How the Gulf Oil Spill Live Feed Changed the Obama Presidency

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Latest news I heard was that the main container for oil at the well was made of material that did not meet original standards. The metal was either thinner or weaker or wrong alloy, or otherwise not what it had to be to do the job right. Someone seems to have been bribed to overlook the "money-saving" sidestepping of regulatations. I also heard BP was allowed to "regulate itself" on this particular well. Who gave permission to sink this well, when it was obvious that a spill would be catastrophic?Congress must put stop offshore drllling so there has to be a RUSH to get alternative energy sources working. We need lots of offshore windfarms. Portugual now has floating units using power of tides. They tip to and fro, back and forth, and there is safe power. We have lots of solar power installations, but obviously not enough. As for Obama's behavior on this, he deplores the mess, but let's see if he urges Congress to cut back on offshore wells. Today I learned he is against Arizona's crackdown on illegal immigrants. That bothers me very, very much. It seems he also wants amnesty for illegals. I am disappointed with this part of his presidency.

aura dawn veirs of CA 3:03PM June 04, 2010

I am so afraid that we will suffer for years--the animals, the food chain, the jobs that will be lost, the tourist who won't come to support the economy. But President Obama and I have to keep on addressing the many other aspects of living in today's world. Neither one of us can afford to focus on only one problem.
He's from an island state where he grew up with the beaches and oceans and sea life all around. He, more than many of us, knows what is being lost.
We have seen how Obama's critics use every opportunity to slam him. The critics are becoming a self-parody. Many Americans are weary of the hysteria, me included.

Sally from the South of GA 12:17PM June 04, 2010

The Sock Puppet can't keep his mouth shut and can't stop trying to be a rock star.
Sorry Paul McCartney. Obama would be better off if he did read a few books--try books about Madison--instead chasing around looking for photo ops and microphones. Every time he opens his mouth we hear a lying spillcam of a political nature!

Fed Up of IN 10:11AM June 04, 2010

A point of clarification, the responsible party for the leak in the Gulf of Mexico is British Petroleum. They will pay for damaging this planet in reputation, stock price and cash. The men, who lost their lives we're BP employees, instead of comforting their families, BP's CEO wants his life back. It seems asthought you limited Government types expect The President and Vice President to slide down the Obama Pole, into the Obama mobile and race to the gulf, where they will commander the Obama speedboat, jump into the Obama Scuba gear and plug the damn hole himself. All before the end of the evening news.
The sad truth is the folks we charged with regulating and overseeing our economy, environment and baseball games have been asleep on duty. Why is that? We are more interested in being partisans than being Americans.

Ken Myers of NJ 8:54PM June 03, 2010

I read the news a lot and I haven't seen an overwhelming direction in blaming Obama as is claimed here. He has gotten some criticism as is to be expected, especially given the political climate. In fact given the political climate, it is amazing that there has not been more. Obamam is handling this as well as any one person could.
Mary Cary is trying to create news I think.

Mark of MN 4:54PM June 03, 2010

Your attention and outrage is severly misguided. BP is the responsible part here, and I have yet to see your outrage towards them.
Again, it is clear that Republicans, like yourself, are so eager to hate the President that they're willing to turn a blind eye from a company that has just caused the greatest environmental catastrophe in US history.
How dare you for taking the side of BP on this issue Ms. Cary.
Shame, Shame, Shame!.

Beagle of WA 4:06PM June 03, 2010

BP still testing President Obama’s patience
Constantine Balakiryan, PhD, Professor
The 45th day is growing huge oil slick on the surface of the Mexican Gulf, with the dimensions exceeding the territory of many countries and many States.
How long this can be continued?
Does BP have sufficient technological resources to close the damned holes?
They certainly do.
Then, what is the real reason they aren’t resolving the problem, for example, using my know-how and equipment for freezing the oil with liquid nitrogen?
The point is that blocking well BP will lose the"frosting on the cake”.
That's why BP proposed a new project "B," which assumes not only drilling new wells, but also construction a new platform.
For this escapade BP requests another 60-90 days.
It is easy to imagine what kind ecological disaster awaits US, if plan «B” is approved.
Very important to consider that the hurricane season is started, so the first hurricane sends in hell, all these shielding floats and oil will gush out to the territory not only the coastal states of the Mexican Gulf.
It is time to act.
Tomorrow will be too late.

Constantine Balakiryan of AZ 3:31PM June 03, 2010

Right on the money Mary Kate Cary- Obama's election was a fairytale- Too good to be true. Many people bought that a new President was going to change Washington. A year and a half later we find a President who never ran anything trying to run everything. Without a Corporation or Bush to blame, his lack of tangible real world experience shows. On top of that his cast of characters in the Whitehouse leaves much to be desired. Try the architect of 9-11 in NYC ? Apologize for America ? Blame Israel ? Look in the mirror and ask yourself if any of the campaign rhetoric has come true. One would have to say that at best there was gross misinformation spewed during the campaign or at the worst it was just lies.

steve of HI 3:28PM June 03, 2010

If BP gets a handle on this leak soon then the effects should be pretty much consigned to hyperbolic legend by this time next year. Oil and oil leaks are a natural occurrence - this one is caused by man, but a natural process of bacteriological action will pretty much clean this mess up fairly quickly - not withstanding Obama's threats and huffy foot stomping.
Also, it's important to bring to mind that during WWII hundreds of ships were sunk or damaged by German U-Boat attacks in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and along the Eastern Seaboard - many within sight of land. These WWII tankers only carried about 12 million gallons of oil each, but more than 20 were sunk or shot up so badly that they lost their cargo of oil. Also, more than a hundred other ships, all carrying thousands of gallons of fuel oil, as well as other cargoes of chemicals or munitions, were sunk in these same waters.
Around the world from 1939 - 1945 more than 3000 ships - of all types - hundreds of oil tankers among them - were sunk in the world's oceans. And, not a word printed about "environmental disaster".
This episode, while messy, shall pass - If the enviros can let go (doubtful).

R.L. Schaefer of CA 2:53PM June 03, 2010