Ask Me Help Desk - Gulf Coast Oil Spill..

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

You don't want him to be in charge. You want private industry to be in charge. So far that is the case, despite what he says. There is nothing he can do to contain the oil spill. He can mobilize cleanup, but that's all. Only BP can fix what they broke.

I never said I wanted Obama in charge - of anything. He claimed he was in charge, said he takes full responsibility, his administration said they had their boot on BP's neck and now he's talking about kicking someone's a$$. So we're supposed to give him a pass now?

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Originally Posted by speechlesstx

I never said I wanted Obama in charge - of anything. He claimed he was in charge, said he takes full responsibility, his administration said they had their boot on BP's neck and now he's talking about kicking someone's a$$. So we're supposed to give him a pass now?

Well, he is not in charge of this no matter what he says. He can yell and scream all he wants; nothing will make a difference. He can't plug up the oil leak. Only BP can do that.

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Is that what you want, tom - bigger government?

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Why does HE have to contain the oil spill? He's big government. Keep him out of it. Industry knows what it is doing. The military doesn't deal with oil drilling

Excuse me ? You are really stretching to suggest I have ever argued there was not a role for the national government in crisis management .It is a clear distortion of the position I and other conservatives take .

In fact the only agency that has a central authority in territorial waters is the National Governmment . If that wasn't the case then why is it necessary for those nasty big businesses to pay leasing fees ;get licences and permits for any exploration ?

Therefore regardless of who has the equipment it is the job of the Federal Goverment's to ensure the job is done properly.

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The military doesn't deal with oil drilling.

Yes but it is not without assets that could be utilized to assist and direct containment operations.

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Well, he is not in charge of this no matter what he says. He can yell and scream all he wants; nothing will make a difference. He can't plug up the oil leak. Only BP can do that.

As tom pointed out, and you should have known, the federal government IS in charge no matter what. How's he doing?

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Originally Posted by tomder55

In fact the only agency that has a central authority in territorial waters is the National Governmment . If that wasn't the case then why is it necessary for those nasty big businesses to pay leasing fees ;get licences and permits for any exploration ?

It doesn't seem to have made much difference this time. BP was able to bypass rules and regs. Industry wins out. Wonder how many more cases are out there like BP.

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Originally Posted by speechlesstx

As tom pointed out, and you should have known, the federal government IS in charge no matter what. How's he doing?

He's at the bottom of the ladder. Who was in charge when regulations were put in place? And overseen?

Here is the law :

Section 311 of the federal Clean Water Act.

Section 311 now provides in part that: (A) If a discharge, or a substantial threat of a discharge, of oil or a hazardous substance from a vessel, offshore facility, or onshore facility is of such a size or character as to be a substantial threat to the public health or welfare of the United States (including but not limited to fish, shellfish, wildlife, other natural resources, and the public and private beaches and shorelines of the United States), the President shall direct all Federal, State, and private actions to remove the discharge or to mitigate or prevent the threat of the discharge.

(B) In carrying out this paragraph, the President may, without regard to any other provision of law governing contracting procedures or employment of personnel by the Federal Government–

(i) remove or arrange for the removal of the discharge, or mitigate or prevent the substantial threat of the discharge; and

(ii) remove and, if necessary, destroy a vessel discharging, or threatening to discharge, by whatever means are available.

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Originally Posted by tomder55

Here is the law :

Section 311 of the federal Clean Water Act.

Section 311 now provides in part that: (A) If a discharge, or a substantial threat of a discharge, of oil or a hazardous substance from a vessel, offshore facility, or onshore facility is of such a size or character as to be a substantial threat to the public health or welfare of the United States (including but not limited to fish, shellfish, wildlife, other natural resources, and the public and private beaches and shorelines of the United States), the President shall direct all Federal, State, and private actions to remove the discharge or to mitigate or prevent the threat of the discharge.

