Welcome to a special Wednesday morning edition of The Bandit Speaks. How many of you watched the Presidents address from the Oval Office last night? I did and unfortunately it left me with an ill feeling which is why I didn't get too in depth on writing about it last night. I wanted to allow a good nights sleep to settle me down before I came to you with my review of the speech. I thought that might be able to calm me down enough to be able to write to you today without showing much anger...I was wrong. I don't want to delay this anymore though so here goes...
I'm going to attempt to go through the speech from the beginning and take it apart piece by piece. Bear with me...This is going to be difficult to swallow.
In his opening comments I found one of his first statements contradict his ultimate agenda...
"At home, our top priority is to recover and rebuild from a recession that has touched the lives of nearly every American."
If this is indeed his top priority then the wrong way to go about doing it is to implement new energy legislation that will surely increase energy cost to each and every American. After his opening comments he got right into the situation in the Gulf...
"On April 20th, an explosion ripped through BP's Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, about forty miles off the coast of Louisiana. Eleven workers lost their lives. Seventeen others were injured. And soon, nearly a mile beneath the surface of the ocean, oil began spewing into the water.
Because there has never been a leak of this size at this depth, stopping it has tested the limits of human technology. That is why just after the rig sank, I assembled a team of our nation's best scientists and engineers to tackle this challenge - a team led by Dr. Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist and our nation's Secretary of Energy. Scientists at our national labs and experts from academia and other oil companies have also provided ideas and advice."
Now I don't know about you but quite frankly I'm tired of hearing about how he has assembled a team of "experts" right after the rig sank. If I have to hear that Dr. Chu is a Nobel Prize winning physicist one more time I think I'm going to throw up. Obama won a Nobel Prize as well but obviously that doesn't mean much for his ingenuity. Give me a break. Let's continue...
"As a result of these efforts, we have directed BP to mobilize additional equipment and technology. In the coming days and weeks, these efforts should capture up to 90% of the oil leaking out of the well. This is until the company finishes drilling a relief well later in the summer that is expected to stop the leak completely."
Ok, so they have directed BP to mobilize additional equipment and technology. What about the additional equipment and technology that has been offered to us by other foreign nations? Additional skimmers, booms, and ships. I thought that we were reaching out to have better relations with other foreign countries. Whenever they are hurting we always come to their aide but now when we have need and they have generously offered to help this President turns down there offer. Also notice that he says that the efforts should capture 90% of the oil in the coming days and weeks. I don't see the words shall or will in there. Should leaves a lot of wiggle room. In addition he states that the relief well is expected to stop the leak completely. What is the back up plan here if it does not? Let's continue...
"Already, this oil spill is the worst environmental disaster America has ever faced. And unlike an earthquake or a hurricane, it is not a single event that does its damage in a matter of minutes or days. The millions of gallons of oil that have spilled into the Gulf of Mexico are more like an epidemic, one that we will be fighting for months and even years."
Notice here that he is laying the groundwork for his energy reform legislation. Thank you captain obvious for stating that the cleanup is going to take months and years.
"But make no mistake: we will fight this spill with everything we've got for as long it takes. We will make BP pay for the damage their company has caused. And we will do whatever's necessary to help the Gulf Coast and its people recover from this tragedy."
So we are going to fight the spill with everything we've got huh? I ask again...Why didn't you accept the assistance from the other nations when it was offered to us? Guess we aren't exactly fighting the spill with everything we've got after all are we? Notice here how he is going to make BP pay for the damage that has been caused. While I agree that BP is at fault here and should be held liable for damages I would like to know how this President intends on making BP pay. Is he going to hold a gun to Tony Heywards head and tell him to cough up the money? I don't think that he has the power to back up that statement.
"Tonight I'd like to lay out for you what our battle plan is going forward: what we're doing to clean up the oil, what we're doing to help our neighbors in the Gulf, and what we're doing to make sure that a catastrophe like this never happens again.
First, the cleanup. From the very beginning of this crisis, the federal government has been in charge of the largest environmental cleanup effort in our nation's history - an effort led by Admiral Thad Allen, who has almost forty years of experience responding to disasters. We now have nearly 30,000 personnel who are working across four states to contain and cleanup the oil. Thousands of ships and other vessels are responding in the Gulf. And I have authorized the deployment of over 17,000 National Guard members along the coast. These servicemen and women are ready to help stop the oil from coming ashore, clean beaches, train response workers, or even help with processing claims - and I urge the governors in the affected states to activate these troops as soon as possible."
