American Morning
Who will get slimed in oil spill politics?
(CNN) – The growing oil spill in the Gulf has raised the political stakes for President Obama and others looking to make a splash in the mid-terms elections. Our Jim Acosta reports on that part of the story for us.
Gut Check: Are sand berms a smart defense?
By Bob Ruff and Carol Costello, CNN
(CNN) – Fans of the Star Trek television series and movies will no doubt recall the recurring struggle between the emotional Captain Kirk and the logical Spock. Crises as big as the universe itself in the end were somehow averted as emotion and science put their very different heads together.
As for our very own earthly crisis, the giant oil spill in the Gulf, right now science is flummoxed. The best scientists and engineers can’t figure out how to stem the flow or prevent the oil from reaching shore.
Is it time for a little emotion?
"All you need to do is look at this brown pelican, our state bird,” an emotional Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal pronounced Thursday just feet from the oil drenched bird and in full view of a gaggle of reporters.
The governor is usually pretty low-key, but not these days. Here’s a sample:
"I don't want to see a drop of oil on Louisiana's coast!"
“We’re frustrated!”
“Cut us a check!”
“This is their oil! Their damage! They caused this!”
And he’s not alone. It’s not often a U.S. congressman cries on the floor of the House. But that’s precisely what Rep. Charlie Melancon did the other day when describing the environmental disaster affecting his state.
There is a sense of doom here and, some say politicians in their eagerness to do something are calling for solutions that may not work, like giant, six foot high walls of sand – "sand berms." It’s a concept the politicians say has been in their Area Contingency Plan with the Corp of Engineers.
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[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/06/04/kyra.bp.rig.cnn.art.jpg caption="CNN's Kyra Phillips takes a tour of the BP oil rig spill site with Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen."]
With containment cap in place, BP waits to see if it works
(CNN) – BP may learn Friday how effective the new cap it placed on the ruptured undersea well is in slowing down the largest oil spill in U.S. history.
The complex underwater maneuver completed Thursday night was applauded by U.S. and BP officials.
"The placement of the containment cap is another positive development in BP's most recent attempt to contain the leak, however, it will be sometime before we can confirm that this method will work," said Coast Guard Lt. Commander Tony Russell. "Even if successful, this is only a temporary and partial fix and we must continue our aggressive response."
Robot submarines steered the new cap to BP's ruptured undersea well in the Gulf of Mexico at about 10 p.m. Thursday. But early Friday morning a non-stop cloud of oil was still spewing from the pipe . Read more
Program note: A CNN exclusive this morning: Our Kyra Phillips is the only reporter to go on board the rigs near where BP is desperately trying to cap the well and cut off the oil spill. She traveled there with National Incident Commander Adm. Thad Allen and she'll join us live with her report.
Full coverage | LIVE: Undersea view 
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