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[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/07/02/oil.cleanup.gi.art.jpg caption="Oil cleanup workers try to remove thick oil that washed ashore on July 1, 2010 in Gulfport, Mississippi."]
With Alex fading, Gulf crews set sights on oil cleanup efforts
(CNN) – Now that former Hurricane Alex has lost nearly all of its punch, many in the Gulf states were hoping that Friday would be the day that they could get back to cleaning up the massive oil spill.
The dangerous storm had created choppy seas in the Gulf of Mexico and caused hundreds of oil skimmers to be docked.
"We had to stand down because of the storm activity. Now that oil has been spewed all over the Chandelier Islands," Craig Taffaro, the president of St. Bernard Parish in Louisiana, said Thursday. "We are going out again (Friday) to start cleaning it up. We have to go back out, basically start over."
Also in the area Friday will be Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa P. Jackson. Jackson is headed back to the Gulf Coast, a day after her agency gave BP a new directive on how to deal with the cleanup of the massive oil spill.
Jackson will hold a town hall meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, and tour areas of Pensacola, Florida, on Friday. It will be her sixth trip to the area since the April 20 oil disaster, the EPA said. Read more
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Congress didn't make Nafta law. Clinton did. Clinton had the option to stop it by vetoing it. He choose not to.
Pauly
I wish Hoekstra on MeLoN, too. Perhaps we can gather enough of the concerned citizenry here in Michigan to manifest this for him. He'll probably need to add on to his house to accommodate his new roommate, but that will help the economy here in, Michigan.
Oh, and thanks for giving MeLoN the history lesson this morning. When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.
Have a great weekend!!
I'm not sure it's up to the Afghans, either, MeLoN. A lot of people feel we're there because of a natural gas pipeline coming out of, Turkmenistan, which will provide ng for, India, Pakistan, etc. The powers that be didn't want the pipeline to go through, Iran. It just seems like wars of late are being fought for energy. It's sad.
Just sayin'...
I will NEVER fly my American flag at half staff!
p.s. My American flag is tattoo'ed on the back of my shaved head.
Art:
Sorry. I wasn't wishing Hoekstra on all the fine citizens of MI. Just on Melon!!! If the people vote him in, I'm sorry for all except Melon!!! I know most MI residents aren't as ignorant or misinformed as Melon. Thank God!!!
Poor Melon, keeps trying to salvage something even after having been proven wrong by the historic record!!! NAFTA was signed by Bush I & the other leaders. It only needed to be ratified by Congress after that. President Clinton signed it into law after Congress did so!!!
How is where a basketball player going to play basketball newsworthy?
Try the microbe oil eaters concept in the marshes ASAP. Whats there to loose in trying? Giant oil skimming ship sitting "parked" awaiting coast guard approval? (Apparently needing 1/2 mile radius). Seems like they need to get the FAA involved, you know 'Air Traffic Control'. Modify to be 'Air & Sea Traffic Control'. It still amazes me to this day that on 9/11, the skys were cleared within hours and with no accidents. The same control could be applied in the gulf. All 'mechanical means' of clean up should be tried. Some will fail, some will work fabulously. By the way, hi Art from Michigan. Did you know that a similar disaster could happen in the Great Lakes? Everyday I look out my window at Lake Erie and imagine oil and see a nightmare.
Julie in Michigan can vouch for me on this one. Up in the deep north there is a material that was invented almost 30 years ago that lets you stand in water and your feet won't get wet. It's called Gortex. It seems that someone figured out that molecules of sweat are smaller than molecules of water. So why hasn't this been mentioned? BY ANYONE? I thought the United States Government had the planets best scientists on it's payroll? Stop playing games BP & Obama. Do your job like you were Hired/elected to do.
Let's hope nobody else does for Michigan what Granholm did. PLEASE.
Obama backed canidates ALL lost?... lol.. What does THAT say?
I'd like to know why the Global Warming Issue's Obama was ramming down our throats has been pushed on the back burner?
Is this because our Oceans are a oil soaked disaster?
Petraues can't "turn the war around". It's not up to him – it's up to the people living in the country occupied by the US to make that determination.
melon-
I'm ok with your opinion about my opinion being totally worthless. But I sense that says more about you than I.
Hey Pauly. Please don't wish Hoekstra on us here in, Michigan. You know, a lot of people here in Michigan have a lot of issues with, Granholm, and her stewardship of the state. But for me, there is no one running, Republican or Democrat, who I feel can do the job she has. I sense Michigan will be in for an even rougher ride the next few years
What would happen if the Gulf oil slick was flooded with these oil eating bugs? What is the side effects of doing THAT?
The United States lost 2.3 million industrial jobs from 2001 to 2007 as a result of trade with China, according to a study by a Washington, D.C., think tank.
