Thursday, June 17, 2010

Send in the clowns


As each day passes, the spill in the gulf of Mexico worsens and what do we have ruling the sensibilities of those in charge of trying to address the disaster?

BP Oil Spill: Against Gov. Jindal's Wishes, Crude-Sucking Barges Stopped by Coast Guard


"It's the most frustrating thing," the Republican governor said today in Buras, La. "Literally, yesterday morning we found out that they were halting all of these barges."


Watch "World News" for David Muir's report from Louisiana tonight.


Sixteen barges sat stationary today, although they were sucking up thousands of gallons of BP's oil as recently as Tuesday. Workers in hazmat suits and gas masks pumped the oil out of the Louisiana waters and into steel tanks. It was a homegrown idea that seemed to be effective at collecting the thick gunk.


"These barges work. You've seen them work. You've seen them suck oil out of the water," said Jindal.


So why stop now?


"The Coast Guard came and shut them down," Jindal said. "You got men on the barges in the oil, and they have been told by the Coast Guard, 'Cease and desist. Stop sucking up that oil.'"


A Coast Guard representative told ABC News today that it shares the same goal as the governor.


"We are all in this together. The enemy is the oil," said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Dan Lauer.


But the Coast Guard ordered the stoppage because of reasons that Jindal found frustrating. The Coast Guard needed to confirm that there were fire extinguishers and life vests on board, and then it had trouble contacting the people who built the barges.


Yep....you read that right., the United States Coast Guard shut down oil sucking barges in the gulf? Because they didn't have enough life preservers and fire extinguishers.

Is there any lunacy that surpasses the federal government? If so please drop me a line and let me know what it is.


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