As disaster looms, Obama suspends coastal drilling policy
Watching the advance of the Deepwater Horizon oil slick onto the marshes and bays of the Gulf feels all too familiar. It’s the same sense of impending tragedy I felt seeing the huge eye of Hurricane Katrina before it made landfall in the same area.
They can already smell the oil on the streets of New Orleans, 90 miles from the coast.
“I am frightened,” David Kennedy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told The Associated Press. “This is a very, very big thing. And the efforts that are going to be required to do anything about it, especially if it continues on, are just mind-boggling.”
The disaster has forced the Obama administration to announce at least a temporary suspension of its efforts to open new coastal areas to drilling, including the Georgia coast.
“There will be no new domestic offshore oil drilling pending a review of the rig disaster and massive oil spill along the Gulf Coast, the White House said Friday morning.
Speaking on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” senior adviser David Axelrod said “no additional [offshore] drilling has been authorized, and none will until we find out what happened and whether there was something unique and preventable here. … No domestic drilling in new areas is going to go forward until there is an adequate review of what’s happened here and of what is being proposed elsewhere.”
…. While the administration is in the spotlight as it seeks to get control of the oil disaster, Republicans, with their cries of “drill baby drill,” have been the bigger boosters of increased drilling. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in particular has been a forceful advocate of more drilling. She’s been silent so far on the latest development.”
I’ll confess, I was one of those who bought the industry argument that such large-scale spills were a thing of the past. As far back as the ‘08 elections, I was open to the argument that additional coastal areas should be made available for drilling, although I did not buy the claim that such drilling would in any way lower the price of oil or significantly alter our dependence on foreign sources. Nobody who understands world oil markets would make such a claim.
But I did believe that allowing more coastal drilling might be an acceptable political tradeoff in return for policies that stressed alternative energy sources and energy-efficiency steps. That no longer seems to be the case.
UPDATE:
However, while the Obama administration reconsiders its drilling policy, others are apparently going full steam ahead. Here’s a screen grab from American Solutions, Newt Gingrich’s organization:
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178 comments Add your comment
jewcowboy
April 30th, 2010
11:28 am
Trust what the Free Market tells you, not your own eyes.
Scout
April 30th, 2010
11:32 am
This is Obama’s fault. He did not react quickly enough. He’s the captain of the ship now. He should have anticipated this. Where is the help? Where is the military? Where is the technical assistance? He has failed us. Every “oil-slicked” bird will be squawking ……… Obama, Obama.
Union
April 30th, 2010
11:33 am
hmm.. odd.. the timing of events… did obama know the rig was gonna blow when he changed his mind and said lets drill?
jewcowboy
April 30th, 2010
11:36 am
Scout @ 11.32,
It always astounds me that those on the right try to pin every disparagement of Bush onto Obama, whether justified or not, in what seems to be the hope that it will mitigate Bush’s abysmal failings…
Big Mac
April 30th, 2010
11:36 am
Heckuva Job there, Big Sis/Salazar/Jackson!
Scout
April 30th, 2010
11:40 am
jewcowboy:
Ah, a little testy here. Must have struck a nerve. Dish it out but can’t take it?
P.S. Don’t be astounded ……….. what goes around comes around.
AmVet
April 30th, 2010
11:40 am
Corporal, get a grip, brother.
How in the name of (your favorite deity here) could anyone truly believe the chances of a huge ecological disaster have ever been eliminated by the syndicates who always put money first?
Quite the opposite, they chances were always HUGE that this was going to happen.
Yes, BIG, BIG, BIG oil begrudgingly obeys (some of) the laws Uncle Sam mandates, but given a chance they would not. And they are always looking for ways to impede safety concerns and regulations.
And human lives lost and slap on the wrist fines and “footing the cost of the cleanup” (HA!) and permanent destruction of ecosystems is just a cost of doing business.
And mark my words, it will happen again. In one form or another…
Scout
April 30th, 2010
11:41 am
P.S.
We are just trying to highlght Obama’s abysmal failings.
jewcowboy
April 30th, 2010
11:43 am
Scout,
“Ah, a little testy here. Must have struck a nerve. Dish it out but can’t take it?”
Yes, I do get testy when the right tries to hang Bush’s albatross’s from Obama’s neck.
jewcowboy
April 30th, 2010
11:43 am
Scout,
“We are just trying to highlght Obama’s abysmal failings.”
Then do us a favor and pick real ones instead of manufactured ones…you look more credible.
Scout
April 30th, 2010
11:45 am
Amvet:
………. and will you’re at it close down the coal mines and don’t forget to shut down all fishing and trucking in the U.S.
The 10 most dangerous jobs in the U.S.
Occupation Fatalities per 100,000
Timber cutters 117.8
Fishers 71.1
Pilots and navigators 69.8
Structural metal workers 58.2
Drivers-sales workers 37.9
Roofers 37
Electrical power installers 32.5
Farm occupations 28
Construction laborers 27.7
Truck drivers 25
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics; survey of occupations with minimum 30 fatalities and 45,000 workers
Scout
April 30th, 2010
11:46 am
jewcowboy:
Sorry I hurt your feelings. I’ll try to be more sensitive.
AmVet
April 30th, 2010
11:46 am
“We are just trying to highlght (sic) Obama’s abysmal failings.”
We?
Would that be that you AND the Corporal?
Sybil, if the force of your words had any power, they would stand on their own and you would not need to resort to the sophomoric use any other pronoun but I…
ATF
April 30th, 2010
11:46 am
Well, I thought all the bad spills were a thing of the past, too.
We need the oil. Maybe we need to know how to clean up the mess when there is a spill rather than avoid every possibility of a spill. Is there better clean-up technology?
The cost of clean up needs to be borne by the oil industry, so the price of oil reflects its true cost. Does that mean a clean up fund, with all the oil exploration companies forking over a little for every well drilled/gallon pumped. Would the Pubs go for an industry funded clean-up fund?
I can’t believe I wrote that. I am a life long Dem, who votes Pub about half the time.
Scout
April 30th, 2010
11:46 am
The list is endless …………. and we have almost three years to go unfortunately.
