Today on CNN Newsroom
The latest news and information from around the world. Also connect with CNN through social media. We want to hear from you.
June 15th, 2010
06:30 AM ET
What Do You Want to Hear from Pres. Obama?
From CNN intern Emily Landrieu
After weeks of interviews and pep talks from government officials, the American people are looking for answers.
Tonight, as we near the two-month mark, the President will address the nation about the oil spill in the Gulf.
After spending two straight days in the Gulf States, we should expect President Obama to discuss a number of topics from wildlife restoration to victims' compensation.
So, tell us - what do you want to hear from the President tonight that would put you at ease?
We’ll share some of your thoughts during the 10 o’clock hour of CNN Newsroom.
On Twitter
RT @CSADatGSU: Check in tomorrow to catch this conversation between @SuzanneMalveaux and @JonathanGayles
Find us virtually here:https://t.…
What a horrible shock. @DrewGriffinCNNNN was in a league of his own- as an outstanding journalist, authentic perstwitter.com/i/web/status/1…SJ2TpK
Thank you #NABJNAHJ22 for bringing us all together! Continually inspired by my friends & colleagues. @EmilyAtCNNNNtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…5EkUDp
@abroaddus You are such an amazing talent! Saw that long ago. Your coverage of Highland Park shooting-so strong. I’twitter.com/i/web/status/1…6au2
Addressing trauma in our communities is essential. 1 group,The Center for Mind Body Medicine(CMBM) is teaching crittwitter.com/i/web/status/1…9m
I want Pres. Obama to assure us that he's not going to take sides anymore between the Palestinians and israelis and that he's going to just do what is right according to what facts and proofs show in cases such as the Gaza Blockade, The Apartheid wall, The expansion of Settlements, The Attacks on Islamic holy sites in Hebron and Jerusalem and finally the Violations of the International Laws and UN regulations.
I would like like to hear what will happen to bp and all other involved companies if they don't pay "the bill". Is it going to be passed on to taxpayers? Thanks.
1. Have all oil corporations been tagged for their ideas on how to end this 'leak'? It seems like that brain trust could be helpful.
2. Why do you think the answer to everything is 'the government will take over"? Why are we not negotiating quietly with BP to set up rules that will allow claims to be processed quickly and fairly?
I want to hear that he's not going to wait until mid July for new action from B.P. and that he's not going to stand for any more stalling tactics .
I would like to hear him say ALL Americans will be receiving compensation from BP, because eventually ALL Americans will be paying for BP's mess, whether it be higher Gas prices or the dramatic increase in Seafood prices at the grocery store.
ALL Americans should receive a check from BP.
I want the president to tell us that there will be no more off shore drilling. I want him to say that deep water drilling is just to dangerous a threat to our oceans and wildlife.
I want the president to tell us that he is seizing all of BP Assetts both here and all over the world because of their arrogance and refusal to cooperate in what was pretty much clearly a violation of not only the law but of the public trust that they could get the job done safely.
I want to President to open up drilling for oil in places like North Dakota where we have the largest oil field ever found. Drilling in places where problems can be fixed.
I want the president to start a non corrupt federal agency that will actually do their job and monitor the drilling of all wells on or near American soil.
I want the federal agency and the people responsible, held liable under the law, for the damage they caused by saying yes to BP and all other oil companies. I want to hear the president say these things before the dollar rich oil companies exploit our country to death.
Lastly ...I want the president to pretend that he actually gives a damn!
I want to hear that President Obama will hold responsible those who allowed BP to drill in the gulf without proper precaution. Clearly we are looking at a corrupt federal agency. I want him to locate those responsible, and I want the president to say that he will prosecute them for their crimes.
I want the president to say that he is going to seize the assetts of BP and to hold them legally responsible for the lives of all the fishermen and their families.
I want President Obama to say that he will stop all off shore drilling immideatly. We just can't do this safely as this spill clearly shows.
I want President Obama to tell us that he is opening North Dakota to drilling in the largest oil field ever found. A place where drilling is safe and where problems can be fixed.
