Obama's priority? More than an oil mess

[babylonsister]

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/29/1654367/analysis-obamas-priority-more.html

Analysis: Obama's priority? More than an oil mess
By BEN FELLER
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama keeps reassuring the nation that stopping the Gulf oil spill and limiting the fallout on the region are his top priority.

Yet so is protecting the country against attack. And getting people back to work.

Presidencies usually don't allow for a dominant priority - just a list of priorities.

snip//

-The Koreas could be edging to war. The South accuses the North of sinking one of its warships.

-Israel's prime minister visits the White House on Tuesday as Obama presses peace talks with the Palestinians.

-The terror threat isn't going away, as seen by the failed car bombing in New York City this month.

-A international standoff with Iran over its nuclear program is hardening.

-The economic recovery doesn't feel like much of one to the millions who are jobless.

-A sweeping overhaul of financial regulation hangs in the balance, with hopes of finishing it up by July.

-The president needs GOP support of two big initiatives, energy and immigration, but has little to show so far.

-Senators begin hearing in late June on his nominee for the Supreme Court, Elena Kagan.

-Fall elections are nearing, with Democrats facing losses and in need of campaign help from Obama.

Politics never stop, of course.

snip//

Obama's ability to calmly handle many competing issues simultaneously is viewed as one of his strengths.

He has tried to let everyone know that what's unfolding in the Gulf is more than a momentary crisis. The spill, he said Friday from Grand Isle, La., is nothing less than "an assault on our shores, on our people, on the regional economy, and on communities like this one."

The president is also fond of saying he will not rest until the problem at hand gets fixed. The trouble is that there's always more trouble.

[gateley]

1. "The trouble is that there's always more trouble." Ain't that the truth.

Just when we think "well I'm glad THAT'S over, now we can focus more on....." another crisis rears its ugly head.

I feel for Obama. It's like every time he gets up, he's kicked back down again. :(

[RC]

2. So now can we bomb Great Britain?

"The spill, he said Friday from Grand Isle, La., is nothing less than "an assault on our shores, on our people, on the regional economy, and on communities like this one.""

This is a terrorist attack, correct?

For the dark suits with sun glasses - :sarcasm:

[TheKentuckian]

3. Nothing including war is more crucial than dealing with the Gulf

Few if any wars can produce this level of destruction. It seems some folks just cannot take this horrible situation seriously or see the web of dominoes this threatens to knock down creating more huge problems.

The water is life and death is being spread throughout it. This is out of human scale and people are giving equal focus and footing to political problems, problems well within reach of action if the will was there to match it.

Please consider the scope of this situation seriously.

[Karenina]

4. Thank you.

:applause:

[babylonsister]

5. You must need a ladder to dismount from that high horse. This

article seems to me to be reminding us there are other crucial items this admin has to deal with that also can't be ignored. I don't see it as prioritizing anything. The President has done that.

I also don't understand why you think anyone isn't taking the situation in the Gulf seriously. Pointing out other issues isn't diminishing this one.

[TheKentuckian]

6. Priority is the point. We're in deep shit well beyond working deals for semi-worthless legislation

and reacting to polls.

It takes no high horse to see the house burning down and to say that must be tended to before weeding the garden, paying the light bill, or even changing the baby.
All that is kinda important but the house in flames is pressing, especially because the baby that needs changing is in it.

[Catherina]

7. Thank you n/t

:applause: