The American Spectator

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 6.23.10 @ 6:29AM

All the Republicans had to say was that they are for compensation which is legal, not the result of a shakedown. Actually, the entire deal is stretched out over several years so the 20 billion figure bandied about is accurate only in the sense it was pledged but not paid.

The Republicans are missing a prime opportunity to call for changes in environmental regulations that prohibit drilling in more convenient areas while instead, they eat Joe Barton alive.

What Americans want to see right now is leadership, and that's precisely what Joe Barton displayed. Yes, there are a lot of people who deserve compensation but allowing the White House to run the fund was a mistake.

People who take unpopular positions are leaders. Joe Barton better be careful or before he knows it someone might call him a teabagger.

Marcell| 6.23.10 @ 11:32AM

Rough Draft

On June 22nd, 2010 BLACK CELL said:

http://www.algore.org/blog/bla.....oints_2010
The Republican message basically says that the little guy (workers) don't create jobs; businesses do, so government should be taking the burden of paying taxes off of businesses & operate under smaller budgets. They use to say that if government cut taxes more money will flow into their coffers until that philosophy was disproven when they had their majorities, because the dough didn't flow into Washington's coffers like they said it would after they cut taxes.
As a matter of fact, we are suffering from their philosophy that basically says look the other way (deregulate) by ignoring things like most of the predator lending practices of our financial institutions because they create jobs. Republican conservatives market to us the idea that says ignore the end results of their highly risky ventures like drilling for oil & coal that has recently taken lives & cost Americans more jobs than they created & blame it on the federal government because government don't create jobs, businesses do.
We have also allowed them to use those unethical practices to destroyed our economy, collapse all levels of government, state, local, & federal, & we act as if we are helpless because the Republican Party has convinced us to not trust a government of the people; by the people, & FOR THE PEOPLE, so they can create more riskier schemes like open up toxic nuclear plants & drill for more natural gas that gets into our water & etc. Not to mention they have convinced us that if we join a Union that gives workers protections, it will cost us our jobs in the long run.
All this has happened because far to many of us buy into the Republican Party marketing the idea that businesses will thrive if the government regulators get out of the way. They have been so successful with that strategy that when they gained control of all branches of government the philosophy nearly collapsed our economy.
We seem to still haven't noticed that the little guy & girl are the only ones paying for their well thought out schemes that end up, for example, wiping out a large number of the businesses on the gulf coast as we mentally purchase more & more stock in their shills talking points that says that we will lose more jobs if the government put a stop to many of the practices that has basically stolen at least one third of our 401k plans & created over a 10% unemployment rate.
Yeah, the fast talkers even got us believing that governments bailing US, YOU & I out is socialism while the highest ranking Republican in the house of Rep. flirt with the idea of government taking over or help pay for BP's disaster.
The fascinating thing about the shills is that they are most of our little cuddly imaginary friends that come into our lives to advertise all sorts of goodies & trinkets only to pilfer more money out of our pockets, while they convince us to believe that they are the next best thing to god herself. We then start worshiping them. They then convince us to ignore the real causes of our crises by blaming the minorities, the poor, illegal immigrants, or a big government that suppose to be, "Of the people, by the people, & for the people.
It is as if we are in a spell; created by right-wing pied pipers (shills) playing their flutes, marching us into their story land fantasy worlds for entertainment... better yet, let me say, "lining their pockets," the end result is we all turn into their donkeys (asses) & we enjoy it because we have become addicted to their cunning personalities. They have us so lost that we never, never, never say to the shills that they were wrong, nor do we care, as long as we hear that famous tune, or should I say toon, short for cartoon, that plays on our emotions & make us feel great in the worse ways.
We act as if we are their self-destructing drug addicts as we keep coming back for more & more of the poison, while we ignore or pass the blame of the its destruction to those who had very little to do with the snake oil salesmen schemes.
No we had everything to do with it because we as Americans allow ourselves to believe in the talking points that says what is good for you is not good for you; like the claims of "shakedown" pointed towards President Obama for fighting on the behalf of those who have been harmed by the oil spill.
Yeah, it is our fault because we act as if all the real reasons, Republican talking points, have been proven to work as we march into the 2010 election cycle a far too many Americans continue to drink their failed conservative Kool-Aid.
The Republican Party will keep playing that self-destructing flute for us if we keep buying their businesses knows best rhetoric when the truth is that “WE, the people” are the workers who do the labor that produce the products then WE eventually consume ALL the products that WE produce, while they, the Republicans act as WE are NOT the most important cog in the equation.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 6.23.10 @ 12:11PM

Actually, you have it just the opposite of what is happening. The Democrats with their huge deficits are turning citizens into mules, carrying their paychecks home so the Democrats can pick it clean.

Paulio| 6.23.10 @ 7:28PM

Are you not aware that you are currently paying lower taxes than perhaps at any other time in your life? Your comment is devoid of truth.

Ray| 6.23.10 @ 8:22PM

"Are you not aware that you are currently paying lower taxes than perhaps at any other time in your life?"

That's not true. It's as far from the truth as one can get. Contrary to you claims, I'm paying more in taxes now than any other time of my life!

For, you see, my state income taxes have increased, my local sales taxes have increased, my fuel taxes (federal but not state) have increased, the taxes I pay for my cell phone an land line use have increased (remember those FCC "fees?" Well, when was the last time you've seen them reduced?), the taxes I pay for cable and/or satellite tv access have increased, just about every tax I pay outside of income taxes have increased. Yes, I pay less in income taxes than in previous decades, but the combined costs of all other taxes, federal, state, and local, have increased several times higher than the "savings" I make in income tax reductions and "credits."

So, thanks to the Democrats and their love of tax and "fee" increases, my tax burden has INCREASED and not decreased over the last three decades of my working life as you, and they, claim.

Stop lying to me. I'm not the ignorant hick you believe me to be.

Paulio| 6.23.10 @ 8:39PM

Ray, you put 100% of this blame on the Democrats, when in it is apparently a very bipartisan effort conducted at the federal, state and local level over the past few decades. I agree with you, those other taxes and fees have gone up. Whether their increase offsets the decrease in your income tax, that is by no means substantiated.

The comment I was responding to above was insinuating that Obama is largely responsible for enormous taxes. That, even from your perspective, is patently false. You agree?

SmallerTaxes_LIE| 6.23.10 @ 11:37PM

Put the blount down & back away... you've had PLENTY....

Paulio| 6.23.10 @ 11:52PM

Is that some clever way of saying "Nuh uh" when you find a point to be irrefutable?

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 6.24.10 @ 7:34AM

To Paulio: Your comment, like most uninformed comments, is devoid of truth. Income taxes at the federal level may appear to be low, but that's only a portion of the battle. The federal government collects tariffs and taxes in many ways and by the time you get a product to cost is up 20%. That doesn't include regulations which force prices higher.

That also doesn't include property taxes and sales taxes..

No, the public has never had more money removed by the politically elite in so many ways.

And it's going to get worse.

Paulio| 6.24.10 @ 12:45PM

I notice your blame for these high taxes has moved from "Democrats" to the "political elite," and in so doing has been made accurate. Trying to force this expansion of government into a "red vs blue, my team is better" mentality purely exacerbates the problem.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 6.24.10 @ 5:35PM

Your reading skills are deplorable. My original post never laid the blame solely on the Democrats but let's look at the facts that the Democrats approved a 787 billion dollar stimulus which has failed. Someone has to pay so who is responsible? Back that up with a health care plan which will destroy the health care industry and has already raised taxes and was passed solely by Democrats and once again I ask who is responsible?

Bush left a 447 billion dollar deficit. That's beginning to look like pocket change compared to what Obama and the Democrats have spent. Sooner of later that surge in spending must be met by higher taxes or devaluation of the dollar. Guess which one will be tried?

Paulio| 6.24.10 @ 5:43PM

Check your own reading comprehension skills. Were you or were you not the one who wrote this?

"The Democrats with their huge deficits are turning citizens into mules, carrying their paychecks home so the Democrats can pick it clean."

To me, that looks like you're placing blame solely on the Democrats. Note: It's hard to deny what you've said when you're saying it on the internet.

The stimulus has not failed. It kept a number of large institutions from failing, which would have greatly exacerbated the recession. That was its objective, and it succeeded in that. Of course, it hasn't created jobs as was hoped, but that was not its direct objective.

As for health care, your predictions about it destroying the health care industry are unfounded. There are no examples you can point to to back that up. It's merely your unhinged supposition, which you need in order to further condemn democrats. But, if it makes you feel any better, your complaint is not based in facts.

As for Bush's vs Obama's deficit spending, I am very concerned. However, to his credit, at least Obama's spending is focused on improving the livlihood of regular Americans. Bush's was solely focused on making the rich richer, and blowing up Muslims.

Nick| 6.24.10 @ 8:29PM

Paulio,

Physician heal thyself!

You wrote: "The stimulus has not failed. It kept a number of large institutions from failing, which would have greatly exacerbated the recession."

To quote your own words back to yourself: "There are no examples you can point to[sic] to back that up. It's merely your unhinged supposition, which you need in order to further condemn [Republicans]."

Paulio| 6.24.10 @ 9:14PM

I see how clever you must have felt in spitting my words back at me. However, it was unfounded, since my words don't apply.

Regarding success of the stimulus:
http://is.gd/d2QkZ

In other words, yes, there is something I can point to, unlike the contention that health care reform will destroy our health industry.

Also, I have not condemned republicans here, despite your claim. I am merely providing some much needed perspective. You don't agree with that perspective, I get that. However, you're unable to refute it, as you've just shown.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 6.24.10 @ 9:34PM

Here's a precise rendering of how Obama's stimulus has failed, and why taxes will go to pay for failure.
http://blog.heritage.org/2009/.....-stimulus/
according to objective data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning, President Obama’s policies, and his stimulus package, have been complete failures. BLS reports that the number of unemployed persons increased by 466,000 in August raising the nation’s unemployment to 9.7% … the highest it has been in 26 years.

