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Ben Stein's Diary

Oil of Today

By on 5.28.10 @ 6:08AM

A few thoughts on the oil spill from our Diarist.

Wednesday

I am so busy I cannot believe I am still alive. I feel as if this stress and fatigue should kill me if there were any sense in the world. Today, I had a recording of a commentary for CBS, then a mad rush out to Malibu for more photos for “Ben Stein’s Los Angeles,” a magazine feature I’m involved in. It was so beautiful in Malibu it was hard to believe. Just perfect. Really, truly perfect. Crisp, warm, breezy, rich blue sky. Just glorious.

But I had to rush right back to be on Larry King to talk about the oil spill with a Democrat congressman named Alan Grayson.

A few thoughts on the oil spill:

1. No one, obviously, is sorrier about it than the oil producer, BP, and the rig operator, Trans-Ocean. If the heads of those companies could go back in time and have it never happen, they would do anything to do so.

2. It was ambitious to operate in such deep water, with no safety net, but the world and the nation were clamoring for oil. The government said, “Go for it,” and BP and Trans-Ocean went for it. Did they ignore warning signs that a giant event was bubbling below the surface? Maybe. If so, they will grievously answer for their ambition.

3. If mistakes were made, they were made by a few dozen people at BP and Trans-Ocean and a few bureaucrats. The energy business employs several million men and women. They have done nothing wrong at all. No point in blaming them for anything at all. They are just doing what we want them to do: getting us oil and gas. The stockholders of BP and Trans-Ocean have done nothing wrong. They had no clue what was going on under that drilling platform. It seems wrong to punish people who merely wanted to provide for their retirement for a seismic hydrocarbon event that may have been so drastic that it constitutes an act of God.

4. Finger pointing does no good whatsoever. No one wants to get this thing capped and stopped more than BP and Trans-Ocean. Let’s encourage them and not distract and torment them. There will be plenty of time for lawsuits. What we need now is action on the seabed, and that is not a job for lawyers.

5. This is not Mr. Obama’s fault. I am not a fan of his, but he isn’t Superman. He cannot be expected to swim down to the leak and seal it with his Superpowers. If he’s smart, he will be part of the effort to fix it, not part of the effort to drag out the tumbrils and guillotines.

There.

About the Author

Ben Stein is a writer, actor, economist, and lawyer living in Beverly Hills and Malibu. He writes “Ben Stein’s Diary” for every issue of The American Spectator.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (107) |

spoonman| 5.28.10 @ 7:39AM

Ben wrote "If he's smart..."; Ben did not say he was smart.

Lot's of us knew the answer to that before the election - unfortunately millions didn't get it.

Alan Brooks| 5.29.10 @ 1:53PM

Thank God Ben didn't write about his toys this weekend.

carnot| 5.29.10 @ 6:05PM

how on topic!

Hank| 5.31.10 @ 10:34AM

But Mr. Stein could not refrain from flaunting his sense of "star quality."

"So busy I can't believe it,"he brags. Then he goes on to list yesterday's whirlwind of media appointments--CBS, Larry King, Ben Stein's Los Angeles, etc.

Here's one appointment he's gonna have if he doesn't slow down: Cardiac Care Unit of Cedars - Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles.

Slow down, Mr. Big Shit--I mean Shot!

LiveFreeOrDie| 6.1.10 @ 6:44PM

Hush you ignorant little man. Mr. Stein is a diarist for this site.

Robbins Mitchell| 5.28.10 @ 7:06AM

"So since it's all Bush's' fault that I didn't let Governor Jindal build the sand berms soon enough....and since this entire four star Federal foul up was largely due to my own studied apathy,I'm going to compensate for my own shortcomings as a leader by moving immediately to order a 6 month moratorium on any further offshore exploration and drilling because that was what I had in mind all along when I sat on my lazy shiftless ass for a month."

~Bar0keydoke Hubris Obozo~

Jim O'Brien| 5.28.10 @ 8:49AM

Actually, Obama blames Marcus Aurelius for the oil spill. Marcus was CEO of Halliburton from 173 to 175 AD (holding down two jobs at the time).

SpiralArchitect| 5.28.10 @ 2:16PM

Made My Day Right There!

Pass the buck FTW!

FTM| 5.29.10 @ 4:57AM

You're viscious. Funny but viscious.

My kinna guy.

Jim O'Brien| 5.29.10 @ 9:07PM

I assume you mean vicious. Viscious would mean I have a high viscosity. :)-

Awan Bwooks| 5.29.10 @ 5:20PM

We need wind and biomass as alternative sources of energy.

Purplegay| 5.29.10 @ 5:22PM

How? those energy sources are marginally utilized at this time, they constitute less than one percent of the energy market.

Old Texican| 5.29.10 @ 5:28PM

The wind from my mouth will power ALL grids.

Bob the Engineer| 5.30.10 @ 10:28AM

We use liquid fuels e.g. gasoline and diesel to run our transportation system. Wind energy does not produce liquid fuels and is at best a poor source of electricity. If by biomass you mean corn to ethanol, the net gain in energy is too small to matter. One energy source that is rarely mentioned is coal to liquid fuel technology. We have huge coal reserves and waste coal dumps that can all be converted into very low sulfur diesel ans gasoline.

