Krauthammer: Barton’s apology was “the most politically stupid statement of the year”
posted at 9:39 pm on June 17, 2010 by Allahpundit
Not the first time CK’s bucked “true conservative” dogma, although I bet he’ll be surprised to find that his take on this is even semi-controversial on the right. Like he says, and as I acknowledged earlier, Barton has a fair point about The One’s pressure tactics with corporations. Granted, there was no “gun on the table” during yesterday’s negotiations, but there didn’t need to be: The most powerful prosecutor in the land was sitting right there, a physical reminder to BP that they could do things the easy way by accepting the escrow plan or they could do them the hard way by refusing. But with 60,000 barrels a day bubbling up in the gulf and Bobby Jindal so desperate that he appears ready to start scooping the oil out of the water with his hands, a House hearing aimed at fact-finding about BP’s negligence was not the time to go about making that point. In fact, to the extent that what Barton said plays into the left’s narrative of Republicans as mindless slaves of big business, it actually gives The One political cover to bully other companies in the future. It’s amazing that this needs to be pointed out to a sitting congressman, but if someone whose conservative credentials are as impeccable as CK’s is willing to try, I’m happy to pass it along. Click the image to watch.
Blowback
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It seems that I was wrong. The impotent troll has tried all the talking points, and it looks like they can’t even win a gimme.
Saltysam on June 17, 2010 at 11:43 PM
The critter tries, so B+ for effort.
Bishop on June 17, 2010 at 11:45 PM
–So, let me get this straight: A policeman is well within his rights to hit a girl in the face because she punched him, but the US Government is not well within their rights to try to enforce existing laws against a corporation who admits it violated them? And, Jen, it’s not nationalization because the US is not getting any equity in BP.
Jimbo3 on June 17, 2010 at 11:46 PM
Wow Jimbo3, you’re not really good with analogies, are you?
powerpro on June 17, 2010 at 11:47 PM
Meanwhile Bart Stupak (D-Mordor) says that BP should be paying for the healthcare of anyone that loses their job because of the spill. Then it will be their car payments, mortgage, food, utilities, schooling, and clothes.
You have to give it to the ‘rats, when it comes to other people’s money, there is never enough that can be bought.
Bishop on June 17, 2010 at 11:49 PM
Kinda flew so high over his head, he didn’t even blink.
Saltysam on June 17, 2010 at 11:50 PM
–So you would rather have everyone injured by this wait ten years (through a trial and several levels of appeals, which BP would likely lose) before anyone gets any payment from BP?
Jimbo3 on June 17, 2010 at 11:51 PM
Jen, here’s a definition of facism: a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition.
Why don’t you explain how that has anything to do with the $20B escrow fund.
Jimbo3 on June 17, 2010 at 11:55 PM
Hey, Bush was popularly elected.
JohnInCA on June 17, 2010 at 11:38 PM
Snort.
crr6 on June 17, 2010 at 11:39 PM
JohnInCA on June 17, 2010 at 11:56 PM
Well said… the US is merely taking all the operating cash and profits from the company, ultimatly killing the goose. But you are right, we are not nationalizing it.
Koa on June 17, 2010 at 11:58 PM
You would rather have the executive branch determine who is “injured” and who is “not”?
You do not understand the corrupting forces of absolute power.
*scratches chin*
or perhaps you do.
Saltysam on June 18, 2010 at 12:01 AM
–Not all. They’ll pay dividends again in three quarters. And it’s not like they didn’t cause the liabilities that are creating the problems for them.
Jimbo3 on June 18, 2010 at 12:01 AM
I agree, this whole “legal system” thing we have going here in the U.S. is a crock. I mean come on, the defendant in ANY trial is probably going to lose anyway, best to imprison or execute them right now, take away all their assets too.
Bishop on June 18, 2010 at 12:02 AM
–It’s pretty clear who is injured and who is responsible. The only question is what mechanism is to be used to provide compensation. Do you want to tell the people in Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi that you want them to have to pay tons of legal bills and wait ten years before they receive any money?
Jimbo3 on June 18, 2010 at 12:03 AM
–Considering they’ve already admitted they are responsible, they’re 99% of the way there, anyways. I’m sure their lawyers have looked over things and told them that they are f*cked seven ways to Sunday.
