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The Law of Obama

By on 6.17.10 @ 12:15PM

In hearings before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee, Rep. Joe Barton of Texas said, in an opening remark nominally addressed to BP CEO Tony Hayward, “I am ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday. I think it is a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown, in this case a $20 billion shakedown.” Other Republicans in and out of office, such as Michele Bachman are making similar comments about the lack of due process involved in arm-twisting (or arm-breaking) BP into putting aside $20 billion into an escrow account.

Barton added: “With the Attorney General of the United States, who is legitimately conducting a criminal investigation and has every right to do so to protect the interests of the American people, participating in what amounts to a $20 billion slush fund that’s unprecedented in American history, that’s got no legal standing, (it) sets a terrible precedent for the future.”

I am rarely at a loss for words, but I was briefly stunned into silence by Barack Obama’s words during his Tuesday night speech that he would “inform” BP’s CEO that he “is to” create an escrow account. The president has no authority to do such a thing — but neither did he have authority to cram down Chrysler and GM bond holders for the benefit of the UAW. Law is irrelevant, probably not even considered as an afterthought, by this president.

BP is not a victim here. They’re not in the least bit sympathetic. But this is the nation that presumes innocence before guilt, that is founded on the rule of law rather than of men. How strange it is that we elected a president who wants to give terrorist murderers the benefit of the doubt, give them access to legal protections they’re not even entitled to, but treats a major international corporation — which had already said it would pay all legitimate claims — the way Al Capone treated a rival moonshine distributor. One can almost picture Barack Obama walking behind BP executives with a bat in his hand.

Of course, even Al Capone had his fans, and one of those would apparently have been Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), who said of BP being coerced into the escrow arrangement (with the money to be disbursed by a recent employee of Barack Obama’s — hardly an independent third party) that “this is the American government working at its best.” (While I was initially tempted to ask rhetorically “I wonder what working at its worst would look like,” it seems pretty clear that we saw that with what the Democrats did to pass Obamacare.)

In his testimony, BP CEO Tony Hayward said he was “personally devastated” and that attending the memorial service for the people who lost their lives on the rig was a “shattering moment.” He seemed sincere, but will for many months face serious questions about BP’s apparent corner-cutting in safety spending on the Deepwater Horizon. The answers to these questions are likely to cost BP billions of dollars more in fines and penalties, in addition to their civil liability. Even so, Hayward and BP do not deserve to be treated worse than terrorists and, no matter how angry people are and how much BP is demonized, America must remain a nation based on the rule of law, not the law of Obama.

View all comments (71) |

Ken (Old Texican)| 6.17.10 @ 12:59PM

Ross,
You nailed it!

Thank you

PaulSS| 6.17.10 @ 3:59PM

uh Hayward is a grown up in charge of a billion dollar company - he was never strong armed, he knows his as* is on the line and franky, would rather have someone else deal with liabilty claims - he could have told Obama to go fly a kite, however he was happy to promise the money and free BP of claims adjusting for the next 10 years - when proof that money has been skimmed arises, by all means crow your heads of, but calling it a 'slush' fund is less agregious then apologizing to a company which by its own admission was criminally negligent in its actions that resulted in 18 dead and the lives of millions irrevocably wrecked - thanks Barton, you just propped up Obama and the Dems for a good couple of weeks at least ")

Wally| 6.17.10 @ 10:51PM

Oilbama has been derelict in his duty as POTUS--It's absolutely outrageous that it took 8 WEEKS for the community organizer in chief to focus on the eco-disaster in the Gulf.

Hayward's not up for re-election in 2012--Oilbama is.

Grzmlyk| 6.18.10 @ 10:36AM

Yes, SS Officer Paul, the truth is the last thing that must be heard within the hallowed walls of the sewer that is the US "legislative" branch - which should be renamed the "coercive" branch. It would be like water on the Wicked Witch of the West.

Yesterday's trained seal performance of the histrionic parade of senators' calculated and inadvertently hilarious moral posturing may be the low point of that chamber's history.

They should point fingers at themselves before pointing them at anyone else - the BP spill pales in comparison to the outrage of these same elected officals shoving a health care bill down every American's throat without even having read it.

And now they are shoving intrusive government directly into our entrails with cap and tax.

