GOP congressman apologizes to BP for '$20 billion shakedown' | Raw ……

I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog :)…

Best government money can buy its amazing they have no shame

Umm, you're supposed to be speaking for your constituency, aren't you? And since you're from Texas, I wonder who THAT might be…

Bubububye Barton. If you are still there after November, your constituents are morons.

” I do not want to live in a country where any time a citizen or a corporation does something that is legitimately wrong and is subject to some sort of political pressure that is, again, in my words, amounts to a shakedown.”

Well Mr. Barton, you know where the door is. Maybe you can move to London and go to work for BP? You seem to have a good relationship with them already! While your at it Mr. Barton, why don't you drive to the coast and hold a press conference for all affected citizens down there, and explain to THEM why you think BP should not be helping them financially? You sick f'ing piece of shit!! Its amazing how low a republican will crawl into the pond scum just to attempt scoring a partisan political point. Simply f'ing amazing!!

I'll wager it will be less than 4 hours before Barton makes a statement saying that his comments were taken out of context, and that he apologizes to the people of the gulf coast if they mistook his intent. Don't expect an apology to the Obama administration for suggesting they are “shaking down” anyone as if they are a corrupt gangster government. He should….but he won't. Oh, and expect failin Palin to post something on Facebook defending Barton…and of course Limbaugh will defend him on his radio show today as well.

Why don't you pay personally for all the damage then, Joe. You fucking criminal douchebag.

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yeah! this story has entered the popular today section on popurls.com…

They're morons.

Okay, so you don't think the people who CAUSED the problem should clean it up? Fine. YOU pay for it, asshole!

Christ almighty, do republicans give a flying rat's ass about ANYTHING but money? Goddamn, what a completely selfish, greedy, pig headed bunch of assholes! Never met a dollar they didn't worship.

Shakedown? WE are the ones who have gotten the shakedown, you ass kissing bastard! For 30 YEARS, now, dip shit! WE are the ones who have cleaned up the messes YOUR MONEY GRUBBING SHITHEADS have made, and THEY are the ones getting the shakedown? What a complete MORON you are.

Go to hell, you asshole. Eat oil and die, shit head.

Corporations uber alles? This isn't simple ass kissing. Rather the Texass rep appears to have moved to deep throat. Note that his initials are JB which is a reverse of BJ which supports my statement.

Joe Barton is going to be apologizing for himself. Oh! and he is on the energy committee. I guess that has something to do with it. You don't bite the hand that feeds you.

Punk-assed whore!

What a slice of human crap that guy is. I hope he wakes up one day and realizes just how pathetic he is when compared to real humans. I only wish he would be forced to sit in that oil sludge and cook like so many people and animals are forced to while their world crumbles around them. I'm not a violent person, but honestly that asshole deserves to choke on the stuff. Screw him!

This guy makes all other Politician look like they actually care about people…… This is BEYOND what I would have expected from the deepest corporatist in office.

Big Corporations (big donors) have been bringing Death, Destruction and personal Devastation to the citizens of this country (and others) for 30 years and Once, just Once, just once, the gov't stands up to ensure that part of the Big Corporation's liabilities will be covered and this Idiot decides to make those comments!

truly unbelievable.

They ALREADY ARE!! That's why this corporate whoring bastard is there.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) is up for relection in 2010 see list below to support another candidate because i'm ashamed of what happened with his brain, does he really think ANYONE along the gulf thinks of this money as a “slush fund”

The list of 2010 Candidates for Texas Congressional District 6 includes:

Software Engineer David Cozad (D)
Byron Severns (L)
Financial Worker Randy Cook (I)
Businessman Matthew David Melton (I)

Maybe instead he should be apologizing to all the people whose lives are being devastated for being a member of the party that constantly pushes for deregulation and always chooses the side of the rich and powerful over the small people.

Barton's right. The laws should be written by Congress, interpreted by the courts, and enforced by the executive.

We CANNOT trust the Obama administration with this thing. I put this on par with Obama's evil pharmaceuditals scam. It looked good at the beginning; but in the end it was just Obama's way of taking control of the situation in order to fuck us over and enrich his corporate masters.

It's time for Congress to take control. They must take back the legislative duties from the smiling despot now, before November.

“I do not want to live in a country where any time a citizen or a corporation does something that is legitimately wrong and is subject to some sort of political pressure”.

But it's perfectly acceptable to live in a country that shakes down average citizens for not doing anything wrong such as fines for not wearing a seatbelt. Do politicians ever think before they grovel?

Barton is the archetype of representatives bought by industry. He is also the prime reason to eliminate private funding of all elections.

The Supreme Court has steadily increased the role that money plays in our government. Perhaps we could limit the time of our campaigns?

Tell us how you really feel 8-)

so, he says over and over “what you did was wrong”.. and “you caused the worst disaster this country has ever”.. then says “but you shouldn't have to pay for any of it”? “You should not be asked to do the right thing”?

wow.. I don't want him living in this country either.. perhaps we should explain to him he's fee to LEAVE.

“I think it's a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown,” Joe Barton

I think it's a tragedy that a corporation can be accrued the rights of 'citizenship' by a right wing activist Supreme Court without also incurring the penalties that an ordinary citizen faces if his commercial and economic decisions result in loss, including death, for other, innocent citizens.

Or, let me put it another way: Suppose BP was a corporation, and they decided to drive their corporate car drunk as hell. And suppose they then caused an accident that cost innocent lives and as yet untold property and economic damage to innocents. Where's the outrage on that Mr Barton?

His District abuts the District in which I live. I live in Kay Granger's who is just as bad as Barton. They are both on the energy industry dole.

Barton is just like his Senate friend, John Cornhole, in that neither does anything for citizens of Texas. They do things that will line their pockets. Cornhole was the attorney general here in Texas.

But, please folks, don't bash all Texans. Not all of us are of this ilk. Bush isn't and never was a native of this state. That accent is as fake as a Lee Press On Fingernail.

I just wish I could figure out how to topple these do nothings, Republican and Democrat, who sit in DC taking big salaries and accepting money from these corporations and PACS. The money we pay to keep their sorry asses paid with our taxes is not enough for these people. Free healthcare, but they don't want it for anyone else. A retirement benefit for life. Even if they only serve one minute in Congress. Their pay should be like anyone else who does a job. Entry pay and raises on basis of performance. Funny, when I worked for Govt., I couldn't accept any gifts. My division got a Christmas basket of goodies and we had to give it up because it would have looked like preference.

Well, why do congresspeople get to get goodies? They are just as vulnerable as I was when I would buy something that was needed in our region.

We pay these people a hefty sum. More than most of any of us make. Way more. The only time you hear from them is when they are running for elections and making promises they have no intention of keeping.

Clean DC up and get all new people in there and let them know that they work for you. They get paid by you. And, if they screw up, then they will be replaced. That goes for both parties.

Oh, and Barton is the sweetheart of the energy providers. He is their whore.

Yet another Republican ensuring his fiscal future.

