It really puzzles as to why the Obama administration is doing everything they can from the backseat.

[LLStarks]

Everything seems so distant though.

If the top-kill fails and Obama doesn't push BP aside for more government intervention, my B- rating for his presidency so far will be in jeopardy.

[ShortnFiery]

1. Where are the tankers that can suck up the already spilled oil? Has the Obama

Administration sought help from the USA and World Community for this VITAL asset?

[robinblue]

2. I have asked that many times here. I think a call for international help

-calling in all experts on this issue should have gone out publicly a LONG time ago.

[gateley]

9. I think they've done that -- they've enlisted experts and oil people from around

the world.

[gateley]

7. Just saw the former President of Shell on Andrea Mitchell and he said he's spoken

to some tanker people (my words) and it has been explored. He cautioned that it's a long process to get a tanker 'suited up' and ready to go, and it's a logistical challenge.

I've heard that the reason we don't have tankers is because the area is too small, but this guy (former Shell Prez) said they could be several miles out and still be helpful. I saw him yesterday, too, and that's what he was proposing -- the tankers.

The thing is, we don't know what the administration has or has not done -- it could very well be in talks with tanker owners now. I hope so.

[roguevalley]

12. he needs to freeze their damned assets and penalize them every

day that they don't end this shit. take their money. then you will see results.

[polichick]

3. They're covering their political asses instead of leading...

...easier to do that from the backseat.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. If the top kill fails the only alternative is the relief well...

and since BP is already on top of that, pushing them aside would make the matter worse.

So much for that idea.

[ljm2002]

11. Right, because there is no cleanup to be considered...

...only stopping the gusher.

How many times must it be repeated: there is stopping the gusher, most if not all agree that must remain with BP as they have the equipment and expertise. Then there is cleanup. It is best if cleanup can occur in the water itself before oil reaches the shore. There is debate about how effective cleanup can be after oil reaches the shore. BP does not have the only expertise when it comes to cleaning up oil in the water and in fact they seem to have discouraged any real assessment of how much and where it is.

[AtomicKitten]

5. You can thank the law Congress passed after the Exxon Valdez.

1. $75 million liability cap.
2. Oil company in charge of/responsible for clean-up.

link

[gateley]

6. His Energy guy is on site, Salazar and Napolitano have each been several times,

he's got lots of feet on the ground down there.

This would have been a tough call from the beginning as it's an unprecedented occurrence. People talk about how we should have called in other companies with the equipment (which we don't have), but BP was there on site and unarguably they know the business, so it makes sense to have them do what they needed to do.

Other than halting BP and sending them packing, what can Obama do? He's sent in people, has experts and other oil companies working on this, and has placed a moratorium on further drilling pending an investigation.

Even if we did pull the plug on BP, that might hurt us more than it helps at this point. Not sure any other oil company could or would do anything differently.

My only criticism of Obama in this matter is that he hasn't been holding pressers and addressing all the questions and charges, leaving people to speculate wildly and to get the impression that he's not involved. He needs to keep us apprised so we KNOW all that can be done is being done, and answer the questions of "why don't we do this?".

[LeftyFingerPop]

8. Who is in charge?

[gateley]

10. I heard that all steps are going through the Fed Gov. I've also heard that the

Coast Guard has the final say.