Jimbo3 on June 18, 2010 at 12:04 AM
I love how we’re calling this an escrow account. As if there is some kind of disinterested escrow officer.
Saltysam on June 18, 2010 at 12:05 AM
Yes. That’s EXACTLY what I said.
Except of course I didn’t.
While you’re working on improving your analogy skillz, work on reading comprehension as well, mmkay?
powerpro on June 18, 2010 at 12:06 AM
Well, the GM shakedown worked so well, why not BP? Btw, who’s next?
The moratorium may hurt the people on the Gulf coast more than the spill. Plug the damn hole…yeah.
d1carter on June 18, 2010 at 12:06 AM
I said who is injured and who is “not”.
Big difference.
Saltysam on June 18, 2010 at 12:07 AM
This well was about to receive a safety award from the MMS…
When do the hearings on MMS start?
d1carter on June 18, 2010 at 12:08 AM
Sure, for the original spill, but not for all of the after effects for which other *ahem* parties must be included in the blame game.
See, I know you want to go after BP, just make them pay up front some random amount, but that whole inconvenient legal system things is still there, hovering in the background and making it tough for liberals to get what they want.
Don’t blame the player, blame the system, and if you feel like breaking the rules this one time, don’t go crying when the rules are broken again for something you don’t agree with.
Bishop on June 18, 2010 at 12:10 AM
You do know in situations (like here) where the tortfeasor and the injured parties are obvious, it’s perfectly normal for the tortfeasor to set up an escrow fund rather than waste the time and money of the courts. It’s called economic efficiency. Remember, BP admits that it’s liable. So you’d like to have thousands of pointless, costly lawsuits…why?
crr6 on June 18, 2010 at 12:15 AM
Bishop, what makes you think the rules were broken? Don’t you think BP’s lawyers have told it that BP has no good defense and so BP has decided to do this now to try to gain some public relations benefit, rather than spending $1 billion or so in legal fees, waiting six or eight years to finally pay (in an environment where they can’t earn much interest on cash) and then still having to pay out at the end.
Jimbo3 on June 18, 2010 at 12:19 AM
Krauthammer is right about Barton, period. The only thing Obama really needed to take the heat off himself was for someone else to assume the role of “Americas Most Insensitive and Tone Deaf Politician”. Today, Barton became that someone else. Just … wow.
MisterPundit on June 18, 2010 at 12:21 AM
PBHO admits mistakes in both monitoring BP’s cleanup efforts as well as making tactical moves in MMS before the accident that might have kept it from occurring.
Tell you what, let’s just say that the federal government executive is responsible and that heads should roll. Since PBHO is the chief executive and therefore culpable for all those under him, he should be first. I mean he did 99% admit it, right? Drag him before a senate commission and really give him a grilling, perhaps subpoena his emails, rant and rave and yell “What did you know and when did you know it?!”
Bishop on June 18, 2010 at 12:22 AM
Bishop thinks that settlement conferences=fascism.
crr6 on June 18, 2010 at 12:25 AM
PBHO said he will make BP do this, not that he would ask, request, beseech, beg, entreat, no he said “make” as if he has the power to “make” a private company do such a thing.
If you want to skip the right for BP to have its day in court then feel free, but saying that “Hey they’re probably going to be guilty anyway” is pretty thin gruel.
Bishop on June 18, 2010 at 12:28 AM
Thinking of you thumbing hastily through your textbooks searching for relevant support makes me laugh. Makes my wife laugh too and she’s not easily amused, so props to you.
Bishop on June 18, 2010 at 12:32 AM
Support for what? That parties can settle a case rather than go to trial? Is that some sort of novel concept to you?
crr6 on June 18, 2010 at 12:33 AM
–BP made the decision to skip their day in court. The fact that they did this shows how little defense they had to the charges.
Jimbo3 on June 18, 2010 at 12:33 AM
Dude…I think we killed Bishop.
crr6 on June 18, 2010 at 12:43 AM
Heh, no, like I said, thinking of you trying to sound relevant and knowledgeable on thread after thread makes me laugh.
You remind of the crotch jockeys who try and talk motorcycles with me, throwing out every term they can remember from their quick perusal of the maintenance manual. Like you they are very earnest in their desire to sound informed but also like you they come off as they really are, an inch deep.
Bishop on June 18, 2010 at 12:47 AM
Barton is a fool.
