President Obama is planning another visit to the Gulf Coast to view the progress on the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill. Before he arrives, he should be advised that the people of South Louisiana are cynical of presidential visits. We have seen viewing of disaster areas before. We have heard promises and speeches before. There are even songs that mention them.
In this Times-Pic story, Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen said that the plugging of the leak is in BP’s hands as they are the most qualified to handle it. Fair enough. It sounds like we are at the mercy of a foreign company to me. But hey, if they are the most qualified. Fine. Sucks, but fine. It also mentions that he has checked with the high-ranking officials from other oil companies and they all agree with BP’s current methods. That’s laughable to me. Did anyone check to see if they had “Stop Snitching” shirts on?
So it is all being left up to BP and and they are making the rules. So, I don’t see what the point of Obama coming down to oversee it. I see why he is doing it but I don’t see how it is going to help us. It seems like it will help him. What he could do is get his ass in gear (a favorite phrase of my mother’s) and do what he can to immediately begin protecting the coast from the devastation of oil landfall, something is probably too late to do. And I am probably sure the plan in this situation is to let the oil company handle everything as well. Maybe President Obama should stop by and chat with Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser?
I’m with that. No clean up. Keep it from getting to the shore.
This is two disasters in five years for South Louisiana. We are weary. I wonder if President Obama has listened to President Bush’s speech from Jackson Square and if he has put it in the context our new disaster…
I consider detailed emergency planning to be a national security priority.
the institution of our government most capable of massive logistical operations on a moment’s notice.
Americans have every right to expect a more effective response in a time of emergency. When the federal government fails to meet such an obligation, I as president am responsible for the problem, and for the solution.
That’s what the last guy told us. And the difference between him and Obama is actually a similarity, instead of a Democrat governor and a Republican president we have a Democrat President and a Republican Governor.
Sorry Barack, two trips to observe progress seems pitiful. It seems familiar.
Is he bringing a little fat man with a notepad in his hand?
Ain’t it a shame?
Hey, Coolidge never did actually come down to see the six feet of water on the streets of Evangeline…and Obama hasn’t been allowed on the BP ship that’s trying to siphon off some of that oil geyser.
Such is the logical end result of small/limited government. If anything goes wrong, we have to contract out the solution, usually to the party that caused the problem in the first place, as they obviously have more experience with such problems.
But what truly strikes fear into my heart is how this whole thing would have gone down with President W or VP Palin.
I offer that today would be the first day we’d have the “1,000 barrells per day” number challenged.