Republican Barton Shoots GOP in the foot

[dreamer20]

It should be noted that Barton's biggest contributors since entering Congress come from the oil and gas industry. He is also the number one recipent of oil and gas industry campaign funds in Congress. His biggest contributor is Anadarko, a 25% investor in the BP drilling disaster:​

"Individuals or PACs associated with the oil and gas industry as a whole have been Barton's biggest patron since he entered Congress, donating more than $1,448,380 since the 1990 election cycle. The figure puts him at No. 1 among all House members for donations from the industry, fifth among members of Congress and fourth among active members of Congress."

Rep. Joe Barton Likes BP -- and the Company Likes Him Back with Cash‎​

He's not alone in his comments. The Republican Study Committee with 114 House members, two thirds of the chamber, called the creation of the escrow account "a Chicago style shakedown".

House Conservatives Call Escrow Account a Chicago Style Shakedown​

Rachel Maddow did a great piece on this last night:

Rachel Maddow Show - Joe Barton is sorry​

And Obama is STILL the biggest recipient of BP Cash according to the Center for Responsive Politics. - Politico

Rep. Joe Barton Likes BP -- and the Company Likes Him Back with Cash - OpenSecrets Blog | OpenSecrets

^^Yes. It is written in maxcok's link that "Barton might find it ironic that the man he said so mistreated BP, President Barack Obama, received more than $77,000 from BP employees during his political career."

Those political donations made by BP are minuscule when compared with the amount of money BP has raked in from contracts with the U.S. federal government to date. USAspending.gov shows BP earned over $8 billion from U.S. government contracts between the years of 2000-2009.


USAspending.gov

 

[b.c.]

Mind you, Barton had only given voice in a quite public forum to the spin that conservatives in the Republican Party had already agreed to, that is to make Obama out to be some kind of "bully". Funny how the rhetoric quickly changes from "no leadership" "no balls" etc. to now some bad guy enacting a "Chicago style shakedown".

Nor are the choice of words or the references to Chicago by chance. Typical Republican style demagoguery. But this time, with oil spilling at the rate of two Valdez's per week and the recent discovery of other gasses deep in the gulf that have the potential of creating those dead zones I wrote of weeks ago, it blew up in their faces.

 

[B_talltpaguy]

^Pretty much the entire Republican Party remains as out of touch as ever, and has complained about BP being obligated to pay for the disaster they have created... The Republicans obviously want to perpetuate the "bailout bad businesses at the expense of taxpayers" BS that they started under Bush with the Wall St bankster bailouts in 2008.

The Republicans have only toned down their disdain for the American people, and their devotion to seeing yet more corporate malfeasance rewarded, because voter polls show that the Republican position is severely in the minority among Americans, and further pressing the issue before the November elections could cost them dearly.

CNN Poll: 82% of Americans approve of the BP escrow fund

 

[maxcok]

Blaming a whole party for what a few members state is just foolishness. It shows the closed mindedness of the person placing blame.

It is obvious to anyone who is at least moderately politically informed and capable of unbiased critical thinking that the Republicans have been serving the will of big business interests for decades, at least half a century.
In fact, that has been their primary objective over the past 30 years, evidenced by their relentless drive to push legislation favorable to corporations at the expense of the people, and to do away with "big government" regulations designed to keep the market in balance and protect the public from abuses. Anyone who doesn't recognize that is closeminded and foolish.

As to your point that this attitude is shared by just a few in the party, here are a few more who would appear to be on board. Amazingly, this statement is still [as of this posting] on the Republican Study Committee website. You can also find there a list of the 115 members of this conservative coalition, two-thirds of the Republican House members, and that's just for starters.

“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 greater power and control.
It is the same mentality that believes an economic crisis or an environmental disaster is the best opportunity to pursue a failed liberal agenda. The American people know much better.” -- Representative Tom Price (R-GA) Chairman of the Republican Study Committee

Chicago-Style Political Shakedown - Republican Study Committee ​

It is no more appropriate to blame the republicans because of Barton than it is to blame the whole group of democrats for the few that want the government to seize all wealth, and turn the nation into a communist state.

Could you please provide a list of these Communist Democrats?

The reason the enormous fund was demanded was to compensate people who were idled because of the executive order shutting down the deep well offshore drilling. It was to take all heat off the government for its' actions.

You are confused. BP has created a separate $100,000,000 fund to compensate laid-off oil industry workers.

