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I know we are deep in Texas, and many in the rest of the nation (or at least the east/west coasts) think we can't think - - maybe that is why I can't think of any way to defend Joe Barton's apology to BP last week?? While there was plenty of grandstanding that day, this guy showed some of the worst political judgement possible.
Personally, i understand what I think he was trying to say.
While I agree this is BPs mess, and their responsibility, and it will cost them and cost them big. Changes need to happen both in the industry and with the regulations.
I also think it is BPs right to protect itself from fraud and frivolous claims. What I read on Wed was that BP had paid out over 100million to people and businesses and had already processed 30k claims which is about 50% of what they had received. BP is their own insurance company, It's hard to even get insurance companies to act that fast after a natural disaster.
I also do not think they should be held liable for the workers who were shut down on other rigs. That's something the federal regulators are responsible for. So now they get to pay for government oversight cause they were understaffed, undermanned and not following govt regulations regarding the rig operations, inspections and contingencies plans.
Don't get me wrong, I understand BPs responsibilities here and I do expect them to pay, and pay billions for years and its quite likely they will never fully recover. I just don't think I like the idea of the gov't arm twisting a corporation like this when they have stated from the onset that they would pay. Oversight in those payments is still needed and its the right of every shareholder, specifically private shareholders who have retirement funds and pensions and people who had nothing to do with what has happened.
I think what's happened has been horrible, but I still believe both sides still have the right to due process. Those who have lost, need to be repaid. Those who have not, need to be turned away. Maybe its just this overwhelming sense of fraud and entitlement I feel around this.
I don't want to get into any debate, but Its just my thoughts.
What irritated me more to be honest, like what he said or hate it, was the arm twisting and string pulling the members of every party and their backers do when things like this are said. I wish corporate fund raising was out, lobbyist were put out, and all candidates ran as independents and truly voted with their constituents instead of along party lines.
Anyhow, if he meant what I thought he was trying to say, that any company or person right or wrong still has the right to due process and not to be arm twisted in to providing things voluntarily outside of the law, outside the scope of gov't control, then I do agree. However, If he meant that BP isn't responsible, shouldn't be held responsible, shouldn't pay, or however you want to put then no, I don't agree. When I heard it, my gut told me he spoke of the former, not the latter. Either way, I can respect that he has a opinion, right wrong, smart or completely ignorant, but it does irritate me more how the rest of congress and his party force someone into a hole for speaking their mind. I would much rather they operated in congress with more free will in their thoughts and votes then going off of what the memo told them to say/vote.
On this note, and since we're on the Houston forum and all - I, jfre81, on the behalf of Rep. Joe Barton would like to apologize to those who get characterized on this forum as "Houston bashers" or "haters" or anything like that. I regret ever trying to change minds that were made up already or attempting to address things I asserted to be "falsehoods," "exaggerations" or similar terms. It's a shame I would subject these individuals to this shakedown by these "boosters."
Thank you, and I sincerely hope you accept my apology.
Good old "Smokey Joe" what a worthless neck" - As dysfunctional as our current U.S. Government is - this dumb it down moron needs to resign -
Barton apologized to BP? A company whose flawed decisions killed people from Texas. Wait - shouldn't that be the other way around? Texas and the rest of the United States do not owe BP an apology. Barton's naked lunch frozen moment is one of many this Y'all say what ya mean petroleum suck up has served up over his tenure
Remember Anadarko gave Barton - over 146k in campaign contributions over the past 20 years.
Didn't it seems clear that this Lubricated Dunce was dragged kicking and screaming to the apology corner by his shocked and panicked fellow loons who are just as wacked out ideologically but sane enough to understand that there are certain things you mean that you just don't say in public and on the National Stage , especially after this billion dollar deadly blunder -good riddance!!
I agree with Joe Barton. Someone has to have what it takes to stand up to the current administration when they disagree (regardless of the issue) and right now it appears all we have is a bunch of drone willing to agree to whatever the top guy says. Yes BP has a mess to clean up but to compare it to 911 was absurd at best. This was not an act of terrorism, nor can it be compared to that. This was not a deliberate incident nor was it an attempt to destroy America and Americans. With the Democrats facing the largest debt owed to a foreign country ever - I do think it was a shake down of an oil company due to the current administrations obvious distaste for oil companies even before the BP disaster. Oil Drilling is a risking business and unfortunately we need the oil so it is a risk that must be taken. 20 Billion is excessive and I would be the people who need it won't get it -- it will be substantially less as the current administration finds all sorts of fees, etc. that will need to be taken from it first. The govt. should have accepted the offer of help from the Netherlands immediately but opted to say we could do it ourselves. Instead of pressuring BP to try all sorts of things - they should have accepted Netherlands tried and proven help with the skimmer offer and allowed BP to focus on what they know will work - relief wells (and unfortunately that takes time). Just my two cents to add to everyone else's.