Did he get any advice at all before making that speech? Does somebody, anybody work for this guy that handles publicity and messaging? Surely the Republican Party has staff available to advise and coordinate?
Apparently no, no, and no.
Good grief. We are ruled by fools and knaves.
exdeadhead on June 18, 2010 at 12:52 AM
BP is already paying out claims, are they not? They have claims offices set up all over the Gulf. The money is already flowing.
Missy on June 18, 2010 at 12:52 AM
No, they did not. The various plaintifs in this matter will still be sueing for many years. All BP did was to allow the Obama administration to get their hands on doling out money to people they see fit.
Lets see, if Obama’s pay czar decides that this spill has irreperably hurt the SEIU members ability to contribute to their pension fund for the next 20 years, then, well he could decide to just turn over 3 billion to cover that potential loss. No questions asked cause he can assume that the SEIU would have grown to 3 million individual members so it is actually only a 1k per member charge.
Then Obama’s pay czar could decide that every child of every union member deserves to have their college education paid for. Only 200k for each child, so again no big deal.
Then as Stupak has already mentioned, all those union members deserve to get their healthcare paid for for the next 10 years as well.
Notice, how the pay czar only takes care of the union workers? Those evil business owners do not deserve anything from the socialist Obama government because they do not even donate to the Democratic candidates.
This is EXACTLY the kind of corrupt Chicago style of political favoritism works. Corrupt government actions from top to bottom.
And also notice how fast this process went from an independant 3rd party to an Obama White House insider. Yet another lie from our corrupt president.
Freddy on June 18, 2010 at 12:53 AM
Hey crr6 and Jimbo3….
Please pay attention to the following:
Bart Stupak: Hey, Let’s Use That BP Escrow Account To Fund Health Care
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/06/17/stupak_legitimate_for_bp_escrow_account_to_fund_health_care.html
Get it?
This will become a slush fund for the left. It’s not about the little peons in the Gulf who are suffering. That’s what they SAID it was about…but then they say that all the time whenever they want to scam the American people into believing they’re doing something for wholly altruistic reasons.
powerpro on June 18, 2010 at 1:04 AM
???
No, this is not lawful.
Where’d you get that idea?
(I thought you were an “attorney..?”
BP broke no existing laws.
Their well had an accident for which they’re taking full liability.
But to arbitrarily name a sum ($20 billion) and demand that they recompense “unnamed victims” for unspecified “damages” outside of a court of law and to do so in the name of the American government and American people is Fascism.
BTW, why are we doing this when I thought Maobama said we were suing them, too?!
Himbo, you said you were a “corporate attorney?”
Why aren’t you asking these questions?
Jenfidel on June 18, 2010 at 1:08 AM
The “fund” should be administered by the Governors of the states affected. Keep govt at the lowest level possible,,,this is another slush fund for O. Also, there is already a 1990 law that requires an oil company to pay for damages that it causes due to a spill
retiredeagle on June 18, 2010 at 1:09 AM
You must be the sh*ttiest “corporate attorney” but then we knew that because your diploma came from the law school of Wikipedia…LOL
Anyhoo, BP hasn’t “skipped their day in court.”
They’re being sued by everyone and their dog, I imagine, including the Ogabe Régime.
This $20 billion White House slushfund is over and beyond any legal judgments or damages they’ll be assessed should they lose in court(s).
Their defense is that it was an accident of nature and that the U.S. regulatory agencies either gave them a pass and blew off crucial inspections–which they did–and/or that BP took reasonable measures to avoid such an accident and used due diligence to contain the spill (but were impeded by the U.S. government).
Jenfidel on June 18, 2010 at 1:17 AM
Yes, there is.
Interestingly enough, this was pointed out by
Sarah Palin over 3 weeks ago.
See her reference to the 1990 Oil Pollution Act mid-way down.
Jenfidel on June 18, 2010 at 1:22 AM
Stupidity comes fairly easy to him though.
xblade on June 18, 2010 at 1:24 AM
You have to watch these pet Republicans. Sometimes their masters loosen the leash a little bit, so they say something sensible and we think they’re worth listening to, but when called to heel, they heel. Krauthammer serves his leftist masters well. I’ve known all I need to know about Krauthammer since he started promoting the VAT tax.
joe_doufu on June 18, 2010 at 1:37 AM
Not just that. Remember, Obama claims that BP is liable for the costs of people put out of work as a result of Obama declaring a moratorium on oil drilling and completely unrelated to BP or to the accident. BP would probably be very capable of defending themselves from liability for Obama’s policy decisions.
joe_doufu on June 18, 2010 at 1:48 AM
Politically stupid? It’s hard to argue with that. But Barton’s statement had at least the advantage of being true. And it would be nearly as stupid to apologize for the apology rather than simply make the point better. That’s just an error on top of an error.