Peadawg
April 30th, 2010
11:47 am
It always astounds me that those on the left try to pin every disparagement of Obama onto Bush.
AmVet
April 30th, 2010
11:48 am
…and will you’re at it close down…
No, YOU close them down.
I do not advocate that and never have.
Red
April 30th, 2010
11:48 am
Let’s get the paranoia out of the way and state categorically that it was Obama who ordered the CIA to destroy the platform and cause the spill to buttress his covert aversion to domestic petroleum production since he prefers KENYAN oil consumption- you know, being a Muslim and all…
Seriously though, my heart aches for the catastrophe that is looming. PrezBO is taking the correct action in halting plans for now.
Outhouse GoKart
April 30th, 2010
11:50 am
Agreed…this oil slicked albatross is the doing of Bush…no doubt about it. And Cheney, and haliburton, and Im sure somehow the left will bring in Nixon, Reagan and daddy Bush…
Those evil republicans…
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
11:51 am
Scout,
Your argument that this is somehow the government (Obama’s) fault would hold more merit if this wasn’t a privately owned companies disaster (oil rig explosion) and not Mother Nature’s (Katrina).
Scout
April 30th, 2010
11:51 am
AmVet:
Well then try to quit whinning about dangerous occupations. It goes with the territory.
Peadawg:
LOL !
Scout
April 30th, 2010
11:52 am
Bosch:
Obama and his federal regulators/inspectors are in charge. It happened on his watch. It’s his fault and so is the pathetic response to control the oil spill.
In for a penny, in for a pound.
Scout
April 30th, 2010
11:54 am
Outhouse GoKart :
It’s actually Christopher Columbus’ fault for coming over here. If we had all stayed in Europe this would never have happened.
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
11:55 am
Scout,
No, the oil company is in charge – don’t ever assume different.
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
11:56 am
We conveniently blame those we hate the most in an attempt to back up our arguments. Hypocrisy, Scout, at it’s finest.
Jackie
April 30th, 2010
11:56 am
The so-called conservatives are steeped in the policies and practices of fear and hatred resulting in a continious application of those functions. They are not sure of what they want and how they want to get it, so they go about blaming everyone and everything but the real culprit(s).
The country faces a major ecological disaster and the so-called conservatives are still using circle-logic to determine who, what, why, when and where the problem originated.
They are so upset, they are trying to throw out some of elected officials that have voted the conservative line for years because those officials have not been sufficiently conservative to satisfy those that are confused.
@@
April 30th, 2010
11:57 am
The acoustic switch is not required under U.S. Law…therein lies the problem. The concern should be whether they can, after construction, be installed to prevent further ruptures. Without any alternative to oil in the foreseeable future, a solution for existing wells needs to be pursued. All future wells should be equipped with the acoustic switch.
This is one of those hard-learned lessons.
That reminds me, I’ve got a friend who’s a marine biologist in Sarasota. One would think that a marine biologist is all about saving the fish. One of the things he enjoys most about his job is seeing the looks on the faces in boats nearby when he engages in target practice on the unsuspecting. His take? A few must die so that more can live. He’s also a staunch supporter of the 2nd Amendment.
Need to get his take on this spill.
Peadawg
April 30th, 2010
11:57 am
This oil spill just gives Obama more ammo for regulations, regulations, regulations. Someone with that much power is just scary.
Scout
April 30th, 2010
11:58 am
Bosch:
Then we don’t need any regulations or inspectors. Just save the money.
Sorry, libs. This happened on YOUR watch. Get busy and clean it up.
getalife
April 30th, 2010
11:58 am
Gore was right.
Too bad we got w instead of Gore.
We need the six banks that control 63% of the GDP to invest in green energy so the jobs would come back.
Peadawg
April 30th, 2010
11:59 am
“We conveniently blame those we hate the most in an attempt to back up our arguments. Hypocrisy, Scout, at it’s finest.”
What about all the liberals that blamed everything on Bush during Obama’s 1st year in office. What is that called?
Doggone/GA
April 30th, 2010
11:59 am
“No, the oil company is in charge”
You know, it occured to me the other day that there’s a way to get the government out of regulating business altogether. They could pass a a law that all businesses need to carry insurance against disasters, injuries to employees, etc. Then let the insurance companies do the regulating to protect their policies.
Disasters are going to happen, they’re not always preventable…but if a preventable disaster happens, put the insurance companies AND the primary business on the hook for it.
Just think how our taxes could go down if the government didn’t have to do all that regulatory instpection stuff. Of course, our consumer prices would probably go up…but hey, can’t make omelets without breaking eggs!
Scout
April 30th, 2010
12:01 pm
Peadawg :
Go easy on them. They’re having trouble dealing with this.
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
12:01 pm
“What is that called?”
The truth.
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
12:03 pm
Doggone,
Do they not do that now?
@@
April 30th, 2010
12:03 pm
Doggone:
Sometimes you say the darndest things. Same can be applied to banking regulations. Nothing more than “If you deal in risky behaviors, the government will not be there to bail you out.” Doesn’t have to be anymore involved than that.
Off to run errands.
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
12:04 pm
“Get busy and clean it up.”
Why should our tax dollars go towards cleaning up something a private company caused? They need to get busy and clean it up.
Peadawg
April 30th, 2010
12:04 pm
““What is that called?”
The truth.”
LAMO!!!!!!! Of course it is in your eyes. IOKIYAD.
Doggone/GA
April 30th, 2010
12:04 pm
“Do they not do that now?”
When was the last time your business was inspected for safety violations by your insurance company? Of course they aren’t. They are currently relying on the government to enforce compliance.
I’m just trying to get on-board with the “keep the government out of it” mindset.
Terrence
April 30th, 2010
12:07 pm
When was the last time your business was inspected by OSHA?
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
12:08 pm
“Of course it is in your eyes. ”
And of course it isn’t in yours.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Doggone,
“I’m just trying to get on-board with the “keep the government out of it” mindset.”
I tend to go that way as it is – I don’t feel the government needs to be involved in private businesses at all, except to tax them for doing business in our country or intervene if their risky behavior puts the country at risk, or endangers citizens.
