The Obama Family Swim in The Gulf Of Mexico Despite Oil Spill

Barack Obama and his daughter have gone for a swim in the Gulf of Mexico as the US President tries to boost a tourism industry reeling after the oil spill. I'm sure he wouldn't have put Sasha at risk unless the water was clean, but it probably will help the tourist industry. The article below tells us about his working holiday in Florida.


June


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BP oil spill: Barack Obama and family swim in the Gulf of Mexico

By Calum Mcintyre Rogers and agencies Published: 8:51PM BST 14 Aug 2010

Barack Obama and his family have taken a holiday in Florida as the US President seeks to boost a tourism industry reeling after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Mr Obama was on holiday in Florida, accompanied on the brief 27-hour trip by First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughter Sasha. As well as holidaying, the President and First Lady met with small-business owners at a Coast Guard Station to hear accounts concerning the economic and environmental repercussions of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Obama said that his administration planned to make a long-term commitment to restoring and re-invigorating the Gulf Coast and repairing the damage from the spill: "We want to keep our focus here and not forget just because the well is capped," he said.

The President and First Lady were joined at the discussion by Charlie Crist, the Governor of Florida; Ray Mabus, the US Navy Secretary, a former Mississippi Governor appointed by Obama to develop a long-term Gulf restoration plan; the mayors of Panama City and Panama City Beach; the general manager of a three-hotel chain that has had 1,000 cancellations due to the spill, translating into more than $191,000 in lost room revenue alone; the owner of a charter boat company; and the co-owner of a restaurant and two fishing boats.

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If you were thinking of going to Florida for a holiday, would it convince you to go after seeing President Obama and Sasha in the water?   Leave a comment.

. . . June

Are Florida Beaches Safe Following BP Spill?

It does seem a little bit much ado over nothing with the media creating such a frenzy over whether The First Family will swim in the Gulf of Mexico during their brief working holiday in Florida. On the surface, it's nobody's business. However, it would probably be good for tourism on the Florida beaches if they did. The article below from CNN today shows just how hot an issue this is.


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Will Obama take the plunge in Florida?
Posted: August 13th, 2010 04:22 PM ET

From CNN Senior White House Correspondent Ed Henry

Washington (CNN) – There's really only one big question hanging over President Obama's weekend vacation to Panama City, Florida: Will he or won't he dive into the water to send a message that the Gulf Coast is back?

"Absolutely, I want him to take his shirt off and get in the water and show it's clean and safe," said Stephen Leatherman, a professor at Florida International University in Miami who puts together an annual list of America's best beaches.

Leatherman rates the beach there as one of the top 10 in the country, and he said Obama has a unique opportunity to showcase the fact that the Gulf Coast is still open for business despite the worst oil spill in American history.


"It's got lily-white sand, and frankly the oil didn't really make it there - it was pretty well spared," said Leatherman, who noted that the water is 87 or 88 degrees because of the steamy Florida weather, making it conducive to at least a quick presidential plunge.

"There is no better symbol than the president of the United States showing us the way," Leatherman said.

But White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was cagey Friday when reporters asked whether the president will take a swim during the first family's 27-hour mini-vacation.

"Stay tuned," said Gibbs, who grew slightly impatient and a bit bemused about getting so many queries about something as seemingly minor as a presidential swim.

"Look, he's going to have some fun," Gibbs said. "Whether or not he gets in the water is up for clearly some debate. But, look, he will have an opportunity to enjoy ... the physical beauty of the Gulf and do some work at the same time."

Mindful that Obama caused a bit of a tabloid stir when he took off his shirt to reveal a muscular physique during trips to Hawaii during the 2008 presidential campaign and subsequent presidential transition, Gibbs turned it around on reporters and wondered whether they would bare their midriffs this weekend.

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Would you book a trip to Florida right now or are you still worried about the damage the oil might have done?  Leave a comment


... June

Robert Dudley Replaces Tony Hayward On October 1

We now know that Tony Hayward will be replaced by Robert Dudley on October 1. BP Chairman , in announcing the turnover repeated their pledge to the region when he said " . . the company's priority is to stop the Gulf leak permanently and then to clean up miles of spoiled waters and beaches and compensate people whose livelihoods have been lost because of the accident."

Hopefully, the leak will soon be capped and we can all begin to put this disaster into the annals of the biggest cleanup in history. Here's the latest from the Huffington Post.

