President "you" and BP - how would you handle it?

[Craig234]

I'd use the crisis to push a number of improvements, especially increased regulation of the drillers, and increase if not removal of the damages cap, and making reserved funds for disasters of some sort (might be direct, or insurance). And to launch an energy plan to replace Cheney's. And increase the accountability for criminal acts/negligence with prison for the officials who do it.

 

[JockoJohnson]

I'd use the crisis to push a number of improvements, especially increased regulation of the drillers, and increase if not removal of the damages cap, and making reserved funds for disasters of some sort (might be direct, or insurance). And to launch an energy plan to replace Cheney's. And increase the accountability for criminal acts/negligence with prison for the officials who do it.

Sounds like what Obama is doing. Take advantage of the crisis and don't worry about getting the issue fixed...in fact, prolong the disaster so you can get even more regulation and "cap and trade" pushed through.

If he really gave a shit, he would do at least some of those suggestions that others have had (and not because they suggested them but because they are common sense things to do). He could then charge all things done back to BP. He should at least discuss it instead of blathering on about lawsuits and reparations. GET THE SHIT FIXED first then get the lawsuits going. I don't think that there is a statute on the lawsuits---at least in the short term.

And if all else fails, he should fly down to the bottom of the Gulf and crush the pipe closed with his own hands.

 

[Elias824]

psh if I was obama id swim down there myself and wrench the pipe shut with my bare hands. Its not like its THAT deep.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

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.

 

[ayabe]

Step 1: Cockpunch

Step 2: Seize all BP assets, replace the board, send the middle managers in charge of making the call to bypass industry safety standards to Bagram.

 

[Siddhartha]

You're the current President of the U.S.A - and now have a off coast oil spill - how would you handle it?

\pop quiz, hot shot...

Nobody really has an answer for this. The most of the people attacking Mr Obama on this have been attacking him since he won the election in Nov 2008 and have little or no credibility.

 

[Linflas]

Nobody really has an answer for this. The most of the people attacking Mr Obama on this have been attacking him since he won the election in Nov 2008 and have little or no credibility.

Kind of like all the folks attacking Bush during Katrina including Obama himself.

 

[boomerang]

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.

Another compilation of great suggestions.

There are a number of replies here with multiple suggestions that are all rooted with one common denominator, that being common sense. It's what's lacking in DC. The hyper-partisanship is so acute that they are paralyzed in a sense. All the political ramifications must be explored and extrapolated while millions of gallons of oil still gush from the floor of the sea. How to keep their boot on the neck of the opposition is more important.

This could have been that opportunity that may come only once in a Presidents' term for Obama to attempt to unite us, to show he's capable and that he has the interests of the country as a whole as his top priority.

Instead, more of the same. I wished for more, but got what I expected. He's just not capable. He's a campaigner, not a leader. Two and a half more years.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I would do everything I could to assemble an international task force as this spill has a strong likelihood of going north and becoming an international incident.
And I would put as much pressure on bp as possible to foot the bulk, if not the entirety of the bill.
Citing that if they choose not to foot the bulk of entire sum of the bill, the US, and countries x, y and z will no longer carry their products, company's subsidiaries, etc, in other words we'd kick them HARD in the wallet with some steel toed Gene Simmons type boots.
How's that sound?
And as to how to actually clean it up, the scientific process? Not a fucking clue.

 

[rudder]

And as to how to actually clean it up, the scientific process? Not a fucking clue.

You don't have to know how to clean up spilled oil. As president you just have to know what resources you have and what to do to mobilize those resources... or find a nice golf course and give a pretty speech saying how the gulf will be back to normal.....eventually.

 

[Genx87]

Nobody really has an answer for this. The most of the people attacking Mr Obama on this have been attacking him since he won the election in Nov 2008 and have little or no credibility.

Apparently you havent bothered to read this thread. Some people have many good ideas and plans they would have implemented.

Unsurprisingly when those started coming out the troll OP disappeared.

 

[nageov3t]

Nobody really has an answer for this. The most of the people attacking Mr Obama on this have been attacking him since he won the election in Nov 2008 and have little or no credibility.

Maureen Dowd, Bob Herbert, James Carville... true leaders of the anti-Obama GOP spin machine.

