The news (CNN, Fox, MNBC) appear to think that the gushing oil well contaminating the Gulf of Mexico and the lands bordering it are a major political disaster for Obama. They say he should do something, should have done something sooner.

This is an enormous environmental disaster and it seems to be viewed primarily as an opportunity for political point scoring. This is being called "Obama's Katrina." There were a number of things Bush could have done as Katrina approached New Orleans. He could have supplied Army trucks to take people out of the area. He could have provided food and shelter for those left in New Orleans after the disaster. He could have helped rebuilding New Orleans after the hurricane and hired workmen from New Orleans to do so. Practical ways of helping the people of New Orleans are fairly obvious.

What should Obama have done that he has not done?

Issued an Executive Order telling the oil to behave?

He's told BP it is their mess, fix it, and pay for the cleanup. There's some squabbling about the different companies involved in the drilling about whose responsibility it actually is to pay for the damages. They can all contribute: there's enough damage to go around. If they attempt, as was done after the Valdez incident, to delay matters using the court system, I think it might be a good idea to suspend all BP drilling rights in the US until the matter is resolved.

BP, with volunteers from other oil companies, are trying to stop the oil. They don't need to be bullied by Congress or the President or the media. They really do want it to stop.  The people with the most experience and knowledge of oil wells and drilling are the oil companies. Bring in outside experts to deal with conservation and marine biology issues, but the oil companies are about the best we've got.

The agencies that regulate oil drilling appear to have been lax in issuing permits. Apparently, drilling off the coast of Alaska is still planned.  Off shore drilling in Alaska presents even more problems  than the Gulf of Mexico: depth plus cold. During the election, Obama said that inflating tires to the proper pressure would, in six months, save as much oil as the Alaskan off shore drilling was expected to produce. When he was mocked for saying this, NASCAR  (National  Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) said of course he was right.

As long as political point scoring seems the order of the day, Obama should score a few himself -not least to block the Alaska drilling. Will he? No idea.

If people get the government and politicians they deserve, we really must be a low lot.