Joe Barton apology

[jfre81]

We should combine our powers and put Captain Planet in charge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpXM9bj-WPU

[texas7]

Originally Posted by usc619

If the truth struck a nerve, then so be it....

that would be your truth.

[texas7]

I really hope that they can get that well completed before a hurricane blows through. They'll have to abandon the rig to evacuate the workers in the event of a hurricane -- then the work would have to temporarily stop and if the rig were damaged by a storm ..... could be devastating news.

[Chh2]

Originally Posted by usc619

For some it's not about the situation, it's about who's in charge. If Obama came up with a cure for cancer you would still have nut jobs calling for his head......I find it funny that some people can actually have the nerves to say "I understand were Joe Blow was coming from"

I don't give a damn who is in that office, I still don't particularly like what had occurred. Perhaps the same can be said of those who are so enamored by who is in office that they think he can do no wrong. While I support many of his stances and his ability to speak his mind, frankly at times, I don't agree with this precedent.

Having owned a business in the past, and my parents having owned their own business since before I was born and thinking of what exactly has occurred I am just not comfortable with it. While if any event happened, accident or negligence, I'd want to to do the right thing and take care of my obligations, but at the same time using the protections given to me under the law to ensure people do not use it as an opportunity for fraud or to take advantage of the situation unwarranted. Granted the scale of the situation wouldn't quite be the same, but I still could not accept if the local city council called a hearing and the council president demanded I put 250k in escrow and put someone from their office in charge of handling reimbursement I would have a huge problem with. While I still would want to take care of my responsibility, I would not care to accept being pushed around and being asked to do something that the council is both without authority to demand, and outside the law to be required to provide.

So yea, when I see what is going on, and granted its happening to a giant that created a problem, has the responsibility to pay, I still apply what I see to my own past situation or the situation of similar business owners and I don't like what I see. It shouldn't matter if BP is the largest company in the world, or the smallest they have the right to follow due process given to them under the law as they make reimbursements to those affected. Never did I say they shouldn't pay or pay big to those who are deserved, nor am I excusing a slow response or foot dragging with payouts, but I do not agree with what is being asked of them simply because they have the money and the US has them by the gonads.

Anyhow, just my thoughts, I'm pretty much done with the discussion. If someone doesn't agree, then so be it. But I stand by my feelings, and I still say I understand what I think Barton was trying to say in the situation. Not that BP should or would be excused of any responsibility, but expressing disappointment that they were being forced to do things outside the law and with total disregard to any protection they have while working thru due process.

[orbius]

You're basically claiming BP is the victim in all this which is a disgusting point of view. You cannot, if you have the power, put procedure above the lives of people effected by this disaster. That is ridiculous, emergency Presidential powers exists explicitly to do extraordinary things in unusual circumstances like this.

[usc619]

Originally Posted by orbius

You're basically claiming BP is the victim in all this which is a disgusting point of view. You cannot, if you have the power, put procedure above the lives of people effected by this disaster. That is ridiculous, emergency Presidential powers exists explicitly to do extraordinary things in unusual circumstances like this.

Exactly my point.

[EasilyAmused]

Hey but the good news now people is that we shut down drilling here, because we can't fix things at that depth. And now we are moving it all the Brazil and drill EVEN DEEPER. Government funding for that too. Whoohoo. These guys are so smart.

[crone]

The Great State of Texas requires me to have insurance on my car or be able to pay for any damage to others that I might do. How's that working for us? I'll bet the rent money that somewhere in the contract between the US government and BP there is a claus concerning financial responsibility. Any contractor seeking work most always has to show proof of financial capability or put up a bond. Every contract DH has been involved with required showing the money or a bond. Nobody is gonna give someone free reign to whatever without some assurance of financial responsibility. BP bit off more than they could chew. Their assessment of their capability exceeded realty. I have no problem with somebody making others wanting to do the same thing getting a realistic picture of industry competence. If Brazil is willing to foul their country so that fools in the US can drive Humvees 80MPH, that is their business. I still support fuel rationing.

[EasilyAmused]

So, you think an oil spill in Brazil wouldn't effect the fish/wildlife, the water or ecology, and impact the Us in anyway?

[crone]

Of course I know the world would impacted by what anybody does anywhere. I'm older and uglier than Helen Thomas. I still don't understand how an individual can "own" God's land. I believe you can kill with a look as well as a gun. So much for idealism. Having grown up in Houston, without air conditioning, staying grounded in reality has its benefits.