Allan| 5.31.10 @ 12:02PM

Very correct Bob.

The key is to electrify the nation with nuclear and use the waste heat from nuclear power generation to convert coal to gas and diesel.

Clyde| 6.1.10 @ 11:52AM

I enjoy how the progressive activists play both sides of the story. They say there should be no offshore drilling because the oil is almost all gone, just a miniscule amount left. Then, when this leak occurs, enough oil pours into the gulf to fill
1 million cars. The oil gushes out so forcefully from the sea bed that it can't be stopped. And this is just one well. So what's the problem, too much or too little oil?

Jim O'Brien| 5.28.10 @ 7:26AM

Offshore drilling should continue, and it should be increased. But the accident reminds me that the U.S. has not been building nuclear power plants for 30 years due ignorance, which became a "No Nuclear" religion after Three Mile Island and the movie "China Syndrome", starring who else but Jane Fonda. The radiation released at Three Mile was equivalent to a chest X-ray.

We should be building as many nuclear power plants as possible, starting "yesterday", and as if our lives depended on it ------ in the same manner as the U.S. produced tanks and ammo during WW II to defeat Hitler.

L. Ross| 5.28.10 @ 5:07PM

Hear, Hear!

RabidAmerican| 5.28.10 @ 7:28PM

I second that emotion! Let's get it done.

ChuckD| 5.29.10 @ 9:07PM

Couldn't agree more.

Dan Quayle| 5.30.10 @ 11:13AM

We should be building as many nuclear power plants as possible, starting "yesterday", and as if our lives depended on it ------ in the same manner as the U.S. produced tanks and ammo during WW II to defeat Hitler.

Let's start by putting one in your neighborhood.

MTpat47| 5.30.10 @ 11:08PM

Since I used to work for the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, I will be more than glad to help identify a geologically suitable location nearby and help write the EIS. That should easily carry me for the next 4 years until I reach retirement age. Or for much longer when the lawsuits start.

flyboy| 5.31.10 @ 9:55AM

I have one in my neighborhood. Can I get more?

Bob K.| 5.31.10 @ 11:58AM

What's wrong with that?

We have one here in NE PA about 15 miles away from me as the Crow flies for nearly 30 years. It was being built during the 3 mile Island incident. No problems either. It's about 90 miles north of 3 Mile Island too.

Emma S| 5.31.10 @ 1:38PM

"Let's start by putting one in your neighborhood."

Excellent suggestion! My father works at Entergy's plant in Buchanan, NY. Maybe if we build one a little closer to home, that'd make the commute a bit easier on him while lessening the drain on my and my neighbors' wallets.

And if Obama is so intent on making us more like Europe, we should follow France's energy model: they get 77% of their energy from nuclear power.

JimH| 5.28.10 @ 7:58AM

There is enough blame to go around. BP chose to eschew the safety net because it would cost more and slow down the project. All we can say about the governments response is 'Heck of a job there Barack'. And last, the reason this platform was where it was, drilling in a mile of water was all the regulations prohibiting drilling closer to shore. Obviously drilling in shallow water is less dangerous and less of a technical challange.

FakeEagle| 5.28.10 @ 8:00AM

"This is not Mr. Obama's fault. I am not a fan of his, but he isn't Superman. He cannot be expected to swim down to the leak and seal it with his Superpowers. " I agree. In fact, I've been somewhat disappointed in the media (even conservative media) for jumping on him about this the same way the MSM jumped on Bush for EVERYTHING. Just exactly what is more government involvement going to do here? Is there anyone in the government more capable of working on the leak than the professionals that work in the business and engineer the technology that makes it all possible? Is it possible that anyone in government is more motivated to correct the problem than a company that is hemorraging money and trying to survive a public relations nightmare?

On the other hand: Should the government be monitoring the situation and providing any and all assistance? Sure. Sadly, the only thing BHO has managed to do so far is demonize BP: standard fare for him.

potkas7| 5.28.10 @ 8:06AM

In my mind's eye I see Obama and his minions huddled over glasses of Champagne and plates of Wagyu beef like a conclave of medieval friars, chanting passages from the Code of Federal Regulations, trying to exorcise the demon spewing forth beneath the sea. "Prima Facie, ex post facto, Nunc pro Tunc."

Unfortunately, this is an engineering problem to be solved by practical men, who work with their hands as well as their minds. It's not Obama's fault, but he's earned the ridicule for being a combination of pompous ass and blame-shifting weasel

chris| 5.31.10 @ 7:35PM

Well said, sir!

JP| 5.28.10 @ 8:13AM

Perhaps firms like BP wouldn't have to go to such extremes if they would be allowed to drill in other places. Perhaps the US could actually be an exporter of oil if our government would take a cue from Canada and allow us to exploit our shale oil. The Canadians have exploited thier so called Tar Sands oil to such a degree that they are now producing over 2 million bbls a day.