But, hey, the rape of the taxpayer by the government is A-OK. We should just lie back and enjoy it, eh, herr diktator?

I don't know what happened here - and neither do you - but I know one thing:

BP deserves its comeuppance for its ridiculous "Beyond Petroleum" posturing of the last several years.

Michael W| 6.17.10 @ 5:53PM

This fine = proof that Obama hates white people and businessmen. You would NEVER see the NAACP or Black Panthers paying these fines despite the FACT that they have done MUCH more damage to America than BP ever will.

Too Real 4 You| 6.21.10 @ 9:39AM

If you had any brains in conjunction with being remotely armed with TRUE current and historical facts -you would be dangerous!

Nate| 6.23.10 @ 3:16AM

Like all the FACTS your stupid post contained, right? Moron.

mickeymat| 6.17.10 @ 1:21PM

Meanwhile, John Boehner agreed with Obama's methods. The weasel. He needs to go-he is not much different from the criminals in the Democrat Party.

Remarkulus| 6.17.10 @ 1:31PM

Yes, let us all weep. For the mean old ObamaHitler has once again used his unholy and illegal powers of persuasion to goad a helpless international oil company into spending what probably amounts to the next 48.5 years of profit just so the lazy bastards who are getting all this free time off from work can get theirs. How will BP innovate? Where will they find their next meal? Where oh where is Sheriff Arpaio to deport the ObamaHitler? Can anyone stop him? Clearly, no.

If it were for brave Americans like Barton and Kaminsky, the ObamaHitler would likely ask HolderGoebbels to immediately enforce tithing laws that they made up somewhere between the 13th and 14th at Pebble Beach during their daily golf tour of the United Muslim States.

JCfromDC| 6.17.10 @ 9:56PM

Remarkulus:
It woud be closer with EmanuelGoebbels and HolderHimmler. Sorry to nitpick, but... Wouldn't that make a HillaryEva, too? Or would that be ClintonBraun? And BidenHess (but that would almost put down Hess)

Grzmlyk| 6.18.10 @ 10:45AM

Don't forget Remarkulus/Bozo.

martin j smith| 6.17.10 @ 1:33PM

Unless there is unity in message, there will be defeat. Here is my take --BP no doubt bears responsibility--yet so too does BHO. But in context of the MSM control and in the context of hearings, any kind of sympathy to BP will not politically fly well. The real issue is why was BHO "absent" from having the federal government be more active in assisting BP ? Various foreign countries have offered help. .Several states of the US offered help and I am sure individual efforts were also offered --but rejected by BHO. This is the problem that people would support an investgation of. Psychologically somehow, BP is a villain never mind the problem was an accident and never mind help from the feds was not offered. So the trick is turn BHO's irresponsible behavior as the focus but not seeming to be too cozy with BP itself.

JCfromDC| 6.17.10 @ 10:09PM

I'm not a conspiracy theorist, nor do I want to believe in them. HOWEVER, this whole thing smacks of a setup, with BP being a fall guy to prop up or vindicate Cap & Tax, Green policies, Greenies in General, and No Drilling-None of the Time. Didn't the US Gov, whom we were promised would be so transparent, give the green light to this? They had 16 months or more to clean house at MMS. Why didn't they, and why did they wait til after the fact? So they could still point at Bush/Cheney? And why so far out? Why such a risky venture? Because it was doomed to fail from the start? Why, why, why? Too many questions and no answers, certainly not from that lame "speech".
As an aside, Did you notice the ash tray on the desk? I thought smoking in Federal Buildings was banned. Must be the stress of biting off more than one could honestly chew. Maybe he should switch to Skoal, so to win over NASCAR fans when they run out of gas.

Big Java| 6.17.10 @ 1:35PM

I wonder how much of the so called escrow acct
money will go to the people who should get it,
and how much will it "cost" to administer the
account ie: the shake down acct...

Taxpayer| 6.17.10 @ 5:34PM

Exactly. I predict that 0.000004327% of the slush fund--er, escrow money--will make it to the Gulf.

Bayou Babe| 6.17.10 @ 2:00PM

A bit off topic: I just learned that, at the time of the Deepwater Horizon explosion, BP was shutting down the rig. Now that Obama is demanding that the remaining deepwater rigs in the Gulf “pause” for six months, they, too, will shut down and move. Thanks to Obama, are we headed for more catastrophes?

