Hey, remember that big oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico?
I do. Suddenly, we don't hear anything about it. Since Chevron put the cement cap in the well the news from the area has slowed to a ... drip. As is the usual, our federal government may have withheld some information from us when the well initially started leaking,
as a panel reported today:
WASHINGTON - The Obama administration blocked efforts by government scientists to tell the public just how bad the Gulf of Mexico oil spill could become and committed other missteps that raised questions about its competence and candor during the crisis, according to a commission appointed by the president to investigate the disaster. In documents released Wednesday, the national oil spill commission's staff describes "not an incidental public relations problem" by the White House after the April 20 accident.
Among other things, the report says, the administration made erroneous early estimates of the spill's size, and President Obama's senior energy adviser went on national TV and mis-characterized a government analysis by saying it showed most of the oil was "gone." The analysis actually said it could still be there.
I love government-speak. They mis-characterized. That's what you and I would call lying. And who'd-a-thunk that the oil could still be there? You mean it didn't magically disappear? Didn't Santa's elves come in at night and sweep it all away with their little brooms?
"By initially underestimating the amount of oil flow and then, at the end of the summer, appearing to underestimate the amount of oil remaining in the gulf, the federal government created the impression that it was either not fully competent to handle the spill or not fully candid with the American people about the scope of the problem," the report says.Shouldn't we be used to the government not being fully candid with us? Surprisingly, very little public criticism has been leveled against the government for what it told us about the spill. I suppose all those photos of the president swimming in the shallow water with his kids didn't persuade the panel. That's a shame because it sure looked like he was swimming in the Gulf of Mexico.
4 comments:
Yes We Can
1. Cover up the oil spill.
2. Increase troops in Afghanistan.
3. Give money to millionaires.
4. Ignore Gay Rights.
5. Fail on Public Option Healthcare.
Man, am I glad we got rid of that lying sumbitch Bush and elected a man who is concerned about the environment, is anti-war, cares about the little guy, wants to see all Americans have the security of health insurance, and is an advocate for gays.
Makes you lose faith in the system, doesn't it? That's the reason only 41% of the registered voters vote.
The whole smoke screen (oil screen?) with the Gulf Spill is the tip of the iceberg IMHO.
I have been following Rolling Stone's coverage of some of the major issues I listed above. (Matt Taibbi kicks butt no matter which side of the aisle the pol sits.) I just read the interview with Obama in which RS asked about some of the issues - Obama blew enough smoke to get him kicked out of any restaurant in Michigan.
What a bitter disappointment.
Lets not forget that BP spent $92million on network advertising saying how much they care and how clean the Gulf is, and suddenly the news coverage evaporates as well.
I seen a recent Documentary on the National Geographic’s Channel where the scientist are saying there are huge pools of oil on the bottom of the Gulf. I’ll trust their opinion far more that the government, BP, or the for profit network news.
Almost pissed me off as much as watching my Bears play last Sunday.
Later...
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