Barack and the media caused more damage than the oil spill

No one wants to admit it, but the BP oil spill was blown totally out of proportion by the Barack administration. The Obama clan furiously beat all the drums they could find in predicting the worst environmental disaster ever. Politically appropriate,it was caused by an evil Big Oil company. As usual, Barack put his mouth all over the oil spill. He, Ken Salazar, physics professor Chu, and Admiral Allen became totally delusional as the spill progressed.

The government group came to believe they were in charge of the spill control operation. In reality, none of them had the slightest experience in any operational endeavor. They collectively or individually had no clue of how to get the well under control. Obama deficiencies are popping up everywhere he turns. His inability to develop an awareness of reality is becoming more and more apparent.

The Obama administration set the stage for a media literally panting to ballyhoo the story into a non-stop dramatic portrayal of impending disaster. The picture of the oil spewing from the well occupied a space on our TV screens even though there was no newsworthy reason to do so. Gulf residents, fishermen, restaurant owners were all paraded before us nonstop with the same tale of woe. Their lives were wrecked and would never be the same. The media saw all this as paradise indeed.

As a result of all these shenanigans, BP became viewed as a community pinata by anyone even remotely connected to Gulf life. Barack and company made sure everyone knew the pinata was filled with endless dollars. Barack promised all who were remotely concerned they would get a chance to swing the stick at the piñata in the hope money would come tumbling their way. Barack even appointed a referee to see that on one missed their turn. BP would be forced to keep the pinata filled with dollars. The public would be encouraged to swing away until BP had no more money. No sentiment or sorrow would be expressed when the money ran out. It would be treated as good riddance of a greedy oil company.

Certainly, BP has to step up to the plate first in paying damages. However, the actual damages have so far been relatively light. The major damage was caused by the administration’s and the media’s continually hyping an impending disaster of epic proportions. If there were any justice, the majority of the monetary claims should be directed at Obama and the media for promoting an impending disaster that never occurred. Fat chance of that happening!

BP Oil Spill: Worst Environmental Disaster Ever?

For 100 days the media and the Obama administration shouted in their loudest voice, incessantly, all day, every day. The BP oil spill is the worst environmental disaster in world history. They painted a sweeping picture of oil spreading across all the gulf beaches. They warned that it may even sweep around to the Atlantic side of Florida. The Louisiana marshlands would be decimated with all the wildlife wiped out. The fishing industry was sure to be ruined for decades. The administration and the media joined forces to portray a total regional disaster that would last for decades. BP was threatened and trashed by all sectors of the Obama administration as the unfeeling greedy purveyors of this tragedy.

Naturally, people listened. They stayed away from this area destined to soon be totally destroyed. After all, who would want to look like the oil drenched pelican so repeatedly photographed? No one went to the beach resorts. Restaurant goers across the country did not order Gulf sea food. A drilling moratorium was issued by Barack’s fear mongers to the detriment of the thousands dependent on jobs in the industry. Gulf real estate prices dropped.

Now, switch to the present. On this past Saturday we have Mike Tobin of Fox News giving an up to the minute report from Grand Isle, Louisiana. Mike calmly states there was no oil on the beaches nor was any oil visible in the Gulf waters. This segment was followed by President Obama vacationing in Pensacola Beach, Florida stating that the Florida beaches are clean. He and Sasha are pictured paddling around in the Gulf waters. Most of the Gulf areas have been reopened to fishing and the seafood has been found free from contamination from oil. The marshes are already showing new growth. Only three mammals were found coated in oil. Fewer birds were killed as a result of the oil spill than in California’s Altamont Pass by the ultra-green wind turbines every six months on a year-in, year-out basis.

Now, it is infinitely safe to say that the disastrous predictions of the BP oil spill were nothing more than a combined media and political overreaction. In retrospect, there was no need for Barack and company to issue the dire panic notices, or for the media to parrot them ad nauseam. The region suffered unnecessary economic harm. BP deserved to be blamed, but not to be so mercilessly assaulted, both verbally and financially.
So, Barack and Sasha vacation in Florida putting out the message that things are back to normal. The real message should be they never were anywhere near the level of panic the administration projected. Does Barack offer any admission of that? Of course not. Is there an apology to BP for the administration’s misreading of the potential impact and the resulting over reaction? Are you kidding?
As for Fox News, you could sense their disappointment that this big, big 100 day story had disappeared as fast as it came up. Things are back to normal. The very next day, Fox’s Breaking News segment featured the story of a grizzly bear killing a camper in Yellowstone Park. At least that was better than the oft used car chase scene from Houston or L.A.