Faced with the failure of their signature economic policy, the Obama administration trotted out Vice President Joe Biden to defend the stimulus yesterday in a speech to the Brookings Institute. Biden claimed that the stimulus bill created or saved between 500,000 and 750,000 jobs. This is demonstrably false. Job creation has fallen since the stimulus became law. When Congress passed the stimulus in February the new hire rate had fallen to 3.2%. The most recent data, from June 2009, shows that after the stimulus passed, job creation fell even further to 2.9%. Employers are creating fewer jobs than they did before the stimulus was passed.

Other data also shows that job creation has fallen sharply. Gallup surveys show that far fewer Americans report that their companies are hiring than a year ago. Last August 37% of Americans reported their companies were hiring. That figure has now fallen to 24%. Lower job creation accounts for roughly two-thirds of the increase in unemployment since the recession began.

Paulio| 6.25.10 @ 12:04AM

Thanks for the edification. I wasn't aware that the stimulus specifically had a jobs goal, so you're right, it hasn't met that.

Personally, I'm not sure how to feel about the stimulus, or TARP. In both cases, it seems like they succeeded in stopping major meltdowns that would have seriously increased unemployment. However, they both cost a hell of a lot.

Nick| 6.25.10 @ 10:43AM

You were saying, Paulio?

Paulio| 6.25.10 @ 12:34PM

Nick, Bill and I are having a conversation about politics. You are throwing turds in punchbows and patting yourself on the back for being clever. Unless you have something intelligent to say, can you leave the adults to talk?

Nick| 6.25.10 @ 4:46PM

Paulio,

No, Mr. Snarky-pants!

The fact is that you were guilty of precisely what you accused Mr. O'Stalin of doing.

And then you had to admit he was right. I know that must have been painful, but don't take it out on me for pointing it out.

Paulio| 6.28.10 @ 12:37PM

Admitting that your grasp of the facts is in error (something that affects us all) is not painful for an adult to do. One day you might be able to do this too.

However, technically you are incorrect: O'Stalin claimed that Obamacare would destroy our health care system. I pointed out that there is nothing he (or anyone else) can point to to support such a claim. That much is true. You said I'm guilty of the same thing, that there is nothing I can point to to show that the stimulus is working. I pointed to an article making that exact claim, with supporting references. Therefore, your comparison is false.

But Nick, you have to ask yourself: is your only purpose here to thumb your nose at those who disagree with you? Do you not have a single idea of your own, no argument you'd like to put forward, etc? If not, then perhaps you can go back to the kids table and let us talk, mkay?

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 6.24.10 @ 9:29PM

You are avoiding the facts. The Democrats are in charge now and they have significantly raised taxes. So, if they aren't responsible, and solely responsible because they are the current politically elite, then who is responsible?

Paulio| 6.25.10 @ 12:05AM

Show me where the Democrats have raised taxes since they've been in power.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 6.25.10 @ 9:05AM

The health care plan alone contained over 500 billion of taxes. Many of these were purposely delayed until after the mid-term elections. The first thing that Obama and the Democrats did was pass a tax, on tobacco products. There is no doubt that the Democrats will let most of the Bush tax cuts expire which will significantly raise taxes on many income producers. As many as a dozen of those health care taxes violate Obama's pledge not to raise taxes on those who make less then $250,000 a year. In short, the Republicans and Democrats have both passed a rafter of fees and taxes that the public pay, but the Democrats are on a tax roll now and it won't end soon. Someone has to pay for all the giveaways and cash for clunkers and that means taxes.

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/63313

http://fixhealthcarepolicy.com.....ep-impact/

Paulio| 6.25.10 @ 12:46PM

You've cited heavily partisan sources to make your point. Here's a less biased article:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/.....U2CQDSEG9g

As both articles show, the taxes to pay for heatlhcare are targeting individuals making more than $200k, and couples making more than $250k. That seems appropriate. Also, ending the Bush tax cuts is absolutely sound fiscal policy, something Obama said he would do in the first place.

About the costs hitting the public at large as a result of the health care law, for those who already have health insurance, there will be no extra cost (beyond the annual fee hike your insurance company charges each year, except that will be less now). For those without insurance, yes, there is a mandate. Without a public option, the mandate makes little sense. That's my main objection with this bill.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 6.30.10 @ 5:13PM

Here's a quote from the article you selected as non-biased:

If the final version of the legislation passes the Senate, high-income investors will pay higher Medicare taxes, tax breaks for out-of-pocket medical deductions will be curtailed, and it will cost insurance companies more to pay executives millions of dollars. Those levies will help fund expansion of Medicaid services for the poor and subsidize health insurance to cover millions who don’t currently have benefits.

“It’s very clear that taxes are levied on the wealthy and the benefits will spread across the entire income distribution, with a lot going to expanded Medicaid distribution and expanding health insurance,” said Roberton Williams, an economist at the Tax Policy Center, a Washington research institute backed by the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution. “One couldn’t claim he didn’t keep that promise” to “spread the wealth around.”

In all, the bill would generate $409.2 billion in additional taxes by 2019, according to an analysis by the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation, a nonpartisan agency. The bill also imposes about $69 billion more in penalties for individuals and businesses who don’t meet mandates to buy insurance, according to the Congressional Budget Office, another nonpartisan agency.

Higher Medicare Taxes

Most of the revenue would come from higher Medicare taxes on about 1 million individuals earning more than $200,000 and about 4 million couples filing jointly who make more than $250,000.

The legislation would for the first time apply Medicare taxes to investment income received by these households, beginning in 2013. The 3.8 percent rate would apply to unearned income such as realized capital gains, dividends, interest, rents and royalties. It wouldn’t apply to other income subject to income taxes, including interest from municipal bonds and retirement accounts such as 401(k) plans until funds are withdrawn.

BA Cyclone| 6.24.10 @ 4:46PM

Whether or not the tax bill is pleasing today is rather insignificant compared to what I expect the tax bill to be years from now - when SOMEONE has to pay for this spending.

The problem is not that we are taxed too little or even too much - it is that the Government is spending too much of the money I have not even earned yet.

Jim M| 6.23.10 @ 12:53PM

Marcel's rather long and rambling missive contains numerous issues and (I believe) illogical conclustions. However, the following comment he makes is factually inaccurate:
"They use to say that if government cut taxes more money will flow into their coffers until that philosophy was disproven when they had their majorities, because the dough didn't flow into Washington's coffers like they said it would after they cut taxes."

This is simply not true. Under presidents Kennedy, Reagan and GW Bush tax rates were reduced and federal tax revenue grew significantly. Deficits ensued because spending increased at unsustainable rates, just as the current administration is doing. One can debate the need and purpose of the spending (winning the cold war vs. social spending, etc.) but it is inaccurate and wrong to claim tax reductions reduce revenue: they increased revenue significantly, just as the tax increases the current president will allow next year will reduce federal revenue.

Jim M

T. M. Brosnan| 6.23.10 @ 1:17PM

If revenue increased when Reagan cut the taxes, why did he raise taxes when large deficits ensued? G. W. Bush tried it again...as Conservatives never learn from history...and again gigantic deficits resulted. The right wing fantasy of deregulation and lowering taxes---wasn't that what we saw during the era of the Robber Barons and now see in Somalia?

Jim M| 6.23.10 @ 2:25PM

Mr. Brosnan,

President Reagan did enact tax increases after the initial reductions that passed early in his administration, but these were made primarily for simplification and considerations of fairness. The net effect was still significant tax reductions, growth in the economy and growth in federal revenue. The subsequent deficits resulted from spending by the government, who spent our hard earned money faster than they could tax it. Once again, one can make judgements about where the spending should go, but the fact is the federal spending rose faster than the increased income.

I do not believe the "Robber Barons" had to deal with the onerous and confiscatory taxes we have today, but I am confident the taxes they would be forced to pay would be wasted as profligately as our current federal and state governments are doing.

Tony in Central PA| 6.23.10 @ 9:42PM

Brosnan, I just have to ask, what is your definition of a " gigantic deficit " ?

JoeJazz2000| 6.23.10 @ 3:43PM

Jim, I raise the supply-side revenue issue every time a leftist rails on about Reaganomics and deficits. The facts that the effect of marginal tax rate reductions always raise revenues and that spending isn't part of the supply-side model is lost on most of these commenters. I suspect for many, however, a focus on deficit spending is really disingenuousness and deception. I suspect Marcel knows this, and therefore, his unreadable re-hash of leftist talking points is not error-filled, but rather lie-filled. longwinded hackery.

Kipling| 6.24.10 @ 1:16AM

And another "worker" is heard from.

So, really, the "little guy" creates jobs, rather than businesses. And those evil Republicans, with their tax cuts and deregulation, are to blame. And what we really need are more taxes, more regulation, more government spending, and more non-predatory loans. Okay, them, I think I understand it,

Thanks, Marcell, really great "work," especially the parts about the flute. Somebody'll call you....

Incidentally, didn't I see you at the Million Man March?

Ke| 7.3.10 @ 12:48AM

Let's just nuke texas and use the space as a prison and garbage dump. Then the rest of the United States can get to moving into a brighter future.

TIM CREASY| 6.23.10 @ 6:43PM

Joe Barton was saying what everyone on the right of the GOP wanted him to say, that big oil is the back bone of the country & tough luck for the damage they've done. Another 20 year court case would just go down a treat with the lawyers as well, just like Exxon Valdez. Why hell, they might never have to pay!

Fred Beloit| 6.24.10 @ 8:25AM

Has it occurred to anyone that the $20 Bil was a solicited and paid bribe? Yes, a bribe. The quid pro quo: The Administration will prosecute BP if they don't put $20 Bil in the personal account of the President to do with what he/she sees fit. The bribe is being paid, the criminal investigation will be dropped because there is not enough evidence to prosecute. The largest and most public bribe in history. Another disgraceful first for the Obama administration. (I also posted this on The Hill blog.)

