The Last Straw

IBD Editorials ^ | June 14, 2010 | Investors Business Daily staff

[Kaslin]

Leadership: FDR said we had nothing to fear but fear itself. JFK asked what we could do for our country. Now we can add Obama's whine about the disaster in the Gulf: "I can't suck it up with a straw."

'Even though I'm president of the United States, my power is not limitless," the president told Grand Isle, La., locals in a video released Friday. "So I can't dive down there and plug the hole. I can't suck it up with a straw. All I can do is make sure that I put honest, hardworking, smart people in place . .. to implement this thing."

If only that were true. We have the secretary of the interior caught in a lie about experts endorsing a six-moth moratorium on offshore drilling that will do more damage to the Gulf economy than the Deepwater spill itself.

Has anyone seen the FEMA director in the Gulf or on the side of a milk carton? Where is Energy Secretary Chu? Off polishing a solar panel somewhere perhaps?

Speaking of the moratorium, the Obama administration now expects offshore oil rig workers who lose wages as a result of the administration's moratorium on deep-water oil and gas exploration to be reimbursed by BP, White House spokeswoman Moira Mack said last week. That is just goofy. How is British Petroleum responsible for government-mandated layoffs?

You'd think the administration could have found out there is a company in Maine able to produce 90,000 feet of containment boom a day. Why was the incident commander, Adm. Thad Allen, unaware of that fact until ABC's Jake Tapper made him aware of it in an interview?

[DoughtyOne]

Truman: The buck stops here.
Clinton: What buck?
Obama: It was definitely George Bucks fault

[EBH]

I know I have reached my last straw.

I can’t read another article regarding this spill and the 0bama’s failed response. Failed is an understatement and the obfuscation is criminal.

This isn’t just bad, poor organization etc. It is criminal.

[mamelukesabre]

I was told today by a friend who’s sister in law works for BP that BP didn’t own the drilling rig or the pipe or the valve that malfunctioned. The drilling work was subcontracted out to an american company(trans america, or something like that). And also I was told BP only has a 60% share in the oil. The remaining 40% is owned by exxon and shell.

Anyone know if any of this is at all accurate?

[oyez]

Unless some leadership emerges somewhere, voters will start to lower their own boom in November.

I am getting flash backs from 1979, this time the hostages are in the USA.

[mad_as_he$$]

0 has no idea how to lead. Pitiful.

[mad_as_he$$]

The part about the hardware is true. Do not know about the ownership of the oil.

[marron]

'Even though I'm president of the United States, my power is not limitless," the president told Grand Isle, La., locals in a video released Friday. "So I can't dive down there and plug the hole. I can't suck it up with a straw. All I can do is make sure that I put honest, hardworking, smart people in place . .. to implement this thing."

Thus far he is being honest and candid. He isn't a driller, he's a politician. The fact that he doesn't know more than drillers know about solving the leak isn't his crime.

His crime is putting up barriers to prevent people from getting the job done. Communities wanting to clean their own coasts and harbors are told they have to get permission. Common sense solutions are "not yet EPA approved". They require the use of dispersants that make it worse and are more toxic than the oil itself.

And they refuse the help of Dutch specialists because they aren't union. What? Just that. They refuse the help of specialists because they aren't union. I found it hard to believe too. Came right out of the Coast Guard's mouth.

A president isn't expected to know everything. He is expected to not make things worse for venal and political motives.

[Recovering_Democrat]

For 20 years there has been a LAW ON THE BOOKS about Oil Spills.

Hussein, start kicking your own miserable ass!

THE OIL POLLUTION ACT OF 1990 CHARGES THE WHITE HOUSE WITH CLEANING UP THE MESS. SO YOU HAVE FAILED BIG TIME, HUSSEIN!

OPA, among other things, amended Section 311 of the federal Clean Water Act. Section 311 now provides in part that: (A) If a discharge, or a substantial threat of a discharge, of oil or a hazardous substance from a vessel, offshore facility, or onshore facility is of such a size or character as to be a substantial threat to the public health or welfare of the United States (including but not limited to fish, shellfish, wildlife, other natural resources, and the public and private beaches and shorelines of the United States),
the President shall

(notice the word SHALL; not "MAY" not "CAN" not "PERHAPS", but SHALL!)

direct all Federal, State, and private actions to remove the discharge or to mitigate or prevent the threat of the discharge.

(B) In carrying out this paragraph, the President may, without regard to any other provision of law governing contracting procedures or employment of personnel by the Federal Government–

(i) remove or arrange for the removal of the discharge, or mitigate or prevent the substantial threat of the discharge; and

(ii) remove and, if necessary, destroy a vessel discharging, or threatening to discharge, by whatever means are available.

P.S.: CNN reports that on the day of the memorial for the victims (a month after the explosion), HUSSEIN ATTENDED A FUNDRAISER. Nice move there, jerkoff. Real caring.

[mamelukesabre]

Why is this BPs fault then? Shouldnt the blame go to the subcontractor?

[Kaslin]

the only leading he does, is mislead and the idiots are following him like sheep

[mad_as_he$$]

BP told Transocean and other contrators to to seal the well with sea water not more expensive mud. There was a big argument between the BP guy and the Transocean. Later the Transocean guy was on the radio on a service boat screming at someoen “See now the rig is on fore - are you happy now?”

[mad_as_he$$]

So true - it is amazing. The first time I heard him I turned to Mrs. Mad and said “This guy is a world class Bull$hit artist.”

[steve86]

Anywhere, if the subcontractor screws up, the primary contractor will take heat. The 60% thing definitely wouldn’t apply to who is responsible for drilling operations; haven’t heard about ownership of product.

[Tzimisce]

BP = Buck Passing

[steve86]

I agree that BP gave the culpable orders.

[SandRat]

[DoughtyOne]

There you go...

[unkus]

Tomorrow night 0bama will blame the American people for depending on oil.

[punchamullah]

The rig is owned by TRANSOCEAN (NYSE:RIG), which also owns the BOP and riser.

Partners in the prospect are ANADARKO (25%) and MITSUI (10%).