Maine factory owner begs feds: Why aren’t you buying the oil barriers I’m churning out?

posted at 9:01 pm on June 8, 2010 by Allahpundit

He figured there’d be a demand so he started cranking out a supply, and … crickets.

He’s already had a representative from BP visit his factory and inspect his product. The governor of Maine, John Baldacci, visited the facility and made a video plea to no one in particular to close the deal. Maine Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins wrote a letter on May 21 to the secretary of the Interior, the administrator of NOAA, and the commandant of the Coast Guard to alert them to the existence of Packgen, their supply of boom, and their demonstrated capacity to make more. I have no idea if those are the correct persons and agencies to notify about the manufacturing capacity and the availability of boom. One wonders if the senators know…

The ASTM specifications for containment boom aren’t rocket science, and Lapoint’s business was used to dealing with that sort of thing. So Lapoint took a chance and started manufacturing oil boom, figuring that Packgen would be able to sell it to help in the containment and cleanup effort. He added shifts and employees, and started cranking out the oil boom right away. It was a big financial risk — and he knew that — but he also figured that in an emergency of that magnitude, you had to act quickly, and figured that BP and the federal government would have to act quickly as well, and every single foot of boom he could make would be useful and in immediate demand.

He figured wrong.

Watch the clip (both clips, actually). Lapointe seems to be under the impression that he’s stuck waiting for BP to approve a purchase, but that can’t be true, can it? Surely the feds can step in and buy as much boom as they want. They’re still the ones in charge of protecting the coastline, aren’t they? Or has Kickass now farmed out that task to a guy he won’t even talk to on the phone? Remember, Jindal was demanding millions of feet of boom just a week or so after the rig exploded and, as of May 24, was still millions of feet short. I sure hope we’re going to find out tomorrow that Packgen’s material simply isn’t equal to the task and needs to be rejected, because if it turns out this is purely a matter of red tape — and if BP’s new claim that it’s ready to capture “virtually all” of the remaining oil doesn’t pan out — then Jim Hoft’s Katrina school-bus comparison is going to be awfully popular awfully soon.

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Certification….takes years to get certified as a qualified product and vendor of said product, and document the certification of production quality control.

check with the epa, they can ‘splain it.

Skandia Recluse on June 8, 2010 at 9:04 PM

Dude ought to load that shiite up on a truck, make a display of it, and drive it south—it’d get wide support and it’d send a clear message that businesses get stuff done

ted c on June 8, 2010 at 9:06 PM

Maybe they are trying to find it made cheaper in China.

Cindy Munford on June 8, 2010 at 9:06 PM

Because they want to nationalize the oil industry Duh

borg on June 8, 2010 at 9:06 PM

You pays your money, you takes your chances. Stupid idea to trust the federal government, especially one headed by President LadiesTee, to do the right thing and do it quickly.

Bishop on June 8, 2010 at 9:07 PM

‘Cause he ain’t greased the right skids yet.

Or, he’s a non-union factory owner.

Besides, he’s in league with evil big oil. /s

CPT. Charles on June 8, 2010 at 9:07 PM

I would love to hear what Gov. Jindal has to say.

Cindy Munford on June 8, 2010 at 9:07 PM

Paying off the appropriate people cuts red tape. Somebody needs a kickback to get this approved quickly.

fryclint on June 8, 2010 at 9:08 PM

Start making Canapes and edible gold desserts.

They’ll ring your phone off the hook…..

KZnextzone on June 8, 2010 at 9:08 PM

President LadiesTee, Bishop on June 8, 2010 at 9:07 PM

Ouch!!!

Cindy Munford on June 8, 2010 at 9:08 PM

Jindal ought to drive a bus (one of Ray Nagin’s buses) up there and get the stuff.

ted c on June 8, 2010 at 9:08 PM

Those LA fishermen need to know this story.

shick on June 8, 2010 at 9:09 PM

Bobby Jindal is on line one!

Rndguy on June 8, 2010 at 9:09 PM

You know what would really bring down Obama besides SP posts?

If the fishermen of the gulf states took their 5K checks from BP and bought the boom and put it out themselves. And made a video of it.

journeyintothewhirlwind on June 8, 2010 at 9:09 PM

Oh c’mon…this guy has bet the farm that Obama would do something competent. He lost, as everybody who makes that calculation must. No pity from me.

