Al Giordano posted a fantastic and thought-provoking piece about the oil spill and yelling.
However, there’s a distinction between getting tough with BP, which I think many of us are pushing for, and “yelling.” An outstanding example of what measured toughness can achieve is Ed Markey’s pressure on BP regarding the live video feed. BP announced it would shut off the video during the top kill, then Congressman Markey applied some outrage and pressure and BP conceded. The video feed will remain.
“It is outrageous that BP would kill the video feed for the top kill. This BP blackout will obscure a vital moment in this disaster,” said Rep. Markey, who chairs the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming and the Energy and Environment Subcommittee in the Energy and Commerce Committee. “After more than a month of spewing oil into the Gulf of Mexico, BP is essentially saying to the American people the solution will not be televised.”
No yelling. Just an elected official calling BP on their bullshit. This works. This is what I’m talking about.
There are things the president can do and say which are perfectly in character for him, but that also exerts a level of public pressure on BP. Again, this corporation is trying to hoodwink us at every turn. We just need to know that the White House is keeping tabs on these oily bastards, and checking them whenever they try to pull a fast one. That’s all. No yelling necessary, but some angry firmness and public pressure will go a long way.