There Goes The Neighborhood on June 18, 2010 at 2:17 AM
Charles, you are great.
However, somebody ought to tell the American people that the WH moves on bondholders and now on a corporation who has not yet been proven to be guilty of anything are nothing less than a despotic handling of an unpopular entity and plays to the ochlocracy aspect in governance.
Earlier I said that if The One is an example of a HLS education, the place should be shut down.
Without due process.
Which is exactly what The One likes to ignore in these cases even as captured prisoners are given civil rights. Show you who the bad guys are, in His view.
Apparently the political hacks in the WH aren’t satisfied just to make us economically a Third World nation, they want the legal system to sink to that level, also.
IlikedAUH2O on June 18, 2010 at 2:49 AM
So according to CK and AP, now is not the time to start telling the truth. In this age of lies, obfuscation, and cynical calculation, the only real time is never. People can remain convinced that some aspect of telling the truth empowers the left. Bzzt. That’s the Boehner/RINO strategy for failure. Krauthammer disappoints.
The male RINOs must be scheduled for sex change — the pre-surgical estrogen is working well. The converted harridans can be bossed by Snowe and Collins, who got that much right in the first place.
Feedie on June 18, 2010 at 2:59 AM
I would figure you can add a ton of pension plans to those who will be suing BP soon. The company is totally within bounds to have cancelled the dividends that had not been declared yet (would be paid in September and December, 2010); however, I do not believe they are legally allowed to cancel dividends that have already been declared.
For those not familiar with stock dividends, a company announces that they will pay a dividend on a particular date to stock holders of record (those that own stock) on a date prior to the date the dividend is paid.
BP was supposed to pay a dividend this week based on the 1st quarter of this year. The first quarter of this year ended on March 31st, a month before the Deepwater Horizon well blew. They had already declared that dividend would be paid to shareholders of record. I think that is a legally binding contract once declared.
The US Goverment as it now exists is primarily an agent of wealth redistribution and punishment of those who have worked, scrimped, saved, and invested to have a better life in the future and hopefully leave something to their children. Obama and all progressives both right and left must be impeached.
Greyledge Gal on June 18, 2010 at 3:01 AM
I didn’t read the entire thread. But this had to be one of the stupidest remarks submitted.
I’d have been fine, I suppose, if Congress and Obama had hurriedly enacted legislation to address short term needs of Gulf Coast victims. But this escrow fund was a unilateral action by Obama; it’s banana republic stuff. How does this Obamafund represent “existing laws”?
Obama argues that “an independent” party will administer this fund. My guess is that most of the claims will be dealt with in federal district courts that feed appeals into either the Fifth or Eleventh Circuit courts. I would have been comfortable with federal legislation quickly creating a special masters panel overseen by either the Fifth Circuit or Eleventh Circuit or both or by a prominent federal district court (say, the one sitting in New Orleans, for example).
Now, that would have made sense. The added advantage is that the handling of any current claims could have easily been coordinated with later legal action filed by any claimants.
BuckeyeSam on June 18, 2010 at 5:16 AM
He should have asked the chair, “when will the “fact finding” hearing about Obama’s negligence start?”
DSchoen on June 18, 2010 at 5:24 AM
However
BP Is not a USA company.
BP was operating WITH the permission of the Obama Admin.
BP complied with ALL requirements of the Obama admin.
It was the Obama admin that gave BP an exemption from the environmental requirements.
DSchoen on June 18, 2010 at 5:43 AM
CK has a great IBD column posted. See realclearpolitics.com
ted c on June 18, 2010 at 5:54 AM
Thanks for the heads up. Two versions.
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/537684/201006172344/Obamas-Answer-To-Spill-Comes-Up-Short.aspx
http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=NmY5ZTZkZmZlYTk5MjM5ZGZhZmU2MjBkYTY3YzE3ZTE=
Evidently, RCP believes that its readers cannot read a paragraph longer than two sentences.