Obama is a disastrous, monstrous thug. Can we declare him unconstitutional?

Michael| 6.17.10 @ 5:00PM

You are wrong! There is no evidence. Watch 60 minutes instead of Fox News and you might have heard the first-hand account of one of the workers that escaped with his life. It was full speed ahead! Check your facts.

Wally| 6.17.10 @ 5:07PM

Fool. Only a Kool-Aid drinking Commie believes anything 60 Minutes says.

Fox News' accuracy beats the hell out of any Marxist Lame Stream Media mouthpiece on the air

Nice try though, liar. Oilbama owns this eco-disaster; his approvals will be in the 30s before we know it.

REMEMBER NOVEMBER!!

c.j. acworth| 6.17.10 @ 6:46PM

BP was indeed in the process of shutting down the well, although "temporarily capping" might be a more accurate way to put it. The plan was to cap the well, move the rig to a new location and drill another well. At some point in the future, the first well would be "uncapped" and brought into production.

Allen| 6.17.10 @ 2:06PM

Where is the judicial branch? Agreed that Obama has no legal authority to strongarm BP, or confiscate the property of Chrysler bondholders, etc., my understanding is that the judiciary is supposed to provide the check and balance that is missing from the executive and legislative. How is this continuing to go on?

grant1863| 6.17.10 @ 2:17PM

Allen, someone has to bring a lawsuit to get the judicial branch to make an opinion. My guess is when the well is firmly capped look for BP to release its own lawyers and lobbyists upon the courts and Congress.
What will the effect of all these decisions be on American business? Wouldn't look for a lot of risk taking on their part.

bjb57| 6.17.10 @ 2:43PM

I think the 100M fund set up to compensate oil service workers laid off as a result of the 6-month moratorium is even worse than the 20B fund, for two reasons. First, it perpetuates the dependency on government. Second, it takes some of the heat off the administration for what is truly an idiotic idea.

I really hate the people that populate this administration. I used to think that they were simply misguided, but I am beginning to think that they have evil intentions.

Michael| 6.17.10 @ 4:57PM

Poor misguided fools... You should all pull your heads out of Hannity's and O'Reilly's ass long enough to see your being duped. Last week Obama wasn't tough enough. This week, he seems more like a stalinist becasue he is "strong-arming" a company into putting up money so that the victims of this "avoidable" tragedy can simply survive. Come on!!!! The move for fatter bottom lines in corporate America has forever changed our lives and landscapes in this country. We will be dealing with this for generations to come. Any one of you that defends the political crowing of a complete jackass and pawn of the oil inudstry like Barton and Cornyn should have to go down to the Gulf and work in the BP gulags where you are given a mere 4 hours of training and not allowed to wear respirators because "it makes the company look bad". Never mind the fact that when the oil reaches the shore through wave action, it is turned into an aerosal that can be inhaled. Have you seen what inhaling oil has dones to some of the marine life that is washing up dead now? I guess that's just another liberal media comspiracy huh? Guess what retards, we are no different. It will cause porlonged suffering and even premature deaths of those that are working in the cleanup or that live close to the ocean. I hope that the hundreds of millions of solid waste (and much more to come) that is now being transported to un-named landfills throughout the U.S. ends up in your backyard. Then lets see how understanding you are of a company that has nearly extinguised life in the gulf and now threatens the safe drinking water in this country by loading up our landfills with the toxic wastes. When your loved ones contract horrible cancers and tumors that are linked directly to oil being in our water and food chain, let's see how upset you are that a company with more liquid assets than most countries gets put into a position where they have to put money into a trust so it can be administered to deserving recipients. Not unlike those in the gulf that are drowning in this disaster right now, you too will ask for help. You too will cry for justice. At that point I can only hope for your sake that someone is watching out for you, trying to do the right thing. Then again, keep on voting republican and maybe you will go the way of all the soldiers returning from battle in the middle east with PTSD during the Chaney/Bush years - and you will be conveniently swept under a rug. They will put out blanket statements and refuse to accept responsibility and let the companies go back to "business as usual" at all of our collective peril. Republicans and tea party enthusiasts that align themselves with people like Barton and the talking heads like Limbaugh and Savagereally are some of the most un-american, ungodly people in this country. You all suck!