If BP pays for the cleanup that leaves less money for Republicans. If the Repubs can shift the burden of the cleanup off BP's back and onto us “small people”, their future is greener.

He'll win in a landslide.

I personally live in one of the most gerrymandered districts in the country. The gay repug congressman wins in a landslide no matter what. If they ran Cheetah for Congress (he lives in the district) he'd win as long as that R was next to his name.

I'm shocked that this American Judas would sell out the American public for his twenty pieces of silver!

When will America wake up? Will it be in time?

He's and bought and paid for whore, he has no outrage.

Ho's have got to take care of their pimps.

C'mon, don't go so easy on 'em!

wow, just wow

you blame the act of a private corporation that took advantage of Republican deregulation being criminally negligent on Obama

you partisan right wingers are so predictable

Well, it IS a shakedown. What legal authority does the president have to demand that anyone pay $20, much less $20 billion, without the rule of law? This is executive thievery, plain and simple.

Chavez in Venezuela can do it; Mugabe in Zimbabwe can do it. May Putin can do it to billionaire Russians (whom he also expropriates or incarcerates, or both). But this is not the stuff of the American rule of law.

The fact that Obama has appointed a very partisan czar, instead of an arms-length professional, to administer the $20 billion slush fund does aggravate the wrong, but it is ultimately irrelevant. The fundamental principle is clear: no president has the power to badger, browbeat, heist, purloin, threaten with political blackmail, or otherwise steal money from anybody, no matter how noble his purpose. The lust for power combined with the lust for money is a profound threat to our liberty.

If he can do it to BP, folks, he can do it to you and me. This is BushObamanism and it is wrong.

It is illegal to NOT wear a seat belt in my state. The state police run a public awareness campaign called “CLICK IT OR TICKET”. The only time I don't wear my seat belt is from the mailbox to the garage!

Shocked that a Republican sold out?!! Are you kidding?

Barton is just another gop corporatist putz Texan that will say anything for another big check from the oil corporations.

What a useless whore.

UHHHH if they mandate (as in it is a LAW) the wearing of seatbelts and you don't wear your seatbelt then you are breaking the LAW, but you do not see it that way do you NUMBNUTS.

Your just as bad as BP AND ITS FOR SURE YOUR A RETHUGLICAN.

STFU and the THREE IDIOTS WHO LIKED THIS SHOULD BE ASHAMED.

“Joe Barton, BP Apologist, In '04: Offshore Drilling So Safe, A Gum Wrapper Won't Even Fall Off Platform”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/17/joe-ba…

You just cant wait to spout on any issue how you hate OBAMA and now you call for WHAT cause nothing in your post makes any sense in context or reality.

double STFU.

Looks like only one of them is worthy and he is a working stiff named COZAD, go COZAD

He may claim it was taken out of context but he will keep saying it and the RNC (republican nut channel) will call him a brave voice or what ever they come up with and BECK will THANK HIM.

Vote them out and get out the vote to do it, register those SMALL PEOPLE and shame the few rethugs with a conscience into flushing him.

Even Mr Hayward was stunned.
BP stock WENT UP after the fund was announced. It seems it's good for the company to move the decision making into third party hands AWAY from the BP brand. It also happens to be good for the government and the people of the gulf.

So, what is Mr. Barton's motivation?
Perhaps he illustrated it best when he said “I'm speaking totally for myself …”
Indeed.

There's little oil in Mr. Barton's district, and he represents no one who was affected on the coast. He's signaling the industry that he's on their side so they can feel comfortable routing their money in his direction.
This behavior has no place on the energy panel. Barton should be removed after this self serving grandstanding. The Republican Party should be absolutely embarrassed by his actions.

How is it against the LAW for the PRESIDENT to do his job? How is a fund to compensate victims a SLUSH FUND? How is the same man BUSH picked for the same kind of job a PARTISAN CZAR?

How long are you going to lick the sweat of BECKS BALLS before you realize it aint AMBROSIA?

If your the best that Virgina schools can do we need to put those schools under a federal supervisor before they turn out more of YOU.

And how long have you been working for/in the oil industry? Or, are you just a raving corporatist who believes that corporations deserve person-hood? Maybe you should visit the Gulf Coast and talk to the people who are being destroyed by this disaster.

Whats next for BARTON? he is going to get behind an effort to SUE the FUND to pay for CRIMINAL LIABILITY PENALTIES of BP and to prevent any SMALL PEOPLE getting compensation before the FINES and PENALTIES are paid.

I think you are overlooking a couple things here. It probably is unprecedented for the Pres to engage in this kind of activity, but then the situation is unprecedented. Now that the fund has been set up, everybody feels just a bit better about it – BP's stocks have gone up, the President will have been perceived as having taken positive action, and the LA residents will feel better about it. The deal was announced after a long meeting, was it not? I am sure that all parties were looking for a quick stroke of good news so that everyone can relax a bit as they work to resolve the problem. I don't think this is a shakedown at all – I think BP is glad for the opportunity to have the appearance of being whupped by Obama, and Obama likewise gets PR points. Let's face it, this is a really awful situation and there is little to no good news yet – these people managed to manufacture some good news, with a relatively reasonable price tag.

Maybe instead of a cryptic soundbite-type comment, you could just say what you mean?

This Barton's a typical RePUKEliCUNT idiot, in my opinion, and one sick SOB with it. I'm ashamed for the citizens of Texas that this asshole represents them…of course, they get what they deserve if they voted for this jerk!

Nice trained dog act.
Does Barton jump through flaming hoops as well?

I take it he wants “big government”/ taxpayers to pay instead. I don't think these right-wingers really know what they want. They're against taxpayers paying for anything and at the same time corporations are their gods. I can see how they might be torn. I haven't heard much from teabaggers lately. I suspect it feels odd railing against big government at the same time as they're demanding that Obama fix this big problem. If it wasn't so sad it would be hilarious.

At the same time the public is demanding that Obama do something. There isn't really very much he can do that you would find acceptable. Most people think this is a good thing.

Actually, I'm a libertarian socialist and can decide for myself what is right and wrong. Wearing or not wearing a seatbelt does not infringe upon my rights and the government has no business telling me I have to wear one if it hurts no one else. I suppose if they made a law that says you cannot eat hamburgers you'd back that one, too? Typically, those who are law and order minded (as in authoritarian) tend to be Republicans.

What a vile, disgusting toad Barton is. Only in the fetid swamp of Texas politics could this piece of excrement be elected and foisted on the American people. If Democrats had a lick of sense they'd make this scumbag the poster-boy of the ReTHUG LIE CON party this fall and replay that apology to BP until it's tattooed on the brains of every American.

Barton seems more comfortable with the Exxon model of legal liability used in the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska – drag out legal procedures for decades while those seeking compensation for lost livelihoods die off.

