On the "terminal silliness" of the criticism of the President's response to the BP spill

[ProSense]

'TERMINAL SILLINESS'....

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) has some thoughts on the politics of the BP oil spill disaster.

"In fairness, there's not a lot we can do. The federal government has no vehicle capable of going down there. None of our submarines can go down there. That is a pre-existing condition that was not the fault of the Obama administration."

But, he added, "As we know, politics is as much perception as reality." He said a "clear risk factor" in the fallout of the spill going forward was that it would sully the administration's record.

Rendell also noted a difference between Obama's style and that of the last Democratic president, a famous micromanager: "If Bill Clinton was president, he'd have been in a wetsuit, you know, trying to get down to see the spill," the governor said with a laugh.

I wish that were funny, but as Matt Zeitlin noted, it's an example of the "terminal silliness" of much of the crisis analysis.

I think this perfectly captures the vast majority of purely perception based criticism of Obama's personal response to the oil spill. Best I can tell, very few of the people who are saying that Obama hasn't been publicly aggressive and involved enough actually specify what he should have done as a matter of policy once the spill happened. Most of the commentary seems to be on the level of getting in the wetsuit.

Or complaining that the president doesn't "seem" to be "sufficiently enraged."

Our discourse too often leaves so much to be desired.

So, who was it that said the criticisms had nothing to do with politics?

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[Jennicut]

2. Obama could have plugged the leak a long time ago.

Were he superhuman.
It is beyond silly. It is ridiculous.

[ProSense]

3. Not just superhuman, but

superhuman with a bullhorn

[Jennicut]

4. Yes, the "bullhorn". I have had people on DU tell me that he must do

that type of thing to "appeal" to people in the Gulf and let them no he cares. So empty gestures matter most to some, huh? Empty, fake gestures that manipulate people and play on their fears...sort of like what Bush did on that rubble after 9/11. No thanks. I prefer Obama's no drama.

[pscot]

5. What about empty, fake gestures

that try to allay peoples fears, that reassure them that their government is looking out for their interests and that let them know the guilty will be punished? I thought communication was a big part of the job.

[Jennicut]

6. Obama put that some of that into words yesterday.

I am not sure what some people want. The investigations need to happen. The leak needs to be stopped. Should Obama tell them that everything will be okay? Because it won't be. The Gulf is going to be devastated for a long time.

[Arkana]

10. The investigations need to happen, but the leak needs to be stopped first.

THEN we begin the investigations--after we're done running around like our hair's on fire.

[TheKentuckian]

11. He should at the fucking very least make sure the EPA overrides BP

rather than saying that they have some disagreements because that says to me that when the Administration and BP are at odds that BP gets it's way.

Why is it soooooooooooo offensive that he give some symbolic leadership and show the lowly citizens that he is engaged and has some empathy for the terrible situation on site?

Don't you get that these people have been through the fucking mill and are frazzled and scared?

No, he can't say everything is going to be ok but he can say directly to the affected areas that the full power of the nation will be brought to bear to at least fucking TRY to make things right.

Why don't you think presence means anything to people, at least on an emotional basis? Why is it so hard to just have a little empathy and compassion for regular people?

You're heart bleeds for Obama, it would seem like you could spare a little room in it for the people, wildlife, and the environment of the Gulf and potentially many more folks?

As many are fond of saying, he can't swim down there and plug the hole, and he knows nothing about the science so if nothing else he can give a little solace and reassurance to often hard hit citizens whose President he is.

[ProSense]

13. Awww.

"Why is it soooooooooooo offensive that he give some symbolic leadership and show the lowly citizens that he is engaged and has some empathy for the terrible situation on site?"

The President doesn't care. What utter drivel.

[TheKentuckian]

15. If I wanted to say he didn't care, I could have. It's more likely you don't care

is my impression.

You're the one that seems offended that folks want a little show of love and concern not President Obama. I asked a question, that's why I had the lil curly Q at the end there.

Why does it bother you so damn much? Is it really that big of a deal or such a trying request?

Sometimes it seems like you can only read what you want to see rather than what is there

[ProSense]

17. "Why does it bother you so damn much? "

From a person screaming: "He should at the fucking very least make sure the EPA overrides BP"

"You're the one that seems offended that folks want a little show of love and concern not President Obama."

More silliness.

[Jennicut]

14. He said yesterday that the resources needed will be used and he will do his best.

He is going there today. But when people speak of "presence" I am not sure it does much. Comfort? I don't know. I think because we have seen Bush do something similar and have seen politicians do this type of thing over and over again it just come off as fake and "photo op time" to me. I did not get from his press conference yesterday that he didn't give a shit.
Bill Clinton was a master at expressing empathy but do you think he really cared? I just don't buy it.

[TheKentuckian]

18. To you Jenn and usually to me but everyone's needs are different

especially emotionally.

As you well know a great many people respond to and are reassured by displays of empathy.

I don't honestly get why this species long human factor is so maddening to some folks.

Many and maybe even most want to at least think that someone cares, even if they really don't.

I dunno, this seems like a hard hearted and cerebral response to something so normal and even understandable despite that not being how I tick either. I don't see why this is some huge gap to cross.

If nothing else it would seem like you wouldn't begrudge it to those with different sensibilities.

[Arkana]

9. If you haven't been listening to the repeated reports that BP will hang for this

once the well is finally closed, I don't know what to tell you.

[TheKentuckian]

12. Did pharma hang? Did big insurance hang? Did Wall Street hang?

Did BushCo. hang?

The wag of the finger routine isn't believable to many folks anymore. We watched him with that bullshit game twice now on Wall Street bonuses and they got their way in record numbers.

Obama hasn't held wealthy power brokers that abuse our citizens yet, hasn't even tried to. The little people have to face the music but the big wealthy fucks haven't even have to tip the band a single time yet.

Obama is as weak on corporate accountability s a puke.

[NJmaverick]

7. K & R!

[Arkana]

8. It seems to me

that the problem here lies mainly in perception.

The President made the mistake of leading without APPEARING to lead, whereas Dubya, if faced with the same crisis, would APPEAR to lead without actually leading. Guess whose dick the media would suck if presented with those two situations side by side?

[Cha]

16. We already know which one they sucked and

how much they suck.