Republicans don't want BP to pay?

[wreckhog]

Seriously?

They want it to come out of taxpayer money?

Guess Obama is still shaking them up.

“I’m ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday,” Mr. Barton said in his opening statement. “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.”

[torpedoman]

somehow i  have to agree with the guy, give the government 20 billion and it will disappear in the blink of an eye and nothing will get cleaned up or anyone paid. At most the government should act as a clearing house for claims and i mean the local government  that really knows who the fishermen and businesses are half the money will go to "fishermen in chicago it this administration get to hold it

[wreckhog]

As a counter, here is a good Republican.

Rep. John Sullivan, R-Okla., questioned BP's commitment to safety.

BP had 760 safety violations in the past five years and paid $373 million in fines, Sullivan said. By contrast, Sunoco and ConocoPhillips each had eight safety violations and ExxonMobil just one.

[ironglow]

Seriously?

They want it to come out of taxpayer money?

Guess Obama is still shaking them up.

“I’m ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday,” Mr. Barton said in his opening statement. “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.”

  Sure is comical how you "spin" things. Just because anyone is not in favor of a shakedown, doesn't mean they don't want justice.
To the contrary, by resisting a shakedown.. it would appear that justice is exactly what they are seeking. I have heard Dems and Reps both say that BP should pay it all.
   The only difference between the two is that the Reps want the payments made directly to the areas affected, rather than to the federal govt. We should all know by now, that if the feds got the cash, the states affected would see only a small portion of the money.

[saddlebum]

No way should BP be let off the hook in any way. They are to blame for not having a plan for a runaway blowout and pushing the limits of safety.....BUT, the Feds are the ones that forced BP to move out to the 5000ft depth instead of the 500ft depth they applied for in the begining with Bobby Jindal's approval. The Feds did not inforce the laws concerning an emergency plan,(with BP or anyone else in the Gulf), and instead played patty-cake with the offshore drillers instead of doing their jobs. Other stuff like refusing help from other countries with capping and clean-up makes the Feds culpable in this whole mess too. I don't want to see a dime of tax payer money payed out for this disaster, but the government is partially to blame AND, "we" voted for the fools. After what I've seen in the last 2yrs in government, I thought those Senators,(especially Demorcrats), had alot of gall brow-beating BP's CEO in the hearings and suggesting he kill himself. Taking into account all the government screw-ups in this situation.
And suggesting that BP pay for lost wages and revenue from Obama's moratorium on drilling in the Gulf is just stupid, like the moratorium itself. If Obama breaks BP, nobody gets payed unless the tax payer does it! The Feds have just made things worse and if they handle the compensation money, they will screw that up too.

I hate to sound like a broken record, but why don't we tap all the reserves ON SOLID GROUND??.....At least shallow water!!

[ironglow]

  As with anything said by lefties concerning anything controversial, wreckhog has stated a "partial truth", The incident was televised by Fox News this morning.
  Joe Barton (R-TX) prefaced his statement by saying , "I am speaking for myself, not anybody else".. Then, he went on to chide congress about the shakedown.
     Barton was almost immediately blasted by Republicans for saying that. Led by John Boehner, house minority whip, Barton was told to apologize or lose certain chairmanship positions.
       Now, do we see where wreckhog conveniently ignored part of the story ? Liberals tend to forget there are two major types of lies; ..lies of COMMISSION...and lies of OMMISSION..
   I didn't watch those "hearings", figuring it would just be a congressional "dog and pony" show, trying to exonerate themselves of their own culpability (not policing the policing agencies).

   Right now, instead of holding a dog & pony show, congress should be dogging a dithering commander-in-chief, asking him why ..60 days later, there are no vacuuming, or centrifical seperating ships operating in the gulf and no federally built sand berms protecting the beaches of the gulf.
  They should be asking Mr Dithers just why he refused such help from 13 different nations.
   
  Yes, BP sure has a lot to answer for, but they are not completely alone !.

    Meanwhile;a bunch of empty (but powerful) suits , sitting around shouting...PAY UP OR WE WILL CRUSH YOU...sure sounds like a shakedown..

[ironglow]

...Fact is, the feds have stopped the oil sucking cleanup...somebody please talk to Mr Dithers...

  http://abcnews.go.com/WN/bp-oil-spill-gov-bobby-jindals-wishes-crude/story?id=10946379

[wreckhog]

Barton was for it before he was against it.

[wreckhog]

...Fact is, the feds have stopped the oil sucking cleanup...somebody please talk to Mr Dithers...

  http://abcnews.go.com/WN/bp-oil-spill-gov-bobby-jindals-wishes-crude/story?id=10946379

What is stopping the states from cleaning up the oil and billing BP?