Doggone/GA
April 30th, 2010
12:09 pm
“or intervene if their risky behavior puts the country at risk, or endangers citizens.”
Problem is, that puts the government BACK in the inspecton business.
Peadawg
April 30th, 2010
12:11 pm
““Of course it is in your eyes. ”
And of course it isn’t in yours.”
LMAO! You just need to stop. You’re making yourself look dumber with every comment.
“I don’t feel the government needs to be involved in private businesses at all, except to tax them for doing business in our country or intervene if their risky behavior puts the country at risk, or endangers citizens.”
That’s as dumb of a comment as I’ve seen. That sounds like some types of medicine w/ 10-15 side effects.
Outhouse GoKart
April 30th, 2010
12:13 pm
Yes, Jackie we disagree with you and we understand that by doing so we are…haters that hate, racists, bigots, robber barons, carpet-baggers, the lowest of the low, environmental terrorists, mental midgets, marta riders, a-holes, dullards, toilets, satan worshipers, idolators, fornicators, gamblers, board room execs, haters of the poor and downtrodden, butt-monkeys, illiterates, illigetimates, racists, did I say racists, bigots, hoarders, money grubbers, money hungry bas-turds, wife beaters, speeders that pass on the double yellow line, individual anti-christs etc…
Now that we have that covered, Jackie you may make your arguement. Not that it will do any good but atleast we have the above all straightened out.
Outhouse GoKart
April 30th, 2010
12:13 pm
Jackie…we also like to kill baby kittens.
stands for decibels
April 30th, 2010
12:16 pm
I was open to the argument that additional coastal areas should be made available for drilling, although I did not buy the claim that such drilling would in any way lower the price of oil or significantly alter our dependence on foreign sources. Nobody who understands world oil markets would make such a claim.
Similar to my feelings about opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (I like to spell it out—people who refer to is as “ANWR” tend to forget that it is, in fact, supposed to be a Wildlife Refuge, not something we should exploit whenever some right wing tart chants “Drill Baby Drill”) to oil exploration.
I’ve been willing to accept that possibility as a trade-off, so long as the trade-off was really really good. I mean, like nationalized residential zoning regulations so that nobody builds another subdivision without bike lane and sidewalk access to the nearest school, that sort of thing.
But maybe I shouldn’t. Maybe we all ought to be a little more willing to err on the side of sensible caution when it comes to the irreplaceable.
Scout
April 30th, 2010
12:18 pm
Bosch:
They should “pay” for it but they don’t have the resources. That’s where the abysmal lack of emergency planning by the Obama administration comes in. He is in charge.
Doggone/GA
April 30th, 2010
12:20 pm
“They should “pay” for it but they don’t have the resources”
And I don’t agree. If having the needed resources to clean-up after a spill is not a part of the licensing process to drill, the it SHOULD BE.
And if a company doesn’t have, or can’t arrange for, those clean-up resources…they shouldn’t get the license.
stands for decibels
April 30th, 2010
12:20 pm
and [while] you’re at it close down the coal mines
fine by me–I can only hope that filthy fossil fuels will be just an unpleasant memory during my child’s lifetime.
Hillbilly Deluxe
April 30th, 2010
12:26 pm
Maybe we all ought to be a little more willing to err on the side of sensible caution when it comes to the irreplaceable.
Agreed. There is no such thing as fool-proof technology. They said the Titanic couldn’t sink but it did. It doesn’t matter whether it’s oil rigs, coal mines, or a gazillion other things, it’s not a matter of IF an accident happens, it’s a matter of WHEN. The choice you have to make is whether or not it’s worth the consequences, when the accident does eventually happen.
Union
April 30th, 2010
12:26 pm
@ Doggone/GA -
insurance.. as in medical malpractice insurance? a physicians office might pay as much as 35k a year.. just on a nurse so that they can go in the OR.. might not be so expensive if we had tort reform..
AmVet
April 30th, 2010
12:27 pm
Le petite caporal, then lets make a deal.
I’ll stop “whining” the day you start at least *pretending* that you give a rats a$$ about the rule of law.(Human laws, not your mythology based stuff)
Peadawg, you still don;t get it, do you?
The BushCo sycophants will never hold him accountable for any of the innumerable f__k ups he committed. All documented and irrefutable.
The Obama suckups will never hold him accountable for any of his. All documented and irrefutable
Great.
And the reasoned and reasonable center and true independents int his nation shake their collective heads in wonder at both of you…
Hillbilly Deluxe
April 30th, 2010
12:30 pm
Georgia passed a tort reform bill in 2005. Anybody seen their insurance rates go down?
Doggone/GA
April 30th, 2010
12:33 pm
“might not be so expensive if we had tort reform..”
Or it might not be so expensive if the insurance companies tracked the records of the doctors they insure, and refused to insure those with a bad record.
Paul
April 30th, 2010
12:33 pm
Axelrod: “and none will until we find out what happened and whether there was something unique and preventable here”
Risk management. In other words, they’ll find the root cause, they will find technologies exist that, if employed, would have prevented or greatly minimized this event, then they will authorize more drilling.
Bosch – Doggone/GA
I think Scout’s yanking your chains. Taking the role that the anti-Bush faction took. Heck, I can remember when every procurement decision in the Pentagon was laid at Bush’s feet ’cause ‘he’s in charge.’
As far as this event, Feds have been involved from the git-go. Coast Guard’s heavily in. This is the legacy of Katrina: near-immediate federal intervention, regardless of local desires or abilities.
Union
April 30th, 2010
12:35 pm
@ Doggone.. thats part of the equation.. but tort reform makes the biggest difference
The cost of medical malpractice insurance ranges greatly depending on numerous factors. Those factors include, but are not limited to:
1. State where you practice (each State’s Department of Insurance regulates this)
2. How many hours per week you work
3. Your previous claim’s history
4. Type of procedures practiced
5. How long you’ve been practicing
6. Does the state have Tort Reform in place
According the website http://mymedicalmalpracticeinsurance.com, the cost for medical malpractice insurance in Illinois for an OB/GYN that was insured by Medical Protective in 2008 cost the physician $127,083 if they practiced in Cook County (where Chicago is located). For an OB/GYN practicing in Harris County in Texas (where Houston is located), the cost is much lower b/c Texas enacted Tort Reform a few years ago. They pay only $37,122 if they had a policy with the Texas Joint Underwriting Association.