(B) In carrying out this paragraph, the President may, without regard to any other provision of law governing contracting procedures or employment of personnel by the Federal Government–

(i) remove or arrange for the removal of the discharge, or mitigate or prevent the substantial threat of the discharge; and

(ii) remove and, if necessary, destroy a vessel discharging, or threatening to discharge, by whatever means are available.

What would McCain/Palin have done?

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Originally Posted by tomder55

prevent the threat of the discharge.

Why didn't it get prevented?

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Why didn't it get prevented?

That's the point. Once he was told that it would take time to plug the blowout he should've taken the lead in containment (and the way I read the law he is required to).
Platitudes like 'plug the damn hole' 'kick a$$' etc .are a poor substitute for leadership .

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Originally Posted by tomder55

That's the point.

I asked, why wasn't it prevented in the first place?

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Originally Posted by NeedKarma

What would McCain/Palin have done?

Irrelevant, Obama is in charge.

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Originally Posted by speechlesstx

Irrelevant, Obama is in charge.

C'mon, expand your horizons a bit. What would a republican do in this case?

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What would McCain/Palin have done?

Don't know about McCain . I already gave my opinion that Palin should be appointed by the President to assist in this .

Her greatest success in Alaska was not letting her state's energy policies be run by the oil industry .She actually did kick their a$$es .While she was governor she learned as much as any other executive in the nation the corporate infrastructure of the industry. She set up the “Petroleum Systems Integrity Office” (PSIO)specifically to monitor oil company compliance.
Before she was Governor she was Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, overseeing the state’s oil and gas fields for safety and ethics.

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Originally Posted by tomder55

Don't know about McCain . I already gave my opinion that Palin should be appointed by the President to assist in this .

Her greatest success in Alaska was not letting her state's energy policies be run by the oil industry .She actually did kick their a$$es .While she was governor she learned as much as any other executive in the nation the corporate infrastructure of the industry. She set up the “Petroleum Systems Integrity Office” (PSIO)specifically to monitor oil company compliance.

Irrelevant since her state's policy would be worthless for this federal crisis.

Irrelevant ? Let's see... an executive with experience dealing with oil industry or a dolt community organizer...

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Originally Posted by tomder55

dolt community organizer ...

Have you ever tried to organize a community? It's like herding cats.

You remind me of the principal who told me when he hired me to sub in kindergarten for a week -- "Just take them out onto the playground a lot. All they do anyway is play." (P.S. I worked harder in that classroom than I ever did with seventh graders.)

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Originally Posted by tomder55

irrelevent ? let's see ...an executive with experience dealing with oil industry or a dolt community organizer ...

The fact that you put Palin on such a pedestal says a lot. :D

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Originally Posted by NeedKarma

C'mon, expand your horizons a bit. What would a republican do in this case?

My horizons are fine and I see no need to take any attention from who's in charge.

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Originally Posted by speechlesstx

My horizons are fine and I see no need to take any attention from who's in charge.

Ok, what solutions do you propose to fix the gushing oil?

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Have you ever tried to organize a community?

Lead.. no .I have been involved in community projects both inside and outside government and have worked in various campaigns

He lists his accomplishments as trying to find jobs for laid off steel workers (unsuccessfully) . He tried to organize a network of community churches (he was advised by one of the pastors that he actually should attend church first and that is when he began attending Trinity United ). But his biggest victories followed. He expanded the summer job program and he was able to get some asbestos removed from an old housing project (Altgeld Gardens) . Yes something to add to a very thin resume.
By then he determined he was wasting his time being a community organizer .So he enrolled in law school.

Now do I think he is a capable organizer ? Of course . His campaign for the Presidency proved that . But I think he lives for the campaign and gets bored with the job. That is why he moved on so frequently during his rise. He never actually stayed around long enough to accomplish anything .

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Originally Posted by tomder55

He never actually stayed around long enough to accomplish anything .

Says the man who is neither a lawyer nor a senator. LOL!

