BP sells oil all over the world, so the idea that US taxpayers will be paying for it all is stupid.

By the way, I've heard Barton just apologized to The Queen because we were so rude to have a revolution a few years back.

There is no shortage of stupid people who have decided to put the blame on the US government for this disaster. They could care less about the oil spill and would rather play petty partison politics for whatever reason.

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Question Authority before it Questions you.

And you're agreeing...with who? About what?

I didn't say BP should get off scott-free. Show me where I did.

I'm pointing out that there are costs that will continue and will so for a long time. The American Taxpayer is just one in a long line of those that will be paying for this screwup...that should go without saying...it's so obvious...except for a few that want to piss on about nothing...

My biggest ***** is this: What I don't want to see is the government getting so involved in trying to manage this situation. They do NOTHING to make things better...they only serve to be the 800 # gorilla on the backs of those trying to stop this mess and get to the solution.

Show me ONE THING the government has done, so far, to stem that leak. Nothing.

They've set up investigative committees, they've got some volunteers walking around the beaches, leading camera-people around by the noses, they're out doing photo-ops and mouthing sound-bites. Hell, you can get some of the grade-school commies-in-training to do the same crap and the little buggers will be happy to get out of the classrooms...all for free...except for the gas/diesel to bus 'em to and from the beaches...

The point is this:

Let the government HELP in STOPPING THE PROBLEM...not stand around with its fist up its rump screaming like "Chicken Little" that someone better do something about it. Any moron can do that, and everyday, more and more idiots get on TV and prove that point, ad nauseum.

We already know that there will be fines. Why are we NEGOTIATING, RIGHT NOW, as to what the "repriation fund" will be? Why should it ONLY be $20B. Who predicted that the end resultant figure will, magically, be $20B?

I say scrap the agreement, get everyone on the BP payroll that's being effected by this disaster and let BP pay payroll taxes and the like. There's the proper 800# gorilla. Uncle Sam gets the tax money, they can HELP stop the flow and send BP THAT bill, but get Uncle Sam out of the "Kiss Your BooBoo" mode and start acting like a Government and not some kiss-ass nanny.

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M. G. Burg
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“I didn’t really say everything I said.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ Yogi Berra ~

Barton just beat Obama to the apologize.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

I hope Barton doesn't have contributors from the penis enlargement industry, his apology to them could be embarrassing to him.

First of all, BP's liability has not been capped at 20 billion by anyone. If you would have bothered to check the facts instead of flapping your jaw, you would know this. It's a starting point to get the ball rolling. It has nothing to do with clean up costs. It's purpose is to have lump sum of money readily available to be dispersed by an impartial 3rd party to the pay the victims of the spill without having to rely on BP's "generosity".

Secondly, the US government doesn't have the resources nor expertise to stop the spill. As much as some like to think, the Government is not in the oil drilling business. The so called "experts" are private sector people, and the specialized equipment and technology being used is not in the governments inventory.

Thirdly, the President has correctly and rightfully put the full financial burden on BP and not the American people. If BP thinks their going to pass on the costs to the American public through their products, they are sadly mistaken. The American public will buy elsewhere and I'm sure the competition is more than willing to take up the slack. BP has plenty of money and physical assets, just look at the quarterly dividends payed out last week.

Fourthly, if you think the US government shouldn't be involved in deciding what reparations are needed, then who do you think should decide, BP? Yea right.

And lastly, I'm glad the committees exists to investigate the spill and those responsible for it. I'm also pleased that we have volunteers and media walking the beaches, cleaning the birds, and exposing the dire consequences of what happens when big corporations put profits before safety and environmental concerns.

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Question Authority before it Questions you.

Fkng Oil companies cutting costs and jobs while making record profits, rushing their projects without regards for Safety and the Environment. They will give you the BS that Safety is first but we all know that profits come first. BP will pay for a long time, after all is said and done, they may be taken over by a Exxon or Shell.

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Thanks, Juan

I hope someone can assure everyone that the fund will be administered by a truly impartial 3rd party. We do not need this money to become political "walking around money."
2nd--Agreed--The government lacks the expertise----then tell the President to stop sounding like he personally can and will stop the leak.

3rd No problem--after due process, of course. We don't need the modern equivalent of , "Lets give the horse thief a fair trial before we hang him."

4th Thank goodness for the volunteers who are actually cleaning up the mess with no thought of political grandstanding. How many thousand small craft are signed up by the Coast Guard for the effort? I thought it was a lot.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

If all you have in politically driven cynicism, then you have nothing substantive to offer.

Perhaps you have something to support that statement beside idiotic political rhetoric? I've seen nothing to indicate the President has said any such things. Indeed quite the opposite.

BP hung themselves. The evidence is all over the gulf. They drilled it, they spilled it, and they are responsible for cleaning it. I believe there are precedents ands laws already in place covering this. What more do you need to realise who the guilty party is and what their responsibilites are?

And how many of them are trained and equipt to deal with Oil spills? It's one thing to have a fishing boat or pleasure craft, but it's a whole nother thing to think this type of expertise and equipment will magically appear ready for deployment. It's gonna take time, training, infrastructure and money. This is gonna take many months to implement and years to clean up. Hell, the cleanup from the Exxon Valdez is still ongoing, and that was a tiny spill compared to this mess.

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Question Authority before it Questions you.

Stupid comment, get a clue.

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Question Authority before it Questions you.

Coming from you, I take THAT as high praise, indeed.

The problems with progressives is that so much of what they KNOW just isn't so.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

Well then, I'd be more than happy to "praise" you at every oppurtunity I can.

When you offer nothing but cynicism and partisan rhetoric in response to developing solutions to critical problems, I must conclude you have nothing pertinent to offer other than your stupid statements.

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Question Authority before it Questions you.

Yeah, I'm the most partisan guy around here.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

On that we can agree.

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Question Authority before it Questions you.

Sounds like Sara Palin talking..

Or someone in a third grade classroom.

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When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.
Jimi Hendrix