Sources:
Illinois Medical Malpractice Insurance Rates:
http://mymedicalmalpracticeinsurance.com/illinois-medical-malpractice-insurance.php#2008
Texas Medical Malpractice Insurance Rates:
http://mymedicalmalpracticeinsurance.com/texas-medical-malpractice-insurance.php#2008
Doggone/GA
April 30th, 2010
12:36 pm
“I think Scout’s yanking your chains”
Has he? I haven’t been reading his stuff.
Union
April 30th, 2010
12:38 pm
Doggone.. my post is moderated..
answer and links point out that tx, which has tort reform, vs il, which does not.. cost for malpractice insurance is about 1/3 less in a tort reformed state.. tx is @ 37k, il is @ 127k
Paul
April 30th, 2010
12:39 pm
Doggone/GA
I thought your 11:59 to Bosch’s 11:55 reply to Scout meant you were following the exchange.
Doggone/GA
April 30th, 2010
12:40 pm
“meant you were following the exchange”
Nope, just replying to Bosch…as quoted.
Union
April 30th, 2010
12:40 pm
that was fast.. thanks “somebody”
George W Bush
April 30th, 2010
12:41 pm
Miss me yet?
Doggone/GA
April 30th, 2010
12:42 pm
Union…I’ve not said if I was for or against tort reform. I have mixed feelings about it. I think sometimes it is totally necessary, and other times juries abuse it.
But if insurance companies don’t want to pay those huge awards, then let them monitor the doctors they insure. Isn’t that the kind of thing the “keep the government out” and “private enterprise can do it better” advocates want? I’m just trying to see if it could actually be done.
I actually think it could.
Paul
April 30th, 2010
12:47 pm
George
Uh, not really….
Ebola outbreak
April 30th, 2010
12:48 pm
Miss me yet?
Doggone/GA
April 30th, 2010
12:50 pm
“Miss me yet?”
We can’t miss you until you go away.
Union
April 30th, 2010
12:51 pm
BP.. will pay for the cleanup.. and lawsuits.. and pass the costs on to us.. if needed..
anyone remember the “bugs” that were supposed to eat oil spills?? whatever happened to those things?
George W Bush
April 30th, 2010
12:56 pm
Union…they escaped to Chicago and ate Obamas brain.
George W Bush
April 30th, 2010
12:57 pm
PS…Miss me yet?
Normal
April 30th, 2010
12:58 pm
It’s still Bush’s fault! I don’t know how he did it, but I know he blew up that well. It’s a conspiracy, I tell you! BTW, I want to see his birth certificate!
Doggone/GA
April 30th, 2010
12:59 pm
“whatever happened to those things?”
Wasn’t there a worry about containment issues and them getting into regular oil supplies? Kind of like the issue with the “containment” of the Chestnut Blight. The measure taken to control it actually helped to spread it.
Normal
April 30th, 2010
1:01 pm
…I would ask to see Cheneys too, but I have personal knowledge that he was made at Dow Chemical…
Normal
April 30th, 2010
1:01 pm
PS…Miss me yet?
That’s a big “No Way”, good buddy…
AmVet
April 30th, 2010
1:02 pm
There is one good thing about King George II.
After helping orchestrate the greatest back to back electoral humiliations in American history, at least he has kept his bizarre grin out of the public domain.
Unlike that major league POS that pulled his strings.
It can be argued that the ugly face most qualified to represent the horrific state of the modern day GOP is in fact Dickhead Cheney.
You’re doing a heckuva job connies…
stands for decibels
April 30th, 2010
1:03 pm
Union, I don’t think anyone disputes that putting caps on pain/suffering awards have appeared to reduce medical malpractice insurance costs in TX. I’ve seen those same studies. Trouble is, for all that is appears to have done in that direction, those costs savings haven’t resulted in significant health insurance premium cost reductions in TX, or even any discernible slowing in the growth of premium rates.
Show me where actual end users have benefited from this wondrous tort reform and I’ll start taking it seriously. As it is, it’s just one cost-saving component, one that is not without its problems, starting with those of (say) a widow who learns that her dead husband’s life is capped at 250K, less lawyers’ contingency fees.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
April 30th, 2010
1:09 pm
Well, I might of knowed. Let one little oil well spill a couple drops in the ocean and all of a sudden they’re all against offshore drilling. We’ll never get rid of being dependent on the Terrists if we don’t drill for our own oil.
I figure Sarah, Rush, Sean, and a whole bunch of other Conservatives can’t all be wrong. So what if the price of fish and oysters and stuff like that goes out of sight? I don’t eat that junk and it don’t hurt me. Besides, there ain’t much good come out of Louisiana.
Strange thing is, all the godly people that spoke up for more offshore drilling ain’t said a word ever since that oil spill. Even Bobby Jindal got on TV and just wanted federal aid to take care of the oil damage that’s going to come in LA. I thought he was against big guvmint, and what happened to Drill, baby, Drill? Some of us could use some support, you know. Not left out here hanging and holding the snipe bag. Even big drilling supporters on this blog ain’t saying nothing. Sometimes you can’t depend on nobody.
Looking forward to the weird music tonight. I’m just about finished with the stocking, so you can start slobbering now. Have a good p.m. everybody.
Union
April 30th, 2010
1:10 pm
@ sfd.. personally.. i dont believe in caps.. i am a staunch believer in loser pays..
Scout
April 30th, 2010
1:12 pm
AmVet:
You wish …….. LOL !
Scout
April 30th, 2010
1:16 pm
Just heard something interesting:
The Obama administration is an “Occuypying Administration” more like a foreign power ………. “
Scout
April 30th, 2010
1:20 pm
Question for Jay and some of you libs. out there :
Would you support the new Arizona law if illegal immigration checks involving the police had to be as a result of “dispatched” calls (i.e., accidents, disturbances, felony in progress, etc.) as opposed to routine traffic stops?
