so they are looking far way to find out, the easiest way to get control of this situation is for the oil to stop looking. with that not happening yet, they have to look like they're in more control of the situation with bp. that's why you're seeing not just the ramped up rhetoric, these letters, getting the ceos to come to the white house, and now this oval office address. all of it is to deal with this leadership problem. over the last week, you're now starting to see an effect. they know it. they are worried about it. so this is an attempt to just exert some sort of control. they may not have command yet to have the situation, but at least some sort of control. >> and the other element of control, the other element of news here, david axelrod saying they want to push bp to create an escrow account, where they're going to commit some amount of money. that seems to be the real focus from the president, which is lock in the amount that bp will ultimately pay. that's what, effectively, a government regulator can do at this point. >> if it can be predicted. they've got a dilemma. the president told me in an interview just a few days ago