This is really just another attempt to muddy the waters and get a corporation off the hook and put tax payers on the hook. The other side of this half ass good cop bad cop routine is that asshole Burgess. His part in this choreography is to put M.M.S. in the first lean position. And yes, if he and this slug Barton can do that then M.M.S. will be liable having to pay a large amount of the cost incurred by B.P.'s negligence. Of course M.M.S. doesn't have any money to pay of it's own so they will just use yours.

Look for a smelly, fat rodent of a man named Frank crawling around with a scumbag named Karl handing out talking points and guiding the media into the side pocket until M.M.S. and you tax payer are the blame.

You know what… Accidents happen. The most certainly do. But when it's clear that the accident is as a result of neglect by BP and poor maintenance… DAMN right you should have a slush fund. As a citizen, I too have to pay for my mistakes, except my mistakes don't end up spilling and killing wildlife and potentially damaging the environment and our shores for the next 20 years. Apologize – of course… 1.5 Mil. is worth a little apology.

So how far do you want to take the anarchy? You think we can trust corporations to do what is right? I think the evidence tells us otherwise.

Joe Barton should apologize to the American people for being bought and paid for by bp and other corporations at the expense of the people he was elected to represent. He should be fired!

Please, enough with the hair-on-fire hysteria and outrage against perfectly legal and normal democratic actions by Obama. Would you prefer the Exxon model of corporate “responsibility” in this case; drag out legal appeals for decades while all the people affected by the Exxon Valdez spill died off?

Your mind had been rotted by too much reich-wing hate talk. The hyperbole over the so-called czars Obama has appointed in mind-bogglingly stupid in all the cases that have been cited including your misplaced concern over the man appointed in this case. And, Obama DIDN'T take over the banks, the auto industry, or, in this case the oil industry. I'm surprised you left out that Obama reads from a teleprompter and was born in Kenya.

If you ever get in a car accident and you weren't wearing your seat belt, the rest of us will think it wrong to pay for your medical bills. It's only right that you pay for your own decisions, right?

I didn't say that in any way, shape, or form. You have been trained to lie for Obama. Look again and ask yourself why you lie without even thinking. You will come to realize that you are an authoritarian simpleton. I'm not calling names; I'm just letting you know.

“Blow job” Barton has a nice – and appropriate ring to it.

You're the same as Tommy, a simpleton who has been trained to attack people who tell the most basic truths.

The truth will not change no matter how many stupid things you say in your effort to ignore it.

None of my posts have ever been taken down. None of my accusations have ever been shown to be false. I have never posted a hateful thing about anything or anybody unless they have done something worthy of my hate. And I’ve never claimed to be against name calling.

It looks like you’re a compulsive liar. Don’t you know how easy it is to recognize you? The lying is a giveaway.

I never said the President did something illegal.

Do you understand why you keep lying? I can explain it. You have been conditioned to repeat the things your master tells you to. You literally have surrendered your capacity for intelligent thought.

I know you’ve been programmed to resist what I’m about to suggest, but I have to suggest that you go back and examine the things you’ve said and ask yourself why you said them. That’s the first step in reclaiming your capacity for intelligence.

You are entitled to your opinion but not your own set of facts. Truth is a conclusion based on a set of provable facts.

Fact: You spout bromides and hyperbole and claim it's truth.

ergo you are provably a moron for doing so.

talk to the hand nobody else is listening.

I believe Barton's statement should be used to effect a recall of his election. It is apparent that he, and far too many other politicians, are putting the American citizen-the 'small' people who make up the working and productive part of America-second to their corporate masters. And, God forbid anyone speak truth to those morons who call themselves 'God fearing, public servants and patriots' by informing them that they are only those things in their own minds and, even then, only when it serves their own petty, greedy and selfish ends.

Driving an automobile is not a right, but a priviledge. Therefore the government can tell you to wear a seatbelt. Moreover, seat belt laws exist because elected representatives voted for them. That's how laws are made in a democratic republic. Also, not wearing one does hurt other people if we have to pay your medical bills in the form of higher insurance premiums.

So you're saying the laws should NOT be written by Congress, interpreted by the courts, and enforced by the executive? Why don't you just say you're a simpleton?

these republicans there all the same . show me the money and let the dems feed the rest.

Shakedown my furry butt! The only reason this was necessary is due to the fact BP was leaving all the people who lost their income and livelihood to kick rocks. There are people who were going to make 20 to 50 thousand a month this season and they got 5 grand!…if they were lucky! Obama got this one spot on.

I really hope you have a short life chrisinva

Shocking the Republican party see's a problem with BP a giant oil company being told to start paying for this clean-up. Are all of these “OLD WASP's ” insane???

typical republican. what a dick.

scumbag money monger

im more of a conservative type and i find this congressman to be a moron. i know of no one that supports what he says so don't automatically say “all republicans are like this”. BP should pay every cent that it takes to clean it up, the oil rig was their property so its their responsibility.

so you're happy that we the taxpayers pay for BP's mistake???….I'm sure you're not a politician so that can only mean you're a teabagger….part of a group with their collective heads in the sand or rear…whichever you prefer…heheh

I was mortified and furious when I watched Joe Barton apologize to BP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We now know who he represents, and it sure isn't the people!!! As usual, it's still is and always will be “about the money”.

Joe Barton needs to be thrown out of office for betraying the citizenry of this nation!!!

I think Rep Joe Barton should publish his home address so we can express how we feel about his apology in person. Maybe he should go to La. and Al and explain is apology to those people and see if he gets out of there alive.

Kick his ass out of office. He obviously forgot that being in politics means being a PUBLIC SERVANT. Not a damn celebrity or mouthpiece to various industries. If he doesn't have OUR best interests in mind when making decisions that effect us all then he shouldn't be in office.

If you guys want a truly mind bending experience read about this story on the FOX's news site and check out the comments. You wouldn't believe the number of foxtards who are posting things like, “Barton is right. This is a shakedown” and “I can't believe Obama is being so abusive to BP”. AMAZING !!! Its shocking how stupid people bend over for their corporate overlords.

Are we sick of being ruled by rich white men yet? How long will it take for the American people to stand up and take our government back from these thieves? Looks like Texas really picked a winner when they voted for this slime ball.

20B wont be enough

http://www.sott.net/articles/show/209378-Is-It-…

BETTER JACK IT UP BARACK

Barton is a scumbag who wasn't bought by industry; he was created by industry just like the uruk hai were created by saruman in the lord of the rings movies. What's really disgusting is that he doesn't even have the degree of morality those creatures had.

BP has no problem with paying for the full damage that they are PARTIALLY responsible for. Everyone seems to forget they didn't own the rig that actually did the well, yet they are commited to paying for all clean up / legitimate claims.

Plus, I see no issue with Barton on his comments about global warming. It seems he had a little foresight into the issue. Does everyone not remember the recent news that much of the global warming information (which Barton questioned in the quotes) was highly inflated and innacurate? There were proven fundamental flaws in the data.

All politicians are the same.

Barton is a weasel and is owned by corporations.

I almost hate to say it, but sometimes I wish the repugs would win in 2012 so we can make fun of the ignorant, backward rubes who voted for them while they are standing in soup lines in 2013.