I want the President to say that he will not relent his attack on BP until the gulf is clear of oil and the nation can safely fish in the waters that have supplied our country with food for hundreds of years.
Most importantly, I want President Obama to say that he will personally accept responsibility for this spill. The government appears to be pretty much complicit in the crime of runing an entire ocean for human inhabitance. I want him to admit that he is ultimately responsible and that he will fix the problem. Not BP!
I would like him to ask "Where is the oil industry on all of this?"
If BP is a rogue operation, why not point it out then come in and fix it.
It seems that the industry is trying to make the President the bad guy in reducing oil exploration. In reality, they should look at BP who squandered all the "good will" that the industry had with sloppy operations and inadequate responses.
If the industry itself has no better ideas, why risk removing the moratorium?
I'm from Destin, Florida. We lost jobs because of mistakes made in Lousiana. With all respect to Gov. Jindall, I'm sorry about offshore drilling jobs being lost – but what about the jobs lost in Florida? We have nothing to do with offshore drilling yet we are paying the price.
I would like to hear Obama say "I quit". That would be the best thing for the US.
I would like President Obama to say he's going to take care of it, and he's sorry for waiting so long. I want him to say he will exhaust his resources to find someone or something that can stop the leak. I also want him to say that BP will pay for EVERYTHING and all claims will be paid for. and BP will stay and work until every drop of oil is cleaned up.
Hi Kyra
I think the govt should take over the claim responsibilities. I think the claims would be paid faster and the Gulf people would acknowledge that Obama is working hard to protect them.
I want to hear President Obama tell the American people that he's going to hold BP 101 percent responsible for this. I want to hear him say that he's going to order BP to compensate everyone in the Gulf Coast who has lost their jobs because of the oil spill, have BP pay businesses for the percentage of money they've lost. More importantly, let's not play politics with horrible disaster BP caused. If BP goes broke so be it.
The US military will be here today to take full control of this disaster.
FEMA will be here today to help everyone suffering from this disaster.
Get off your photo-op Mr. President and show us really how to kick a**
and help your country now!
I want to hear that Obama will step back and let the individual states drive to clean-up. He is not uniting us, he is dividing us and his leadership is mostly campaign rhetoric. Maybe he can get a job at CNN or NBC as an morning host.
I want to hear the president say he will put a freeze on the price of gas. We know that BP will eventually pass the cost of the cleanup to the consumer in the form of higher gas prices.
Thanks, Raymond urueta
I would like to hear President Obama tell the citizens of the Gulf Coast that no matter what happens with BP, th US Government will take care of the situation; whether it be by issuing executive orders and forcing BP to pay claims or by sending FEMA in full force, we will help.
I think that the President is not using his "bully pulpit" effectively in this disaster. Now is the time to step up to the plate and for Obama to show the American people what kind of leader he is.
To demonstrate leadership, the President should have a 60-day plan. Even a plan that may have 50% chance of success is still 1000 times better than a perfect plan that does not exist. The current approach is like "chasing a Ferrari from behind in a VW Beetle". No offence, the Beetle is a nice car, but may not be the best "vehicle" for the tasks at hand.
So be it if BP goes broke. Hold them responsible and do not let them get away with this mess.
To your question about what we the public would like to here from the President tonight... I would like to hear how the CLEAN UP is going now that they have taken BP to task on their clean up efforts last week, forcing them to draw up a new more intense plan. I personally don't want to hear any more science fiction stories about how they are planning on 'plugging' the leak. I think it has become cleat to many that the relief well may very well be the only REAL solution to the leak... I want to know that the government and BP are doing everything they possibly can to stem the spread of the oil and clean it up.