He’s played right into Obama’s hands here…he pushed it all onto BP. Good luck saving your company now, you idiot.

AUINSC on June 8, 2010 at 9:11 PM

Because they want to nationalize the oil industry Duh

borg on June 8, 2010 at 9:06 PM

Close comments, this!

thomasaur on June 8, 2010 at 9:11 PM

“John, this is Bobby Jindal. It’s 1500 miles between me and you, how about we split the difference and I’ll meet you at 700, say….somewhere in NC? You give me all you got and I’ll bring a few buses.”

“Sure, Governor, no problem—see you in 2 days?”

“Cool”

send the bill to BP and Obama with a photocopy of Jindals ass for obama to kiss.

ted c on June 8, 2010 at 9:11 PM

Present.

Doorgunner on June 8, 2010 at 9:13 PM

i’m sure obizzle has people looking at the viability of forming a commission to investigate putting together a steering committee to contemplate the various aspects of allowing certain individuals to verify whether this program has sustainable options regarding any past present or future conducive promise in the outlying procedural blah blah blah…

devadevadasa on June 8, 2010 at 9:13 PM

Maybe they are trying to find it made cheaper in China.

Cindy Munford on June 8, 2010 at 9:06 PM

Heh. And I bet it comes with it’s own mercury!

IrishEi on June 8, 2010 at 9:13 PM

Someone needs to organize a flotilla…

agmartin on June 8, 2010 at 9:15 PM

Hey, I have a great idea…

Let’s elect Barack Hussein Obowma as President of the United States!

… Who’s with me?

Seven Percent Solution on June 8, 2010 at 9:15 PM

Non union shop – get on the phone to SEIU
Send money too re-elect Obama and the DNC
PAC.

Problem solved

Sanmon on June 8, 2010 at 9:15 PM

If they get this problem fixed too soon, they might waste the crisis. Obama gets to impress the low-info voters by acting tough with the evil Big Oil Co., and they can use this disaster as an excuse to shut down domestic drilling.

Mr. Wednesday Night on June 8, 2010 at 9:16 PM

Because ObaMao is not interested in solutions to problems. He and his federal agencies have dithered over and tied up with red tape any efforts to minimize the ecological impact of this oil spill.

He is setting up to do an end-run around Cap and Tax via the EPA.
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MjVkNWJmODIwZTg2YWFhMzIyYmU1ODVmMWQ2YTYwMGY=

Guaranteed that his next move (with a big push from his “progressive” enablers) will be to nationalize the oil industry a la Chavez. Warning, ObaMao, take a close look at how Chavez is grinding the economy of Venezuela to nationalized poverty.

onlineanalyst on June 8, 2010 at 9:16 PM

I feel terrible for those in the Gulf, but I do get a kick outta knowing it’s stuff like this that will absolutely bury President Zero….

Incompetence & red tape is gonna really stick out on this excercise. Let’s hope even the hope-n-changy crowd pays attention to the debacle as it swirls the bowl.

Tim Zank on June 8, 2010 at 9:17 PM

More of that executive experience brought to the White House via Chicago…….video of him kicking his own ass..priceless

shov74 on June 8, 2010 at 9:17 PM

Mr. Wednesday Night on June 8, 2010 at 9:16 PM

I am starting to think they are not that smart.

Rndguy on June 8, 2010 at 9:18 PM

Alrighty,here is a case,where this businessman is taken
a huge gamble by producing all these oil booms and what-
nots,putting people to work,—————-HELLO Obama,
job creation—DUH,and was more concerned about helping
out,-a-can-do-American approach,and might be losing it
all,if BP Oil doesn’t order his product!!

I would be impressed with President Obama if he would
take some charge,and order this product to be used,cut
the red tape and make a decision!!

If this product doesn’t work,he’ll get sued anyhow!!

Hell,why hasn’t the US Navy been called in yet!!!!!!!!!!!

canopfor on June 8, 2010 at 9:20 PM

Barry is interested in DAMAGE CONTROL. Now if that product would soak up criticisms, sarcasm and political blame; Timmy G would have already cut a check!

