Obama and the BP Spill: A Command Gap?

[SarahB]

The problem isn't that the president hasn't displayed enough anger. He hasn't shown that he's in charge.

So now Obama has used tough street talk and called in BPers for what will no doubt be something of a tongue-lashing. Will that be enough to quell the griping?

Probably not. Because the real problem has not been Obama's too-calm public demeanor (though more outrage would not have hurt the so-called "optics" of this situation) or his decision not to scream at Hayward directly. It's been the White House's inability to demonstrate that Obama is fully in control of the US response to the eco-nightmare in the Gulf of Mexico.

From the start, Obama ought to have been barking orders and imposing demands on BP and the federal agencies—and doing this in public view. Not micromanaging, but commanding. During a massive catastrophe, citizens expect to see someone in complete charge. While Obama obviously was overseeing the federal reaction, his engagement was not always on public display. For weeks, the White House kept pointing to only one example of White House pressure on the response effort—forcing BP to drill two relief wells, not merely the one the oil company planned to pursue. (These relief wells will be used to plug the leak once they are completed, perhaps as early as August.) In recent days, Obama has stepped up his command presence, calling on BP to improve its claim process and to provide payments to oil rig employees out of work due to the drilling moratorium imposed in reaction to the Gulf spill. At the same time, Coast Guard Rear Admiral Thad Allen has improved as the public face of the Obama administration's spill efforts, providing briefings in crisp military-speak, as if he is prosecuting a war, and demanding more and better action from BP.

Yet for most of the past two months, there have not been many headline-grabbing instances of Obama zapping an order to BP or federal agencies and proclaiming, "Make it so." Nor were there a string of lengthy New York Times or Washington Post behind-the-scenes stories sourced to anonymous administration officials detailing how Obama had been relentlessly demanding one specific action after another. If such activity were regularly happening in the Oval Office, the White House was not getting the word out. During his one press conference regarding the spill, Obama explained more than he led. And on his initial trips to the Gulf, Obama seemed to be listening more than telling—which does have its benefits. But pointing out tar balls on a beach is different than cracking a whip. It isn't very Churchillian.

Obama and his White House aides seem to realize they have created the impression—if not the reality—of a command gap. (Several Republican critics have noted that Obama has not had a dramatic "bullhorn moment"—a reference to when George W. Bush, after 9/11, visited ground zero in New York City and vowed to weary rescue workers, "The world hears you, and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.") Consequently, on Monday, the president began a two-day visit to the Gulf, which will lead to his first Oval Office address to the nation on Tuesday night. On Wednesday, Obama will hold that meeting with BP execs. This is a full-scale blitz. In his speech, Obama will outline what's ahead in the attempted containment process. He'll also discuss overhauling the regulatory process governing offshore drilling, beefing up the BP claims process, restoration plans for the Gulf, and the need for an energy bill that addresses both oil dependence and climate change.

On Meet the Press on Sunday, top Obama adviser David Axelrod said, "We're at a kind of inflection point in this saga." That seemed to be a not-too-subtle way of saying, we're aiming for a reset. Obama, he added, "wants to lay out the steps that we’re going to take from here to get through this crisis.” But Obama ought to do more than lay out plans. He should make it obvious that he's on top of this task. That could be accomplished just by clearly and forcibly stating tasks and goals he's established for Allen, the federal government, and BP. MSNBC's "First Read" newsletter notes, "If Team Obama can’t convince the public that it has command and control after these next three days, then it probably never will."

http://motherjones.com/politics/2010/06/obama-and-bp-spill-command-gap

[Mimosa]

1. MJ has been doing great reporting on this

Thanks for the link on the latest, SarahB. :)

[jaxx]

2. So if they're not seeing it, it's not happening.

Quaint.

[ljm2002]

9. Anyone who has been paying attention...

...knows there has been a command gap.

Thad Allen is so obviously in the pocket of BP it isn't even funny. Along with the rest of the Coast Guard, who seem to think they should follow orders from BP when it comes to things like allowing reporters to go on site and, you know, report stuff. The Administration says reporters must be allowed on site, yet does nothing when they are not.