I want Mr. Obama to defend this country. I refer to him as Mister because he has not shown the leadership necessary to be a president. The spill is BP's fault, we know that. However, the lack of cleanup effort and the chaos we are now experiencing, is our government's fault. I want him to demand money from BP immediately. I want him to talk about how WE are going to take over and save our coast, our suffering wildlife, our residents. Anderson exposed the lack of response from the US Fish&Wildlife Agency- they are a govt run agency and exist off our taxes. Let the volunteers, the trained rescuers, the environmental organizations with 17,000 + registered volunteers down there NOW.
I want President Obama to impose a 20 Million dollar fine for each day the spill continues. BP makes millions daily and if they see this income affected, they will move quicker. These funds should be used for cleanup efforts, and for the business owners who are being affected in te gulf.
My solution to the major problem facing us today would be for this president to announce to this country that it needs to park all vehicles for a week. The only folks that should be driving would be those for bona fide EMERGENCY situations. Let this happen and the oil companies would be put in their place. This society is much too decadent and greedy and needs to curb some of its appetite for driving so nonchalantely. It is a free country but people need to learn how to survive without all the usual comforts from time to time and with this oil spill disaster, this president needs to get tough if it is indeed within him to do so...
As long as big industry, which the oil companies are a large part of keep stuffing the pockets of congress then we'll never see any changes, it is pretty sad that members of congress take millions from the oil companies give them all types of tax breaks, take untold perks from them and then get on TV and pretend to chastise them for making stupid decisions that results in a big mess like the oil spill. In the end is nothing but a big show and not a damn thing will come from it. Back to business as usual in about six months.
I want to know if there is a risk for long term health problems for the people who live on the gulf coast from the toxic fumes blowing across our area. I want to be assured that our well being is a priority.
I want to see into Obama's eyes a show of compassion and concern about this environmental crisis that will forever change our beautiful Gulf Coast. I want him to sincerely convey to the American public that he too, is feeling the pain and anguish we are all feeling. We are all in this together and each and every American needs to help in some way. I WANT A PLAN FOR OUR NATION TO PULL TOGETHER AND SAVE OUR PLANET.
I want to hear that he knows the clean up and the effort to save the animals are both failures. I want him to name another person to direct those efforts. If he wants to keep Allen on the spill, so be it, but he needs a better command and control and effort for the clean up. I would also like to end the disperants.
I understand that the oil company is the only group that can stop the spill, although they all seem helpless, but the clean up another matter entirely. I am a strong supporter of the president, but I do believe he has not handled this correctly. No matter how much money goes into an escrow account and how many oval office speeches he makes, the clean up is not working and won't until there are significant changes in the structure and tactics.
Pat
Fairfax, Va.
Southern girl, I couldn't agree with you more; however, I don't think that will happen.
Now, we know this nation voted for CHANGE. It's been almost 2 years, and we are still waiting for the CHANGE. I personnally didn't vote for him, but, as an American, I to am still waiting for CHANGE.
And i'd like him to say thank you and good-bye. Let's get Hillary in there!! And where oh where is Al Gore in all of this? If he had not lost the rigged election, our country would be in a much better position to deal with environmental disaster. At least he cares about our environmental future...Obama just cares about sitting on his throne
I would like to hear him resign, and admit that he has messed up the entire country because of his idiotic ideas.
I Quit!
What about the unemployment extension from April 15, 2010 that was to extend benefits to the unemployed to the end of the year. There are alot of people who are out of benefits now with no work and no jobs. I don't hear anything mentioned in the $50B stimulus being puhsed by the president tonight.
Rather than going to a lot of meetings...President Obama needs-to get FEMA. the EPA, Animal Protection, HRS, Red Cross,volunteers(unemployed Americans-citizens of the U S) involved. Like President Rosevelt, President Obama needs to help America. Rather than doing a lot of spending and name calling.To help the people who voted for him.