BuckeyeSam on June 18, 2010 at 6:11 AM
Oh deae lord, Jimbo3 is back?!?? I thought that lawyer (tee hee) troll had vanished for good.
angryed on June 18, 2010 at 6:38 AM
Barton was probably the only one in the room yesterday that told the truth about anything of significance, and Chuckles calls it stupid.
Well, I guess the little girl in the fable who said:”the emperor has no clothes” was called stupid by all of the adults around too.
(in this case, however, the clothes have no emperor)
I guess that in Washington DC telling the truth has indeed become stupid, woe be unto this once great nation.
LegendHasIt on June 18, 2010 at 6:45 AM
Krauthammer was right. I saw this last night. There are ways to do these things and Barton picked the wrong way. He could have gone after the methods used by the Obama administration without apologizing to BP.
Terrye on June 18, 2010 at 6:47 AM
BP screwed up and made a mess in the Gulf. They did not offer to help Jindal, they lawyered up. They have been working hard on the cap and trade bill with the Democrats for some time. They gave them a bunch of money to run for office so that they could push that cap and trade bill. As far as I am concerned BP created this situation and now their friends in the Obama administration have turned on them in order to save their own political hides.
Terrye on June 18, 2010 at 6:51 AM
CK pretty much said what I said. Either think about what you want to say in that type of public venue or be quiet. What he did was the worst of all.
AnninCA on June 18, 2010 at 8:00 AM
Then, why apologize? He’s an idiot.
AnninCA on June 18, 2010 at 8:01 AM
Investing in stock is a risk and carries no recourse, unless it’s a case of embezzlement.
A gusher just doesn’t meet that standard.
AnninCA on June 18, 2010 at 8:03 AM
What’s fascinating is the concept that BP acted ‘stupidly’.
They didn’t.
They acted with the full knowledge of the liability cap put on by Congress and enacted into law. When that liability was capped they based their judgment on the risks and benefits of what they could do.
When they cut corners the federal regulatory system, set up to monitor such ventures, should have done its job to correct them. It didn’t. Sixteen missed oversight opportunities and one inspection with a brand new inspector on his first solo inspection, that back last year, plus waivers signed by MMS under the aegis of Dept. of the Interior, then did not correct such mistakes.
So when the well blows out, yes BP is responsible.
And the US government is culpable for not doing its job to ensure that safety levels were maintained and risk minimized as the cap on liability then pushes the oversight of risk onto the federal government. It is government caps on liability and putting a regulatory structure into place to remove the liability system that is at fault: BP is an actor responding to those changes in the liability and risk management oversight done by Congress.
The shakedown of a private company is not even being run the way that the President promised it would be: by an independent third party. By placing the ‘Pay Czar’ at the top of that food chain, it loses independence and breaks the Presidential promise made just 16 hours previously. That is not BP putting money under an independent third party, but under an administration hack put in place by the Administration. Now we have Bart Stupak wanting to use THAT not for restitution of damages but for health care… it isn’t called a ‘slush fund’ for a reason, you know? Slops out of one slurpee cup to another just fine when there are no legal structures and standards applied to such a fund.
My take on Barton is that he was over the target, and both sides of the aisle felt that he was going to be making a politically inconvenient statement: a true statement that no one wants to hear.
Even if you don’t like the statement, it distracts from the actual plugging and clean up effort and draws attention away from the Administration’s blockade of newsies actually covering the extent of the spill. Luckily I expect third party, independent satellite coverage to start telling that story, then backed up with generous citizen reporting to verify and ground truth the extent of the spill.
ajacksonian on June 18, 2010 at 8:32 AM
The cap on damages is $75M, BP is putting up $20B before the investigation has really begun. We’ve had so much misinformation presented through the media, we don’t really know what’s what. The only thing I do know is that the President of the United States told the BP execs to show up at our house with a check book and that his guy would see to it that people who suffered a loss would get some money, some time if they have a legit claim. SEIU provides cleaning services,right.
Kissmygrits on June 18, 2010 at 9:49 AM
Of course, BP knows that the $20 Billion won’t protect them from lawsuits. For it to be extortion, you’d have to expect some sort of benefit to accrue from giving Uncle Sam the money. But BP is screwed no matter what.
