Project Katrina

President Obama sat down with NBC’s Matt Lauer for a “Today Show” interview. Last night the network released some brief excerpts. One showed the President where he appeared visibly angry, and anxious to defend the White House’s handling of the disaster.

I was down there a month ago, before most of these talking heads were even paying attention to the Gulf, a month ago, I was meeting with fishermen down there, standing in the rain talking about what a potential crisis this could be. And I don’t sit around just talking to experts because this is a college seminar—we talk to these folks because they potentially have the best answers, so I know whose ass to kick.

It should be interesting to see how the various “talking heads” response to this interview. For weeks they wanted Obama to appear “mad” and “outraged.” How he has, even if in a pretty mellow tone, I assume they will find fault with it.

A few days ago the CEO of BP, Tony Hayward, said in an interview that he wish this was all over cause “I’d like my life back.” Today in an interview with George Stephanopoulos on Good Morning America Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) called for Hayward to be fired for “the way this company’s performed” and expressed his anger for complaining earlier this week that he’d like his life back.

I was watching this week as the CEO of BP was talking about he wants his life back. I’m to the point where I wish the board would call him back, and give us somebody that really wants to make sure that the people of this state, the people of this Gulf Coast region have what they need, when they want, to try and fight this oil spill.

Melancon also said BP should get rid of Hayward because “the buck stops there.”

Yeah a few million people that live around the Gulf of Mexico would like their lives back as well.

Think Progress, which put together the above compilation video has much more about this myth that this is unprecedented. It is well worth a read.