Lead, please.

[mhatrw]

Job One = Contain, suck up and clean up the oil gusher with the full force of the United States' entire military industrial complex until the relief wells are finished. Bill BP for all of your efforts.

Job Two = Make 100% sure that BP is already doing everything possible to get the relief wells finished ASAP. If not, take over this job, and bill BP for all of your efforts here as well.

Job Three = There is no Job Three until you finish Jobs One & Two.

Why is this so hard to understand?

[FrenchieCat]

1. You know, I understand your sentiment exactly.....

Just want to know why when Bush I was in office and the Exxon Valdez disaster happened,
he didn't go to Alaska, he didn't give a speech on the spill, hell, he didn't do shit....
and you know what? Somehow, no one, and I mean no one blamed him and demanded shit from him.

Can you tell me why there is such a difference in treatment of these two Presidents?

Thank you.

Oh...and by the way, I think Obama is leading just fine....
even if it ain't how you ordered it.

[akbacchus_BC]

6. Frenchie, waiting and waiting! Guess the cake is yet to be baked!

[mhatrw]

7. Bush was hopeless.

Why wish the same on Obama?

[akbacchus_BC]

8. Are you out of your mind? President Obama inherited shit and he is

trying his best and you come on here to crap on him. Well, good luck with that point of view!

[mhatrw]

11. He inherited Bush's leadership inabilities? n/t

[FrenchieCat]

18. He inherited OUR fucked up government.

Where have you been for the past 30 years? In Sweden?

[FrenchieCat]

10. That wasn't my point.

The point was that no one blamed Bush I, period. Had nothing to do with whether he was hopeless or not. He simply wasn't criticized by the press, or the right, and even by the Left. I realize we didn't have the Internet then, but we did have newspaper and networks.

So why would there be such a stark difference?

What makes Obama so much more responsible for the last 30 years of fucked up policies?

PS. Took 20 years for many claimants to even get paid, and the were paid at a reduced rate.

[mhatrw]

16. All I want is for MY leader to lead.

The sad way the media coddled Bush has only tangential relevance on what I am asking.

[FrenchieCat]

21. He is leading.

Just can't do all that you have ordered.....
cause at the end of the day, he is just a mere mortal,
with the skeleton of what we thought was a robust government,
when all of the meat has been taken out of most of the govt
departments.

[mhatrw]

54. Take over the failed, horribly incompetent containment effort. Why is this too much to ask?

[FrenchieCat]

59. Because the government doesn't have the equipment.

The government was set up to favor the oil industry long ago.
It was set up so that the government would be toothless when
it came to how to deal with oil companies and any catastrophe
that might ensue. Why do you think we had two oilmen in office
for 8 years, with secret energy meetings and shit?
You don't think having Republicans in charge all this time
don't bear any consequences?

Better question? Are you Rip Van Winkle?

[mhatrw]

78. Make the equipment. We have a trillion dollar a year defense industry. WTF is it good for if not

responding to a national crisis?

[WeekendWarrior]

82. This kind of naivete just slays me. nt.

[dionysus]

96. he is. you're simply refusing to admit it.

:shrug:

[tekisui]

99. Hey, Frenchie, chimpy is no longer President.

This post isn't about treatment of Presidents. It is about the current President leading. You are hijacking the thread with your own agenda.

[Raine1967]

113. I disagree.

She is making a point, a valid one at that.

You may call it an agenda, I call it paying attention the hypocrisy of the media and history especially in relationship to this president in office.

That's not an agenda, that is asking people to have a little understanding.

[gateley]

13. That's a good point about GHWB - it was like it wasn't "our" problem.

And even when W was criticized about lack of response to Katrina, it wasn't like this.

The difference? Obama is black. I've become convinced that's always the underlying reason. The man can do nothing without being condemned.

[FrenchieCat]

31. Remember when the Pirate thingie happened early on......

that's when I knew that every fucking thing that would ever happen as long as Obama is President,
in the entire nation (or in most of the world if it included Americans somehow), would be his fault.....

and if he succeeded, it would be like..."well he was only doing his job"....

while if he failed for whatever the reason (like some impossible shit, like plugging a giant
leaking volcano full of oil one mile down), it would be like...."He's nothing but a fucking failure"!