KyMouse| 5.28.10 @ 10:02AM

I've been wondering the same thing, JP. If drilling were allowed closer to shore, wouldn't this leak have been much easier to shut down? And on land, even easier? ANWAR is there -- let's use it (wisely and carefully).

owyheewine| 5.28.10 @ 10:52AM

This is a common misconception. Close in water has been drilled for years, and the best prospects have been developed. The far offshore and deep water oil is being drilled because the potential is far greater than other prospects. If all of coastal US was opened for drilling, the companies would still explore the deep Gulf. Just look at this leak. The well is at least 5000 barrels a day, maybe much more. Deep water wells are producing up to 30000 BPD. We haven't had that kind of production from domestic wells for decades. That rate rivals Saudi production rates.
Deepwater drilling can be compared to our space program, both in the scope and technical difficulty. Just remember how many disasters we've had going into space.

RetAF| 5.29.10 @ 9:16PM

British Petroleum has been drilling in the North Sea for 40 years in conditions much harsher than the Gulf of Mexico, so it can be done safely - if not cheaply

R Martin| 5.28.10 @ 8:24AM

"It was so beautiful in Malibu it was hard to believe. Just perfect. Really, truly perfect."

Just as youth is wasted on the young, Malibu is wasted on Californians.

Dolli Asaro| 5.28.10 @ 8:31AM

Ben Stein....wake up! Obama is shutting down our oil drilling....but China, Spain, England and a host of other countries will be drilling away! The environmentalists have to back off. They have had their way too long and to our detriment as a country. It is not a sin to use oil...it was put in the
ground for our use!

Right Again| 5.28.10 @ 12:55PM

oh hogwash

Bill| 6.1.10 @ 3:30AM

I agree with you Dolli Asaro, something that I find perplexing is how the media isn't asking THIS big question:
WHY is it that our oil is being drilled miles and mile off the coast in unfavorable conditions?

Answer: Tree hugging liberal democrats!

But we wouldn't want to call them out on this now would we....

JimH| 5.28.10 @ 8:44AM

Oil is to valuable a resource to burn. In the short term we ought to be building reactors. Long term we need to get going again on space based solar.

ds80| 5.30.10 @ 7:14AM

"space based solar"

Does that use dilithium crystals? Would it be ready before 2060? Get real.

Anthony| 5.28.10 @ 9:18AM

Mostly right Ben, but me thinks you've played wack-a-mole once too many times on T.V.
The Obama Administration's response to this disaster was far worse than Bush's with Katrina. Bush at least attempted early intervention, to which then Gov. Blanco (her cluelessness) and the pathetic "chocolate city" mayor Nagan said nada.
The federal government, and the president in particular, under the "Clean Water Act", are mandated to take control of this spill's consequences, to which Obama and his goons have failed miserably.
The containment of this spill, to quote our glorious vice -clown -in -chief, was beyond this administrations paygrade.
Ben, you need to do commercials that require less physical pain. Has your agent tried to get you a gig with the Ex-Lax folks?

RCV| 5.28.10 @ 12:29PM

I love you American Spectator "free-market" folks. It's OK for the oil companies to drill and reap billions in profit, but if they screw up and cause a spill, it's the government's responsibility to clean it up. Ah yes, welfare only for the rich.

Anthony| 5.28.10 @ 3:49PM

RCV, Given the idiocy of your post, and the choices you posit, yes, I'd rather see welfare for those who are intelligent and productive as opposed to complete loser morons such as you.
Fact One: The government, specifically the president, by virtue of the Clean Water Act, is mandated to take control of the consequences of this spill. This does not mean BP is not responsible for the cause of the accident, but BP does not possess a navy or coast guard, which has the equipment to contain the spill, or should have the ability to do so, but apparently has no such plans on file. Our tax dollars at work!!
Fact Two: Your worthless existence is made that much easier as a result of corporations like BP that do the inimaginable, such as oil exploration one mile below the oceans of the world. If you've ever scuba dived, going below 60 ft is a situation that requires real care or else serious consequences can occur, which apparently you have experienced, it's called nitrogen narcosis.
Fact 3: This is the first major accident of this kind with a rig malfunction of this magnititude. Billions of barrels are extracted every day around the world without a glitch. I suspect you couldn't mow a lawn without a major incident.
Fact 4: If you and your fellow leftists desire 18th century living so much, go to Cuba and experience it first hand. Better yet, just STFU and go away.

RCV| 5.28.10 @ 4:20PM

Anthony: Thanks for the reasoned response of the sort we've all come to expect from the right. Here's a news flash: since this is "the first major accident of this kind with a rig malfunction of this magnitude", our Coast Guard (which I'm a lot prouder of than BP) has managed as best it can while the damaged well continues to pour into the Gulf. You guys are always so desirous of government keeping out of things until you need something to clean up your private business messes. Your tax dollars, BTW, are at work lining Halliburton's pockets in other parts of the world where Cheney & Bush have managed to divert those funds, so they're not available for the kinds of things government should and would be doing. You're the typical guy who drives to work on public roads, past the public police officers who guard your property and the public fire station that protects you, drops your kids off at the public school, goes to government licensed doctors and eats food inspected by the government, votes against all public taxes, and then complains the minute government isn't there for you. It's your worthless existence that depends on others, but you're too busy being the "rugged individualist" to notice it.

