# Finally!!! Somebody Sticks Up For BP!! Hooray Republicans! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 17, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563 "2010-06-17T16:08:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/41 "2010-06-17T21:53:32Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > Which is why Joe barton, whatever criticism leveleld against him. ir right. Obama has engaged in little mjore thabn pathetic Chicago-esque bully-boy tactics, and it’s disgusting. The money tossed into the fund must now be watched night and day to make sure the Dems don’t put their greedy mits on it and that it goes to the actual problem, while Obama and his whole staff still have no fucking idea what they’re going to do. meanwhile, it lets BP > > Keep in mind that BP is _the Left_’s friend, not ours. I feel no sympathy for them, but something Democrats seem utterly incapable of comprehending is that the world isn’t binary. People are mixtures of good and evil (but not shades of grey, which is a codeword for “I’m too lazy to pay attention”). So is BP. They have a lot to asnwer for. Obama’s crap, however, has nothing to do with justice. “Now if you’ll excushe me, I need to finish drinking the resht of this Shterno!” \<_hic_\> \<_faceplant_\> ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/42 "2010-06-17T21:55:15Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m too lazy to pay attention Apparently so. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/43 "2010-06-17T22:03:00Z")
[quote=“elucidator, post:19, topic:543563”] And this just in… [http://thinkprogress.org/2010/06/17/miller-barton-step-down/](http://thinkprogress.org/2010/06/17/miller-barton-step-down/) (Lefty site, you know the drill.) **GOP Rep. Jeff Miller calls for Barton to step down from top committee spot over BP comments.** > [@](#): > > Rep. Jeff Miller **(R-Fla.)**, whose Pensacola district is among the most-impacted areas in the Gulf by the oil spill, condemned Barton for apologizing to BP CEO Tony Hayward during a committee meeting on Thursday. > > “I condemn Mr. Barton’s statement. Mr. Barton’s remarks are out of touch with this tragedy and I feel his comments call into question his judgment and ability to serve in a leadership on the Energy and Commerce Committee,” Miller said in a statement. “He should step down as Ranking Member of the Committee.” > > Offered without comment. Offered WITH comment. I’m tired of hearing that Republicans want to just pat BP on its little head and ignore it. It just ain’t so, Joe, and I’d like people to stop repeating that bullshit. Yeah, we have idiots in our group, like Barton, and the libs have idiots in their group, and we’ve all got to stop assuming that the idiots speak for the whole group. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/44 "2010-06-17T22:04:04Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > Which is why Joe barton, whatever criticism leveleld against him. Barton doesn’t agree with your agreement with him. 😉 In any case he was insinuating the $20 billion was a bribe for the administration, which is wrong. I guess you somehow failed to pick up on that. > [@](#): > > Obama has engaged in little mjore thabn pathetic Chicago-esque bully-boy tactics I see you didn’t read what I said about this kind of wording in post #18. 😉 > [@](#): > > The money tossed into the fund must now be watched night and day to make sure the Dems don’t put their greedy mits on it and that it goes to the actual problem, while Obama and his whole staff still have no fucking idea what they’re going to do. The money would have to be monitored anyway and it was going to have to be administered somehow regardless of when the fund is set up. Obama’s been slammed by many people on the right and left for being a pussy and not taking strong enough negotiating stances, so with some amusement I will point out that he did exactly the right thing here: he negotiated from a position of strength. Everybody blames BP for this crisis (and it’s mostly BP’s fault) and BP wants to look like it’s making good while their CEO got ready for his Congressional nailing, so Obama was able to make them to promise to put the money aside now. Why shouldn’t he strike when the iron is hot here? Not that I think the outrage against BP was going to die down much in the next month or two, but if you apply some common sense you’ll see what would have happened otherwise: while BP plugs the leak, it continues to obfuscate how much oil escaped, and gets its legal team to do an estimate on how much damage it caused. It lowballs the figure as much as possible and then begins lobbying Congress and begging like so: “We spent so much money fixing the well that we couldn’t _possibly_ give more than [make up your own amount, but figure it’s approximately the spare change they found in the executive washroom and the wheel well of the company jet.] We’re dreadfully sorry but that’s all we can pay. Otherwise you’ll bankrupt us and put us out of business. Think of what you’re doing to our employees and the brave pensioners of the United Kingdom? Why do you hate [del]America[/del] Britain?” > [@](#): > > meanwhile, it lets BP You didn’t finish this sentence. I’m kind of ambivalent about that. On the one hand I’m curious about what you were going to say, but on the other I realize it was probably going to be stupid. > [@](#): > > Keep in mind that BP is _the Left_’s friend, not ours. Call me crazy, but a company that spills millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico because of negligence and greed is nobody’s friend. Whoever “us” is. I assume this is a commentary on BP’s donations to Obama’s campaign, since big oil is generally not considered an ally of the left. In which case I’ll point out that large corporations usually donate to both candidates in U.S. presidential elections, and if they gave more to Obama, it’s probably because they saw he was going to win. BP groups and employees gave Obama a total of $77,051 during his time in the Senate, and gave $44,899 to John McCain. In general they gave money to the presidential candidates and people from states with major oil interests like Alaska, Louisiana, and Ohio. No big surprise there. > [@](#): > > So is BP. They have a lot to asnwer for. Obama’s crap, however, has nothing to do with justice. The world is not black and white, but you appear to be arguing that white is black. He’s getting BP to agree to clean up a mess it made. That seems just to me. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/45 "2010-06-17T22:23:05Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Yeah, we have idiots in our group, like Barton Don’t forget the Republican study Committee. You forgot the Republican study Committee. That’s [110+ Republican idiots in the House of Representatives alone.](http://rsc.tomprice.house.gov/aboutrsc/memberlist.htm) If these are your best and brightest, Imagine what the national figures are! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/46 "2010-06-17T22:36:45Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > But is it enough to pay for the damages? It is nowhere near enough ,but it is a start. If BP can lawyer up and fight all the cases, people will have their lives destroyed before they see a penny. The idea is to provide some immediate relief for the people BP harmed. This again shows who the repub work for. It is not the American people. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/47 "2010-06-18T03:35:44Z")
