ELT World Discussion

[David]

GOP Congressman Don Young says the Gulf oil spill is "not an environmental disaster.

http://www.dccc.org/page/s/youngfb
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[Englishexpertgibson]

apparently, mr obama says it's been taken care of, but the locals of US coastal areas and the undersea species do not think so..could it be that obama's predecessor has bent the rules for oil companies and now we're seeing the results? should w bombings and some of his former administrators take an oath for this one?

one more question looms over this tragedy and the current consequences and that is; "are the oil prices to steadily rise up to the sky?"

cheers and beers rather than oil

[thelmadatter]

Supposedly, Obama had been briefed as to the nature of the spill, the technical issues surrounding its plugging and that it would probably spew oil for months.

I think if he had gone on TV to announce the same to the people, he could have avoided much of the political fallout he has gotten and will continue to get. I agree that there is only so much the feds can do about this spill, but keeping people informed is one thing that shows leadership.

I suppose he was hoping that the initial efforts would succeed so that he would not have to take a hit. Problem now is that the hit is much harder and continues to go on and on. As I mentioned on the Obama thread, as bad as this one is, its not the worst in history and other large spills over time have not done permanent damage. Im not saying this is nothing, after all it is near a heavily populated area and marshlands are notoriously delicate. We may see permanent damage from this spill.

Another major problem is the depth of this well. (addition: I just foung this article in Newsweek about this - http://services.newsweek.com/id/238620/output/print) The initial efforts failed in part because of it. The dome failed because methane and other elements were freezing inside, blocking the gizmo's ability to redirect the flow. All efforts have to be done robotically as humans cant go down that far. Another problem with the well's depth is that oil is not coming directly to the surface. With Ixtoc I and the Valdez, most oil was on the surface so we knew were it was and where it was going. We probably dont have that advantage here and staying submerged makes the oil vulnerable to deeper water currents. In other words, it might pop up in unexpected places.

But the real problem for the government, especially for the Dems, is that expectations have been lifted as to what the federal government can and should do. Criticism of Bush after Katrina sent the message that the President personally has responsibility for all major disasters, so fallout goes to him, whether or not it is warranted. This was not a good precedent. There ARE limits to what the government can do, especially in a crisis such as this spill. Now what should be done after the spill is over is another story and should not be tackled until this is over.

[shuize]

[Englishexpertgibson]

apparently, the gulf states federal judges had their interests in oil companies.

cheers and oil

[eslforhire]

[Englishexpertgibson]

the bush clan's family business...clintons've been into other kinda affairs

i see all these fine gulf judges eager the project kicked off. in any case, hasn't this been approved before obama's first day?

cheers and beers to the patterns and the royal american oil family

[shuize]

[Englishexpertgibson]

sorry i haven't had enough time to read it all but does presenting awards mean they've done well before?
cheers and oil

[Englishexpertgibson]

now, how would the current administration deal with claims from some cuban fishermen and resorts that it's just too oily there and so too difficult to survive?

cheers and oil

[geaaronson]

Actually ELFOSHIRE, the CIA put out a contract on Bin Laden 7 days before 9/11. Read it for yourself, it was in Time Magazine, a conservative newsweekly.
Now a fanatically, despotic jerk in a faraway land has sleeper cells all over the world and guess what, we had just provoked him unnecessarily.
Make a fist at a snake and it will strike. That´s why we fault Bush. Cheney wanted a fight and he got one.
And yes, Obama was asleep at the switch on this one as well. Blame both Presidents for their ineptitude.
But it´s interesting with all you neo conservatives, point out a deficiency in your favorite politician and you automatically go in the attack mode.

Didn´t you guys ever have a proper upbringing.

Mommy, mommy he hit me.
Well why did he hit you?
I only called him a name.

By gosh, it is never a conservatives fault. He has received grace from God.
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Geoffrey Ellis Aronson

[furiousmilksheikali]

Well, by that token Clinton could be blamed for "shaking his fist at a snake" or provoking him "unnecessarily" by launching cruise missiles into the training camps in Afghanistan.

Of course, that wouldn't be the correct analysis as Osama bin Laden had already declared war on Americans with this:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/terrorism/international/fatwa_1996.html

And had been responsible for the embassy bombings in Africa and the USS Cole.

It's probably understandable in those circumstances to put a contract out on bin Laden. Clinton had already set up the CIA's bin Laden unit, after all. Of course, why they haven't caught him since then is anyone's guess. They don't look like they've been trying very hard to catch him.

That job has been privatised:

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/06/15/pakistan.us.detention/index.html