The Executive pursuit of destruction in Carter's Second Term

President Barack Obama talks with, from left, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs Phil Schiliro, and National Economic Council Director Larry Summers, along the Colonnade of the White House, June 10, 2010. Image Credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

The Executive pursuit of destruction in Carter's Second Term

Didn't Barack Obama, in the broadcast speech he delivered from the Oval Office from the White House, look like the room was beginning to swallow him up? The chairs, picture frames and flags in the background appeared to grow in size.

The President rambled on using the Oval Office as a backdrop to highlight his views in four areas - 1.) Stop leak 2.) Clean-Up 3.) Restoration 4.) Cap & Trade. A promise of having the breech at the BP/Deep Water Horizon at being 90% contained very soon, additional Czars and more commissions to look into dealing with the protection of the coast in the gulf and the clean-up of the wetlands, and an evoking of FDR, World War II, and God's blessing is what passes for command and control leadership in a disaster for this President and his Administration.

Sitting on the sidelines for the better part of 57 days since 11 people lost their lives in an explosion that eventually sank the oil drilling and capture platform, Deep Water Horizon, that created a massive leaking breech of oil into the Gulf of Mexico and is now threatening the livelihoods of people dependent on fishing, tourism, and oil drilling operations along the shores of the Gulf. The President has implemented a shut down moratorium of all drilling and oil recovery which will place as many as i20,000 thousand people out of work unnecessarily, reducing tax receipts the Government was looking to collect to pay for its takeover agenda and putting additional stress on the economic strength of the Gulf States. If people are not being paid for work ... they have no money to pay for goods and services and those people begin to suffer.

In his "call to action" plea he delivered during his speech last night ... he began to sound exactly as Jimmy Carter did 31 years ago in a speech he gave during the famed "odd/even" oil crisis.

This excerpted and edited from WGBH's American Experience -

President Carter stated in his now infamous "Malaise Speech" - "Energy will be the immediate test of our ability to unite this nation, and it can also be the standard around which we rally. On the battlefield of energy we can win for our nation a new confidence, and we can seize control again of our common destiny."

"These efforts will cost money, a lot of money, and that is why Congress must enact the windfall profits tax without delay. It will be money well spent. Unlike the billions of dollars that we ship to foreign countries to pay for foreign oil, these funds will be paid by Americans to Americans. These funds will go to fight, not to increase, inflation and unemployment."

"I will continue to travel this country, to hear the people of America. You can help me to develop a national agenda for the 1980s. I will listen and I will act. We will act together. These were the promises I made three years ago, and I intend to keep them."

"Little by little we can and we must rebuild our confidence. We can spend until we empty our treasuries, and we may summon all the wonders of science. But we can succeed only if we tap our greatest resources -- America's people, America's values, and America's confidence."

"In closing, let me say this: I will do my best, but I will not do it alone. Let your voice be heard. Whenever you have a chance, say something good about our country. With God's help and for the sake of our nation, it is time for us to join hands in America. Let us commit ourselves together to a rebirth of the American spirit. Working together with our common faith we cannot fail."
Reference Here>>

In contrast ... President Barack Obama said nearly the exact same things, the same vague points of fear and destruction through Government processes.

The President addresses the American people from the Oval Office for the first time on the ongoing Administration-wide response to the BP oil spill and America’s clean energy future. Image Credit: The White House - Public Domain

This excerpted and edited from a transcript posted at CBS News -

"The consequences of our inaction are now in plain sight. Countries like China are investing in clean energy jobs and industries that should be right here in America. Each day, we send nearly $1 billion of our wealth to foreign countries for their oil. And today, as we look to the Gulf, we see an entire way of life being threatened by a menacing cloud of black crude."

"Each of us has a part to play in a new future that will benefit all of us. As we recover from this recession, the transition to clean energy has the potential to grow our economy and create millions of jobs -- but only if we accelerate that transition. Only if we seize the moment. And only if we rally together and act as one nation -- workers and entrepreneurs; scientists and citizens; the public and private sectors."

"When I was a candidate for this office [the only high level of experience he can actually point to - not leadership but a speech], I laid out a set of principles that would move our country towards energy independence. Last year, the House of Representatives acted on these principles by passing a strong and comprehensive energy and climate bill -- a bill that finally makes clean energy the profitable kind of energy for America's businesses."

"Now, there are costs associated with this transition. And there are some who believe that we can't afford those costs right now [STRAW DOG]. I say we can't afford not to change how we produce and use energy -- because the long-term costs to our economy, our national security, and our environment are far greater."

"So I'm happy to look at other ideas and approaches from either party -- as long they seriously tackle our addiction to fossil fuels. Some have suggested raising efficiency standards in our buildings like we did in our cars and trucks. Some believe we should set standards to ensure that more of our electricity comes from wind and solar power. Others wonder why the energy industry only spends a fraction of what the high-tech industry does on research and development -- and want to rapidly boost our investments in such research and development."

"But the one approach I will not accept is inaction. The one answer I will not settle for is the idea that this challenge is somehow too big and too difficult to meet [STRAW DOG]. You know, the same thing was said about our ability to produce enough planes and tanks in World War II [STRAW DOG]. The same thing was said about our ability to harness the science and technology to land a man safely on the surface of the moon [STRAW DOG]. And yet, time and again, we have refused to settle for the paltry limits of conventional wisdom. Instead, what has defined us as a nation since our founding is the capacity to shape our destiny -- our determination to fight for the America we want for our children. Even if we're unsure exactly what that looks like [STRAW DOG]. Even if we don't yet know precisely how we're going to get there. We know we'll get there."

"Each year, at the beginning of shrimping season, the region's fishermen take part in a tradition that was brought to America long ago by fishing immigrants from Europe. It's called "The Blessing of the Fleet," and today it's a celebration where clergy from different religions gather to say a prayer for the safety and success of the men and women who will soon head out to sea -- some for weeks at a time."

"Tonight, we pray for that courage. We pray for the people of the Gulf. And we pray that a hand may guide us through the storm towards a brighter day. Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America."
Reference Here>>

Today, Barack Obama has received his commitment that BP will set up a $20 Billion escrow account to be managed by the Obama Administration presumably to pay for damages and clean-up of wetlands but just who will keep an eye on the activities of where this money will go?

The Obama Administration will not be looking at itself ... especially with the current political party that is in control. Look upon this money to become a slush fund to perpetuate this current political leadership structure of destruction here in Carter's Second Term.