There was no “cap” set for the 20 m. It will take more and Obama left that open. The 20 M is for immediate help over the next 3 years.

Wow, so I wonder how much the oil consortium donated to this guy's campaign. Hope he finds his way down to the beach with a shovel. He owes an appology to all the folks on the water who did nothing wrong and are now out of a job because of BP!

The buck stops at BP. They ran the show.

1. The so-called “inflated and inaccurate” claims were subsequently refuted. You need to keep up.

2. BP didn't own the rig, they leased it from Transocean and ran all operations. I.e., a renter doesn't own the apartment they live in, the landlord does. But if the renter trashes the apartment, he/she is criminally liable for all damages to said property.

Johan,
I would love to see a link, here. I read voraciously, and I have yet to read of a study, hearing, or any other finding that states that “much of the global warming information…was highly inflated and inaccurate”.
That said, if a link to said information is provided, and the link leads to some industry-funded global warming denial site, I will immediately throw the BS flag. I place as much faith in the findings of industry-funded “science” as I used to assign to tobacco scientists (who were also industry-funded to reach certain conclusions).
Get a link to a legitimate group of climate scientists to legitimately bolster your claim…if you can…

“Please tell us which laws you will obey without question?”–Thomas G. Williams

None. I question everything. I know that I have a right to ultimate freedom as long as the expression of my freedom hurts no one else. That means I don’t steal, I don’t lie, I don’t litter, and I don’t gossip (I also quit driving because I don’t believe in the mandatory seatbelt law or the mandatory insurance law). Life, itself, has taught me that there’s more to being a good human being than just obeying a law. If more people questioned what they were told the world would be a much better place. Remember, the economy is in the toilet because bankers screwed the rest of us simply because it was “legal” to do so. That doesn’t make it right.

“Please tell us which laws you will obey without question?”–Thomas G. Williams

None. I question everything. I know that I have a right to ultimate freedom as long as the expression of my freedom hurts no one else. That means I don’t steal, I don’t lie, I don’t litter, and I don’t gossip (I also quit driving because I don’t believe in the mandatory seatbelt law or the mandatory insurance law). Life, itself, has taught me that there’s more to being a good human being than just obeying a law. If more people questioned what they were told the world would be a much better place. Remember, the economy is in the toilet because bankers screwed the rest of us simply because it was “legal” to do so. That doesn’t make it right.

Ummm…I guess you missed the part at the hearing where it was revealed in the emails that both Halliburton AND Transocean objected to the cost-cutting methods BP insisted upon. And your comment pertaining to climate change, it was proven in an inquiry, that the emails DO NOT show climate change is a hoax. The words used were cherry picked to try to discredit the facts. This conclusion was reached by NASA. You need to do a better job at you fact checking. Do you know about the google?

Oh, and one more thing, the Rule of Law IS the Rule of Men!

Oh, and one more thing, the Rule of Law IS the Rule of Men!

and in that time it took to apologize…a million more gallons of oil spewed into the gulf…sorry?…you certainly are…!

The man has to pretend that he is earning his keep. Just can't rake in those million dollar kickbacks without showing the “bosses” how hard he is working. Go BP.

but joe, what about the small people…?!…?

BTW: if your not looking for guilt by association try not to admit your VOTING FOR THEM. still it is true that some “few” republicans are not playing the partisan games with our nations needs and that is why they are being kicked out of office by the other republicans.

This has been the REPUBLICAN WAY for years, if a republican holds to his oath of office he gets booted for it, its goose stepping lock step or else.

“Driving an automobile is not a right, but a privilege”. (I corrected your spelling in this quote. Please don’t take offense, Amy).

Who told you that? We, according to the U.S. Constitution, have a right to travel. I can’t ride a horse across country–it’s illegal. I can’t take a golf cart to the next state–it’s illegal. Hell, I actually donned a backpack and tried to walk from coast to coast but found that it’s not only extremely difficult these days but downright illegal in some places. How can I exercise my right to travel if everything but automobile is illegal?

No recall of FEDERALLY ELECTED OFFICIALS is allowed, can you imagine the week by week drives to remove DEMOCRATS the rethugs would engage in if they could and how many states would be bankrupted by having to pay for new elections every other week?

If that man got caught in a flaming hoop HE would be PORK RINDS for years to come and the republicans would resurrect him as a mutant cyborg just like the CHENEYS both FATHER AND DAUGHTER are heart donors and some how survived, I just wish they had given those hearts to living people and not used them in their demonic sacrifices.

20 billion and you can have it. Gulf leased to BP for 3 years includes US coast guard. 40 billion for six years. Up for lease: Washington DC 300 billion for 3 years includes politicians. Barton for 1 dollar.

Please tell us which laws you will obey without question? If you think that like THE OATHKEEPERS running for office YOU GET TO DECIDE WHICH LAWS YOU WILL FOLLOW AND WHICH ONES YOU WILL NOT FOLLOW let me remind you of this principle central to our conceptual basis of the law: IT IS THE RULE OF LAW THAT WE SUPPORT NOT THE RULE OF MEN, and as a HALF A$$ or breed socialist you are aware of the socialist belief in the GOOD ORDER of society through compliance with JUST AND FAIR LAWS enacted by men?

AND I AM A LAW AND ORDER GUY and I am not a RETHUGLICAN. laws must be just and fair and no one is above the law or outside of it in its application and enforcement, and no self respecting democrat would outlaw a HAM BURGER they would mandate it not be poison to eat it and that it must be pure unaltered meat and not libertarian republican chemical stuffed poison.

It's not surprising that politicians are for sale or that oil companies buy them- what bothers me is that it's done so blatantly. It's little wonder that our politicians are so contemptuous of us- we keep electing them no matter what they do. We set up a vicious cycle where the more the get away with, the more they feel they CAN get away with.

How do you know what your food tastes like if you feed yourself while your head is up your ass?

PROVIDE PROOF OF ANYTHING ILLEGAL ABOUT WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE, in fact it is the laws they are complying with as they do this or are ESCROW ACCOUNTS AND SETTLEMENT FUNDS WITH AN ADMINISTRATOR ILLEGAL? cause they get set up all over the country every single day with and without courts or congress being involved.

[...] now, the video that will haunt Joe Barton for the rest of his sorry [...]

YOU DO IN FACT CALL NAMES AND MAKE PROVABLY FALSE ACCUSATIONS AND WILDLY PARTISAN HATE FILLED FALSE STATEMENTS.

IN FACT YOU ARE CONSTANTLY PROVEN TO BE BOTH WRONG AND SHOWN TO BE IGNO'RANT'ING JUST TO SPEW YOUR HATE.

So do not claim your not calling names, you did it here and you have done it every time you can, how many of your posts have been taken down?

To Hell with the Republican party!

So, Americans will not apologize for tactical mistakes, supporting totalitarian regimes, and torturing suspected terrorists on faulty intelligence who turn out to be innocent, but they will apparently apologize for forcing a foreign company to pay for causing a natural disaster due to gross negligence on their part???