BP to create $100 million fund for unemployed workers​

If you listened to all of the president's speech, you would have heard him once again state the goal is to have the nation conserve more energy. Stopping offshore drilling is part of that plan. If you follow the news closely, there is currently discussion among members of the government to place a heavy tax on coal burning power plants. Being that it is one of the main fuels used to generate power in the United States, it will amount to an enormous energy tax upon the public. The goal is to ultimately force us to conserve energy whether we want too or not.

I am doubtful that will be a part of the completed energy bill, though I would support it. If it were, it would most likely contain provisions to mitigate the financial impact on the public. Even "cap and trade", which I think is a bad idea, is probably off the table for now. Regardless, how is conserving energy a bad thing? Energy conservation is the low hanging fruit here. We could greatly reduce our energy needs immediately through simple conservation measures. Anyone opposed to that is frankly irresponsible and a threat to the environment we all share.

If you don't believe it, get ready for 2012 when we are going to be forced to use mercury filled compact florescent light bulbs. To save on energy, the government is willing to polute the land, and water with mercury.

I don't believe anyone is going to be "forced" to do that. CFL's do contain mercury, but on balance, they are still greener, and with recycling and proper disposal, the problem could be greatly reduced or eliminated.

"Even though fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, using them contributes less mercury to the environment than using regular incandescent bulbs. That's because they use less electricity — and coal-fired power plants are the biggest source of mercury emissions in the air". -- Wendy Reed, EPA's Energy Star Program Manager.

CFL Bulbs Have One Hitch​

 

[Trinity]

Rep. Joe Barton Likes BP -- and the Company Likes Him Back with Cash - OpenSecrets Blog | OpenSecrets

^^Yes. It is written in maxcok's link that "Barton might find it ironic that the man he said so mistreated BP, President Barack Obama, received more than $77,000 from BP employees during his political career."

Those political donations made by BP are minuscule when compared with the amount of money BP has raked in from contracts with the U.S. federal government to date. USAspending.gov shows BP earned over $8 billion from U.S. government contracts between the years of 2000-2009.


USAspending.gov

Um...nobody is comparing the amount of money a company like BP makes to political donations of employees. Silly comparison and it makes no sense. Employees are limited in political donations and even if they weren't, if the company is successful, the company's profits will dwarf contributions.

And Obama is STILL the biggest recipient of BP Cash according to the Center for Responsive Politics. - Politico

Now...Rep. Joe Barton Likes BP -- and the Company Likes Him Back with Cash...The same insinuation could be made for Obama...(if you choose to go there)

During his time in the Senate and while running for president, Obama received a total of $77,051 from the oil giant and is the top recipient of BP PAC and individual money over the past 20 years, according to financial disclosure records.

Politico

BP contributed to Obama. The Obama Administration admitted to lax regulation. The Obama Administration gave BP an exclusion to a federal regulation.

It now serves Obama to bring down the hammer on BP and attempt to absolve his Administration of wrongdoing in the wake of the Oil Spill Disaster in the Gulf.

 

[Industrialsize]

Um...nobody is comparing the amount of money a company like BP makes to political donations of employees. Silly comparison and it makes no sense. Employees are limited in political donations and even if they weren't, if the company is successful, the company's profits will dwarf contributions.

And Obama is STILL the biggest recipient of BP Cash according to the Center for Responsive Politics. - Politico

Now...Rep. Joe Barton Likes BP -- and the Company Likes Him Back with Cash...The same insinuation could be made for Obama...(if you choose to go there)

Politico

BP contributed to Obama. The Obama Administration admitted to lax regulation. The Obama Administration gave BP an exclusion to a federal regulation.

It now serves Obama to bring down the hammer on BP and attempt to absolve his Administration of wrongdoing in the wake of the Oil Spill Disaster in the Gulf.

In case you didn't notice, this thread is about BARTON. Stay on topic. Every thread in the Politics forum is not an opportunity for you to express your well known hatred of the President.

 

[Trinity]

In case you didn't notice, this thread is about BARTON. Stay on topic. Every thread in the Politics forum is not an opportunity for you to express your well known hatred of the President.

Since Barton's comments were discussing a shakedown attributed to Obama and his Administration, I believe that I am on topic.

I don't hate Obama and I have never expressed hatred.

 

[midlifebear]

Hmmm . . . yeah, I was going to post the same point as Industrialisize regarding the He/She/Holy Its posts. Note: It's called trolling. Don't use the excuse "I was only responding to blah blah's post." Stay on topic or don't bother posting. Better yet, just start your own "I Hate Obama and Here's Why" thread. Joe Barton's embarrassing apology to BP during the recent hearings is the subject of this thread. I fail to see where the POTUS is the topic in this discussion. Once again, the subject is Joe Barton, tubby little oil boy of the Republican Party.