I know its not the question placed here but since I responded to your question I thought I could also ask a question about your guest Mr. Mack, who spoke along with Mr. Morici this morning about the money Obama wants for states. Mr. Mack, from what it sounded, took teachers, cops, and firemen to task, saying that once we (I am a teacher in NC) get this money we should look to manage our money better, saving more, and perhaps get another job... talking about many S&P 500 companies doing well. I truly did a double take and neither you or Mr. Morici pressed him on this further. Was he stating that money to states to help keep cops, teachers and firemen among other things was a 'hand out' to those professions? Was he really telling cops, teachers and firemen to manage our money better or go get another job so we don't need a 'handout' in the future? If that is the case I think he should REALLY be taken to task on this point. I don't think I would be the only one wanting to do it either.
BP has caused "An Environmental Disaster of Epic Proportions" .
1. I'd like President Obama to take control of this situation and tell us the truth about how much crude is spewing from the ocean floor daily since we cannot trust the BP officials.
2. PLEASE supply every person involved in this clean-up with a RESPIRATOR. (What about coastal residents? Should they have them too ?)
3. Would it be possible to Inspect ALL of BP's other ocean rigs to determine if others were as badly built as this one to avoid other disasters ? Appoint someone who is HONEST ...Is that possible ?
I , along with millions of Americans, want to know what the President is doing about extending unemployment benefits, and adding extended tiers for the millions of "" 99'ers"". Congress was supposed to vote 2 weeks ago, and still nothing!! NO JOBS,, NO unemployment benefits for 3 weeks now!!! We support government, they NEED to help us millions Americans !! Thank you ,, I really hope to hear something soon,, Thank you ,, desperate, hungry, losing mobile home,, everything,,, Fulton County, Ohio. We've been hit with tornadoes,, thunderstorms, and now NO unemployment benefits,, NOBODY seems to care !!!!
I want to hear the president announce a trillion dollar investment in a clean renewable energy & job creation Apollo project to eliminate the need for fossil fuels and put people to work. I want to hear him say the program and deficit reduction would be funded by bonds paid for by a return to the pre-Reagan tax rates on the rich. I want to hear him say we will spend the equivalent amount we spend on oil each year on the program until we no longer use any.
In stead of just berating the oil companies (which they deserve) I would like to hear that in the future the workers that are checking these oil rigs are not getting gifts and turning their backs on things that should have been reported. Maybe this would not have happened if these workers had done an honest job. What is the President doing to see that doesn't happen again? Big businesses, oil companies, banks, etc., have always tried to get past doing what they should. And add to that investigators that can be bought off and you have a tregedy just waiting to happen.
When I say the pictures of dead and dying birds, the Pelicans at the cleaning stations with the worry and dread evident in their eyes, I cried. This is more than just an economic problem. We will not "get back to normal". Our wildlife is DYING! This has to stop NOW.
We have to solve the problem. Take it away from BP. As a chemical engineer I know we can do better. Give our own oil industry the chance to solve this. Call in our scientists - Get our underwater recovery people who can operate at great depths busy.
I really don't want to hear anything from our President...he has no idea how to solve our problems. We are in debt, the states are in debt, local government are in debt.......we need to start taking care of ourselves without help from Washington. Wouldn't it make sense to give billions to tax payers to help with their house payments instead of bailing out those who caused the problems.
What are you going to do when in a afew months BP forces the price of gasoline up to recoup recovery costs foisting financial remediation upon an already besieged American taxpayer?
With mounting evidence of blatant criminal negligence by BP, their proven contemptuous continuing deception and lies, why has no one been arrested? Men unnecessarily lost their lives = murder / negligent homicide. When will any BP executive be arrested and held accountable? This is no accident! BP has not "misspoken" they have lied!
The contempt of the British and BP is evident: Their Prime Minister had the audacity to demand Americans shut up about their premiere company! If you jail the CEO / Executive in the US until the company focuses on solving the issues they will.
To me this is a Homeland Security Authority issue, why cannot this be delared what it appears to be. The entire gulf is at risk. Untold numbers of Americans are under unrelenting attack. Why not sieze that company?
Please express to President Obama that not all Americans blame him. While I am angry I am not angry with him, just the situation. I appreciate that it is him at the helm and not some hothead. We need the HOPE we elected that is him at this moment, Don't dispair. Media just has to stir up controversy and you appear to be black and easy to target.