Melvin| 6.23.10 @ 6:33AM

That Little Lord Fauntleroy Ken Salazar said, "Screw you judge, I'll just issue another differently worded drilling moratorium and you can put your stay where the sun doesn't shine."
This Country is being governed by Presidential Fiat and regulatory czars, what in the hell ever happened to the rule of law?

Eric Cartman| 6.23.10 @ 9:47AM

Law?! That's so 2000! Get with the times, man! Get your El Che T-shirt and Obama strut and be cool! You're such a square, Melvin.

Melvin| 6.23.10 @ 10:04AM

Yea, I know, but don't forget you owe me, I stuck up for you the other day when your post about Obama and his tar balls between his legs, which was a joke on your part but the trolls were dumping on you and calling your post racist.

Eric Cartman| 6.23.10 @ 10:25AM

Okay - you got me there. I owe ya :-)

PEDRO| 6.23.10 @ 2:47PM

Tha rule of law went with Bush

Paulio| 6.23.10 @ 7:31PM

The "rule of law" says that the Secretary of the Interior may halt offshore oil drilling if he determines there is a substantial and imminent threat to the public good by letting it continue. Obama's moratorium is, strictly speaking, legal.

What we had yesterday is an activist judge (the kind republicans normally hate, except not in this case) who overturned that rule of law.

Ray| 6.23.10 @ 8:29PM

The President doesn't have the authority to place a moratorium on something unless a PROVEN clear and present danger exists, something he failed to prove here. Obama is not even saying that the IS a clear and present danger, he claimed that, since a danger MAY exist, he needs to stop drilling because we don't know if a danger exists or not. That's a clear violation of his authority and the Judge was right to stop him.

Paulio| 6.23.10 @ 8:35PM

The clear and present danger is apparent to most people. Basically, deep drilling represents a risk that was not properly appreciated before the BP spill. Regulations were sidetracked, and nobody has the ability to deal with a disaster. Therefore, there is certainly a clear and present danger of this happening elsewhere (assuming the same conditions exist).

Just like how on 9/11, all planes were grounded, in this case it is prudent to stop drilling until we assess that another rig isn't about to blow, creating part 2 of the worst environmental disaster in human history.

Michael L. Hauschild| 6.23.10 @ 7:06AM

Check out Utah. Not only do you not want to be an encumbant, you do not want to be endorsed by an ex-encumbant. As far as I am concerned Barton is simply honest, a counterpoint to Republican leadership, be it in the congress or the RNC. He will be elected overwhelmingly no matter what he runs for. An as far as anyone maintaining a staff that makes fun of "Bite Me" goes a nomination for a National Service Medal. We need a name for these assembling of formations of the honest, how about "Congress 2010" or "POTUS 2012."

Ned| 6.23.10 @ 10:35AM

An "honest" politician? I assume that is a relative term, but in any case, Barton is doomed. The rest of the Republicoward crowd just makes me cringe... is there some process by which their spines are removed when the register with a (R) after their name? Grow a pair, folks. And after the past six years I refuse to EVER vote Dim-O-wit... sort of makes elections a bore.... let's see, should I vote for the spineless sack of jello, or the crazed kool-aid drinker with the Obozo glint in his/her eye?

Ken (Old Texican)| 6.23.10 @ 10:39AM

Yeah Michael,
We Texans are purty proud of Barton down here.

In fact, we got a lot of good representation down here, except in affirmative action gerrymandered districts. We really don't even mind that. Sheila Jackson Lee reminds us daily what welfare queens think.
My own Rep, (Culberson), is splendid...and a shoo-in again. He has attended numerous Tea-Party events...but only to LISTEN, he told me at one.

Darin| 6.23.10 @ 7:10AM

People or companies seeking to earn a profit is categorized as "greed." However, it is that "greed" which provides the funding necessary for government to exist (or does Obama seriously think he can make tax revenues appear by magic?). I've heard of biting the hand that feeds you, but seeking to cut that hand off takes it to a new level. This is a complete disengagement from reality.

FTM| 6.23.10 @ 9:33AM

And you would expect what in a different manner from a guy that has never had a private sector job in his life? Nothing but a south side of Chicage, welfare class rabble rouser.

Being stuck in an ivory tower for one's entire life introduces one to reality in what fashion? Where would an induvudual like president Obama learn such a lesson as where the money comes from?

David| 6.23.10 @ 10:05AM

And yet, the idiots who run the companies that Obama and the left constantly bash continue to send the campaign contributions (as well as provide support for the leftist organizations that hate them so much). Maybe if they gave money to the "right" people they might have lower taxes, fewer stupid laws, and an opportunity to actually reduce the high levels of unemployment.

driftwood| 6.23.10 @ 2:16PM

Disengaged from reality? Ha. Did you notice that this greed caused a giant oil spill affecting several state's cost, threatening to damage state economies for maybe a decade to come? Did you read any of the articles talking about what BP did?

This whole accident is a perfect REAL LIFE example of what happens when there are not enforced regulations to prevent corporations from acting against the public welfare.

Instead conservatives want to sit back, not do anything, and let bad things happen. Let the market sort it out right? Like it did here? If that was true, it never would have happened.

You can't have a workable capitalist economy when you don't hold corporations responsible for their actions. It's like living in a society where there are no rules or consequences, except maybe a dip in stock. Telling every other company, do what you want, there are no repressions. Republicans won't punish you or ask you to do things with regards to safety of Americans. I mean, that could lower profits a percent point right?

HotPat| 6.23.10 @ 3:55PM

So, Driftwood, who's been in charge of saftey enforcement for the last 18 months, George Bush?

Ray| 6.23.10 @ 8:36PM

"Did you notice that this greed caused a giant oil spill affecting several state's cost, threatening to damage state economies for maybe a decade to come?"

How did you determine that? The last time I looked, the investigation into the cause was still undergoing and that no determination has been issued by the investigators as the the actual cause of the explosion and the subsequent leak. Never mind the fact that the oil rig in question passed a federal inspection just 10 days before it exploded.

Before we start jumping to conclusions, why don't we wait and see what the actual cause is before placing blame, ok? It's the prudent, intelligent thing to do.

Ray| 6.23.10 @ 8:37PM

Correction, that should read "ongoing" and not "undergoing."

martin j smith| 6.23.10 @ 7:55AM

I think the comments about "shakedownitis" is absolutely Obama mania. But, what I fail to understand is why not look atthe ties between BHO and BP. I have heard that BP was involved in the green energy agenda, that BP gave the obama campaign ( its employees not the company presumably ) about 1 mil dollars--so is it not convenient that right after this accident or is it"accident" that BHO declares a moritorium on drilling. The Republican Party should have turned this "show trial " around into an investiation of the whole process including the failure to BHO to act in a 2 month period. There is a need to get rid of the old guard leadership for new blood who are unafraid. The key thing here is not to defend BP but rather in inquire about BP and Obama perfect together.

Shamus| 6.23.10 @ 9:02AM

Didn't Obama take money from BP?

Truth to Power| 6.23.10 @ 9:19AM

Obama, Barack (D) $973,051

He was on the list. Did his Presidential campaign take any money from them? His 20 billion shakedown makes the rest look kind of puny.

Eric Cartman| 6.23.10 @ 9:43AM

Finally, the GOP is doing something right! Can you imagine what would be happening if the Democrats were getting this money? Socialized gas stations, mandatory quotas on gas station ownership, classes in Spanish about how to pump gas and leave your anchor baby's diaper by the gas pump (it's your right as an illegal alien, after all), gas rationing by race and genders (all 6 of them), mandatory gloves, mask, eye protection for pumping gas or any other fuel-type: gas liquid or solid, tire inflation stations manned by union tire inflaters, outlawing changing your own oil (that's a union job your taking buddy boy!), wash room rationing of TP squares (one each, use both sides), the list is endless. So, GOP, keep taking this money! Take more of it if you can.

Ken (Old Texican)| 6.23.10 @ 10:43AM

Uh, Eric
I believe the Democommunists are getting the money to dole out.

Eric Cartman| 6.23.10 @ 10:46AM

Oh, Ken, I know, that's why they don't need any more ;-). Then again, can we trust the GOP to do the Right thing?

AMENBRO| 6.23.10 @ 8:23AM

If it leaves greazzzzy finger & palm prints like a shakedown it is a shakedown.

The entire Gulf Disaster was bought & paid for like a slug trail long greazy slide through numerous pockets. Sabotage or indifference while the problem exacerbates take your pick. 20 billion is akin to my 2.00 a week allowance in the 60s. Not only that its TAX DEDUCTIBLE for BP while the aggrieved injured Gulf Coast parties are taxed for their settlement as income. Right dadburn convenient ISN'T IT AL.+

Never let a disaster go to waste. GD RIGHT if you are a liberal.

AMENBRO| 6.23.10 @ 8:32AM

Lagniappe
Republican Leadership reaction is a fait accompli indicative of why they gotta go too.

Mike D.| 6.23.10 @ 9:51AM

Yep, Gut one party and nuke the other. Remember the #1 golden rule of the Washington ruling class to its participants, never ever threaten the existence of the game. Thats why the women of this gutless republican party have the balls, because very few of the men do.

AMENBRO| 6.23.10 @ 8:44PM

THANK YOU VERY MUCH

My own son's friends & fathers;, in the words of Smoky & the Bandit character Sheriff Buford D. Justice portrayed infamously by Jackie Gleason "How you sprung from my loins is a mystery ta me! When I get home I'm gonna punch your MAMMA in the Mouth."

People bitchin instead of marveling about a 16 y/0 girl trans-navigating the oceans alone.