GarandFan on June 8, 2010 at 9:21 PM

You would think that a the president would have the leadership skills to tell the Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA – forget about red tape, grant the state governments, BP, and those trying to contain the oil slick any permits you need to fight this thing. We knew this was going to come ashore 50 days ago and the federal government just gets in the way.

I wish I could say B+.

tommer74 on June 8, 2010 at 9:21 PM

Dear sir, the reason the Feds are not buying your barriers is that a crisis is a terrible thing to waste. Its the reason the Feds were slow to react, why they ignored the CG’s estimates of the leakage and accepted BP’s nonsense #’s. Without sufficient damage to the Gulf Coast their will not be the needed outrage to ram through an energy bill Crap & Tax bill. The intent now is let the situation fester, have the DOJ cook up a mis-direction play against BP and take the weight of their own actions off the front page. They just need to stall long for horrendous pics of destoyed widlife to take affect, and of course keep the platforms in the gulf idle long enough that due to their enormous cost the Co’s that own them send them elsewhere to recoup their investment. Once this is done they’ll not return until their new contracts expire, potentially years. Why else place a 6mo (the breakpoint for rg owners is 3-4 mo’s down time)moratorium with safety inspections immediately.

I often see comments decrying the incopetence of Team Obama, au contraire they seem all too competent in pulling all the lynch pins of the structure of the American way of life. Once you become aware of their true objective, you have to come to respect their uncanny brilliance in bringing our nation to its knees.

Archimedes on June 8, 2010 at 9:22 PM

take about 3 miles of that stuff and setup a barrier around the white house…..

messages.

ted c on June 8, 2010 at 9:22 PM

Demand? Meet Supply!

“Hey hold on here. I’m the president and somebody is going to get their a$$ kicked. You guys weren’t supposed to get together! Who knows what unpredictable things might happen? Now, who the freak let Demand out of her tower?”

smellthecoffee on June 8, 2010 at 9:22 PM

Why else place a 6mo (the breakpoint for rig owners is 3-4 mo’s down time)moratorium without safety inspections

Archimedes on June 8, 2010 at 9:24 PM

I’m torn here.

On one hand, you want to see hard work and good management pay off. On the other, we have no idea why the Feds and BP are dithering on this. Could be that he is asking for 20x the going rate for boom and they figure that waiting a bit for cheaper stuff marginally lowers the overall cost of cleanup. Just don’t know.

But it does look like more foot dragging even ifit isn;t.

OBQuiet on June 8, 2010 at 9:24 PM

Comrade Zero is too busy trying to find asses to kick. We should all realize that there isn’t enough time in the day to kick asses and do something that would save some beaches and pelicans and stuff.

Cicero43 on June 8, 2010 at 9:24 PM

Hey, I have a great idea…

Let’s elect Barack Hussein Obowma as President of the United States!

… Who’s with me?

Seven Percent Solution on June 8, 2010 at 9:15 PM

Seven Percent Solution: BINGO!!!!,The Hot Air Crystal Ball
fortold the Obama doom the night of
the Presidential Election!!:)

canopfor on June 8, 2010 at 9:24 PM

This guy better be careful about with his critcism, PBHO is looking to kick someone’s ass and it could easily end up being him.

Bishop on June 8, 2010 at 9:25 PM

More of that executive experience brought to the White House via Chicago…….video of him kicking his own ass..priceless

shov74 on June 8, 2010 at 9:17 PM

Speaking of which…

http://www.scrappleface.com/?p=4671

onlineanalyst on June 8, 2010 at 9:25 PM

The feds can swoop in and buy how much they want, easily. My father works for a company that makes cots, and they got a BIG order from FEMA during the bad Katrina hurricane season. With proper leadership, the federal procurement process is pretty quick. Unfortunately, this administration seems more interested in pointing fingers than solving the issue.

Slublog on June 8, 2010 at 9:25 PM

I gotta figure that Mr. John Lapoint of Packgen is a registered Republican … or … like ‘CPT. Charles on June 8, 2010 at 9:07 PM’ speculates, Packgen is a non-union shop.   Thus no interest on Obama’s or BP’s part to rush to buy Packgen’s product.
.
Maybe the Guvmmit could get some SEIU-types up there to bust some heads?
.

martywd on June 8, 2010 at 9:25 PM

Obama swept Maine and now these folks want pragmatism to win the day?

