Obama’s disaster of a disaster speech
posted at 8:48 am on June 16, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
Usually when I catch a political speech after its delivery, I read the speech before reading its reviews. Yesterday, our Green Room contributor Sarjex came into town with her partner and had dinner with us after a brief appearance on yesterday’s TEMS, so I didn’t get a chance to do any of it until very late last night. When I did read it, it shocked me at just how bad and tone-deaf Obama’s address was — and when I watched it on video, his delivery was even worse.
Andrew Malcolm has a great review that should be read in full, but here is a key point:
But watching the president and hearing him was a little creepy; that early portion of the address was robotic, lacked real energy, enthusiasm. And worst of all specifics. He was virtually detail-less.
After almost two months of waiting through continuously contradictory reports, an anxious American public wanted to know, HOW are you going to accomplish all this?
Even Obama’s cheerleaders over at MSNBC were complaining. “Where was the How in this speech?”demanded Keith Olbermann. Seriously.
Everyone’s assumed that fixing the leak was a given since Day Four, which was still five days before the Democrat got his big plane and presidential entourage down there. …
Trust me, the president said, tomorrow I’m going to give those BP execs what-for. As CBS’ Mark Knoller notedon his Twitter account, the president has allotted exactly 20 whole minutes this morning — 1,200 fleeting seconds — to his first-ever conversation with the corporation responsible for the disaster.
Then, he’s got an important lunch with Joe “I Witnessed the World Cup’s First Tie” Biden.
This speech was suited for Day 1 of a catastrophe, not Day 57. It had no answers at all. None. It’s as if Rip van Obama awoke after eight weeks of slumber and had been told just that morning about a massive problem in the Gulf of Mexico. For a man who has repeatedly claimed to be “fully engaged since Day 1,” and who repeated that claim last night, Obama gave every impression of still being in the spitballing stage of crisis management.
Obama didn’t even offer an original thought for spitballing. In his short presidency, Obama has had two responses to any issue: appoint a czar or create a commission. The auto industry got a czar, for instance, and the deficit that Obama’s spending has driven out of sight got a commission. Last night, Obama wanted people to know he was taking this seriously by appointing a czar and a commission, the latter of which had been announced weeks ago. That was the sum total of his substantive response last night. Small wonder Obama chose an Oval Office speech rather than face another press conference.
During the 2008 campaign, we repeatedly criticized Obama’s lack of executive experience, but perhaps even Obama’s critics might be surprised to see how badly Obama has performed in this crisis. He has nothing left to offer; Obama is running on empty. In the face of a crisis that has unfolded for almost two full months, Obama chose to talk about wind turbines. A nation waited to see if a leader would emerge from the White House, and instead it got an absent-minded professor desperate to change the subject.
Even Obama’s supporters have begun to see what his critics have long known: Obama is an empty suit. His sorry performance last night showed just how little he understands his job, the situation, and the expectations of the American people.
Update: Nick Gillespie sums up his impression of Obama’s speech in two words: “Icarus Descending.”
Blowback
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Did anyone watch Hannity last night with his Frank Luntz panel.. Two young blacks, both vehemently defending Obama, the chick said he inherited it, got poo pooed for that.. One young kid asked Hannity if he read his talking points off the teleprompter, which I found laughable because of the ONES use of a teleprompter… They were a joke.
reshas1 on June 16, 2010 at 10:09 AM
rockmom on June 16, 2010 at 10:02 AM
OF COURSE they knew all about what was going on prior to taking office. What they know is rarely represented in their messaging directed to the peon-serf citizens.
This situation playing out as it is only substantiates every decent person’s distrust of this administration and of our government. Corruption is always in effect, though the tolerance level may rise or fall according to public opinion and real exposition of news.
Critics recognize Obama’s ready willingness to have PROMOTED the corruption of regulators to not enforce regulations.
maverick muse on June 16, 2010 at 10:09 AM
I have an idea.
Let’s send Obama out to Pebble Beach to golf for a few days and bring Tiger Woods to D.C. to see if he can beef up the spill response.
DaydreamBeliever on June 16, 2010 at 9:40 AM
Allegedly at least we know Tigger has a track record of RISING to the occasion, especially a blonde occasion !
