Obama is Shrewd.

President Obama is shrewd. He is presiding over what is becoming the greatest environmental disaster in U.S. history. Public anger is growing in the face of the so far hapless efforts to stop the leak. Every day, things get worse. Everyday, people get angrier. Anger at BP is starting to spill over to the government, and not without reason. It is the government that was supposed to be overseeing off shore operations. It is the government that is responsible for establishing rules regarding off shore drilling and safety procedures. It is the government's job to ensure compliance with those procedures. It is Obama's job to make sure the government does its job. The Offshore Horizon blew up and sank on President Obama's watch.

Obama has decided the best way to manage the crisis is to go on the offensive. He cannot stop the leak, but he can be angry about it. And angry is what he is. "We will make BP pay" growled Obama. He swore to hold BP accountable for the disaster and vowed to ensure BP pays for it. Not just the clean up mind you. But for everything, from the loss of tourism dollars along the coast, to the losses suffered by fishermen and tour boats as well. Everyone who who is harmed by the spill will be made whole. Obama swears it.

It is not enough for Obama to issue another one of his mea culpas here. He is not going to take responsibility for this one. Lapses in airport security are one thing. Environmental disasters of Biblical proportions are another. Obama has concluded the best way out of this is for him to be even angrier than the public. He knows that if he can be angrier than the people who are taking the spill on the chin, chances are they will throw their anger in with his rather than hold it against him. They are angry, but the president is even angrier. The president is with the people. He feels their suffering and he shares their anger and frustration. It is almost as if he is as much a victim as they are.

President Obama is shrewd.