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Liberals Unhappy with Obama's Speech

1 year ago
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It was predictable that Republicans would be critical (albeit in a semi-literate manner) of President Barack Obama's speech to the nation on Wednesday evening about his administration's efforts to combat the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. But liberals, too, were underwhelmed. Here's a selection of reactions from the left:

Mother Jones's Kevin Drum: "What a terrible speech. ... This speech felt entirely by-the-numbers to me. He told us about the spill. He told us the best minds in the country were working on it. He told us BP would pay for it. He told us he was setting up some commissions. He said he wanted an energy bill of some kind. Then he told us all to pray. It felt like he was reading off a PowerPoint deck."

The New Republic's Jonathan Chait (on Obama's discussion of energy policy): "None of these arguments touch upon the central point, which is that dumping carbon into the atmosphere creates enormous long-term environmental risks."

The Atlantic's James Fallows (former speechwriter for President Jimmy Carter): "Will we look on this speech as signaling the moment when the United States stopped talking about the distortions of its oil-based economy, and did something about it? No."

Huffington Post's Jason Links: "One very specific action Obama could have taken tonight was to make it clear that BP's ongoing clampdown on the media attempting to cover the oil spill was not to be tolerated and must end immediately. Didn't even merit a mention!"
Filed Under: Oil Spill, Surge Desk

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mayavase

We are witnessing a great tragedy -- the death of a way of life. Dissatisfaction with Pres. Obama's speech is an expressdion of our frustration and anger that this could happen. BP exhibited their neglect and greed by their egregious behavior -- but we are also seeing the results of a corrupt government agency and the lack of regulation and oversight. We will live with this for many years; the years it will take to produce a green revolution, if ever. It certainly won't happen overnight.

June 16 2010 at 3:20 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
tnydancer4u

It should not turn into some political free for all..We are talking about real lives and real famiies here...along with the nature and environment as well that has been destroyed...that will take years and years to recover and restore...Obama is right...PRAY...that is all takes frution and that BP finds a way to CAP the HOLE...The only disappointment is bringing up political agenda with Cap and Trade..the ONLY CAP should be the one to stop the OIL SPILL..PERIOD.
You cant blame Obama for the spill, but waiting 50 days to do MORE than we can do to help clean it up is unacceptable. Instead of the finger pointing, lets SOLVE the problems, Recover our coast, families and wildlife.. and get on the road to resolve..CAP THE HOLE! Other nations have offered to help...WHY not LET them..ANYTHING is better than watching this castastrophe go on..

June 16 2010 at 3:07 PM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply
debraswayzee

What is wrong with all you people ? Do you not understand that heads of all the oil companies have been holding hands w/ private and federal agencies for decades making deals in order to carry out their business any way they want, for decades ? And most of their obscene practices have gone un-noticed and if a question was raised, it was immediatly squashed. And now it all comes to light. How completely without conscience they`ve opperated. And even more shocking is the belief that you feel Obama should have control over this situation and know everything about it. He`s got a mess on his hands not of his making and if you all are worth anything, you`ll stand by your man, shout encouragement, get off your attitudes and offer help. Quit critisizing and say and do something constructive. We, the American people I`m sorry to say, are a bunch of complaining, do nothing spoiled brats, myself included. We know how to critisize but not how to stand up and back our man. He gathers strength from us SHUT-UP, STAND UP AND DO SOMETHING TO HELP you big old whiners. Shame on ya.

June 16 2010 at 2:06 PM Report abuse -3 rate up rate down Reply
raidersetc

Negatives of the speech: > President Obama Trying to sell the nonsense that ex Haleburton CEO Dick Cheney- partner-in-crime Ken Salazar was part of the solution and not part of the problem. > Doesn't Obama realize that as most of us watch tv,( with keen interest), we are already familiar with the specific details of the spill ? Consequently, why didn't he cite the reference for claiming that 90% of the oil will in short time be contained ? Why no mention of BP's stranglehold of the media and outrageous lies and understatements , yet we're still supposed to trust them ? Obama may not be from the evil far right trying to destroy the middle class, but so far anyway he's no FDR by a longshot, but the new "king" of "patronize".

June 16 2010 at 10:06 AM Report abuse -4 rate up rate down Reply
Live-Laugh-Love

What did you expect? Obama and his speech writers only know how to use warm and fuzzy words to push legislation to further the far-left agenda. Obama has never led a parade let alone a country of 300 million citizens. Did you think he'd be able to handle a crisis? Are you all living in another time zone?

June 16 2010 at 9:28 AM Report abuse +6 rate up rate down Reply
Kenneth

Nothing more then 15 min. of empty words with no solution in site, but now it has opened the door for the Democrats to shove through this Cap and Trade bill they have been sitting on. This will be another bill with a large negative impact on the economy and job growth.

June 16 2010 at 9:19 AM Report abuse +7 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Kenneth's comment
altar3020

You're absolutely correct. Penalize the public with $7 gallon gas when there is no alternative product. There are no vehicles that run on solar or wind power. Nuclear power plants won't get the goods transported by our massive trucking industry across country. Just think what will happen to the price of food when truckers have to spend Obama's predicted $7 to $9 per gallon on gas.

June 16 2010 at 11:26 AM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply

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