The Sense of Urgency is needed NOW, Obama White House

I am going to repeat what one diarist wrote this evening:

What the f**k is the White House thinking?

Do they understand the magnitude of this unfolding disaster?

Do they realize that they look and sound like the keystone cops, or worse, the Bush Administration?

And none of this is laughable....

The interview below is from Rachel Maddow with Energy Secretary, Steven Chu. I want everyone to understand something, perception matters. Ask former Prime Minister Gordon Brown after calling a constituent a "bigot". That one liner sealed the deal for many Brits who voted for the other guy. Chu's demeanor is that of academia, but when you have the public starting to fester in anger with people that DEPEND on their livelihood in conjunction with the BP Oil Spill disaster, I would THINK emotions of empathy is warranted. First video is with Ann Thompson, the second with Steven Chu. And the part from Chu that he only knows what he reads in the papers, is well, flabbergasting.





As Donna Brazile stated to Howard Fineman, "Where is the Fierce Urgency of Now". This from Countdown with Keith Olbermann:



The problem with all of this is that when you have a spill that is uncontrollable and the public SEES IT live daily, the reality really starts to sink in. The reality is that the Gulf Coast may not ever recover from this for DECADES. Then we have to witness ineptness and dishonesty of BP in relations to the TRUTH of what is actually happening, we know that the Obama Administration has very little if any solutions to fix this problem. It means that the Obama White House relies on BP for getting this spill capped and so far, BP gets an "F" in everything associated with this disaster.

Remember, George W. Bush was refuted by the public and it started with his handling of Hurricane Katrina. Bush's claim to fame photo of him flying over the Katrina disaster will be remembered for years to come. A photo of the leader of this country looking not engaged. Barack Obama appearing to be "MIA", is not good EITHER. Natural and man made disasters happens EVERY DAY, but people of this country elect individuals, parties, and presidents to be on the ball to fix it. Most importantly the public expects the truth as it become known, UP FRONT. BP did not do this and many, if you asked on the street, could not tell you what the hell the Obama Administration is doing about it. That is just the truth. Yes, you will post links, etc., but don't do it for me, this administration needs to CONSTANTLY communicate this to the public. That is not happening on the ground, but miscommunication and perceptions are starting to take place.

I know, another faux outrage diary, but the reality is that on the communication tip, the Obama White House gets an "F" as well. The "F" is for AGAIN, losing the narrative of this oil spill. We saw this last summer with the health care bill, which is now law.

Lastly, Obama White House please put people on television that one can at least, BELIEVE what they are saying? Just as the lack of communication is a killer, the belief that BP will make the Gulf Coast "whole again" is not just believable, as we all are reading this KNOW IT WILL NOT HAPPEN.

This oil spill will destroy the Gulf Coast as we know it and that is the DAILY FEAR that people of this region is coming to grips with. They have every right to be angry because it not only affects them but every person in the United States of America.

Update [2010-5-25 14:21:54 by icebergslim]:
Glad to see people ENGAGED, now we need to get the WH engaged. I don't like that Obama is flying around for fundraisers and coming back to CHI, my home city, Chicago. But he needs a break and the Chicago Police needs more to do, other than having gun shootouts which is happening daily here. But for those who want David Axelrod out, here he is on several news programs. Click on the link when he was on Hardball, it was then that I knew this man needs to be sent packing. Videos, links here....

Update [2010-5-25 15:55:59 by icebergslim]:
As I predicted, President Obama will be in the Gulf Coast on Friday before he jets to Chicago for the Memorial Day Weekend. My advice to POTUS, cop a squat on a cot and keep RETURNING to the Gulf Coast, WEEKLY...

Cross-posted @ Daily Kos

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Obama Speaks at the Department of Energy (Video and Transcript)

He was vibrant, energetic, pushing the stimulus package, like he is on the campaign trail.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Steven Chu (R) introduces U.S. President Barack Obama (L)

Transcript

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Obama Evening Wrap Up. Blago-Gate Continues.

h/t Today With President-Elect Barack Obama

••

Blago-Gate is Keepin' On

Obama Crew floated an announcement today for Energy Secretary, get to it later, but he and staff was hunkered DOWN due to the Blago-Gate crap.

First off, Blagojevich went to work today!!! Not in Springfield, he does not work in the capital, but was driven from his Ravenswood Manor to his office in Chicago. Hope they got the all the hidden mics removed.

Next, it is sad to report that Blagojevich's Deputy Governor resigns. Since Blago got caught in the "talking shit" act, his Deputy removed himself from Blago's services.

In a brief telephone conversation with The Associated Press on Wednesday, former Deputy Gov. Bob Greenlee said he'd been instructed not to speak and referred questions to an attorney.

Greenlee's resignation comes a day after Blagojevich was arrested on federal corruption charges.

Ummm, he has an attorney? Was he caught talking too? We will soon find out.

Next Senator Harry Reid, Leader of the Senate, on Blago, don't even try to appoint a senator.

A Senate leadership aide sends over the letter, which Reid has asked his fellow Dems to sign. Here's the key part:

Please understand that should you decide to ignore the request of the Senate Democratic Caucus and make an appointment we would be forced to exercise our Constitutional authority under Article I, Section 5, to determine whether such a person should be seated.

We do not prejudge the outcome of the criminal charges against you or question your constitutional right to contest those charges. But for the good of the Senate and our nation, we implore you refrain from making an appointment to the Senate.

Mayor Richard Daley, from Chicago, the Chi-Town biggest cheese of all, says basically, "Blago do the right thing." But knowing that he has been under investigation, himself, he is walking a line.

