of them out there - and the WH is just standing in their way. This problem could have been solved weeks ago, if that Obama guy wasn't insistent that the leak continue - for political purposes to be sure.

Jesus Hussein Christ.

This isn't a message board - it's an insane asylum.

... on this thread, or anywhere else, I stated that I had "all the answers".

I don't. But then again, I never said I did.

That's why I'm not pretending I do - as opposed to some people who keep insisting that "the answers" are so simple, why doesn't this Administration just latch onto those obvious "answers" and act accordingly.

:thumbsup:

Spot on, Nance.

But don't fret. DU represents a cross section of precisely nothing. Liberal support for Obama is higher than the past two Democratic presidents and the leftier than thou types have no flippin' clue how to do anything but complain.

I blame it on the ionstant gratification mentality put forth by advertising executvies and an insatiable need to constantly be a victim. Victimhood is, amazingly, empowering to some people.

I posted several suggestions on that other thread, as did others, and you know what we got?

Crickets, from you and the op.

Hmmm...if I didn't know better, I'd think that entire thread was just an opportunity to bash those who have the audacity to express misgivings about how this disaster is being handled by this Admin.

But of course, I know better. It's just curious that no one addressed the actual responses to the actual question posed by the OP.

I just went back and looked at the replies to that thread.

I did indeed find your "several solutions".

They included an admonition about not letting the fox guard the henhouse, insisting that another poster provide a link, and something about wearing hazmat suits.

If there was a specific solution to the present problem in there, I'm afraid I missed it.

I was referring to this one:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8388620

Sorry about that, my bad, but my statement still stands.

BTW, I didn't "insist" on a link. I asked if the poster had a link, but you know that.

get BP the hell out of the way. Their only remaining part in all of this should be to foot the bill.

Remove the profit and cover-up motive from all people involved in trying to fix this problem. Then lets see what happens. I would be willing to wager that it wouldn't make the situation any worse.

that will fix everything.

I still don't understand why he keeps that wand in it's case. The fact that he won't open the case and use the Magic Wand PROVES that he's a DLC/Corporatist/Conservative/Socialist/etc and that he has abandoned us all!

Why won't he use that Wand? What is his agenda?

... the Obamabots were accused of believing he had the Magic Wand that he could wave to make everything right?

Ever notice how it's the non-Obama supporters who are screaming incessantly about the fact that he doesn't use that Magic Wand?

'Nuff said.

From day one the more enamored said that everyone needs patience, it's only been a week/month/6months/year, etc.

But at no time did I hear anybody opine that the 'Obamabots' thought he had a "magic wand" for anythin'. Quite the contrary.

Funny, I was pretty sure you were.

It's so true, people tend to only see what they want to see.

*sigh*

And yes I *was* here.....

... and look at the posts by those who attributed the delusion of the "magic wand theory" to Obama supporters at the time.

With very little research, you'll see many of those same posters later decrying the fact (as some are doing now with respect to the BP situation) that Obama isn't changing everything that ails us as a nation overnight.

So who took up the "magic wand" theory - the people who never claimed it existed, or the people who have consistently demanded to know why it isn't being used on their behalf?

posters pointed out specific things that could be done under existing executive powers, that weren't. Not "magic wands." The obamabots counseled patience, saying that he *didn't* have a magic wand. As far as I recall, nobody ever said he did......

Anyway, what I have learned from the past year or so is the stranglehold corporations have, even more than I previously thought. Depressing.

... that many who have pointed out "what could be done" completely ignore what is legal and, in many cases, feasible.

I've been reading all of the posts on the BP disaster for the past few days. What I've seen a lot of - and this is always argued as "a specific solution" - is to (a) get a bunch of really smart guys together who know how to fix this, and (b) stop standing in their way.

The problem is there is no quick fix here. And, very sadly, the people who caused this problem are the same people who have the experience, the necessary equipment (such as it is), and the expertise (again, such as it is) in this field.

I hear people crying about kicking BP out and replacing them - replace them with who? Oh, right, that elusive bunch of "really smart guys" ...

And that's all part-and-parcel of the magic wand theory - as though Obama, or anyone else, can somehow magically create a group of really smart guys who can deal with this.

I agree with you about the stranglehold corporations have - it IS immensely depressing. But it's been going on for decades, and there is no quick fix to that problem either.

Gotta run - I'm being told that Bobby Fuckin' Jindal is the real leader in all of this - and I don't want to waste any time jumping on that bandwagon. :sarcasm:

There's plenty there he *could* have legally done something about. Of course, not much is to be expected on that issue from one who didn't see anything wrong with McClurkin and Warren....

... about the response to the BP situation, on a thread about that situation, and now we're suddenly talking about LGBT issues?

Okey-dokey then.

If those same people are screaming for magic wands here (I'll take your word for it), that is certainly a glaring inconsistency.

My own opinion of the situation is that the corporations are in control (not just of this), no matter what words are spoken or wands are waved. It hasn't been "our" government for quite some time and I'm extremely disappointed (thought I should not have been because I should not have been surprised) that we are continuing in the same direction. I realize it takes a while to turn an aircraft carrier, but this one really isn't even being pointed in the right direction, with few exceptions.

... it seems we were speaking at cross purposes, being as we were addressing two completely different topics.

Yes, it takes "a while" to turn an aircraft carrier around - and it takes a lot longer to turn an entire country around.

One of the advantages of being "of a certain age" (as I am) is knowing that nothing changes overnight. And it really doesn't.