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BP: Tony Hayward OUT, Robert Dudley IN As CEO On October 1
Harry R. Weber And Jane Wardell | 07/27/10 01:08 Pm

NEW ORLEANS — The American picked to lead oil giant BP as it struggles to restore its finances and oil spill-stained reputation pledged Tuesday that his company will remain committed to the Gulf region even after the busted well is sealed.

Robert Dudley will become BP PLC's first ever non-British chief executive, the company said as it reported a record quarterly $17 billion loss and set aside $32.2 billion to cover costs from the spill.

Ending weeks of speculation, BP confirmed that gaffe-prone Tony Hayward will step down Oct. 1 as the London-based company seeks to reassure both the public and investors that it is learning lessons from the spill.

"There's no question we are going to learn things from this investigation of the incident," Dudley told reporters by phone from London after the announcement was made.

BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg echoed that during a webcast presentation on the company's earnings, telling investors that BP will change as a result of the April 20 oil rig explosion that killed 11 workers and set off the worst offshore spill in U.S. history.

"We are taking a hard look at ourselves, what we do and how we do it," he said. "What we learn will have implications for our ways of working, our strategy and our governance."

Svanberg said the company's priority was to stop the Gulf leak permanently and then to clean up miles of spoiled waters and beaches and compensate people whose livelihoods have been lost because of the accident.

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June

Ex-Ceo of BP Tony Hayward Sent to Siberia?

Well! Getting "sent to Siberia" usually means that you're getting punished for something.

In this case, Tony Hayward may well have lost his post as CEO, but I'm sure he's still getting handsomely compensated for his new job. Hayward is being replaced as chief executive at BP by Bob Dudley

Here's the latest update on the subject from the Guardian.co.uk

June
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BP sends Tony Hayward to Siberia to appease US
by Terry Macalister and Andrew Clark
guardian.co.uk, Monday 26 July 2010 20.47 BST

BP is poised to stun the City tomorrow by nominating Tony Hayward to the board of its Russian business as a consolation prize for being axed as chief executive.

Following its board meeting in London, the oil group will formally announce tomorrow when it unveils second-quarter results that Hayward is standing down from the company's top job in October. It will use his departure to appease public opinion over the Gulf oil spill in the US where Hayward has been dubbed public enemy number one for his gaffe-ridden response to the crisis.

But the expected unveiling of a new job for Hayward – albeit a far less important one as a non-executive director at its Russian joint venture TNK-BP – could risk diluting the public relations impact of his exit from the top.

The surprise send-off to Siberia where BP has a share in the huge Kovykta field has an added twist because Hayward is being replaced as chief executive at BP by Bob Dudley. The softly spoken American was himself the former chief executive of TNK-BP before he was forced out of the country by the Kremlin two years ago in a dispute over control of the company.

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This all seems like an unlikely jigsaw puzzle - Tony Hayward and Bob Dudley. I'm almost anxious for the next episode. Are You?

June

Tony Hayward To Quit Oil Firm BP

BP has been putting a brave face on their troubles, but they've really been socked with some HUGE challenges. The billions of dollars already spent may still just be the tip of the iceberg. Tony Hayward has been the "face" of BP, and so he's been the butt of all the negative attention. I feel sorry for him and for whoever takes his place, It seems the road ahead is still long and dirty. This article from the Associated Press gives some more detail on his proposed departure.

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Tony Hayward To Step Down From BP, Reports Say
Associated Press Sunday, July 25, 2010; 8:07 AM

LONDON (AP) -- British media are reporting that BP chief executive Tony Hayward is negotiating the terms of his departure ahead of the oil company's results announcement later this week.

Citing unidentified sources, the BBC and Sunday Telegraph reported detailed talks regarding Hayward's future had taken place over the weekend. The BBC said a formal announcement on Hayward's exit is expected in the next 24 hours.

Asked about the reports, BP spokesman Toby Odone said Sunday that "Tony Hayward remains BP's chief executive, and he has the confidence of the board and senior management." BP's board is scheduled to meet Monday in London ahead of the company's half-year results announcement Tuesday.

Hayward has been under heavy criticism over his leadership during the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

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What do you think they should do? I can't see that changing the CEO is going to change anything. Do you? Leave a comment.

June