I still don’t like Obama’s abuse of executive authority, but I also wonder if BP was resisting payment of the money. They’re pretty close with Obama and Rahm, after all.
hawksruleva on June 18, 2010 at 10:06 AM
Yet!
capejasmine on June 18, 2010 at 12:30 PM
When Krauthammer is wrong, he does it in spades.
maverick muse on June 18, 2010 at 1:30 PM
ajacksonian on June 18, 2010 at 8:32 AM
Touché!
btw, would BBC step up to that plate? Or do they hate Cameron so much, and despise their senior citizens to pay the brunt for BP authorities?
maverick muse on June 18, 2010 at 1:34 PM
I disagree with Krauthammer.
I think the most politically stupid statement of the year is Hillary Clinton telling the Ecuadoreans that the administration is going to sue Arizona over its immigration law.
Doodad Pro on June 18, 2010 at 2:12 PM
So now that obumbles has a slush fund, how is chicago affected by the spill, and how much of this shakedown will end up in the hood? Maybe cause the price of seafood will sky rocket the Prez will give out skrimps vouchers for his peoples.
phillyrepub on June 18, 2010 at 2:20 PM
Why exactly is it wrong to shake down a guilty party?
ernesto on June 18, 2010 at 2:27 PM
The Executive has no authority to demand this.
Congress set up the 9/11 Fund and Courts have set up similar funds. But the Executive Branch is demanding money from those it is regulating and criminally investigating.
The problem is not the money; $20b isn’t even enough. The problem is Protection Racket Presidency.
Noel on June 18, 2010 at 3:27 PM
This whole mess stinks. Both BP and the federal government are libel in this action. The actions of our president are going to make it harder/more expensive to extract oil in such conditions in our country. I am sure that Gulf oil drilling will come to a near standstill. Jobs will be lost in the industry because of it. And, we will become more dependent upon foreign oil sources in the future. Unicorn dung will not fuel the needs of this country. Thank you Mr. Obama./sarc
SC.Charlie on June 18, 2010 at 3:49 PM
“That’s stoooopid! See, I win!!!!” Idiotic.
Who’s done a better job, Blue Cross or Medicare?
ddrintn on June 18, 2010 at 4:48 PM
Barton was stupid to provide himself to the rats as a kick toy, just when people were beginning to wake up to the realization they had elected a bum in a suit .
borntoraisehogs on June 18, 2010 at 5:32 PM
This is like saying that Rand Paul was politically stupid. Okay, now what?
I doubt BP would have stonewalled in the courts unless its victims made impossible settlement demands. In fact, Obama probably did BP a favor although he was plainly exploiting a political opportunity to take the heat off himself . BP will now presumably seek to limit its liability in advance by dickering with the government.
And ernesto, a shakedown is still a power grab, by definition. If I blackmail a suspected child molester, I don’t get points for fairness.
Seth Halpern on June 18, 2010 at 6:19 PM
Barton is bought and paid for by the oil business. Nobody, and I mean nobody, takes more money from the oil and gas industry than this guy. Talk about corruption. I guarantee you that folks down on the Gulf Coast (be they conservative, liberal, moderate or apolitical) are way, way more than happy about Obama’s “shakedown” of BP. The sickening apologists for this grossly negligent FOREIGN company are ridiculous jackasses.
dakine on June 18, 2010 at 7:24 PM
Why not just shoot them?
Bugler on June 18, 2010 at 7:29 PM
Umm, Jen and Buckeye. See below. And Jen, it’s not a defense that the police didn’t pull you over when you were speeding.
Jimbo3 on June 18, 2010 at 8:15 PM
Do you want to tell the people in Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi that you want them to have to pay tons of legal bills and wait ten years before they receive any money?
JIMBO…your making an assumption that the legal system will be placed on permanent lock out if the so called independant administrator (an Obama pay Czar) hands out the 20B! You know as well as everyone else here that the victims can collect the 20B then SUE BP when the trip and fall lawyers get to them. That is why the evil slow legal system is so important even with its faults! It sucks, but that why we are a Nation of laws.
JohnD9207 on June 18, 2010 at 8:50 PM
Jenfidel, you are about as dim a bulb as I have encountered online. You appear to have no personal knowledge base whatsoever. Everything you says is regurgitated curd from whatever GOP teat you’re currently gumming.
