From Environmental Catastrophe to Economic Catastrophe to Presidential Catastrophe
Posted: Thursday, May 20, 2010
by Joel Hirschhorn
http://www.delusionaldemocracy.com
Except for people in the immediate impact areas of the gigantic, still erupting deep sea oil spill that BP criminally failed to prevent and shows no capability for stopping, Americans and the rest of the world keep living normally. Worst of all, President Obama shows no talent whatsoever for reacting appropriately to such a historic environmental catastrophe that also will inevitably create an economic catastrophe for millions of Americans, small businesses and states in coastal regions that will likely spread from Louisiana to Florida and then up the Eastern coast. Fishing and tourism related industries and businesses will experience a nightmare that will have countless negative ripples throughout the economy.
While enormous public, media and political attention has focused rightfully on the terrible performance of BP and its contractors, there should also be much, much more attention not merely on the failure of the US regulatory system to prevent such an oil spill but just as importantly on how badly the White House has performed.
Obama goes about his normal daily presidential activities without any clear evidence that he fully comprehends what can surely become the downfall of his presidency. It is as if a foreign military force has attacked and invaded the US without precipitating a sudden military response by the multibillion dollar funded Defense Department.
I just don't see a proportional, logical and necessary presidential response to what surely is a genuine catastrophe of unparalleled dimensions. The nation should be up in arms, going nuts about this situation. Enormous more pressure should be openly dumped on Obama and his entire White House system. Just as an enormous number of environmental animal and plant species will surely be devastated, so should the political fortunes of Obama.
The worst fears of people in the immediate Gulf of Mexico impact region are being shown fully justified. The problem is that Obama and the rest of the nation are not showing the same level of fear, panic and anxiety.
If Obama does not quickly mobilize a far better, bigger and more effective federal response he can kiss a second term goodbye. Remember these words in coming months.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)I wonder whether enough attention has been taken by the media and politicians on BP's performance. They have a woeful track record and in this case were really nudging the technology to get this well operational. For this you have to blame the failure of the US regulatory system to ensure proper requirements be met before this well even got started.Well done - very forthright article.
Ya, makes you wonder, is Barack on vacation or what? Maybe he and G.W. are at the let's destroy the damn country seminar, rubbing shoulders with the let's destroy the damn world crowd! What is it with these guys we elect to lead our country, seems they can't even lead themselves to breakfast.
We can't even blame this one on big oil as they're gonna take a big hit even from their own constituencies.
Maddening!
Can you tell me specifically what measures you feel he should have taken? And how do we get ALL the politicians out of bed with Big Oil?Thanks.
BOYCOTT BRITISH PETROLEUM:Hit them where it hurts the most - in their pocket book.You can do your own small part towards this end by...Refusing to purchase:AMOCO gas (If you live in the Eastern U.S.)ARCO gas (if you live in the Western U.S.)Castrol Oil (if you live anywhere).
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