Sandybourne on June 16, 2010 at 10:09 AM
Perhaps that explains his comments about “a boot on their throat.” It seemed incredibly hostile and to be the sort of public over reaction that one normally does not see. He obviously knows that he should be in trouble. I doubt anything will happen to him, though.
Cody1991 on June 16, 2010 at 10:10 AM
DaydreamBeliever on June 16, 2010 at 10:06 AM
Painfully obvious since her “reset” debut fiasco as Secretary of State.
maverick muse on June 16, 2010 at 10:10 AM
This is what you get when you outsource the speechwriting to the guys who make your styrofoam columns.
Lockstein13 on June 16, 2010 at 10:10 AM
Rasmussen has him at 57% DISAPPROVAL.
Yes Daggett much much worse in my opinion… once the lefty media started to wake up the past couple of weeks and express disapproval then that has triggered a domino effect where people who voted and still said they approved of Zero the Destroyer have realized that it is OK and rational to disapprove. the next few months is going to be like witnessing people in mass admitting they had a terrible drug habit.
When the cast of MSNBC turns… Zero knows he is screwed. I predict 35% approval and 65% disapproval by late July.
Watching_Cloward-Piven on June 16, 2010 at 10:11 AM
18 minutes of my life, wasted.
upinak on June 16, 2010 at 10:12 AM
And he has a lot of experience plugging holes.
Daggett on June 16, 2010 at 10:12 AM
Excellent video…
Lourdes on June 16, 2010 at 10:13 AM
All that was missing from last night’s speech was a banner behind Obama saying “Mission Accomplished”.
Why anyone would expect this novice to lead in a time of crisis is beyond me. He is not an executive. He is not a leader. He is a con-man from Chicago. Last night he once again performed like a con-man.
You’re not fooling anyone Scooter.
fogw on June 16, 2010 at 10:13 AM
Barack Obama has now earned the less than honorable distinction of being the most untrustworthy President this country has ever seen.
While he and is distractors suffer from the delusion that he excels in charisma, he clearly lacks in anything even coming close to leadership.
If he is unable to handle the current situation with the oil spill in the Gulf, what would we see from him if this country suffered another 9-11 style attack?
pilamaye on June 16, 2010 at 10:14 AM
All hail the Failure in Chief!!!
abobo on June 16, 2010 at 10:14 AM
“The only way to recover from this attack is to pass my cap and trade bill.”
Also, he’d look for someone to sue.
Daggett on June 16, 2010 at 10:15 AM
I haven’t read through the comments here yet, but late last night I read through all the comments on the live thread of the speech. I was cracking up as it was hilarious – thanks for the entertainment.
If you didn’t read canopfor at 8:01 “pensacola fishing forum” about the spill, I would highly recommend you read it. It was fascinating and very scary. Basically, the guy says there’s no way to stop this. Thanks, canopfor, for those links – very interesting. How do you find all this information?
Obama showed his incompetence for all the world to see last night. Anyone with eyes could see that except Bill O’Reilly. Does he know how foolish he looks?
We need someone in charge now – this is literally killing the coast and our country. He’s gotta go NOW before it’s too late. I’m thinking it already is.
silvernana on June 16, 2010 at 10:16 AM
Let’s not forget the out and out lies that spew out of this man’s pie hole.
1. We have to go deeper and deeper to find oil.
LIE! We have to go deeper because the environmentalists in concert with our government have forced oil companies out deeper. There is plenty of oil closer to shore.
2. We only have 2% of the worlds oil reserves?
LIE! We only PRODUCE 2% of the worlds oil supply. That’s because large amounts of oil sit on Federal land and the feds won’t allow oil companies to drill for it, Example, ANWAR!!
maintenanceman on June 16, 2010 at 10:16 AM
How about “Spew”? Like the unmitigated oil gusher from the blowout, all that ObaMao does is spew his Marxist-Utopian vision 24/7.
onlineanalyst on June 16, 2010 at 10:16 AM
SMART Power!!!!!!!!1111111!!!!!!!!!eleventy
jukin on June 16, 2010 at 10:17 AM
The POTUS is spending only twenty minutes with the BP executives? What else is more important right now? Tee time?
d1carter on June 16, 2010 at 10:18 AM
Like most thinking ‘folks’, (ok, i hate the word but our elected leader favors it) I knew this socialist plant was going to be a disaster. But I didn’t have any idea how huge the disaster would be. Now I am starting to be fearful. His solution to the worst ecological and economic disaster ever to befall the United States is simply to vilify BP and make them pay, and pay, and pay. He has no other ideas, and neither does anyone on his crack team of losers.