I stand by it too. He was only Senator long enough to have a cigarette break and to find the men's room.

There's a reason why no one takes you seriously here:

Barack Obama - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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State Senator: 1997–2004
U.S. Senator: 2005–2008

What have you accomplished?

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Originally Posted by tomder55

he lives for the campaign and gets bored with the job.

You're wrong. His problem is that he tries too hard to make everyone happy and still hasn't realized he will never be able to do that. He should have been a member of this site for at least three years before running for president.

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

You're wrong. His problem is that he tries too hard to make everyone happy and still hasn't realized he will never be able to do that. He should have been a member of this site for at least three years before running for president.

Ah! That's be really good! :D

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Originally Posted by NeedKarma

There's a reason why no one takes you seriously here:

Barack Obama - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Let's narrow that down to the one you can answer for, YOU don't take him seriously.

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What have you accomplished?

I don't know about tom, but I can build a shopping mall with a pocket knife and a Q-tip. Obama's main accomplishment is campaigning, he never stopped. By now he should have stopped the rise of the oceans and healed the planet.

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Originally Posted by speechlesstx

I can build a shopping mall with a pocket knife and a Q-tip.

How do you know you can? Have you tried? Post photos.

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Obama's main accomplishment is campaigning, he never stopped. By now he should have stopped the rise of the oceans and healed the planet.

No, that's Gore's job. And ours. Obama has other items on his agenda.

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

How do you know you can? Have you tried? Post photos.

Sigh, should have engaged the sarcasm font.

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No, that's Gore's job. And ours. Obama has other items on his agenda.

Uh, no. His ascension to power was "the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal." He said so himself. All that oil belies the claim though don't you think?

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Originally Posted by speechlesstx

He said so himself.

Please cite your source.

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Originally Posted by speechlesstx

Sigh, should have engaged the sarcasm font.

In other words... you have... nothing.

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

In other words....you have....nothing.

Wondergirl, when I'm not obviously being sarcastic (or stealing from movie lines) I'm always prepared to back it up. You shouldn't get ahead of things here...

Obama's Nomination Victory Speech In St. Paul

Last paragraph. And for your viewing pleasure.

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Originally Posted by speechlesstx

Wondergirl, when I'm not obviously being sarcastic (or stealing from movie lines) I'm always prepared to back it up. You shouldn't get ahead of things here...

I meant the pocket knife and Q-tips.

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Originally Posted by speechlesstx

I don't know about tom, but I can build a shopping mall with a pocket knife and a Q-tip.

You think that compares to graduation from Yale, being a lawyer and a senator? Really? That's why you guys whine on anonymous discussion boards all day, it's all you can accomplish.

Looks like you have found the perfect scapegoat, a politician who doesn't know when not to take responsibility in a crisis

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

I meant the pocket knife and Q-tips.

I answered that here.

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Originally Posted by NeedKarma

You think that compares to graduation from Yale, being a lawyer and a senator? really? That's why you guys whine on anonymous discussion boards all day, it's all you can accomplish.

Have you ever tried to build a shopping mall with a pocket knife and a Q-tip? Do you have a sense of humor? And how exactly does the fact that we're not Obama disqualify us from stating our opinion? He's a narcissistic community organizer that apologizes for his country when he's not dithering about how to exploit a crisis instead of solving one (or voting present).

Chris Matthews is nattering on and on now about how Obama should talk with BP's CEO (the one who's always smiling), not to the "little people." If I wanted to know something about a public library, I would not talk with the director; I would go straight to the employees. The director sits in an ivory tower; the employees deal with books and patrons day to day, minute to minute.

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Originally Posted by speechlesstx

(or voting present).

"Voting present" is peculiar to a few states, including Illinois. It means, "Not good enough to vote yes on. Go back and fix it, or you will get a no for the final vote."

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Originally Posted by speechlesstx

He's a narcissistic community organizer

Actually, no, he's not narcissistic. If I diagnosed him, I wouldn't label him with that.