[williamlayton]

Here are the facts---read and think.
The Federal government is responsible for infrastucture--not the actual doing--God help us if the beauracracy of the Federal Gov. becomes involved.
Don't give the Gov. ANY money--they are incapable of doing anything.
Give BP direction and expectations--along with penalties if compliance is not met.
Make BP figure this out--they figured it IN--there is the expertice to restore things too pretty much the way it was before---not completely.
It is BP's responsibility---or the loss of ability to compete in our economy.
Blessings

[magooch]

It is being reported that the slush fund that BP has to pay into is a mutually agreeable thing and it is to be made in payments that are affordable to BP.  However, I have absolutely zero confidence that the fund will be handled above board and disbursed entirely to people and projects that are deserving.  There needs to be an independent watchdog to assure that the money doesn't get syphoned off to Osama's lackeys--ACORN.

[Dixie Dude]

I heard one Republican that said they wanted a third party to manage the fund, not the Feds.  You are right, the money will dissappear quickly with the Feds managing it.  They will only used high priced union contractors, not the lowest bidders. I know of local contractors who helped clean up hurricane damage and charged FEMA twice or three times as much as they normally would get.  People know how to rip off the Feds because of their bureaucracy and politics. 

[ironglow]

...Fact is, the feds have stopped the oil sucking cleanup...somebody please talk to Mr Dithers...

  http://abcnews.go.com/WN/bp-oil-spill-gov-bobby-jindals-wishes-crude/story?id=10946379

What is stopping the states from cleaning up the oil and billing BP?

   What's stopping the states ? The feds, that's who ! They have thrown one roadblock after another in the states' way, just as in that blue-letter link I provided for you immediately above ! ("never fail to take advantage of a good crisis")
   Yes, BP should pay..to the individual states..NOT to the greedy federal govt..which would take in and burn up funds as a bonfire would gasoline.
  Right now, congress should quit the show business and start demanding cleanup..which should have started at least 57 days ago.

[Heather]

Florida is taking matters into their own hands and has pretty much said let the Fed try to prosecute them from protecting their shores!

Heather

[beerbelly]

We all know the federal goverment will take good care of that twenty billion dollar fund! Just look at how well they took care of the social security trust fund!!! Many. many times that twenty billion is gone and the program is broke!
                                 Beerbelly

[1marty]

Reminds me of the God Father 2 when the senator from Nevada who is Michael Corleone's pocket praises him at the senate investigation hearings. This senator is from Texas. How much did BP give him in contributions and other favors?

[nomosendero]

Reminds me of the God Father 2 when the senator from Nevada who is Michael Corleone's pocket praises him at the senate investigation hearings. This senator is from Texas. How much did BP give him in contributions and other favors?

A hundred bucks says not as much as Obama received! So he's from TX & Osama is from IL. 

[nomosendero]

The thread starts with a lying premise, prehaps not intentional, but false regardless.

Barton is reponsible for Barton.
Like everyone I know, Republicans & Independents alike, I believe that BP should pay, but anyone but a Moron would understand that when a Gov. can dictate how much & give to anyone they wish just might be a problem & daa, could est. a dangerous precedent!

[mechanic]

That "hearing" should get high marks from Vladimir Putin.  If they had been speaking Russian, it would have seemed more fitting.

Sure BP should take responsibility, but there are two problems:

1.)  How do they determine the money goes to the right people?  I'm sure the Gov. will be good at determining that.

2.)  Lets plug the leak FIRST!  Then do the lawyer stuff.  If an arsonist burns a building, they first put the fire out, then do the investigation.

[wreckhog]

The thread starts with a lying premise, prehaps not intentional, but false regardless.

Barton is reponsible for Barton.
Like everyone I know, Republicans & Independents alike, I believe that BP should pay, but anyone but a Moron would understand that when a Gov. can dictate how much & give to anyone they wish just might be a problem & daa, could est. a dangerous precedent!

What is Barton's job? Does he perhaps represent a group of people? What was he commenting on? Something of a purely personal nature? Or something else? He is not a rabid talk show host or someone with a book to sell.

He is a public official commenting on an issue that is in the public eye. He represents people and a political party.

BP had a choice, they could have paid nothing. After all, their CEO seemed to think that these issues were below his paygrade.  Perhaps the rig workers should be the ones we are talking to.

[nomosendero]

The thread starts with a lying premise, prehaps not intentional, but false regardless.

Barton is reponsible for Barton.
Like everyone I know, Republicans & Independents alike, I believe that BP should pay, but anyone but a Moron would understand that when a Gov. can dictate how much & give to anyone they wish just might be a problem & daa, could est. a dangerous precedent!

What is Barton's job? Does he perhaps represent a group of people? What was he commenting on? Something of a purely personal nature? Or something else? He is not a rabid talk show host or someone with a book to sell.

He is a public official commenting on an issue that is in the public eye. He represents people and a political party.

BP had a choice, they could have paid nothing. After all, their CEO seemed to think that these issues were below his paygrade.  Perhaps the rig workers should be the ones we are talking to.