What kind of response would this weak sister have if we had another terrorist attack? I think we all know – no response at all.
maryo on June 16, 2010 at 10:18 AM
That’s the absolute, God-awful truth, right there. Since 2004 they saw the potential to assuage their “white” guilt through the election of Ø and the Lame Stream Media did everything they needed to do to help.
ExpressoBold on June 16, 2010 at 10:18 AM
And, before this year, with very few strokes.
TXUS on June 16, 2010 at 10:18 AM
Someone else nailed it yesterday.
Oilbama
fogw on June 16, 2010 at 10:19 AM
He’s also got a history of plugging a bunch of holes.
teke184 on June 16, 2010 at 10:20 AM
I don’t know why everyone’s complaining. Obama can’t stop the leak at the border either.
John the Libertarian on June 16, 2010 at 10:21 AM
A long article but informative as to Ken Salazar’s ineptitude if not corruption as to involvement in events responsible for the Gulf Oil Spill, though one needs to read aside from the Leftwingism involved (noticeable bias involved attempting to protect Salazar from any responsibility, but Salazar’s noticeable corruption in judgment and positions held is still evident).
More to read here, more informative article, but time consuming to read…
THE SPILL, THE SCANDAL AND THE PRESIDENT
An excerpt from second link (longer, more informative article), just one of many interesting points raised in this piece:
Lourdes on June 16, 2010 at 10:23 AM
Empty Suit and Sack of Crap unite!
DuctTapeMyBrain on June 16, 2010 at 10:23 AM
Never expect solutions from The Blamer in Chief. He got elected blaming others for our problems while voting present as a Senator. The Blamer in Chief has a doctorate in second-guessing, finger-pointing and laying the blame, but he has no problem-solving skills or experience. His only solutions– for everything– are to appoint a czar, establish a commission or sue somebody.
chipandcharge on June 16, 2010 at 10:25 AM
Spot.On.
Jaibones on June 16, 2010 at 10:25 AM
^^ “MMS” = Minerals Management Service, federal agency responsible for supposedly regulating drilling as to production quality, etc.
Lourdes on June 16, 2010 at 10:26 AM
Remember the shirtless guys playing beer pong? There are your speech writers.
Haunches on June 16, 2010 at 10:27 AM
== Community Organizer.
That’s really all Obama ever understood and still only understands, how to do what, essentially, is the equivalent of just riling people up to complain and eventually either riot or something similar.
Lawsuits and committees and committee meetings and marching and making-show on streets and such…it’s all he understands.
Lourdes on June 16, 2010 at 10:28 AM
There’s a third which should be obvious: blame the Bush administration.
VPJ on June 16, 2010 at 10:31 AM
@av8r, 9:05
‘slick’
comes to mind
NY Conservative on June 16, 2010 at 10:31 AM
I watched a really interesting show in the past few months with all kinds of press people from every administration.
The Clinton press person kept quietly saying, “It’s the content.”
If you have good policies, they honestly sell themselves and make the president look good. If you don’t, no president can sell a pig in a poke.
AnninCA on June 16, 2010 at 10:31 AM
It’s high time the Veep whisper into his ear, “Mr. President, this is a big effing deal”.
The Zoo Keeper on June 16, 2010 at 10:31 AM
Lourdes, thanks for posting that link and excerpt. Rolling Stone should win a Pulitzer for this article. And the Senate should impeach Ken Salazar – but of course, with him being a former Senator, that will never happen, and I guess Obama won’t fire him either.
The one thing that article didn’t touch, though, is how the previous director of MMS got her appointment – she had no background as a regulator or in the oil industry, and was alawyer and lobbyist for American Rivers. This was about the same as putting Mike Brown in charge of FEMA. Yet nobody has called the President or Salazar on this appointment, even after she was fired.
rockmom on June 16, 2010 at 10:32 AM
And the fourth is: take a vacation.
And the fifth is: have a party.
And the sixth is: have more drinks.