This is a sad story in misdirected public attention that caused great economic harm. The administration should be ashamed for jumping in with both political feet emphasized by Obama’s ever-present mouth. The media simply added another sad chapter in the “Journalisms Is Dead” book.

All along the story should have focused on the 11 men who died in the fire and explosion. At least that was the real long lasting and sad consequence of this disaster.

Obama, Muslims, and NASA

What do Muslims and NASA have in common? Stupid question, you say. The two entities have nothing at all in common. If you aren’t already convinced that Obama is “out of touch,” and in over his head, the following incident should drive you in that direction.

In a recent interview Charles Bolton, the NASA Administrator, said that his “foremost” mission as the head of America’s space exploration agency is to improve relations with the Muslim world. He stated he was given this charge by Obama himself. That’s right, our sitting president believes our national space agency’s primary mission is to improve relations with the Muslim world!

This Obama guy is desperately out of phase with traditional America. Is he really the president of the same country that I live in? It’s beyond unbelievable. It is downright scary.

ChronWatch Interviews Obama (Pretend)

ChronWatch: Mr. President, what is your reaction to the negative criticism you have received over the BP oil spill?

Obama: I don’t understand it at all. After all, I’ve made several speeches and trips to the Gulf Coast. I beat up on BP unmercifully. I personally and publicly insulted Tony Hayward. I forced BP to agree to a $20 billion fund without any legal basis at all. What else could I do?

ChronWatch: The public seems to think you should have acted to control the effects of the spill.

Obama: You’ve been listening to Bobby Jindal. Don’t forget he is a Republican. What do you expect him to say?

ChronWatch: Hayward apologized many times for the spill. He stated over and over that BP would do whatever it took to make things right for those affected. Do you think it was necessary to come down so hard on him publicly?

Obama: Those Brits give me a pain. They think they are so cool. That’s why I sent the Churchill statute back where it belongs. That Hayward guy is way so “Brit cool.” I enjoyed taking advantage of him. Does he really think that $20 million will be the end of it? I learned in Chicago that you kick’em real good while they’re down. Isn’t that what presidential power is all about?
To top it off, Henry Waxman and his fellow weasels pounded on Hayward again. No wonder he went back to London with his tail between his legs. We gave him a good mugging, that’s what.

ChronWatch: So, what is your next step on controlling the spill?

Obama: Now that we have flummoxed BP in every way possible, we can use the incident to stop all off shore drilling. That will really please the environmental groups. Also, I’ll make a couple dozen speeches connecting the spill to global warming. Maybe we can jam through cap and trade like we did health care.

ChronWatch: But, what about the spill?

Obama: Can you tell me what else there is to do? As far as I am concerned my work is done except for a few more speeches. Meanwhile, my cabinet and I can relax and have another snow cone. After that, I plan to get in a round of golf.

Obama: politics trumps environmental concerns

From the outset, the potential environmental impact from the BP oil spill shocked the nation. We watched as BP worked to stop the leak and to control the spill damage. Almost two months later, we sit stunned as we realize the Obama administration has made no effort to assist, none. It has become clear Barack views the catastrophic BP spill as a political opportunity, not an environmental disaster. As a result, the administration has adopted an approach of “do nothing, just blame BP.”

Apparently this is right out of the Rahm Emanuel thesis of “it’s a shame to waste a crisis.” Barack’s only reaction has been to mount relentless attacks on BP. That approach fits right in with his Main Street versus Wall Street theme. All corporations are bad. Oil companies are especially evil. Their product is filthy and nasty. All corporate executives are dishonest. BP’s group leads the pack. Keep pounding on the theme that no punishment is too severe for BP.

In doing so, the administration managed to divert public attention away from falling Obama poll numbers and endless tea parties. However, to Obama’s apparent surprise, the public expected much more from their president. To the public, this event was not unlike 9/11. To the everyday American, the spill crisis represented an unexpected attack on a segment of the traditional American way of life, even if the environmental impact was regional. They expected their president to mount a campaign that attacks and defeats this national problem. Americans expect an effort they can talk about and be proud of. A Chicago style rubbish campaign was the very last thing they expected or wanted. Instead of being proud, they are ashamed.