The employment loss in Ohio during that period totaled 102,700 jobs, according to the Economic Policy Institute's briefing paper, "The China Trade Toll." Robert Scott, an economist with the institute, was the report's author.
Since NAFTA, through 2003, 879,000 jobs have been lost to Mexico. You can harp about NAFTA all you want but we are losing more jobs overseas!!!
Which President signed NATFA into law? And didn't that same President have veto power?
12 million illegal immigrants means 12 million jobs....we can fix the unemployment rate by removing the immigrants, not legalizing them. I'm the first to allow immigrants health care and education, but when its time to remove them, we hav to hav a way to do so humanely.
Another stupid statement from Obama. All illegal aliens in the country should be deported not be rewarded by giving them citizenship.
If someone broke into your home – would you allow them to live in it because they are willing to do the dishes?
And Bush II supported NAFTA:
President Bush chastised lawmakers on Tuesday for letting international trade deals falter in Congress and criticized Democratic presidential contenders for wanting to scrap or amend the vast North American free-trade zone.
At the close of a two-day summit, Bush, along with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, stood solidly behind the North American Free Trade Agreement. Under NAFTA, trade between the U.S., Canada and Mexico has swelled from roughly $290 billion in 1994 to an estimated $1 trillion by the end of this year.
"Now is not the time to renegotiate NAFTA or walk away from NAFTA," Bush said. "Now is the time to make it work better for all our people. And now is the time to reduce trade barriers worldwide."
The summit was overshadowed by Tuesday's Pennsylvania Democratic presidential primary race between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, who have threatened to pull the U.S. out of NAFTA or renegotiate it to push for more protections for workers and the environment.
Another short history lesson for you melon:
Following diplomatic negotiations dating back to 1991 between the three nations, the leaders met in San Antonio, Texas, on December 17, 1992, to sign NAFTA. U.S. President George H.W. Bush, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Mexican President Carlos Salinas, each responsible for spearheading and promoting the agreement, ceremonially signed it. The agreement then needed to be ratified by each nation's legislative or parliamentary branch.
Before the negotiations were finalized, Bill Clinton came into office in the U.S. and Kim Campbell in Canada, and before the agreement became law, Jean Chrétien had taken office in Canada.
One day it it will be nice to turn on the tv and tune in to Cnn and they tell a story and afterwards the question wont be asked, will it or wont it? They were doing a story on the super tanker and the question was asked will it be enough to clean up the oil spill. It seems as if eveyone of your stories end with a question. How about giving people some assurance. It may just be me, but it's very annoying to hear a question asked after every story. How about this, " a super tanker with the ability to suck in 300,000 gallon of oil in ten hours is on it's way to gulf. That wasn't so bad. Or was it?
Melon, it's one thing to secretly hope the President fails than to go out & cause him to fail. This country is in the worst financial disaster since the Great Depression. Yet, the GOP has done nothing to help correct the mess they caused. In fact, they have done more to delay and/or prevent an economic recovery. This is unprecented in this country. You don't bring the country down to score political points!!!
Just because they CAN... doesn't make it the right thing for the country. Just like "anchor babies".
@MeLoN- In Michigan, a governor can only serve for two terms. Granholm is nearing the end of her second term. Just so you know.
Bush had nothing to do with it... it was signed into law before Bush was "elected" in 2000. He was forced to follow the law. Get a clue. Read some history.
Where is the oil collected in the gulf going? How are they disposing of it ?
Melon, I hope that you elect Rep Hoekstra Governor. You deserve him! At least he won't be making decisions that afffect the rest of the country. Nor will he be leaking any more classified info from national security briefings. You think you have problems now!!!
If the Democrat are so innocent why is the deficit at least 3 times what it was when Bush left office? Answer.. the Democrats give away programs and their willingness to spend future generations money without even considering them. Keep blaming the Republicans only makes you look more biased and makes your opinion totally worthless.
MeLoN says-"Bush had nothing to do with with NAFTA."
lol...okay 🙂
Pauly .. how is that any different than Democrats wanting a Republican President to fail?.... HINT.. it's not. You should stop saying country first – while you are spewing your slanted, biased untrue opinions.
Everyone is a foreigner to you Melon. Yet, you admit that you aren't Native American, that your ancestors emigrated here!!! Both Govs you mentioned are US citizens, who emigrated here legally. As such, they can run for & hold any office in this country except for President!
@ MeLoN
Well, if it was written by a democrat, I'm grateful he took the time to do so. It's an important piece of writing, with footnoted links providing the details for what is being addressed. He gives Jimmy Carter a pretty good slap in the mush for ignoring Yasir Arafat's attempted confession-
"In 1996, while meeting with Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasir Arafat, Carter reportedly raised his hands into a physical stop position when Arafat tried to confess to his role in the Republican maneuvering to block Carter's Iran-hostage negotiations.
