Today's Must Reads

Two more NOPD indicted in 2005 beating death- CNN

NOLA puts forth Oil Spill songs- LA Times

Joe's Daily Youtube Video

(a little funny to ease your pain, NOLA)

Getting buses and bottled water to the superdome after Katrina is the same as stopping a blowout at 5000 feet underwater and protecting the coast? Were enough skimmer boats sitting around ready to be deployed like bottled water was in 2005?

I am mad too.  And definitely Obama, the Corps and the Coast Guard should have done better, but the dye was cast on this disaster before anyone knew anything was even on fire.  Even the best of efforts could not have spared us much of the damage once the well blew.

This "Obama's Katrina" talk is all the rage because people don't want to address the REAL issue:  If we are going to let private companies do this drilling in our public waters, we need to make sure they have taken all the possible measures to prevent these disasters and then that they (or the government) have all the assets in place with a plan to clean it up if disaster happens.  And if that causes a $70 barrel of oil to cost $100, are we ready to pay that price?  Because BP, Shell, and all the rest aren't going to spend a penny on that stuff unless we make them.  Letting the "Free Market" regulate our commerce is a failed (fake) philosophy pushed by the BPs of the world who don't give a damn about us.  They collect the billion$ and try to convince us that the Free Market is going to keep us safe when something goes wrong.

But instead of talking about that, we are talking about "Obama's Katrina"??  No wonder we have all these problems in this country.

I just caught a few minutes of your interview with the coastal scientist on c-span.

I've read there are thousands of suggestions for stopping the leak, and although I've submitted this idea to BP's National Response Center, I don't know how long it will take for someone to read and evaluate it.

BP is thinking along similar lines with their latest idea attempt this morning of removing the fitting on top of the backflow preventer's riser.
The problem they're encountering is they don't believe their fix will make a tight mechanical seal, which means that some oil will continue to leak out.

Mine is a simple plumbing solution, and should yield a mechanically tight seal with the riser pipe. After removing the existing fitting on the top of the riser, get a pipe threading machine down there and thread the outside of the riser.
Then screw on a short section of pipe with an open ball valve on its top end.

After the extension piece is securely screwed on to the top of the riser, the ball valve, or other suitable valve, can be gradually closed until a hose is readied to transport the oil to a surface ship for storage.

I hope you can find a way to relay this suggestion to someone with the authority to evaluate and implement it if he or she deems it workable.

WIST coverage of Super Bowl week kicked the ass of *** in terms of guests, information and giving a feel for the events.  Making a point of saying how Ricky Jackson was given a slap in the face by  the Saints organization in the weeks leading up to the selection was spot on.  Notice how right after he was announced, the other guys adn the organization made a big deal of it.

 Thanks to all for not just kissing the butt of Benson and the Saints/NFL during the week.  The truth about the possible relocation to San Antonio after the storm, Super Bowl ticket releases to fans, the forces behind the Who Dat copyright, etc. made for honest reporting.  Keep up the good work.

I do not understand what all the chatter is about?  Is that BP which is trying to save the oil well or the environment.  You cannot have it both ways?  Apparently all the chatter to clean up and put a cork in the bottle only appears to bait the public into thinking that everything is hopeless and nothing else can be done.  Wait and see?  BP will blast the well with a charge of explosives after they have preserved their oil field.  Now I wonder what the dependence on foreign oil and why oil companies work behind locked doors. The taxpayer will ultimately pick up the tab for this afffair. I think BP is just buying time to save a buck.  I also think they could drill not a relief well but one parallel to the gusher and blast the casings to collapse the hole to stop the leak

These people in big oil & the politicians in their pockets don;t get it. They think the little people will just have to live with it. They're the chief and we're the indians. Well guess what. If we don't buy BP oil. We hit them where they live. We the American people need to help our neighbors. Don't Buy their gass or oil. Don't help the politicians that won't help us. they need to fix it NOW. No more talk, no more excuses, no more review of the problem. They made it! They need to fix it now! I'm in California and I'm just as upset as any one in New Orleans. trust me.

CHECK OUT Larry Holder's article on the parallels between Reggie Bush and Chris Paul on cbssports.com

CLICK HERE to listen to Eric Asher's interview with Rice Professor Doug Brinkley regarding the BP oil crisis and Louisiana's next move.

Eric Asher sat down with Representative Charlie Melancon about the ongoing oil crisis, as well as his hopes for the Senate seat currently held by David Vitter.

Larry and Gus from The Sports Hangover talk to Ken Berger from CBS Sports, who just reported on Chris Paul wanting out of New Orleans. CHECK IT OUT

CLICK HERE to listen to Gus and Larry's interview with Saints Defensive Coordinator, Gregg Williams on The Sports Hangover.

In light of the recent arrests in the Danziger shooting case, Kaare Johnson spoke to Dr. Romell Madison, brother of Lance and Ronald Madison.

CLICK HERE to listen to Larry and Gus talk to Saints Linebacker Scott Shanle as he joins the guys on The Sports Hangover.

Eric Asher sits down with former Shell Oil President, John Hofmeister, who is also the author of the book "Why We Hate the Oil Companies: Straight Talk From An Energy Insider".

Kaare Johnson talks to Ellis Henican, who co-authored "Home Team" with Sean Payton, and is also joined by Mike Ornstein. CLICK HERE to check it out.

Eric discusses what Louisiana means to the nation, and how we aren't getting our fair share. Click HERE to listen!