POTUS Talk (Rant - feel free to ignore my frustration)

[Ruby the Liberal]

What the hell was that?

"Trust Thad Allen, Ken Salazar and BP".

Their plan (operational AND informational) is obviously not working yet we need to keep on keeping on and just 'believe'??

Mr President, I love and respect you, but I must sat that I am EXTREMELY disappointed.

I wanted to hear that the US Government is taking over monitoring - of beaches, of the undersea, of collection efforts - not blocking the media as per BPs orders to their hired private security forces.

I wanted to hear that we are going to use academia and other disconnected scientists to tell us the fucking truth as to what is happening down there, how much of it is happening, and what Corexit is (or is not) doing to make matters worse.

I wanted you to announce a contract with James Cameron (who is one of the world's leading under sea cameramen) to film it all (as he has offered his equipment to do) as a shocker in the transparency space.

I wanted you to take a FDR stand for the American people.

Sir, I stand with you, and I support you. I will campaign for you in 2012 - but if you want to lead, you must stand up and take the (at tiimes, uncomfortable) leadership role. Make it your own, sir, but make it happen.

/rant

[LearnedHand]

1. Excellent rant; well said.

[jwirr]

2. The only thing new was the statement about oil depletion. I don't think

anyone at the presidential level has ever said it quite so clearly. However, that statement alone without action will be just business as usual.

[Tansy_Gold]

3. I wasn't able to watch or listen to the speech. did he say anything

about letting the media in to give reports on what's actually going on?



TG

[Ruby the Liberal]

6. Nada. "Trust those (Allen, Salazar, BP) in charge". Also, not a word about OSHA.

At the VERY least - where is OSHA? Where are the Hazmat protections? Apparently we are too worried about tourism and stock price and willing to sacrifice safety on those altars.

What about the safety of those hired to scoop these ginormous cat turds off the beach, all the while breathing in the effects of benzine and Corexit? Same old same old.

This is a total clusterfuck from all levels and this talk tonight didn't do much to diffuse it.

On another note, look for the casino on Wall Street to surge on the dereg nod tomorrow. :(

[myrna minx]

4. I share your disappointment.

To me, it was in no way reassuring that he was in charge and solutions are being sought, in fact, it made me realize how screwed we really are. :cry:

[Ruby the Liberal]

7. Thanks for commiserating. I *DO* support him,

but he is losing me over this response. :(

[katandmoon]

5. And pray! Don't forget to pray! Oh, and he got in the obligatory praise the troops mention.

[Ruby the Liberal]

8. I appreciate your frustration as well, but please take the snark elsewhere.

Thanks.

[katandmoon]

19. So you are the only allowed to vent your frustration?

[WeDidIt]

9. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll take you up on it.

*click*

[Ruby the Liberal]

10. Assuming you are still there

:hi:

What positivity can we take from this talk? I am not being a smartass - I would genuinely like to know what I missed. :hi:

[csziggy]

11. And don't tell me to f*^&ing pray, Mr. President

Praying is not going to do shit for the Gulf or for climate change. It's not going to get Americans motivated to work to stop our dependence on oil or develop alternative energy sources.

I emailed the White House after the speech and told him that Jimmy Carter gave me more sense of urgency in 1977 with his energy policy speech - and that was what I expected tonight. Instead, I am left flat with no sense of direction from our leader.

But I heard him tell me to fucking pray about three times. Fuck that. Maybe I am just tired tonight, but I feel like I am done.

[Ruby the Liberal]

13. *hug*! If not, join me and rant away

For me, I just needed to YELL. :grr: Feel free to join me either here or in another OP in your frustration.

This is like living through Valdez/Ixtoc in slow motion, like a cross between Nightmare on Elm St and Groundshogs Day butt in slow motion.

[csziggy]

17. At this point I am too tired to yell. I am just tired and fed up

I was expecting a Jimmy Carter like Energy speech. Instead I got - nothing -. No inspiration, no plan, nothing. I was going to drive to the coast this past weekend to say goodbye but could not. Maybe this weekend, though I may be in time to see the first waves of oil hit the closest section of the coast to us - St. Marks, Apalachicola Bay, Florida.

Far too often I find myself watching the ROVs. I know there is no point, watching will not help get anything done. But I cannot help clean up the coast - if the fumes get as bad as reported some places I would not even be able to be there. I want to be able to do something, but I don't see what use I can be.

Maybe I should just keep nagging all those elected assholes who are not doing their jobs.

ETA: :hug:

[faceit]

12. You love him? He isn't capable of leading in the worst environmental crisis in our history

You need to find the courage Obama doesn't have and stop supporting this corporate puppet.

PRIMARY OBAMA

[Ruby the Liberal]

14. Yeah - I am a realist and stand behind him.

If I had my druthers, Dr. Dean would be in the middle of his second term.

[GeorgeGist]

15. Irresponsible behavior is generally the result ...

of uncritical thinking.

I remind you that Mr. Obama chose to disappoint You.
It would be irresponsible of You not to honor Mr. Obama's decision.
You must remain disappointed until he redeems himself.

[Ruby the Liberal]

16. FDR - "Make me do it"

[Gin]

18. I think that since we keep saying BP is financially responsible...

they have to call the cleanup shots...or else we cannot make them pay for things they didn't initiate.....they control the funds at this stage...based on making them pay...whatever they do and however they do it fits that responsibility...and liability. (IMO)

[Ruby the Liberal]

20. In no way am I suggesting we take that responsibility away from them

it is the lack of oversight and 'independent witness' as to what is going on that is infuriating me.

Let them run their own show - no problem. Rely on them as the sole source of information - big problem.

[indepat]

21. I, too, wanted all that, but sadly came to realize someone who ratifies/continues most of junior's

most egregious acts, policies, and initiatives, including wars of aggression and a disastrously reckless and unfair fiscal policy; someone who assures HCR will allow the insurance companies continue their scheme/whatever wherein thousands of dollars of profit are skimmed per capita per annum; someone who nominates Gates, he of already prosecuting multiple wars; Holder, he of freeing Senator Ted Stevens (R) and crucifying Gov. Don Seigleman (D); Geithner, he of the $180 billion bailout of AIG with $13.9 billion flowing directly to the coffers of Goldman Sachs; Salazar, he of drill, baby, drill, but not bothering to aggressively clean up/out MMS; Kagan, who with many fine attributes. will doubtless move the Supreme Court further to the right giving us on occasion a 6-3 vote rather than 5-4, this person not likely to take an FDR stand for the American people or have many FDR moments at all. :cry:

[Blue Owl]

22. Trusting corporations is what got us into this mess.

Safe self-regulating? Not when there's profit involved.