Posted by
oltexgal on Saturday, June 12, 2010 12:00:00 AM
What can be behind the feckless response of the Obama Administration to the Gulf oil spill? Obviously, they were caught flat footed, and were scrambling to get a political handle on the disaster, but there is something very "gamey" smelling about their subsequent "actions".
First, Obama sends a convoy of lawyers to the scene, to set the groundwork for litigation. Assigning blame was the first order of business.
Then he wags his finger at BP, demonizing the company and threatening law suit...... which strikes me as sending a John Edwards-type, ambulance chasing, malpractice attorney, to "encourage" your brain surgeon to do a better job on your own tumor. Anyone stop to think of the consequences of literally breaking the back of and bankrupting BP?
The esteemed Interior Dept Secretary, Salazar, has done nothing to oversee the Minerals Management Agency or make sure that existing safety regulations are adhered to. Of course, he called in outside "experts" to assess the situation and make recommendations, and then basically proceeded to add two paragraphs to the report.... between the text and signatures of the "experts", on which he based his 6 month moratorium on drilling. Is that not FRAUD?... Is that not tantamount to "FORGERY? Then there's the reference to the company's responsibility for protection of seals and walruses in the Gulf deep water drilling agreement. Excuse me. What idiot drafted the agreement.... who cut and pasted sections from Alaska agreements into those for the gulf?!?! How many parties flat failed to READ them?!?!?! Salazsar needs canning more than Charley Tuna!
Last, and most troubling, the 1920s, protectionist, Jones Act, which prohibits foreign vessels from coming in and aiding in the clean up. Obama could temporarily waive this act, and allow vessels from the 15 countries who have volunteered assistance to proceed. George W Bush waived the Act, in the wake of Katrina... heck, the act has been waived for the building of wind farms off the Delaware shore!!!! The Jones Act provides that only American made, American flagged, vessels, with American Union crews, can operate in US Gulf coastal waters. One wonders if Obama can pull himself away from the warm embrace of Andy Stern, long enough to sign a waiver. Of course, Stern, former Chief of SEIU, and is now sitting on Obama's Economic Recovery Advisory Board, and has advised him not to do so. After all, Obama has obligations and commitments.....
Obama and his crew have decided to use this tragic accident and ecological disaster to try to push through a version of cap and trade, and impose staggering tax increases, on energy, across the board. This national crisis requires clear focus on stopping the leak, and doing everything possible to clean up the spill. So far, the Administration response has been dismal and dangerously inept.
Instead of immediately waiving the 1920s era