I'm surprised how quickly the left side of the blogosphere is proclaiming that the Administration is failing to respond. The truth is, they have been engaged every day. If you check the link referenced above the fold, you'd see they are actively engaged every day on this issue and provide updates on progress nearly every day.

There are some questions I have, and perhaps these open questions might be the source of discomfort among many on the left. For example, are the dispersants the government is using the same as the ones BP is using? Well, there is an update regarding that, and it seems pretty clear that they are not using the same dispersents:

EPA Releases BP’s Response to Dispersants Directive The EPA released BP’s response to its directive on dispersants, which required BP to evaluate available, pre-approved dispersants for toxicity and effectiveness and report back to EPA within 24 hours. EPA will continue to work over the next 48 hours to ensure BP is complying with the directive. BP’s response to EPA’s directive, as well as the directive itself, can be found here. BP and several of the dispersant manufacturers have claimed some sections of BP’s response contain confidential business information (CBI). By law, CBI cannot be immediately made public except with the company's permission. EPA challenged these companies to make more information public and, as a result, several portions of the letter can now be made public. EPA is currently evaluating all legal options to ensure that the remaining redacted information is released to the public. EPA continues to strongly urge these companies to voluntarily make this information public so Americans can get a full picture of the potential environmental impact of these alternative dispersants.

The numbers above the fold, as a summary, don't cover that and leave other questions as to how effective the booms are and how much oil is actually in that oily water.

But paging through the details we find an ever expanding wildlife rescue operation in full force:

Fish and Wildlife Operations Continue to Expand Assistant Secretary of Fish and Wildlife and Parks Tom Strickland visited Robert, Port Fourchon and Delta National Wildlife Refuge to oversee wildlife rescue missions and plans. Fish and Wildlife Service is working to expand their operations further to the west pursuant to reports of the oil spill impacting assets in that direction. Up to 10 personnel will be based out of Grand Isle and a barge will be moved to Trinity Island. An additional helicopter has been obtained to assist with wildlife rescue missions.

and, oh, about the effectiveness of those booms:

Wildlife Rescue Flights and Observations Inform Booming Priorities U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted overflights for reconnaissance, wildlife rescue missions and bird survey missions. One flight near the Biloxi Marsh observed two small islands with nesting colonies of pelicans, gulls, and terns. In response, a request was submitted to place boom around these two islands.

What support is the government providing for the local people who have been impacted? As mentioned above, the government is holding BP accountable:

Property Damage Claims Processed The administration will continue to hold the relevant companies accountable for repairing the damage and repaying Americans who’ve suffered a financial loss. BP continues to process claims via its claims website (www.bp.com/claims) and its helpline (1-800-440-0858). BP reports that 23,451 claims have been opened, from which $27.8 million has been disbursed. No claims have been denied at this time. There are more than 420 claims adjusters on the ground. To file a claim, visit www.bp.com/claims or call BP’s helpline at 1-800-440-0858. Those who have already pursued the BP claims process and are not satisfied with BP’s resolution, can call the Coast Guard at (800) 280-7118.

There are many more details of what is going on at the White House link. One simply has to read it. Don't rely on the MSM to report it. It's not very exciting I'm afraid. Government responding to a disaster in a timely fashion with intelligent operations.... that's not the kind of thing that makes headlines or creates outrage. But they are facts. The government might be at a loss on how to stop the leak, but that is not stopping them from doing what they can.

The fact is, the Obama Administration is doing quite a bit. They aren't just sitting around waiting for BP to stop the oil gushing out. They are actively cleaning it up now and working with BP on solutions to stop it while holding BP accountable for damages and the cost of the cleanup.

And the details are there. You just gotta click the link.

Update:

First, thanks for the rec-list and the laughs. Some of the responses are well worth reading for a good laugh. Secondly, this diary is not a cheerleading thread nor is time to quit sniffing glue as Fishgreese suggests I might be an apologist. On the contrary, this diary is a response to the many blogs and diaries I've read on the left recently that say Obama isn't doing anything. That simply isn't true and if we are to criticize (I believe there are yet unanswered questions and valid criticisms), we should at least be honest. There is much good being done. Let's take the good with the bad, shall we?

Next, I thought it was clear about the dispersants. The government isn't using the same dispersants as BP. Are dispersants a great thing? I think not. Are they better than nothing? I suppose that is arguable. But read the link, everything that is being done. Booms, controlled burns, both surface and subsurface dispersants, wild-life rescue operations, etc. The administration is doing many things to protect the environment given what they have to work with.

Finally, as Kitty pointed out, Obama is headed to the gulf region tomorrow: