Margaritaville will survive
Program note: Watch AC360° tonight at 10pm ET to see Anderson's exclusive interview with music legend Jimmy Buffett on the Gulf oil spill disaster and the Jimmy Buffett & Friends Gulf Shores Benefit Concert.
Anderson Cooper
Jimmy Buffett was out walking on the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama when we arrived for the interview.
"This is the beach of my misspent youth," he said, as we began to stroll along the water's edge.
A few kids played in the water, but the rough surf created by Hurricane Alex kept them from swimming. A thin line of tar balls had been left on the beach by the morning tide.
"You're not human if anger isn't the first emotion," says Buffett, who has long been involved in environmental causes.
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Buffett's benefit concert in Gulf Shores, Alabama has been postponed until July 11, but he came here anyway and played at his sister's restaurant last night. He's trying to encourage people to come visit the Gulf.
"Can Margaritaville survive an oil slick?" I ask. "Sure, hell, we'll survive," he says quickly, "people on this coast can survive anything. I mean, it's another storm, it happens to be one we're not quite used to in terms of what it's leaving behind, but you know, this is hurricane country and people bounce back, and I love the resilience of people."
Buffett himself has just opened up a hotel in Pensacola Beach, not great timing he admits, but he is not surprised this spill has lasted so long. He says he didn't believe the early estimates put out by BP about the oil flow.
"You know what," he says,"I've been in show business a long time, I know liars when I hear them. I thought they were lying from the beginning. That's just me personally."
More of my conversation tonight on 360° live from the Gulf.
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Filed under: 360° Radar • Anderson Cooper • Gulf Oil Spill • Jimmy Buffett |
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Great to hear Jimmy B. speak out and call stinky rotten fish a stinky rotten fish . Hope he speaks out on our stupided EPA regulations (large skimming ship and giving ok on desprusants) . If I had an employee soo disconected as director of EPA he would be fired . And anyone else below him and possible dissolving all of EPA.
Jimmy. Would love to see you design and sell a t-shirt that will help raise money for victims..human and animal. All the "oil spill" t-shirts out there aren't donating any proceeds. Good idea? Maybe?
We hear ya, Jimbo.....
Jimmy, you dont have to be in show business to know a lie when you hear one. The truth of the matter is no one but the people who live there has been telling "The whole truth and nothing but the truth" since this started. What this country needs is less lawyer's, less red tape and a whole lot of "The whole truth and nothing but the truth".
Liar,liar Gulf's on fire. Bp safety lost at sea and here comes Buffett to sing and see. Cooper's doing a great job !
I love Buffett. I bet his beer sales are up. I am sure a lot of these victims by the beach could use a beer or two.
Always have loved Jimmy..He calls them as he sees em.
Liars,cheats and greedy thieves..It's sure a disgrace to view those beautiful beaches oil/chemical soaked.Another Storm....A great title to new Jimmy Buffett tune.Gotta love this man for standing up
This segment with Jimmy Buffet is great! I am really looking forward to hearing the full interview and I hope it will get posted after the show tonight. Jimmy was right on about liars – everyone underestimates at first; I'm hoping that the latest estimates are over estimates and the the true flow lies somewhere in between the 1000/day and the 100,000 or more/day. Great interview Anderson, thanks for posting it and traveling to Alabama to do it.
No one can say it better than Buffett, he's a true American and the voice of the common man. I know he's on tour right now, but it would be amazing if he played a concert or two with all proceeds going to the victims of this disaster, one concert for the wildlife and one for the people who's lives were severely damaged by this catastrophe. It would truly raise my already high opinion of him. He could be the champion of the gulf and of the culture and lifestyle of which his music is such an integral part and it would be a great opportunity for him to give back to the whole Southern community and the people that have made him the huge star that he is. Come on Jimmy, a fundraiser concert series for the Gulf, what do you say?
Why is this oil disaster getting so much coverage when the oil pollution in the Niger Delta has gone virtually unnoticed for over 50 years? There are numerous other unreported oil disasters that are also being neglected. Why do we only hear and know about the Gulf of Mexico?
Two of my favorite People. What a Team!
Fins up Jimmy and all the residents impacted by the oil – you will survive this one too!
Until we get true leadership in the homes, churches, government, etc.,
we will continue to be an ethically/morally challenged nation.
WAKE UP!!
We need skimmers to the left; skimmers to the right.
1, 2, 3, 4....
The Gulf is
Wasted away in 20 10
Searching for non-toxic water and fish
Some people claim that Obama's to blame
But I know
It is BP's Fault
I stumbled on the BBC America news broadcast a few minutes ago and was appalled at their coverage of the oil crisis. The news anchor was interviewing a British field reporter on site in LA who was interviewing some of the American citizens who have signed on with the BP CLEAN UP PROJECT. That was laughable in itself, but then the local news guy went on to say how the people there were not unhappy with BP and felt BP was doing everything it could to help. ?? In addition, they focused on the biggest problems with the clean up which, in their minds, was the interference of the US Coast Guard under the direction of our Federal government and Cat 2 storm Alex. They also had the gall to say that BP had 'created a work stimulus there by hiring alot of folks who were not from the gulf area and needed work.' I know they are Brits, but for crying out loud, they should have more respect than to promote that rubbish on the BBCA (A being for America) version of their news. Geez almighty.
Thank you so very much for caring, Jimmy and Anderson.
We will prevail!
(A MS coast citizen)
This raises a good question...where are all the celebrities? They came out in droves for Haiti. What about their own country? Not saying that Haiti wasn't worthwhile (even though most celebrities never heard of Haiti before it was fashionable), but those in the Gulf region are REALLY hurting. This is the 2nd HUGE disaster within a very short timeframe.
Where are the concerts, telethons, Twitter fundraisings, etc.? I guess that it just isn't fashionable or it doesn't raise their PR quotient.
Bummer!
totally agree ........totally
Anderson and Jimmy..keeping them honest ! The Gulf will survive..if we have to do it alone..Shame on Bp for the dire GREED.pay up BP..Fix what you did.
We'll be watching tonight. Thank you for keeping this in the news.