I would like to hear the President acknowledge the national debt as the largest risk to the livelihoods of the people in the gulf, and everywhere else in this country. If the federal government was responsible enough to balance the budget over the decades, $50B for emergencies would be available.
instead, we INCREASE the debt by that much every two weeks.
Speaking of the unemployed...why not send 2,500 unemployed "volunteers" down to the Gulf to help with the clean up? Pay the 'volunteers" $405.00 for a week of work and charge that to BP. Over time, that's $1,000,000 saved in unemployment payments. Considering this clean up will last a LONG time, the government will save some cash
I would like to hear him say, after he gets off his throne
"I don't know what I am doing. I didn't and I still don't have the experience to be president."
But hey, we as a nation voted for CHANGE, and we got what we asked for. If you are not happy with his job (I am not) do something about it this November and November 12: VOTE THE DEMOCRATS OUT OF OFFICE!! Pretty simple.
When I saw the photos of dead and dying birds, I cried. Pelicans at the cleaning stations with the worry and dread evident in their eyes. This is more than just an economic problem. We will not "get back to normal" by collecting money from B.P. Our birds and dolphins and fish are DYING! This has to be stopped NOW.
We have to solve the problem. We have to take it away from BP and fix the problem ourselves. As a chemical engineer I know we can do better. Our own oil industry can help with their knowledge. Our underwater recovery experts and military who can operate at great depths can help. Lets get to work and FIX THIS.
I know what I will hear...
A sales pitch for Cap and Trade.
This pathetic, inept excuse for a leader can't let a crisis go to waste.
One other thought :
I'm hoping President Obama is really tough on BP. THEY did this. BP should pay for anything and everything associated with this Disaster forever, no time limits.
Hopefully all claims could have a time limit for BP to PAY the claim....like 7-10 days. TRIPLE the claim if they're late !!! I'd love to hear our President say THAT !
Oh....and hang in there President Obama, what a mess you inherited, and what a fine job you've done so far !... and now this. I wouldn't want your job if anyone offered me 20 million $$$ cash !
What took so long for the President to accept help from foreign countries in the form of ships and skimmers? Labor Unions?
From President Obama, I would love to hear: "I've had it – I'm outta here!"
Hey Sandy,
Why should we negotiate "Quietly with BP?" I want what President Obama promised in his campaign. TRANSPARANCY. BP has caused THE worst MAN-MADE catastrophe our country has ever seen. This COMPANY must be taken to task for this Disaster.
That Brit "wants HIS life back"??? Well , we Americans want this CRUDE away from our shores !
This situation is simply horrid.
(From Navarre, FL 12 miles from Pensacola.)
Less Talk More Action
Waive the Jones Act
Activate all brenches of the military.
All this should have been done 50 days ago.
If all we hear tonight is the need to reduce our dependency on fossil fuel and holding BP accountable, he's toast in Florida. Without Florida, no second term.
(From Navarre, FL 12 miles from Pensacola.)
Less Talk More Action
Waive the Jones Act
Activate all branches of the military.
All this should have been done 50 days ago.
If all we hear tonight is the need to reduce our dependency on fossil fuel and holding BP accountable, he's toast in Florida. Without Florida, no second term.
Put general honore in charge with all arms of government- this is a war- I want him to cut the red tape and allow bird experts to save the wildlife the birds--- I am ready for the pres to quit---- he has let bp play is for fools- they don't want to stop welli all they want is to make more money by not stopping well- get another company in and prosecute bpo for lying- with holding the truth and covering up in all areas of this.
It be wonderful if President Obama would finally speak of the long awaited disclosure. I believe the humans of this Earth are ready to know our ancestors from other planets and dimensions.