Then when he couldn't get the Olympics,
that's when it was certified......
this man is gonna be held responsible for every fucking thing....every last fucking thing,
not matter what accumulated fucked up shit made it happen!

[suzie]

44. +1,000

[ZombieHorde]

28. You make some good points, I am going to make some uneducated guesses.

Uneducated guess #1: Far fewer Americans were environmentally conscious in 1989 than in 2010. Fewer Americans were as frustrated and hopeless over the Exxon disaster as they are over the BP disaster. Less frustration means less need for blame.

Uneducated guess #2: Today's Republicans are excellent at framing debates. If Bush I was a Democrat, we might have blamed him for not doing more.

Uneducated guess #3: The media was a lot different in 1989. The internet and political talk shows have changed political discourse. Political controversy sells.

What do you think?

[FrenchieCat]

35. Yep on all counts, except for the first. I think that environmentalism

has taken a downward hit since 1989. I think the environmental groups were stronger back then.....
I think we have become much more lax....probably from getting fucked over for so long. At some point, one reaches a certain cynicism that one cannot easily recover from.

[provis99]

38. I blame Bush for the current oil spill.

It was his deregulation policy, his screwing up of the MMS, and his cronyism with his oil buddies that led to an oil spill of this size inevitably happening.

[pundaint]

84. reagan is at least as responsible

[boston bean]

106. The spill was in the middle of no where, but still it did receive quite a bit of

news coverage and it was a disaster.

But the Gulf Disaster is much different. It's right there on our doorstep. It is affecting many many many more people and businesses. It will kill much more wildlife and it will spread up the east coast.

Exxon valdez was one finite instance, where this well will be leaking extraordinary amounts for months on end.


The government did the clean up in Alaska, not Exxon.

[akbacchus_BC]

2. What you asking? Am confused!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. YES,

Recommended for great ideas.

[FrenchieCat]

5. Suck up the well sounds great!

But I don't believe it quite works that way. Do you?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

17. Ah, you're probably right...

I was responding emotionally to a crisis.

[mhatrw]

47. No, that would make too much sense.

[FrenchieCat]

49. Actually not.

It's kind of like saying, we can reach the sky, before any flying machine was invented.

Sounds good and simple though if one lives in the Twilight Zone.

[mhatrw]

57. BP sucks. The federal government can't do any worse.

Do you agree or disagree?

[FrenchieCat]

66. I disagree about who owns the equipment........

and who has the expertise.

What I don't want is for the Government to seize BP assets,
make it go out of business so that it can't pay,
then the Gov't would have to pay (that would be us),
and then we'd be forced to hire other Oil folks,
cause they are the only ones who have the expertise.....
cause that's what 2 oilmen in office for 8 years gets you.

Someone in office a year and a half can't simply have changed
all of the institutionalized systemic flaws that have been inserted
into what the government to limit what it can do compare to the actual
mamoth industry who specializes in this particluar market.....
especially while fighting a damn near depression, two wars, and every fucking other
thing left to us by two lousy ass oilmen that sat on their asses
destroying so much for 8 long ass years.

[mhatrw]

76. Don't weasle out of the question. Could the federal govt REALLY do a worse job than BP?

[Turborama]

4. Who will get the relief wells finished if BP isn't doing everything possible?

I agree with Job One and the sentiment of Job Two but how many relief wells have the MIC drilled in the past?

[mhatrw]

9. Why is the leader of the most powerful nation in the world supposedly so powerless here?

[akbacchus_BC]

12. You here to stir up shit, right? Well run off to some place that would

love your point of view!

Nothing this current President does will satisfy you and am sure you have the hots for him, effing idiot.

Please do not suspend me Mr. Skinner, that needed to be said!