That buck was not taxed and is hidden in terrorist/corporate tax havens beyond the jurisdiction of the United States.

A man who truly knows what to kiss and when….

No offense, Sandi

Driving is indeed a privilege. You must take a test and be licensed, earning the privilege. It is not a right granted by the Constituton. Look it up, or ask a lawyer. No one has a RIGHT to drive.

Corporations are not people even if they finagled their way into the law as being such. Corporations only care about profit. Corporations have no conscience and will never feel guilt. They will never regret a “choice” as long as they make money from that choice.

People instinctively know what’s right and wrong. It’s only in later life, when they’ve been influenced, that they get confused. Yet, even if humans have been strongly influenced they can never escape their conscience. They can never escape guilt. When Obama gives a speech that reeks of corporate influence I see his eyes go cold. Every now and then when little George Bush was delivering what his “owners” expected him to deliver I could still see a bit of shame in his eyes. I watched Jimmy Carter, a truly good man, age 75 years in 4 because he had no choice but to act against his conscience.

Anarchy works great when you allow individuals to be themselves. Things get screwed up when you allow groups to control individual humans.

Actually no Republican I can think of should be in government “serving”. The only ones they serve is themselves and the top 1%.

http://www.RepublicansAreADisease.com

Republicans “serving” America. What a laugh. Only if there is $$ in it for their Wall Street friends.

Capitalism is the extraordinary belief that the nastiest of men,(JOE BARTON R. TEX. included of course) for the nastiest of reasons, will somehow work for the benefit of us all.
- John Maynard Keynes

Wouldn't it be great if Texans apologised to the rest of the country by sending this sumbitch home the next election cycle, but, of course, they are Texans, and they did give us our first “Handi-capable” president

Barton, Bush, Perry, Texas….it's all un-American. Can we, as Americans, take bids on Texas and South Carolina?

You have to check out Dr. Hannity on FOXLIES.

A “misconstrued misconstruction”……???
Now there's a new one !!!!!

That experiment worked so well the last time, didn't it? The fact is their ability to help is nothing compared to their ability to lay waste to families, communities and in fact, the world is proof that they should never EVER be allowed back in the cockpit, much less, behind the wheel.

“Driving is indeed a privilege. You must take a test and be licensed, earning the privilege”.

When the U.S. Constitution was written there was no automobile. We rode horses, walked, or took a boat of some kind. Do you think they would have stood for a “horse license”? How about a “Conestoga Wagon license”? I can ask a lawyer but I would ask a lawyer who specializes in Common Law. He would probably agree with me. Because the Powers That Be have outlawed every other means of transportation within the continental United States then automobile travel must fit into the “right to travel”.

here's the email of the Republican Florida rep. asking Barton to resign. if Repubs. take back Congress, Barton would Chair the committee. Support Jeff Miller in his call to get Barton to resign.

http://jeffmiller.house.gov/Contact/

32501-32598 work as zip codes

The problem is this is going to get resolved quickly. The victims of the Exxon Valdez still have yet to see a dime of that negligence.

Government cannot tell you not to drive on private roads. Their jurisdiction generally only applies to public roads.

Who the hell pays for my injuries if I'm involved in an auto accident and am not wearing a seat belt?

in an off- camera phone interview, Barton was heard to say “B-PHEE zza grtt fkin cmokmy naa wlla frugt….”……. obviously, he was still sucking cock at the time… l

I think anyone here who works has known people who should have been fired, and have met people who were good workers, did what hey were supposed to do and were very popular, but rubbed someon the wrong way, and got fired.
Now, I have to ask, HAS ANY OF THESE BUMBLING IDIOTS LOST THEIR JOBS?
I certainly doubt it.

Like during the Watergate days of the “non-denial denial”, we now have the days of the “non-apology apology”.

Which laws will you not follow, seems you accept that the people of the state have expressed a will to REGULATE CERTAIN ACTIVITIES IN A UNIVERSALLY APPLIED MANNER by electing Representatives to legislate on our behalf and that since electronic voting there has been very much a controversial situation as to how some of these people got or held a seat so if there are laws you think are wrong elect the person who will undo seat belt laws, don’t forget to undo federal authority here and do your part to return us to a mistake of the past and see the publication of HIGHWAYS OF DEATH VOLUME 2.

Mandatory insurance? once it was a mandate the constitution is very clear as mud here but it should be universal and state administered as a not for profit LGSE regulated and contained by a constrain g frame work to discourage abuse and fraud. otherwise known as 70-80% reduction in premiums across the board.

You want REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES

WRONG, MEN CAN VIOLATE THE LAW..,… THE LAW CANT VIOLATE LAW OR IT IS DEEMED NOT TO BE A LAW THEREFORE INVALIDATED AS IN WHAT THE UNLAWFUL USURPATION OF FEDERAL AUTHORITY (AZs treasonous violation of the US Constitution and their binding allegiances to the Union) WILL BE FOUND TO BE IN THE VERY FIRST COURT THAT GETS IT.

Wrong again DUMB @$$, YOU CAN TRAVEL IN WHERE YOU WANT IN ANY MANNER THAT IS LAWFUL, get a horse and you will find that the GOVERNMENT has provided a way to travel by horse from one end of this country to the other its a real thing it just not direct but you get to where you want to go if you comply with the law. AND in most of the country you can use a moped that gets about 150 MPG and is limited to roads that do not exceed 45MPH and no use of interstates for very valid every ones safety reasons AND YOU DO NOT NEED A LICENSE AT ALL OR INSURANCE..

BTW yes you had to get horse permits and titles in those days DUMB@$$ it was a lot of expense to keep and maintain roads YOU EVEN HAD TO PAY TOLLS FOR USE in a lot of cases.

Why have you chosen to be so ill informed and bitter about the choices that have been of your own intent and design? Mouth not the ignorance of others seek a comprehensive knowledge then get thrashed but at least you may find the conceptions and fears you hold need not rule or ruin you.

WOW anther example of why there should be universal high quality health care.

Men write the laws, therefore, the laws will always be imperfect.

And, yet, because they are “public roads” paid for by the taxpayers there are laws that work against the taxpayers who drive their own roads. Hmmmmm. . . .

What a crock you spew as you pontificate, so Carter decided not to have REAGAN and his people prosecuted so as not to divide the nation many of whom would disbelieve clear proof of treason having been whipped into a frenzy of hate the government by REAGANS supporters.

SO WASTEFUL another NWMT.

…. and the circus continues.

GOBP? Go ahead vote Republican so they can take repeal the 20 Billion and or just give Big Oil another tax break and let taxpayers pay for their screwup! Good Grief!

And if they hadn't set up the fund and BP goes bankrupt leaving the tax payer to pay for everything he would have been bitching about that too….

In Republicanese, the word is “catching” when big business is “pitching.” This dipshit Texass-hole Republican (sorry, is that redundant?) should be forced to perform 500 hours of clean-up duty without a respirator or gloves.

