GOP would let BP go MIA for oil spill
Written by Don Burnard | | opinion@toledofreepress.comIn a stunning “Did I say that out loud?” moment, Rep. Joe Barton apologized to BP for the remarkable inconvenience of actually having to put money in an escrow account to pay for the incredible havoc it has wreaked on the Gulf Coast region. This was apparently a bit too embarrassing for Mitch McConnell and John Boehner, as they were quick to disavow Barton’s statements as not representative of the Republican Party’s feelings on the subject.
It was deemed to be beyond the pale even for these two “we’ll say anything to discredit Obama” characters. But does it really represent their true feelings? I think not. I believe this is truly what a large proportion of the GOP really does believe. The prevailing belief in the GOP is that these companies’ interests should always trump the interests of, as the head of BP quaintly called us, the “small” people. Their actions time after time show this.
Let’s look at the current subject for starters. Notwithstanding the leadership’s quick disavowal, one need look no further than the statements made by the Republican Study Committee the day before Barton made his comments. The RSC has 115 members, or as Eugene Robinson pointed out, about two-thirds of the Republican House members. it stated: “BP’s reported willingness to go along with the White House’s new fund suggests that the Obama administration is hard at work exerting its brand of Chicago-style shakedown politics.
“These actions are emblematic of a politicization of our economy that has been borne out of this administration’s drive for power and control. It is the same mentality that believes an economic crisis or environmental disaster is the best opportunity to pursue a failed liberal agenda. The American people know much better.”
I have several beefs with this statement. The first is that it is the same pap and twaddle that they have been laying out for years instead of trying to actually help solve any problems that arise. The second is that if anyone is being shaken down, it is the American people, who they constantly claim to speak for. We’ll just call it “liberal” and condemn it outright, while we look out for the best interests of our major contributors.
These types of comments are not limited to just the legislative arena. We also have the Repub propaganda machine chiming in. Tea Party darling Rand Paul calls it un-American to hold BP responsible for a mistake that could have happened to anyone. The usual suspects, like Michelle Bachman, several other right-wing senatorial candidates, and the King of Crap himself, rushed to back Barton’s apology. Rush stated on his show “It was a shakedown pure and simple, and somebody had the audacity to call it what it was, and now everybody’s running for the hills.” I’m sorry, I just don’t understand these thought processes, or lack thereof. That is why I believe that these kinds of events, whether economic, environmental or whatever, lead the current crop of right-wingers to act as apologists for whatever industry interest’s crisis du jour.
These are the same people who, shortly after the BP rig blew up, blamed it on left-wing environmental terrorists who snuck out there and blew it up to stifle offshore drilling. These are the same people who tried to lay the burst of the housing bubble on poor people taking out loans for mansions. It couldn’t have had anything to do with anything the finance industry did. As for unemployment, why don’t the 15 million or so people who haven’t had a job in a year or two just go get a job? So what if you can’t find one that pays a livable wage. The fact that such a relatively large, though I certainly hope not a major, portion of the population actually gives any credence to these simplistic views of complex problems, is downright scary.
We seem to have lost much of what made this country great, the ability to solve great problems in a logical manner, looking out for one another and not allowing others to foist their views on us to our own detriment. As I’ve said before, these people don’t have the interests of the average citizen at heart in these situations. As long as the corporate interests continue to tell us (the small people, remember?) what is good for us, we’re going to continue to get the short end of the stick. Are we going to allow this country to become a corporate holding or are we going to return to the real country we once were? Pay attention!
E-mail columnist Don Burnard at letters@toledofreepress.com.
Tags: BP, oil spill, The Hot Corner
Again great article Don! Those of us that are current events junkies can see that the Republican party is “at work” for the fall election. They talk the stock market down and vote against working Americans but have plenty of money for their banking buddies. It pains me to see our political system working against the interests of average Americans. But the stage is set, the money will roll in, and the negative ads will soon saturate the air waves. If they come to power forget the pension forget the social security, forget the health care corporate welfare will rule!
This comment was posted on July 2nd, 2010 at 1:18 amThe republicans propose using something unique during the current regime. They proposed to use the rule of law vs. the the thugery and muggings that is the first choice of the “Chicago Way”
This comment was posted on July 2nd, 2010 at 7:00 amPerhaps, the President and Members of Congress should return all BP contributions they received over the last two years?
Names and amounts would be very interesting reading!
This comment was posted on July 2nd, 2010 at 11:23 amSIX MONTHS to go before the MASSIVE TAXES that OweBaMao and the Demonrats, have passed go into effect !