[FrenchieCat]

14. Because of 30 years of fucked up American energy policies.....

that's fucking why, or hadn't you heard?
The Government nearly drowned in the bathtub....
and is just getting lifted out of it.....but guess what,
all of the fucking money's gone!

Did you think Obama could just wiggle his nose like Samantha or something?

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

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

[mhatrw]

48. Bet you love Sexism in the City.

[FrenchieCat]

51. You are talking to a gal.

poster is female.

[Turborama]

58. I think someone needs to get some sleep

And I don't mean you.

[muffin1]

92. You seem

to be the one having an orgasm. You are talking like an insane person.
Do you need a break?

[Name removed]

110. Deleted message

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

[Turborama]

15. Are you asking why can't President Obama stop the leak himself?

[mhatrw]

19. Contain the leak!

[Cant trust em]

22. Phew. That was easy.

That exclamation point is sure to get the job done.

[FrenchieCat]

25. He could always use his finger.....

once he gets down that one mile!


Where in the fuck is Aquaman?

[akbacchus_BC]

26. Frenchie, both middle fingers, that would help. I have two to lend to

President Obama. Four will sure stop the oil leak!

[FrenchieCat]

37. Gotta laugh on that one!

:rofl:

[Cant trust em]

29. I don't really know what else to say to these folks. nt

[mhatrw]

63. A giant metal cylinder. What is stopping us from making and using one?

[FrenchieCat]

68. That was tried. I think that was like solution Number 1

There is pressure a mile down that is not as controllable as
we would all like it to be.

It's almost like you don't think folks are trying to come up with
ways to stop this shit.

I don't believe you could be that naive.

[mhatrw]

79. BULLSHIT! They have never tried a GIANT metal cylinder. n/t

[Cant trust em]

103. It was called the "Top Hat".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8678113.stm

Seems like what you're talking about though.

[mhatrw]

108. No, it isn't. What I want is a 40 foot wide cylinder the whole way up. n/t

[Cant trust em]

109. Are you an engineer?

Do you have some knowledge or expertise in this?

This is not a judgmental question, BTW. At this point I'm willing to take on all reasonable solutions.

[mhatrw]

114. No, but I've talked to 2 experienced civil engineers about this.

They said such a long, wide cylinder would be difficult and expensive to fabricate, but could not think of a reason why it wouldn't work. They are not deep seas experts, so maybe there is something they are missing, though.

[Cant trust em]

115. Yeah. Maybe it would be impractical with undersea currents or something.

:shrug:

I think there's some kind of website out there where you can send in ideas. Sending it in could never hurt.

[Name removed]

111. Deleted message

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

[Turborama]

24. Oh, I thought you were answering the question that I asked with a question

I actually agreed with your 1st suggestion. Got an answer for my question about your second one?

[Cha]

20. He's not powerless..who do you think secured the billions of $$$$

for the Gulf Residents? Who secured that deal?

The President is leading. The internet can snipe all it wants..in the mean time the President is leading while complainers sit around and pound on the keyboard. The keyboard warriors. yeah.

[mhatrw]

52. Contain the gusher! Who cares about anything else right now?

[Cha]

64. You're not making any sense.

[FrenchieCat]

69. Bumper sticker talk.

It is an epidemic right now.

Usually, this is how Repugs talk.

[guruoo]

27. Please name the resources our military currently has available to stop this oil spill.

OK, let's hear it.
What have they got?

:eyes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9efgLHgsBmM

[akbacchus_BC]

30. You need to ask, just her avatar will stop the oil leak, LOL!

[Cant trust em]

32. What? Who?

Hey, I'd love to answer that question, but I've got to go see a guy about a thing.

You understand though.

[Turborama]

33. Good question

I expect one of the answers will be, pull out all our troops from (land locked) Afghanistan.

I'm not sure quite what they'll be able to do that civilian professionals and volunteers can't, though.

[Cant trust em]

34. Maybe they could shoot their guns into the hole. Thereby plugging the leak with their bullets.

See? I can play the fantasy solutions game too.

[akbacchus_BC]

36. That could help and the NRA will get kudos .... sarcasm!

[Cant trust em]

39. See? Bipartisanship.

Double bonus!