"He has to figure out what is best for the state of Illinois," Daley said. "He has to make that decision personally ... You can figure out what would be the best for the state because this is gonna be quite a trying experience for him and his family ... These are very serious, serious allegations. These are not light-hearted, windbag conversations."

Wow, windbag conversations. Only in Chicago.

All 50 Democratic Senators want Blago OUT!!

All fifty members of the Democratic Senate caucus have signed Majority Leader Harry Reid's letter calling on Gov. Rod Blagojevich to step down from his post and refrain from appointing anyone to the vacated Illinois Senate seat, a source confirms.

IL Attorney General Lisa Madigan just wants Blago to go away and denies wanting Obama's Senate Seat

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says she is "candidate No. 2" named in Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's arrest.

She denies having sought Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat, however.

Madigan, who has called on Blagojevich to resign and for the Illinois attorney general to take over, says: " Nobody in their right mind in the state of Illinois is going to accept a Senate seat from the governor considering the taint of what has gone on."

Listen to Madigan, here.

Then we have the King Cheese of All, President-Elect Barack Obama who released a statement via future Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

President-elect Barack Obama believes that Gov. Rod Blagojevich should resign, his advisers said on Wednesday. "The President-elect agrees with Lt. Gov. Quinn and many others that under the current circumstances it is difficult for the governor to effectively do his job and serve the people of Illinois," Robert Gibbs, the incoming White House press secretary, said.

The infamous Candidate #5 from the US Attorney Office, Criminal Complaint which reads like a Hollywood Script, has finally been uncovered.

None other than Jesse Jackson, Jr. Jackson, Jr. had a press conference today to vehemently deny any dealings, offers, exchange of monies, or releasing anyone on his behalf in regards to Obama's Senate Seat.



And the biggest S.O.B. of all is attempting to cling to what little power he has left.

His career in shreds, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich clung defiantly to power Wednesday, ignoring a call to step down from President-elect Barack Obama and a warning that Senate Democrats will not let him appoint a new senator from the state.

"Everyone is calling for his head," said Barbara Flynn Currie, a leader in the Illinois Senate and, like the governor, a Democrat.

Calling for his head? That is being nice.

This is what the Governor Rod Blagojevich corruption story has reduced all of this too. The Obama Team is hunkered down, as they should be, probably grilling every single person who even said the word, "Blagojevich", well maybe. Remember we don't know who is who, with the exception of Jackson Jr., on those tapes. We don't know who said what to Blagojevich on those tapes. So, they need to be assured that their ducks are in a very straight row going forward with this scandal swirling around them.

Yep, welcome to politics, Chicago Style.

••

Word Out: Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Steven Chu is pegged for Energy Secretary

Obama will name Steven Chu his choice for Energy secretary, Lisa Jackson for EPA administrator and Carol Browner as energy "czar" reporting to the president.

It is unclear whether the Browner position is cabinet level.

This will not be officially announced this week.

There will be a news conference tomorrow to announce the Health and Human Services secretary -- expected to be Tom Daschle.

*** UPDATE *** Msnbc.com's Alan Boyle wrote last year about how biology might help fill fuel tanks, and the story included some of Chu’s thinking on energy policy.

••

Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL-10) looks to jump in for Obama seat, IF a special election

Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) said Wednesday he is considering running for Senate if there is a special election to fill President-elect Barack Obama’s seat. The Illinois Republican also did not mince words about some of the potential Senate appointees mentioned in the federal complaint against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D).

Federal investigators arrested Blagojevich on Tuesday morning and accused him of selling Obama’s now-vacant seat to the highest bidder, in addition to other corruption charges. Illinois leaders are now pushing to change state law for a pricey special election to fill the seat instead of a gubernatorial appointment.

In an interview Wednesday morning, Kirk said he was looking at running but thought state legislators’ first priority should be getting Blagojevich out of office.

“I will look at it,” Kirk said. “As far as the people of Illinois, the first job is not to decide how we pick a Senator. The first job is getting rid of the governor.”

Congressman Bobby Rush (D-IL) said on MSNBC today, pretty much how I feel about a special election, "if there is one it will not service the African-American commmunity."

What this means is that special elections are low voting elections. What it means is that you must have money and big organization to get your voters to the polls. It means, as we saw in Georgia, folks are tuned out, not on for special elections.

Finally, what it means is that the GOP will have a very good chance picking this "once safe" Democratic seat up and flipping it Republican.

This scandal is fresh meat for the GOP, no doubt about it. This is about corruption of the worst kind. As long as Blagojevich is sitting up in his Chicago mansion or visiting his Springfield mansion, this story will continue. The Democrats need to get this joke out of the governor seat and off the television. If you think the MSM is bad, live here in Chicago, this story is really bad.

••

and......

Blacks in the White House: Slavery and service

Obama Using Full Name When He Takes Oath of Office

Blago shaking down the Cubs and Wrigley Field

Freak, Senator Larry Craig (R-ID), the one who like to play "footsies" in a Minneapolis Airport Bathroom, Change of Sentence: DENIED

Democrats, Time to Clean House

Obama’s Change.Gov Allows Open Questions Based On Google Moderator

••

Illinois Corruption Continues....



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Obama to name physicist Steven Chu for Energy Secretary

Source.

Obama will name Steven Chu his choice for Energy Secretary, Lisa Jackson for EPA administrator and Carol Browner as energy "czar" reporting to the President.

It is unclear whether the Browner position is cabinet level.

This will not be officially announced this week.

There will be a news conference tomorrow to announce the Health and Human Services Secretary -- expected to be Tom Daschle.

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