Baldacci, Snowe and Collins…..like political minor leagues of Little League

Hening on June 8, 2010 at 9:26 PM

If they get this problem fixed too soon, they might waste the crisis.

Yeah, but on the other hand, Obushwa could claim eleventy billion jobs created and/or saved with this one plant alone.

Mike H on June 8, 2010 at 9:27 PM

Sorry pal, but you ain’t from Chicago or Harvard. Better luck next spill.

rogerb on June 8, 2010 at 9:27 PM

This is what happens when you put a sh*thead lawyer in charge of things. In fact, I’m sure that most of his chucklehead advisers are lawyers. These idiots don’t squat about the real world. What’s worse is explained in the following quote:
Some people have the vocabulary to sum up things in a way you can understand them. This quote came from the Czech Republic. Someone over there has it figured out. We have a lot of work to do.

“The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president.”

“The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America . Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince.

The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president.”

LarryG on June 8, 2010 at 9:27 PM

The incompetence is ozzing out everywhere. it’s a good thing it’s not a war.

The feds can buy anything they want, and force BP to buy it later. That’s why 1990 OPA was passed to make sure the president was placed in charge of containment and cleanup … so every resource necessary could be brought to bear. Without need for anything but action. Time was viewed as the most important resource. HAHA, so much for that, so it will never happen again.

My guess is teleprompter reading and election rigging is easier than doing something real

tarpon on June 8, 2010 at 9:28 PM

Because they want to nationalize the oil industry Duh

borg on June 8, 2010 at 9:06 PM
Close comments, this!

thomasaur on June 8, 2010 at 9:11 PM

I agree with that thought, shivers, does not want to work for the government…

bluemarlin on June 8, 2010 at 9:29 PM

Well, We the People see a catastrophe being played out, put our skills and know how into action to produce a product to minimize the loss of our coastlines and business, and We the People get roadblocked by Barack “only Government can solve the crisis” Obama.

Electrongod on June 8, 2010 at 9:29 PM

Dude ought to load that shiite up on a truck, make a display of it, and drive it south—it’d get wide support and it’d send a clear message that businesses get stuff done

ted c on June 8, 2010 at 9:06 PM

From: Gulf Oil Spill Jobs
Subject: Your Oil Spill Job Application
To: “Ernest”
Date: Tuesday, June 8, 2010, 11:50 AM
Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

Gulf Oil Spill Jobs.com

Update from Risk Management Disaster Service Environmental Inc.
Gulf Oil Spill Jobs Update – June 7

Helllo Ernest,

Here’s an update on your application to work to clean up the Gulf Oil Spill which you made on our website GulfOilSpillJobs.com on our website GulfOilSpillJobs.com with Risk Management Disaster Service Environmental, a contractor.

NOTE: if you have access to any type of oil skimmer, please immediately email skimmers@gulfoilspilljobs.com as we have a direct order from BP to obtain more skimmers ASAP.
We are still waiting for BP to instruct us where to deploy the people like you who are available to help with the oil spill cleanup. BP’s last communication to me dated Friday, June 4, 2010 at 7:53 AM:

“Once we know what the staging areas and distribution centers require we will determine where your offered equipment is a match to what is being requested. Thank you for this comprehensive list – I’m certain that we will have need of it soon – I just can’t place it today.

Regards,
(name removed)
BP America
GOM MC252 Incident Management Team
Critical Resource – Equipment Team Lead“

Rather than continue waiting on BP, we’ve also begun directly notifying county/parish presidents and local emergency personnel of your availability by providing them with lists of the cleanup resources we can immediately deploy. To date, local government has also waited on BP to initiate action, but at some point, local leaders won’t wait. At any time the weather patterns may change to force slicks onto shore areas, and at that point, local officials will demand quick action, or begin their own clean up effort and send the bill later to BP. Hurricane season is approaching.

I’m sure you are frustrated, since you may be seeing news coverage like this morning’s aerial footage of miles and miles of marsh areas in Louisiana that are covered in oil, with no protective boom in place to keep oil away, or boom that hasn’t been maintained and floated into shore, with no one working to clean up the shoreline.