That would be more than enough to keep the police occupied in that area and to slowly but surely send the message.
What say ye??
Doggone/GA
April 30th, 2010
1:21 pm
“What say ye??”
No
Jay
April 30th, 2010
1:21 pm
Then you know your duty as an American patriot, right Scout?
Step on up. Your country is in need.
Doggone/GA
April 30th, 2010
1:24 pm
“Just heard something interesting:”
Voices in your head getting active again?
TaxPayer
April 30th, 2010
1:26 pm
I don’t know what all the fuss is about. Heck, it’s a lot easier to just scoop up the oil and haul it to market than it is to pump it. Better yet, just let the Gulf fill up with the stuff and then build a refinery on a platform right in the middle of the stuff. No need to transport the crude at all. Now that would have to save the oil companies some bucks and that’s what this is all about. Profits. Profits rule. Profits make the Republican world go round. Must make more profits.
TaxPayer
April 30th, 2010
1:30 pm
Scout,
Perhaps you should apply for a police job in Arizona. Somehow, I don’t think you’d last a day.
AmVet
April 30th, 2010
1:36 pm
OK, you Slade owners and other would be gang bangers and assorted gas guzzlers had better fill up pronto!
Your pals in BIG, BIG, BIG oil will never turn down a golden opportunity like this to jack up gas prices.
(Can you say $4, maybe $5 a gallon?)
Union
April 30th, 2010
1:39 pm
@ AmVet – I kind of like it when the gas prices go up.. keeps more people off the road and makes it easier to ride around.
Scout
April 30th, 2010
1:42 pm
Stop it guys ……….. you’re killing me. My side is hurting.
JohnnyReb
April 30th, 2010
1:44 pm
I suggest somewhere in and amongst the bickering, we all pray the crews working to stop the oil flow will be successful soon. Currently, they are using the remotely operated vehicles to attempt stopping the flow at the blow out prevention device. A drilling rig positioned today to start drilling a new hole that will intersect the blow hole. At intersection, they will pump in material to stop the flow. The new hole could literally take weeks, perhaps a month or more, to be successful. That means an oil flow disaster of previously unknown proportions unless the ROV efforts are successfull in stopping the flow.
With the above stated, everyone, including the most fierce tree huggers should admit stopping oil drilling in the Gulf or elsewhere is not an option. Other countries drilling in the Gulf won’t stop even if we do. What do you think would happen to our economy if gas went to 8 or 10 bucks a gallon? It went to 4 and ignited the downturn.
TaxPayer
April 30th, 2010
1:47 pm
Does Corporal Scout actually think that this BP oil spill is somehow Obama’s fault. I would not be at all surprised. After all, he is is one of those people that thinks that Obama owes him a copy of his original birth certificate.
Jay
April 30th, 2010
1:49 pm
I concur, JohnnyReb.
mm
April 30th, 2010
1:50 pm
<b href="http://ourfuture.org/blog-entry/2010041728/unfree-markets-last-gasp-literally-bankrupt-ideology"Great article about the free market myth
mm
April 30th, 2010
1:52 pm
Oops.
Great article about the free market myth
TaxPayer
April 30th, 2010
1:53 pm
I suspect that higher gas prices will provide sufficient profit motive to encourage even more alternative energy research and development. Even Newt’s eyes would see the green, as in dollar signs, by then. At $4/gallon, people drove less and started purchasing more fuel efficient vehicles and even started inflating their tires properly. At $8/gallon, they’ll do that and more.
JKL2
April 30th, 2010
1:53 pm
AmVet-
Obama want’s $7/gal gas. Why are you stopping at $4/5? Of course the price will go up because they have to cover lowered production and cleanup costs. But corporations never pass the expenses on to the consumer.
Just consider this a warmup for when they slam VAT and cap and tax thru on us. Good thing we’ll have free healthcare to make up the difference in our paychecks.
Scout
April 30th, 2010
1:53 pm
Breaking News !
Headline: “WASHINGTON (AP) – The Pentagon has approved the use of two Air Force planes to dump chemicals on the oil spill threatening the Gulf Coast.”
WOW! Two planes!
Scout
April 30th, 2010
1:55 pm
Only because Katrina was Bush’s fault.
Tag ……. you’re it.
TaxPayer
April 30th, 2010
1:56 pm
Scout is showing signs of reverting back to his childhood.
Paul
April 30th, 2010
1:58 pm
JKL2
[[Good thing we’ll have free healthcare ]]
Free?
When did that happen?
Oops, I forgot. You’re military. For you it’s free.
Palin's Camel-Toe
April 30th, 2010
1:59 pm
Laughing at conservatives today, screaming for the govt. they claim to be inept to clean up a disaster caused by corporate malfeasance, you can’t argue with this intellectual vacuum, so I’ll just agree with these conservative lemmings and claim its God’s will…….
JKL2
April 30th, 2010
2:02 pm
THe last I checked, we had a market where you could actually buy stock in oil companies. Why don’t you buy them out, then start working for free because profits are evil.
I wonder what Brownie is up to these days. I’m sure they could hire him as a consultant.
JKL2
April 30th, 2010
2:09 pm
Paul-
You haven’t signed up for Obamacare yet? It’s free and you don’t even have to be an American to get it.
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
2:11 pm
Paul,
From earlier –
Yes, I knew what Scout was doing – I thought I’d throw in some hyperbole too. it’s what I do. Friday afternoon naps are fun.
AmVet
April 30th, 2010
2:11 pm
“Obama want’s $7/gal gas.”
JKL2, I fully understand BHO is a quasi-Republican, but you think he shares their death wish too?
No problem.
I hope (once again) that come 2012, the nation will finally begin to look at third party candidates in earnest. If nothing else, it will be another chance for the Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum Parties of Failure, and their lamestream and flunkies and corporate money masters, to demonstrate their entrenched enthronement and immutable corruption…
pat
April 30th, 2010
2:12 pm
BP, shold clean up the spill. And we should continue to drill. Accidents happen. I didn’t see anybody stopping oil tankers after the Valdese….
It’s safer to have a accident from time to time then continually get our oil from our enemies.
Drill away, just be more careful.