Wally| 6.17.10 @ 5:10PM

Stop bleating your Marxist BS, loser. Oilbama's proven himself to be the incompetent, corrupt Marxist clown we all knew he was BEFORE you morons elected him.

4 1/2 months until the election! Thank God the lame duck Oilbama's reign of error is almost over.

Nancy| 6.17.10 @ 5:47PM

And you, Michael, are unable to think! BP has its part in this mess, but so does the government. The reason this disaster happened was due to the fact that they were drilling in water deeper than safe. Even though Louisiana had allowed them to drill at 500 feet, the Feds said no. Engineers said they would need 21 points of stability; they have in fact only six. But the government signed off.

It doesn't make any difference how many laws or regulations that are made...it's the number that are enforced. BP made huge contributions to Obama's campaign chest...do you think that may have caused them to look away from these infactions?

Infractions by one party does not forgive the infractions by another. It seems there is plenty of blame to go around.

But allowing our President to act like a dictator and thug will do nothing to plug the hole. However, much more could have been done to prevent the oil from coming ashore. Now it's too late, and we are suffering the consequences.

If Obama had spent as much time trying to solve the problem as he has spent playing the blame game, we would be in better shape. He's definitely Johnny come lately. The governor of Louisiana wanted those berms weeks ago. Now it's a matter of too little, too late. BP will run out of money before the mess is cleaned up.

CalMark| 6.17.10 @ 9:55PM

My goodness, what a lot of words.

A piece of wisdom I once heard: "If you have to work too hard to justify your conclusion, you've probably reached the wrong conclusion."

That's why lefties talk and write without end. That's how they "justify" their position.

Scads of words. All worthless.

bjb57| 6.17.10 @ 10:43PM

Michael,
You clearly do not understand fundamental economics. Oil companies do not force anything on us. We willingly buy the oil that they extract from the earth. To that extent, we are all responsible for ecological risk inherent in oil extraction.
Yes, BP cut corners. In fact, if you read my post carefully, you will notice that I did not defend BP. I believe that BP should pay significant damages, but through normal legal processes, not via the strong-arming of the administration. What is beyond absurd, though, is that BP should pay damages to those laid off as a result of the administration's moratorium. What happened to the rule of law?

Grzmlyk| 6.18.10 @ 12:08PM

I stopped reading your whine after you implied that conservatives listen to O'Reilly - such an opinion shows you know nothing of what you speak.

O'Reilly is a full-blown liberal when it comes to all things petroleum and Obama.

The rest of your drivel isn't worth my time.

As Hamlet said, "words, words, words."

Why don't you fools just code your jeremiads? It will save you keyboard strokes.

Next time you want to add your .00005 cents, you might just type, "Ridiculous Liberal Rant #79."

elias forin| 6.20.10 @ 4:23PM

you said it all, this is the story as it unfolds and no amount 0f linbaugh nonsense can change the nonsense of A horrific 8 yeARS THAT was thrust upon the American people and is now the job of President Obama to set straight and get this country out of the lethargy and decay of the Bush/Cheney nightmare.

Nate| 6.23.10 @ 3:19AM

Sure, idiot. Incompetent corruptocrat Oilbama's approvals are in the toilet and still falling. Watch for the low thirties coming soon!

You dumbass Liberals are going to get a beating in November. See you then.

Tom| 6.17.10 @ 3:07PM

The most politically tone deaf move in years. GOP shoots itself in the foot.

American Patriot| 6.17.10 @ 4:01PM

One MORE reason why I am now an independent and no longer lean to an R.
Barton is a bought & paid for hack or daft if he can't see that an escrow fund allows damages to be paid much quicker than would be paid AFTER the endless legal wrangling. And it ensures that money for damages is in hand - not promised. We need to stop all the anti-BP posturing and spend the effort on constructively stopping the flow and cleaning up with the help of the BP fund (assuming PB actually ponies up the 20B.) D's & R's It's my hope that you see a November to Remember.

Jeff Perren | 6.17.10 @ 5:02PM

Mr. Patriot,

You are missing the point. The existence or size of the fund is not the issue, nor how it will be disbursed. (Though that may become a problem, given the history of the Administration.)

