Obama faces first backlash in the US over his continued attacks on BP

London Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | June 12, 2010 | Philipp Sherwell

[Schnucki]

One of his most sweeping demands of BP - that the company be made to foot the bill for a drilling moratorium imposed by his administration - has been undermined after it emerged that his own officials modified expert advice.

His call for BP to pay the wages of other companies' oil workers laid off during the halt to deep-water drilling and other related costs was initially viewed by the White House as a popular punitive tactic against the beleaguered British energy giant.

But the campaign has come under fire from US businesses, Republican politicians and even some lawyers suing BP over the oil spill as legally unenforceable "big government" posturing.

Most damaging is the revelation that the administration modified a report by a panel of experts advising Mr Obama. Two paragraphs were added calling for the moratorium, which was not part of the team's conclusions.

More than half of the experts, who were recommended for their know-how by the National Academy of Engineering, have since revealed that they actually opposed a halt to drilling.

Ken Salazar, the interior minister who ordered the ban, has now apologised. "The experts involved in crafting the report gave us their recommendation and their input," he said. "It was not their decision on the moratorium. It was my decision and the president's decision to move forward."

The controversy has fuelled the belief that Mr Obama is trying to deflect criticism of his handling of the crisis by lashing out at BP - despite reportedly assuring David Cameron, the British prime minister, in a telephone conversation yesterday that he had "no interests" in undermining the company's value.

The President, who has repeatedly used the company's former name, British Petroleum, as a reminder of its foreign roots, said last week that he was looking for "ass

[ROTB]

Itis another “stupid” Republican mistake to fall in the trap of defend BP! BP is an irresponsible corporation! Don’t defend it and give the Marxist boy a way out.

*******************************

It’s the business climate that needs defending. That’s part of what keeps America prosperous.

If we get too greedy, SO greedy, that it’s impossible to run a business and make a buck, and we take every opportunity to rape companies that want to do business here, then we won’t have jobs.

Oil platforms are going to other parts of the world. Only our quest for vengeance, hunt for oil money can keep them away.

[SaraJohnson]

Get off it!

Corporations have responsibilities that come with freedom like everyone does. Some Corporations are irresponsible and fascist like BP and the banksters.

In order to prosper, we have to be alive first! In order to be free, we need everyone respecting that freedom!

[arkady_renko]

Ken Salazar, the interior minister who ordered the ban, has now apologised. "The experts involved in crafting the report gave us their recommendation and their input," he said. "It was not their decision on the moratorium. It was my decision and the president's decision to move forward.

In other words, Obama doesn't even listen to the experts telling him whose ass to kick, he decides on his own.

Another lie.

[italianquaker]

Tell that to Odumbo who skipped the memorial to go to a party in California. Now there is a fascist

[EBH]

§311(c)(1) The President shall institute means for the removal of an oil discharge and mitigation or prevention of the threat of a discharge (1) into the navigable water of the U.S. or adjoining shorelines; (2) into or on the waters of the exclusive economic zone; or (3) that may affect natural resources of the U.S. In doing so the President has the authority to make any arrangements for removal or prevention, direct removal actions, and remove or destroy a vessel releasing or that has the threat of releasing.

§311(c)(2) The President shall direct all Federal, State, and private actions to remove a discharge or mitigate or prevent the threat of a discharge from onshore or offshore facilities which is determined to be a substantial threat to the public health or welfare of the United States.

§311(j)(1)(A) The President is required to establish methods and procedures for removal of discharged oil and hazardous substances as part of the National Response System.

§311(j)(1)(C) The President is authorized to issue regulations establishing procedures, methods, equipment, and other requirements to prevent discharges of oil from vessels and facilities.

§311(j)(4) The President is authorized to establish Area Committees. These committees will prepare Area Contingency Plans that detail methods and procedures for responding to a worst case discharge, including the division of responsibilities among various authorities in a response. Each Area Committee will submit this plan to the President for approval.

§311(j)(5) The President is required to establish regulations for facility and vessel response plans.

[SaraJohnson]

They are all one big happy fascist family these days - big business and our polticians. They have NWO parties in our Treasury.

[ignoramus2010]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/05/28/disaster-gulf-days-counting/ At the White House: Obama meets Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, then travels to San Francisco for fundraisers for Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "DAY 36 May 25
Obama flies to San Fran to party with Getty Oil family


And raise millions for Barbara Boxer
"
(images and text copied from Obama during oil spill golf, parties, photo-ops and more golf! (photos)

"As CNN reported today [25th May], Obama will headline three fundraisers in San Francisco for Boxer and for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The events are scheduled to be held at the Fairmont Hotel, in the city's affluent Nob Hill district, and at the home of Ann and Gordon Getty, wealthy philanthropists who head their family's billion dollar trust.

The decision to raise campaign funds with Getty the heir to the multi-billion-dollar Getty Oil fortune draws even further attention to the President’s misplaced priorities as he flies across the continent for a campaign fundraiser while a major man-made disaster damages the ecosystem and economy of the Gulf Coast.

