The Danes, Russians etc have all had experience with offshore leaks and we should consult with them and use what they used.
Obama could override stupid union protection rules blocking international help in 3 minutes (but he didn't).
Obama could have moved Army Corps of Engineers into high gear to help with protection of marshes, beaches etc but he didn't.
Obama could have marshaled volunteers to help with spill but he didn't (people would have come from around the globe)
Obama could have kept BP focused on ending the spill but attacking BP criminally in midst of crisis just threw BP into CYA mode.
Obama hung Jindal out to dry when he could have helped (but oooohhhh golf was more important)
Those are just for a start. The response to the spill could be 100% better than what it has been
I agree with these points, and are a good start.
I will answer. But first I need a detailed list of the resources at my disposal along with a list of where each resource is located at currently. Please provide man power number along with National guard mobilization details (time, numbers, billeting, etc).
I need contact information from various Federal departments and need to know what resources/manpower they can immediately allocate. I also need detailed information on their current projects and if they can be put aside (i.e., EPA personnel, Fish and Wildlife Service, etc)
Can you also schedule a meeting which would include myself and the Governors of Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida?
I would also need to know if this girl is available to help:
http://www.lemondrop.com/2010/06/03/genius-21-year-old-offers-oil-crisis-solution/
obama has all this at his disposal. I do not. I could come up with a plan but without all the details...
it would be just a guess.
I don't think anybody here fully expects it to be anything more than a "what if" academic exercise. Without the information you state would be needed, it would be impossible to create the best effort response.
1) When it became apparent this was a major issue I would summon experts to educate me on the situation and the possible solutions. They would NOT be from BP.
2) I'd do the same, but with BP experts and compare notes.
3) I'd have people reporting from the site on a daily basis so I was up to date.
4) I'd take what I learned and move to provide whatever manpower and equipment was necessary to aid in fixing this problem.
5) I'd let the public know all this and give daily updates via the press sec.
6) After this was over I'd call for a FAA type forensic investigation of what happened. If there was criminal neglect that would be addressed, and proper regulations and enforcement would be forthcoming.
What I would NOT do is to throw stones since all it does is antagonize people, and I wouldn't stand up and whore myself out over this incident.
Get 'er done, find out what happened, and work to prevent future incidents.
This, with some additions.
I would use the presidential powers to put somebody in charge, who was solely responsible with the well, cleanup, and saving the coasts. They would report directly to me (or a cabinet level advisor), and have absolute jurisdiction over the spill.
They would have a 3 teams of scientists/researchers/oil experts. One team works with BP and oil companies to cap the well. Second team works with the research vessals/cleanup ships/etc to track the oil, clean the water, and handle the open water oil. The third team would handle the beach/shorelines, and would work to protect as much of the ecosystem as possible.
There would a temporary lift of regulations if they got in the way of cleanup efforts (i.e. EPA not letting states protect their waterways for example). Any resources that could be brought to the region would be (i.e. accept international help).
There would be a commission setup to investigate the disaster, and if any party was liable they would have the bill sent to them (if multiple parties are liable, they each would share in the cleanup costs).
I would also quietly work on a way to use this disaster to help fuel alternative energy source research and development. While it might be "preying" off the dead/injured workers, this would be the best time to initiate this work.
As for claims, BP would have to pay fishermen the amount they earned last year for lost wages (so if it worked out to them earning $300/day, BP would pay them that much as loss of wage. If fishermen accepted this $, they would be unable to sue BP for lost wages during that period. They could sue for future wages, and/or for other damages though).
So, in summary, most importantly the well needs to be capped. Secondly, the spill needs contained. Third, the beaches need protected. Those are the things that needed to happen quickly after the spill. The government experts estimated the spill at 50-100k barrels/day, which is what it's at now. If it turned out the spill was not that bad, what is the issue in being prepared? BP would pay the bill either way. Once those 3 primary concerns are taken care of, then we have the fourth thing which is to determine what happened, who is at fault, and if there was negligence (also create regulations if need be). Finally, fifth use this to help advance alternative energy tech and research.