With all the finger pointing, restrictions on journalists, corporate and government media management, and key witnesses not testifying, it may be years before the public knows what really happened. But that is the way the governing class "manages consent" and defuses dissent.
Lawyers representing the various contractors asked why certain safety and diagnostic tests were not undertaken. Two of the day's scheduled witnesses could have shed light on the issues, but neither testified. Donald Vidrine and Robert Kaluza — both BP managers — did not appear. Vidrine presented a medical excuse, his second, and Kaluza exercised his 5th Amendment right not to incriminate himself.
A third day of testimony was canceled after lawyers cited several reasons why they could not proceed.