Gulf oil spill creeps toward shore - There has been little success in stemming slick’s flow

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VENICE, La. - President Barack Obama planned to visit the Gulf Coast on Sunday to assess the response to a massive oil slick that keeps growing and creeping toward American shores from Louisiana to Florida.

There has been little success stemming the flow from the ruptured well on the sea floor by skimming the oil, burning it or dispersing it with chemicals. Adding to the gloomy outlook were warnings from experts that an uncontrolled gusher could create a nightmare scenario if the Gulf Stream current carries it toward the Atlantic.

There is growing criticism that the government and oil company BP PLC should have done more to stave off the disaster, which cast a pall over the region's economy and fragile environment.

"These people, we've been beaten down, disaster after disaster," said Matt O'Brien of Venice, whose fledgling wholesale shrimp dock business is under threat from the spill.

"They've all got a long stare in their eye," he said. "They come asking me what I think is going to happen. I ain't got no answers for them. I ain't got no answers for my investors. I ain't got no answers."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36897088/ns/us_news-environment/