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Today's Poll: Do you approve of how President Obama has handled the BP oil spill?

By Howard B. Owens
George Richardson

I'm pretty sure that if McCain and the ditz had been elected they would have put on goggles, taken a deep breath, held hands, swam down to the well and sealed it off by now. Instead they just flap their jaws like all sore losers who long for the good old days under the Bush regime. All this poll indicates is that 75% of The Batavian's readers are registered Republicans, no news there.

May 27, 2010, 10:04am Permalink
George Richardson

If the poll had asked: Do you believe Obama is a living, breathing human being? The results would be 15% Yes, 75% No, 10% undecided/no opinion. Typically Rasmussian results.

May 27, 2010, 10:10am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Here's the video that inspired the poll.
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May 27, 2010, 11:00am Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

I say we need to offer amnesty to all the illegal immigrants that will go down to the Gulf of Mexico and help clean up this mess with a bunch of sham wows !

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May 27, 2010, 11:25am Permalink
George Richardson

I just copied and pasted this, I didn't write it "One thing that might not be clear from watching the news: this isn't a matter of a dozen guys at BP and a PR team from the Obama administration. A "war room" full of industry experts from over 70 oil companies and drilling technology companies has been working on this problem night and day since the week of the explosion. If you count up the people from EPA, Army Corps of Engineers, and Coast Guard assigned to this issue, the federal government has over 20,000 people involved. The response to this issue has been massive."
Ok, here's where my opinion starts:
James Carville is right, as a political consultant. Obama could be pandering, hand wringing, and shedding tears for photo ops. James is also absolutely correct that people are dying as a result of deregulation, a free market hands off approach, a profit driven culture and a far right wing mentality. Now that there has been a meltdown and repercussions are being felt, they wash their hands of the mess, just like Pontius Pilate, and try to place blame elsewhere. People with zero credability, like Karl Rove and Sarah Palin, are laughing all the way to the bank at the ignorance and gullibility of the right wing base. It's really very sad, if you ask me but you didn't ask me.
At this point Obama should Nationalize all BP holdings in the juristiction of the USA. Let them chew on that for awhile.

May 27, 2010, 11:22am Permalink
George Richardson

I know you are kidding Gabor, but you have a good idea there. Shamwows a foot thick and the size of a football field could be deployed and then rung out and reused over and over. When I meet with Obama at lunch tomorrow I'll pass this along. Actually, it's not a good idea it's a brilliant idea.

May 27, 2010, 11:30am Permalink
George Richardson

A billion dollars worth of shamwows now could save 100 billion in ecological damage. Just throw them off of shrimp trawllers and pick them up ten minutes later, wring everything out and throw them back in. Six moths later the water would be clean and 95% will have been recaptured for future use.

"If you can conceive it and believe it you can achieve it." from "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill.
I read the book twice when I was young and I have been conceiving and believing ever since. I'm not rich yet, but farther away from poor and that's all I have ever desired.

May 27, 2010, 11:49am Permalink
George Richardson

"Don't you start me talking, I'll tell everything I know." -Bobby Blue Bland relayed to George Richardson in 1972. I have to respect my mentors.

May 27, 2010, 11:52am Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

I thought it would solve two problems at once. Get the illegals on the books and pay the workers to clean up the oil. "Its like killing two birds with one stone". LOL !

May 27, 2010, 11:53am Permalink
Jeremiah Pedro

@George first I think most of the people that post comments here at the Batavian are actually democrats.

I know you didn't write that piece George but I'm still going to comment on it. Cause you wouldn't have posted it unless you completely agreed with it.

As for the people like Rove and Palin laughing all the way to the bank at the gullibility of the right wing base... well that could be said about any politician or political pundit from any political party taking advantage of the base of their party.

All the "sore losers" are just trying to turn this into the same situation that Bush faced following Katrina.
People are trying to make a scandal out of this.
The only difference between Katrina and this oil spill is the oil spill was preventable. And it's not necessarily the executive branches fault. The problem goes beyond the oil industry as well. The problem is that the people in a position to regulate any industry in America are most likely former employees of the companies that they are now responsible for regulating.

