***President Obama's Press Conference*** Thread One

[malaise]

Here we go
BP is responsible and we will hold them accountable

[Name removed]

1. Deleted sub-thread

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[AngryOldDem]

2. Acknowledging corruption and cozy regulator/industry relationship...

Good.

[flamingdem]

3. +100

[malaise]

4. Suspension of deep water drilling

Excellent.
Now exposing Cheney et al.

[greencharlie]

6. ok.... now he's getting somewhere. nt

[Kookaburra]

5. Amen!! Clean, Renewable sources of energy.

[Subdivisions]

8. I knew it was coming. 'It's time to answer this challenge once and for all.' n/t

[ShortnFiery]

7. All I'm getting is "It's a tragedy" but "Business as Usual" after a six month review. eom

[charlesg]

20. Yep - 8 months max:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/executive-order-national-commission-bp-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill-and-offshore-dri

The Commission shall submit a final public report to the President with its findings and options for consideration within 6 months of the date of the Commission's first meeting...

The Commission shall terminate 60 days after submitting its final report.

[shireen]

9. it's over?

I thought it was going to be a long press conf?

[malaise]

16. Taking questions

good question on BP continuing to use dispersant given Feds saying they are in charge.
Day rig collapsed I had team in Oval office. Those who think we were slow don't know the facts. I am briefed every day - we understood the enormity from day one - this entire WH and government has been singularly focused on mitigating and stopping leak and damage to our coastlines. We have not seen a leak like this before.

[eleny]

10. K&R - This is how you take back control of the narrative

Questions next.

I know he can handle this well.

[shireen]

11. can you send a link please?

[eleny]

13. I'm watching it on MSNBC-tv

Perhaps they have live video feed on their site.

[shireen]

17. thanks ...

i went to whitehouse.gov and cspan and didn't see it there. Something like that should be on the front page!

[emulatorloo]

15. Try the TV or radio. Going on live. No it is not over.

[malaise]

18. Here

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/37377386#37377386

[DevonRex]

22. Thank you for that, eleny. nt

[eleny]

46. Case in point - How he handled questions from Tapper and Todd

All three reporters, in fact.

(It's hard not to imagine how W would have handled this today, so far. Oy.)

[AngryOldDem]

12. Good question from AP reporter....

...about taking five weeks and letting BP seemingly call the shots. Looking forward to his answer.

[NJmaverick]

21. Please share his answer

[AngryOldDem]

28. Basically...

Under the law BP is responsible for taking the cleanup lead and keeping Thad Allen informed of what it's doing. Whether or not the government should take a more active role will be up to the commission to decide. Also, BP (and other oil companies) have the technology to deal with this, whereas the government does not.

Good answer, and should put to rest the notion that BP is running roughshod over the government.

[NJmaverick]

32. thanks

:hi:

[BeyondGeography]

31. In so many words

There has never been a point in this tragedy when this hasn't been my top priority and where we didn't have final say over BP.

[NJmaverick]

38. thanks

:hi:

[BeyondGeography]

44. Not going there on Katrina...nice try, Chuckie

Prez running circles around these assclowns so far.

[malaise]

23. Excellent answer so far

We do not have superior technology when it comes to this crisis - should we - that's part of what the commission will resolve. Precisely.

On the surface we have been more involved.

[Mr. Sparkle]

14. I think he should review every branch of government where corrupt influence from big money exists.

and not just the mms service, which is just a drop in the bucket compared to the rest. When republicans taking money from BP, block any vote to increase the amount of liability they are liable for(ironically forcing the taxpayers to bail out another disaster), it shows just how rotten things are in the state of Denmark.

[ecstatic]

19. Why would people think that Pres. Obama isn't doing everything in his power to end the leak?

Rant: What type of asshole do you think he is? If you voted for him, I'm assuming there was some level of trust or confidence and that's why I knew intuitively that he was doing everything possible. Those of you who don't think so--did you really vote for Obama in the first place? What is it about him that makes you assume the worst possible motive about EVERYTHING? Hmmm I wonder... :eyes:

[flamingdem]

25. +1000

[Lone_Star_Dem]

27. I haven't figured that out yet either.

There would be nothing to gain and everything to lose. Maybe it's just that some people are just too easily influenced by the medias sound bytes? I don't know.

[gateley]

33. I know! If he could have "fixed" this by now, it would be fixed! nt

[tridim]

34. Because some people haven't cured their BushCo hangover yet.

This happens with EVERYTHING Obama does.