The feds and locals seize assets all the time from criminals, including those who have not yet been convicted. Yet, it is the rare conservative who has a problem with police asset seizures and forfeiture programs.
BP is essentially on public trial for murderous fraud and negligence. Still some Republicans are on their knees servicing BP. The GOP is guaranteed to kill the expected November comeback with this stupid posturing.
Anybody, consider if it was your husband who was killed or your family business was destroyed and your atmosphere was turned into a toxic waste site. You would appreciate not having to litigate for 2 decades to get some recompense while BP goes back to profiting from fuckup.
Also, good point about the idea that we’re somehow nationalizing BP. Their assets have not been seized. It’s more like BP created an escrow account to avoid the bad PR of the corporate-impulse to drag out every claim for as long as possible.
The Race Card on June 18, 2010 at 9:18 PM
Depends on what you’re using it as defense for, doesn’t it?
So….looks like BP and the U.S. Government can go back and forth forever in court, blaming each other for years.
A lot of lawyers are going to make a lot of money.
But that won’t include you, Himbo, because you’re not a “corporate attorney.”
BTW, does anyone know if that woman that was head of MMS was fired or did she resign?
Maobama forgot to mention it the other night on TV.
Jenfidel on June 18, 2010 at 9:27 PM
How about a link?
ddrintn on June 18, 2010 at 9:36 PM
^ I found a link on my own corroborating the statement. It still doesn’t justify Obama pissing away another $20+ billion.
ddrintn on June 18, 2010 at 9:46 PM
By the way, it’s a FOREIGN company that does provide energy, and employs Americans, and in which Americans are invested.
ddrintn on June 18, 2010 at 9:52 PM
You’re such a liar!
And your ad hominems don’t advance your side of the argument in the least.
More lies.
This would be a clear violation of due process, if property were to be seized with either a writ or a warrant that had been duly issued by a court of law.
Another lie!
All the conservative Republicans I know have a big problem with unlawful seizures.
If, however, they’re persuant to legal authorized procedures, that is different.
We don’t have “show trials” in this country!
If they are to be tried in court for fraud and negligence, then do that, but the White House should abuse the executive branch by shaking BP down.
Bwahahahahaha!
You wish.
Litigation and the rule of law is how we do things in this country.
Personal convenience isn’t the motivating factor, but fairness and justice for all parties.
A
Do we know whether or not their assets have been seized?
BP didn’t create an “escrow account.”
No one knows what kind of account has been created: it’s being overseen by a White House tool.
No one affected in the Gulf can seem to get any funds out of it.
Bart Stupak seems to think it should be used to pay for ObamaCare.
And this whole mess needs to be settled in a court of law to protect all parties involved, including the “small people.”
TRC and dakiney need to get over themselves and their Leftist spew!
Barton totally busted Obama and his Chicago Régime of thugs!
Jenfidel on June 19, 2010 at 5:22 AM
You should read up.
The Escrow account was created by BP. The experienced team managing the fund are paid by BP. The team is not working for the Obama Administration and will not have to answer to BP.
Haley Barbour says the team managing the fund and distributions can be trusted. Why would he say that? Oh yeah… the ‘fascists’ got to him. Dolt.
lexhamfox on June 19, 2010 at 5:37 AM
There is no “experienced team.”
There’s one guy: Kenneth Feinberg and he works for Maobama.
(Of course, he won’t have to answer to BP! He doesn’t have to answer to anyone except Obama and his gang of Chicago mobsters in the White House!)
Links, cite to Barbour quotes?
As for the Fascists in the White House, did they or did they not take over the car companies?
This is Fascism.
Didn’t they also pretty much take over the big banks and Goldman Sachs?
Aren’t they also working to take over the oil companies and our doctors and hospitals?
What is that they’re doing that isn’t Fascist?
Jenfidel on June 19, 2010 at 5:52 AM
Here’s a little late night snack for you Leftist trolls carrying Mussolini-bama’s water:
As Pay Czar Promises Money, Workers Turned Away From BP Claims Center
Jenfidel on June 19, 2010 at 5:57 AM
Barton is an ass. He really has done serious damage to his own party. According to a Republican Congressman who was an industry engineer before entering politics, the escrow fund is not a concoction coming from the White House or from Democrats.