News channels over the weekend were reporting tar balls on the beaches in the Florida panhandle, and one network drove miles of beaches to find only 12 BP-paid people on hand to clean up miles of shoreline, an impossible job with such limited manpower with only shovels in hand.

Other stories have featured local government leaders frustrated because there were not enough boats with skimmers to clean up the small spill areas that are breaking away from the main slicks and now were floating closer to their shores. The irony is we have boats ready to deploy.

At some point, someone will demand oil clean up in their area, perhaps if President Obama gets around to ordering a proactive effort to begin. With the proper information about you and the other workers we have in the hands of both BP and the local governments, we’ll be able to deploy once clean up efforts begin.

We’ll keep you advised.

Sincerely,

William Lombardo, President
Risk Management Disaster Service Environmental, Inc.
You are receiving this email because you signed up at GulfOilSpillJobs.com.

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Risk Management Disaster Services, Inc.
7919 Hickory Flat Hwy
Woodstock, GA 30188

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Copyright (C) 2010 Risk Management Disaster Services, Inc. All rights reserved.

Key West Reader on June 8, 2010 at 9:29 PM

Its painfully clear,it looks more like extending
and milking of this “CRISIS” by Team Hopey!!

canopfor on June 8, 2010 at 9:29 PM

And then there is this:
http://www.wimp.com/solutionoil/
Check it out. These guys aren’t lawyers, they have functional brains.

LarryG on June 8, 2010 at 9:29 PM

Lapointe is showing great leadership and initiative here. Obama could learn a thing or two.

GTR640 on June 8, 2010 at 9:32 PM

And then there is this:
http://www.wimp.com/solutionoil/
Check it out. These guys aren’t lawyers, they have functional brains.

LarryG on June 8, 2010 at 9:29 PM

LarryG: Wow,now load that up,with a bit of water in
Canadian Fire-fighting WaterBombers to drop
on the areas!!!:)

canopfor on June 8, 2010 at 9:35 PM

Just think if this was a serious disease spreading across America, people are dying, pharmaceutical companies ramp up production with warehouses full of medicine….. we would probably be waiting on the FDA for weeks.

tommer74 on June 8, 2010 at 9:39 PM

Lapointe is showing great leadership and initiative here. Obama could learn a thing or two.

GTR640 on June 8, 2010 at 9:32 PM

If I had to guess, Lapointe, in the last 40 days or so, wasn’t throwing parties at his house, Wasn’t flying to some remote town for chicken wings. Wasn’t taking a vacation. Wasn’t flying across the great country to make press appearances. Wasn’t approached by his Daughter and was asked, “daddy, have you sold the boom to Mr. Kickass yet?”.
No. He rolled up his sleeves and worked on a solutions.

Electrongod on June 8, 2010 at 9:39 PM

This whole thing is such a clusterfark. Just wait until the feds are in charge of your health care…

ProfessorMiao on June 8, 2010 at 9:39 PM

Styrofoam would harm the environment.

Cicero43 on June 8, 2010 at 9:40 PM

I have a hard time even bringing myself to read these stories, much less write anything on the topic. Any minute now, I’m going to start screaming. So much preventable damage… while friends and family who rely on the fishing and oil industries are basically being told to be happy they’re going to get handouts – from someone, sometime – instead of continue being productive citizens. And indirectly, even people who don’t work directly for or with those industries are still going to get kicked right in the gut, because the regional economy is going to take a very hard hit. Hiring freezes have already started; layoffs are being planned. I watched that video and all I could think was – FML.

Laura Curtis on June 8, 2010 at 9:40 PM

I’m seriously thinking of borrowing a tinfoil hat.

Connie on June 8, 2010 at 9:42 PM

We should be thanking him.

tommer74 on June 8, 2010 at 9:45 PM

Has Obama even declared a State of Emergency yet? That would allow the bypassing of normal bureaucracy and regulations.

meci on June 8, 2010 at 9:47 PM

First Obama’s Katrina, and now Obama’s MRAP?

Dusty on June 8, 2010 at 9:48 PM

Is this the guy Obama wants to kick?

profitsbeard on June 8, 2010 at 9:49 PM

My experts tell me that the only ass that needs to be kicked is . . . the one belonging to Captain Kickass himself.