GDit 100 years ago they were married having kids fighting for survival. Gimme a break Not only is the REPUBLICAN PARTY replete with Eunuchs so is our entire society.

Is it okay to disagree and speak your mind anymore freakin A people. Is everybody below the age of 40 pot bellied goateed & effeminate??????

Curly Smith| 6.23.10 @ 8:28AM

How's the future look?

Joe Barton: his party's Congressional leaders - fearful.

Leave your shades at home, invest in night-vision goggles.

AMENBRO| 6.23.10 @ 8:36AM

HAIL YEAH

Vander Slut's Ma says he isn't an animal also.

Louis Jenkins| 6.23.10 @ 8:38AM

The BP employment gave money for the election of the Pretender? No, really? I guess the green jobs are coming about a little sooner than they had bargained for. What are they going to do? Where are the green jobs at? Where are the employers just waiting to accept their applications? No! The bottom line is the Pretender n Chief is bound and determined to eliminate the energy producing jobs, come He-- or high water, and those producers can go squat.

jd| 6.23.10 @ 8:43AM

Why all the mainstream hoopla about what Barton said? He spoke the truth. Where is the outrage for a so-called president demanding ANY money from a private, share-holder company? How much more do law-abiding citizens have to take to get this bozo impeached? I am disgusted by the national Republican "leadership's" handling of it all.

owyheewine| 6.23.10 @ 9:18AM

Joe Barton has 2 problems. He is the only degreed engineer in the House of Representatives, and he's a Texan. Both conditions push him to speak the truth plainly. Unfortunately the spineless, feckless Republican leadership folded like a cheap card table. Obama's reckless unconstitutional actions need to be denounced on every occasion.
We also need more engineers and fewer lawyers in congress.

LEB| 6.23.10 @ 9:37AM

Barton "RIGHT ON"

These weak linguine spine so called " Republican Leaders" need to borrow "Joes" b##l's as they have none, especially the two (Mc's).

FTM| 6.23.10 @ 9:48AM

I would like to make a comment on this article but pretty much all the good points have been made. This Barton guy spoke the truth and the Republican leadership hung him out pretty much as a reflex action. What's that? McConnel ought to step down.

Two months into the country's worst enviromental disaster and all that the President has managed to accomplish is to talk like a common street thug and steal twenty million dollars. There's nobody on President Obama's staff that didn't forsee the easily seeable outcome of a deepwater drilling moritorium. Nobody saw that. What do these people get paid for?

Lastly, coupling Emmanuals "Let no emergency go to waste" comment with the President's total lack of action in regards to the Gulf Disaster and what other conclusion is one to draw? President Obama himself has compared the Gulf Oil Spill to the 911 attacks. Imagine if President Bush had kept a tee time on September 18th or maybe had a party with Paul McCartney? Even a slug like President Nixon had the common decency to resign before the disgrace to the country could be further compounded.

Just my luck that by the time I get to the welfare line there'll be a sign that reads, "Sorry, closed due to bankruptcy."

It is said that he who laughs last laughs loudest. I can hear President Carter laughing all the way from Georgia.

Sheryl| 6.23.10 @ 11:13AM

I keep searching for this "center-right" country the author mentions and that I keep hearing so much about. I see very little evidence of it. Leftist politics and philosophy seem to be the default positions in the media and elsewhere, and any deviation from that is "extreme" and "right-wing" and most likely the dreaded "racist." I only hope the author is correct and that a day of reckoning for our "center-right" nation is coming in November. We shall see.

Gill O’Teen ✝✡| 6.23.10 @ 11:59AM

Sorry, but if you are taking your talking points from all bore, then you are just another troll. Simply consider that even though he has been preaching that the sea levels will rise to heights not seen since Noah was a sailor, he just moved into a multi-million dollar mansion on the beach. Also consider that he will reap billions of OUR dollars if obummer gets his cap and tax destruction. Yes, many republi-kons are cat burglars; however, dumb-ocrats could give lessons to the Mafia.
Gill O’Teen ✝✡
gill.Oteen07041776@gmail.com
Truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it and ignorance may deride it, but, in the end, there it is. - Winston Churchill
Only 942 days to go.

Gill O’Teen ✝✡| 6.23.10 @ 11:41AM

The word-pair “Republican leadership” is an oxymoron. That group of testosterone deficient muddleheads are mistaken if my utter disdain of the dumb-ocrats guarantees my support in November. I have my standards and will not lower the bar. I will either go third-party or write in myself. Joe Barton erred by apologizing showing he is losing valuable backbone as did Joe Wilson before him. Never apologize for speaking the truth. By doing so the liars are free to lie and lie again. Who were the sheep, the child who questioned why the emperor had no clothes or the fools afraid to tell their pompous narcissist the truth? The Truth will keep us free, but not if we are afraid of it.
Gill O’Teen ✝✡
gill.Oteen07041776@gmail.com
Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31-32)
Only 942 days to go.

Anthony| 6.23.10 @ 11:41AM

Bill Hussein and Melvin are both correct. Washington is completely broken. Lawlessness abounds. Logic and common sense don't apply there either. It is an alternative world that increasing becomes more dangerous to democracy by the day.
Of course Barton was correct. So was Gen. McChrystal. Barton however did not violate protocol of chain of command that the general did, but that's for another blog.
What also amazes me is the infantile MSM and its lack of discussion of the deeper issues here. As Melvin points out, " where is the rule of law"? We are a nation of laws, not men, how does Obama think he can do what he did, legally? Where are the ADULTS? How is it that the R party cannot articulate this point without getting kicked in the ass? Are there no statesmen left? Fortunately, we have some stateswomen, but they are not in leadership positions.
As to the general's comments, there is a WAR going on, men and woman have their lives on the line for us, and Washington & the media are all atwitter about who will get a leg up when Obama meets McChrystal.
Salazar commits a violation of the rules of professional conduct, if he is a lawyer, by submitting a false document to the Court that supported the moritorium on off shore drilling, by procuring signatures of scientists and then adding the language of the moritorium, which they did not agree to. Salazar needs to be fired and disbarred. Instead, he will issue another edict.
I've not witnessed things this much out of control in my lifetime. We are in deep, deep, trouble, and I'm not sure a victory in Novemeber will turn things around. The rot is too deep.

Oldefarte| 6.23.10 @ 12:10PM

Peter, great/informative/accurate editorial.....thanks! The bloom is definately off of the rose concerning THE CHOSEN ONE. He is not the nice, first African-American President that voters thought he was when voting for him. His is a SOCIALIST DICTATOR!!!!!

Purpleguy| 6.23.10 @ 12:58PM

You're kidding, right? Instead of being happy he's asked, not arm-twisted, BP into committing to the escrow of 20 Billions that they already said they would pay, you want to twist it in a pretzel to find some way to criticize him... It's pathetic... and if you don't think hundreds of thousands of Gulf Residents are not happy about this Presidential action, then you aren't thinking...

Purpleguy| 6.23.10 @ 1:00PM

Meant to say - --- > and if you don't think hundreds of thousands of Gulf Residents are happy about this Presidential action, then you aren't thinking...

Gill O’Teen ✝✡| 6.23.10 @ 1:39PM

Purpleguy, I am certain that in your concern for typing truth that those “hundreds of thousands of Gulf Residents (who) are happy about this Presidential action ...” include all those whose jobs will head to Brazil if the incompetent one, whose lawyers (under the competent leadership of University of Michigan Law School graduate, former Colorado Attorney General and present beavisbud Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar) cannot even file a truthful legal brief, succeeds in his blatant attempt to overturn the rule of law by imposing an illegal shutdown of all oil drilling, by fiat if need be. We’re not just talking BP either, but all drilling activity, no matter how safe in the past. Yep, I’m sure those hard-working Americans are quite happy with a pending life-on-welfare.

On another matter, did you ever provide the names of those economists supporting spending OUR economy into oblivion as you were challenged yesterday? I seldom look back for late comments. I did post there just before midnight, but not since. Would you mind repeating that reply for us here. I’d certainly hate to think that you are incapable of googling for a response and are still waiting for your employer’s imprimatur on that. By the way, I’m fully aware that there are many economists who think John Maynard Keynes was a bloody genius, and he was. He has the blood of every failed Keynesian economy on his hands, and that damn spot can never be got out.

By the way, Sheb Wooley reported that the Purple People Eater got a gig with a rock and roll band and will have to cancel your lunch date.

Gill O’Teen ✝✡
gill.Oteen07041776@gmail.com
“I said Mr. Purple People Eater, what's your line
He said it's eatin' purple people and it sure is fine
But that's not the reason that I came to land
I wanna get a job in a rock and roll band”
Only 942 days to go.

Purpleguy| 6.23.10 @ 3:13PM

I post it once dearie, and while it is flattering that you are that concerned with my discerning intelligence and responses, if you can't find "Purpleguy", maybe you shouldn't worry about My responses to your inane questions - you have bigger problems.

George True| 6.23.10 @ 5:36PM

Why don't you answer his question???

Purpleguy| 6.23.10 @ 7:54PM

I answered it once, I'm not his Mommy to spoon feed him.

Nick| 6.23.10 @ 8:00PM

Just answer the question, PurpleJackass.

Ray| 6.23.10 @ 8:51PM

Wouldn't those thousands of people be happier if the President had done what was necessary to stop the oil form ruining their business instead of waiting two months to take action and respond with nothing more than a few handouts? I know I rather be working than waiting for a "claim' to be paid out.

Instead of doing was is best for the residents of the Gulf, by allowing the resources to contain the oil to quickly arrive by what ever means necessary and explaining to people that the environment effects of the oil isn't that bad (where's the shoals of dead fish washing up on the shores? Where's the massive crab die off? the massive shrimp die off? So far, there hasn't been any even two months after the leak started!) and that people can safely catch, process, and consume fish, shrimp, crab, and the like, the President plays this as the biggest environmental catastrophe in the history of mankind! How is THAT helping the people who rely upon the Gulf for their very livelihood?