 

[TurkeyWithaSunburn]

If you follow the news closely, there is currently discussion among members of the government to place a heavy tax on coal burning power plants. Being that it is one of the main fuels used to generate power in the United States, it will amount to an enormous energy tax upon the public. The goal is to ultimately force us to conserve energy whether we want too or not.
If you don't believe it, get ready for 2012 when we are going to be forced to use mercury filled compact florescent light bulbs. To save on energy, the government is willing to polute the land, and water with mercury.

You say 'the government' is willing to pollute land. Well you obviously don't know how many tons of mercury is pumped out from coal burning power stations. And the power companies fight any more regulation to try to scrub more mercury from the emissions.

A small amount of mercury is in every CFL. But it is contained in the bulb and when disposed of properly it doesn't present a great danger. Same thing with some batteries that contain mercury. The small amount in the bulb I'm absolutely am sure prevents more than that same amount that is spewed into the environment from coal. And if you use more energy from coal you pollute the land more. LED light bulbs are already on the market, albeit it at huge costs, and prices are expected to plummet in the coming years as production ramps up. If people are so concerned about 'the government' polluting the land they can spend the extra bucks so that they don't contribute to the problem.

So be sure to stock up on regular incandescent light-bulbs to last the rest of your life while you can. The electric company will love ya, but the environment won't.


Sometimes politicians let slip how they actually feel. I think this was the case with Barton.

 

[Trinity]

Hmmm . . . yeah, I was going to post the same point as Industrialisize regarding the He/She/Holy Its posts. Note: It's called trolling. Don't use the excuse "I was only responding to blah blah's post." Stay on topic or don't bother posting. Better yet, just start your own "I Hate Obama and Here's Why" thread. Joe Barton's embarrassing apology to BP during the recent hearings is the subject of this thread. I fail to see where the POTUS is the topic in this discussion. Once again, the subject is Joe Barton, tubby little oil boy of the Republican Party.

It is you who needs to stay on topic or don't bother posting.

I am on topic. If someone insinuates that Barton's donations somehow make him a lacky of the oil companies, it is completely on topic to mention any politician who also took donations and make a similar comparison. Making it even more on topic, Barton's comments were specifically about Obama shaking down BP. Obama's history of donations from BP and his lack of oversight and then subsequent strong arm tactics following the disaster are unquestionably on topic - whether you agree with it or not.

Another point:

If this forum is for political debate, why must we continue to debate the person and not the topic? Topics evolve, people see different things as being pertinent to the conversation, so while there may be a case from time to time of blatant trolling (I have an example, but sticking to my own rules I can't say who it is... damn me) people need to remember that just because Indy started the thread doesn't mean he gets to dictate how the discussion goes or what topics can and can't be raised within the thread (sorry Indy, I didn't want anyone thinking I was picking on them) Further, if Indy posts in one thread that he thinks politics would be better all round if everyone wore lime green suits (to keep the discussion here non-political) and he finds a new thread where the suggestion seems valid enough to make a second time, that does not mean he has an agenda, that means he has an idea that fits neatly i his opinion into both threads.

Short version: You don't own threads or topic evolution - get over it.

 

[houtx48]

tuna's can troll anywhere they want as long as big oil only pay repbs it's as it should be.

 

[B_talltpaguy]

Barton spoke on his own! No, really!

Well, except he didn't even remotely speak on his own...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu2lvAm-Zuc

lolololololol

So cute how this 'shakedown' meme was clearly orchestrated to be the simpleminded Republican talking point on the $20B BP disaster fund, until the public reaction to the pro-BP Republican howling instantly became an absolute political firestorm among over 80% of Americans who called them on their bullshit as soon as it left Republican mouths... Then magically, it all disappeared as quickly as it has flooded the airwaves of the supposedly 'liberal' controlled media.

If only we could round up these scumbag Republicans and give them an actual real-life shakedown. I increasingly get the sense that come November, that's exactly what they're going to get.

 

[dreamer20]

Barton spoke on his own! No, really!

Well, except he didn't even remotely speak on his own...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu2lvAm-Zuc

lolololololol

So cute how this 'shakedown' meme was clearly orchestrated to be the simpleminded Republican talking point on the $20B BP disaster fund, until the public reaction to the pro-BP Republican howling instantly became an absolute political firestorm among over 80% of Americans who called them on their bullshit as soon as it left Republican mouths... Then magically, it all disappeared as quickly as it has flooded the airwaves of the supposedly 'liberal' controlled media.