Paul
April 30th, 2010
2:14 pm
JKL2
You don’t seriously believe it’s ‘free’ do you?
Hey Bosch
Sounds like a good way to spend the afternoon. Here, it’s overcast, muggy, waiting for a storm system. I’m one phone call away from sending a bunch of work out and heading out to see “Release the Kraken!!!”. Then it’s back here for more work and Friday Night Music.
jewcowboy
April 30th, 2010
2:15 pm
Peadawg,
“What about all the liberals that blamed everything on Bush during Obama’s 1st year in office. What is that called?”
So then you acknowledge that 9/11 was entirely the result of Bush’s failures….
Paul
April 30th, 2010
2:16 pm
AmVet
We should start a contest come fall elections. “Name the Difference Between the Republican and the Democrat.”
Oughta be a short contest.
AmVet
April 30th, 2010
2:19 pm
Paul, the ultimate (predictable?) answer (for me) is:
“The biggest difference between Republicans and Democrats is the speed at which their knees hit the floor when corporations knock on the door.”
Scout
April 30th, 2010
2:19 pm
O.K. guys ………. go easy on the libs. while I’m gone. Be back late this evening.
Normal
April 30th, 2010
2:21 pm
“Name the Difference Between the Republican and the Democrat.”
That’s too easy. One starts with an “R” and the other with a “D”. Other than that, no difference at all.
Paul
April 30th, 2010
2:21 pm
AmVet
The three knocks on the door when the corporations knock I understand. You’ve now solved the mystery of what are those other two knocks we hear after the door shuts.
Thanks!
jewcowboy
April 30th, 2010
2:22 pm
Paul,
“Name the Difference Between the Republican and the Democrat.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueZ6tvqhk8U
Paul
April 30th, 2010
2:23 pm
Normal
Hey! You’re s’posed to wait ’till fall!
jewcowboy
April 30th, 2010
2:25 pm
AmVet,
“The biggest difference between Republicans and Democrats is the speed at which their knees hit the floor when corporations knock on the door.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emvVDC1-bwI
Chris Broe
April 30th, 2010
2:27 pm
Drill, Spill and Kill Gills!
JKL2
April 30th, 2010
2:31 pm
AmVet-
He’s socialist/marxist not quasi-republican. You’re going the wrong way on the spectrum. Oil companies only became evil because Bush had interest in them.
Obama is more interested in taking over means of production. When the price of gas gets high enough, he will take over the oil companies in “the national interest”. $7/gal oil also puts us on par with the European countries he is trying to emulate.
It also goes with Al Gore and his friends waiting to make trillions off cap and tax. This is just playing into his hand.
Normal
April 30th, 2010
2:32 pm
Paul
April 30th, 2010
2:23 pm
Normal
Hey! You’re s’posed to wait ’till fall!
Dang…Another premature postulation…
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
2:42 pm
AmVet,
“We should start a contest come fall elections. “Name the Difference Between the Republican and the Democrat.””
That’s why I get a kick out of all the conservatives here who are just convinced that the R’s are gonna take over and things are gonna be different.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now, with this oil spill:
I am kind of bummed out that Obama is being so reactionary to this disaster. Now, granted, I think this oil spill sucks and I totally believe that this is going to be an epic suckubus for the economy and environment. But I don’t think we need to stop drilling, especially since a huge amount is going to be wasted and we need some more.
Now, with that being said, I think this is a wake up call that we need to do everything possible in our power and the known universe and beyond to get off this crap that has the potential to create such havoc. We need to develop fuel alternatives to this dinosaur gunk — but we haven’t and now we are going to reap what we sow. I just hope that after we sow all this gunk, it’s a wake up call that yes, Jimmy Carter WAS right, we need to be using the sun, wind, gas, corn, hemp, body fat and whatever else we can use to power our stuff because this continuation of killing our planet with this dinosaur gunk is killing us – the planet will be fine and continue on until the sun burns out, but we might not inhabit it after a few more hundred years, and I’m rooting for humans!
But in the meantime, the only ones to blame is US, we, as consumers have allowed ourselves to turn a blind eye to this issue and we are at the oil companies mercy. As consumers we need to make a conscious effort to conserve now, develop implement alternatives later, as soon as possible.
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
2:43 pm
“Obama is more interested in taking over means of production. When the price of gas gets high enough, he will take over the oil companies in “the national interest”.”
Suits me.
mike
April 30th, 2010
2:44 pm
Yep. Good thinking. Just like when we slowed building nuclear power plants to a crawl after Three Mile Island. That has worked out well for us.
Normal
April 30th, 2010
2:45 pm
Obama is more interested in taking over means of production. When the price of gas gets high enough, he will take over the oil companies in “the national interest”.”
I’m with Bosch, only I wish he’d hurry up. The wait is killing me.
mike
April 30th, 2010
2:48 pm
jewcowboy –
“Name the Difference Between the Republican and the Democrat.”
Let me guess. The Republicans are bad right? LOL
Like most intolerant people, you must have a very homogeneous group of friends to really think such absurdly broad thoughts. Actually in your case, I don’t think that you have a social circle at all.
Union
April 30th, 2010
2:50 pm
What would be the benefit of govt taking over the oil industry.. cept for higher prices?
Normal
April 30th, 2010
2:52 pm
Union
April 30th, 2010
2:50 pm
What would be the benefit of govt taking over the oil industry.. cept for higher prices?
Lower taxes…
Union
April 30th, 2010
2:53 pm
@ normal…
LMAO
AmVet
April 30th, 2010
2:53 pm
jewcowboy, as soon as Paul made that post I had a feeling somebody was gonna link that song!
“He’s socialist/marxist not quasi-republican.”
No, your paranoia aside, you err.
He is simply following the lead of the greatest socialist in American history – George Walker Bush.
Who along with many of the Congressional Republicans used collectivism, taxation without representation (Where the F were the Tea Floggers THEN???) and income redistribution to bail out capitalism in late 2008.
And as we all know King George was a Democrat.
No, wait. That’s not right.
He was an independent!
No that doesn’t seem right either.
Oh yeah. He was a Republican Socialist/Marxist!