Like a bad stink| 5.28.10 @ 6:32PM

Vollowitz returns.

RCV| 5.28.10 @ 7:23PM

Sorry, I don't know who this Vollowitz is, but it ain't me.

Bob K| 5.31.10 @ 12:35PM

If you had given a reasoned and responsible criticism to Anthony's first post he wouldn't have skewered you like he did! He is much better at invective than you are. That fact, if nothing else, is clear about your dispute.

Louis Jenkins| 5.28.10 @ 9:49AM

Well, I'm not so forgiving as my cohorts above. It's the Pretender n Chief's fault, lock stock and barrel. Why didn't he swim down to the bottom and plug the hole? He's good at everything else, why not that? There is no end to what the MSM crowd would have us believe. He's even American Born.

Dai Alanye | 5.28.10 @ 9:50AM

"5. This is not Mr. Obama's fault."

True, but the weak and slow response IS Obama's fault---Obama and the hesitant bureaucracy he has fostered, which even refuses permission to act to those who believe they know what to do.

Obama's response is perfectly encapsulated by this doggerel:
When in danger or in doubt/
Run in circles, scream and shout.

And blame others, of course.

Matt Morehouse| 5.28.10 @ 10:16AM

Once it is capped he will fly to New Orleans a give a speech in front of thousands wherein he takes all credit. Behind him will be a huge banner:

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

What a weasel.

For anyone interested in the huge technical problems facing Britis Petroleum: http://bp.concerts.com/gom/ken.....052010.htm

Bill Coulter| 5.28.10 @ 10:29AM

How soon do you think this spill wold have been stopped if it happened in say Kuwait? A few years ago, the entire oil fields there was set fire by blowing up the blow out preventers( same as the problem under the sea now) and Boots and Coots, Red Adair, et. al put all those oil fires and leaks out in a matter of months. And they had a lot more of them than the one in the gulf we have now.

The fault of this? Environmentalists who force off shore drilling instead of safer and easier to get on-shore oil.

Campy| 5.28.10 @ 11:02AM

With all due respect, Mr. Stein...

#2. Ambition? Ambition is the reason they're out in deep water?

During the press conference yesterday, BHO made the statement that the reason the wells were so far out in the gulf in extreme depths, was because "all the easy oil had already been sucked up."

Now, I'm not an oilman and indeed welcome clarification from those men and women who are, but even to my uneducated ear that didn't ring true; either ignorance on BHO's part, or failure to acknowledge the real reason—government mandate per environmentalist push.

One other thing: How about a nod for all the years and barrels of oil safely delivered by professionals and engineers? Surely they've contributed to your first-class American Airlines enjoyment.

FTM| 5.29.10 @ 5:20AM

Lie number two. Only tell the part of the truth that suits your purposes.

The truth is that there has been a huge oil field discovery in Utah. As soon as the company that was prospecting reported to the government that the oil had been discovered the government cancled any further prospecting permits. Google the story if you like. http://www.piol.com/journal.pdf

My guess and I don't mean for this to be taken as a conspiracy theory but I'd say that back during the Eisenhower Administration after the Korean War and at the beginning of the cold war that strategic planners were trying to come up with ways to contain the Soviets and the ChiComs. Warfare is a power intensive activity. You need to be able to direct a lot of force on the battlefield and you also need a lot of power to manufacture and transport people and weapons systems and the like. The only known source for this power available to the Soviets and the ChiComs at the time was the Middle East. The only way to keep the Soviets and ChiComs from getting the oil in the Middle East other than attempting to guard the oil was to use it first. I believe that our government made a conscious strategic decision to use foreign oil rather than to develop our own national mineral resources. That way when it finally hit the fan the Soviets and the ChiComs would have less to work with and we'd be sitting on a bunch.

Like I said before, not wanting to start a conspiracy theory or the like but if this were my call it's what I'd do.

scotchieguy| 6.8.10 @ 12:35PM

Wow. I like the theory. You will never hear that from MSM--they're too busy trashing BP, even though this is only the second major spill in the gulf in 70 years of drilling. Just like a squirrel in the fall before the snow falls--have a stash, but keep stockpiling, you never know when you need to use the stash.

Oldefarte | 5.28.10 @ 11:42AM

True and beautiful words, Ben.....THANK YOU. I will respectfully disagree with you slightly in that Obama and liberal Democrats are at fault over this oil spill. Why, because for decades they have been in political bed with environmentalist-wackos in preventing as much as possible the production/drilling of oil/gas either inland/offshore of our coastlines. The results is that oil companies have been forced to partner with middle eastern countries [and to go too far off the US coastlines] in order to produce oil/gas. This led to this oil spill disaster not being repaired/capped quickly because, at the mile deep depth, mechanical subs were only usable [since hardhat marine divers could not go to that depth and survive]. With closer to shoreline oil rig explosions, these divers could have easily used their nimble hands to place capping equipment at the oil spewing locations and to cap the oil flow. But no, the environmental nutjobs would not allow same, so they and their Democrat political buddies are to blame for this oil spill [and that includes Obama]!!!!

