Here the oil disaster seems to be #1 on everyone's mind. On the MSM it's page 2 news.

[Kablooie]

I wonder when America will wake up and see that the biggest toxic dump disaster in history has occurred.
And when will people become outraged. So far everyone seems to act as if it's unfortunate but it will all be cleared up soon and become past news. They don't realize it may become a major feature of the US for the rest of our lifetimes.

[WeDidIt]

1. ?This will never be the biggest toxic dump disaster in history

Chernobyl is light years ahead of this.

It won't even be the worst oil spill in history as Saddam Hussein has that one all sewed up from '92.

[Kablooie]

5. Alright, biggest American toxic dump disaster.

I saw the History channel show and I have to agree, Chernobyl was pretty bad.

But this may affect more area than Chernobyl did. We'll have to wait and see.

[WeDidIt]

7. It's already the biggest U.S. Spill

Whether or not it'll be the biggest American spill is still debatable at this point, but if BP fails to stop it by the end of June it will probably take that title, too.

Currently, Ixtoc 1 holds the record for the biggest American oil spill, though Deepwater Horizon will have a far greater environmental impact due to it's proximity to the LA wetlands, even if they succeed in stopping it on Tuesday.

[Ex Lurker]

6. If this was NY or LA, it would be covered as an apocalyptic event

nobody gives a shit about the Gulf Coast. This event has taught me that Katrina wasn't a fluke. We are on our own.

[WeDidIt]

8. People give a shit

Problem is, there's not much people can do about it.

What needed to be done about it needed to be done when the regulations surrounding deep water off shore drilling were formulated.

[Go2Peace]

12. No offense but that is an ignorant statement.

Chernobyl was no picnic, but the significance of this is right up there. This is a damn serious ecological disaster and is shaping up to be one of the largest wholesale ecological events in history.

[RainDog]

2. Katrina did far more harm to more property and people than 9-11

...and the problems continue and are now compounded by this horrid ecological disaster.

imo, the feds should declare the gulf area a national disaster area and employ people there and send people there from other parts of the nation (paid for by bp) to clean up the shores, build dykes and levees on the Amsterdam model, to bypass some of the corruption that is Louisiana politics, and to maintain a world heritage site.

[Go2Peace]

13. They haven't declared it a national disaster?

I didn't realize that. They really are playing down the significance of this. No wonder it is not getting the attention it should. This is monumental.

[flamingdem]

3. They know people are freaking out

but on to the next drama...

It's up to the people to show this is our central preoccupation

The media knows it's a long haul story:

2-3 MONTHS for a RELIEF WELL

[roamer65]

4. Just wait until it washes up on the Atlantic Coast beaches in June, July and August.

That will grab the headlines as the most populous area of the USA can't go to the beaches and has to put up with the petroleum stink.

When it gets to NYC, then the media storm will hit.

[Speck Tater]

9. Since the story is not exactly developing at warp speed...

and since news is only news when it's NEW, and since there's no point in repeating the same information over, and over, and over, day after day, there's really not much point in keeping it on page one until something NEW develops.

Sure, it's important. It's more than important, it's cataclysmic. But where "news" is concerned, it's no MORE cataclysmic today than it was yesterday. Just saying...

[lostnfound]

16. Neither was the missing blond, but that doesn't stop them from focusing on it

Lack of new stuff developing is not an obstacle to 24-7 coverage, if it serves someone's interests.

[Speck Tater]

17. Yup. You're right. I stand corrected. nt

[kenny blankenship]

10. Welcome to the new normal

the nightmare future has just arrived, and a depressed and helpless population has already gotten used to it.

[Go2Peace]

14. I see that too. The public just seems to have given up

But also, I am not sure they understand the significance of this disaster. It is happening underwater and so people can't really see it. Just goes to show we have a very long way to go in science education.

[leftyladyfrommo]

11. Don't see much about it here in KC

Course we are a long way away. But the Royals got a new manager and it made the front page big time.

[glitch]

15. DU has always been at least 6 months ahead of the curve.

Then again on some things the MSM has never caught up.