[worst-case scenario]

The taxpayers are going to be stuck for the bill for this entire cleanup if BP doesn’t take responsibility for the mess *they* created through their shoddy and unsafe (and finally murderous) practices.

If we take Barton’s suggestion and don’t hold them accountable - and instead *apologize to them* - are you okay with having the taxpayers pick up the billions of dollars of cost?

Or do we just do nothing on the Federal level, and leave it to the States and localities?

If BP isn’t made to pay for the damage they are causing, then they get all of the profits for drilling, and they give the problems to the taxpayers. It’s like reverse Socialism.

[Lurker]

Are you OK with ceding the President powers which he clearly does NOT have under the US Constitution?

[kevkrom]

If we take Barton’s suggestion and don’t hold them accountable - and instead *apologize to them*

They should certainly be held accountable for the situation.

But Barton was also right -- Obama had no right or authority to shake them down like a two-bit mobster. I am embarrassed as an American citizen to see the President behaving in this manner.

BP can and should be held accountable and liable. But in the proper way.

[DrewsMum]

anyone have contact info for these chump rinos handym??

[VRWCmember]

If we take Barton’s suggestion and don’t hold them accountable - and instead *apologize to them* - are you okay with having the taxpayers pick up the billions of dollars of cost?

Barton is not suggesting that they should not be held accountable. He is pointing out, that we do not have a system of government under our constitution where a dictator excecutive can dictate the terms and amount and the method by which they will be held accountable and circumvent the legal process that is in place for such accountability.

You prefer the Hugo Chavez approach that Zerobama is taking? How about just having the government seize control of BP altogethter to make sure they are properly held accountable? Is that what you are suggesting?

[kevao]

Yeah, forget about the legal system. It’s much more efficient when the President makes these types of decisions for everybody.

And it’s much more equitable, too. Who wants this damages mess overseen by some judge, when we can appoint an independent third-party individual who was personally hand-picked by Obama?

[roses of sharon]

Are you kidding? BP is DEAD..they will be paying for decades.

This fund is a political fund, controlled by the President...it is a 3rd world move.

The corruption will be massive with this fund, and THEN taxpayers will have to pay for that corruption. The Dems now want payment for healthcare costs from the spill also.

This is for the courts, who are equipped for these kind of decisions.