Lourdes on June 16, 2010 at 10:32 AM
I’m utterly surprised that his fawning media doesn’t grasp what this guy is really doing. He hasn’t allowed the foreign ships in to clean up because of the unions. He hasn’t contacted the US Navy because he doesn’t want it plugged. He is focusing on ruining BP and stopping drilling to ruin the oil companies so that they can’t pay the people who suffered damage. He wants the disaster so that he can pass more marxist legislation. It’s clear and I don’t understand why his flunkies don’t grasp it. I would think they would be explaining how he is looking “long term”. Which for them is full socialization or take over. Curious.
Haunches on June 16, 2010 at 10:33 AM
I hate to add a downer to an already depressing situation, but I’m afraid. Imagine, if you will, that you’re an enemy of the United States, seeing the US government in utter chaos and turmoil over a domestic crisis, with a weak leader flailing around. Wouldn’t this be the time to a)advance your agenda or b)add to the sh!t raining down on the US government in the hope it will crack? Can you say Russia sending troops into Kyrgyzstan and/or Georgia; North Korea and/or Iran conducting nuclear missile/weapon tests; Al Quaeda hitting again? Remember, our enemies will not let a good crisis go to waste.
Trafalgar on June 16, 2010 at 10:33 AM
Lawsuits and legislation – that’s Obama’s playbook. Management, command, accountability – not so much.
rockmom on June 16, 2010 at 10:33 AM
This one sentence sums it up PERFECTLY.
Actually, I’d go so far as to say this would be an excellent speech if delivered on day one. Some partisans could be excused for criticizing it on day five or six.
But DAY FIFTY-SEVEN?
And on day fifty-eight, he has his first meeting – and apparently even his first conversation – with ANY members of the company that caused the leak; and whom he then fully entrusted to handle the leak. Even worse, he is now trying to placate victims by telling them: “Don’t worry, I’ll try to sue BP for damages once this is all over.”
Liberalism in America has run its full course. They have elected a consummate subjectivist into the oval office. As far as Barack Hussein Obama is concerned, his role in this emergency was fulfilled on day one: He identified the ideal scapegoat — ergo, HIS problem was solved. And for the life of him, he can’t imagine why no one else is happy about that.
logis on June 16, 2010 at 10:34 AM
An American-style leader makes tough decisions based on our shared cultural belief system. We trust him to do this because we believe he wants what’s best for America and he sees things the same way we do.
Our current “leader” had to hide his personal beliefs and his history of decision making to be elected. We really have no clue what he really believes and we can’t really trust anything he says.
warden on June 16, 2010 at 10:34 AM
Obama will go down in history, and we’ll all love it eventually, as the first AA president.
Competent? No.
But he really probably wouldn’t be viewed as competent by many people because he’s a Dem. So he simply will never please conservatives. He also can’t afford to placate his base, since they are a bit like the teaparty….very ideological.
I think, honestly, it’s not going to be straightened out until a moderate actually wins based on moderate ideas.
Then, we’ll see unity.
AnninCA on June 16, 2010 at 10:34 AM
He has been a fraud at every level of his life, someone who in some way or another has had to hoodwink people to get to each successive position, from his shrouded college days to the present. When attaining each position he has had to be a sort of actor, pretending competence, at each.
He has no clue what to do with that gusher. No clue whatsoever. Anyone with two eyes and a functioning mind can see this. This worsening environmental catastrophe is already on a far greater scale than it could have been, and still worsening, because he didn’t know who to direct or what to mobilize when — basically because he is a complete failure as an executive.
And he sits there and whistles away with his nonsensicalities about his damn “clean energy”? What planet is he living on?
Last night I wished I could reach through the TV and shake him — “The Gulf is DEAD, man, and you stood around while it was killed!” But it would be no use. No one can wake up this fraud — God save America indeed.
Edouard on June 16, 2010 at 10:36 AM
The average time to play a par 4 in golf is 15 minutes.
Obama is meeting witht BP’s CEO for 10.
In other words – he isn’t even finishing the hole.
Typical.
Odie1941 on June 16, 2010 at 10:37 AM
Define Moderate
Haunches on June 16, 2010 at 10:37 AM
British media fall out of love with Obama
By Janet Daley World Last updated: June 16th, 2010
The BBC reports of Barack Obama’s speech last night are about as derisive as it would be possible to be about someone you were describing only a few months ago as the incarnation of Hope and Optimism. Yes indeed, the romance is over. The British media have decided that it was all a cruel deception: Obama is just one more ranting populist president who will do anything to divert attention from his own failure to get a grip. And this is not just about BP and the fate of all those pension funds.
