Obviously, BP is neglgent but their negligence was allowed by MMS.
More important, Obama should have declared this a national emergency from the start. He should have demanded that other oil companies contribute their resources. Even if he doesn't have the legal power to order something, the Bully Pulpit has great power. He could also demand that vacumming and skimming be immediately conducted with all available resources, without an exhuaustive cost-benefit analysis of each method and resouce. Just do it, I'm saying. If a method or resource gets up any significant oil, get that resource on the job right away The Super Tanker issue is also technically on BP, but again the administration can use the great power it has to motivate significant action.
This is not anti-Obama; I sure didn't vote for his opponent. But it is disgusting beyond expression that Katrina's massive blunders are being followed by some kind of fear of blame and sheer inertia that keeps the Federal Government, two Presidents in a row, both of them smarter than most of us, from agressive action in situations whose horror is obvious to just about every one but the ones who make the decisions and set the agenda.
Everybody in the Whilte House needs to forget about the price Jimmy Carter paid for owning the Iranian Crisis. Just be the damn President is what I'm saying. Damn the torpedos and full spped ahead. That's America; not, let's watch and study this **** till more cows come home.
