Obama’s Turn to Speak

Brian Darling / June 15, 2010

The President has been very critical of “talking heads” in the media and tonight he had the opportunity to say his piece in his first Oval Office speech. Sadly, the President sounded more like an analyst and candidate for office than a decisive leader. The presidential address to the nation lacked specifics and was full of promised future action.

The President started by explaining that he assembled a team of experts soon after the crisis:

Because there has never been a leak of this size, at this depth, stopping it has tested the limits of human technology. That’s why just after the rig sank, I assembled a team of our nations’ best scientists and engineers to tackle this challenge.

Then the President said that “as a result of these efforts, we’ve directed BP to mobilize additional equipment and technology and in the coming weeks and days, these efforts should capture up to 90% of the oil leaking out of the well.” Members of Congress and the American people might have raised an eyebrow at the lack of past results coupled with a bold promise to capture 90% of leaked oil soon. Again, the American people are promised future results, but not shown measurable results in the 56 days since the spill. (more…)