Nor is it simply the demonising of Big Oil – which makes the US president sound as if he were recruiting his speech writers direct from the student union – that has evoked the UK media’s collective sneer. What has been much commented upon – especially by those fastidiously liberal BBC correspondents – is Obama’s pointedly bellicose language: the US is apparently engaged in a “battle” to be waged in very personal, anthropomorphic terms “against an oil spill that is assaulting” its coast. Considering how relentlessly the Bush “war on terror” was ridiculed, how long will it take before the Obama “war on an oil slick” is labelled as absurd? Given the tone of this morning’s coverage, perhaps not very long at all.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/janetdaley/100043670/british-media-falls-out-of-love-with-obama/
And these were the people clamoring for BO to be elected – even the Telegraph.
Cody1991 on June 16, 2010 at 10:40 AM
Obama will go down in history, and we’ll all love it eventually, as the first AA president.
Competent? No.
But he really probably wouldn’t be viewed as competent by many people because he’s a Dem. So he simply will never please conservatives. He also can’t afford to placate his base, since they are a bit like the teaparty….very ideological.
I think, honestly, it’s not going to be straightened out until a moderate actually wins based on moderate ideas.
Then, we’ll see unity.
AnninCA on June 16, 2010 at 10:34 AM
Oh, dear Lord. Is the sky in your world green and the grass blue?
This country will be forever embarrassed that this vacant suit was elected to the most powerful poition in the world, even if by God’s grace, some sort of super-Reagan will emerge out of nowhere to rescue us from the overflowing swamp of ineptitude that is this Marxist and his administration.
kingsjester on June 16, 2010 at 10:42 AM
Ann, Obama will be viewed as incompetent because he is a disaster. Not because his party affiliation.
angryed on June 16, 2010 at 10:42 AM
America’s Community Organizer In Chief.
Step One: Wait for a problem to happen;
Step Two: Find some deep pockets to demagogue and shakedown;
Step Three: Return to Step One.
logis on June 16, 2010 at 10:43 AM
Good grief. I don’t know what you’re talking about either.
This isn’t political calculation. “A moderate.” Come on. This is a dead Gulf coast! A gigantic calamity an a scale I don’t think you are yet comprehending.
We needed a Patton or a LeMay in the Gulf. We got some second-rate newsreader from Kankakee, or something.
This isn’t about a moderate or a non-moderate. This is about COMPETENCE.
Edouard on June 16, 2010 at 10:44 AM
That’s exactly it. And it is terrifyingly scary.
ProfessorMiao on June 16, 2010 at 10:45 AM
Definition of moderate according to the MSM/Ann: A person who has liberal positions on 19/20 issues.
Definition of rabid right winger according to the MSM/Ann: A person who has conservative positions on 10/20 issues.
Definition of liberal according to the MSM/Ann: Trick question. No such creature exists. There are moderates and rabid right wingers and nothing else.
angryed on June 16, 2010 at 10:46 AM
In other words, he’s Jimmy Carter 2: Electric Boogaloo.
teke184 on June 16, 2010 at 10:46 AM
I think conservatives are pretty honest about people who do things correctly and incorrectly. Most had problems with some of W’s war strategies and certainly would have preferred that he had taken control over LA before Katrina instead of continually warning their officials.
Cindy Munford on June 16, 2010 at 10:46 AM
Community organizers are shakedown artists. Period. Their entire function is rabble-rousing in order to blackmail some bigger entity, usually a corporation, to spend some money in the “community” to avoid bad PR.
So of course Barry blames BP, and threatens to take all their money. It is literally all he knows how to do.
Sarah Palin’s RNC acceptance speech is looking pretty prescient, isn’t it?
Missy on June 16, 2010 at 10:51 AM
Not “can’t.” He can do it; he just won’t.
AZCoyote on June 16, 2010 at 10:52 AM
I’m waiting for Carville’s next broadside against Barry. He’s the one who really opened the gusher of Dem criticism. Keep the boot on the throat, James.
Christien on June 16, 2010 at 10:53 AM
Its quite clear he didn’t expect to have to govern; didn’t expect the job to be this “hard.” Not sure much in his life has been that hard.
Seriously wondering if he’ll resign. He’s so think-skinned I don’t think he can accept criticism from all quarters for two plus years and the prospect of losing in 2012. He’s NEVER lost anything before.