TXUS on June 8, 2010 at 9:49 PM

The response has been just pathetic. I at least expected people to try to save some animals.

Blake on June 8, 2010 at 9:49 PM

And now they run health care.

jukin on June 8, 2010 at 9:52 PM

This is absolutely disgraceful… Govenor Jindal should just take thngs into his own hands now like someone else said… DO IT BOBBY!

CCRWM on June 8, 2010 at 9:52 PM

Has Obama even declared a State of Emergency yet? That would allow the bypassing of normal bureaucracy and regulations.
meci on June 8, 2010 at 9:47 PM

Yes he has, but only for a coastal golf course that he hasn’t yet played.

Bishop on June 8, 2010 at 9:52 PM

[Blake on June 8, 2010 at 9:49 PM]

Now that you mention it, Sierra Club, Nation Wildlife, et al, are strangely quiet about the government’s failure to respond during this disaster. Or is it that the LSM is deep six’ing the press releases?

Dusty on June 8, 2010 at 9:53 PM

Why? Because Obama loves this! I know it’s hard to fathom that the PRESIDENT of this great nation loves this, but it’s true. There can be no other explanation.

SouthernGent on June 8, 2010 at 9:54 PM

I send King Ladies Tee thanks every morning…

KZnextzone on June 8, 2010 at 9:55 PM

No SEIU representation at PacGen, no interest from Captain Kickass.

BobMbx on June 8, 2010 at 9:55 PM

Has Obama even declared a State of Emergency yet? That would allow the bypassing of normal bureaucracy and regulations.
meci on June 8, 2010 at 9:47 PM
Yes he has, but only for a coastal golf course that he hasn’t yet played.

Bishop on June 8, 2010 at 9:52 PM

Love that!

bluemarlin on June 8, 2010 at 9:55 PM

Dusty on June 8, 2010 at 9:53 PM

The EcoFreaks are focused on policy.

Here in Minnesota there are now radio ads airing that urge people to contact senators Franken and Klobuchar and tell them to support PBHO’s attempts to cap and trade everything in sight. The ads are long, complete with PBHO’s speeches about moving away from oil to wind and other energy fantasies.

The worst part is, the ads are on the local conservative radio station too.

Bishop on June 8, 2010 at 9:57 PM

Does Packgen sell to the consumer? I would like to order 5000 feet of boom to protect me/my family from the Democrats in Washington…..

TN Mom on June 8, 2010 at 9:57 PM

He is not charging enough…

Wade on June 8, 2010 at 9:59 PM

I’m really starting to think that this disaster is being intentionally mismanaged for effect. No way with the number of companies, engineers, amateurs and tradesman who all have great ideas and devices that are worth trying to stop the leak. Not to mention all the people and companies that are chomping at the bit to deploy containment measures. This is a National Emergency. There should not be ANY red tape or bureaucratic hoops to jump through.

And what about “skimmer” tankers? Why, after all this time, has there been no effort to go after the spill itself? I just can’t come to terms with the concept that this is impossible to do.

Guardian on June 8, 2010 at 10:01 PM

The worst part is, the ads are on the local conservative radio station too.

Bishop on June 8, 2010 at 9:57 PM

The only reason those stations still havce licensing…

KZnextzone on June 8, 2010 at 10:01 PM

Dusty on June 8, 2010 at 9:53 PM

I don’t know. I’ve lived through oil spills before and they were always organizing save the birds type of stuff which entails bathing birds in detergent to remove the oil.

I would think the BSA would be doing it but they were probably banned in case there were any gay ducks.

Blake on June 8, 2010 at 10:01 PM

Is there any way that we could do a “Dunkirk in the Gulf of Mexico”?

Is there any way to contact this company and find out how much it would cost to purchase some of these? I’d be willing to bet that there are people in the country who would be willing to haul these down to the Gulf if we were able to raise enough money to pay for them…..

Unfortunately, I don’t have those kind of contacts, but there are plenty of conservative blogs who could get the word out, right? I’m sure that many of the shows on talk radio and/or Fox News Channel would be willing to put the word out, as well. We’ve got to do something, and I’m tired of feeling helpless! I put the article on my Facebook page about 1/2 an hour ago – hopefully that will help -

TeresainFortWorth on June 8, 2010 at 10:01 PM

Even the Captain of the Titanic had credentials WTF is wrong with less than half the country?

