Obama's Disappointing Spill Speech

[IndianaGreen]

Obama's Disappointing Spill Speech

By Kate Sheppard
| Tue Jun. 15, 2010 7:37 PM PDT

Kevin Drum asked earlier whether President Obama would "go big" in tonight's Oval Office address on the Gulf oil spill disaster. I hoped he would. But he didn't come close.

There was plenty of militaristic talk, with Obama outlining the "battle plan" for the spill and noting that "there will be more oil and more damage before this siege is done." But his speech was short on specifics concerning both the near-term response to the immediate crisis and the long-term energy policy that will curb the nation's dependence on oil.

On the Gulf disaster, Obama could have offered clear direction on several issues: for instance, by clarifying the administration's stance on eliminating the liability cap to protect oil companies from damages following a spill, or by offering a hard number for how much money BP must set aside for the independently administered fund the government has proposed.

Then there are the questions about wider energy and climate policy that remain unanswered. Obama largely avoided the issue of climate change, only uttering the word "climate" once as part of the phrase "a strong and comprehensive energy and climate bill." He at least hit the right notes on clean energy, talking about solar power, wind, efficiency, and electric cars, an improvement over his State of the Union address this year, where nuclear power, "clean" coal, and offshore drilling figured heavily. But what his speech lacked was specific directives, which is what the Senate needs at this point. There wasn't even a clear call for a carbon cap, which I fear all but dooms its chances this year.

http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2010/06/Obama-BP-oil-spill-speech

[opihimoimoi]

1. I thought it was wunnerful...

[Newest Reality]

2. Now,

that's what I call leadership and that's why we don't really need them.

That's why I consider most modern Presidents nothing more than titular heads. They don't really lead, they follow very carefully what is prescribed to them by those who hold the reigns of power behind the scenes, be they one or many.

As long as we are in the spell of needing leaders, (rather than temporary guides on a path) we will look to them and expect more than what we will ever get. In fact, we will look to them as solutions while we ignore the fact that they have personal agendas and needs and views that play very heavily into the power structure that groomed them and brought them to our attention in the first place.

It doesn't really matter if you agree with Obama and live by the expectations that the spin of rhetoric allowed you to create for yourself in your mind and your beliefs, or if you vehemenantly and vocifersously oppose his every act and move, in the long run, the corporations will prevail and if you are cognizant of what is going on and how this game is played, you might end-up feeling a bit ashamed at being bamboozled with boondoggles as you dine on your goverment rations in your hovel.

[FrenchieCat]

3. Like clockwork.

[suzie]

7. Plus a trillion.

[Oregone]

4. Oh hey now

Premature ejaculation is "disappointing"



A lackluster speech is just typical politics

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[FrenchieCat]

6. I'm yawning.....We've been lied to for 100 fucking years.

And you are just now waking the fuck up? You're late.

If anything, there is less lying going on now then most likely ever before.

So what are you gonna do other than be pissed and moan a lot? Anything?

[elocs]

8. I should think people could not like the speech without being accused of being always critical

of Obama in the same way that those who liked the speech doesn't mean they are "cheerleaders". Why is there a need to defensively label people in order to defend our own personal position?

That being said, is there some secret database here at DU where I could find out exactly who are the DUers who are "always" critical of Obama, the "haters", as opposed to those who are the "cheerleaders"? Is it possible that there are those who fall between those 2 extremes and not love or hate everything that Obama does or says?