I almost…almost feel sorry for him now.
Firefly_76 on June 16, 2010 at 10:54 AM
*think* = thin.
Firefly_76 on June 16, 2010 at 10:54 AM
All day I was trying to surmise what The President would say in the Oval Office Speech. Before the speech I had come to the conclusion that he would probably confess that all of this is more than he could handle and that he would be resigning by Friday. Well, I guess I was wrong, maybe next time.
Guest1.1 on June 16, 2010 at 10:55 AM
And to SCOLD the American people for hogging all the world’s oil! Talk about blame America first!
I never felt like saying Go to He**, Mr. President, before, but now I’m saying it.
PattyJ on June 16, 2010 at 10:57 AM
Don’t hold you breath. I’m sure he’s already been “talked to” by Rahm.
Haunches on June 16, 2010 at 11:00 AM
For those like me, here’s a transcript of the 18-minute fiasco.
And here’s a video that presents the salient points of this fiasco from yesterday, complete with Obama’s hand jive.
From that second link ^^, salient points are:
– words on clean-up: 327
– words on helping the victims: 369
– words on Obama’s political agenda: 1,291
Lourdes on June 16, 2010 at 11:03 AM
I agree, PattyJ…I recoiled at Obama’s focus on his (ongoing) anti-Americanism, using any means possible including deaths of Americans, worst environmental disaster in our nation’s history, the critical issue of our need for energy and jobs, among others things…
I was disgusted by Obama’s exploitation of the Gulf Oil Disaster as he affirmed that yesterday in this fiasco appearance of his. He is DESPICABLE in the Presidency.
Lourdes on June 16, 2010 at 11:06 AM
Translated: “Clinton was a great President”.
Only problem is, whenever we ask you what Clinton actually accomplished in his 8 years in office, you go silent on us. Very telling.
Del Dolemonte on June 16, 2010 at 11:09 AM
Moonbat definitions aren’t just specific; they are also flexible, and exclusively issue-specific.
In this particular case, liberals are defining a “moderate” as someone who is liberal on every issue except handling deepwater gulf oil spill disasters.
logis on June 16, 2010 at 11:10 AM
Hmmmm.
*shrug* the essential Barack Obama is that he is lazy.
Appoint a czar? Why? Because then someone else has to do the hard work.
Appoint a commission? Why? Because then someone else has to do the hard work.
Set an agenda but then hand over the details to Congress? Why? Because then someone else has to do the hard work.
Meanwhile ….
Golf, parties and pate`.
memomachine on June 16, 2010 at 11:10 AM
Speaking of Bill Clinton, O’Kickass was an unusually good liar last night when he claimed, with a straight face, that the only reason we were drilling in deep water was because there was “no oil” closer to shore.
Of course, the real reason is because tree-huggers, led by the Democrats in Congress, refused to let us drill closer to shore.
Del Dolemonte on June 16, 2010 at 11:11 AM
Yeah, it’s difficult to feel entirely forgiving about the UK Media AND THE REST OF THE LIBERAL MEDIA in their criticisms of Obama today, what with their overwhelming prejudice against any criticism about him (or any information ‘leaked’ that attempted to be informative about who he is prior to his election).
And they still downgrade and ban any comments in UK media that don’t fawn over Michelle Obama being called “gorgeous” (ack!).
They’re finally discovering Barack Obama isn’t their savior, he’s married to a (let me be kind here) rather strange looking abortion-hungry racist communist (as also, same himself) and he isn’t reliable, so now the UK media starts to notice the latter.
I’m glad they’re waking from their trance but it’s still difficult to take them seriously when they’ve been quite so demonstrative in helping this Disaster into the Office and “protecting” the public from reality for quite so many years about who the Disaster actually is.
Lourdes on June 16, 2010 at 11:16 AM
Who wants to bet that BP escrow account wouldn’t become a giant slush fund for political use? Third party administration of it doesn’t guarantee anything. It also sets a bad precedent for disasters down the road. It gives the president authority to demand and control large chunks of money from corporations whenever he feels the need. It also deprives BP of the ability to make maximum profits to pay legitimate damage claims. Bad idea with long term consequences.
a capella on June 16, 2010 at 11:16 AM
My favorite part of the speech.
