TPM Reader BP has a different take on the matter …
As I understand it, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 places full responsibility for clean-up in the hands of the oil co., with the federal government in the role of oversight.
The LA Times had an article last Fri., that stated that hundreds of engineers, scientists, rival oil companies, and different federal agencies are all working together in Houston at the BP headqtrs.
From TPM Reader KP …
My relatives live in Baton Rouge. I live in Pensacola. Suffice it to say I have been following every tidbit about the oil spill. I have listened from day one to people blame the administration for not responding to the spill to other organizations constructing a time line showing us that the administration have indeed responded from day one. What I think people want this president to do is get on television and show what I heard Lawrence O’Donnell called real “outrage” in front of the cameras.
Earlier today, we had claims that gay soldiers would be too ferocious and mean. Now we have the Family Research Council’s angle on keeping DADT. They had a conference call this afternoon to announce their new ‘report’ claiming that ending DADT will lead to a precipitous rise in gay rape in the US Armed Forces.
There’s a poll out from USAToday about the oil spill situation. Obama doesn’t come out very well, though better than the government in general and much better than BP. But contrary to what I said below, an overwhelming majority of the public seems to want BP is stay in charge of the clean up rather than having the government take over.
Sometimes we get a reader email that I think is valuable enough that I reprint it even though it requires some redacting. In this case, at TPM Reader ML’s request, I’ve redacted the portion of the email where he talks about his knowledge of and involvement with various aspects of drilling technology. Suffice it to say, he has a resume with a lot of relevant knowledge …
I wasn’t going to write in, but the first two responses you published made me feel that I had to. As my background [redacted] … It’s tough being an Obama supporter in the oilfield, especially in Houston.
First, BP is not tackling this mess alone. The entire drilling industry is involved, including Exxon (who has a great record when it comes to offshore drilling, not oil shipping). It’s not like only BP engineers are calling the shots, all sorts of experts are involved.
From TPM Reader VJ …
In 1960 when your dad and I were in the Army blacks had only been integrated in the services for 12 years.
Sounds like a long time, but there were members of the “old” Army — from WW2 and the South mostly — who had never gotten used to it. — even after 12 years and they made it clear when no blacks were present and after a few beers.
But — big but — they smiled, sucked it up and never dared showed any open dislike for their black comrades. To do so meant to face serious discipline. And the blacks wouldn’t put up with it anyway.
I foresee a parallel situation when DADT gets implemented. Career people won’t risk it with openly hostile behavior.
The campaign of embattled South Carolina gubernatorial frontrunner Nikki Haley says Haley will address claims of an affair at the gubernatorial debate next Tuesday.
Haley’s campaign has gone to radio silence over the last two days and Haley herself avoided reporters today at the state House.
In case you missed it last night, take a look at this email we got yesterday afternoon about the spill and the clean up.
Rob Simmons (R) said yesterday that he doesn’t think Linda McMahon can beat Richard Blumenthal. And since then he’s apologized for speaking his mind too freely. But I feel pretty confident that he’s right. She’s just the worst possible candidate to run against an opponent whose only real potential weakness or vulnerability appears to be to ‘character’ type attacks. Simmons didn’t have the money; but he would have been a more dangerous opponent.
At the same time, today’s Quinnipiac poll shows another lesson, which is that scandals that the media goes nuts about, seldom end up having the punch the media freak out would suggest. At least at the moment, Richard Blumenthal still holds a commanding lead over McMahon, fully 25 points according to the poll out today from the Quinnipiac.