It's the manner in which it was brought into existence -- the lawlessness of Obama assuming authority he does not legally have to strong-arm BP into setting it up.

That was the point of the post.

Wally| 6.17.10 @ 5:13PM

Morons like AP are the reason the clown Oilbama was elected in the first place--some people NEVER get the point.

Nancy| 6.17.10 @ 5:50PM

Some people fail to realize that when you allow the government to have the power and authority to put their boot on the throat of BP, they also have the power and authority to put their boot on any of us,

We are supposed to be a country of laws that are applied equally. Obama is overstepping his bounds...but what's new?

Brian| 6.18.10 @ 4:10PM

But you guys are missing the point. Obama never "Forced" BP into setting up the fund. He put tremendous (political) pressure for them to do it. He used his position as POTUS to apply pressure, as any intelligent person in his position would do. But he didn't force them to do anything. They agreed to the proposal (and reaped the rewards of an increase stock price based on the deal). If he broke the law in negotiating with BP to fund the escrow account, then ANYONE who has ever done anytype of out-of-court settlement would be guilty of the same crime.

There are tens of thousands of people being harmed by the results of this accident, and BP hasn't had the ability to make timely and reasonable payment to those affected. Obama went after a solution, and BP acceptied. I don't know where the logic is that some how what happened was outside the law. Negotiation is was most educated people do any time they are involved in any type of (complex) transaction. Granted, Obama has the bully pulpit at his disposal, and choose to use it, but that's why he was elected president.

Don't agree with the government's response, not thrilled with Obama's performance on many fronts, but to call his actions in this case outside the law shows a lack of understanding of both the law and this particular situation.

Wally| 6.18.10 @ 7:47PM

Give me a break! BP had no choice with all the public pressure; Oilbama has no special negotiation skills. All he's got is his "Foot on BP's throat." Lovely and presidential. Disgusting lack of leadership.

The Bamster's a friggin' disgrace--it took the clown 8 WEEKS to focus on the Gulf disaster. Absolutely unbelievable.

Barry| 6.17.10 @ 5:01PM

If only George Bush and Dick Cheney were still running things. They would be tranferring $400 billion from the taxpyaers to BP in exchange for 'redeemable preferred stock".

Or they might use the FDIC to force Wachovia to merge with Wells Fargo.

Or perhaps somone like Liz Cheney would be appointed to run the clean-up.

Or perhaps they would borrow $1 trillion (indenturing future generations) to invade Grenada for causing the oil spill and then wind up losing.

All Hail the GOP! The party of fiscal responsibility and fairness!

Wally| 6.17.10 @ 5:18PM

Sorry, Barry--you Leftist morons can't hide behind GWB and Cheney anymore. You incompetent losers are the laughingstock of the country.

Liberals are incapable of governing--just look at the unholy mess you clowns have created since Oilbama took office a short 17 months ago. You are jokes.

Jimbo| 6.17.10 @ 11:41PM

Well actually, Wally we "losers" and "jokes" run this country.

And you don't.

So you can kiss my black ass.

Wally| 6.18.10 @ 3:30AM

But WE will, Jimbo--real soon, and you can shove THAT up your black ass.

Brian| 6.18.10 @ 4:16PM

Wally - why is it that conservatives have to go directly to name calling rather than having a discussion of the facts. Reading through the blog, anytime someone makes a point that you don't agree with they are a moron, incompetent loser, a Marxist or a Commie (to name a few of your expressions). If you want to disagree with someone, disagree. If you want to make a counter-point, by all means, but if the best you have is name calling, then may I suggest you just go back to junior high school.

Wally| 6.18.10 @ 7:51PM

Screw you, "BUSHITLER!" You Commie clowns wrote the book on name calling and insults, moron. Hypocrite.

Better learn to enjoy the verbal ass-kicking coming your way, because it's only just started!

JC fromDC| 6.17.10 @ 10:23PM

That sounds more like what Oilbama's team plan will do, since THEY are holding the 4 Aces. Then they'll own and nationalize the company so they can retire fat and comfy when they LOSE in Nov. and AGAIN in 2012

Barry| 6.17.10 @ 5:41PM

Wally,

Truer words were never said! I was singing the praises of the AWOL drunk and the serial draft dodger!