Cuffs| 5.28.10 @ 1:28PM

Where is Red Adair when we need him?
Obama is useless. He wakes up and goes
to bed thinking of the spill????
Thinking won't do it, Barry.
Leadership to coordinate and let loose the
might of our Army Corpse of Engineers
and military corpse is what we need, not
fiddling with political PC and "God like(??)"
detachment.

Keeper of Odd Knowledge| 5.28.10 @ 7:39PM

Red Adair passed on to his eternal reward on August 7, 2004.

Freemon Sandlewould | 5.28.10 @ 1:42PM

....why does Obama not use his sea level lowering capabilities to temporarily lower the sea to the well head.

It can then be capped with ease!

oil eating bacterium| 5.28.10 @ 3:19PM

"2. It was ambitious to operate in such deep water, with no safety net, but the world and the nation were clamoring for oil. "

hooooo weeeee, no safety net? what? where did you get that information Ben? there was a safety net, it's called a blowout preventer, the safety net did not work. this may have been due to defect or negligence we won't know until it is replaced and examined. we do know that BP did not use a standard method to complete the well during the time before the blowout. there was an argument on the rig about BP's method. The Transocean drillers argued against BP's method but BP prevailed and the well blew out a few hours later.

as far as the deep water goes, the worst accidental oil spin into the Gulf, Ixtoc1 was in shallow water in the Bay of Campeche Mexico in 1979, unlike this one that was stopped in 5 weeks, Ixtoc1 spewed for NINE MONTHS before the Mexican GOVERNMENT oil company capped it and spilled a whole lot more oil than this one. by the way, the Ixtoc1 spill made a mess that stretched from the Bay of Campeche up the Mexican Gulf Coast all the way to the Padre Island National seashore in Texas. That mess was mostly cleaned up by mother nature. This one will be cleaned by mother nature too. A more serious problem is the pollution load carried by the Mississippi river and dumped in the Gulf on an ongoing basis.

as far as this "During the press conference yesterday, BHO made the statement that the reason the wells were so far out in the gulf in extreme depths, was because "all the easy oil had already been sucked up."" all the easy oil has NOT been sucked up, there is plenty of "easy oil" waiting to be "sucked up" off of the coasts of Florida and California and in Anwar. It has been blocked by ignorant gaia worshipers who fight it's production.

hey oldfarte, you don't know what your are talking about "This led to this oil spill disaster not being repaired/capped quickly because, at the mile deep depth, mechanical subs were only usable [since hardhat marine divers could not go to that depth and survive]. With closer to shoreline oil rig explosions, these divers could have easily used their nimble hands to place capping equipment at the oil spewing locations and to cap the oil flow. " the utter ignorance in this statement is stupendous. reference Ixtoc1 in my post above. shallow water divers Ixtoc1>NINE MONTHS to cap vs ROVs @ BP blowout>five weeks to cap. which is easier to work? evidence says ROVs at a mile depth.

yo coulter "How soon do you think this spill wold have been stopped if it happened in say Kuwait? A few years ago, the entire oil fields there was set fire by blowing up the blow out preventers( same as the problem under the sea now) and Boots and Coots, Red Adair, et. al put all those oil fires and leaks out in a matter of months. And they had a lot more of them than the one in the gulf we have now.

The fault of this? Environmentalists who force off shore drilling instead of safer and easier to get on-shore oil."

the Iraqis didn't blow up the blowout preventers, blowout preventers are removed when the christmas tree (a stack of valves on top of the well) is installed. they blew up the christmas trees. Saddam's Iraqis also dumped 8-11 million barrels of oil into the Persian Gulf during the war (which is reason enough to attack and remove Saddam). Mother Nature cleaned that up too.

but I agree that we ought to be drilling onshore but drilling offshore by the US should continue because the rest of the world is drilling in the Gulf and taking American oil out.

L. Ross| 5.28.10 @ 5:15PM

Very well put.

Oldefarte| 5.30.10 @ 9:57AM

Oil, I lived, worked,etc in the oil patch of Louisiana for 20+ years-----WHAT ARE YOUR CREDENTIALS. Oh, also, your notation concerning your previous/above link/reference is BS [since there is no above comment under your OIL moniker]. Restate it, and if factual, I'll agree; but I've been told by people in the know that hardhats at lower depts could easily repair this leak!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oldefarte| 5.30.10 @ 10:04AM

Oil, I found your previous [but no linkage]. Your words provide the reason why the Ictox spill was not stopped-------the Mexicans were involved [no doubt they installed a SCREEN DOOR IN A SUBMARINE type of solution]!!!!!!!!!!

dissent555| 5.28.10 @ 5:23PM

"What we need now is action on the seabed, and that is not a job for lawyers."