I like to hear him say to the american people that I dont have a clue what im doing in this office instead of making up stuff and pretending he does
I want the President to tell us all about the meetings in the Bush administration among Bush,Cheney and their oil friends that set up the deals and lack of regulation that have helped lead to this mess. It is about time some of those people take the blame for what they have done. Obama has been president for only a year and a half. He did not have any input on these deals but he has a responsibility to let every American know what the oil people and the politicians they bought have done to this country
He has his hands full with a legacy of problems inherited from the Republicans. He is working hard and I'm satisfied that he has accomplished more in one year than the former President could in eight years. Republicans continue to throw mud and remain part of the problem not the solution. Since they aren't busy they should be forced to go to the gulf and shovel up the oil mess they helped create. Its not just BP's fault. Republicans took big money from oil companies to vote their interests, not ours. They are complicit in fault with BP.
Here's an idea maybe just a band aid until something better can be used. Why not sink a ship over top and weigh it down with something that won't do anymore damage to our oceans and the innocent marine and wildlife. Just a thought....
President Obama has no answers, neither does BP or anyone else so I am not awaiting a human intervention. It's obvious this is out of our control as we observe many natural disasters occurring.
Are we accepting that America can have issues like the rest of the world? We have raped the land and the land of others and the result is that we do things to disrupt nature, when we do it hastily for money without the consideration of the impact...............well.
Wake up America before it is too late.
I want him to tell America has had the foxes (BP) in the hen house now fow almost two months now. They have been raiding the americans of all that is good here and along the way taken millions and millions to line their pockets. What is next they will claim bankruptsy and go home leaving us with this whole mess. It is time that WE take charge and kick them out NOW....history tells us that if we do not do this we can only expect the worst ending and the loss of life and our sesources to boot.
I think we have heard enough from President Obama on the BP oil spill. To me his words and lack of action speaks for itself. In my opinion he has taken a passive/aggressive approach which has been ineffective. He should have come "out of the gate" from day #1 to let the American people know this spill was on the top of his priority list. The 4 trips he has made to the Gulf were mearly photo ops. Having his photo taken eating a snowcone didn't impress me, I would have liked to have seen him pick up a hose and suck up some oil....only then would I think his concern was sincere.
I'm changin the chan. so I can watch what they are saying,not what you are saying anout what they are saying,duhh
Please tell me why there no one reporting that the US Senate can not pass extended unemployment insurance benefit. The US
will see millions om the street. You will see bread lines in two weeks.
Thank you,
St. Louis Missouri
I want President Obama to go back through the entire govt organization and fire the Bush appointees. He said at the beginning of his Presidency he wasn't going to do that and look where it has got us. We have a Democratic president, supposidly of change, who is cleaving to the middle road afraid to step off one way or the other. But the running of the day to day govt is being done by the Bush old guard who still hold their Bush values. Salazar goes into MMM and gives a couple of speeches and fires a couple of people and after he leaves they sit around a conference table with a cake that says "Drill Baby Drill, it was business as usual and its the same through the whole govt. Read the article in the June 24 issue of Rolling Stone # 1107 on the disaster. And then read the Feb 07 National Geographic article on what unregulated Big Oil has done to Nigeria,. then decide if it makes any sense not to regulate Big Oil
I have to comment on this because I think our President has done all he can do. What do people expect him to do that will help? I agree with Oprah Winfrey here! He got BP to agree to put billions in an escrow account. He has addressed the problem in an appropriate manner.
I think the main problem is we are hearing from Republicans too much, and since they want control over the government, everything that President Obama does is wrong. I think there out to be a fine line between freedom of speech and conspiracy.
It all boils down to that the Republicans are out for the rich and Democrats are out for the poor. What really got me was that guy in the BP hearings (his name isn't worth remembering) wasn't made to step down immediately when he sided with BP and accused our President of shaking down BP. How can you apologize for that? Does he really expect to be re-elected?
I agree with Elvira's comment above. She's got it right. I have to say that we really do need to get an alternative to oil. Hasn't oil caused enough problems? But I think too many politicians are getting kickbacks from the oil companies to shoot down that concept.
The best way that President Obama could help our country is to start a full scale investigation into making a clean fuel so we can get away from oil altogether.