“Where is the fierce urgency of now?” — Donna Brazil, Democratic leader, May 2010, on the BP oil leak.

Eric Gay, AP A shrimp boat collects oil with booms in the waters of Chandeleur Sound, La., on May 5.

Donna Brazil was wondering why President Obama has not taken charge of the BP oil spill, and not just overseeing events, but taking control of the situation.  This is affecting the United States, no other country. Does oil have to cover Washington D.C. itself before the Obama administration takes charge of this immense disaster?

The lack of direct, total engagement by the White House on this catastrophe is beyond baffling.  This leak should have been Obama’s #1 priority the day it happened.  BP should not be in charge of dealing with their oil leak that is destroying much of the Gulf of Mexico, and even the mainstream media is finally wondering why they’re still in charge. Their relief drilling plan will not be put into effect until August, and relief drilling is the only proven method of stopping a deep underwater drilling leak like this.  The EPA told BP to stop using the toxic dispersants in the water and BP said no, we’re going to continue to use them.  So the EPA begged them to not use as much, then. Even the EPA seems to have no authority in our own sovereign waters off our coast.

BP is not even trying to mop up the oil that is currently floating on and near the top of the water, as has been done before.  They are pouring hundreds of gallons of chemicals into the water to try to break up the oil, instead. Dispersing the oil doesn’t get rid of it, but dispersing it makes it look less bad, and eventually helps in the biological breakdown of it. People have the capability of getting much of the oil out of the water.  There was a “secret” major oil spill in the Middle East in 1993.  Saudi Aramco responded by sucking up the oil with super tankers, and   it was quite effective.

BP also has super tankers but they are not using them.  Instead, shrimp boats from Louisiana are attempting to corral some of the oil from the water, but it’s a losing battle.  According to Mike Pappantonio, the super tankers are currently full of oil, and they are sitting around waiting for the price of oil to go up so they can maximize their profits.  Obama has the power to call on the world to help us get the oil out of the water, and he’s not doing it. This is inexcusable. Here is Mike Pappantonio, environmental attorney and activist and radio show host, on the MSNBC show Hardball, this afternoon, May 24.

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Something much more has to be done about this immediately. President [...]