If Obama were to nationalize all of BP's holdings that are within U.S. territory that would be no different than what the government is doing down in Venezuela.

Finally I think that everyone on this board and this country needs to remember one very important thing... We're all Americans first and foremost.
The problem down in the gulf is all of our problem not just Obama's or BP's. I'm pretty sure that BP and this administration are doing quite a bit more than any armchair politician sitting back all comfy at home critiquing everyone else and their actions.

May 27, 2010, 12:09pm Permalink
Jeff Allen

So far a lot of carping and no one legitmately defending the administrations handling of the crisis. Come on, there has to be one believer out there willing to at least try and defend Obama. Please, please, please.

May 27, 2010, 12:09pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

I won't defend Obama, but I will say that it's not his(or any) administration's problem to solve. It's BP's problem and if they don't solve it, they need to be brought to court and punishment and fines will be assessed. BP is responsible for any damage incurred, if this puts them out of business sorry, thems are the breaks. I believe in free markets good or bad ('cause nothing is perfect) not only when it benefits me. Government (taxpayers) is not responsible for a private companies accident.

May 27, 2010, 12:21pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

I voted no opinion because I don't believe it's Obama's job to handle it, nor was it Bush's job to handle Katrina. Both sides fill up with hot air over a false argument.

We have a large government that has procedures and processes in place, and same with the state governments, to handle these situations.

This systems, processes and procedures are imperfect because, you know, they were designed by humans -- humans who are prone to make mistakes and lack both omniscience and prescience.

This is a horrible tragedy, but it's also the price of living in the modern world that relies on oil. Accidents happen.

The partisan blame game is not productive, and, to me, it's no longer very entertaining.

May 27, 2010, 12:21pm Permalink
Thomas Schneider

If only the feds would let more land based drilling take place these companies wouldn't need to drill in such extreme conditions. I would think its a heck of a lot easier capping a land based well than one a mile under water. It would also be easier to contain any oil that leaks out as well. Like it or not this nation will continue running on oil for years to come.

May 27, 2010, 12:58pm Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

I find it hard to believe that these comments are actually sticking up for big corporations and their destruction to OUR country. I could understand if it was a small business or sponsor advertising here but why wouldn't anyone want the government to step in and try to minimize damage ? I don't believe its Obama's fault but I totally believe it is his duty to at least act like he is doing something ! As tax payers we are all gonna pay whether we sit back and let BP handle it or step in to help. I voted yes, so I guess I am ill minded but I don't hear any of you geniuses on what to do or how to stop this accidental ongoing damage ! (it will affect your pocket book no matter what).

May 27, 2010, 1:00pm Permalink
Jeremiah Pedro

Like I said earlier, I'm pretty sure that Obama and his administration are doing quite a bit more than any arm chair politician or pundit.

How are you personally doing anything to fix this oil spill Gabor? Since the rest of us geniuses aren't doing anything that is.

May 27, 2010, 1:08pm Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

I am trying to figure out how to help, did you see my previous post on the sham wow immigrant theory ? I can bet you that if this oil spill was causing people in this area water or business hard ships most would be whistling a different tune about the government reactions. How about financial aid for the next winter storm. Why should we expect the government to do anything right ? Just grab a shovel and move on.....
(added 4:10pm)
I guess I should shut up and trust BP to make nice nice when its over. Till then here is the live cam:

http://globalwarming.house.gov/spillcam

May 27, 2010, 4:11pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

I'm with Jeremiah here. As far as responsibility and action goes, I'm sure the federal government is doing everything it can, but the the onus lies with BP to un-f&%# this mess. You broke, you bought it.

BP needs to take responsibility for every penny spent on cleanup both public and private and if they go bankrupt doing it they can go cry a river to all the people who are losing their livelihoods, their environment and (let's not forget) a major source of food.