No, The president isn't helping anyone with this, he's harming everyone by false portraying this is as some great disaster which befalls all of us, which it is not.

Mike| 6.23.10 @ 12:17PM

What Barton, Limbaugh, Beck, Bachmann and the American Spectator are doing is finally being honest and telling the American people what the extreme right really believes.

The extreme rights' animus toward the President has finally overcome its usual penchant for deception.

Purpleguy| 6.23.10 @ 12:46PM

But, you would think conservatives would be glad that the President was able to hold BP accountable and make them responsible for what they owe. People and corporations should be responsible for their actions, and I'm surprised that y'all aren't able to congratulate our President for making this happen. In small defense of BP though, and our President - BP has a huge PR problem right now... and I don't believe it took a "shakedown" as y'all call it to get the commitment for the 20Billion in escrow. BP has said all along they would pay.

The difference here is that if Papa Bush had done the same thing with the ExxonValdez accident, the residents and environment in Alaska would have been made whole. Since he didn't, they collected only about 500Million from Exxon, the world's largest company at the time. Leave it to the Republicans to side with industry every time.

This whole Joe Barton, Rand Paul, John Cornyn BP shakedown flap just flipped at least 10 seats in the House to Democrats and 3 Senators to Democrats ... can't wait until 11/02/2010!

aware| 6.23.10 @ 6:45PM

Pimpleguy, you've said some really stupid crap here before but this is the stupidest so far. Good grief man, get a clue! It was the Supreme Court that trashed a verdict of a citizen jury in the Valdez case. Your wonderful State "protecting" us again. While the fishermen are waiting the "government" has already collected its 3 to 4 billion in "fines and penalties" from Exxon. What does that tell you?

Purpleguy| 6.23.10 @ 8:11PM

It tells me that under Republican rule the government is shit, because they couldn't care less about good government - ya know "government doesn't solve problems, it is the problem" ... except when you need it - but certainly with the Republican or conservative crowd, they don't know how to govern because they're always falling all over themselves on how lousy the government is. Left in their hands for 2/3 of the last 30 years, it is, and the Exxon Valdez disaster is one example, the Katrina aftermath and the Iraq post "mission accomplished" is another - do you need me to add more? Because I sure can point to lots of disasters that Republicans sat on their hands and did little or nothing.

It wasn't always that way with conservatives, but today's conservatives don't understand government, the Constitution or how to apply the Founder's principles to running this country. It's pathetic that people that dislike the government so much are so much wanting to control it.

And, don't throw the socialist crap at me, the US is far from Socialist under Obama or any Democrat. You're just parroting that pariah of CNN talk radio who moved to Fixed News - Glenn Beck or Rush Loudmouth. They are no different than Father Coglin in the 30's or Joe McCarthy in the 50's ... everything is fear, be afraid, the government is out to get you, blah, blah, woofie. And pathetic as it is, y'all soak it up and repeat it endlessly ... I just wonder sometimes - who are trying to convince?

If you're over 30 you grew up in the world of FDR, JFK and LBJ ... when you say you don't like America today, you are talking about the America Ronald Reagan, Bush I and Bush II gave you. The country you want to get back to is pre-Reagan. You do realize that, right? And, I not talking about Jimmy Carter - I'll agree that he was a sad case at the end. But you have to give him one thing - he did produce the one and only true Mid-East peace treaty.

Ray| 6.23.10 @ 9:07PM

"Republican or conservative crowd, they don't know how to govern because they're always falling all over themselves on how lousy the government is"

Contrary to your beliefs, the Republicans usually apply sound governing practices to evens like this spill. The Republican government almost always response as quickly and effectively as they can, and they investigate the causes of things like this "disaster" before they assign blame and undertake corrective actions, a wise approach to governing, wouldn't you agree?.

In comparison, the democrats almost always resort to assigning blame first and implementing major policies and/or regulatory changes before any investigation of the causes of and "disaster" is complete and the determination as to what caused the disaster, and the policy and/or regulatory changes needed to help prevent such disasters in the future, is understood. Which is a TERRIBLE way to govern, wouldn't you agree.

Paulio| 6.23.10 @ 11:30PM

"the Republicans usually apply sound governing practices to evens like this spill. "

Sure! Like that hurricane whatchacallit. Really sound! I mean, assigning a manager of horse shows to run FEMA. Genius!!

"The Republican government almost always response as quickly and effectively as they can"

Yep! Like the way they took almost a year and a half to commission a study into 9/11. Lightning fast! And effective! They spent a year writing a report, only to have the republicans disregard almost all of it.

"and they investigate the causes of things like this "disaster" before they assign blame and undertake corrective actions"

Yeah! Just like how on 9/11, right after the attack, they had the map of Iraq splayed out in the situation room. Always so prudent.

Ray| 6.23.10 @ 9:54PM

"Since he didn't, they collected only about 500Million from Exxon, the world's largest company at the time. Leave it to the Republicans to side with industry every time. "

Statements like this highlight the differences between conservative and liberals in how they apply reasoning in their thinking processes. In this case, the liberal idea 500 millions dollars wasn't 'enough" and that people suffered because of this.

Do you understand WHY the judgment was reduced to this amount? It was because the "devastation" that was supposed to occur to the industries that were affect by that spill NEVER OCCURED! The fishing industry wasn't destroyed by the spill, nor was the crabbing industry, or any other industry outside of the tourism industry.

You see,m this is because the spill wasn't the huge environmental disaster it was claimed to be. The judge in this case, after reviewing the claimed damages to the various claimant's industries, and examining the actual evidence of any damage that may or may not have occurred due to the spill, decided that, no, it wasn't as bad as people thought it was and the 500 million dollar amount is all that is warranted as a reward for damages in the liability claims. That had NOTHING to do with Bush or Republicans and EVERYTHING to do with awarding compensation to those who actually suffered damage because of the oil spill.

Scott| 6.23.10 @ 1:05PM

Correction: "On November 2, his desire for a country governed from the Left will meet head on with the RIGHT WING PUNDITS of a country that have, for years, insisted that the country is center-right...no matter how much the country lurches to the left of what the Right calls center."

member62| 6.23.10 @ 1:25PM

I don't care how you get money to the people of the Gulf whose lives have been destroyed. I'm with whomever gets the job done. Rule of Law? BP has the court as an alternative to pay outs. Exxon used them. THat didn't turn out very well. I'd say that BP and Obama are the winners here.

Nicole| 6.23.10 @ 1:50PM

So I take it the writer of this article believes we should be handling BP with kid gloves? Have you looked at the pictures of the ocean, of the animals, of the coast? These people don't deserve an apology, they deserve to pay. Obama is displaying as much of the strong leader he is as he can at a time when uncertainty is the main theme, and was absolutely right to demand that BP start throwing some money around to fix things.

Ray| 6.23.10 @ 9:19PM

"Have you looked at the pictures of the ocean, of the animals, of the coast? "

Yes, I have and I haven't seen the devastation that is supposed to be occurring in what is described as the biggest environment disaster in American history.

Despite 24 hour a day coverage of the effected areas my the news media, as well as the millions of people who live in the area, since the "spill" started, I haven't seen a single photograph or video of massive amounts of wildlife dying after contact with the oil, There's been NO reports of thousands and thousands of dead fish appearing on the surface or washing ashore, as one would expect of the "disaster" was as bad as we are told to believe. The same with crab, shrimp, or any other seaborne life.

The same is true with mammals and birds. Yes, we see a few oil soaked coasts and some oil covered birds and things, but there's been NO reports of massive Gulf bird and mammal populations being decimated, as one would expect if this was the "disaster" people are claiming it to be.

There also has been NO reports of massive vegetation die offs in th wetlands, even in the areas that are exposed to the oil.

All we have, so far, is some oily beaches and some oily birds, all things that are easy to remedy, although it is time consuming.

So, where the hell is this environmental disaster that we keep hearing about! So far, there isn''t any evidence of one! The only thing we have to date is evidence of a big nuisance!

Purpleguy| 6.24.10 @ 12:58AM

Guess you don't live in the Gulf region, huh? Wonder what they have to say to your characterization?

jroll8481| 6.23.10 @ 1:57PM

This is a textbook example of a red herring. The article begins with talking about Joe Barton and explaining how he is right. Without even getting into why he was right, this writer instead attacked the oval office speech, the drilling moratorium and then manages to tie him into the housing collapse while not missing an opportunity to bring up healthcare reform.

If Barton was right, then at least try to explain that. Argue why the people who have lost their jobs and way of life as a result of this accident should have to wait until a settlement is reached. Explain how BP is the victim here when they along with TransOcean and Haliburton signed contracts to drill knowing they did not have the capability to stop this spill if it happened.

You claim that the administration is treating BP as if it intentionally caused the spill. No, that is not the case. What BP did was misrepresent themselves and not take the proper precaution to prevent this situation from happening. Not the initial spill but the inability to stop it. Its called neglegence and in this country you are normally held accountable for neglegence the same way as if you intentionally cause harm. Their neglegence ruined the lives of hundreds if not thousands of families (through indirect dominoe effects i.e. the diner that feeds the fisherman) and you suggest these people should have to wait years to receive compensation?

This is what happens when people let politics and ideals corrupt their way of thinking. In their minds everything Obama does has to be wrong and they have to find a way to disagree with it. What you end up doing is disagreeing with your own supposed values. A lot of conservative talking heads like to claim they are on the side of small business until small business collides with big business, then the true colors are shown.

Ray| 6.23.10 @ 10:02PM

'What BP did was misrepresent themselves and not take the proper precaution to prevent this situation from happening."

We don't know that this is what happened. The investigation into the cause of the leak is still ongoing, so we can't determine just what caused it, let alone try to figure out what BP could have done to eliminate the problem or lessen it;'s effect on the environment.