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
2:54 pm
Off topic, but that crazy John Boehner, now he’s taking credit for the good things in the healthcare bill even though he voted against it:
BOEHNER TAKES CREDIT FOR DEMOCRATIC HEALTH CARE ADVANCES…. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) spoke to NPR’s Steve Inskeep this morning, and twice said Republicans would repeal the Affordable Care Act if given congressional majorities next year. (thanks to reader A.D.)
It led to an interesting exchange:
INSKEEP: As you know, Democrats are already pointing to things that are changing in America because of this bill. They will point to the fact that college seniors, who would have been kicked off their families’ insurance plans when they graduated, will get to stay on. Insurance companies are now saying they’re going to end the practice of “rescission,” where they take, or at least modify…
BOEHNER: Both of those ideas, by the way, came from Republicans, and are part of the common sense ideas that we ought to have in the law.
INSKEEP: Well, are you going to repeal those two specific things?
BOEHNER Uh, what I want to repeal are the other 158 mandates, commissions, boards that set up all the infrastructure for the government to take control of our health care system. [emphasis added]
We’ve seen a few instances lately in which Republican lawmakers try to take credit for provisions in the Affordable Care Act that they fought like hell to kill.
But Boehner is being especially shameless here. He is, after all, the one who characterized the new law as “Armageddon.” I guess the new line will need some caveats: “It’s Armageddon … except for those popular parts, which Republicans should get credit for, even though we voted against them.”
Note to Republicans: if the Affordable Care Act is an evil assault on America, moms, and apple pie, which will end the world as we know it, and which you fight until your last breath to destroy, you don’t get to take credit for its provisions, especially when you didn’t really come up with them in the first place.
Also note that Boehner believes the law sets up “the infrastructure” for a government-takeover of the health care system. What an interesting way to put it. I guess the Democrats’ system isn’t a government-takeover, but has the capacity to be a government-takeover at some point in the future, maybe.
After all this time, can John Boehner speak intelligently about health care policy? Hell no he can’t.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/
JKL2
April 30th, 2010
2:55 pm
Bosch/Mike-
I din’t say anything about the price going down after that. I just said he would take them over.
Stock in Citgo and Chevron are still for sale if you want to become part of the evil oil company and reap massive profits.
Jay
April 30th, 2010
2:57 pm
So JKL2, I guess I should add “take over the oil companies” to the list of things that conservatives claim Obama is plotting to do?
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
3:01 pm
Jay,
With his top secret army and black helicopters.
Kamchak
April 30th, 2010
3:05 pm
Bosch
Just divulge the entire itinerary of the O of O why doncha?
JKL2
April 30th, 2010
3:07 pm
Jay-
I don’t think it was high on his list, but now that the opportunity has presented itself, why not. Wouldn’t want a good crisis to go to waste.
It also fits in nicely with his cap and tax aggenda I am sure he is going to try to pass. Healthcare, insurance, student loans, working on banking; might as well grab energy while we’re at it.
Normal
April 30th, 2010
3:07 pm
I just wish he would hurry. I want to wear my black uniform soooo bad!
FinnMcCool
April 30th, 2010
3:07 pm
Funny OGK mentioned Haliburton as a culprit. Looks like the fingers are pointing that way…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/30/halliburton-may-be-culpri_n_558481.html
jasper
April 30th, 2010
3:08 pm
Here it comes: Ecological Disaster, media orgy, professional protestor throngs in the french quarter congressional grandstanding, pained expressions of oil soaked pelicans, sean penn in hip-waders, the Nawleans poor somehow suffer disproportionately from fumes, disaster declaration, billions in federal aid, high gas prices, economic recovery relapse, independent voters malaise continues, dems get thrashed in november. Braves losing streak hits 163.
Jay
April 30th, 2010
3:10 pm
I went for my fitting last week, Normal.
Those jackboots are SO cool!
Jay
April 30th, 2010
3:11 pm
And Jasper, pretty funny.
Except for the Braves part.
Doggone/GA
April 30th, 2010
3:11 pm
“Those jackboots are SO cool!”
Mine have spike heels!
jewcowboy
April 30th, 2010
3:13 pm
mike,
“Actually in your case, I don’t think that you have a social circle at all.”
So says the guy that cyber-stalks me….
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
April 30th, 2010
3:14 pm
So, did obozo allow the oil to make landfall so that he would have another political issue to goose up his herd of dimwits?
Just askin….
I mean, he could have done something, anything…
AmVet
April 30th, 2010
3:15 pm
Yeah, looks like Sheik Obama is gonna have to nationalize the Braves…
TaxPayer
April 30th, 2010
3:17 pm
Are the few conservatives of the Republican faith that are willing to speak now trying to downplay this oil spill as well as try to blame it on Obama. What next! Let me guess. It never would have happened if the Democrats had not pushed for more regulations? Or, if Carter had only been man enough to stand up to those that opposed conservation and alternative energy! What! It must be Jane Fonda’s fault.
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
3:17 pm
Sorry Kamchak,
I’ll try to keep it more on the down low. I get carried away sometimes.
Outhouse GoKart
April 30th, 2010
3:17 pm
The oil spill solutions lies with Al Goron standing on the beaches of MS and preaching about the internet, climate change, tipper, PMRC and Darling Nikki. All that hot air would push that oil slick strait to the shores of South America.
GORON!!!! Save us!
Jay
April 30th, 2010
3:18 pm
Well, they ARE America’s team.
Obama would just make it official.
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
3:19 pm
Jay, Normal,
Did you get the ones with the buckles? I hope so cause we had a meeting this morning, and that’s how we’re gonna work in the microchip scanners.
Outhouse GoKart
April 30th, 2010
3:20 pm
“Well, they ARE America’s team.”
Touche’…lol.
AmVet
April 30th, 2010
3:21 pm
Americas team!
I had forgotten, Jay!
I guess that’s what one ring in fourteen straight tries does to a man…
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
3:23 pm
Oh, and Jay, in case you haven’t chosen a song yet, today is Willie Nelson’s birthday. Just saying.
jewcowboy
April 30th, 2010
3:23 pm
jasper @ 3.08,
Alex, I’ll take things that give Republicans a woody for $800.