 

[Craig234]

Sounds like what Obama is doing. Take advantage of the crisis and don't worry about getting the issue fixed...in fact, prolong the disaster so you can get even more regulation and "cap and trade" pushed through.

If he really gave a shit, he would do at least some of those suggestions that others have had (and not because they suggested them but because they are common sense things to do). He could then charge all things done back to BP. He should at least discuss it instead of blathering on about lawsuits and reparations. GET THE SHIT FIXED first then get the lawsuits going. I don't think that there is a statute on the lawsuits---at least in the short term.

And if all else fails, he should fly down to the bottom of the Gulf and crush the pipe closed with his own hands.

Don't misrepresent what I said. First, it's not what Obama is doing it seems, and second I did not say 'don't worry about getting it fixed'.

 

[nageov3t]

You don't have to know how to clean up spilled oil. As president you just have to know what resources you have and what to do to mobilize those resources... or find a nice golf course and give a pretty speech saying how the gulf will be back to normal.....eventually.

as much criticism as even I've given Obama for his use of czars, I feel like we could use a Cleanup Czar right about now.

one person, answerable to Obama, to take point and work with the different federal and local organizations to direct the clean up efforts in a congruent way.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

You don't have to know how to clean up spilled oil. As president you just have to know what resources you have and what to do to mobilize those resources... or find a nice golf course and give a pretty speech saying how the gulf will be back to normal.....eventually.

Well, since you decided to completely disregard the first part of my post, I'll think about cheese when I read this.

 

[waggy]

hayabusa rider and danube had some great ideas. I would like to add forcing BP to set up a escrow or such to help the business that are going to be impacted by this.

I also really think Obama needs to stop saying he is going to kick someones ass over this. its hurting his image and just going to have BP cover its ass instead of helping as much as it should.

 

[rudder]

I would hang out with my favorite governors and comb the beaches for greasy oil..especially the lotion type...

 

[rudder]

as much criticism as even I've given Obama for his use of czars, I feel like we could use a Cleanup Czar right about now.

With obama's track record of czars... no thanks.

one person, answerable to Obama, to take point and work with the different federal and local organizations to direct the clean up efforts in a congruent way.

Maybe this guy perhaps? http://www.fema.gov/about/bios/wfugate.shtm

 

[sandorski]

To put it mildly, this is an impossible situation. You could Boom off the entire Gulf Shoreline and Oil will still hit the beaches. You could Cap the Well today and a year from now Oil will still be washing ashore. As long as the Well is gushing 10's of thousands of barrels a day, Clean Up is merely removing old Oil before new Oil arrives. Not that I'm advocating doing nothing, but right now the only really effective Clean Up is that which occurs right at the Site.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

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.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

To put it mildly, this is an impossible situation. You could Boom off the entire Gulf Shoreline and Oil will still hit the beaches. You could Cap the Well today and a year from now Oil will still be washing ashore. As long as the Well is gushing 10's of thousands of barrels a day, Clean Up is merely removing old Oil before new Oil arrives. Not that I'm advocating doing nothing, but right now the only really effective Clean Up is that which occurs right at the Site.

While boom is not very effective and oil will be there for a long time, that does NOT mean that efforts shouldn't be made to protect the region as much as possible.

 

[sandorski]

While boom is not very effective and oil will be there for a long time, that does NOT mean that efforts shouldn't be made to protect the region as much as possible.

I agree, and those efforts are being made, but that doesn't mean that shorelines will not be affected. They will, it is inevitable.

 

[DisgruntledVirus]

I agree, and those efforts are being made, but that doesn't mean that shorelines will not be affected. They will, it is inevitable.

And every reasonable effort that can be made to minimize that, should be made. Especially since there are resources that are available and NOT being used.

 

[sandorski]

And every reasonable effort that can be made to minimize that, should be made. Especially since there are resources that are available and NOT being used.

What constitutes "Reasonable"?

 

[Kirby]

You're the current President of the U.S.A - and now have a off coast oil spill - how would you handle it?

\pop quiz, hot shot...

1.) Dissolve the Supreme court and Congress
2.) Set up a tyrannical monarch
3.) Invade Canada
4.) Start primae noctis
5.) ....
6.) Profit?