"There is something I want to tell you," Arafat said, addressing Carter at a meeting in Arafat's bunker in Gaza City. "You should know that in 1980 the Republicans approached me with an arms deal [for the PLO] if I could arrange to keep the hostages in Iran until after the [U.S. presidential] election."
Arafat was apparently prepared to provide additional details and evidence, but Carter raised his hands, indicating that he didn't want to hear anymore."- Robert Parry
It's mind-boggling what the GOP has gotten away with through the years. Take the time to read the article, MeLoN.
Something else that's pretty stupid... Tiger Woods going to pay his ex wife 750 million dollars?.... lol.. No woman is worth that. He shouldn't pay that. His ex wife has the man hating Gloria Allred as her lawyer. Tigers lawyers shouldn't agree to that and should fight it every step of the way.
The GOP has made no secret of the fact that they want President Obama to fail. They have done everything in their power to avoid helping the President. Just saying no doesn't solve this country's problems. And the problem w/ causing the failure of a President is that the country fails too! Millions of Americans have been suffering, are suffering & will suffer due to the actions & inactions of the GOP.
If the GOP succeeds in regaining control of Congress this year & the Presidency in '12, I have a question for them. If you regain control by sabotaging the economic recovery & cause a double dip recession, what the hell are you going to do? For more than a year, you denied there was any recession. That the economy was fine & fundamentally strong. You tried to hide the damage until after the elections. You haven't done anything to help this country out of it since!!! You should try to live up to your campaign slogan of '08, Country first!!!!
As I sit here in Cleveland, Ohio finishing my security shift I am ending my night as I always do, listening to Kiran and John getting me home with the headlines for another day. Today I am interested in the comments about LeBron James and whether he will stay in Cleveland or go to another NBA team. I feel if he uses his common sense he will stay in Cleveland. He is a diety in this town. There is nothing in northern Ohio that LBJ can not have for himself or his family. Saint Vincent -St. Marys high school and all his "buds" live and work in the Cleveland-Akron area. Its home.The other NBA cities like New York are great but they not LeBrons home. The grass is not always greener. I think he will stay here with the Cacaliers new head coach.
Arnie shouldn't even be Governor of any state. He is a foreigner. Same here in Michigan – we have a foreigner as Governor... but hopefully not much longer.
Pauly.. if you haven't caught the drift yet ... I trust no professional politician. In my book – they are all the same... no matter what party they belong to. They all have their own agendas and they all have their hands in the pocket of some corporation and all are out to line their own pockets. This country needs a revolution against the politicians.
Bush had nothing to do with with NAFTA. Clinton pushed for and signed NAFTA into law. Get real please.
I LOVE Hot-Dogs,,, But, Just the Thought of Eating 60 PLUS Hot-Dogs with a water soaked bun is repulsive!
Melon, the GOP only worries about the deficit when they aren't in power!!! They sure weren't concerned about it during the Bush years. Or when Reagan spent out of control. As President Reagan said, "the deficit is big enough to take care of itself."
I'm all for reducing the national debt & deficit. I just don't think we should do it on the backs of Americans who are suffering! As I said above, cut the deficit & debt quickly by eliminating corporate welfare!!!
And start cutting defense spending. the US spends more on defense than all other industrialized countries combined!!! The Pentagon's budget is $700 billion a year!!! That's a bank bailout each & every year. And despite what the GOP says, we can cut defense spending w/o weakening our national defense!!!
I remember George H.W. Bush speaking about NAFTA looooong before he left office. I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess it was dreamed up by someone at the Heritage Foundation 30 years before he spoke of it.
Yeah, Democrats are to blame for keeping their heads in the sand for as long as we did. Looks like we're wide awake now, MeLoN.
Bring on the Employee Free Choice Act!
Male and Female Supreme Court Judges,,,
I think in our present day, their decisions will be the same in 90% of the Cases that they will Rule on! Their might only be some bias when it comes to female reproduction or equality.
Another example of how the GOP places the burden of govt actions & inactions on the people. Gov Arnie of CA has ordered all state employees to be paid the minimum wage because a budget hasn't been passed! Why are the Gov & state lawmakers not affected? I would love to see them try to survive on the minimum wage!!!!
In DC, you never hear lawmakers cut their pay to save to decrease the deficit & national debt. In fact, they consistently grant themselves & their staff raises & increase their expense accounts! Do we really need to pay people to make the stupid signs that appear on the floors of Congress?
