The Washington Pattern Obama is Not Trying to Break
President Barack Obama on the Tonight Show, March 2009:
And one of the things that I’m trying to break is a pattern in Washington where everybody is always looking for somebody else to blame. And I think Geithner is doing an outstanding job. I think that we have a big mess on our hands. It’s not going to be solved immediately, but it is going to get solved. And the key thing is for everybody just to stay focused on doing the job instead of trying to figure out who you can pass blame on to.
Emphasis added.
Chris Stirewalt on the Administration’s reaction to the Gulf Oil Spill just over a year later:
But with news about the laxity at the Mineral Management Service and in the Interior Department, it looks like the White House may be turning back to one of its favorite enemies – Dick Cheney.
Maureen Dowd tells us: “One West Wing official admits that, even with all the crises they were juggling, they should have acted more urgently to re-examine the dark legacy of Cheney in the Energy and Interior Departments.”
And since a new Pew poll shows that a quarter of Democrats and half of all adults think the president could have done more, Darth Vader makes a politically convenient target to at least rally his base back to Obama’s side.
Targeting the Bush administration when the president’s appointee has been running the regulatory agency for 11 months may be kind of thin gruel, but this is, as they would say, is crisis communications.
Read more at the Washington Examiner:
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Question: If we have been drilling in the Gulf for 40 or 50 years, why haven’t contingency plans to contain an oil leak been formulated? Why hasn’t the necessary equipment been built and placed where it is readily accessible? Why haven’t techniques for containing a leak been tested and crews trained to implement them?
All of this was forseeable, but no one ever did anything about it.
I don’t blame Obama for not doing those common sense things, but I do blame him for dithering over allowing Louisiana to build sand berms to protect beach habitat. For that, there is no excuse.
And all the ditherer-in-chief can do is sputter “Plug the damn hole.” No sh-t Sherlock. WTF do you think they’ve been trying to do?
What an imbecile.
Comment by V the K — May 26, 2010 @ 10:31 am - May 26, 2010
To ignore the corrosive influence that the last administration on the government’s regulation of the oil industry is to be completely un-serious about politics. We have a revolving door between big industry and our government and that above all else is directly responsible for things like this oil spill. That’s not to say that Obama is some great leader that is handling this well, he’s not and he isn’t. But the tendency for conservatives to not recognize the corruption of the Republican Party on these issues is completely counter productive. The oil industry literally has the GOP and the conservative base eating out of the palms of their hands, and all you’re getting in return is higher prices at the pump and environmental and economic devastation.
A government run by industry men, who owe their wealth, success, and status to their industry, is inevitably going to do what’s best for the industry that made them. Conservatives decided to hand the government over to big business and they’re responding by treating you like a consumer instead of a citizen.
Comment by Levi — May 26, 2010 @ 11:20 am - May 26, 2010
The oil industry literally has the GOP and the conservative base eating out of the palms of their hands,
BP’s contributions to Obama say otherwise.
Comment by NYAlly — May 26, 2010 @ 11:33 am - May 26, 2010
The oil industry literally has the GOP and the conservative base eating out of the palms of their hands,
So, the guy who brags that he’s smarter than everybody else in the room doesn’t know what the word “literally” means, or where to place it correctly within a sentence.
In any case, the servility of the GOP to the petroleum interests is minuscule and benign compared with the absolute boot-licking subservience of the Democrat party to the Teacher’s Unions and the SEIU.
Comment by V the K — May 26, 2010 @ 11:54 am - May 26, 2010
Hmm, wouldn’t the ‘corruption’ Levi speaks of but never documents be an example of a “competitive private sector working cooperatively with an organized public sector”?
Where have I heard that called “the best way for our democracy to work”?
But then again 88 days and Levi can’t state a successful socialist state. So maybe he does believe it is the best way for democracy to work.
Comment by The_Livewire — May 26, 2010 @ 12:00 pm - May 26, 2010
Not to mention, by Levi-logic (but I contradict myself) President Bush was not in the pocket of the energy company, since Enron was exposed and dismantled on his watch.
Comment by The_Livewire — May 26, 2010 @ 12:04 pm - May 26, 2010
But, since you refuse to criticize him, call him corrupt, or demand his impeachment and criminal prosecution like you do for Bush, you make it absolutely clear that you don’t care about any of these things; you only care about political affiliation.
That’s what makes you hilarious, Levi. You really believe that people don’t see right through your lies. It’s like your whines about dictatorships when you and your fellow Hollywood liberals endorse Obama making himself a dictator. And then what makes you even more funny is that you think running away somehow means you don’t have to deal with the facts.
