DAILY DOZEN: THE SPILL, POTUS, MMS

Early reports from this morning seem to indicate that the 'Top Kill' procedure has worked. However, officials from BP caution that the full story will not be known for 48 hours. The president visits the region today. He faces criticism from the media and local politicians for his handling the spill. While I agree that he deserves some of the criticism, I can't help but think that the local politicians deserve their share as well. I understand that the government controls off-shore drilling, but didn't any of this governor's or local leaders ever look into what was happening off their shores. If so, why didn't we here from them before? Was it because of the financial benefits their localities reaped from the drilling? Right now, I think it would be far better for everyone to pull together to resolve the issue. WWJD? "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

1. U.S. official says Gulf oil spill flow has stopped. (MSNBC)
2. Obama defends Federal response to oil spill. (Talking Points Memo)

3. BP stops oil flow as slick now worst in US history. (TPM from AFP)
4. New, giant sea oil plume seen in Gulf. (Breitbart from AP)

5. The head of the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service, Elizabeth Birnbaum, quits. (USA Today)
6. Fixing oil disaster my responsibility, Obama says. (Breitbart from AP)

7. President Obama to visit Gulf Coast today. (WLOX ABC 13 - Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagoula)
8. Mary Landrieu: President Obama will pay politically for spill. (Politico)

9. Howard Fineman: On oil spill, Obama 'put too much trust in technology and business' (Text & Video). (Huffington Post)
10. Oil spill poses risk to Gulf power plants. (National Geographic News)

11. Oil spill to wipe out Gulf's sperm whales? (National Geographic News)
12. A mud more complex than the garden variety. (New York Times)