Obama: Hey America, we don’t know how to do this whole green energy thing or how it will work, but let us confiscate hundreds of billions of dollars from you so we can try to figure it out.
What leadership.
JohnInCA on June 16, 2010 at 11:17 AM
And an IPOD with his speeches on it as gift to the Queen of England upon meeting her SHOULD HAVE told the UK Media all they needed to know about Barack Obama’s level of competentcy.
But, nooo, they fawned over that as if he was a cute little hedgehog.
Finally, at least, to their credit, they are waking from whatever trance they were under.
Lourdes on June 16, 2010 at 11:18 AM
Should not be ignored: BP has been behind the disasterous Cap’n'Trade devastation, and Prince Charles (ahem) is keen on Muslims, Sharia Law and “being green”.
Lourdes on June 16, 2010 at 11:20 AM
ANWR is only a small part of our unexploited oil reserves. According to a 2005 report by the Rand Corporation, there are between 500 billion and 1.1 TRILLION barrels (about 100 to 220 years’ worth of current consumption) of shale oil recoverable under the Rockies. Shale oil is more expensive to recover than drillable oil (the Rand report estimated about $30 per barrel), but at today’s crude prices, it would be profitable.
This shale oil represents about 2 to 4 times the proven oil reserves of Saudi Arabia! It might take a decade to develop this resource, but if the decision were made to allow it, the United States could essentially control the world oil market within about 20 to 30 years, and be totally independent of foreign sources.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. But the will isn’t there right now. Lots of this shale oil is under Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s home state of Colorado. Mr. Secretary, when will you open the black gold mine in your backyard?
Steve Z on June 16, 2010 at 11:21 AM
Another point to add to your observation, rockmom, is that an accountable executive has enough foresight to budget for unforeseen problems, The clown in the WH acts as if there is nothing that more money won’t solve…even if there is no money. Has ObaMao never heard of a “rainy day fund”? What if further natural disasters occur or an economic-crippling attack?
Who does Comrade Kickass expect to pay for or to subsidize his utopian schemes? Raising taxes overtly or covertly won’t raise a sou if the nation continues its unemployment spiral downward.
onlineanalyst on June 16, 2010 at 11:21 AM
^^ Prince Charles is an utter idiot…and he’s gangbusters on “the environment”…
‘Follow the Islamic way to save the world,’ Prince Charles urges environmentalists
Lourdes on June 16, 2010 at 11:24 AM
SPEND, TAX, REDISTRIBUTE, FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE COUNTRY.
He told us what he was going to do and now he’s doing it. Why people are surprised is beyond me.
Haunches on June 16, 2010 at 11:26 AM
?
If it is controlled by BP, then all complaints about fairness can go strait to the company. If it is controlled by some third party, then said third party will effectively be running a patronage scheme.
Count to 10 on June 16, 2010 at 11:27 AM
Today he wants to do an old fashioned ACORN shakedown of BP. Wonder how that will work?
seven on June 16, 2010 at 11:27 AM
Speaking of Bill Clinton, his sidekick Robert Reichhhhhhhhhhh
had this to say about O’Kickass’ speech:
Del Dolemonte on June 16, 2010 at 11:28 AM
Try not to think of it that way. You witnessed a fall of epic proportions, like in an ancient greek story, the media god turned on their hero and allowed him to epic fail. Or take a more Romantic period approach and consider the fact that you watched a collective Victor Frankenstein reject his creation after the damage was done. Mary Shelley’s guy caught on much sooner, but in that way I’ve always thought the novel was lacking. Now we must wait to see the rest of the drama unfold. And it will end in tears.
clnurnberg on June 16, 2010 at 11:28 AM
EXACTLY. I bet the unions will be the first to be paid. Anyone wanna bet?
Haunches on June 16, 2010 at 11:28 AM
While Obama was gushing on during his speech, the leak gushed out three and a half tanker trucks of oil into the Gulf. This would have been enough to fill the Oval Office.
Uniblogger on June 16, 2010 at 11:32 AM
This was the reaction of a member of Frank Luntz’ focus group after the speech, and he nailed it. Despite the fact that the focus group was from La-La Land (southern CA), many of them were aware that European governments and oil companies had offered help in containment and cleanup a few days after the rig explosion, and Obama REFUSED.