Comment by North Dallas Thirty — May 26, 2010 @ 12:26 pm - May 26, 2010
It’s been 16-months since the Obama regime was installed, that’s one-third of a full Presidential-term. Sixteen months of failed and superficial inspections on Pres. Obama and Secy. Salazar’s watch. And the entire emergency-response and clean-up lands squarely on Pres. Obama and his cabinet. And the rules that loosened the inspections and emergency-response planning were changed under Pres. Clinton.
They wanted it and by now they own it….they can’t just facilely point at Bush 43.
This is not Pres. Obama’s “Katrina”, …it’s his September 11th…and so far he’s failed.
Comment by Ted B. — May 26, 2010 @ 2:11 pm - May 26, 2010
man if being a lib means never to take responsibility count me out. Eventually, people *will* call you out on it.
Comment by Rachel — May 26, 2010 @ 3:05 pm - May 26, 2010
In any case, the servility of the GOP to the petroleum interests is minuscule and benign compared with the absolute boot-licking subservience of the Democrat party to the Teacher’s Unions and the SEIU.
That’s simply idiotic. There are far more severe consequences for having the energy industry directly controlling public policy that applies to itself in terms of foreign policy, economics, and the environment, and you would think those consequences and conflicts of interest would be apparent. But here you are claiming that their relationship with the GOP is more benign than the Democrats relationship to teachers? Of course, yes, the big teacher conspiracy – educations budgets getting slashed and teachers getting paid a pittance, obviously they are wielding all the power in the Democratic Party and obviously this is much more significant than for-profit industries pillaging the environment and manipulating the economy.
Comment by Levi — May 26, 2010 @ 4:21 pm - May 26, 2010
I think Obama is handling the oil spill beautifully. Rather than have the government get involved, he is allowing BP to do what it needs to do to keep making a profit. We, as consumers, can use the free market to not buy oil products if we don’t like offshore drilling–after all, no one is forcing us to use cars or heat. If we don’t like a company that is spreading an oil slick over the Gulf of Mexico, we can buy our oil from another company. BP shouldn’t be required to clean up any of the mess because anyone who uses oil knows the risk of a well bursting open underwater–if we didn’t use oil, this wouldn’t happen. I also don’t want my hard-earned tax money to go to cleaning up the spill since I don’t live on the Gulf and I don’t care what happens to the people there. If they don’t want to deal with oil spills, they can move somewhere else. Spending my money to clean up a spill that I didn’t cause and doesn’t affect me personally is socialism.
Obama, by keeping government’s hands off the situation and letting free market capitalism do its work, is handling this just perfectly.
Comment by Ashpenaz — May 26, 2010 @ 4:42 pm - May 26, 2010
And how do they do that, silly Levi boy?
Oh, I know — campaign contributions, right?
In that case, since Barack Obama is the biggest recipient of BP’s largesse, certainly you can attack him as a criminal and corrupt individual who allowed BP to create this disaster.
But again, since he’s an Obama Party member and black, you don’t care if he canoodles with corporations or destroys the environment, do you? Your only concern is attacking Republicans and conservatives; you fully support and endorse Obama illegally aiding corporations and destroying the environment.
Yes, it is — because there is actual proof of it happening.
Your problem is, Levi, that you simply aren’t capable of dealing with facts or actual information. You ignore those facts that are provided you in favor of your rants and outright bigotry and hatred of corporations, businesses, and anyone else who is more successful than you are. That’s why you and your Obama Party endorse and support protecting teachers who molest children.
Comment by North Dallas Thirty — May 26, 2010 @ 5:15 pm - May 26, 2010
Um, the quote mentions “the dark legacy of Cheney in the Energy and Interior Departments”. When, exactly, was he assigned to those Departments?
I know he was once Secretary of Defense, and ordered the cancellation of the A-12 when he discovered that the contractor had lied about its progress, but Energy and Interior? I think someone is confusing their dreams with reality…
Comment by Siergen — May 26, 2010 @ 5:53 pm - May 26, 2010
Gee, I hope it’s not the case that Obama is thinking of sending troops down to the border. The government shouldn’t get involved when the free market can handle the problem. I’m sure the corporations hiring those illegal immigrants have the situation well in hand and don’t need the government interfering. If we don’t want people coming across the border for jobs, then we shouldn’t buy products from companies who hire them. I don’t want my taxpayer money to go to a situation which doesn’t affect me and which I didn’t create–that’s socialism. If the people in AZ don’t like the situation, then they should just move away from the border. Obama did the exact right thing by keeping the government away from the border–I hope he doesn’t change his mind and turn to radical socialist solutions like sending the National Guard.
