Evening Buzz: BP Shipped in Workers for Presidential Visit?
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Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
There are new accusations aimed at BP over oil spill cleanup efforts in Louisiana. Jefferson Parish Councilman Chris Roberts accuses the oil company of shipping workers to Grand Isle for Pres. Barack Obama's visit today and sending them away after the president left.
"We have had very minimal cleanup crews", Roberts told CNN today about Grand Isle. "Maybe at best about 20 people working the beach. We just find it highly coincidental that on the day the president arrives that BP would move to mobilize considerable assets when that has not been the case for several weeks now," he added.
Roberts said approximately 300 to 400 workers were at the location today. He'll be on the program tonight.
At a news conference late this afternoon CNN's David Mattingly asked BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles about the claim. We'll let you be the judge on whether BP is turning the spill into a PR stunt.
We've asked BP to come on the program to respond. This morning they agreed, but tonight they aren’t returning our calls. The offer still stands.
Anderson is reporting again tonight from the Gulf region. We'll have all the angles on Pres. Obama's visit today. Mr. Obama is facing criticism for bypassing some of the hardest hit areas and not staying longer to meet with the locals.
But others are grateful he came.
"We have a major catastrophe here, we appreciate him being here," Clyde Peregean told CNN's Ed Henry.
There's also the impact this disaster is having on fishing communities along the Gulf. Fishing is a way of life and has been for generations. But for now that life has changed. Many boats aren't going out now. Tonight Anderson has an up close look at how the work still goes on for some without the boats. He followed crews as they pulled oysters from the water. The oysters have not been tainted by the oil. Some of their work continues, but they worry not for much longer.
Join us for these reports and much more starting at 10 p.m. ET. See you then.
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Filed under: Maureen Miller • The Buzz |
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we need to hold fed govt accountable as well especially since they advise that they are calling shots...per obama statements that they tell BP what to do then...yes they authorized BP to hire the pres cleanup crew for media n world to see....poor efforts-they should have sent them to oil laden marshes to really take a photo not an area that has yet to show the real dissaster. This oil spill n plumes should have been extracted and contain 40 miles out 40 days ago...lack of immediate response by feds n bp make this clean up worse then imaginable...very thankful to LA Gov Jindal...but remove the poor fed chain of command, let Jindal take control...his waiting weeks delays the success of the cleanup...what's Miss and Alabama doing..Cooper let us know..
Cooper-keep up story on oil spill nationally-locals in other cities dont see or hear enough...?what's chandelier island look like..interview Jindal more...incredible efforts from him. he should be president.what's govt doing to help Mississippi n alabama coastlines doing.your efforts and Kiran Chetry r good now, dont stop.
The people of Louisiana should be thanking Governor Bobby Jindal for all this. It's what he and all Republicans wanted: no "bad old big government" telling big business to make things safe for people. Deregulate everything!
Happy now, Governor Booby Jindal?
Of course, BP's alleged clean-up efforts are a sham. Their websites proclaims they have 11,000 ships/vessels on site. Where are the vessels? And, what are they – kayaks?
Cleanup. What cleanup? There is none. We have been begging and pleading for help and if you go to the coastline right now you won't even hear crickets. This oil spill is finishing what Katrina started. What is the white house waiting for? Why aren't they throwing everything they've got at this? Our coastline will be dead in another month. I voted for President Obama. I had high hopes for him but after I watched his "George Bush in front of St. Louis Cathedral" speech I just cried. Yes BP should bear the burden of the financial part but we look to our government to do the really big things that we can't and this is one of them. So I beg you. Help, Help, Please Help Us! Here we are on our roof tops again begging for help that isn't going to come soon enough. Heaven help us because it looks like no one else will. This really is our president's defining moment. How is goes down is up to him alone. Your our voice, Anderson. So many of us here are looking to you to speak for us.