Breathe deep, you miserable puppet, Maybe it'll clear your head

What threats????? they are under criminal investigation, they are provably liable in 11 WRONGFUL DEATH CASES, they violated LAWS and REGULATIONS and a number of actions will yield criminal negligence charges some going to CORPORATE BP, after this they (some of them ) WILL FACE BRITISH LAW on some charges, Britain just wishes we would not be as public and inflamed as we are at this time so PHUK BRITAIN.BP is screwed and if they want to come out the other end of this as company they better jump when certain people say FROG, the President does not have to threaten he is fully empowered to say FROG if he wants.

What proof do you have that the Obama administration can not be trusted with this?

You refer to and allege that the PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES has EVIL SCHEMES.

You call him a despot, on what grounds would you make that charge and justify it as your position.

AND YES YOUR POSTS HAVE BEEN REMOVED MAYBE IT WAS AFTER YOU SLUNK BACK UNDER THE BED FOR THE DAY BUT THEY HAVE BEEN TAKEN DOWN.

Barton's bloated face, mush-mouthed southern drawl, and knee-jerk, corporate-friendly reaction are the epitome of the RepubliCAN'T Party.

The Democrats now have the face (Barton's toad-like image) to put on the RepubliCAN'T Dr. No bobble head doll coming soon for this fall's election. This WILL be a collector's piece.”

What a LYING SCUMBAG YOU ARE, you have accused the president of vile criminal actions and suspect motives and questioned his motives and intent, ALL BECAUSE HE DONT LIKE YOU BUT HE IS STILL GONNA DO THINGS GOOD FOR YOU.

YOU CALLED HIM EVIL you spew hate and think it will not catch up with you.

It does yours is a continuous bad trip of OBAMA is PRESIDENT.

Barton actual statement, as contained in the daily RepubliKKKan Talking Points was “…what I would characterize as a shakedown by a ni–, I mean an African American Chicago gangster politician community organizer non-church-going Muslim born in Kenya who is only interested in reparations for 'people like him' and taking our guns and grandmas from us, Mr. Chairman.”

And that was while happily taking it up the poop chute from one of the BP guys while the others stuck $100 bills in his pants. At least that's what i've heard from other people.

Mr. Barton was merely doing what any good whore would do …. protecting and consoling his pimp

Torture is evil. Spying on citizens without warrant is evil. Preemptive war is evil.

Trusting evil people to do the right thing is stupid.

Think for yourself.

Torture is evil. Spying on citizens without warrant is evil. Preemptive war is evil.

Trusting evil people to do the right thing is stupid.

Think for yourself.

When Obama lied about the bailout money that he secretly approved for CEOs, his trustworthiness left him. Well, actually it was probably long before that. But that one put him over the top. Obama works for them, not for us. Trusting Obama to do the right thing now is just stupid.And if Obama thinks he has a right to murder Americans, he is a despot. And he does. And he is. Which part is confusing to you?None of my posts have ever been deleted. You are a compulsive liar.

When Obama lied about the bailout money that he secretly approved for CEOs, his trustworthiness left him. Well, actually it was probably long before that. But that one put him over the top. Obama works for them, not for us. Trusting Obama to do the right thing now is just stupid.And if Obama thinks he has a right to murder Americans, he is a despot. And he does. And he is. Which part is confusing to you?None of my posts have ever been deleted. You are a compulsive liar.

“Misconstrued”? This Rethug meant every word he said when sucking up to Bush's BP. He was sending out a test balloon to see if it would fly.

These Rethugs are trying so desperately hard to preserve the corporate rule of America. It leads me to wonder if maybe the corporations grip on this country is not as firm as it has seemed…

Its' raining oil in FLA.

Jack up that shakedown to 50 BILLION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a disgrace atypical Anti American republican White Supremacist Racist, Nazi TRAITOR. Did he offer to suck BPs DICK while in session so everyone could confirm that he and the Anti American republicans have unswerving LOYALTY to the TERRORIST known as BP.

True Anti American subjucation of power, I guess this is the Signal that the Anti American republicas are ready to play ball with BP.

Now the significamnce of AMERICA MUST FAIL becomes real apparent. What a SELL OUT Party

Remember the republican Motto “Death to America” do you need more proof.

RZemember , boner, NC, IA, NB, and Texas all signed on all what America DEAD.

Fine imperfect laws, your still beyond LALA.

Fine imperfect laws, your still beyond LALA.

Wow those laws to punish murder certainly work against murderers.

Wow those laws to punish murder certainly work against murderers.

The really weird part is, that's what he's doing now with an apology.
The fund is good for BP, separating them from the difficult decisions of disbursement. Barton just didn't get the memo earlier. Boehner caught him up on the program later.

Joe Barton should be THROWN out of office!! BP is destroying lives and our gulf coast and he apologizes?? Joe Barton needs to be sent home next election!!!!

So thats what happens when a sheep stray's from the flock? Spineless SOB if you make a comment stick by it dont fold. Or think of the repercussions before you make a comment. Isn't this what we teach children?

Maybe you didn't catch the later reports that reports of inflated reports of global warming were, well, inflated.

I do agree that BP should not bear the entire financial burden of the spill. It would be nice to see that entire industry chip in to help each other out. They all benefited from the Bush administration initiatives that yielded tremendous profits from relaxed regulation.
Doesn't that sound like a nice outcome?
I seriously doubt that day will come, so what we have is responsibility resting on the company that was poised to benefit the most from this well. At $2-5M per day, that well would have been very profitable for BP had their fairy tale drilling been successful. (buzzer sound) sorry, you lose game over, BP.

He's an elected official. As horrible as he is, I can't support the notion of kicking him out of office just because he's a moron.

Kick him off the energy committee? Absolutely.

This is the reason why money shold be taken out of politics. Money s not free speech!

I have a feeling that John Boehner(s) was behind this. But further, its obvious Barton is owned

Here is the AP video that mentions Barton's apology and then his second apology (for the first one).
http://www.newslook.com/videos/221273-shame-on-…

You're right. People here are pissed at BP for what they have done, but two wrongs do not make a right. The best course of action is to let our legal system take over and punish BP for its misdeeds. BP will likely be paying more than $20 billion when this is all said and done.

Rule of law in this scenario is paramount. If we don't follow our laws when it comes to BP, then we can excuse our president when he invades a foreign country without a declaration of war, tortures innocent people, indefinitely detains, etc.

It's legal but it's unethical if the government threatened BP.

Don’t worry, they didn’t cut your beloved lawyers out of the picture. There will be plenty of time for them to make their money later.All they did was say hey, we are responsible and will pay, govt says fine, whats the hold up, BP say we’re worried our disbursement decisions now will cost us more later in court, plus every dollar in question will come with a lawyer argument and dividend for legal fees, besides our insurance company wants closure and that takes time since people don’t yet know what their total loss is, govt offers a solution to help BP out of the immediate, tricky legal mess, problem solved for the short term, people of the gulf can get on with their lives without signing settlement documents.Why is that so difficult to grasp?Turn off your TV and think.