Tut, tut, now Ben. We've got a raging hole to plug. You've heard the joke about "What do you call 10,000 lawyers at the bottom of the sea?" now, haven't you ........

wes in MT| 5.29.10 @ 10:57AM

. . . . a good start!!!!"
Good one!
So, because of this accident we will now have to endure more nonsense about "renewable energy sources". My wife was travelling past the wind farms set up on the columbia river, 25 miles west of Ellensburg, WA. Noted that the wind was blowing really hard and not a single windmill was turning. I told her that they can only operate at certain speeds or risk damage. What a waste of money, plus they are such an ugly blight on the landscape. " RENEWABLE = FAIRWEATHER ENERGY" (just came up with that, much like progressives are fairweather patriots - hey I see a trend here)

ABNCP| 5.28.10 @ 5:30PM

The oil blowout happened. Why it happened and who's fault it was will be discovered. I suspect there will be several villans involved. However, I for one am tired of hearing " Oh the President can't be blamed". "There was nothing he could have done to prevent the blowout". Give me a break! Anyone with the brains God gave an earthworm get's that. What our tempory President has fallen on his ass AGAIN for is his negligence in putting in place ASAP the infrastructure for the clean up. Example, The LA Governor
can't even get permission to build a berm to prevent the oil from reaching the coast because the EPA can't react with out an impact study. The President could bypassed that problem with an Executive Order to build the berm and that could have been done weeks ago. This guy needs to buy another dog and calls this one CLUE because he sure as hell does not have any.

robin payne| 5.28.10 @ 6:05PM

The environmentalist mentality and vice-like grip on our country is choking off the validity of all the nuclear plants in this country that sit idle, and the mass quantities of shale in midwest, anwar oil reserves, all of the ample energy sources we have and are not utilizing. Instead we fund wicked middle east regimes and then have to reckon with their ideology being thrust upon us! We are so stupid --- and this stupidity, well, where does it end??? Who in Congress, for example, will stand up and take us back into the integrity we once had for ourselves our families our nation, and finally betray the politics that is behind every move both political parties cannot resist making! ENOUGH! We are doomed if we cannot soon resurrect a level of intelligent application to the resources we currently enjoy...and putting the environmental whackos in their place long enough to save our country from all of this CALCULATED IGNORANCE!!! What good is a Harvard education if all you can do is argue and protect lies and silly ideas that deny what lies in front of us?? FINALLY, allowing Brazil, other countries to drill in our waters --- how loud would the outcry have been if another country caused this much damage? And of course then the question becomes how would Faux [obama] have handled that debacle??? Good we are not having to learn that turn of events!!! FOR ALL OUR SAKES, and for the 1,000's of folks injured by this tragedy down in the Gulf area, let us for once take the politics out of things and do what is right for all of us here! Drill, stop the nonsense with other countries involvement, self-sufficiency is the answer if we ever want to respect ourselves/our country.

Randy Laugel| 5.28.10 @ 6:55PM

Where was BHO during the initial attempt to plug the leak? At a $17,000 a plate fund raiser for another do nothing, Barbara Boxer. Where mind you? Gordon Getty’s home in SF. An Old Oil money family banging the ducket drum for more and future ineptude.

Wilfred| 5.28.10 @ 7:01PM

If each of the 42,000 gallons of oil per day gushing from this well represented a dollar of our nation's wealth, it would have to flow at this rate for 19,569 years for enough dollars to equal Mr Obama's 2010 Federal budget deficit of $1.5 Trillion.

This blowout is a good metaphor for Mr Obama's stewardship of our nation's wealth. Think of all that oil gushing out as red ink.

randy laugel| 5.28.10 @ 7:02PM

make that, "ineptitude."

Ken (Old Texican)| 5.28.10 @ 7:25PM

Has anyone else here worked on a "rig" off shore?

I have, but thank God not since college.

We worked 12 hour shifts in those days. Those full time roughnecks earned my respect for a lifetime.

Folks, fighting steel for twelve hours.....you don't care. You just want to survive.

Eleven fine men did NOT survive... hmmm maybe one of them was a college student, just like I was. Does anyone know?
I would like to know.
I would like also to thank those eleven men's families for their hard...hard...work. (Non-union by the way. Union wimps can't survive out there.)

Without dispersants...that oil WILL surface.

LIGHT it up and burn it, before it can invade the wetlands.
Once again, political correctness will shoot off our own johnsons.

It is a wonder I have any hair left to pull out.

brutus6| 5.31.10 @ 5:57PM

Yep. On Sedco rigs formerly owned by guv Bill Clements. And like you, while a college student (great summer job). Plus a couple decades' onshore work.

I don't think the oil spill will burn. It's probably too emulsified with seawater, so you can't 'LIGHT it up', much like Hussein (that's Saddam, not Obama) was unable to Light Up all that oil he dumped into the Persian Gulf when he tried to prevent American forces from invading Iraq by sea.