Comment by Ashpenaz — May 26, 2010 @ 6:14 pm - May 26, 2010
[Citation Needed]
Is that a bigger deal than Il Douche and the liberals in congress destroying the economy?
It’s always funny when libs whine that the BP is only interested in profits. Forget the reality that that’s money that’s flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. One truly has to suspend belief in reality to be a leftist douchebag.
BTW Levi, the oil companies have spent more money on fuel alternatives than your beloved federal government has. Suck on that fat one.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — May 26, 2010 @ 6:21 pm - May 26, 2010
And to hell with his sworn constitutional duty to protect the country, eh?
Comment by ThatGayConservative — May 26, 2010 @ 6:23 pm - May 26, 2010
Oh yeah. He fcuked up taking the oath of orifice twice so he couldn’t be held to that standard, I suppose?
Comment by ThatGayConservative — May 26, 2010 @ 6:24 pm - May 26, 2010
Ah, saw this earlier, and was saving it for Ash’s next post.
illegal alien immunity
Comment by The_Livewire — May 26, 2010 @ 9:09 pm - May 26, 2010
You’re right–because of Obama’s sworn constitutional duty to protect the country, he should not repeal DADT. Those who call it an unjust and outdated law are simply socialists who want to impose a progressive agenda on the country. What part of illegal don’t these people understand?
Obama is doing the right thing by standing out of the way of Toyota, the coal industry, Tylenol, BP, and all those other good-hearted corporations who only have the country’s best interest at heart. I think BP should be commended for their refusal to follow government-imposed regulations–we should think of the oil as tea, spilled in the name of freedom.
Freedom isn’t free–dying in mine accidents, oil spills, car crashes, or from eating uninspected food and drugs is a noble sacrifice for the good of all. We should be just as willing to die to protect free market capitalism as our fully heterosexual soldiers are.
Comment by Ashpenaz — May 26, 2010 @ 10:40 pm - May 26, 2010
Ashpenaz, you have openly stated that you want to strip people of their right to vote, take their property, and steal their money, all because you are too fat and lazy to work.
I’ll take BP, Toyota, and other corporations over you any day. Period.
Comment by North Dallas Thirty — May 27, 2010 @ 2:03 am - May 27, 2010
“If the people in AZ don’t like the situation, then they should just move away from the border.”
Excuse me? American citizens should now be pushed out of their homes by the demands of foreigners? We should simply retreat, allowing our country to be gradually shrunken down in size?
Just what we Arizonans need — more busybodies from other states, ordering us around and telling us how to live.
Comment by Lori Heine — May 27, 2010 @ 3:04 am - May 27, 2010
You’ve convinced me! We need the same assholes who’ve destroyed millions of black families, keep people poor, give us shitty schools, destroyed the economy and spending us into oblivion to take over all businesses. Why not? They’re the only ones who can protect us from the eeeeevil BIG businesses who only exist to kill their customers.
Somebody needs a healthy dose of D50, Narcan, and Thiamine.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — May 27, 2010 @ 6:03 am - May 27, 2010
I expect President Obama to turn on Kurdistan next.
Comment by The_Livewire — May 27, 2010 @ 9:55 am - May 27, 2010
The trouble with government is that it involves all those pesky voters who get to determine for themselves what the rules will be. You’re right–corporations are much more fair. They don’t have to deal with the will of the people or the common good–they only have to worry about profit.
Comment by Ashpenaz — May 27, 2010 @ 12:29 pm - May 27, 2010
They don’t have to deal with the will of the people or the common good–they only have to worry about profit.
And, if you don’t make a product that people want to use or in a manner that people find acceptable, you won’t have a profit.
Perhaps if you had a job or even a tiny bit of exposure to business, Ashpenaz, you would understand that. But then again, since you have openly stated that you are too fat and lazy to work for a living, it’s no surprise that you wouldn’t grasp this simple and basic concept.
“Profit” is a perjorative these days, it seems. Do you realize that, if you make more money than your expenses, you have turned a profit? Are you willing to state that you have no right to have a profit, and thus will turn over any money above and beyond your basic expenses to others, Ashpenaz?
Comment by North Dallas Thirty — May 27, 2010 @ 12:53 pm - May 27, 2010
If I was getting health care, roads, food inspection, military protection, retirement security, and other things WE ALL FREELY VOTED FOR, sure, I would give my extra money.
Comment by Ashpenaz — May 27, 2010 @ 4:59 pm - May 27, 2010
Fortuantely this isn’t a democracy. It’s funny though, that the President’s words say ‘the buck stops here’ but then adds ‘only on the way to over there.’
Comment by The_Livewire — May 28, 2010 @ 11:22 am - May 28, 2010