Reply #52: A forceful President could do it

[Bragi]

I'm not saying that I think the President should right now decide that his top priority is to put BP out of business. If BP is collateral damage, then so be it, but its ruination ought not be the main driver for Presidential action. He needs to focus on a) stopping and responding properly to this blowout; and b) pausing all offshore drilling permissions immediately, pending a look at what goes back into operation and when.

That would send the right signal to industry and the public. Operations would come back based on being a) low risk, and/or b) have proper blowout prevention and cleanup plans, processes, equipment, etc in place, and/or c) are in areas of relatively reduced environmental sensitivity. Some operations would be back and operational in a few days, some may be closed for good because the risk isn't worth it, those that remain will have implemented what is to be learned from this blowout.

I think that's what FDR would do here, and then he'd publicly tell the industry that if they don't like that, to come and get him, but be ready for a fight.

- B