On the current topic at hand (the BP disaster), I can only reiterate what many have said: It's BP who has the personnel, the expertise, the experience and the equipment to deal with this, such as they can. The US gov't is not in the deep-drilling business, and that's just the way of it.

To use your analogy, if I may, turning the aircraft carrier around is going to take a certain amount of time - and crowding the passengers into the cockpit to yell "faster, faster" at the pilot isn't going to change that.

Some of the posts I've seen here over the past few days make me think some people have seen too many action flicks - you know, the ones where the guy who never flew a plane in his life jumps into the cockpit of a fighter jet, and somehow "instinctively knows" how to take off, land, and execute death-defying maneuvers with ease.

Unfortunately, life is not an adventure movie - and we have to deal with the reality on the ground, not the pie-in-the-sky plot point where the car mechanic from Bumfuck, Anywhere, knocks on the door of the Oval Office and says, "Mr. President, I have a plan - and it's so crazy, it just might work!"

We are where we are - and all of the whining about how we shouldn't be where we are is of no assistance.

After all, the Coast Guard, the Navy, friggin' Homeland Security, and maybe even the Budget Office, or the Post Office -- they all know more than the oilmen, geologists, engineers, oceanographers and everyone else who's been drilling and dealing with blowouts, spills and leaks all their lives. And who are down there now trying to figure out how to stop this thing.

What we really need is more Congressional hearings, so we can have a few useless questions buried in 15 minute speeches and nothing gets done for weeks at a time.

(That, and more posters and bloggers who haven't been within a hundred miles of a jackup rig, much less one of these, telling us how easy it would be to stop this thing if only someone would listen to them.)

2. Make sure that lab samples are sent to an independent lab. Disentangle the gov't from conflicts of interest with BP/Transocean.
3. Fire and replace "slow and dumb" gov't responders who have undisguised contempt for the people they are supposed to be helping.

http://www.wwltv.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/Jindal-questions-oil-spill-response-Coast-Guard-official-takes-blame--94624594.html

And that's just for starters.

operations on the spill?

A month later and BP is still covering up the reality of the situation, with the administration apparently abetting their efforts.\

Why?

all my bullet points won't mean a thing to you.

And then rip their contract up and tell them to get the fuck out of our waters. Then put tougher and tighter regulation in place, and put people into those positions that will enforce the regulations without filling their pockets with cash.

Mow a portion of the the federal lands and bale that stuff and send it.

Ask Kevin Costner how he can help him make some more of the centrifuge devices. We need to start casting NOW.

Ask for volunteers to come and help.

Organize cleanup efforts NOW.

That's what he can fucking do.

We'll all be able to walk on water if the oil continues gushing, unabated.

No one is asking him to walk on water, but to lead on this crisis. He's not employing a strategy that will work, and once again, he's looking too indecisive and too cautious to act.

arrest the perpetrators, tell them they're not allowed to do business in the United States until this matter is settled (if ever), and then get the very best scientists in the world to work on the problem and find a solution. BP has committed multiple crimes. They should not be controlling the crime scene.

How DARE you say The Messiah cannot walk on water? I demand you apologize this instant! If you don't, remind me to never stand next to you during a lightning storm.

The Great Leader must be in the middle of a 3D Chess tournament.

gulf oil ass Texas Style.

/sarcasm

Obama Orders Entire Oil Industry to Gulf - Suspends all Licenses Until they Prove they can Contain Clean up, and stop, an Ongoing Disaster.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8405199

INTERNATIONAL FLEET of GIANT OIL SKIMMERS SAILS TOWARD the GULF of MEXICO

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8402501

ALL Deep-water Drilling Should be Halted Immediately, since we have NO CLUE on how to deal with a disaster when it happens?

TALK - ACTION = SHIT

see also...
David Gergen on a WWII type response to the oil disaster

Although this disaster is not an existential threat, it could be argued that if the U.S. government had fought World War II in the same way it has fought the oil spill, we might well be speaking German now. Faced with a growing danger to our well-being, a WWII-type government would at minimum have:
• Brought in the CEOs of all the major oil companies and charged them with the duty of an all-hands collaborative effort to stop the spill and help ward off the damage.
• Brought in the best minds in the country, from universities and technology, for emergency efforts to find solutions.
• Moved quickly to mobilize the National Guard and other military forces, if necessary, ensuring that they received the resources needed to protect our beaches.
• Made a clear call to citizen volunteers to help where necessary.
• Given Cabinet officers an ultimatum: Get this under control in the next 30 days, or else.
There will be ample time after this disaster for finger-pointing and blame-laying. The key now is to get this spill under control before it does far more damage.

source...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8407567

the oil from going up the canals. Screw the Army Corps. of Engineers "environmental impact study" that's holding it up. He could bring in lots of ships to skim as much of the crap out of the water as possible. He could demand BP use environmentally friendly chemicals so the situation isn't made even worse or lose their leases (they ought to lose the damn leases anyway). Maybe there is a whole lot more going on behind the scenes than it seems . . . we can hope. It just doesn't seem they realize what a massive environmental disaster this is.

or confiscating their offshore assets here in the US?

The way some apologists act here on DU, you'd think the man did walk on water.

The response to the disaster needs to be federalized, as has always been the answer in emergencies such as this.

Only the federal government has the power and authority to manage this catastrophe, and only the federal government is charged with protecting the public welfare.

BP is calling the shots. Many here are defending that, and resisting the calls for federalizing the response. That is privatization taken to some absurd level, it is extreme right wing libertarianism run amok.