[AngryOldDem]

41. Because he's not down there 24/7, trying to plug the hole himself.

How anyone can compare this to Bush and Katrina is beyond me. He's doing all he can within the law as it now stands, and he's calling for reforms in case this disaster happens again. He's doing his job, IMHO, and not offering bullshit lip service and meaningless platitudes as Bush did.

[Wednesdays]

52. Because he wants to spend more time playing with his Gameboy!

Oh wait...wrong president.

[patrice]

88. 1+~ Also, what is it about him that makes you think supporters suspend ALL critical faculties, maybe

this question is better phrased, "what is it about YOU that makes YOU think those who support this President have suspended all critical faculties".

[BeyondGeography]

24. Cogent, intelligent, respectful to the questioner...I'm sure he'll be panned anyway

[malaise]

29. Always

He also answers in detail

[givemebackmycountry]

26. The President does not look or sound very happy this afternoon...

He's all business.

[dave29]

30. I am beginning to get the impression he has been enraged over this for some time.

.

[gateley]

39. Agree. nt

[Subdivisions]

40. Of course he has. Think about it...

You're the president and instead of being able to work on your own causes and issues as well as conduct the normal flow of America's business, you're forced to deal with a major oil incident that threatens and manifests so much damage and heartache. It's got to be very frustrating.

[malaise]

42. Ah Chuckie Todd the hack

ask the fucking question.

[bdamomma]

45. I bet those oil companies are running the show.

[DoBotherMe]

58. How could he not have been?

He has little children who wear peace symbols on their shirts and work in a garden and love their doggie. He cares about the environment. My thoughts as a mother of two tree-huggers. Dana ; )

[patrice]

95. He/We have been betrayed by those he has "gone to bat for", by those We have enriched with our

very Essence.

[laughingliberal]

102. That's what the public needs to see. I'm glad it sounds as if this is his approach. nt

[malaise]

35. Deadly serious

Tapper from ABC now

[greencharlie]

36. getting GRILLED now by this guy Tapper!

[Name removed]

37. Deleted sub-thread

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[Lone_Star_Dem]

53. RIP

:cry:

:rofl:

[malaise]

54. Ditto

:rofl:

[AngryOldDem]

69. Good. n/t

[emulatorloo]

93. Yes.

[Wednesdays]

55. Is that you, Mr. Hayward?

:hi:

[bdamomma]

43. 17 countries willing to help

so why can't they help? geez, what total BS the Gulf will never be the same again. and 30 years ago the same thing happened as mentioned by Rachel Maddow last night and they are using the same technology from thirty years ago, I mean WTF!

[tabatha]

48. He said more is not necessarily better.

[bdamomma]

56. yea, but something as big as this we need extra resources to be ready to help

[sandnsea]

50. As has already been stated

When that question has been asked, they don't have anything extra that is needed. This information has been repeated for a couple of weeks now.

[malaise]

62. Our President does not believe in a knee jerk

approach to anything. He is thorough and it may annoy people and indeed create problems for himself, but I prefer analysis before reaction.

If Obama had attempted to clean house the same media would have attacked him with help from Cheney, his daughter and ReTHUGS

[madmax]

47. Bush could never have handled this

press conference or the scrutiny of these reporters. He'd pull out his old bullshit standby, 'I wish I had a magic wand' and leave.

[tabatha]

49. ditto

[Xenotime]

96. mega dittos

[malaise]

51. +1.000

Who is the moron who just asked a question

[FirstLight]

57. I was just thinking the same thing...

No matter what they say about the 'failed response, corporate coddling, etc" Obama is well informed on all fronts and understands the magnitude of mobilizing the response.

I shuder to think if somethinglike this had happened three years ago :scared:

at least the consequences of Halliburtons and Transoceans ineptitude and crookednes hapened on the watch of someone who has a clue!
It may still be a epic disaster and there are heads yet to roll, but at least Obama is intelligent enough to take this on in its many aspects.

[madmax]

67. A clue and not completely

in bed with the enemy. No President is going to turn this country around until we have publicly funded elections.

[tishaLA]

59. Chip Reid, the definition of toolishness

WHY ARE YOU BLAMING BUSH? YOU KEPT GIVING PERMITS!

[madmax]

63. Is he an ass or is he an ass... nt

[Wednesdays]

60. Ah, he's being asked about the continuing permits

Let's see what he says.

[AngryOldDem]

61. Sounds like there is a lot of shit to be cleaned up in the Interior Department.

Beginning with the Minerals and Management.