He's not alone in his comments. The Republican Study Committee with 114 House members, two thirds of the chamber, called the creation of the escrow account "a Chicago style shakedown".

House Conservatives Call Escrow Account a Chicago Style Shakedown​

Thanks maxcok and talltpaguy. "The shakedown" was a GOP talking point which Republicans were disseminating at least 2 days before Barton did. On the same day he spoke, on message GOP spokespersons commended Barton for his remarks until they realized their ill advised talking point caused a public outrage. With this current knowledge I feel Barton shouldn't heed the GOP's call to step down and be scapegoated by them.

I say, let them spout whatever idiotic crap they want, and let the people see just how extremely out of touch they are.

^^QFT

 

[b.c.]

Thanks maxcok and talltpaguy. "The shakedown" was a GOP talking point which Republicans were disseminating at least 2 days before Barton did. On the same day he spoke, on message GOP spokespersons commended Barton for his remarks until they realized their ill advised talking point caused a public outrage. With this current knowledge I feel Barton shouldn't heed the GOP's call to step down and be scapegoated by them.
^^QFT

Hey, Dream Guy!! I mentioned this two days ago (three, if u count the Big Business thread). Where's MY prize?

 

[maxcok]

^ I'll share my prize with you if you want. :smile:













even though I originally posted that info Fri am, page 1, three days ago

 

[b.c.]

^ Okay! :tongue:

 

[midlifebear]

What the HE/She and HOLY IT (caution, any water blessed by this "entity" threatens to scar like acid, but it won't) ignores the following in its endless posts in this thread which may be of interest to some of the rest of you dear -- and highly valued -- readers.

Investigative reporting has turned up that "Barton's number one career campaign contributor, Anadarko Petroleum, has 25% ownership in the well where the April 20 rig explosion occurred. The firm, which has given Barton $146,500 over the years, has been sent a bill by BP for cleanup costs. See: Joe Barton: Campaign Finance/Money - Industries - Career | OpenSecrets and as for the "shake down" here's some light reading: Anadarko: Has Received Bill From BP On Gulf Spill Cleanup In my opinion, it's unfortunate that Obama didn't "shake down" BP for 30 to 40 Billion. And here's a nice tid bit supporting the previous two links: Barton's Top Campaign Contributor Is Implicated In Gulf Oil Disaster | TPMMuckraker. The He/She/and Holy It is incensed that Obama received campaign funds from BP. But so far, Obama is the only recipient of BP campaign funds who has been willing to take the 4th largest corporation in the world (BP) to the matt and exact an amount of corporate flesh to help clean up the Gulf disaster and help local businesses and families. Whereas flush and pudgy Joe Barton has simply rolled over on his back hoping his comments will get him more rubs on his telly-tubby tummy and maybe a couple of bacon strips from Big Oil.

Amusingly, Barton's remarks during the recent congressional hearings actually pissed off the three top-ranking House Republicans—Minority Leader John Boehner, Minority Whip Eric Cantor and Republican Conference chairman Mike Pence--who issued a joint statement calling Barton's remarks "wrong." Later that day, Boehner and Cantor collared Barton in Boehner's office and gave Barton an ultimatum—unless he retracted his statement immediately, he would lose his post as the committee's ranking Republican. Later in the afternoon Barton tried to color his earlier remarks as having been "misconstrued." Sort of like saying, "I'm really not a racist. I just like using the N word 'cause I think it's sort of warm and fuzzy."

Barton's obviously stupid attempt at retracting his previous comments didn't go far enough for two Republican congressmen. Jeff Miller of Florida's 1st congressional district called Barton's statement "reprehensible" and suggested he lacked the judgment to serve in such a high post. And Jo Bonner of Alabama's 1st congressional district called Barton's retraction "half-hearted" and believed Barton was more interested in saving his job than making things right.

So, is it any wonder that this chubby, clubby Texan who use to work for Atlantic Richfield Oil and Gas IMMEDIATELY BEFORE being elected to the US Congress and who finagled his way to be the former Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and therefore primary House author of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and chairman of the House-Senate energy conference committee isn't just a little bit interested in keeping his Big Oil handlers knowing that "he feels their pain"?

 

[maxcok]

^ Foller the doller, foller the doller. Ain't nuthin new. is it?