Solution for the OIL Spill, gather all the bright students for all the Universities in the country and offer a full scholarships and 2 Billion dollar funding for the school that offers a solution to the problem, give them 72 Hours to do so. We need to stop reacting without a solution. This problem has placed us in a real ashamed position. We can put a man in the moon but we can control this?
B P – The United States did not just get off the banana boat; don't insult our intelligence – a "horse and pony show" for President Obama's arrival..."Come on, BP!!!" What a low-class-act.
As a resident and conservationist from the affected area, I just can’t believe the lack of effort from BP and our government. It is past time to
'Throw everything" we have to recover the oil in our open Gulf waters and in our marshes. This is going to get much worse before it gets better and we could have oil on shore from the panhandle of Florida to the tip of Texas. Listen to the former head of Shell oil and use large ships and pumps to siphon and contain the mess. Oil and water separate easily and sucking up the plumes and surface oil is much better than letting it wash up on the shore. Where are the 20,000 people who are mobilized to clean up this mess? Are the staged in areas that have no oil on the beach? Why not put them where they are needed?
Today Candy Crowley had as a guest, the former CEO of Shell Oil. He spoke of how the the clean up was done in Arabian and Persian Gulfs. It worked and he said he has sent BP this info several time, but has not heard back from them. I think this needs MORE exposure. PLEASE, will you show this clip on your on your show.
"Workers"- BP sham or politically engineered photo op?
"Top Kill"- were materials/chemicals used to force back the oil safer to have leaking than the oil? If so, why not continue?
I also strongly believe that companies such as BP should be required by the government to act in a strict manner. When presenting these projects the governments should be keen on also seeing a resolution in case there is an accident of such magnitude. You should never be allowed to present an idea without having a proper way of cleaning up after yourself.
Three yellow school buses, 60 or so people with plastic bags are going to clean up how much oil? Has anyone done the math on the volume of oil spilled to date, and the ratio of disperssant needed to deal with the oil plume? The concept of cleaning, or more accurately, hiding the spill using disperssant is ludicrous. The " wait until landfall " approach, and sending small dingys out to clean up millions of barrels of oil is laughable. The satellite image of the spill clearly calls for serious equipment – a flotilla of ships and powerful pumps to be sent out to work 24/7. Please work on the statistics of the problem and get James Carvell involved more.
bp thinks that are pulling one over all of us. First I never heard any apologizes to the Family that lost their Loved ones. Those workers are gone! To bp my family will never buy gas and other things that you sell. For all those workers that were there when Our President was there and left as soon as President Obama left you are guilty too. Because bp is greedy, they think that no one knows their scheme they better think twice. Mother Earth is looking at all their actions. I want to know why bp is not taking ideas that the people have. GD I am so upset that the oil is just gushing out to out environment. Why Because they wanted to save money for what ? So they could put more in their greedy little hands on MORE MONEY?. bp should all go to prison so they can get rape and see how it feels. Our world is on it's last moments....God is so disappointed in us. We ruin this earth with GREEDY people like bp. I am crying for any solution and bp should also be crying for ANY solutions to stop this GD oil gushing out like their is no tomorrow. STOP IT NOW!
I have, since day one, argued that they use nitro glycerine dynamite conected with prima cord and inserted into the well hole with sucker rod or what ever, however deep necessary to stop this oil spill. I have been in contact with BP Deep Water Horizon and they are aware of this method since it has been used since oil drilling began. They simply said they would consider it and I need not contact them any more. Drilling another well will not stop this leak. BP does not want to plug up this leak for some reason. We need to stop the leak now and worry about the other stuff later. Many people have talked about this method but the Admiral of the Coast Guard said they couldn't try that because they had to save the blow out preventer to learn what happened for future drillers. Soon they won't have to drill for oil they will just be able to pump it right out of the Gulf.
