Republican Joe Barton Apologizes to BP?????

Pamela - posted on 06/25/2010

Perhaps BP and Transocean should both be held liable and accountable?

And the only reason Barton apologized for apologizing to BP for the WH "shakedown", was because his co-Republican cronies, whom had been saying the same thing, realized the absolute political disaster of such a remarkably stupid stance. Michele I can't believe she's really from Minnesota Bachmann called it "extortion". And then turned around and said, after Barton was practically thrown out of the party, "Well no one said they shouldn't set aside a fund." This is getting pretty comical except it's really not all that comical because it's such a disaster. It'd be nice if BP would woman up.

Cathy - posted on 06/22/2010

Sara - I heard on NPR this morning that in the weeks leading up to the disaster on the oil rig, it was found that one of the safety mechanisms was malfunctioning. This was brought to the attention of the higher ups and their solution was to TURN IT OFF, because to shut it down and fix it properly would cost half a million a day. So, how can BP not take responsibility for this?



So it was reported to the "highers up" ... do we know which highers up, Transocean or BP?



Transocean were responsible for all repairs and maintenance of the rig. That was the deal that BP had in order to obtain oil from the Gulf, they had to go through American companies with American employees. No doubt with the money BP were paying on this, that they weren't keen on delays caused by faults that they had no authority over to fix.



Do we know for sure that the higher ups at Transocean reported the problem to BP? Do we know it was BP who told them to ignore the problem or did they do that of their own initiative?



It's not that I don't believe that BP should be footing the greater part of the bill for the clean up but I don't think they are all at fault here.

Isobel - posted on 06/22/2010

Melissa, you should tell him that environmentalists don't choose where the oil is ;P just joking, I'm sure my step-dad agrees with him :)

Johnny - posted on 06/21/2010

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37759828/ns/...

Excerpt:

Barton is the biggest recipient of oil and gas industry campaign contributions in the House of Representatives, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

Its data showed that Barton has collected $1,447,880 from political action committees and individuals connected with the oil and gas industry since 1989.

Federal Election Commission records show that during the current 2009-10 campaign cycle, the oil and gas industry has been the second-biggest contributor to Barton, at $100,470, behind only the electric utility industry ($162,800).

Sara - posted on 06/21/2010

Yeah, capitalism is grand, ain't it?

Krista - posted on 06/21/2010

/facepalm

Yeah, let's just turn OFF a safety mechanism. 'Cause it's not like anything could go wrong.

And yet, people think that big businesses can and would self-regulate, if only big, bad government would leave them alone.

Sara - posted on 06/21/2010

Here's a link to the story from the BBC, Mary.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/us_and_...

ME - posted on 06/21/2010

Sara...that is the most disgusting thing I've heard yet!

Sara - posted on 06/21/2010

I heard on NPR this morning that in the weeks leading up to the disaster on the oil rig, it was found that one of the safety mechanisms was malfunctioning. This was brought to the attention of the higher ups and their solution was to TURN IT OFF, because to shut it down and fix it properly would cost half a million a day. So, how can BP not take responsibility for this?

Melissa - posted on 06/21/2010

he says if the oil companies didn't have to drill so deep, we wouldn't be having this problem in the first place. but I tried to tell him that if they knew it was unsafe they shouldn't have drilled...they knew the risk.

Krista - posted on 06/21/2010

Has he said what rationale he's using to blame this on the environmentalists? I'd be interested in hearing that.

Melissa - posted on 06/21/2010

my dad is a card-carrying conservative and he thinks we ought to stop blaming BP for the spill since its the environmentalists' fault...and, of course, Obama's fault. Then again, he thinks Glenn Beck is a great place to get your news.

Tanya - posted on 06/18/2010

Yep I agree with you ladies. Bp should have to pay up

Johnny - posted on 06/18/2010

Clearly Mr. Barton has been completely bought and paid for by the oil companies and is doing their direct bidding. He is not representing the voters of any stripe, but the criminals who committed an act against the American people and the earth. Honestly, I don't really believe this is a left wing vs. right wing issue. It may have been a Republican who voiced this publicly, but you can bet your ass that there are Democrats beholden to the same overlords who are doing the bidding of big oil quietly behind the scenes, and who will find ways to ensure that BP does not really pay the full costs of their malfeasance.

Sara - posted on 06/18/2010

Damned if you do and damned if you don't...if the meeting hadn't taken place, they'd be scrutinizing Obama for not doing anything...now the meeting has taken place, and it's a shakedown. Give me a damn break. BP is responsible for this, and they should pay...pay A LOT of damn money.

Krista - posted on 06/18/2010

I think it's absolutely pathetic that Barton apologized to BP. You know, BP's incompetence and complete inability to self-regulate caused this whole mess, but heaven forbid that their fee-fees get hurt...