JJ| 5.28.10 @ 10:23PM

No sympathy for BP, Feds or Obama here. No way!

That oil well was not vital to our survival. Drilling without safety procedures in place (worst-case-scenarios covered) just because we need oil is no excuse. Failure BP and US Governmnet. No contingency plans = Disaster.

Obama: usual poor body-language unless he's trashing cops, Arizona, Republicans or preaching about his liberal social causes which is when he really comes to life.
Otherwise he seemed to not want to be bothered by the spill. No, he can't cap it. But, he can mobilize all that was needed and more to help stop the oil from destroying the coastline which it will continue to do long after the leak is plugged. Failure Obama.

We are bailing out Greece, messing with Arizona and blowing off the Gulf. Soooooo Obama.

Nathan Bickel | 5.28.10 @ 10:40PM

Nice thoughts, Ben!

The histories of disasters, (after all is said and done) , invariably highlight both heroes and "goats." So far, it doesn't appear that our president will be categorized, much of a hero. History awards action but not mouths. Therefore, the Mouth-in-Chief [to a large extent] will be negatively cast, by this catastrophe.

Granted, the oil spill could be considered by some, as an "act of God." But people won't blame God as much as they will, Obama, for this devastation happening on his watch.

SteveC| 5.29.10 @ 9:35AM

Sorry, I do blame Obama and others who have allowed environmental activists to push exploration further offshore into deeper water, so as to be far away from shore.

This disaster makes the argument for exploration and development of ANWR even more valid. If there were a blowout in the Alaskan tundra, it is unlikely that wildlife would be affected in any significant way.

A similar blowout one mile deep in the Gulf of Mexico is a catastrophe of unbelievable proportions.

Don| 5.29.10 @ 10:40AM

When Life hands you LEMONS, make LEMONADE

The lemons, in this case, is the leak.

The LEMONADE will be aggressively pursuing NUCLEAR POWER.

This could be, 'should be' the catalyst for nuclear power.
With this crew, it will unfortunately be wind and solar..
Noble indeed,and should be part of our energy mix, but nowhere near 2% of what we need for our energy needs...
We need alot of NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS.
NOW...
Or we will surely see the power of the despots in Saudi Arabia,Venezuela, Iran etc..as our domestic production falls way off... They will have us right dead in their crosshairs if demand increases.

Wes in MT| 5.29.10 @ 11:04AM

I wish that the pursuit of nuclear power would happen. Now that would create real hi-tech jobs.
Unfortunately, all we are going to get is the mantra that we need to pursue more "Renewable Energy". Renewable = Fairweather Energy.
Only works when the wind is blowing enough to fly kites and when the sun is shining. When you least need it. Progressives= fairweather patriots.

Rob Lutz| 5.29.10 @ 2:55PM

During a conversation on the policies of Obama this morning on Fox, Ben Stein asked Neil Cavuto to explain how we are less free today than we were 40 years ago. Ben doesn't believe this to be the case. Ben Stein is also in favor of higher taxes on higher earners, but that's a subject for another day. Anyway, this strikes me as a pretty good question. Make no mistake, I disagree with many policies of this administration, but all this talk about the death of liberty and freedom is a bit over the top. I would ask AmSpec readers to think about Ben's question. Is Ben Stein wrong? I can't say that he is.

RCV| 5.30.10 @ 1:52AM

Stein happens to be an impressively bright guy and a cogent thinker. He avoids the oversimplification and knee-jerk reactions of the Hannitys and Becks. The question is a good example of his refusal to simply jump on the nonsense bandwagon just because someone on the right says it.

old progrmr| 5.29.10 @ 3:04PM

We are seeing the fruits of the powerful "green" lobby and its influence over the Dem party and the Obama Regime. When history is written, students will sit in wonder at the stupidity of a great nation in sitting idly by as these eco-freaks destroyed the greatest market based economy ever known. While the remainder of the sane world builds nuclear power plants, develops immense tracts of oil sands and organizes consortiums (China et al) to explore and "drill baby drill" for oil - the once greatest Nation sits back handcuffed by a small group of know nothings from being a leader in a balanced energy development strategy and plays with the fantasy of solar and wind; we are a laughing stock.

Anytime I hear these ignorant leftists speak of a "green" economy, alternate renewable energy sources, millions of "green jobs" and the evils of carbon, I grow angrier and angrier. Even worse than the fantasies spread by these dolts is the reluctance of our liberal media in demanding facts and figures when these "green" advocates wax elequently about the wonders of these clean energy fantasies. Unbelievable!!!!

Marc Jeric| 5.29.10 @ 4:30PM

There are about 5000 deep water rigs like that one of British Petroleum - and not one of them exploded. I suspect a sophisticated group of eco-nazis placed underwater explosive device activated remotely to cause this explosion and spill. Please - will somebody investigate?

RCV| 5.30.10 @ 1:47AM

I'm sure that's exactly what happened, Marc. Maybe it was the Illuminati!

carnot| 5.29.10 @ 6:09PM

All celar sign the First Prevaricator and the BS artists the media are...well...BS artists: when have you heard any of these clowns asking for an immediate inspection of other BP rigs to ensure the same material/process problems don't exist? nowhere. why?