Before Bush, the President's salary was $200,000.00 a year. Now Senators make close to that amount!!! If the GOP really believes that the average unemployment check of $230.00 weekly is a deterrent to seeking a job, they should try to live on that paltry amount. They never complain about how their salaries & expense accounts add to the deficit.
Rep Boehner, (don't call me Boner), said the other day that we need to raise the age of Social Security retirement to 70. Congress has given themselves a nice pension package. A pension that begins when they first take office. If they stay in office long enough, they can collect almost their full salary in retirement!!! Even if they are convicted of a crime while in office!!! We can't afford Congress!!!
..And I bet that "article" was written by a Democrat....lol...
wouldn't*
Yep... only the Republican politicians are responsible for the deficit. The Democrats had absolutely nothing to do with it.... lol. If one seriously believes THAT... they need to be immediately medicated and sent for a mental health check up.
The Republicans are blocking the unemployment bill but that is only the back half the story. The front of the story is – if it weren't for NAFTA – there would be some many unemployed Americans. NATFA can be blamed on the Democrats. So in other words – BOTH parties are equally responsible for the condition the country is in.
There is a very good article published on Truthout by Robert Parry. It's titled, "How Republicans Win", and was posted on 31 March 2010. It's a very interesting read, and it really makes ya' wonder about conservative values. The article speaks to the "sabotage" Pauly just wrote about...
Gender is important to me....very happy about the appointment of how much we have grown.
I was born and live Phoenix. I was trying to say I was in D C and once again felt ashamed of our state.. I meant that were the last State to acknowlege to Mlk.......Go Gaga and Madonna :-O)
Not the best typer... I am a flight attendant for Southwest for 14 years. Didn 't I would be on here so soon.
It's basketball. Who cares?
I am proud because he gives a face to a name. I was born and raised, in Phoenix. AZ. We were the last state to even acknoledge MLK day. Our state is always backwards. Love lady Gaga!
The GOP is at it again. How stupid do they think Americans are? They are now blaming Dems for the failure to pass an unemployment bill. Only 1 Dem voted against it. The GOP claims they want the Dems to pay for it. When pay as you go came up for a vote, the GOP defeated it.
If the GOP was really concerned about the deficit & paying for this bill, they should have passed the repeal of the $35 billion in tax breaks for big oil. In fact, it's time to cut out tax breaks, incentives & subsidies to corporate America. The deficit would almost disappear in a very short time.
If it wasn't obvious to Americans before, it should be now. The GOP is deliberately sabotaging the economy to gain seats in the November elections. At an immense cost to the people!!! The GOP also recently blocked a bill to provide more relief to the states. This is going to cost many public servants their jobs. They also blocked a bill that would help homeless Vets & their children.
The deficit has nothing to do w/ them blocking the unemployment bill. Recently many in the GOP have made statements about the unemployed being spoiled & how benefits keep these people at home instead of looking for work. Feelings haven't changed much since Reagan said, "unemployment insurance is a vacation for freeloaders."
Hi, I live in Arizona but I feel like I now live in another country. I am ashamed of our Non-elected govenor who is on the news speaking for all Native Arizonans. I was very proud of President Obama...
Didn't we boycott an Olympic Games because the host country was waging war in, Afghanistan?
I do remember long ago, here in Michigan we just had some barge go down. It was like 16 years of HELL. Dead fish dead birds and stench for up to 20 foot of beach areas. We kinda had to live with it. We then had to turn to raising fish as the eco no longer supported the small babies. We still continue to do this. Has to be like 40 some years later.
I am so heart broken over this eco disaster and economic disaster.
They say we are addicted to oil. Maybe yes, but seems to me some people are addicted to making money with no concern of what it costs in the value of things. I believe, that BP did not take appropriate precaution in protecting thier men or the gulf. So, many violations, and, yet, they continued. What was that Cheney stated? That the remote control caps were economically not necessary because they cost a million dollars. HMM?
What I am most concerned with is the suppression of technology. As family member worked for GM and Saturn, they had over 20 years ago, an engine that went 500 miles on one gallon of gasoline, it worked on magnets, they had many patents that they tested that worked better, but, they stated they could not build them because it was not cost efficient because the new motors needed no repair parts, in which made up the most of thier sales in parts. Worked on magnets, with no resistance, and evidently never needed repairs.
According to this family member, the gasoline guzzling engine is about 85 years obsolete. You should really interview him.
Good Morning CNN!
Do whatever it takes to clean up the oil spill. As NIKE tells us ... JUST DO IT.
Wake up America! Get a clue! Afghanistan doesn't want to be "Americanized" – except of course the few puppets that the US Government is using. Would any American want their country invaded and be dictated to by a foreign power? Why do you think those in Afghanistan would tolerate that? The longer that mess goes on – the worse it gets.
Is Gore attempting to be like his daddy Slick Willie Clinton?