Don’t worry, they didn’t cut your beloved lawyers out of the picture. There will be plenty of time for them to make their money later.All they did was say hey, we are responsible and will pay, govt says fine, whats the hold up, BP say we’re worried our disbursement decisions now will cost us more later in court, plus every dollar in question will come with a lawyer argument and dividend for legal fees, besides our insurance company wants closure and that takes time since people don’t yet know what their total loss is, govt offers a solution to help BP out of the immediate, tricky legal mess, problem solved for the short term, people of the gulf can get on with their lives without signing settlement documents.Why is that so difficult to grasp?Turn off your TV and think.

Barton is a douche bag and wrong 99% of the time, BUT he is correct on this one (amazingly). We need to demand that our government adhere to the rule of law and due process when dealing with criminals/terrorists such as BP.

Remember –
The rule of protects your rights from illegal searches and seizure.
The rule of law was supposed to prevent Bush from invading Iraq without a declaration of war.
The rule of law demands that you have the right to a trial.
The rule of law is supposed to prevent the government from handing trillions of dollars out to wealthy bankers.

I could go on and list the Bill of rights, but you get the idea.

We need to demand that the government obeys the laws it creates.

That’s how Exxon Valdez was handled. Some people were never paid, and in many cases, by the time it was settled in courts, the money went to the claimants heirs. This agreement moves funds to help with immediate needs. People don’t have to build a case or, worse, wait until their final total loss is determined to make the initial claim. How do you put a number today on losing your livelihood over the next few years?
Eventually, BP will pay much, much more than $20B. All agree.
There is risk of Corporate dissolution. If they declare bankruptcy, the people of the gulf can go fuck themselves.
Obama Admin did a very good thing here. Secured some assets for collateral. Arranged for immediate relief. BP liked it too. Their stock went up.
So, what were you talking about?

Oh yeah, people where you are are mad at BP but want to wait for lawyers to save the day. I think all the lawyers are still busy with the Exxon Valdez and are unavailable at this time. You may want to spread the news.
Ask around and see if anyone would like some immediate cash without having to use a lawyer or sign any closure documents.

It’s nice to have smart people in the White House again.

That’s how Exxon Valdez was handled. Some people were never paid, and in many cases, by the time it was settled in courts, the money went to the claimants heirs. This agreement moves funds to help with immediate needs. People don’t have to build a case or, worse, wait until their final total loss is determined to make the initial claim. How do you put a number today on losing your livelihood over the next few years?
Eventually, BP will pay much, much more than $20B. All agree.
There is risk of Corporate dissolution. If they declare bankruptcy, the people of the gulf can go fuck themselves.
Obama Admin did a very good thing here. Secured some assets for collateral. Arranged for immediate relief. BP liked it too. Their stock went up.
So, what were you talking about?

Oh yeah, people where you are are mad at BP but want to wait for lawyers to save the day. I think all the lawyers are still busy with the Exxon Valdez and are unavailable at this time. You may want to spread the news.
Ask around and see if anyone would like some immediate cash without having to use a lawyer or sign any closure documents.

It’s nice to have smart people in the White House again.

God bless America, god bless jesus, and god bless he republican party, and god bless foreign corporations who want to save america for jesus

Blowback Barton suffers from hydrocarbon on the brain, talk about reckless pursuit of a fatally flawed energy, Gale Norton went to Shell Oil, Little/Big Joe should go to BP Big Prison w/Phony Tony Hayward.

In the elections KNUMNUTS, the committee now OFFICE in November.

People will still vote for conservatives even though they have no interest in the needs of the small people. People need to wake up and start voting for their own interest. Barton is a prime example of why the middle class is disappearing.

I bet the man who MURDERED my sister wishes you had been on his JURY cause you would have thought shooting a woman in bed was just fine.

WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES DO NOT BEG CRIMINALS FOR THEIR FORGIVENESS, WE DO SEEK THEIR PUNISHMENT AND WE SEEK JUSTICE BUT WE DO SEEK A CRIMINALS FORGIVENESS.

Barton's bloated, beady-eyed face, mush-mouthed southern drawl, and knee-jerk corporate-friendly reaction are the epitome of the RepubliCAN’T Party. He’s the poster boy for their slobbering, red-necked, troglodyte crackers wing.

The Democrats now have the face (Barton's toad-like image) to put on the RepubliCAN’T Dr. No bobble head doll coming soon for this fall's election. This WILL be a collector's piece.

Joe Barton almost spoiled Obama's carefully crafted bi-partizen theater to protect BP from bankruptcy or paying more than pennies on the dollar. That's why the GOP was down on him. This whole scam was to shelter BP AND fool the public into forgetting that it was their own government that gave BP license to drill, spill and plunder.

I understand why the administration did it but I think you have just listed the reasons why we need to reform corporate liability laws AND our legal system in general. It shouldn’t require extortion schemes to get guilty parties to pay restitution right?

I don’t like to see the government exerting unconsitutional power – whether it’s bailing out a bank or imprisoning indefinitely an innocent man.

Sadly his district went 80-20 for Mccain-Palin, so the morons are probably the ones agreeing with him on the Faux noise web site. Perhaps a well placed ebola virus?

$20 Billion is getting off easy. The shakedown comment isn't wrong because it's politically incorrect, it's wrong because :

1. The Office of the President of the United States, or the President himself, has absolutely no legal authority to handle with any US or International Private Entity. That means ever. Regardless of circumstances.

2. The $20 Mil BP Escrow Acct is purely a tool of containment. They don't want it to spiral out of control so they agreed upon the sum of $20 Bil USD to be paid over a period of 5 yrs.

3. If BP should go into Chapter 11, which is being planned right now (Chapter 11 allows a company to re-organize debt) they don't have to make good on their promise, and most likely this will be the case. Chapter 11 protects thzem from any additional debt or lawsuit that are likely to be filed. They have already registered under a new company name and are transfering assets daily in order to protect themselves, exactly what GM did with MTLQQ.

4. They will be back on the market strong as ever latest Sep 2011.

“Anarchy works great when you allow individuals to be themselves. Things get screwed up when you allow groups to control individual humans.” – so how do we have someone to prevent groups controlling individual humans without government? Your statements are full of statements without support and allegations without evidence. Anarchy is nonsense – it has never been shown to be a productive system. What you’re describing in the quote I selected above is one of the principal goals (not saying it is attained) of the US system as it exists.

Whoever opposes Barton in the next election gets a bit of my money.

The 20 billion escrow account is designed to keep BP from going bankrupt by spreading the cost of the cleanup over several years. Since it will take years to clean the mess it really makes sense. Not everything is black helicopters and conspiracy, grow up.

