Carville: Obama's getting it right

[nmbluesky]

New Orleans, Louisiana (CNN) -- Before the president's address to the nation from the Oval Office, my pal Paul Begala, on "John King USA," reminded everyone of the words of William Shakespeare: "Action is eloquence." By that standard, President Obama has been powerfully eloquent.

He announced that a "son of the Gulf Coast," Navy Secretary and former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus, will develop a long-term plan to restore the Gulf. Mr. Secretary, retired Cpl. Carville, United States Marine Corps, salutes you.

The president has told Mabus to work with fishermen, small businesses, and environmentalists -- as well as state officials -- to design the plan. That's a long-term solution to a long-term problem. Our Gulf Coast supplies America with food and energy, not to mention great music and irreplaceable culture. It will take years to undo the damage.

So in addition to the helter-skelter of trying to cap the well, capture the oil, and clean up the mess, I like seeing a long-range strategy to renew, repair and revitalize the Gulf region. This project must be serious, sustained and substantial: An entire way of life is at stake.

So that's the long-run plan. But as John Maynard Keynes said, "In the long run, we're all dead." That's why today's announcement that BP will fund a $20 billion victims' recovery fund is so important. This ain't rhetoric. This is money. And if money talks, $20 billion screams.

Obviously, I was not in the meeting that President Obama had with the BP officials. I suspect I'm even less welcome at the White House these days than Tony Hayward, given my heartfelt and vocal criticism of how Obama was handling the Gulf crisis.

But it looks as if President Obama applied a little old- school Chicago persuasion to the oil executives, because BP's chairman not only agreed to the full $20 billion that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu asked for, he also pledged to suspend quarterly dividends immediately. Paying victims before shareholders -- what a concept.

Read More: http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/06/16/carville.obama.speech/index.html?hpt=T2

[Beetwasher]

1. Something Happened Like They Did Snap Polls And Figured They Better Get W/ The Program

All these 180's are making me dizzy.

[politicasista]

2. Still don't trust him n/t

[babylonsister]

4. Ditto that and I don't care what his opinion is. nt

[Cha]

5. My first reaction was..

"oh fuck".

[Barack_America]

3. He probably changed his mind in the time it took you to post this OP.

[impik]

6. Oh, go to hell. What an opportunist idiot

[Jennicut]

7. Uh huh. Carville finally figured it out?

Sheesh.

[Mimosa]

8. Before the Carville haters weigh in...

James Carville was never bashing President Obama. He merely loves his state more and fears it will be ruined forever. And none of us know what the future will hold and whether efforts to clean up the Gulf will work.

I suppose Carville and I both heard elements in Obama's speech which were reassuring and uplifting. :)

[jenmito]

12. He WAS bashing Obama, and that was proven when the WH tried to CALL him in order to

discuss his displeasure and he refused the call, acting pleased that he thought he "got under Obama's skin." There was an article posted here about that. :eyes:

[Cha]

16. Yeah, and talking something about a "bullet" that would

be used for him instead of Tony Hayward.

He's a hypocrite..never mentioned matalin's role in mediawhoring for the oily dick cheney.

carville is slime.

[vaberella]

19. Well I doubt he'll get a call from Obama.

I would love for Obama to be petty and ignore his call, but I doubt it.

[BrklynLiberal]

9. Guess his windsock indicated that he better get off the Obama slamming bus and climb on the

I love Obama bus.

Disgusting, lying, hypocrite..

[Mimosa]

11. I figured it out!

All the Carville haters are Yankees! Y'all do not understand the man's style. But he did know how to connect with the American people and got Clinton elected twice. Try to reeememberr......... :P

Because his line of thinking may also reflect how many voters think. ;)

[namahage]

17. Yep, he's got his finger on the pulse of the American people, which translates into electoral gold.

Just ask President Hillary Clinton.

[lamp_shade]

10. Hey Carville, you peckerhead. You need to >

[PopSixSquish]

13. Well Great. Now That Carville is Happy, I Know I'll Sleep Better Tonight

what a fucking tool...

[Phx_Dem]

14. Carville is still the biggest asshole on the plant. Scratch that,

the second biggest asshole on the planet, after his wife.

[Sky Masterson]

15. Don't elevate him..

.

[FrenchieCat]

18. Guess those $$$$$ speaks for Carville!