Minimizing the damage to the environment from the spill would have been an ideal government intervention. Tell BP to concentrate on stopping the spill. That is their area of expertise. Then, put together a national effort to control the oil from the spill. I am sure BP would agree to reimburse the government for such an effort. Put the slimy Waxman inquisitions on hold until the spill is stopped. Tell Eric Holder to stay at home (and be quiet). Advise the trial lawyers to “cool it.” Form a committee of Gulf governors that talks daily with Obama to set priorities. Put out daily reports on the real status of the environmental impact, beach by beach, marsh by marsh. Stop the irrelevant pounding on whether the spill is 10,000 barrels a day or 40,000. Encourage the media to paint a balanced picture of the problem. i.e., we’ve seen enough oil soaked pelicans. In other words, get real, guys.

Ah, but such an effort requires a presidential leader. Instead, we elected an ineffective, and highly political, word machine. This president just doesn’t get it. Sad!

Barack made a speech the other day complaining about the popularity of high tech gadgets.
He said,

“With iPods and iPads and Xboxes and PlayStations, -- none of which I know how to work -- information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation."

The media was mystified by his comments. Up to now, everyone assumed Barack was way cool with any and all high-tech gadgets. He is widely quoted as saying he would never be separated from his Blackberry. So, why is Obama suddenly dinging all these modern, and popular, tools of communication and amusement?

It’s simple if you think about it. Barack views those gadgets as personal competitors. As he sees the world, his main role in life is to share his brilliance with the much less enlightened public. He fulfills this self-induced mission by giving speech after speech after speech. A person, or any object, that interferes with that role is simply unacceptable. Put simply, if people are playing with any of those devices they cannot be listening to him read from his teleprompter.

After all, giving a speech is second only to food and sex on Barack’s priority list, and I’m not too sure about ranking sex ahead of talking.

“Send in the clowns, send in the clowns.” So goes the famous Sondheim song. The song writer must have been thinking of the Obama administration when he added the line: “Don’t bother, they‘re here.”

Super Chief Barack jetted off to West Point to bore the graduating cadets with another teleprompter speech that only he is impressed with. He tells the cadets there is a new international order underway. The cadets must have been thinking, “Yeah, one where the U.S. is a second rate member if this guy has anything to do with it.”

Obama’s foreign affairs whip, Hillary, is always ready to chip in whether needed or not. She was in China giving away teddy bears at the Shanghai Expo. True! Later, Clinton engaged in saber rattling over the latest North/South Korean flap. She tells her Chinese counterpart, “Oh yes, we are supporting South Korea in their charge that North Korea torpedoed their ship. We must work together to address this challenge and advance our shared objectives of peace and stability on the Korean peninsula," she said.

Here is the same lady who passed out teddy bears now pressing for an aggressive approach to the Korean problem. That’s just great, Hillary, blab us into another war. The Chinese must wonder if Hillary and Obama have not noticed that their messages are always ignored by the Chinese government.

The Head of the I.C.E., John Morton, warned that I.C.E. may not process illegal immigrants referred by the state of Arizona. Under Obama, enforcing the law is apparently optional.

Meanwhile various administration honchos lined up behind the microphone to weigh in on the BP oil spill. “We are on them, watching them,” Napolitano said. “We are going to stay on this and stay on BP until this gets done and it gets done the right way.”

Dick Durbin, one of the senators touring the damage area, accused BP of relying on “excuses” and said the company’s initials now stand for “beyond patience.”

EPA’s Carol Browner insisted that the government is in control of the oil spill effort. Amazing!

Despite all of the strong performances noted above, Ken Salazar takes the ChronWatch Weekly Clown Prize. On his visit to Louisiana he notes after leaving BP’s Houston headquarters: "I am frustrated. I am angry. We are 33 days into this effort, and deadline after deadline has been missed," he told reporters "If we find they're not doing what they're supposed to be doing, we'll push them out of the way appropriately."

There was one moment of sanity, however. The Coast Guard Admiral in charge noted that “the Coast Guard is in the hands of BP to solve this problem. Only they have the expertise. We do not.”

Yet, bumbling Ken is going “to push them put of the way.” I assume he will place the Post Office in charge of the effort.

These guys (clowns) are all hopeless.