The EPA said no more Corexit, BP said screw you to the EPA and dumped more Corexit, the Administration did nothing.

Offers of assistance from foreign countries have been ignored for weeks now.

Locals have had to take cleanup efforts into their own hands while the government "studies" appropriate responses.

Underwater cameras were under the total control of BP. They only started showing the realtime images after pressure from Congressman Markey -- and that should have come from President Obama.

BP said at the outset "We don't need to know how much oil is gushing, it won't affect the response." What it will affect, of course, is their liability. They have a vested interest in minimizing the numbers. And this Administration did not force them to allow government scientists to make the measurements.

Look, I know it's a tough job. But Obama wanted it and he's got it. It is up to him how he handles things. So far it's been a trial by fire and then some. But you know what? The best leaders are tested in the crucible. Let's see if he can take control.

[KharmaTrain]

3. Being Reactive Vs. Proactive...

It can't be stated enough all the messes this administration has had to deal with and this one, in particular, was a time bomb that went off when no one expected. From the financial collapse to this disaster, the administration has had to react...trying to get up to speed quickly in an area they weren't expecting or had much real knowledge. There was a short learning curve and in the interim there's been a power vacuum as it sees how powerless it is to have much short term impact on what's happened.

Deregulation led to the corporates dominating government...federal and state...as their money and influence grew. We were told to "trust" the multinationals as they were the "professionals" and the government wasn't. To a certain degree they were right as the government can't be hands on in everything, but it can regulate and oversee...instead we had 8 years of crony capitalism that let the foxes run the henhouse. In the many messes and obstructions the Obama administration has had to deal with, this one was in the worst place at the worst time. And President Obama has been paying for it ever since.

[Coyote_Bandit]

4. It is impossible

for the administration to seize control and stop this gusher. They lack the expertise, the personnel and the equipment.

It was not impossible for them to respond aggressively and proactively eight weeks ago and start building sand barriers.

There were things they could have done to mitigate the damage. Things they didn't do. Things they should be faulted for.

[shraby]

5. Sand barriers are only as good as the waves lapping

up against them..they won't last long enough to make a difference in most places..it took time to find out where they would be effective.

[Coyote_Bandit]

6. Sand bags

don't erode. They are cheap, semi-permeable barriers. And they can be effectively used to direct accumulations to specific areas.

[Gregin Orlando]

7. No one wants to be in charge because it's WAY worse than we have been told

BP must be held accountable for this disaster. From day one it has been far worse than we have been told by BP, the feds and the corporate media. Now after finally admitting the leak is far greater than originally estimated and acknowledging the existence of giant underwater plumes of oil, the media and BP are downplaying the health risks to cleanup workers and Gulf residents. The truth is that toxins in the air from evaporating oil and dispersants may pose an even greater health risk to Gulf coast residents than toxic water. There are even unconfirmed rumors of FEMA planning an evacuation of the coast as far as 200 miles inland if the air becomes unfit to breathe. Check out this article for more information: http://www.examiner.com/x-38220-Orlando-Independent-Examiner~y2010m6d15-Toxins-in-air-from-evaporating-oil-may-pose-greater-threat-to-Gulf-residents-than-oily-water. The author has been writing about the magnitude of the leak and the underwater plumes for weeks before either were mentioned in the mainstream media.

[FLPanhandle]

8. He's not in charge; BP is in charge.

It's been two months now.

Who is in charge of dispursing money to the affected? BP not the Government.
Who is in charge of the cleanup plans? BP not the Government.
Who is in charge of containment plans for areas in danger? BP not the Government.

All Obama has done is talk.


Why not put the Government in charge of dispursments based on a BP funded account from the beginning?
Why no have the Government MAKE the plans for containment and cleanup and BP fund them?

He's not in charge. BP is in charge. I know from dealing with the containment plans of my own county. Everything waits on BP.