It would appear that various other Republicans jumped on Barton until he (kinda, sorta) [apologized for apologizing](http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/061810dnnatbartonbp.b0aaffc4.html). Among the comments on [fivethirtyeight’s article on Barton’s contributors](http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/06/top-donor-to-barton-is-partner-of-bp-on.html), a poster linked to a new site dedicated to helping Barton with his new hobby: [http://joebartonwouldliketoapologize.com/](http://joebartonwouldliketoapologize.com/) ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/48 "2010-06-18T03:41:50Z")
They talk about Obama giving BP a Chicago-style shakedown like it’s a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/49 "2010-06-18T03:41:54Z")
I’m curious as to what the conservative blogosphere thinks of all this (and thus, by extension, the oil spill, at least in certain aspects - it’s obvious what they think of Obama and his actions). I’d look myself, but, well, I’m trying to keep my blood pressure down. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/50 "2010-06-18T03:54:40Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > I’m tired of hearing that Republicans want to just pat BP on its little head and ignore it. It just ain’t so, Joe, and I’d like people to stop repeating that bullshit. Yeah, we have idiots in our group, like Barton, and the libs have idiots in their group, and we’ve all got to stop assuming that the idiots speak for the whole group. But so often they do. I can point to a couple of voices of reason in the Democratic party that get center stage somewhat regularly, I don’t know if i can say the same for the Republican party. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/51 "2010-06-18T04:57:22Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > [http://joebartonwouldliketoapologize.com/](http://joebartonwouldliketoapologize.com/) > [@](#): > > Joe Barton Would Like to Apologize to: > > Kim Jong-Il, for refusing his patent applications for radial tires, holograms, the microwave, the chair, Twitter, farting, fixies, hugs, and the 1978 Ramones album Road to Ruin. I love this page. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/52 "2010-06-18T05:08:14Z")
> [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](#): > > I love this page. I’m going to do everything I can to work “Here, have a pelican” into as many conversations as possible. > [@](#): > > THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY, FOR TAKING 1.5 MILLION OF YOUR DOLLARS AND NOT LOBBYING HARDER FOR YOU GUYS. YOU DO SUCH GOOD WORK. HERE, HAVE A PELICAN. ---
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/53 "2010-06-18T06:41:46Z")
[BP spills coffee.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AAa0gd7ClM) ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/54 "2010-06-18T14:32:37Z")
Go Biden! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ABToOl-xbHE/hqdefault.jpg "VP Biden on Rep. Joe Barton's Apology to BP") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABToOl-xbHE) ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/55 "2010-06-18T14:41:09Z")
The repubs are running with this story. They had some on CNN saying Obama did not have the authority to demand BP kick in 20 bill. He did not. He used persuasion and a little pressuring. He could not force BP too kick the money in. But Limbaugh and his ditto heads are saying Obama was acting unconstitutionally. Much of the right wing talk machine is organizing behind Barton and BP. You just have to protect the poor defenseless international corporations from the terrible lefties. Screw the people of the gulf.and the animals and the oil covered waters and beaches. They are just a petty annoyance. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/56 "2010-06-18T15:42:34Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#): > > They talk about Obama giving BP a Chicago-style shakedown like it’s a bad thing. If Obama gets caught on tape saying, “We need more than that; you wouldn’t want anything to happen to your other wells, wouldja?,” I’d vote for him _twice_ in 2012. Hell, make it three times. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/57 "2010-06-18T15:47:22Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > The repubs are running with this story. They had some on CNN saying Obama did not have the authority to demand BP kick in 20 bill. He did not. He used persuasion and a little pressuring. He could not force BP too kick the money in. > But Limbaugh and his ditto heads are saying Obama was acting unconstitutionally. Much of the right wing talk machine is organizing behind Barton and BP. You just have to protect the poor defenseless international corporations from the terrible lefties. Screw the people of the gulf.and the animals and the oil covered waters and beaches. They are just a petty annoyance. I try to stay away from the right wing punditry machine as much as possible, so can you link to some examples? I almost don’t want to know… ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/58 "2010-06-18T16:28:44Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > Go Biden! > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABToOl-xbHE&feature=player\_embedded](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABToOl-xbHE&feature=player_embedded) That was an excellent performance. Top notch. Unscripted and from the heart. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/59 "2010-06-18T18:04:04Z")
Biden was really good in that video. Much more controlled and statesmanlike than I expected. I know the GOP’s strategy is to demonize Mr. Obama, but this is pretty obvious even to the usual sleep-walking US citizen. Or it should be. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563/60 "2010-06-18T18:10:13Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > The repubs are running with this story. They had some on CNN saying Obama did not have the authority to demand BP kick in 20 bill. He did not. He used persuasion and a little pressuring. He could not force BP too kick the money in. It just hit me. They are mad _ **that BP did not tell the President of the United States to go pound sand and if someone’s affected take us to court** _. BP failed _ **them** _! :smack: (Also, it seems in their worldview, the only reason to ever hand over money for the benefit of third parties is if forced or threatened – not because it’s the right thing, not because maybe you want to turn down the public opinion heat and create good will, only under compulsion of law.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finally-somebody-sticks-up-for-bp-hooray-republicans/543563.md?page=4)