WHY??? Did Obama have such an inflated ego that he insisted on doing everything himself, without help from foreign countries or EEEEEEVIL oil companies? Or did he WANT this crisis to get so out of control that people would demonize the oil industry in general, not just BP, so Obama could push his cap-and-trade total control of all energy?
Steve Z on June 16, 2010 at 11:32 AM
BP slush fund? Patronage scams? Hum, in the end, Chicago TIFs (tax increment financing) turned out to be be a massive shell game. Just the extent of the rot is being exposed right now.
MayorDaley on June 16, 2010 at 11:37 AM
WHY??? Did Obama have such an inflated ego that he insisted on doing everything himself, without help from foreign countries or EEEEEEVIL oil companies? Or did he WANT this crisis to get so out of control that people would demonize the oil industry in general, not just BP, so Obama could push his cap-and-trade total control of all energy?
Steve Z on June 16, 2010 at 11:32 AM
Haunches on June 16, 2010 at 11:41 AM
Sorry messed up my quotes
Haunches on June 16, 2010 at 11:41 AM
I do not have the tech skills needed, but someone who does should post Obama’s speech cropping the top half off the screen off. Watch what unfolds on that bottom half, when you focus on what is supposed to be only peripherilly recognized, the contrived manipulation by Obama’s hand gestures is an amazing thing to behold. I am not kidding, if you don’t have the skills either, just hold your hand over the top half of the screen for maybe 3 minutes of the speech and you’ll see what I am talking about.
Archimedes on June 16, 2010 at 11:44 AM
Berry has been using conversational hypnosis… look it up. People are literally waking up because they have time to think logically since he is not in 24/7 campaign mode.
Watching_Cloward-Piven on June 16, 2010 at 11:45 AM
I don’t think Obama is:
Well spoken, intelligent or hard working.
Those that do must be comparing him comparing him to the “Al’s”
Al sharpton, Alvin Greene, and Al Gore.
TheSitRep on June 16, 2010 at 11:48 AM
Obama: [the capsule speech]
“Here’s my Plan!… we plan something. Good night.”
profitsbeard on June 16, 2010 at 11:49 AM
Race-based voters have a lot at stake with the Obama term. They’ve invested their sense of themselves in his being President based upon race-affinity or race-obsession or whatever it actually is as to the race-based voters (“he’s Black, I’m Black [or Liberal or Brown or all of that], so I’m voting for him”).
They’re stuck in some antiquated race-defined mentality. I do blame many who are Black for this, their obsession with their race that begins and ends with “being Black”. I do blame them. Same can be said with the “Hispanic” obsessed people for that matter.
THEY call the rest of us “racists” while it is they who are the (obvious) racists. It’s as if they’ve all just recently fallen from some tree and missed maturity altogether as to the race issues they’re obsessed with.
Lourdes on June 16, 2010 at 11:50 AM
Slick
hillbillyjim on June 16, 2010 at 11:52 AM
Still campaigning.
tx2654 on June 16, 2010 at 12:00 PM
THIS VIDEO fast-forwards the 18-minute speech into three segments and it emphasizes all of those weird hand-gestures Obama engaged in — I have to say, it’s strange and many viewers noticed it, just as you have.
My take on it is that Obama was either desperate — emotionally compromised to a point of experiencing high anxiety (“they may not think I’m so popular any more!!“) (Obama seems to be keenly affected by how high in esteem people regard him or not, he’s anxious when he thinks his “bigness” may be compromised)…
or he was, indeed, engaging in some sort of intentional attempt to deflect attention away from his words (his “record” in other words, that’s being substantiated, that he can’t later hide or detach from), or some sort of attempt to confuse listeners (ditto as to previous, just stated).
The frantic and weird, abundant hand gesturing certainly was indicative of Obama being hyper-emotional, as in, desperate, frantic, under more pressure than he can readily handle or wants to handle, and his attempt to deflect the focus away from his “mouth” (what he was saying) or, rather, himself (his words, what he was there for, the speech, what he was saying) and to FLAG PEOPLE DOWN or get help or, literally, appeal for pity.
Lourdes on June 16, 2010 at 12:00 PM
He should have quoted Niebuhr!!
CDeb on June 16, 2010 at 12:01 PM
Spiller.
Oily’O.
Tar Balls.
Lourdes on June 16, 2010 at 12:02 PM
Janet Daley @ UK Telegraph
British media fall out of love with Obama
maverick muse on June 16, 2010 at 12:02 PM
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