Maybe Obama can wave his magic wand and have it all fixed by the end of business today.
:sarcasm:

Ah...the stench of the Bush years just keeps getting stronger and stronger.

And, in response to the question: HELL, YES, Bush deserves his share of the blame for this.

[malaise]

65. Nice question on whether BP can be trusted

given the lies re the estimate of oil gushing

[Wednesdays]

64. Q: "Can BP be trusted with any of their info?"

Edit: Obama: "BP wasn't fully forthcoming early on. We eventually pushed them for correct info. It took the gov't too long to get to that point."

[malaise]

68. We have to verify everything they say about

the damage.

[eleny]

76. Yup, he just spanked BP

[givemebackmycountry]

66. Did you catch that? He just hung Cheney out to dry.

"An investigation needs to take place, soup to nuts, to find out what happened".

In relation to the oversight and the waivers that were made that allowed this to occur.
If true, they have to see the notes of the Cheney energy meetings where they let the huge corporations tell them what they wanted.
He'll be on TV this weekend.
Cheney will.
Probably his demon seed spawn as well.
Howling like hyenas.

The noose is tightening.

[eleny]

70. Right about now, Cheney ought to be sucking on his lapels, whimpering and clutching his chest

I realize he's too arrogant for that. But the image came to mind.

[Atman]

80. He'll fake a heart attack and move to the islands with Ken Lay before ever giving himself up.

:shrug:

[Wednesdays]

Are you kidding? Those ghouls have wiggled their way out of everything

For the past 30 years. What makes you think things will be different now?

[eleny]

98. Of course it won't be any different

What I said is that "he ought to be..."

And then I went on to say he wouldn't.

[Subdivisions]

71. I'm going to second everything you just said. a cheney on MTP. n/t

[AngryOldDem]

72. Can't you just see Dick in front of the commission, or Congress, for that matter?

Or is that just too much to ask???

[WinkyDink]

89. He's BT, DT, stole the T-shirt from under their noses.

[malaise]

74. Helen - when are we getting out of Afghanistan

and don't give me the Bushism that if we don't go there they'll come here.

I love Helen

[bdamomma]

73. you got to love Helen, she kn ows how to punch hard.

[malaise]

79. She's the best

:hi:

[givemebackmycountry]

75. Helen Thomas

Is the shit.

Still asking the right questions.
She don't mess around.

[backscatter712]

84. Obama's a brave man. n/t

[Subdivisions]

85. Helen don't take no bullshit bushisms! n/t

[AngryOldDem]

77. Helen, with her usual direct question.

I love her.

[csziggy]

78. Helen Thomas!

She will keep hammering the question of Afghanistan until we are OUT!

[Enrique]

81. Helen: why are we still in Afghanistan?

"and don't give me this Bushism..." :thumbsup:

[WinkyDink]

82. There is no truth he can tell about Afghanistan. The whole Taliban is a threat thing is false.

But that's the national story from day one, and he's just sticking to it.

[backscatter712]

90. The whole Afghan war is about Pakistan.

There's nothing in Afghanistan that's worth the trouble.

IMHO, it's about ensuring that Pakistan doesn't fall to the Islamic fundies, and their nukes stay safe, and that the Pakistan/India cold war is kept down to a dull roar.

The Al Qaeda/Taliban thing is just cover.

[bdamomma]

83. McChrystal one of Cheney's lap dogs

[malaise]

86. Thread 2 started n/t

[Wednesdays]

92. Link?

:shrug:
I'm sure I'll be able to find it, but it would be quicker in case we need to cross-reference threads.

[malaise]

94. Good idea

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8430513

[AngryOldDem]

87. Question coming up on Obama's offshore drilling comments...

[Subdivisions]

91. Did anyone notice the oil cam a few minutes ago. The cam was looking at the

plume on top of the BOP and then it began to swing away. As it did, a cloud of what looked like GLOBULES was suspended in front of the camera. If that was globules, then that might indicate there's still oil in the mix.

[Greyskye]

97. Don't the simple color variations in the plume indicate oil?

I haven't seen any indications that Top Kill has had any major effect yet. :shrug:

[malaise]

99. I thought I saw a lot more oil

and now they've moved the video

[bdamomma]

100. on C span 3 also

http://www.c-span.org/Watch/C-SPAN3.aspx

[mopinko]

101. and fux noise major garrett squeezes in 3 questions

ain't that just like a thug?