Why I was not "hugely disappointed" with Obama's speech

Before the speech, I posted here that I expected to be "hugely disappointed" with Obama's speech because I thought it would include several things I oppose.

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8560981&mesg_id=8561681

At the top of my list was my prediction that he would use the speech to end the moratorium on deepwater drilling. He did not do this, and I think this is hugely important.

I also did not expect that he would use the occasion to endorse the notion that we have passed "peak oil" and it is time to recalibrate society to deal with this.

He did this in the speech, albeit modestly, but I think it is profoundly important that he did so.

On the downside, his speech did suggest that he still believes the need for deepwater oil trumps the risks involved in drilling and extracting from deepwater wells, which I think is, frankly, irresponsible given what we are seeing in the gulf right now.

However, his speech opens up the possibility that his view on this might change after everything is reviewed, which is an openness which I welcome.

So, I'm giving him a B+ and hoping he maintains his resolve to do the right thing, which in my view is:

a) to stop all deepwater drilling and extraction now because the results of blowouts and accidents are just too dire and totally unacceptable; if we still need that oil later, then we can deal with this later, but for now, with our current technology, this oil is just too dangerous to exploit; and

b) to not pretend that alternative sources can make any sizable contribution to energy security in even the medium term, because they can't, and to really focus now on promoting support for tough laws and regs that will actually reduce consumption, especially in the transportation sector.

sacrifice by Americans. Jimmy Carter was right and called for sacrifice n look how that turned out.

Msongs

There are several reasons Carter went down, the two biggest (I think) being the GOP-managed Iranian hostage situation, and his own lack of management and political skills commensurate with the task.

And even if his conservation campaign did not succeed, and contributed to his defeat, I don't think that means that option is forever impossible.

- B

.... permits are still being issued. Drilling is drilling, and this one disaster shows that it ALL needs to stop.

The world has had technologies to increase mpg, alternative energy sources, mass transit and eco-friendly communities/lifestyles for close to 50 years, and has willfully ignored every single bit of it until we close in on Doomsday for the Gulf of Mexico. And even now it feels like we're just getting lip-service.

WHY???

If we have an accident with a shallow water rig, we know how to stop a shallow water gusher, and have the technology to do this.

The problem is that when you go down a mile or two or five. If we get a blowout at those depths, we simply don't know how to stop it, as shown by the current situation.

I totally agree with your second paragraph, however.

the injured parties' lives and they can do creative alternative energy stuff with it AND, even more importantly, if the spill spreads to the East Coast and into the Atlantic, there are even more PEOPLE whom BP will have to make whole.

Do you really understand what is going on in the gulf states?

Obviously..you don't..because if you did ..you would be mad as hell..because this speech ..was nothing but empty lip service!

Did he even mention BP's new Deep water rig???? no

Did he even say he was going to really do anything different..like perhaps anything that would really help the gulf such as..

The federal government takes over the clean up operations. It institutes close cooperation with local groups and government.

The federal government requires that BP turn over all of its data on the spill and it starts live casting what is going on at the well.

It freezes all of BP’s leases, permits, and enjoins BP from asset hiding.

It requires that deepwater wells have two relief wells drilled and ready to go.

It stops having government agencies running interference for BP: MMS, OSHA, EPA, Coast Guard, NOAA, FAA, Interior, Homeland Security, etc.

Diversify the US military’s petroleum suppliers to lessen BP’s clout over the USG and reduce our vulnerability to disruptions within any one supplier.

It reviews all deepwater permits and revokes all waivers.,,instead of giving our 27 more since the rig explosion..3 of which were given to BP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That would have been just for fucking starters!

oh and pssssssssssssssss..BP has just hired Obama's buddies ..Goldman Sachs ..and I can assure you..BP didn't hire Goldman to protect we the people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

how is Geithner and Summers working out for we the people so far??????????????


and do tell me..How are those Walrus's and sea lions and sea otters doing in the Gulf?????????

While I totally support compensation for victims of this catastrophe, I have my own views on what needs to be done now.

For example, I reject the idea that the deepwater rigs should reopen simply because it will be economically beneficial to people in the area.

I am not surprised, of course, that many victims understandably want their jobs back, but the victims don't own the Gulf ecosystem, and for me, their immediate economic interests do not trump the environmental risks associated with continued deepwater drilling.

going on for 58 days..of the worst disaster our eco system has ever faced..please do not tell those of us on the Gulf this was anything but empty lip service..because we are the ones seeing our government complicit in this horrible crime to our nation and our globe!

You seem to see this catastrophe as an exclusive BP problem.

Yes, BP was a bad actor and should have to pay. However, BP was (just barely) following the insane industry-friendly laws put in place by Congress and by successive administrations, including the Obama administration, at least until about week two of this crisis.

In my view, the law is the ground zero for this problem, not BP's actions. However reckless they may have been, they were operating according to ridiculous drilling regs that even Obama seemed okay with up to about two weeks into this fiasco.

So I don't give a damn if BP goes bankrupt over this. That's a sideshow, not the central drama here.

2.52 million gallons of oil A DAY>>>>>>> spilling into the Gulf in my back yard for 58 days..you are damn fucking right I do..and who is in control of our beaches?? BP who is in charge of the media trying to report the truth? BP..who is controlling the rescuse of the wild life? BP..who is controlling our Coast Guard and National Guard? BP

Who is lying to the people about the Toxic air we are breathing? BP
Who is controlling people getting out of swimming in the gulf covered with oil AND BEING WISKED AWAY AND BEING scrubbed with COMENT ?? and it is being kept secret???BP

I don't think we disagree on how pathetic BP has been, but I believe the real problem here is not BP, it is bad lawmaking and bad regulation done by successive Congresses and administrations.

Given current technology, and what we are seeing in the Gulf, I personally don't believe there is such a thing as safe deepwater excavation.

I think Obama's temporary ban on deepwater excavation should be made permanent (or at minimum, put in place long-term, say for at least 10 years.)

and BP have pulled and the cover ups that are going on..I respectfully disagree with you!

Come on down ..the water is fine..if you like fucking oil to swim in!..and restaurants closing and shops being boarded up..

and god help you all if a hurricane comes through the Gulf..you might even get to enjoy oil filled rain where you live!

I can't say that I know exactly how you feel, and wouldn't try to say that, but I can tell you how I feel, which is that I am horrified, and I can't believe that we would let things get to this. I mean, how fucking stupid are we? And are we stupid enough to miss the lesson here, and to allow this kind of recklessness to continue?

Anyway, my sincere sympathies are with you, flyarm.

(I'll close with a brighter touch on the same catastrophe...)

:D

Some people seem to be putting a lot of words into Obama's mouth. You've addressed the words he actually said.

Thanks for posting,