As the Great Oil Gush of 2010 continues we look to our elected leaders for solutions, consolation, inspiration and really good sound bites. Right there on the ol’ Gulf Coast, down around Mississippi way there’s a man by the name of Gene Taylor, Democrat, Member of the House of Representatives. Congressman Taylor hustled up a Coast Guard plane ride to get a good look at the millions of gallons of oil headed into the shores, estuaries and highly profitable fishing grounds. After investigation he offered these soon-to-be-regretted words: “It’s not as bad as I thought it’d be.” Expounding on the fruits of his research Rep. Taylor concluded, “A lot of people are scared and I don’t think they should be.” The oil, you see, will break up naturally and even looks like a rainbow on the water with patches of “chocolate milk.”

I don’t think the fishermen of Prince William Sound, among others, would give the “break down naturally” theory a positive response. They still have to deal with oil on the beach after 20 years.

Not to be outdone, right there on the ol’ Long Island Sound, down around Connecticut way there’s another man of the people who goes by the name of Joe Lieberman, U.S. Senator. Being an expert in political matters he informs us that there are larger concerns to be heeded in the halls of democracy than a complete disaster that killed 11 people, will destroy millions of animals and leave coastal communities in poverty. As reported in the May 4 edition of Congress Daily Joe the Senator waves us on in “nothing to see here” fashion when he insists that a bill to save the climate needs to have pro-drilling language that would codify oil development 75 miles off the Atlantic coast. “There were good reasons for us to put in offshore drilling, and this terrible accident is very rare in drilling,” Lieberman said. “I mean, accidents happen. You learn from them and you try to make sure they don’t happen again.” This from a man who fought for years to permanently ban oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. 

It appears the Senate vote counting will need to be re-visited as Sen. Bill Nelson (FL-former astronaut) has vowed to filibuster any legislation that allows new offshore oil drilling.