Adam Nagourney:
“It’s the first Obama speech ever panned by the talking heads,” Mike Allen reported in the Politico Playbook.
But so what? Does it really matter if you lose the pundits anymore?
No, it does not. Except to other pundits.
“Obama couldn’t get a break from any of the national commentators,” he said. “So I was surprised when I saw a poll today that showed that Obama’s approval rating didn’t change that much. I don’t know if anyone has figured out the impact of the new information order when you have so many opinions out there.”
Martin Kaplan, the director of the Norman Lear Center at the Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism at the University of Southern California, said, “I think the most important impact of Washington commentators is on other Washington commentators.”
CNN:
A BP estimate made before the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon noted that as much as 100,000 barrels per day could leak into the ocean if the blowout preventer and wellhead were removed, a higher worst-case scenario than previously reported.
According to an internal BP document released Sunday by Rep. Edward Markey, D-Massachusetts, BP believed that the worst-case scenario could be as high as 100,000 barrels, or 4.2 million gallons, of oil per day.
So why weren't they prepared for that? Oh, wait, in that same story, it looks like they are moving to Plan B:
"Thus far efforts made by mortals to try to solve the crisis have been to no avail," state Sen. Robert Adley said in a statement released after last week's unanimous vote for the day of prayer. "It is clearly time for a miracle for us."
The resolution names Sunday as a statewide day of prayer in Louisiana and calls on people of all religions throughout the Gulf Coast "to pray for an end to this environmental emergency, sparing us all from the destruction of both culture and livelihood."
Remember, the Lord helps those who help themselves. Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition work on that relief well.
CSM:
BP’s public relations gaffes in the Gulf oil spill are continuing, with Chief Executive Tony Hayward attending a yacht race in England Saturday. But on the sea floor, the company is making important headway toward containing all the leaking oil.
The Obama administration has forced BP to ramp up its oil-containment efforts, and President Obama has staked a fair bit of credibility on BP's success. He claimed in his Oval Office speech that BP would collect 90 percent of the oil by the end of the month.
So far, BP's redoubled efforts appear to be working.
Great news if true. Let's hope it is, so that Tony Hayward can have his life back.
CNN:
A top Democrat kept up the Joe Barton drumbeat Sunday, saying the Republican legislator's defense of BP last week was an example of GOP ideology that favors big business.
Republicans seeking to change the subject countered that the nation's focus should be on efforts to stop the Gulf oil gusher and criticized the Obama administration for failing to make that happen.
Republicans, see CSM story above. As far as Joe Barton goes, Barton's comment was a political gift and is non-returnable.
Jake Tapper:
Emanuel on Barton and the GOP: 'They see the aggrieved party here as BP, not the fishermen.'
Yes, they really do.
The Pump Handle on the Gulf and personal protective equipment:
Thankfully, there are a few scientists trying to get better health effects information out.
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Senior Scientist Gina Solomon, MD, MPH has beenblogging and testifying about the chemical hazards in the Gulf. Kathy Burns, Ph.D. and Michael Harbut, MD have summarized the health effects of Gulf oil spill chemicals at the Science Corp. website and produced a 1-page factsheet for cleanup workers. Riki Ott, PhD, author, activist, and veteran of the Exxon Valdez oil spill has health effects information on her website Claudia Miller, MD, MS also has health effects information on her website and blog.
Bookmark The Pump Handle for more ongoing coverage.
Daily News:
That's what "Washington insiders" are telling the London Telegraph, which reports that the White House chief of staff is tired of sparring with both Republicans and fellow Democrats and will quit in the next six to eight months.
"I would bet he will go after the midterms," The Telegraph quotes a "leading Democratic" source as saying.
PS the Yankees have the best record in baseball.