Due diligence and wise decisions regarding your money is more pertinent NOW, than ever before.
Effective, 1/1/ 2011:
1) income taxes go up,
2) inheritance taxes go up to 55%,
3) taxes go up from 15% for dividends/ interest to 39.6%,
4) new tax on those not buying health insurance,
5) new tax on employers via OweBaMaoscare,
6) increased Medicare taxes on employers,
7) new tax on pharmaceuticals,
8) new 2.3% tax on medical devises,
9) new 10% tanning tax for Caucasians only,
10)new tax on self insured plans,
11) new tax/penalties on HSA distributions,
12) tobacco tax increase,
13)unemployment surtax increase,
14) plus, 20 new taxes on OweBaMaoscare…
REMEMBER: Work harder and send more money to the Demonrats…they need more of your money than you ever will…duped chumps !!
This comment was posted on July 2nd, 2010 at 11:53 amJohn,
What’s your address? I want to come over and dump sewage on your lawn then accuse you of thuggery when you demand that I clean up my mess.
Or I could dump Ty’s arguments on your lawn… the sewage would probably be cleaner.
#9 … your racism is unbecoming Ty. If you hate Toledo as much as you clearly seem to, why not head south to Mississippi in the 1840′s where you’d be more comfortable?
This comment was posted on July 6th, 2010 at 12:02 amDear Jim,your Saul Alynski, pink panties are showing again.
Try addressing the premise versus,immediately going into your menstrual moanings and personal attacks.
Toledo, has been ruined completely by idiots like you and the above cut and paster. Don’t cry baby to me because you vote the straight Demonrat line and swallow their lies, hook, line, sinker, and pole .
The Demonrats, have went psychotically radical!!
And tools like you are useful to them even though you are blind to their horrific design.
Open your eyes you dissolute zero !!
This comment was posted on July 6th, 2010 at 11:32 amGW, had 4.5 % unemployment, 53 straight months of economic growth starting 3/ 1/ 2002,home ownership booming, economic indicators STRONG, etc.
Then, in 2006, DEMONRATS, the prolific job killers that they are were elected into office, starting our downwards cycle, not to end soon.
Hey Zero, did you know that the illegals that vote with you cost AmeriKa, $113 BILLION/ year ?!
How many States, have budgets LESS, than that ?!
Too stupid to know heh ?
How many jobs have been lost since TARPUWASTE, was made Law ?
1) one job,
2) two jobs,
3) three jobs, or,
4) 2.2. MILLION
Don’t know that either heh?
Well, I’m sure that you believe OweBaMao, when he stated that ‘our southern border is more secure than anytime in the past twenty years ?!”
Since, you must believe the Chicago community organizer with this absolute LIE, I guess that makes you quite completely vapid , doesn’t it ?
Yes, it certainly does.
Now, post to some other citizen not buying into Kapturd’s lies, OweBaMao’s lies, or your 100% stupidity !
No buyer here of your scat…try swampscum, glasscityjackasses, or even toledononstoptalkers….those sites cater to children in sand boxes and romper room pedophiles who still believe everything they are told by lying Demonrats.
Ty are you trying to say Tarp was Obama’s and not Bush’s? Cause I’m pretty sure Tarp was in 2008, when Bush was president, the same Bush you love for inflating the economy with a bubble of zero regulation that then collapsed in on him. Or are you like the other right wingers who have been asserting 9/11 never happened under Bush?
Also, can you punctuate your sentences like an adult? Your random comma placement is distracting and takes away from your otherwise clearly informed, well-thought-out positions.
This comment was posted on July 8th, 2010 at 1:55 pmG.W.: 4.5 % UNEMPLOYMENT, 53 straight months of positive economic growth,[ second only to Reagan-Bush I in all of American history] , a Dow at 15,000, inflation LOW,interest rates LOW, home ownership BOOMING, economic indicators STRONG…and then, in 2006 …the job killers known as Demonrats, came into power and mucked EVERYTHING UP BIG TIME !!
Then, all became much worse when a Saul Alynski acolyte / Chicago Community Organizer , came into office.
WORSENING EVERYTHING the Demonrats already FOULED UP !!
Look at Toledo, if you need a micro-economic example of your utterly stupid voting pattern.
And, it is GOING TO GET WORSE COME 1/ 1 / 2011, when MONSTER DEMONRAT TAXES GO INTO EFFECT !!
This comment was posted on July 8th, 2010 at 3:36 pm