KZnextzone on June 8, 2010 at 10:05 PM

I don’t know. I’ve lived through oil spills before and they were always organizing save the birds type of stuff which entails bathing birds in detergent to remove the oil.

I would think the BSA would be doing it but they were probably banned in case there were any gay ducks.

Blake on June 8, 2010 at 10:01 PM

That is what’s so strange about this whole thing. There are no organized clean up efforts, only handfuls of birds…. “plumes” going willy nilly with the winds. Something is up, it’s very strange.

Either this thing is going to rise up and whack us in the face all at once, or…. Who the heck knows. With this admin and their theatrics and crises, nothing can shock us anymore. Something is amiss.

Key West Reader on June 8, 2010 at 10:12 PM

Or has Kickass now farmed out that task to a guy he won’t even talk to on the phone?

LOL — Kickass! Awesome, AP!

NoLeftTurn on June 8, 2010 at 10:12 PM

Even the Captain of the Titanic had credentials WTF is wrong with less than half the country?

KZnextzone on June 8, 2010 at 10:05 PM

But the Captain of the Titanic didn’t send out the warning to the passengers until he had no choice. He wanted them to party and dance the night away until they got cold and wet feet from the rising water. Then the panic began.
The only difference now is we the passengers are becoming aware of the crisis and our leader is still partying and dancing. Four!

Electrongod on June 8, 2010 at 10:13 PM

Is it just me or is Barry looking for asses to kick remind anyone else of OJ looking for the real killers?

Daveyardbird on June 8, 2010 at 10:14 PM

no wonder obama don’t wanna buy that stuff…..look at the color…

ted c on June 8, 2010 at 10:15 PM

Just as soon as some Chicago crony starts making these booms they will be purchased and deployed.

jukin on June 8, 2010 at 10:15 PM

I know of companies that went out of business trying to get government contracts. You just can’t anticipate what our beloved government is going to do, especially this one.

I’m assuming Jindahl didn’t get what he wanted because he’s a Republican, Obama can’t have a Republican doing something successful. Normally, I wouldn’t think like that but this White House has shown itself capable of that line of thinking. Clinton, on the other hand, would have gotten the aid down there fast and taken all the credit for it.

bflat879 on June 8, 2010 at 10:18 PM

Post this all over, I just posted to my facebook page..

reshas1 on June 8, 2010 at 10:19 PM

Maybe Obama’s pronouncing it “Pock-gen” so no one knew what company he was talking about?

andycanuck on June 8, 2010 at 10:20 PM

Paying off the appropriate people cuts red tape. Somebody needs to kickassback to get this approved quickly.

fryclint on June 8, 2010 at 9:08 PM

FIFY.

AnotherOpinion on June 8, 2010 at 10:25 PM

Does he run a union shop? Obama’s bosses may not want him using goods that they didn’t get their kickbacks dues from.

malclave on June 8, 2010 at 10:26 PM

This is ridiculous. The gov’t should be taking care of this. I’m a contracting officer with a Federal agency and there are established procedures to purchase practically anything on an emergency basis very quickly. For something like this, it could easily be done in 24 hrs turnaround from the time the prices of the booms were provided by the contractor. The whole thing could be done with a simple letter contract that is firmed up later on.

I guess Obama is too busy kicking ass to buy the stuff that’s needed to actually solve a problem. It’s almost as if he has no executive experience whatsoever…

84fiero on June 8, 2010 at 10:27 PM

no wonder obama don’t wanna buy that stuff…..look at the color…
ted c on June 8, 2010 at 10:15 PM

White booms being used to corral black oil? Oh man, this is right out of the KKK handbook.

Bishop on June 8, 2010 at 10:28 PM

PBHO needs this oil leak to continue so that he can use it as a cudgel against oil companies and push his Crap/Trade disaster. I fully expect Time magazine and the NYT to devote entire editions of their rags to nothing but photos of dead sea otters and oil-soaked baby pelicans.

Bishop on June 8, 2010 at 10:31 PM

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