So he states here that from the very beginning of the crisis that the fed has been in charge. Well I guess we now know why things have go so smoothly...NOT. Here again he touts the experience of the people under him by stating that Admiral Thad Allen has almost forty years of experience dealing with disasters. While I appreciate Admiral Allen's service to our country quite frankly right now I don't care how much experience he has. So there are 30,000 personnel on the ground in four states. How about you break that down by how many people that is to cover how many square miles of ocean, beaches, and marshlands. Thousands of ships and vessels in the Gulf? It's too little, too late. You could have had thousands out there in the first week if you would have taken the assistance that was offered to you. Thousands now doesn't mean much does it? So he has authorized the activation of 17,000 National Guardsmen. I don't care about the jobs he stated they will be doing...I'm more concerned about the jobs they may do that he didn't talk about (i.e. dealing with civil unrest, evacuations, incarcerations of civillians, etc.). Next paragraph...
"Because of our efforts, millions of gallons of oil have already been removed from the water through burning, skimming, and other collection methods. Over five and a half million feet of boom has been laid across the water to block and absorb the approaching oil. We have approved the construction of new barrier islands in Louisiana to try and stop the oil before it reaches the shore, and we are working with Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida to implement creative approaches to their unique coastlines."
Millions of gallons of oil have been removed huh? Well that doesn't mean to much if you've only removed 25 million gallons and there is 125 million out there does it? So 1,041 miles of boom has been laid across the water. By the images I'm seeing on TV it either isn't enough or you need to find better boom because it isn't working. Oh, and you've finally approved the new barrier islands in Louisiana to stop the oil. That approval is only about 4 weeks late. You should have approved it when Governor Jindal asked for it. I can't believe he had the nerve to bring up that topic and try to use it for his benefit.
"As the clean up continues, we will offer whatever additional resources and assistance our coastal states may need. Now, a mobilization of this speed and magnitude will never be perfect, and new challenges will always arise. I saw and heard evidence of that during this trip. So if something isn't working, we want to hear about it. If there are problems in the operation, we will fix them.
But we have to recognize that despite our best efforts, oil has already caused damage to our coastline and its wildlife. And sadly, no matter how effective our response becomes, there will be more oil and more damage before this siege is done. That's why the second thing we're focused on is the recovery and restoration of the Gulf Coast."
This may be the only two paragraphs where he was straightforward and honest during the speech...
"You know, for generations, men and women who call this region home have made their living from the water. That living is now in jeopardy. I've talked to shrimpers and fishermen who don't know how they're going to support their families this year. I've seen empty docks and restaurants with fewer customers - even in areas where the beaches are not yet affected. I've talked to owners of shops and hotels who wonder when the tourists will start to come back. The sadness and anger they feel is not just about the money they've lost. It's about a wrenching anxiety that their way of life may be lost.
I refuse to let that happen. Tomorrow, I will meet with the chairman of BP and inform him that he is to set aside whatever resources are required to compensate the workers and business owners who have been harmed as a result of his company's recklessness. And this fund will not be controlled by BP. In order to ensure that all legitimate claims are paid out in a fair and timely manner, the account must and will be administered by an independent, third party."
So Mr. Obama is going to FINALLY meet with the chairman of BP. Oh what I would give to be a fly on the wall in the Oval Office during that meeting. Do you get the impression that Obama is going to get the whip out and give the BP chairman a spanking? So Obama is going to inform the BP chairman the he must set aside "resources" (that's a code word for money) to compensate the workers and business owners who have been harmed. Once again, while I agree that this is BP's responsibility I am not sure the President has it in his Constitutional power to enforce these threats. Another important question is who the third party will be that is going to administer the fund. Something don't jive here people and all I've got to say is follow the money.
"Beyond compensating the people of the Gulf in the short-term, it's also clear we need a long-term plan to restore the unique beauty and bounty of this region. The oil spill represents just the latest blow to a place that has already suffered multiple economic disasters and decades of environmental degradation that has led to disappearing wetlands and habitats. And the region still hasn't recovered from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. That's why we must make a commitment to the Gulf Coast that goes beyond responding to the crisis of the moment.