President Obama and Barbara Boxer’s hypocrisy is astonishing. In the wake of this ongoing national crisis, why didn’t the Democrats reschedule his fancy fundraiser with the billionaire oil heirs and allow the President to direct his full attention toward the massive disaster that is plaguing the Gulf Coast? asked National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokeswoman Amber Marchand. While the President makes time to fly across the country to rake in campaign cash for struggling Democrats like Barbara Boxer, today’s trip comes at a special cost for residents of the Gulf Coast region who want the President’s full attention on this enormous problem." - link

[EBH]

Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund(OSLTF) means the fund established under section 9509 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986(26 U.S.C. 9509).

With the consolidation of these funds and the collection of a tax on the petroleum industry, the Fund increased to $1 billion. Fund uses were delineated by OPA to include:

* Removal costs incurred by the Coast Guard and EPA
* State access for removal activities;
* Payments to federal, state, and Indian tribe trustees to conduct natural resource damage assessments and restorations;
* Payment of claims for uncompensated removal costs and damages;
* Research and development; and
* Other specific appropriations.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 increased the maximum size of the Fund to $2.7 billion.

The Emergency Fund

To ensure rapid, effective response to oil spills, the President has the authority to make available—without Congressional appropriation—up to $50 million each year to fund removal activities and initiate NRDAs. Funds not used in a fiscal year are available until expended. To the extent that $50 million is inadequate, the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 granted authority to advance up to $100 million from the Principal Fund to fund removal activities. (This provision has not been utilized to date.)

[ROTB]

Get off it!

Corporations have responsibilities that come with freedom like everyone does. Some Corporations are irresponsible and fascist like BP and the banksters.

In order to prosper, we have to be alive first! In order to be free, we need everyone respecting that freedom!

********************************

Get off what?

Do you deny that an unfavorable business climate chases businesses and thus jobs away?

Do you know WITH CERTAINTY the exact chain of events that led to the gulf spill, and could you pin it on BP WITH CERTAINTY?

[ignoramus2010]

Obama's Golf Crisis Response

DAY 4 April 23 - Obama squeezes in a round of golf!

DAY 5 April 24 - Let’s go golfing again at Grove Park Inn GC

DAY 19 May 8 - Obama hits links at Ft Belvoir

DAY 22 May 11 - Private (golf?) lunch with Joe Biden

DAY 26 May 15 - Enough of the oil spill stuff Obama off to golf!

DAY 27 May 16 - Obama golfs (again!) at Fort Belvoir

DAY 33 May 22 - Obama goes golfing again at Andrews Air Force base

(images and text copied from Obama during oil spill golf, parties, photo-ops and more golf! (photos)

[OldArmy52]

Obama and the Dems should be required to pay for Obama’s Cr*pCare plan.

[wiggen]

If those ‘fascist’ companies get driven out of business by morons like Obama and people backing him then we have no jobs,no security and no future. Maybe you should be thinking this through or perhaps posting on the HuffPo where corporations are called fascist on a regular basis.

[AAABEST]

Just read the Fifth Amendment. It’s all in there ~ says Obama is acting extra-Constitutionally and must be stopped.

Yes but you're forgetting that the Benevolent Goon-King can simply wave his hand and have private businesses do his every whim. He can fire their CEOs, screw their bondholders, sieze the firm's assets and give whatever portion of it he wishes to unions.

Here Benevolent Goon-King simply wishes to levy massive fines to pay the oil riggers he himself put out of work. Benevolent Goon-King desires it, hence it should be done.

You haven't gotten the memo?

[okie01]

...and at the home of Ann and Gordon Getty, wealthy philanthropists who head their family's billion dollar trust.

How ironic. Daddy's money came from oil.

Going to prove that heirs and heiresses are, as a group, not just the "idle rich", but the "stupid rich", as well.

[AAABEST]

Itis another “stupid” Republican mistake to fall in the trap of defend BP! BP is an irresponsible corporation! Don’t defend it and give the Marxist boy a way out.

Are you trying to come off as a colossal dingbat?

Maobama has no business whatsoever taking assets from company A so that he can pay the employees (he himself put out of work) in comanies B,C and D.

Stuff a sock in it.

[SaraJohnson]

Go Go BP! Killll the Gulf!

[SaraJohnson]

BP is going to strip a lot of people of their investments and wealth w/o the help of Bam Bam and his commie pals. Quit defending them. They screwed up big time.

[SaraJohnson]

You want a “favorable business climate” for a corporation that just wrecked the homes and businesses of the Gulf of Mexico? You are real pro business. Tell my neice who has a resturant in Destin how wonderful BP is for the US economy. Stop being on automatic and stupid.

[sionnsar]

The President, who has repeatedly used the company's former name, British Petroleum, as a reminder of its foreign roots, said last week that he was looking for "ass

Paging B.J. Clinton...

[ROTB]

You want a “favorable business climate” for a corporation that just wrecked the homes and businesses of the Gulf of Mexico? You are real pro business. Tell my neice who has a resturant in Destin how wonderful BP is for the US economy. Stop being on automatic and stupid.

**************************************

You’re also quite the artful dodger. You’re not addressing my questions, and quick with insults and arrogance. Nice!

Have a nice night.