Reply #11: I truly do not believe Obama can do anything about the actual leak;

[dgibby]

however, much more can be done re: cleanup and containment.

If he were to declare the Gulf a National Security Threat or Disaster Zone, he could require that BP continue to work on capping the well, instruct the appropriate govt agency to head up cleanup and containment at BP's expense. If BP balks, he could shut down all their operations and seize their US assets.

I think the biggest problem is the slow response in protecting the wetlands, beaches, etc. At least, that's what the locals are all complaining about, as well they should.

It's been 2 weeks since they requested the Army Corps of Engineers to ok building berms to protect fragile wetlands, estuaries, and still no answer. In the meantime, oil is washing into pelican nesting areas, birds and fish are dying by the hundreds, wetlands are covered in oily goop, effectively killing them, the Gulf economy is being destroyed, etc, etc.

Then there's the problem of boats under the control of BP sitting idle, requests for more boom being ignored, the EPA directive to cease using Corex being defied, the tons of hair, fur, hay, straw, and nylons sitting idly in a warehouse because BP doesn't want to use them. Another problem is the refusal of the EPA to allow skimmers in because they don't remove "enough" oil. So let's get this straight. The EPA would rather NOT recover ANY oil because the skimmers don't meet their standards. How STUPID can they get?

These are ALL things Obama could fix. Had I let my subordinates in the Navy run amok like this I'd have been Courts Martialed in a skinny minute, and I sure as hell wouldn't be sitting here collecting my retirement check. As one of my senior officers told me when I was a Lt, "No decision IS a decision, so lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way!".

The response is too little, too late, and every day that the coastline goes unprotected is another day that brings more death and destruction, and more blame for the POTUS.