This is disturbing. Center for American Progress is not only taking credit for what I call the sham ‘repeal’ compromise, they are also crowing about circulating the legislative language two months ago on Capitol Hill — while our primary LGBT national organizations on repeal were still fighting to end discharges right now under a full repeal.

I just came from a press conference held on the beach of Grand Isle, Louisiana. It was a joint briefing by representatives of BP and the Coast Guard. When questioned about which entity was in charge of the operation, there was clear confusion about how to answer the question. In fact, no one was in charge of how to answer that question.

Experts believe that crimes have been committed by BP, Transocean and possibly Halliburton in the Gulf of Mexico. Criminal prosecutions could ensue under the Clean Water Act, 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the 1899 Rivers and Harbors Act, which would force escalating fines and blow past the current $75 million liability cap for damages.

But BP wants to consolidate all cases under one judge with a history of ties to the oil industry.

An alternative energy future is possible, but to get industry’s horses to take your there, you have to stop putting most of the hay in the wrong barns. Our government doesn’t seem to get that.

Lincoln has two problems – she needs to actually attract more Democratic voters, which she has appeared unable to do thus far, and she needs to have motivated supporters turn out for her again, which defies the logic of where the motivated voters are in this primary. If numbers like these persist, I’d guess Lincoln may change her tune on holding another debate. Or maybe she won’t, since Halter destroyed her in the last one.

Despite some signs that the economy is recovering, education funding is being slashed, the threat of massive teacher layoffs is real, and the need for Congressional action is urgent.

The unemployment rate is still stubbornly hovering around 10%. Working people are hurting, and desperate for relief. And what are the Teabaggers Democrats in Congress worried about? The deficit.

Watch our live feed from the White House as President Obama is expected to announce a 6 month extension of the partial moratorium on new deepwater drilling projects off the coasts of Alaska, Virginia and the western Gulf of Mexico.

The head of the USGS just did a press conference to announce the government’s official estimate of how much oil is flowing into the Gulf. The official estimate is that the flow rate is 12,000-19,000 BBL/day.

BP has made enough claims during this process that they need to be careful making any others. Even Fox News anchors recognize they cannot be trusted. Enough mud has apparently been pumped into the well to stop oil from being pumped out, but that could change; it’s basically a pressure battle. And importantly, capping the well this very second would still mean untold millions of gallons of oil on and below the surface of the Gulf. But capping the underwater gusher is clearly a top priority, and right now they’re claiming some success on the top kill.