I make that commitment tonight. Earlier, I asked Ray Mabus, the Secretary of the Navy, a former governor of Mississippi, and a son of the Gulf, to develop a long-term Gulf Coast Restoration Plan as soon as possible. The plan will be designed by states, local communities, tribes, fishermen, businesses, conservation"
So the Secretary of the Navy is now in charge of restoring the Gulf. Last I checked the Navy was not into the restoration business. Aren't they in the business of making war? All of this sounds well and good but will only lead to one thing. More spending and more committee meetings and nothing for real getting done.
"The third part of our response plan is the steps we're taking to ensure that a disaster like this does not happen again. A few months ago, I approved a proposal to consider new, limited offshore drilling under the assurance that it would be absolutely safe - that the proper technology would be in place and the necessary precautions would be taken.
That was obviously not the case on the Deepwater Horizon rig, and I want to know why. The American people deserve to know why. The families I met with last week who lost their loved ones in the explosion - these families deserve to know why. And so I have established a National Commission to understand the causes of this disaster and offer recommendations on what additional safety and environmental standards we need to put in place. Already, I have issued a six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling. I know this creates difficulty for the people who work on these rigs, but for the sake of their safety, and for the sake of the entire region, we need to know the facts before we allow deepwater drilling to continue. And while I urge the Commission to complete its work as quickly as possible, I expect them to do that work thoroughly and impartially."
Kind of ironic that shortly after Mr. Obama approved new offshore drilling that this disaster happened don't you think? Hmmm? While I agree that drilling must be done safely it must be understood that accidents can and will happen. That is why they are called accidents. I also agree that an investigation needs to take place in regards to this accident and if there was wrongdoing then someone needs to be responsible for that and pay the price. I also understand the need to reinspect all of the offshore rigs and ensure that they are in compliance. What I don't understand is why a six month moratorium needs to be placed on drilling. This basically tells me that the government isn't efficient enough to get out there and inspect these rigs in a timely manner. Therefore since the MMS can't do their job right the oil companies are forced to suffer. You've got to be kidding me. Expedite this process, inspect the rigs, ensure the safety, and lets get back to drilling and put these people back to work. Our economy runs on fossil fuels. Whether you like it or not that's the way it is. While this commission is sitting around twiddling their thumbs having meetings the workers that depend on these rigs for their paychecks are going broke. Furthermore, if these rigs don't begin working soon they will pull up their anchor and leave for greener pastures. In other words we will be importing more oil from overseas and we will have put our national security in jeopardy even more.
"One place we have already begun to take action is at the agency in charge of regulating drilling and issuing permits, known as the Minerals Management Service. Over the last decade, this agency has become emblematic of a failed philosophy that views all regulation with hostility - a philosophy that says corporations should be allowed to play by their own rules and police themselves. At this agency, industry insiders were put in charge of industry oversight. Oil companies showered regulators with gifts and favors, and were essentially allowed to conduct their own safety inspections and write their own regulations.
When Ken Salazar became my Secretary of the Interior, one of his very first acts was to clean up the worst of the corruption at this agency. But it's now clear that the problems there ran much deeper, and the pace of reform was just too slow. And so Secretary Salazar and I are bringing in new leadership at the agency - Michael Bromwich, who was a tough federal prosecutor and Inspector General. His charge over the next few months is to build an organization that acts as the oil industry's watchdog - not its partner."
Over the last decade the agency was emblematic of a failed philosophy? Folks this is another coded message here that when translated means another blame George Bush for this mess excuse. While me and Mr. Bush didn't always see eye to eye I want to go on the record that I'm sick and tired of hearing that man blamed for every problem that Obama faces. So Ken Salazar's first acts were to clean up the agency. Guess he didn't do a good job or he was continuing the philosophy that you are now bashing Bush for since you got caught. So now you bring in a new guy, Michael Bromwich, to watch over the MMS. Let's see how that works out. I hope he minds his p's and q's because he is going to be watched like a hawk.
That's enough for now...Check out the rest of the blog tonight when I will finish up my review of the the President's speech and I will get into the REAL agenda that he is USING this crisis for. Stay tuned...
Until tonight...
Stay Educated, Stay Informed, Stay Alert, Stay Safe
Sonny "Bandit" Darlington
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