1) Because they don't care...this is pure politics.

2) The answer may come back - compliance is good. GofM turns out to be an aberration.

The whole lot of em: what a cast of ineffective, spoiled children. spectators to the end.

Billybones| 5.29.10 @ 6:53PM

RCV voted for Obummer. Before that, Kerry and before that , Gore. He is a libtard and full of tofu or whatever they eat. Bet he doesn't know that BP donated huge amounts to the Obummer campaign. That's why a year ago he awarded the rig that exploded a safety award. Better get your facts straight on this site, it ain't the Daily Kos or Huffington Post. People here actually know something.

RCV| 5.30.10 @ 1:45AM

Yes, I'm really impressed by the vast knowledge and intellectual discourse of the folks on this site! You really know how to make an impressive argument, "Billybones" - a name that just seems to fit with your evident education and overall cultural sophistication.

ds80| 5.30.10 @ 7:21AM

Why does it hurt you so, to see yo daddy criticized?
Is he your wittle security blankee?

PS: Thanks for the humor. Keep posting. We'll keep laughing.

oops| 5.30.10 @ 11:41PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/201....._oil_spill

Obama plays as the Gulf Coast laps up his campaign contributions. Who voted for this Guy?

RCV| 6.1.10 @ 4:12PM

A majority of the American people.

Insulated terminal | 5.29.10 @ 9:06PM

Frist. my friend you should keep you body healthy and powerful

second: our world should think more for our sons, we need protect our earth,she is the only one.

Wicked Dickie| 5.30.10 @ 9:53AM

I'll try, Rob Lutz, to provide a few examples of less liberty today than 50 or 60 years ago. We are ordered by our betters to buckle up or face a fine. We can't build nuclear plants 'cause the enviros own our beloved gov't. Same goes for oil/natural gas drilling ashore. Our cities and some small towns are no longer places where we can go to bed at night and leave our door unlocked. We subsidize incredibly stupid things like ethanol without having a rational discussion and a look-ahead for unexpected consequences like an increase in the cost of food and yes, air pollution. Congress "saves" us by mandating smaller toilet tanks and curly lightbulbs. Our borders are a sieve and our people who live nearby (or as much as 50 miles away) are not free to leave their homes unguarded. If I want to rent one of my fields to someone, I have to think of the environmental laws and possibly whether the renter is competing with a minority. Where I grew up at a seaside resort, I can no longer swim at the beach, camp at a nearby lake or even ride a bike without complying with a freedom-stealing law. I saved my money for months to buy a shotgun to hunt rabbits, squirrels and waterfowl, filled out the Sears catalog form, sent it with a check from my Mother to Philadelphia and received the gun in the mail two weeks later. I was 14--try that today in the land of the free. But, forget it, the town council has banned all hunting, fishing and trapping within town limits including the woods and marshes. I could go on and on about the steady erosion of our freedom but I'm sure you'll come up with some liberal-progressive nonsense about how our nanny state is only trying to help us. Ticket that miscreant for parking the wrong way on the street. Ban that cooking oil. Out with the salt. Oy!

Wicked Dickie| 5.30.10 @ 12:23PM

I see Mr. Jeric's comment was derided. Still, one wonders why Obama-ayers minions sent SWAT teams to the scene (of the crime?). Is there a curious lack of interest from state-run media or did I miss their exhaustive followup?

martin j smith| 5.30.10 @ 6:23PM

There are two levels here: One was the BP deicsion making and the other is the Obama administrations passivity in the response to a regional environmental crisis. With regard to Obama his fault is the impression--and rightly so--as not being active ( pro active ) enough in getting Government rescources to address the crisis which is both environmental and economic on top of al already problematic ecomomy. Bp's role shoud be investigated after the crisis has been resolved. What roubles me about this situation ios this: BHO and his regime have no desire to free us from our dependency on middle easter oil--that means financially supporting terrorism. The second related isssue is the question I have heard raised by the WSJ of BP's support of the Iranian regime. First resolve the crisis then point fingers. So BHO has it backassed
and he is using the cris to begin unravel the necessary production of our own oil. This is what is troubling me.

Bob K.| 5.31.10 @ 12:52PM

Good points and worth further discussion. Too bad this thread is about completely unraveled!

EvilLibertarian| 6.23.10 @ 2:55PM

The current administration is too busy using this disaster as a political opportunity to push TARP/Green Energy to actually do much about it. Common sense would have been to call up our enormous military resources, and utilize the lastest technologies to clean the spill - while handing the bill over to BP. Example in point: a case was made before congress to utilize efficient oil/water separtors (which produce 99% pure oil and water) - a few dozen of these machines could rapidly mitigate environmental effects, while recovering the lost resources. It was deemed "too costly."

Guess it would have worked great from a practical standpoint, but not a political one. The Obama administration is interested in dragging out this disaster as long as possible.

fjds| 7.1.10 @ 3:49AM

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