Do you remember how when the race issue came up with Rev. Wright you pivoted and utilized that to teach us? We need that now. Bad.
Mr. President the issue that you have now is plainly communication. I have no doubt that you have been engaged since the beginning of the incident but that has not been the image that has come across to we Americans. I understand that organizations as large as the federal government can be clunky and non responsive. Now that you obviously read my previous email (snark), and followed my instructions (more snark), I thought I would give you a few more pointers on how to handle this crisis in the gulf. That's why I'm here. To give you pointers.
For instance;
We have been told for the last 4 weeks that BP is not allowing people to take pictures of the area. If this is not true then YOU need to come out and officially dispel that.
We have been told that BP is not allowing workers to utilize respirators and protective equipment while working on the cleanup. If this is not true then YOU need to come out and officially dispel that.
We have been told that BP could have closed this leak a month ago using explosives but because they still want to keep the well active (and profitable) they have refused. If this is not true then YOU need to come out and officially dispel that.
We have been told that BP is not using all of the resources at its disposal to stop the oil from washing up on to the coast in order to reduce costs. If this is not true then YOU need to come out and officially dispel that.
Do you see what I'm getting at here? These are VERY specific narratives that have become facts simply because they have been floating around for the last month and your administration has not done anything to knock them down. I don't doubt your integrity or hard work but you are being ill served by your communications staff, they are taking for granted that we will simply assume the best.
Come out and officially dispel these. Until YOU do the PERCEPTION of your ineffectiveness will continue to be a reality. We can't telepathically know that this isn't happening. You have to TELL us that these things are not happening.
Second:
You need to find some cabinet secretary's with some genuine executive leadership skill. Part of being the executive means you should be able to have your Energy Secretary take the ball on this and run with it. But obviously you can't do that. When Chu has been interviewed he has seemed detached and feckless. Now he probably isn't, BUT that is how he appears. This is the biggest energy crisis in history. It stands to reason that the energy secretary should be the point man on this. He should be answering the question why we cant use explosives on the ocean floor, or why we can't use super tankers to suck up the oil. But he is not, and your credibility is suffering.
Where is Lisa Jackson? This is the biggest environmental disaster in history. The EPA has the authority to put people in jail and levy heavy fines for Environmental Crime. As a cop it just amazes me that we aren't talking about specifics yet. Why don't we see her once a week telling us that and investigation has been started and no stone will be left unturned. She should at least be able to articulate what federal environmental codes may have been violated.
I understand that this is a big complex issue, but you need some of these well paid cabinet secretary's to help with the big lift.