Daily Political Wire 6-14-2010

George Wenschhof

President Obama heads to the Gulf coast again today - for the fourth time since the BP oil rig explosion. Today, he will be in Biloxi and Gulfport, Mississippi first and then travel to Theodore, Dauphin Island and Fort Morgan, Alabama. Tonight, he ends up in Florida, where he will spend part of the day tomorrow.

Tuesday night, after returning to the White House, the president will deliver an address to the nation on the oil spill. This is an important speech for the president as to date he has been reacting to the press and detractors, rather than driving the message.

Besides showing empathy toward the residents of the affected area and anger toward BP, Obama needs to begin saying here is what we are going to do. Whether it is giving more authority to local jurisdictions, or specific actions that will be undertaken to protect wildlife, wetlands and coastal areas, the president needs to take charge and start driving the train.

---

Gulf oil spill gives new life to Energy/Climate bill - the disaster in the Guld coast highlights the importance of energy independence and the need to move the nation off oil as a major energy supplier. Politico.com has more here.

However, Democrats in Congress continue to battle each other over what the bill should include, including the rate of emissions reduction for the nation.

Democrats instead, should seize this opportunity to pass a much needed national energy bill. Stay tuned...

---

Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) asks Obama to use unspent Stimulus bill money on new requests - the House Majority Leader wants the president to look at spending unused Stimulus bill money rather than ask congress for another 50 billion for aid to states. TheHill.com has more here.

This is something I have been saying for quite some time and more specifically calling for the funding (through unspent Stimulus bill funds) of public service employment jobs for the unemployed.

---

Vast mineral deposits found by U.S. in Afghanistan - in what could ultimately have the largest impact on the future of the country. An impoverished country whose major cash producing agricultural crop is poppy for the making of heroin, this is an exciting economic development.

Huge veins of copper, iron, cobalt, gold and lithium have been identified which will lead to a major economic change for Afghanistan. The NY Times has more here.

---

To receive "Daily Email Updates" from Air-it-Out with George Wenschhof, click on "Subscribe to this feed below" or use the sign up box located in the upper right hand margin.