Since we haven't been able to determine the cause, we CAN'T yet determine if BP was negligent. Do you understand?

Purpleguy| 6.24.10 @ 12:56AM

I guess you don't watch the Congressional hearings on C-SPAN - not filtered news by the cable news channels, huh? The CEOs of all the major oil companies were there - under oath under pain of lying to Congress.

Clearly, BP stated in their application for drilling "this accident could not ever happen." "They had multiple fail-safe mechanisms that would prevent an event of this type" .... They also had an oil spill recovery plan, which is almost identical to Exxon, Chevron, Conoco and Shell. Strange, isn't it?

The heads of the other oil companies said they wouldn't have followed BP's methods. It is really enlightening if you actually discover the facts before you spew forth with innuendo and conclusions.

It's true they don't have all the information - or at least they're not telling us publicly. There is, however, quite a body of knowledge of how BP was negligent, if not criminally so.
You are right about one thing - this isn't over yet!

Jroll8481| 6.24.10 @ 9:59AM

Exactly what I was about to say. I guess this is what Ray was talking about when calling me a hypocrite for not providing proof. I am sorry to have not done this earlier.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/.....aster.html

Nate| 6.23.10 @ 2:16PM

BP could have refused to make this deal. They could have lawyered up and fought in the courts.

Remember, Exxon fought the settlement against them for over TWENTY YEARS. Indeed, they have yet to make the people in Alaska they harmed whole.

Instead, realizing such activity would be a PR disaster, they want along with a deal that would set aside 20 billion -- 5 billion a year for 4 years. That is CHUMP CHANGE for BP. It is NOTHING. They know this spill is going to cost at least 20 billion, and saw it as a good way to reassure this country that they are determined to make good on their commitments. In addition, the deal also reassured Wall St., and BP stock went up 10% after the deal was made.

This notion that this deal is a "shakedown," while grimly familiar given the debased state of public discourse these days, is simply false.

aware| 6.23.10 @ 6:48PM

I bet you that BP got what it wanted too, like protection from "excessive punitive damages". What do you bet? The cronies are always protected by the State.

Easy Bobby| 6.23.10 @ 2:41PM

Are you people that hateful that you are claiming BP did the wrong thing here? BP has every legal right in the world to tell Obama to f@#% off. But they didn't because it would have been bad business. But my guess is nobody here is or has been high in corporate politics. Most guys here probably owned construction or real estate businesses. Different world than your world boys. BP has to deal with consequences and they made the smart move by agreeing to the fund. Obama made the smart move by pushing for it. Barton is indeed speaking the truth. He is on the oil company payroll with 100s of thousands of donations and views his job as defending the truly rich oil company executives at the expense of fishermen in the Gulf and the rest of America. But the funny part is BP, while BP does spew oil and profits, it doesn't buy into the Obama hatred that their minions like Barton and The Spectator are spewing.

Ray| 6.23.10 @ 9:22PM

"Are you people that hateful that you are claiming BP did the wrong thing here?"

People here disagree with BP's actions and the actions of the President. Just how is that considered "hateful?"

Northern Rebel| 6.23.10 @ 2:51PM

Whether or not this 20 bil is used right, or turned into a slush fund to pay off union cronies, (a far more likely scenario), it is another example of Maobama taking money out of the private sector, in order to extend his recession, and increase government dependence.

Who among those who make claims, will get the money first? banks who can lend money to independant businessmen, or union contractors?

He intends to put oil workers out of business permanently, yet lends money to Soros backed Petrobras, a foreign oil concern.

His allegiances are obviously not with the American people. He is a traitor to our nation, and he's figured out how to do it using American power to destroy American interests.

Unless we strip him of power by taking back congress, we may as well rename the United States of America, Sorostan!

Nate| 6.23.10 @ 3:41PM

Northern Rebel --

You simply don't have your facts straight.

Obama did not "take" this money. BP promised to make the AMERICANS in the Gulf whole. Obama asked for a down payment on behalf of these AMERICANS whose lives have been damaged by the spill.

That down payment is in the hands of the same man that dealt with the settlements after 9.11. It's not as though Obama gave the job to a crony from his own administration, and Obama will have NO say in what happens to that money.

You need to get your news from someplace other than Glenn Beck for a change, unless you want to just go through life sounding like a fucking moron.

Jaffo Neer| 6.23.10 @ 5:29PM

Hey, I read the press release. Anyone who agrees to do anything for Bambam has simply joined the islamofascistdemrathomoreconquista crowd and needs to get fitted for a nice orange suit for a nice long stay at Gitmo.

jroll8481| 6.23.10 @ 4:55PM

For one, nothing you said can be tied to facts. Two I wish people would get off of this "Obama hates America" nonsense. He doesnt hate America, he is not a communist and he is not trying to be a dictator. You just dont agree with his decisions. If you take 10 random people from this country and present them with the same situation you will get at least 4 different solutions for how to fix it. I didnt agree with everything Bush did, but I would have never said he hated the country and anyone who did was just as big an idiot as some people are acting now about Obama.

If you dont like his policy, fine, argue the policy and then you can get change in government. Making up complete BS about someone hating America or trying to become a dictator makes you sound like the kind of person that doesnt actually follow politics or does their own research and probably didnt care about what was going on in this country/world until the 08 election. Instead you just read the occasional opinion piece blog, or watch an opinion based news show and forms their opinion off of that. Just because someone has a blog, or a radio/talk show doesnt mean they are smart or knows what they are talking about. Free your mind.

Scott| 6.23.10 @ 5:40PM

Holy crap. A sane argument. You don't see much of that on TAS....in the comments OR in the articles.

Ray| 6.23.10 @ 9:28PM

You must not read the articles, or the comments, very much. I have been a active reader and commenter here for several years and I have never seen any article claim that Obama hates America and is actively working to destroy it. I have seen, and have agreed with, many articles that claim that Obama's polices are harmful and his actions, in a lot of cases, unwarranted and unnecessary or excessive.

The same is true with the comments. Yes, we have a few people who openly state that Obama hates America and is purposely trying to destroy it, but those comments are few in number. Most comments are not of this nature.

Nick| 6.23.10 @ 7:45PM

President Dither does hate America, is a communist, and is trying to become a dictator.

Purpleguy| 6.23.10 @ 3:09PM

"turned into a slush fund to pay off union cronies," - proof of this, please? Your opinion is tainted and you ideology is leading you ... as evidenced by your diatribe of complaints, which of course, are again not substantiated with proof.

Scott| 6.23.10 @ 5:41PM

Nothing most of these yahoos post on here are substantiated with truth.

Ray| 6.23.10 @ 9:30PM

The same can be said of the people who disagree with those "yahoos."

Jaffo Neer| 6.23.10 @ 5:27PM

Burton is a hero.

The attack on FREEDOM by the islamofascistdemrathomoreconquista crowd had to be confronted.

If BP is not free from abuse by Bambam and his islamofascistdemrathomoreconquista cronies, none of us is free.

Scott| 6.23.10 @ 5:42PM

So you hate Obama so much, that you are fixated on making sure that "BP is free from abuse".

WTF? BP is a mammoth coroporation...they are big boys, with big lawyers and a huge warchest. They don't need to worry about the gov't picking on them. Look at Exxon after Valdez, they told the gov't to screw off for 20 years.

Nate| 6.23.10 @ 6:12PM

Jaffo --

Burton or Barton?

Burton did a great Hamlet for Sir John Gielgud, I know that much.

I presume you mean Barton. Now was Barton a "hero" when he apologized to the company responsible for destroying the livelihoods of thousands of Americans in the Gulf and creating the worst environmental disaster in our history, or was he a hero when he took back the apology and issued a second apology for the first? (OR....was he a hero when he insinuated that his retraction did not in fact accurately reflect his true beliefs which had previously been correctly expressed in his first apology?)

Ken (Old Texican)| 6.23.10 @ 5:43PM

YOUSE GUYS.......grin.

I'll start with you Jroll. I do have some diamond hard facts for you. 1. Obama thinks the constitution sucks (his own words recorded). 2. Obama did not join us in the national day of prayer. 3. Obama chose not to honor the unknown soldiers on memorial day. 4. According to MUSLIMS, Obama is still a muslim....and it is OK if he lies to we Christians and Jews.

Easy Bobby,
Rep. Barton has about 400 thousand voters in his district. Heh, I assure you that all those folks are NOT millionaire oil men, stupid. The Dairy Queen and gas station owners like him and vote for him too....Stupid!

Nate,
you are continually stuck on stupid. Heh. Talking to you is like talking to my six year old grandson...but he has an excuse. He doesn't truly know why grass is green and the sky is blue. You supposedly should.

Scott,
I just don't think you have quite "gotten it" yet. (smile). If you communists, (pardon the shorthand), WIN, you lose. We productive people will finally allow you nuts to starve.

I will sorta' ROTFL as you shrivel up when your water supply pump goes off and your computer electricity goes off.....dummy.

See.....all we "righties" have to do is just STOP...supporting you worthless nuts...and you starve...and dehydrate.

Obama has already told you simpletons he can't go down and suck up the oil with a straw. He can't run the water pumps either.....stupid.

Bottom line, Easy Bobby, I CEOed the 3rd largest oil-construction company on earth. My customers were oil company CEOs. They are mostly genuine gentlemen.....but don't push them.

You and all your gubmint "pretty girls".....can't do diddly without us. You simply starve without water and light.
Trust me......and grow up.

Jroll8481| 6.23.10 @ 6:10PM

In response to those diamond hard facts...
1. stating something is a fact doesnt make it a fact. Produce the link to the full audio recording, not just a sound bite and then you have an argument.

2. Wrong. He did despite a judges ruling that it was unconstitutional.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-50.....03544.html
(see how easy it was to provide proof?)