They only borrowed $1 trillion from the ChiComs and Saudia Barbarians to indenture our children. Their Tsy Sec only gave $400 billion of taxpayer funds to a few chosen firm! Capitalism in action I say!

And the Kenyan Muslim Terrorists dares to extort $20 billion from BP! For shame!

And the utlimate proof of the unholy mess created by the man who atteneded a Madrassa -- equity markets are up 32% since the AWOL drunk went back to Kennebunkport and serial draft dodger went back to Dubai.

Markets are up 32% with a Kenyan Muslim Socialist Terrorist in the Oval Office!

Just think where they would be if Sarah Palin (PBUH) were in charge! Drill Baby Drill!

CalMark| 6.17.10 @ 9:59PM

You are unspeakably vile.

Honorable service in the National Guard is "draft dodging." Very nice.

But we weren't allowed to talk about Bill Clinton's military shenangans. That was mudslinging and dirty politics.

Get out of my country, you vile being.

JCfromDC| 6.17.10 @ 10:27PM

Well Barry, who got all that TARP money and Porkulus? The very people who created the problem (minus Frank & Pelosi)! And where did it come from? Your Commie friends in China. And who gets to pay it all back, YOU & ME! Bonehead

Brian Lanting| 6.18.10 @ 4:20PM

Your country???? Who the hell gave you the throne. Damn you right wingers are ful of yourself. I started reading the comments cause I get a kick out of the un-informed, but you guys take that to an entirely new level.

Your Country???? Give me a break!

Wally| 6.18.10 @ 6:49PM

What's left of our poor country after you treasonous losers get done with it. Incompetent and corrupt, you Marxist pieces of human excrement have got to go!

REMEMBER NOVEMBER!

JimE| 6.17.10 @ 7:42PM

The drunk awol draft dodger stands head and shoulders above your muslim, closet homosexual hero. remember barack o moron took money BP money than anyone else and gave BP safety award. Now go bend over for barry.

Barry| 6.17.10 @ 8:19PM

Exactly! The Kenyan Muslim Terrorist is responsible for the oil spill. It is a conspiracy I tell you!

Not one person died in the US from a terrorist attack after George W. Bush withdrew forces from Saudia Barbaria as demanded by Osama bin Laden.

This is the heroism that the GOP admires.

The markets continue to recoil from the socialist policies of the Kenyan Muslim Atheist Terrorist. Look what happend to price of BP today! Look what the equity markets did today!

Markets long for Hank Paulson back at the helm at Treasury!

Drill Baby Drill!

Wally| 6.17.10 @ 10:57PM

Who said Oilbama's responsible for the oil spill?
Just you, moron.

Oilbama may not be responsible for the spill, but the incompetent clown sure is responsible for the 8WEEKS it took to start cleaning it up. Oilbama's obedience to the environmental nutjobs and the corrupt thug Unions has doomed his re-election bid.

Barry| 6.18.10 @ 12:09AM

Abosultely correct Wally! The US Constitution (Artilce 653) clearly states that the Kenyan Muslim Terrorist Clown is responsible for immediately cleaning up an oil spill.

Vast machinary exists to clean up an oil spill and the Kenyan Muslim Terrorist Clown failed to use it.

If only a Christian like Piyush Jindal had access to that power, the oil spill would have been stopped in a matter of hours.

The GOP has always fought the oil industry as they have always fought Wahabi terrorists.

Washington is the Problem Not the Solution.

Drill Baby Drill!

Wally| 6.18.10 @ 3:34AM

You call 8 WEEKS immediately? Nice concept of time, loser--no wonder you incompetent clowns have screwed everything up!

Just remember, sweet cheeks--Oilbama is BP's LARGEST recipient of campaign cash. Corruption and incompetence define you Leftist losers, Oilbama is just the latest proof.

CalMark| 6.17.10 @ 9:51PM

There is one possible solution, albeit farfetched:

Elect a Republican with guts who does the same things Obama does, but in support of the Constitution.

I hear the whiners now: "But it's unconstituuuuuuutional! We can't do thaaaat! We have to show theym we believe in rule of law! We're beeeeeeter than theeeeem!"

