DAILY DOZEN: THE SPILL, THE W.H. & BP

As we enter the fifth week of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, pressure continues to build on the Obama administration to resolve the issue. Criticism is mounting from all sides. Whether or not the administration can do more is the key question. This is not like a hurricane response - this is oil coming from a leak one mile below the surface. While they continue to hold BP accountable, the administration should take every opportunity to push for a national initiative with a goal of 10-15 years to rid America of its dependency on oil, thus ultimately saving us from future spills.

1. Oil spill growing in the Gulf (Interactive Map). (USA Today)
2. White House navigates marriage of necessity with BP. (Politico)
3. U.S. government slams BP for missed deadlines on spill. (Reuters)

4. Louisiana officials threaten action if spill response proves inadequate. (New York Times)
5. BP slashes oil capture estimates for Gulf spill. (Reuters)
6. An untested tactic as efforts grow desperate. (USA Today)

7. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs opens door to criminal probe in Gulf of Mexico oil spill. (The Hill)
8. Obama moves to take political control of BP Gulf oil spill. (Christian Science Monitor)
9. Despite Obama’s moratorium, drilling projects move ahead. (New York Times)

10. Nature Conservancy faces potential backlash from ties with BP. (The Washington Post)
11. James Carville and Chris Matthews rip White House on BP response. (Politico)
12. Donna Brazile calls Obama’s oil spill response ‘not tough enough’. (The Hill)