[akbacchus_BC]

42. Well, you keep pounding that shit! I totally agree with President Obama

to be bipartisan as he was not elected for one set of people but for the whole of America! And he tried his best but the fucking republicans will not accept him!

Now, what is your point?

[pundaint]

86. See, we vote to decide which side gets to lead. Last time we picked a Democrat representing a

specific platform. We voted, and a majority of us decided to try the Democratic approach. Your mistake was easy to make, the guy we hired to implement the Democratic platform is, apparently, similarly confused.

[Cant trust em]

104. Whoa. You can let the ol' defense shields down.

I'm saying that if Obama did something and a right wing group got on board, then we could say that it was bipartisan.

It's just some fun, which I know is banned around here.

[Turborama]

41. Mythbusters have kind of busted that one already, though

As can be seen here, guns are pretty useless underwater: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEXRfWJNzG8

[mhatrw]

53. Thank God for TV!

[mhatrw]

45. Is a giant metal containment cylinder really beyond the capabilities of the entire USA?

[ProSense]

67. If you build it and explain how to use it,

I'm sure they'll accept your idea. You obviously know what it takes to be a leader.

[mhatrw]

71. Yes, because NOBODY else ever had an idea about solving this that BP wrongly rejected!

[ProSense]

72. It's your idea.

Lead, please.

[guruoo]

73. I suppose the Air Force could convert a C5a into one, and fly it into the sea

kamikaze style, to cap the well.

[mhatrw]

50. Lots of Metal = Metal Oil Gusher Containment Cylinder

[ProSense]

70. Is the OP a call for metal?

Lead, please?

[mhatrw]

74. Wow ! You should write for Jay Leno. n/t

[guruoo]

77. Or, Obama could arrest the well, and have the Marines throw it in Guantanamo

[mhatrw]

87. Don't forget to torture it!

[treestar]

40. Being President is really that simple?

It is not being just head of the executive branch of the U.S., which powers are divided in three and with the states. It's just like being a king - order what you want and you get it.

What if the King doesn't want the same thing you want? Do you still follow him? After all, he's your leader. Do what he says to do then. If he's not telling you what to do; you need do nothing.

Don't worry your little head about it. He is leading you; he just doesn't need your help.

[akbacchus_BC]

43. Treestar, well said!

[mhatrw]

46. Excuses, excuses.

Leaders lead.

[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

60. Deleted sub-thread

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[FrenchieCat]

56. and Internet folks type......

some use their words better than others.

What do you think about the 20 Billion without cap secured by the President today?
and the 100 million for compensation for the rig workers from all oil company
that have to stop working on deep water rigs due to them monatorium placed on
deep water drilling.

And what are your thoughts on the new commission that Obama has just assembled?
Do you believe the members are fit to find the best way forward on this Oil business?

What about the other commission that Obama assembled in order to investigage what
already has happened?

and his replacement of the head of the MMS department, as well as its restructuring?

What about the guy put in place of administering the payoff from BP as an independent
entity? How do you like that?

How about the plan that he mentioned in his speech about restoring the entire gulf,
and making BP pay?

What about that Eric Holder investigating for criminal negligence?

And those stockholders not getting any dividends for at least 3 quarters?

And what about his call for a new energy policy for our future? Are you supporting that?
Do you plan on being active?

How about that foreign aid that we have accepted, and the approval of Jinda's brain fart Brem?

In otherwords, I've listed many things Obama has done. He simply can't just stop the leak.
I'm sure if he could, it would be shut off like a long time ago.

[mhatrw]

61. Contain the leak! You are the leader of the free world.

Manage the crisis taking place just off your soil!

[Name removed]

65. Deleted message

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

[mhatrw]

75. How can you get away with posting this?

[guruoo]

80. chill n/t

IBTL

[vaberella]

91. They've tried everything. They can't "contain" something that could be gushing 65000 gallons a day

How would you do it? A magic wand or a dutch boy like Palin?