simple and to the point, BP needs to hear from the American people in the sense that , I hope someone can orchestrate a boycot on BP gas/service stations as punishment for the mishandling of the Gulf oil leak. You wouldn't see me at BP even if they were giving gasoline away for free.I myself am no analyst, just a concerned citizen, if you think my statement holds merit, then by all means do whats right and get the message out there in hopes to bring people to awareness. Thanks Alan Zarnick
Mr Anderson, What else the BP going to use. Or we just need to listen to another idea that don't work from their top people. Wow! it showed that they can't stop it or can't fix it. Tried to offer some help but wont listen to me. But sure do like to have it. they send me the form to fill up. want me to show them how to do it. I know I could fix it for them. They are going to ruin it! to point that no one will be able to fix it. Not good. I can stop the oil spill in less than a week. if they listen to me.
Save the Coast Guard
U.S. Coast Guard is to cut manpower by 1100 active duty service men and women. Are also under budget cuts.
The average USCG station is a manpower of twenty. This adds up to 50 Coast Guard stations closing.Protection of our coast, enviroment and search and rescue needs have only increased. The entire Coast Guard is only about 38,000 active duty.
Ironic that this is happening when the Coast Guard is supposed to be in charge of this billions in damage disaster in the gulf
Please get this story out
Hi, Anderson. I appreciate your reporting and especially the4 determination with which you have pursued stories such as the recent Haiti earthquake. You seem to be going in the same direction with the Gulf Oil spill although it is not of the same magnitude (if we think in terms of humancasualties andfinancial losses).
I am particularly concerned and disguested with the fact that you continue to bring Mr. carville into the discussion and call him a Democratic commentaro and supporter of Obama. That he is colorful in expression and language and makes for good TV is undeniable, but the fact is that he is no supporter of Mr. Obama. He supported Hillary Clinton during the primaries and made very constant and negative attacks on then-Senator Obama. All you have to dfo is go back to the video tapes of his comments in your network political programs during the primary. You may have forgotten but many of us have not .If you want to keep using him since he is one of your paid consultants and obviously is a good TV asset with his exxagerated claims and nasty language, atleast don't call him an Obama supporter. He never was and nothing has changed.
Miguel
The Obama administration is handling this very well.
I get goosebumps when I hear him speak so strong against the forces
of big oil.
HA HA HA HA!!!!
Truth is someone at BP needs to go to jail. But of course they won't.
In RI over 100 people died in a nightclub fire. The owners were charged with involuntary manslaughter.
How about BP being charged for the deaths of the workers?
These companies own our government. It doesn't matter if its Bush or Obama.
Obama just hides it a little better.
I am thinking of this as one of the worlds greatest catastophes which is sad but I think that a valid solution is in order here, this may sound a bit odd but here is my idea, I think that a large hose similar to a fire hose or larger could be put in place to pump the oil into a containment system or even oil trucks just as a temporary solution, just until a better solution could be arranged. This could help the people of Louisiana by stopping the already devastating damage to the shrimping and fishing industries there. This could be a direction BP or our President Obama could be looking towards. Best regards, Laura K
your show should turn this environmental tragedy into a wake-up call for your nation. Turn setbacks into opportunities for something good. Show footages of the republican convention 2008 when they screamed "drill baby drill". Keep them honest. Show the footage everyday. We owe the victims of this tragedy (no less than our planet Earth) that much. But i guess for the sake of business, no media will have the guts to do this.
why after 39 days of a National disaster does the Parish President in Lousiana have to beg BP to build protective berms to save his State's wetlands??????? The President should be providing the resources to fix the problem and then holding BP responsible. How rediculous that the parish president can't look to our president for help!!!!!!!!! We are victims of the Administration!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Walt Horne
Please relay this message to BP: You get to try this. I suggest to insert a 200' long pipe or hose into the well opening and inject liquid CO2 or Nitrogen from siphon type tank (so that liquid x will come out and provide rapid freezing) with water at the same time and work its way up so that the oil/water will become frozen rapidly inside the well and clog its flowing thus provide a short moment of oil stoppage and allow you to attach the new top cap mechanism over the well. This temporary fix allow the re-usage of the well for future oil pumping. Please do this as soon as possible to reduce ongoing damage to the environment of the Gulf coast. God Bless America! Materials Require: Tanks of CO2 or Liquid Nitrogen; one to two hundred feet of piping or stiff hose that can maneuver by the deep seas robots. Shoot water and liquid at the same time while withdrawing the pipe or hose and allow the oil/water solvent rapid freeze and clog the well thus stop the out flow of oil from the ground. Equipment Required: Using current deep sea robots and the accompany sensor and video equipment to perform and monitor the Spill Stopping Task. Expertise Required: No special expert required. Current Engineering Team should capable to perform this task.