Barack Obama is a dictator who is hell bent on destroying the USA. It appears increasingly likely that he will succeed: no one has the guts to take him on. Those few who do are destroyed in the ugliest manner imaginable, and no one stands by them.

Who allowed themselves to vote for a mystery man about whom nothing was (or still is) known and referring to anything from his past, including his legislative record, was out of bounds. Who voted for a man because he's "just so cool." Who voted for someone whose only life achievement is winning rigged elections.

As George Beranrd Shaw famously said, "People eventually get the government they deserve."

Eventually is now. America is doomed. And, frankly, Americans deserve it.

Liberal Reader| 6.18.10 @ 3:37AM

I guess that means you deserve it, too, CM.

john white| 6.17.10 @ 9:54PM

The Law of Obama is: Obama IS the Law. Since he wakes every day in another world (his and Soros'), his law changes to fast to be recorded. Write something down; tomorrow it's opposite.

Yosemeti Sam| 6.18.10 @ 12:29AM

Closer and closer this Icarus President - climbs to the Suns' warming embrace.

Jason Barlow| 6.18.10 @ 7:55AM

The Thug in chief brought out the BBall bat on BP. I think the lawyers in the white house must be the most creative legal scholars since the world began. \

BP is one of the original companies bowing to the "greenies" and in a since I am a little grateful for the Karma coming back to them.

My heart goes out to the people of the Gulf Coast and I prey this gets cleaned up as quickly as possible.

Pump your gas at BP stations, they need the money for the cleanup and the local owners are not the people who did this, they are our neighbors and fellow citizens.

Sam Deakins| 6.18.10 @ 9:19AM

"Law is irrelevant, probably not even considered as an afterthought, by this president. " That may be so but, the terrifying aspect of this is that our so-called lawmakers have let him consistently get away with it.

Vernon Rosa| 6.18.10 @ 10:19AM

BP is not in any manner a victim of this industrial accident. The company is responsible for everything that went wrong, and is legally and morally responsible for paying the costs associated with it. Obama, though, has no legal authority to attempt to force the company to create a slush fund.
I am not defending BP. If that company loses every penny it ever made paying for the men who died, and all the environmental damage it caused, so be it. To allow Obama to make his own laws, however, by attempting to force the creation of a slush fund...that is wrong on so many levels.

Brian| 6.18.10 @ 4:23PM

Byt he didn't force them to it .... he used tough negotiation skills to back them into a corner.... More power to him! he should be applauded!

Wally| 6.18.10 @ 6:50PM

Give me a break!! As if BP had a choice. Oilbama's a worthless piece of crap.

Norris Hall| 6.19.10 @ 2:53AM

I am with President Obama on this one.
All you have to do is recall how Exxon use their lawyers and delaying tactics to get out from under a 4 billion dollar judgment over 20 years ago. Exxon was able to slash the judgment in half, leaving the taxpayer to pick up the rest of the tab.
BP may be sounding contrite now...but when this is all over and they aren't in the news, you can bet their accountants and lawyers will be all over trying to weasel out of the deal.

The only way to insure that BP doesn't renege on it's word is to "Get the money up front". Any smart businessman would do the same.

Nobama| 6.20.10 @ 3:41PM

Obama's a thug and used public outrage to extort BP.

I don't trust BP--but I trust Obama and his Marxist thugs LESS!

Just a reader| 6.19.10 @ 4:15PM

WOW!!!!!! As I read these post of Obama over stepping the LAW. I wonder if any has read and understood the Constitution. Bush did some incredible things with the Freedom Act ( which, we lost some freedom ). Talking about over stepping the law... Bush gave us the Toilet

Nate| 6.21.10 @ 4:22PM

And you are the TURD in the toilet--I say we FLUSH you!

CapnEd87| 11.22.10 @ 7:33PM

I hear you would like to freeze pay rates for Soldiers starting next year. Would you also consider cutting your own pay to save more money for our country? While you are at it, lets cut the Congressman's pay too. If the people who risk their lives don't get an increase in pay, why would we continue raising pay for those who take NO risks and reap the benefits?

CapnEd87| 11.22.10 @ 7:34PM

It was supposed to start with 'Dear, Mr. President'

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