IMO the President should address the nation.

[Xicano]

He should announce that effective immediately he is freezing all assets of BP and will use BP assets to pay for the costs of stopping the leak, clean up of the all damage and compensation of those effected by this catastrophe.

His announcement should include offering all deep-sea drilling capable companies and other relevant companies capable of offering services in helping solve and clean up this crisis bids for contracts (paid for by frozen BP assets of course).

His announcement should also include that he is instructing the justice department to indict all persons on criminal charges who failed to follow or satisfy all safety procedures and regulations.

His announcement should also include that effective immediately he's ordering a comprehensive safety inspection of all current off-shore oil operations and will shut down any and all operations that fail to score a 100% on the inspections.

His announcement should also include that future off-shore drilling plans are to be suspended indefinitely and that all oil companies operating at any level within the United States shall be taxed to fund research and development of alternative energy.

--

Not that I would espect hearing something like that come from the White House in a million years, but nevertheless my two cents anyway.

[Bluebear]

1. Good luck with that

See my thread from days ago asking the same thing:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=8385531

[Xicano]

5. That's why I love the DU. So many like minded folks.

Thanks Bluebear. :hi:

[metapunditedgy]

13. Ha, my experience too. I'm starting to think that BP has

*somebody* (or somebodies) under their thumb. Another big loss for the common man.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x310125

[blogslut]

2. How does a US President go about

seizing the assets of a British company?

[Bluebear]

3. How did they seize assets of "Al Qaida" money in the US?

[blogslut]

7. I don't know? Perhaps you should tell us.

How does a country seize the assets of a company based in another nation, short of war?

[Better Believe It]

12. BP interferes in our election campaigns and has full time lobbyists in Washington.

-The Obama administration can control their operations in the United States and gulf. They do business here only with our permission.-

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, BP is the United States' hundredth largest donor to political campaigns, having contributed more than US$5 million since 1990, 72% and 28% of which went to Republican and Democratic recipients, respectively. BP has lobbied to gain exemptions from U.S. corporate law reforms.<84> Additionally, BP paid the Podesta Group, a Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm, $160,000 in the first half of 2007 to manage its congressional and government relations.<85>

In February 2002 BP's chief executive, Lord Browne of Madingley, renounced the practice of corporate campaign contributions, noting: "That's why we've decided, as a global policy, that from now on we will make no political contributions from corporate funds anywhere in the world."<86>

Despite this, in 2009 BP used nearly US$16 million to lobby US Congress, breaking the company's previous record (from 2008) of US$10,4 million

[gateley]

4. Even though I don't think he'd freeze BP assets or implement criminal

charges at this point, I DO think he needs to address the nation.

[meowomon]

6. Obama's leadership, once again, is lacking. I am so disappointed with him.

[sharp_stick]

11. Shocked I am, you dissapointed? n/t

[Better Believe It]

8. A liberal/progressive President would do that without the slightest hesitation.

[Avalux]

9. How about he address the nation and state the truth?

That he/the US government has no authority over BP and there's very little to be done in the immediate short term. At least it would clear up confusion for those who think BP can be held accountable. Such is life living in a corporatocracy.

[femrap]

10. Yep

I want to see criminal charges...crimes against Mother Nature.

And everyone in the oil biz needs to drilling relief wells on this. Could need several to stop it.

And I want him to tell the f*cking Truth...these relief wells are going to take months and that we are in uncharted water here due to the depths of this stupid Deepwater Horizon crap. And I want to know who f*cking approved of it in the first place.

Diaspora will occur. Who can live with oil on their coastlines?

It's a total catastrophe.

[Mojeoux]

14. It is almost a Physiological Need, a Subconscious Need

And I'd like to see Joe Biden out there in waders helping out, with his secret service in waders too.