Joe Barton has one hellava nerve. BP signed on the dotted line that they could handle whatever came their way in the Gulf. The fact that willful ignorance kept them from visualizing the worst that could happen does not relieve them from obligation.
How many companies have chosen bankruptcy over obligation in this country? That slush fund is just the beginning.
I'm so tired of being a good citizen while being told Republicans to trust business and Democrats to trust governments as they are both doing every thing they can to screw us I could scream.
If we really think free enterprise is a good thing let's try it. No subsidy for anybody for anything.
The fact Barton said anything shows he is a fool politically. This situation is absolutely lose, lose. No matter what any politician or executive in BP does, it's the wrong decision and it will offend a lot of people. Let's take a look at this situation in terms of Obama. In my opinion, he didn't act quickly enough. Oddly, this is the opinion of pro-business Republicans who surely would have done the same and let BP try to handle the situation themselves the first week or so. If Obama would have acted quickly, those same Republicans would have accused him of trying to turn oil into socialism. On the other hand, BP has tried unsuccessfully to plug the hole. Environmentalists are in an outrage. Then again, had they plugged the hole immediately, environmentalists would have been equally upset that there was no plan to stop such a tragedy in the first place.
In such a situation, why in the world would you open up your big trap in the first place? To me, Barton isn't too bright politically.
Oil&gas esp deep water is incredibly risky, complex stuff...but "simple" oil tankers can crash and spill w/an old-fashioned, not complex drunk driver at wheel...ask Exxon
Financial industry is incredibly risky, complex stuff...lots of >$10MM/yr morons who can't manage complex risks and greedy, simpleton customers including JoeSixpack...and can bring an entire economy to its knees: recall Lehman, AIG, Freddie/Fannie, etc of Fall08 (and EU today w/dubious German banks)
But in both energy and finance industrial disasters had reckless, inept/corrupt government regulators and community organizers, generally surfing porn all day during their $200K/yr gvt "jobs" at Interior, SEC, etc...and not properly regulating risks, etc before accidents or meltdowns....basically abusing taxpayer dollars and putting public and economy at risk
US is built on property rights, rule of law, due process, etc, even for the most likely criminal or reckless; capitalism should allow such morons to fail, go bankrupt, etc....but US will be no different than commie Russia or China if alleged "evil-doers" (as judged by court of public opinion or party in power) are called in front of the community organizer in power for a shakedown, subverting legal process
Community organizer-in-chief (who's never had a real job in his life nor run a real business) declaring war on any profitable, innovative industry, like oil&gas or finance or tech, is likely not good for jobs and economy, unless we can all work for the gvt at $200K/yr skill-free jobs doing nothing and we can find benevolent taxpayers to pay for that scam forever...ask our welfare state pals in EU how that scam works...
Serving up crow at Smokey Joe̢۪s Cafe | Denton Record Chronicle | News for Denton County, Texas | Opinion: Editorials (http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/opinion/editorials/stories/DRC_Editorial_0619.b843ada7.html - broken link)
Good editorial on Smokey Joe. I especially like the last two paragraphs.
Joe Barton has one hellava nerve. BP signed on the dotted line that they could handle whatever came their way in the Gulf. The fact that willful ignorance kept them from visualizing the worst that could happen does not relieve them from obligation.
How many companies have chosen bankruptcy over obligation in this country? That slush fund is just the beginning.
I'm so tired of being a good citizen while being told Republicans to trust business and Democrats to trust governments as they are both doing every thing they can to screw us I could scream.
If we really think free enterprise is a good thing let's try it. No subsidy for anybody for anything.
I didn't see where anyone here or even Joe Barton state that BP should be relieved from the obligation, in fact, even those that agree with his words still have emphatically stated that it's still BPs mess and they should pay, and will pay. I think some of us agree that they still have the right to due process in processing the claims. Even with their willingness I still don't know that I've ever seen a gov't or insurance co be able to respond as quickly in a disaster or this size and scope, even given recent history as example.
I think the administration has worked hard to keep the focus and blame almost entirely on BP and kept little on themselves and administrations past for the regulatory mess that let all the companies run so free willed in their drilling practices in the Gulf. The rules were in place, just complete total lack of enforcement for w/e reason, I kind of put it along the lines of things like window tint laws. As long as there is a lackadaisical approach to inspection and enforcement we all will continue to operate with disregard for them by and large, just as ALL the oil companies had. That why I don't necessarily agree with holding BP responsible for 100mill to pay lost wages to workers on the rigs shut down for inspection and all the regulatory changes the gov't is catching up on. That is their mess, not BPs. So that 100mil is something BP is being forced, outside of their responsibility or the law, to correct the errors of our own regulatory bodies because they failed for whatever reason to do their jobs.
Of course, keep in mind I've only lived in TX a short while, so when discussing Barton I do not know much of his past statements, nor am I saying I support him, but I do think I agree with the statement if it meant the same thing I think he was meaning.
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Joe Barton apology
, especially after this billion dollar deadly blunder -good riddance!! 