[mhatrw]

98. BP is the only one trying and they have tried nothing.

Two months later they finally have a plan to collect 60,000 barrels a day from the gusher. So why haven't they been containing and collecting that much from the start?

Two month later they finally have a plan to clean some of the water using Costner's machines. Why haven't they been on this from the start?

[Name removed]

62. Deleted message

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[boppers]

81. Fuck the economy.

Fuck Iraq.
Fuck Afghanistan.
Fuck drug regulation.
Fuck wall street regulation.
Fuck immigration.
Fuck the unions.
Fuck the poor.
Fuck GLBTQ rights.
Fuck Iran.
Fuck Pakistan.
Fuck healthcare.
Fuck Social Security.
Fuck medicare.
Fuck OSHA.
Fuck the CDC.
Fuck the deficit.
Fuck internet security.
Fuck net neutrality.
Fuck disabled vets.
Fuck the soldiers.
Fuck privacy.
Fuck industry regulation.
Fuck abortion rights.
Fuck Supreme Court nominations.
(etc. etc. etc.)

Obama only has two jobs, right? Is that your point?

[guruoo]

83. Win

:headbang:

[akbacchus_BC]

85. Man, you in a real 'fucking' mood tonight. Stay away from viagra!

Unless it is the weekend there, LOL. Kidding!

[mhatrw]

88. Yes & No

Me:

Fuck Iraq.
Fuck Afghanistan.
Fuck drug regulation.
Fuck immigration "reform."
Fuck Wall Street.
Fuck Iran.
Fuck Pakistan.

Obama & the Bluedogs:

Fuck the Gulf.
Fuck the unions.
Fuck the poor.
Fuck Wall Street regulation.
Fuck GLBTQ rights.
Fuck healthcare.
Fuck Social Security.
Fuck Medicare.
Fuck OSHA.
Fuck the CDC.
Fuck the deficit.
Fuck internet security.
Fuck net neutrality.
Fuck disabled vets.
Fuck the soldiers.
Fuck privacy.
Fuck industry regulation.
Fuck abortion rights.
Fuck Supreme Court nominations.
(etc. etc. etc.)

[boppers]

89. I believe that's more than two.

The OP was about two.

[vaberella]

90. Your insightful post shows you don't have a clue.

If only it was as easy as you say. Maybe n the first day when this happened and Obama called in scientist from---they would only have been as smart as you to know what to do.

[Teaser]

93. foolishness

Job 1: How?

Job 2: How?

Job 3: just give it up, you don't have a clue.

[Skidmore]

94. Wow! What planet have you been on lately?

Clearly not on earth and in touch with what has been tried thus far. Come back when you're capable of doing more than bleating.

[mhatrw]

95. They = BP. What "they" have tried = poisoning the ocean with Corexit

[Skidmore]

101. Given the stated purpose of your OP, this is more like

a non-sequitor, regardless of its truth. This OP was designed solely for the purpose of spreading disinformation about what has been attempted by the federal government and the President, in particular. It was not about BP and its negligence. From what I can see, plenty of people have been calling you on the abundant BS you are shovelling.

[mhatrw]

102. The stated purpose of the OP is to take this containment and clean up effort

out of BP's incompetent hands.

[Phx_Dem]

97. What's the point of this ridiculous post?

[mhatrw]

100. Yes. It is ridiculous to ask our President to lead in a national emergency.

What is the point of asking for Obama to address containing and cleaning up after the gusher when ultra-competent Big Petroleum is on the job?

[kjackson227]

105. "It's much too pretty of a day, to be stupid indoors"...

a silly quote by one of my favorite cartoons, which is relevant to this silly post.:eyes:

[LibDemAlways]

107. My husband, who knows a thing or two about how the

military-industrial complex works, suspects that the technology that could assist greatly in cleaning up this mess is proprietary and that the powers that be are deliberately not doing all they can so as not to compromise it. Just his hunch, but given the Marx brothers approach to this thus far, maybe not a bad guess.

[RBInMaine]

112. He's leading. Get a grip already.