Hi Anderson – God Bless you for the incredible reporting you are doing in Louisiana. I have a tip for you that comes from a longtime oil man ( 40+ years) who is a friend of mine in the Houma area. He thinks that BP is stalling plugging the leak, and rushing at warp speed with the 2 relief wells that they have going on. If they succeed in plugging the leak soon, the 2 relief wells will be cancelled under the President's deep water drilling ban that is in place , hence no wells out of this VERY RICH reservoir. BP's COO Suttles said today they are already down 9000 feet on the relief wells and it wouldn't be until August. But let's assume he is lying ( gasp) and they are farther than that and ahead of schedule. With the rate that they are going on their other ideas – another week for the next plan to get into place, then another week while we pray and watch and wait as it fails – we'll be in July before you know it,. If all of a sudden the relief wells are online sooner than expected – hurrah for BP! They are the big heros , and they can harvest the oil under the guise of doing a "necessary thing"
Maybe you can look into this?
Hi Anderson
I hear that there are 1300 boats out there skimming off the oil. It seems that most of the effort is focused on skimming, and not close in. Or am I wrong?
I also hear there have been 585 miles of boom deployed, from USA Today. I also here there are gaps in the coverage for the beaches, mostly from your excellent program. The pictures are clear.
Then I keep hearing James Carville losing his temper.
So the question is this, in 30, 60 days, how much of the ecosystem down there is going to be trashed.
Afterall, 1300 boats must be doing something. While I do not trust BP, I do trust the President. They are doing a lot of work. I am just not sure that it is being witnessed. Or just what is going on?
I am hoping you can answer the question. Are there 1300 boats out there skimming, or what? Keep up the good work.
job
B O Y C O T T bp!!!!!!! This company deserves to go out of business. You can help by not buying from any of its stations.
Maritime law will permit bp to pay a pittance for the 11 workers killed.
Tankers could have been sucking up oil from the surface above the wellhead while it was still 40 miles from the coast. Instead, look what's happened. This is not indicative of a company "doing all it can."
I predict bp will be let off the hook just like exxon-mobile was for the Valdez: Punitive damages reduced from $5+ billion to just over $500M. Prince Edward Sound's environment and people still haven't recovered 20 years later.
Who will be left to pick up the tab for this current catastrophe? We will.
When government and oil companies are in bed together, monsters
are born. But, oh well, it's only lives and money. Neither of which is
very important to either party!
We have the best government money can buy.
Yes, bringing in those workers was very sad indeed. Why not let the President see the reality of things. He can more if he understands.
What's BP's next move? Well, they may want to hire a good lawyer!
oil tankers with vacume booms on them to vacume oil ,.are real i have herd about them on tv,.why are they not been used,.i understand these oil tankers are somewere in arab countries,.arab countries can use these tankers to clean up oil mess but not america,.i am very upset about this,.hearing about oil tankers capable of doing this but america,.greatest country in the world,.not using them,.this is a sad state of afairs,.very sad state of afairs,.the oil needs to be vacumed up befour it gets to shore,.you can still see oil slick from space,.so i think there is still lots of oil to use these tankers,.president obama can do nothing about stopping leak,.understandable,.but he could and should get these tankers,.a movement should start up about this,.put presure on the president to get these oil tankers,.could make diffrence