3. No, he didnt and he was not the first. Bush 1, 2 and Ronald Reagan have also not gone to Arlington on Memorial day. You are making this too easy.

4. There are Christians that believe man walked with dinosaurs and this planet is only 2,000 years old. Doesnt make it true. On top of that, you dont strike me as the tyle of individual to actually know any Muslim people so I am assuming you got this off of another right wing blog as well.

I could be wrong about where you got your information but its not like I was stupid enough to claim something like that as diamond hard facts anyway.

Really if you have any more diamond hard facts you would like for me grind up for you, let me know.

Ken (Old Texican)| 6.23.10 @ 7:16PM

Jellyroll,
you poor boy. Several hundred thousand people will be LTAO with that one.

Most of them know who I am, and that I never ...ever...fail to be the only "link" they need.

I never lie or shade the truth. ever.

I have a lifetime entry-exit visa to Saudi-Arabia, signed by Abdul Latiff Al Subai. I lived there for almost three years...stupid one, and was in and out for twenty years.
Abdu Latiff is sorta' the amalgamation of George Washington and Billy Graham to those folk. He...and they...know I am to be trusted.

JUST FOR FUN:
I am inserting my "public corporation biography" here. (subject to criminal prosecution if false).

Ken.....(wouldn't you like a job.)
Vice President, Operations
Ken is Linda's husband, partner, and pilot. At Baylor, Ken majored in Family Counseling and translated those skills into writing life insurance successfully for three years. He earned his pilot's license during those years and began using his plane as a business tool.
In October of 1973, Ken met a traveling Japanese executive in distress. The man needed to get to Corpus Christi, New Orleans, and Oklahoma City, all in the next day. Ken told him he could either charter a plane, or if he wanted to, he could pay for the gas and Ken would fly him in his own plane. (Ken was 27 at the time.)
They made the trip. Ken watched the Japanese businessman fire the president of U.S. operations. Mr. Nishizato then asked Ken if he could help him get around the U.S. for a couple of months while he covered for the man he had just fired. Ken took a leave from New York Life and did so. He soon discovered he was being mentored and tested every moment they were together, even in flight in Ken’s Beechcraft.
Ken was asked to attend every meeting and learn. Four months later, Mr. Nishizato, (President and Chairman), handed Ken a four year no-cut contract as U.S. President of The Far East Trading Company.
With his staff of employees, and numerous sub-contractors, Ken's job was to help international contractors get the materiel and equipment needed for remote area projects. At that time, the lead times on new equipment, of every description, as well as many critical materials, were very long. Ken and his staff searched for and purchased used equipment, refurbished and overhauled it, and shipped it all over the world. They also trans-shipped NEW material and equipment allocated to the “Far East Trading Company, Japan”. They then sent a team to the remote locations and got the equipment and materiel off the ships, on to trucks, to the project site, and ready for service.

As the word of Ken's teams’ success circulated among project engineers, the “Far East U.S.” became a major start-up and logistics subcontractor for Brown & Root, Fleur, Bechtel, and many oil companies. Within only three years, The Far East Trading Company had doubled U.S. revenue from $20,000,000 to $40,000,000 under Ken's leadership.
Ken was responsible for negotiating contracts, purchasing the equipment and materiel, and delivering it to the end users. He quickly mastered a broad cross section of industries, products, and remote area shipping methods. He coordinated with sister branches of The Far East Company to fill orders.
Upon Mr. Nishizato's retirement, Ken left the Far East Trading Company to become the middle east CEO for Mr. Robin Loh. At that time, the "Robin Group" was one of the 10 largest conglomerates in the world, based out of Singapore, and solely owned by Mr. Loh, to whom Ken reported directly. Middle east operations represented a key percentage of the conglomerate's revenue, as a result of the drilling, construction, ship building and project mobilization services there.

In 1983, Ken began a research project based upon the premise: "There ought to be a better way to own a boat than to own a boat." He created a team and founded a private boat club, completed a private stock offering, and served as Chairman and CEO until 1989.
Since 1989, Ken had been engaged in key man recruiting, construction consulting, and authoring books. Since marrying Linda in April 2000, he has acted as her pilot and business partner. Like so many medical practitioners, Linda needed someone to focus on the business aspects of her national practice. From his experience in the health and life insurance industry, to managing a world girdling import-export business, and finally to founding and management of a privately held start-up company, Ken had the expertise to go with his commitment to Linda and the children.

With Ken overseeing operations, accounting, marketing, and recruiting, the administrative burden has been removed from Linda and Dan, allowing them to treat the children, teach, and service a broader geographical market efficiently.
.........
You, sir, are in over your head.

God created the earth in six days. See, He did not create "days and nights" until the third day, to the best of my recollection.

If He spent three billion years crafting and playing with the earth during those first three or four "days"... His business. I wasn't there.... and neither were you...stupid.

Oh no. Reagan was at the Normandy cemetary...ignorant one.

As a poster said earlier..."history...learn some."

Now go grow some.

Jroll8481| 6.23.10 @ 9:00PM

Nice bio......

So you still dont have any answers to my points? Also it seems that some of it went over your head. When you figure out what I was saying and actually have a response to that, I'll be right here. Until then continue to beat your chest about what you have done and where you have been when you dont actually have facts to back up your statements.

Ken (Old Texican) | 6.24.10 @ 8:51AM

A very modest bio.

You won't know a "fact" until the day you meet God.
OOPs will be in order then, but too late.

Jroll8481| 6.24.10 @ 10:16AM

Good Morning Ken,
So a guess a "fact" to you is different from diamond hard facts right?
Either way I am still waiting for you to counter my counterpoint. So far you have dumped your bio and your religion on to the table. What else do you have in your bag of red herrings?

Gill O’Teen ✝✡| 6.23.10 @ 7:48PM

I know many Christians of many denominations, but not one that believes “this planet is only 2,000 years old.” While there are many who question the validity of evolution, they accept that there was a world prior to 1999 b o. All use a variation of the old-style Julian calendar which dates with the assumed birth of Christ as its start point. By that reckoning this year is 2010 In the Year of OUR Lord (Anno Domini abbreviated A.D.). Additionally, to state that the planet is only 2,000 years old would deny the existence of all those written about in the Old Testament which every Christian I know believes to be the Word of God. So unless the entire Old Testament was simply an episode on “24", you just might be making stuff up. If you make up one “fact”, I suspect you might be guilty of inventing others. Therefore, nothing you type can be trusted.
Gill O’Teen ✝✡
gill.Oteen07041776@gmail.com
“For though we love both the truth and our friends, piety requires us to honor the truth first.” - Aristotle (who was born more than 2,000 years ago - 2393 b o)
Only 942 days to go.

Jroll8481| 6.23.10 @ 9:04PM

I apologize, it was 6,000 years. Its a belief called Young Earth Creationism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y.....reationism

Ray| 6.23.10 @ 9:33PM

"stating something is a fact doesnt make it a fact. Produce the link to the full audio recording, not just a sound bite and then you have an argument. "

Why do you need a full audio recording? Are you claiming that what he said is being taken out of context? If so, then YOU need to prove it yourself!

You see, this "prove it" game affects players on both sides of an argument.

Jroll8481| 6.23.10 @ 9:45PM

Well ignoring the fact the fact that he likely cant even produce the sound bite, I ask about the full recording because very often things are taken out of context. For one I highly doubt you would hear him say the constitution "sucks" but something that could sound like he is against the constitution. Like how the sound bite of him saying we are a Muslim nation. So I am sorry if my need for all of the facts to form an opinion bothers you. Its just how I am. I prefer to not sound like a jackass and be easily proven wrong when I give my opinion, but whatever floats your boat captain.

Ray| 6.23.10 @ 10:06PM

Your insistence to provide "proof" doesn't bother me at all, but you're very hypocritical in that you've made several posts yourself, issue several statements as "fact," without providing any of the kind of "proof" that you demand from others. But, hey, that's just how you are, right?

Jroll8481| 6.23.10 @ 10:53PM

example?

Jroll8481| 6.24.10 @ 10:21AM

Ray, just for clarification. Me asking for proof is not the same as outright calling you a liar. It is simply saying that you are stating something I have never heard before and if you have proof of that, I would like to see it. If there are any statements that I have made that you would like proof for, just ask and I will happily provide. I am not writing a research paper on here so I may not footnote every claim that I make. I will say this though, if you can not provide that proof once it has been requested then you should not have made the statement to begin with. I think thats fair, dont you?

LiveFreeOrDie| 6.24.10 @ 3:20PM

Quote: "I think we can say that... uh ..uh... the Constitution reflected a enormous blind spot in this culture that carries on until this day.. and... and ahh.. and that the framers had that same blind spot... I.. I don't think that the two views are contradictory to say that, it was a remarkable political document.. ah.. that paved the way for where we are now and to say that it ..ah.. it also, ah...rep..reflected the fundamental flaw of this country that continues until this day."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....r_embedded

neo-libertarian| 6.23.10 @ 6:01PM

My suspicions are and my question is: Since the government now controls the distribution of funds they now get to “UPFRONT” tax the cleanup, the reimbursement of wages, and apply tax liens on the recovering recipients. If BP had maintained the fund the inevitable multiple bankruptcies could have escaped taxation. (You cannot get blood from a turnip.) The government in its relentless progressive agenda wants its money first, the environment, the victims, and the economic recovery be damned.

Northern Rebel| 6.23.10 @ 6:22PM

Nate:

Obama didn't just take the money?

Oh, just like somebody agrees to go for a ride to upstate Ny with a couple of thugs, in the backseat of the car, because he wants to see the autumn leaves?

On behalf of WHICH Americans, did he willingly recieve this "down payment"?

The labor unions, or the Americans who are now out of work forever, because Maobama deecided to close down American oil drilling, at the same time he gave Petrobras, a Brazilian oil concern fronted by George Soros, 20 billion dollars, who by the way drill 3 times deeper than BP?