Del
April 30th, 2010
3:24 pm
Jay,
Left you my answer to your 3:08pm, on the previous thread
Union
April 30th, 2010
3:24 pm
Doggone/GA
April 30th, 2010
3:11 pm
“Those jackboots are SO cool!”
“Mine have spike heels!”
Newt's Hoots, Inc., NLC, a no liability company
April 30th, 2010
3:24 pm
Dear Whiner,
Thank you for your order for more of my bumper stickers. Normally, I do not accept order for customized sticker but since you are such a good customer, I could not just say no. Just to review, your sticker would state the following:
Shrill, Baby Shrill
Please include full payment and I will begin processing your order as soon as possible. Thank you for the business. I needed it bad.
jewcowboy
April 30th, 2010
3:25 pm
Bosch,
“Oh, and Jay, in case you haven’t chosen a song yet, today is Willie Nelson’s birthday. Just saying.”
I heard that on NPR this morning, and honestly my first thought was, please don’t let Jay realize this…I mean don’t get me wrong…I like some Willy (uh-hem) but we actually got Jay into the 2000’s last week…
Outhouse GoKart
April 30th, 2010
3:26 pm
“Alex, I’ll take things that give Republicans a woody for $800.”
Alex, what would be a “Ladies of the AJC” featuring 12 months of Ms Cynthia Tucker!
JKL2
April 30th, 2010
3:27 pm
taxpayer-
It’s Bush’s fault. I can’t believe you are missing the mantra. You need to keep saying it or some day people will stop believing the Annointed One.
Maybe we should try drilling in somewhere safe like Anwar.
jewcowboy
April 30th, 2010
3:28 pm
TaxPayer @ 3.17,
Better to blame a dead guy…it was Ted Kennedy’s fault for opposing the wind power plant that would have ruined his view.
Though, I kinda would have to give it to Republicans if they tried that line of thought…
Del
April 30th, 2010
3:28 pm
Taxpayer@3:17pm,
I don’t blame Obama for this oil spill anymore than I thought it made sense to blame Bush for Katrina. Those who do I think take partisan ideology way over the bar.
jewcowboy
April 30th, 2010
3:29 pm
Outhouse GoKart @ 3.26,
Cynthia gives you a woody? Kinky.
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
3:31 pm
Del,
We didn’t blame Bush for Katrina, I mean, we know he didn’t cause that hurricane – it was just the 10 days afterwards when people were still stuck in the Superdome –
Union
April 30th, 2010
3:32 pm
err.. my postie thing is broken..
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
3:34 pm
“Despite Perdue’s efforts, teacher evaluation bill dies without a vote”
Wow, the Legislatures finally did something right!
http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/despite-perdues-efforts-teacher-506450.html
Kamchak
April 30th, 2010
3:34 pm
Alex, I’ll take things that give Republicans a woody for $800.
thomas
April 30th, 2010
3:35 pm
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
2:42 pm
“That’s why I get a kick out of all the conservatives here who are just convinced that the R’s are gonna take over and things are gonna be different. ”
To be fair though isn’t that kinda what Obama ran as a platform for his election and how democrats took back control of the house and senate?
I seem to remember that type of conversation (believe one is your friend….remember the adults are in charge now/again line) from some who I would not consider to be conservative.
So lets be fair, there ain’t a whole lot of difference in republican or democrat politicians or VOTERS.
Both think everything they want is good, just and what is needed. While everything they do not want is because of a diabloical plot by the other side.
We have WAAAAAAAAAAY more in common than we like to admit, but don’t count on any admitting that anytime soon.
BTW, lets hope this gets cleaned up as quick as possible. Lots of economic downsides to this, not to mention ecological. Just as the economy was showing signs of improvement, bang!
jewcowboy
April 30th, 2010
3:36 pm
Kamchak @ 3.34,
You win…
Jay
April 30th, 2010
3:39 pm
Musical squirrels!!
Outhouse GoKart
April 30th, 2010
3:40 pm
JC…rarely do I find myself in agreement with her, however, she is one very attractive female!!
Del
April 30th, 2010
3:41 pm
Bosch,
You couldn’t lay the unfortunate suffering including the Superdome at GWB’s feet. Were mistakes made, yes. Government which is comprised by people will make mistakes, regardless of whose in office. Some are blaming the Coast Guard and indirectly blaming Obama because he’s C&C. I don’t agree with that either.
Mr. Right
April 30th, 2010
3:41 pm
We have ships that have accidents and leak oil so I guess we need to ban ships hauling oil!!
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
3:44 pm
thomas,
I can’t disagree with you there, but for me, it’s really about who I trust more. I never focus on hokey campaign slogans or even promises really, it all comes down to who I think will be the most effective leader – and sometimes that means playing the game.
jewcowboy
April 30th, 2010
3:44 pm
Outhouse GoKart,
“rarely do I find myself in agreement with her, however, she is one very attractive female!!”
Maybe it could be a Mary Matalin – James Carville kind of thing…hopefully you do not have the face that is imploding like Carville’s though…
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
3:45 pm
And why ANYBODY would want to ruin perfectly good broccoli salad with putting in raisins is totally beyond me.
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
3:48 pm
Del,
Sure I can blame him – the governments in charge were non-functioning and when that happens the Feds step in. Sure there were mistakes on the local/state level before, but after they were overwhelmed and needed help and 10 days later you still had people at the Superdome, in this country, that is inexcusable.
Now, I’m going to play with music.
thomas
April 30th, 2010
3:49 pm
Bosch,
we all do have to play the game don’t forget what I do. More politics in it than one would think.
Question:
If we keep playing the same game will we ever discover a better one?
Bosch
April 30th, 2010
3:51 pm
thomas,
“If we keep playing the same game will we ever discover a better one?”
Again, for me, it goes back to this morning’s discussion – and I believe that a large majority of the American populace are willfully ignorant. Now….music.
getalife
April 30th, 2010
3:55 pm
How long until they can stop the leak?
thomas
April 30th, 2010
4:53 pm
getalife
April 30th, 2010
3:55 pm
may be month away