According to Trent Franks:
“However, the real story here is that BP had already made the decision to set aside $20 billion to compensate those harmed by this tragic disaster several days prior to the President’s speech. The true outrage is that this was never the President’s idea at all, and he should be ashamed for pretending it was for political purposes.”
Anh Cao, another Republican, said that they have been pushing for the fund for some time (over a month) and it had bipartisan support.
The real story may be that because of some paid up over eager industry ass licker, the Obama Administration is going to take credit for a good idea that they had little to do with.
But anyway… you bozos have your ideological straight-jackets firmly tied defending Barton and sticking to a really far out interpretation that will likely suit Obama and Democrats.
Do a little research yourself. Your last few posts prove you don’t know what you are talking about. Obama does not run Goldman Sachs. You don’t run financial institutions with warrants. Propping up financial infrastructure in a time of extreme stress is not fascism. DOLT.
Here is a video clip of him saying it since you don’t seem to read.
lexhamfox on June 19, 2010 at 6:28 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nob6iG8X7og
lexhamfox on June 19, 2010 at 6:29 AM
Who in the Sam Hill is Trent Franks???
Barney’s brother?
Jenfidel on June 19, 2010 at 6:35 AM
Screw you!
I’ve read more books than you’ve ever thought about, some of them in French.
I have 2 Masters degrees and believe you me, I had to read plenty to earn thosse.
And I’ve been a prolific reader all my life.
Jenfidel on June 19, 2010 at 6:37 AM
Sorry Jenfidel … you have to actually read this one.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trent_Franks
lexhamfox on June 19, 2010 at 6:38 AM
Jenfidel on June 19, 2010 at 6:37 AM
I’m sure you are brilliant. You are just wrong about the escrow account, TARP funding, and thinking we are in the grip of fascism.
lexhamfox on June 19, 2010 at 6:41 AM
CK does NOT have impeccable conservative credentials. He is a beltway commentator who is reliably strong on national defense and our close relation with Israel, sometimes strong on defending our national borders, and too ready to criticize conservatives who lack his “je ne se qua.”
Rush, Sean, Mark, Michelle, Laura: these people have impeccable conservative credentials.
Stepan on June 19, 2010 at 8:33 AM
Why doesn’t Obama throw in a matching 20 bill. This was on fed land, fed lease, under fed licensing, fed regulations, fed oversight, fed inspections. Feds had complete control over the “occupants”, shouldn’t they have a large portion of the responsibility?
If the feds had done their job, the question is would this event have happened? So far it looks like the feds did not inspect and regulate properly.
Kind a weird analogy, but if a bartender knowingly continues to give the patron drinks, when it is clear he is drunk, and the patron gets in an accident, the bar is also responsible…the feds knew they were not compliant, yet allowed BP to continue.
All of this is a smoke screen for Obama and the feds to hide behind…they were incompetent in managing before and after the incident.
Regardless one thing rings true…we can all agree…the Obama administration is the most incompetent administration ever assembled, this one event is the culmination of these past several months. Only the most hardened, will not listen to facts, liberal could defend Obama and his pathetic leadership…
right2bright on June 19, 2010 at 9:04 AM
That’s funny, were you being sarcastic? If so, that’s pretty good, if not….sorry…
right2bright on June 19, 2010 at 9:07 AM
ROFL…that’s good. So tell us, how much of that $20+ billion do you think will actually go to residents of states on the Gulf? What percentage? I can tell you who’ll ultimately be paying for the cleanup.
ddrintn on June 19, 2010 at 9:11 AM
Krauthammer’s judgment is off course, ignoring ALL of the “most politically stupid statement[s] of the year” made by Obama himself.
maverick muse on June 19, 2010 at 11:37 AM
I know several 9-11 victims families who received cash through the same team. He has a very good reputation with people from both parties because he has a good record.
I do think many of the worst affected will be able to draw from the fund. The biggest concern most of the local politicians have is that people will shy away from making claims (hence the video of the press conference linked earlier)… not that the funds will end up in wrong hands.
lexhamfox on June 19, 2010 at 12:00 PM
Barton was totally right and shouldn’t have backed off. With the government involved the claims process will be much worse and it will probably end up as a slush fund for dems and will take twice as long as if BP was handling it. Everything BO touches end up worse than if he had played golf.
duff65 on June 19, 2010 at 4:47 PM
We’ll see.
ddrintn on June 19, 2010 at 6:56 PM
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