Nate, the only fact you can grasp, is that that best part of you ran down your mother's leg, and obviously, that's where the brain cells went too.

Fuckin' naive fool.

If I were one of your children, I'd be very afraid for my future.

There are good people who died young, that could benefit from the life force you are wasting.

Asshole.

Nate| 6.23.10 @ 7:44PM

Rebel,

I don't know where you get your information.

Does it ever occur to you that Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and Rush Limbaugh don't know what the HELL they're talking about?

They're uneducated. The don't do original reporting. All they do is watch cable t.v. news and comment on it. You're getting your news recycled third hand by people with no knowledge of the topics they opine about. And believe me. It shows.

Ray| 6.23.10 @ 9:38PM

"They're uneducated."

And you know this, how? Do you have access to their education records or something? Or are you doing the same thing you bemoaned others for doing, making statements without supplying corroborating evidence, without providing "proof." If so, that makes you a hypocrite, does it not?

Californian| 6.23.10 @ 6:36PM

Wow! Defending BP? Yes, there is a loss of jobs, but with the oil companies all standing there with their xeroxed emergency plans, what makes you think that just because one rig fails other won't? Apparently this is a cookie cutter operation by the oil companies! And furthermore, the fact they fly flags of countries that have less regulations is a little questionable as well. If they were being straight up, they would have had an American flag flown over the rig and followed American standards and regulations. After all, it is American SOIL that is being effected by their cost cutting! And in case you aren't aware, they didn't shut the rig down properly so save themselves a few bucks which resulted in the loss of 11 lives and the mess we currently have!

Ken (Old Texican)| 6.23.10 @ 7:21PM

CFalifornian, heh,

Go eat some fruit and nuts.....friends.

RRay| 6.23.10 @ 9:36PM

Who's actually defending BP? All I see are arguments as to how this action is unprecedented, unwarranted, and, ultimately, harmful to us as a society.

Conservative| 6.23.10 @ 7:46PM

Damn straight we apologize to BP.

We apologize to BP, Exxon, and all the other corporations that are being regulated to death.

Do you have any idea what kind of PROFIT these companies could make without the government on their backs?

So a few fish and a few birds die. So a few fishermen have to get real jobs.

It's called SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST.

If you don't like it, go to Cuba.

ChuckD| 6.23.10 @ 7:51PM

Get out much?!

ChuckD| 6.23.10 @ 7:49PM

I have never seen so many stupid people together in one place in my entire life. Go ahead-- stand up for BP come November. See how far that gets you.

Gill O’Teen ✝✡| 6.23.10 @ 8:04PM

A fine example of Saul Alinsky's Rule 5 (for Radicals): “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. It’s hard to counterattack ridicule, and it infuriates the opposition, which then reacts to your advantage.” To which I add, it is the only refuge of an empty mind.
gill.Oteen07041776@gmail.com
“Ridicule is the tribute paid to the genius by the mediocrities.” - Oscar Wilde
Only 942 days to go.

ChuckD| 6.24.10 @ 2:58AM

Oh no-- I am serious. You should take your love for all things corporate and run with it. I really hope you do!

Carry water for BP because everyone knows the oil companies are hurting-- we feel their pain every time we fill up. I don't see it getting much traction though because BP already promised to pay all the damages-- this just assures that they stand by their word instead of talking one game while playing another which anyone who is not hopelessly naive knows was their game plan from the start. Dedication to the bottom line-- that sort of thing. Ask the people in Alaska what they ultimately got when Exxon finally paid for the damages that it wrought.

Ridicule the fishermen who are losing their livelihoods over this-- because everyone in America works for a big corporation and readily identifies with them. Then while you are at it, keep on bitching about the bailouts while blocking any meaningful legislation to make sure that we are never held hostage by these criminals again. Call those measures 'socialism' or something equally scary or make the empty but often repeated claim that any limits will somehow harm the economy-- as if the damage could be any worse than these fruits of three decades of deregulation.

If you think the tea party is the real world, you will be surprised come November. As it is, there is too much time between now and then and the more you people talk, the more out of touch you show yourselves to be. Reasonable people are not birthers, do not believe in 'death panels', and do not think that the president is conspiring to destroy this country and should be impeached. And regarding that last one-- is that your answer to everything? And you thought Gore was a sore loser. Get over it! The last president started a war based on lies, alienated all of our allies but one, outed a CIA agent, brought us the Patriot Act, and illegally wire-tapped U.S. citizens and there was nary a peep from the right about his conduct. But use the power of government to make a multi-billion dollar, multinational corporation pay for the damages they have caused and promised to pay, and the impeachment talk comes grumbling to the surface.

I am not trying to change anyone's mind here-- really. I'm just here for the irony.

Nick| 6.23.10 @ 7:50PM

Six days ago, while President Dither was extorting $20 billion from BP, Bloomberg reported that the MMS was notified, back 0n February 13th, that there were cracks and leaks around the Deep Horizon well:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/.....-show.html

O'Bama, and the other goons in his regime, are in cahoots with BP to try and cover up their misdeeds and law breaking.

Come next January, when the Republicans retake the Congress, impeachment hearings should begin right away.

Ray| 6.23.10 @ 10:28PM

"O'Bama, and the other goons in his regime, are in cahoots with BP to try and cover up their misdeeds and law breaking."

What "misdeeds and law breaking" are you referring to?

Nick| 6.24.10 @ 8:15PM

Ray,

Shhhh!
I'm playing the liberal game of making accusations without any shred of evidence, and you're messing it up!

ojo grande| 6.23.10 @ 10:58PM

Does anyone fine it absolutely hysterical that Pelosi is asking for donations to defend herself and her fellow far-leftys from Congressional inquires about their corrupt wheeling and dealing and Congressional rule breaking....I think Pelosi and her crooked cronies are beginning to sweat...

How sweet it is.

ojo grande| 6.23.10 @ 11:14PM

I agree with everything orginally that Barton said. He first found fault with BP for the oil spill but he then apologized for Obama's 'shakedown' of BP. And it was a 'shakedown'. What else could it be?

I was sorry that the Republican old boys forced an apology from Barton.. they are all gutless, as usual, and let Obama off the hook yet again. Which just proves that it's way past time for some new Conservative blood (and throw in some b*lls too). Keep voting for Conservative women...they seem to be the only ones that have them.

I believe that Obama broke a law and or undermined the Constituion in his action...but, hey, what do expect from a Chicago Thug...'Shakedown' is their middle name. Maybe we should start calling him Barrack Shakedown Obama .

ojo grande| 6.23.10 @ 11:34PM

Californian,
No one is or has defended BP...and you know it.

Everyone knows that BP caused the oil spill. And now the truth is coming out that they used a less expensive way of drilling instead of a more conservative and expensive method for deep water drilling...all to save 8-10 millions dollars. This may very well destroy BP, the third largest company in the world that employes thousands of Americans. And I'm sure that would make you and your Commie friends very happy...since you hate Capitalism and oil and all those things that made the US the most prosperous nation on earth.

People like you like to muddy the water.... Liberals don't seem to know right from wrong and moral from immoral...It was wrong and immoral for Obama to strong arm BP to hand over 20 billion dollars to him. We now have no idea where that money will go... I have no doubt that much of it will be used to go to Obama's supporters for his future election..(payoff time, big time)...with a small portion finding its way to the real people it was meant for...

Obama is a thug and cannot be trusted...

Purpleguy| 6.24.10 @ 1:09AM

Corporations didn't make this country great - small business and the middle class did. Corporations are too big, too powerful, have too much political influence, and in some cases we've seen are too big to fail. It's time for Anti-trust action in earnest and to get back to the simple American way of life. We all know that it is small business that creates jobs. That is neither Republican or Democrat - but Corporations are now able to buy elections, thanks to the Corporatist Supreme Court, so unless the people start demanding that companies remain small, and government breakup the huge Mult-nationals, that have no vested interest in only one country, nothing will change.

Yosemeti Sam| 6.24.10 @ 1:19AM

Um, what firm(s) will be auditing the on-the-fly distributions of the 20 billion exacted from BP?

Gr0w1er| 6.24.10 @ 2:31AM

Constitution?!? We don't need no 'Constitution!?!

WLarsen| 6.24.10 @ 11:30AM

National debt when Bush took office: $5.7 trillion (with $250 billion surplus); national debt when Bush left office: $10.6 trillion (deficit over a trillion). That's about $5 trillion incurred under Bush, an 86% increase, $3.2 trillion occurring in the first six years, before the meltdown.

Nick| 6.24.10 @ 8:03PM

Projected deficits under President Dither: another $10 trillion, so far.

O'Bama is a typical tax-and-spend liberal democrat. As bad as the GOP was, the democrats are much, much worse. The democrats are like crack addicts, with tax-payer money being the crack.

John DuBose| 6.24.10 @ 10:35PM

Every time anyone buys almost anything, hidden taxes are in the price. Even folks who do not earn enough to have to pay income taxes still pay up that way.

Our government ( all governments ) these days are
very expensive. When tax revenues do not meet
outlays, we eventually have inflation. NO WAY AROUND IRON ECONOMIC LAW.

As a society, as a world, we must collectively choose what we want and pay for it one way or another. If we want less government, we will have to give up some government services.

I propose giving up dumb foreign wars.

TrueLife| 6.25.10 @ 9:32PM

I propose sending Ken in his private plane to negotiate a truce. hahahaha

After he takes off his foil hat.

Or maybe get him off the flight simulator in his daddy's basement. (sweetheart, I'm sorry. It's not the same thing, and Linda IS still just a centerfold you fantasize about. EWWWW, it's sticky!)

I stopped reading the bio after the second misspelling of "material". Sorry, guy. Not impressed.

guo| 7.1.10 @ 5:17AM

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