Efforts Continue to Slow Oil Spilling Into the Gulf; Primary Season Kicks Into Gear
Since the catastrophic blowout on the Deepwater Horizon on April 20, the Gulf of Mexico has seen hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil pour into its waters. While officials from BP have been in Washington discussing the spill, efforts to stem the tide of oil have continued to come up short. All the while, the nation's patience is wearing thin on what looks to be an ecological disaster of massive proportions.
Looking to stem the tide of oil flowing into the Gulf, engineers from BP have been working over the last few weeks to find a solution to the mounting crisis. Structures of all sizes have been lowered to the sea bed, from large obelisk-like covers to a smaller solution dubbed the "top hat." Sadly though, all have produced the same disappointing results.
That said, this past weekend BP successfully installed a tube-based system to stem the tide of the oil being released. Yet, from all accounts, this latest piece has already been marked as only a temporary solution, one that will only slow, but not completely cut-off, the escaping oil.
"In terms of containing the flow, this was a positive step forward," said Kent Wells, a senior vice president for BP.
Meanwhile, President Obama's patience for BP is wearing thin. While millions of gallons have been leaking into the Gulf since the Deepwater Horizon sank nearly four weeks ago, each day the costs of repairing the rig and cleaning up the spill continue to rise. Under current law, amended after the 1989 Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, BP is only responsible for up to $75 million worth of damages as a result of the oil spill, not including cleanup and containment costs. Sens. Murkowski and Begich of Alaska however have introduced S. 3309 to expand the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF) to $10 billion. Many in Washington believe this this bill will most likely pass.
At the same time, the Senate has begun its investigation into the disaster. BP America Chairman Lamar McKay will appear before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs May 17 to review the response effort to the spill. This comes after executives from BP, Tansocean and Halliburton pointed fingers at each other before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
"I know BP has committed to pay for the response effort, and we will hold them to their obligation," Obama said at a press conference on Friday. "I have to say, though, I did not appreciate what I considered to be a ridiculous spectacle during the congressional hearings into this matter. You had executives with BP and Transocean and Halliburton falling over each other to point the finger of blame at somebody else. The American people could not have been impressed with that display, and I certainly wasn't."
Not only has Obama affirmed BP will be paying the bill for this ecological and economical disaster, but BP officials have publically pledged to pay for all the associated costs.
"We will pay all legitimate claims," said BP Managing Director Robert Dudley said on ABC's Good Morning America.
Primary Season: Challengers Post Serious Threats to Long-Term Incumbents
As the campaign season switches into high gear, voter anger threatens to sink the careers of lawmakers previously considered untouchable. From Pennsylvania to Utah, Arkansas to Arizona, incumbents across the nation from both parties look to be in trouble and party affiliation doesn't appear to be the issue.
"Right now, it's a very turbulent environment," says Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor of Arkansas.
While politicians from both sides attribute much of the uproar to voter's general anxiety and the typical presidential midterm swing, neither side can pinpoint a clear answer. Whatever the case, the casualty list for those currently in office continues to grow.
Already this month three-term Utah Senator Bob Bennett (R) was told by delegates he wouldn't be included on his party's primary, while just last week West Virginia voters unceremoniously dropped Representative Alan Mollohan (D) from a seat he's held since 1983.
Tuesday's primaries are shaping up in much the same fashion.
In Pennsylvania, Sen. Arlen Specter (D), a 30-year veteran of the Senate, faces a tough challenge from Representative Joe Sestak. While polls from early March showed Specter almost 30 points ahead, recent numbers show the race dead even.
At the same time, in Arkansas, Senator Blanche Lincoln, a three-term Representative with 11 years of experience in the Senate, faces a challenge from Lt. Gov Bill Halter, a recent entry into the Democratic Senate Primary. Lincoln points to her experience and years of "fighting for Arkansas," while Halter continues to call out the Senator claiming she stands clearly in the special interests camp. With third party candidate D.C. Morrison lagging far behind, if neither Lincoln or Halter get more than 51 percent of the vote, they will face each other again in a runoff on June 22.
Even Arizona Senator and former Presidential nominee John McCain faces a tough challenge in his upcoming primary.
Tomorrow's real test will be whether these perceived "new" realities faced by veterans of Washington, a scene where incumbents are at a disadvantage, fundraising leads mean little and endorsements by leaving political figures mean even less, will become the norm or simply are a speed-bump on the way to re-election.