The House Select Committee on the Oil Spill met yesterday (Tuesday) in an all-day session with state agencies and local officials. 

This will be the first of a series of meetings for the committee as we address the issues of just how prepared are we for disasters, start-up lag for responding, and who pays the costs.

I am pasting here a blog I wrote this morning on the governor's leadership.  He spoke an hour before the committee...all of which was engaging.

I am also pasting here a press release from BP.  Now, they send out releases daily and this is but one in the scores we have gotten.  I was wondering what they were going to do with the oil they are "recovering" from the blow out---this tells us.

First, the piece I wrote on the Governor

Posted 6/9/2010 7:22 AM CDT on clarionledger.com

Governor Haley Barbour spent almost an hour before the House Select Committee on the Oil Spill Tuesday.

A couple posts ago I wrote of my criticism of his leadership style on this particular issue.  So as not to hand him a backhanded compliment, I won't go into that here.

There are two kinds of general's leadership style:  General Patton who was referred to as being a "General's General" and Omar Bradley, a "Soldier's General."  They both excelled.  They both accomplished their goals and missions. They led in different leadership styles.

I am really impressed at Governor Barbour's attention to detail, breadth and depth of knowledge on a variety of issues, and his simple explanation of complex subjects. Not once during the hour did he have to turn to his staff lined up against the wall of the Chamber to ask for details or ask, "Is that correct?"

He was as "matter of fact" in his presentation as he was unapologetic that the oil has not touched Mississippi.  "Those pictures you are showing on the screen (of the oil-covered pelicans) are not Mississippi.  They are Louisiana.  I feel for Louisiana, but Mississippi is untouched."

I introduced the governor by saying, "I know of no other governor who has led a state through a major hurricane, a major tornado, major flooding, major budget crisis and now a major oil spill.  He should write a book titled "Governorship During Times of Crisis."

If governors want an example to lead by, Governor Barbour would rank among the best as a "General's General."