Evening Buzz: Tar balls from Gulf oil spill reach Lake Pontchartrain
Cate Vojdik
AC360 Writer
It’s a long holiday weekend for many Americans but the oil in the Gulf isn’t taking a vacation. It’s Day 77 of the disaster and the oil is still gushing. Tar balls have now hit the shores of Louisiana’s Lake Pontchartrain and the shores of Galveston, Texas. We’ll have the latest on how far the spill has spread.
Speaking of vacations, the Army Corps of Engineers told us it’s been working this Fourth of July. But Gulf officials who needed answers from the Corps told us they couldn’t reach a single person all weekend. Same story all day today - until we took up the case. Keeping them honest, we’ll tell you tonight what we found when Randi Kaye paid the Army Corps of Engineers a visit.
We’ll also have more of Anderson’s exclusive interview with Jimmy Buffett. The singer has deep roots and many fans in the Gulf. He talked to Anderson about what the region means to him, how he feels about BP and deepwater drilling, and much more.
Also tonight, out of work and out of luck. The Senate left Washington for its long holiday weekend without extending unemployment benefits for millions of jobless Americans. The benefits expire for millions at the end of July. We’ll go up close and try to unravel the politics.
Plus, new questions about Afghanistan. Gen. David Petraeus officially took control of U.S. forces in Afghanistan this weekend, just days after CIA Director Leon Panetta said 100 or fewer al Qaeda fighters remain in the country. If so few al Qaeda fighters remain in Afghanistan, why are so many American troops still risking their lives and dying? It’s a question many are asking. We’ll dig deeper with CNN National Security Analyst Peter Bergen and Washington Post reporter Rajiv Chandrasekaran, who recently returned from Afghanistan.
See you at 10 p.m. eastern.
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Filed under: Cate Vojdik • The Buzz |
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what is happening here is very strange – I have sent 200+ emails + many messages too all media print/broadcast over more than 2 months with these and other ideas – everything seems blocked or ignored or intercepted by gov. BP moles – here is more stuff:
three thing to ask?
1) why oil not contained and collected now and from day1 ? – no tankers at all !
2) why with relatively easy repair top flange and broken riser not replaced ? – a few days
..
3) why by using convential explosive +1000' in adjacent pipe well can be sealed ?
WOW, AC takes a break and the great and wonderful CNN can rotate staff to cover the gulf crisis But never on a Saturday or Sunday and especially as one was independence day.
Now my guess ( despite your carping at Army engineers) was that they were rotating staff and fewer were working,just like CNN. You pointedly do not ask Nungesser or the other locals whether they took a day off during this "Emergency", Sorry but a whole bunch of the suction barges he talks about were not out there on Independence day. C'mon get real CNN this is unfair whoever you ask the question of we all need even in the midst of a war some R&R, that includes AC personally, Army engineers, Nungessers people, and yes even Tony Hayward. This attack line is too much holier than thou. The AC 360 Blog has been the same Saturday and Sunday, except for so called letters to the President!!
Tar balls are not nice on pristine beaches ( or anywhere), but I do believe they are much less damaging than oil spill sludge ( ala Exxon valdez) and easier to clean up.
CNN spends a disproportionate amount of time trying to BP bash. the major problem is clear. Before giving anyone permission to Drill baby drill in the gulf coast waters deep water or shallow ( irrelevant)it is perfectly clear that:-
a) None of the oil companies paid any attention to the ecological risks of a major oil spill.
b) They were aided and abetted to avoid the cost both to the companies and the government by MMS WAIVING the requirement Bush I started it Clinton did not chnge it Bush II kept it going of course.
c) The result drilling permits issued quicker, and the government collects well and profits taxes quicker on refining and gas station sales
If you want proper safety rules of Wells and refineries Gas at the pump has to cost more as the cost of accessing oil grows.
At the pump in Europe gas is $8 a gallon and in US just over $2
Impose the safety and ecolgical rules very strictly and Pay $4 at the pump
50 cents to the ecology insurance fund and 50 cents to alternative energy research, and viable projects which create jobs now. It's great way out of recession. The rest goes in distribution margins and extra safety costs to oil companies.
Regards,
Hodgson.
Army Corps of Engineers taking a day off? They're probably yachting with Tony.