Barton does not speak for all Republicans no more than Barny Frank speaks for all Dems, & as I said the thread starts as a false statement, there is no evidence or logical reason to think Republicans don't want BP to pay, purely false.

[ironglow]

The thread starts with a lying premise, prehaps not intentional, but false regardless.

Barton is reponsible for Barton.
Like everyone I know, Republicans & Independents alike, I believe that BP should pay, but anyone but a Moron would understand that when a Gov. can dictate how much & give to anyone they wish just might be a problem & daa, could est. a dangerous precedent!

What is Barton's job? Does he perhaps represent a group of people? What was he commenting on? Something of a purely personal nature? Or something else? He is not a rabid talk show host or someone with a book to sell.

He is a public official commenting on an issue that is in the public eye. He represents people and a political party.

BP had a choice, they could have paid nothing. After all, their CEO seemed to think that these issues were below his paygrade.  Perhaps the rig workers should be the ones we are talking to.

  Wreckhog;
  Since the whole party can be held to a stupid statement by one elected rep....pease tell the Democrats we want to know where our other 7 states are which Obammy spoke about !  Does the prez possibly represent a group of people ? What was he commenting upon ?
  
    Oh ! ..And please tell the Democrats the island of Guam will not likely capsize if we station 8,000 Marines there..As Rep Johnson (D-GA0 has informed us..
    And does Rep Johnson not represent a group of people ? What was he commenting upon ?.

    ...And speaking about....above one's pay grade..
   Seems I can recall a time  when this prez, who presses for the abortion holocaust to continue..answered in reply to a question of "when life begins"...boasted that such a question was "above my pay grade"..but still ..let the killing continue....

 
http://www.lifenews.com/nat4276.html
 
  

[ironglow]

Florida is taking matters into their own hands and has pretty much said let the Fed try to prosecute them from protecting their shores!

Heather

  Heather;
   Florida may get into big trouble if they act to protect their own shores ! After all, the Obamanites are going to sue the citizens of Arizona for protecting their border.
    Surprisingly, the Obamanites used Ecuadorean TV to announce their litigating attack against the people of Arizona. ...But perhaps it is not too surprising after all...they gave a standing "O" to the prez of Mexico...when he as much as called Arizonans a bunch of racist pigs..

[DDZ]

Why would Obama and congress make moves to hurry the cleanup of extracting the oil out of the water, where its easier to remove. They need pictures of oil soaked beaches, and pictures of oil soaked turtles and birds to further their agenda. 

[beerbelly]

You nailed it
                   Beerbelly

[magooch]

I for one thought that Representative Barton's statement that he was opposed to the government strong-arming a corporation for a slush fund was right on.  I didn't like it when he apologized for giving the impression that he opposed BP paying the damages.  His original statement should have made that clear, but really, he shouldn't have had to say that, because anyone but a moron would know that without having it spelled out.  I don't believe he is a beginner, so he should have been well aware that it isn't what you say that counts, it's what you didn't say.

[Cabin4]

The $20b is the equvilant to a shake down by the Executive branch. If the administration thought that BP owes us money, thats why we have a court system. The justice department can file suit against BP and or Great Britian for damages. This administration is the most illegal group to ever occupy the White House.

[jimster]

The entire thread started out with a false blanket statement

Republicans don't want BP to pay?

That's called baiting.  Easy enough to see through that.

give the government 20 billion and it will disappear in the blink of an eye and nothing will get cleaned up or anyone paid.

Nailed it.

Why would Obama and congress make moves to hurry the cleanup of extracting the oil out of the water, where its easier to remove. They need pictures of oil soaked beaches, and pictures of oil soaked turtles and birds to further their agenda.

 
Seems that way...and this administration is not above that at all...they buy and sell votes with our money, and further their agenda any way they can, cause their time is limited.  

The thread starts with a lying premise, prehaps not intentional, but false regardless.

Intentional it was.  Nobody believes either party or any normal person does not want BP to pay.  If the Dem party wants the money to go to them first, it's so they can skim off it...control it, and spend it themselves as always. It was actually a shakedown...but the ones who did the shaking do not care about the money getting to the people who need it...they want it. It's power.  Matter of fact, if BP was to just give billions to all the people who deserve it without our government involved...the current administration would be very angry and try to tax it all.  Anyone doubt this?  

This entire thread was started with an intention to stir the pot with a false blanket statement, with an agenda.

[Cabin4]

MSNBC ran that as headline. The so called news network with circus clown line up of broadcasters.

[wreckhog]

Why would Obama and congress make moves to hurry the cleanup of extracting the oil out of the water, where its easier to remove. They need pictures of oil soaked beaches, and pictures of oil soaked turtles and birds to further their agenda. 

I was fishing today and talking to an 86 year old WW2 vet who felt that this oil spill was really no big deal. He said (never heard this before) that after WW2, the US destroyed and dumped alot of military equipment right off our beaches. Vehicles filled with oil. Didn't think that was a big deal either. In his words, it is organic!