That’s something that Rep. Gene Taylor (who is not identified in the McLatchy story as a Democrat, unsurprisingly, considering how he is lambasting the federal response and Obama) would like to know
A morning flight over the Mississippi Sound showed long, wide ribbons of orange-colored oil for as far as the eye could see and acres of both heavy and light sheen moving into the Sound between the barrier islands. What was missing was any sign of skimming operations from Horn Island to Pass Christian.
U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor got off the flight angry.
“It’s criminal what’s going on out there,” Taylor said minutes later. “This doesn’t have to happen.†(snip)
Taylor said it was a good thing he didn’t have a mic in the helicopter, because he might have said some things he didn’t want his children to hear.
“They’re paying all these boats to run around like headless chickens,†Taylor said, as reporters gathered to hear his assessment of the Sound.
“Nobody’s in charge,†Taylor said. “Everybody’s in charge, so no one’s in charge.
“If the president can’t find anyone who can do this job,†he said, “let me do it.â€
Sorry, Gene, Obama has more important things to worry about, such as his handicap (I’m referring to golf, not Joe Biden).
PJ Gladnick does a great job of showing where many of the skimmers are not. Essentially, they are being held in reserve in case there is an oil spill (WTF?????). Pat Austin also highlights the same information, and wonders when incompetence becomes criminal.
Hey, here’s a skimmer
After making a brief stop in Norfolk for refueling, U.S. Coast Guard inspections and an all-out publicity blitz intended to drum up public support, a giant tanker billed as the world’s largest oil skimming vessel set sail Friday for the Gulf of Mexico where it hopes to assist in the oil-cleanup effort.
The Taiwanese-owned, Liberian-flagged ship dubbed the “A Whale” stands 10 stories high, stretches 1,115 feet in length and has a nearly 200-foot beam. It displaces more water than an aircraft carrier.
Hoooooooo-ray!!!!!….????????
But a number of hurdles stand in his way. TMT officials said the company does not yet have government approval to assist in the cleanup or a contract with BP to perform the work.
The ship was specifically refitted to deal with this cleanup operation, and it can’t get approval?
Mississippi is saying “screw Los Federales, we’ll build them ourselves.”
Day 69, and skimmers are still not in abundance, the J0nes Act is still in affect and Obama won’t allow foreign flagged ships to help. Heck of a job there, Barry.
(PS: don’t think I am not holding BP responsible, as well. It is ultimately their fault for the spill. But, this kind of situation is why we have government, and they are failing miserably.)