I really want to be pissed at Obama here right along with BP; I feel like he should be doing more, but when I challenge myself to come up with an example of 'more', nothing really comes to mind.

May 27, 2010, 1:27pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

My comments shouldn't be construed as letting BP off the hook. They're are the ultimate party responsible.

Earlier I said, we're an oil based economy and accidents happen.

But BP is a business that choose to going into the dangerous and problematic job of off shore oil drilling. Whatever price they must ultimately pay, both financially as well as potential loss of public trust -- that's just the price of doing business. I've no sympathy for them nor do I believe they should be given any breaks or bailouts.

My previous comment was narrowly focused on the politics of the situation and none of the other issues.

May 27, 2010, 2:08pm Permalink
George Richardson

Do what, limit offshore drilling to depth's that won't kill humans? I'm behind that 100%. All comments are welcome. My reply may not be.

May 27, 2010, 2:59pm Permalink
Jeff Allen

I have to laugh when the question is asked how we feel about the response and when we reply in the negative it is suddenly partisan politicking, hot air, or armchair quarterbacking. Of course this is Obama's responsibility, that comes with the office. Of course it's BP's responsibility, that's the cost of doing business in a free market. You make a mess, you clean it up. Herein lies the problem. We have an administration that claims to have been on top of the situation from day one (where?, how?). You have a president seizing the opportunity to blame the big oil boogey man and his administrators shooting their mouths off that they are going to keep thier feet on the necks of BP. BP offers solutions and then have to stand by while bureacratic red tape delays the implementation by days and even weeks.
Blame, blame, blame...spew, spew, spew. That is the resposibilty of the President to say enough of the blame game. Finally today he comes out and says that it is his responsibility, correct answer, just weeks too late.
Now we look at cleaning up a huge natural disaster while everyone scrambles to take credit for finally stopping the leak.

May 27, 2010, 4:58pm Permalink
Jeremiah Pedro

My apologies Gabor, the shamwow Idea is good.

Jeff, The only thing Obama is responsible for (guilty of)is playing politics as usual instead of what he said he was going to do before he got elected.
As far as this being a natural disaster I got to say that this is a man made disaster. Man made the oil drilling rig that drilled into the ground and man extracted the oil from the ground. And man failed to maintain the equipment properly that caused the explosion.

And yes all of the people up here in small town Batavia are just arm chair quaterbacking. You and me included.

May 27, 2010, 5:53pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

Kevin Costner is trying to help, and I read somewhere that James Cameron has volunteered use of his submarines to BP. I suppose we are all armchair QB's, but I'm glad to see citizens getting in the act. Costner has spent 26 million of his own money developing this technology. Good for him, BTW I liked Bull Durham and Fandango, great flicks. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=aH92USkWdYyA

May 27, 2010, 6:35pm Permalink
Anthony Timberlake

Hello everyone. I'm currently in New Orleans, we are working to help cleanup. It's so sad what is happening, these people are amazing and don't deserve a second of this!

May 27, 2010, 8:02pm Permalink
Jeff Allen

We are not armchair quarterbacking, we are doing the job the mainstream media is failing to do, that of holding officials, administrations, and companies accountable for their actions or inactions. When reasonable people respond to factual evidence and voice an opinion based on that evidence, that is not armchair quarterbacking. Now if we don't follow up our complaints at the voting booth, then we only ave ourselves to blame. a great majority of us are not in a position to actually go there and assist but that does not make our assessments any less valid.

May 27, 2010, 9:26pm Permalink
Jeremiah Pedro

@ Dave No Dave I didn't think he was any different from the get go. I didn't vote for the smooth talker from the windy city. He showed that he was nothing more than a puppet when he took Biden on as his running mate. I'm sure that Biden was the party choice and not his. I would be very surprised if any politician was successfully able to go to D.C. and buck their party and do what they promised to do. The only thing Obama changed when he took office was the person sitting in the oval office.

May 28, 2010, 6:10pm Permalink

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