In Bankruptcy Court, the government is expected to review assets and distribute them among the creditors. For that matter, the government is expected to provide the format for the solution in any case by maintaining a court system.
I just don’t see a problem if the government can figure out how to get involved earlier, get the company to admit to some level of liability, and get them to channel a reasonable amount of funds in a way that does not limit liability or responsibility, and in fact might reduce the overall expense to everyone, including the company.
I just don’t see it as strong arming. It sounds more like creative problem solving to me. You seem to be assuming BP did not want to take part in this. I disagree. This helps them and they know it.
I do agree with you about Corporate reform. I’m a big proponent of corporate charter rescission. If corporations were the way they were originally intended – a special entity granted by the people that can be taken away by the people when it’s deemed the company no longer serves the public’s interest – we might see companies in situations like BP considering their stockholders value more when they make risky decisions. I also agree about the government should act according to the constitution, and I think they have.

You just pointed out all of the laws they broke, and will be penalized for as is appropriate. I fully support that. I also think that the people that BP has wronged should have their day in court and be able to sue the hell out of BP for reasonable damages.

This $20 billion fund was probably extorted with threats and intimidation, and I find that abhorrent. We need to have equal protection under the laws – 14th Amendment, and the 5th Amendment guarantees due process.

“I just don’t see a problem if the government can figure out how to get involved earlier, get the company to admit to some level of liability, and get them to channel a reasonable amount of funds in a way that does not limit liability or responsibility, and in fact might reduce the overall expense to everyone, including the company.”

My problem with this is that the government is operating outside of the law and we need to demand that the government obey its own laws. In practical terms, I support the notion that BP would voluntarily create a fund of this type to help victims – but I just think that it should have come from public pressure from shareholders, customers, and the American people rather than from the government. I believe in a strict interpretation of the Constitution that protects our rights from being trampled on by the government, with explicit authorization for what the role of the executive is. I think if we want to change the way our government works, we need a broad consensus and go through the amendment process. Private property rights are as important to me as free speech, bearing arms, habeus corpus, etc.

“I just don’t see it as strong arming”. We can only speculate at this point what was said behind closed doors. The government strong-armed some banks into taking TARP supposedly, and screwed the bondholders out of their rightful property with GM and Chrysler. I’d be surprised if they didn’t put BP management under severe pressure.

Funny how that works isn’t it? You give the govt. an inch, and they take a mile.

You don't know what you are talking about.

Barton perfectly clarifies how many Republicans feel about corporate power's relationship to the US government and the American People in general. If there is no law against a given action by a corporation or if the laws are inadequate at the time of the action, no matter how egregious the action (hard to get much worse than destroying the Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem and nearly everything dependent on it), the US government and by extention the American People should be impotent to do anything to extract compensation or impose punishement on a corporation. He cannot stand the idea of our Commander in Chief directly imposing something on a corporation. Aside from that, Barton also fails to realize that BP never would have created this fund if it were not in its own interest at some level.

If we're big enough to let our children go “dumpster diving,” we should be big enough to apologize to BP.

RIIIiiiiiiiIIIIGHT!!!!!

Send it now, get on the band wagon.

Why is anyone surprised? This is how they really feel, and if you watch FOXNEWS or read Drudge or listen to the drug addict, you'll hear it over and over again. They hate this Presdent and elected government structure MORE than they resent BP's corporate arrogance and negligent homicide(s).

They have given him over $100,000 since 2009 alone, and a total of ca. $1,500,000 over his career. You always hear that everyone has a price, well we know exactly what Barton’s price was.

They have given him over $100,000 since 2009 alone, and a total of ca. $1,500,000 over his career. You always hear that everyone has a price, well we know exactly what Barton’s price was.

They have given him over $100,000 since 2009 alone, and a total of ca. $1,500,000 over his career. You always hear that everyone has a price, well we know exactly what Barton’s price was.

Rep. Joe Barton is another prostitute for corporations that spreads his legs anytime an oil company sneezes. He is one of the real problems with DC and he is anything but a patriot. This kind of scum is what our forefathers fought against when they started this country and they would be calling for his capture, conviction and imprisonment for his crimes against his countrymen. Let's hope that he can be kicked out of office and removed from the Energy and Commerce Committee immediately.

You are obviously an idiot. There were no laws broken you moron, as several legal analysts have already spoken about on TV and in the papers.

Do you think for yourself or just parrot the lynch mob mentality?

I'm not saying that the administration broke any laws by pressuring BP. I'm suggesting that it's unethical and immoral because it's outside our established process for dealing with criminal matters. We need to hold BP account under the rule of law, not under mob justice. If the rule of law is not adequate, we need to focus on fixing the laws. Ex post facto is another scary principle.

Yeah you're right – the rule of law totally sucks! Let's just steal all of BP's assets and hang Tony Hayward! HOORAY!!!

/sarcasm

Placing funds in escrow is UN-ETHICAL?

The President interceding to ensure that the US is not left holding the bag is bad how?

WHAT ABOUT THIS IS OUTSIDE OUR ESTABLISHED PROCESS FOR DEALING WITH CRIMINAL MATTERS? Just how is this situation ESTABLISHED? What constitutional violation has occurred besides the fact that by and under any definition BP is an enemy of the US just like any violator of the rule of law so what BARTON, BACHMANN, PRICE, KYL, Cornyn, BOEHNERR, etc.etc.etc. have done is in a real sense is give aid and comfort to the enemy.

Barton you stupid corporate motherfucking nazi, you are a traitor to the American people down South and should be fired from every position you hold. WTG ignoranus

Apologize to President Obama, you disrespectful IDIOT!!!

i really am guilty of misconstruing the misconcstruction of the misguided misconstruction previously mis construed

Dumbya lifted the ban in '08 on off shore drilling—-that his old man put in place after the exxon disaster.

Barton, hahaha, you stupid asshole.

Barton is so blatantly pro corporations that I can almost believe he thinks they are his constituency

Dont kid yourself, a lot of republicans have already spoken out against the 20 million and supported BP over this disaster. Barton just said what a lot of them feel. He just made the mistake of saying it at the wrong time.

What a Dick!

Barton is obviously more comfortable with the Exxon model of corporate “responsibility” used in the Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska; run out the clock with decades of appeals while those who lost their livelihoods die off.

He MUST STEP DOWN… or he'll be run out that's for sure.

Mouthpiece for entire GOBP speaks from the heart.

Oh, that's just good ole boy Joe Barton doing a little pre-emptive ass-kissing.

This guy is toast. And needs to be fired and exiled from this country. TREASON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is so obvious this guy is a treasonous fuck of the lowest order. How is it we keep electing spineless treasonous bastards to office. When I listen to his pitifully weak voice and look at his pitifully weak face I want to bash it in. I want to teach him how to fight for our country by bashing his face in.

And don't forget misanthropy… that too!

“I think it's a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown.”

All due respect, last I heard, BP is a publicly traded company. A public company subject to the laws of any sovereign nation in whose borders it operates. I'm pretty sure it's illegal to deface an entire coast.

There's no real way to put this kind of disaster into perspective. Consider that if you were to ask the people down in the gulf “So, you've got a choice – would you rather have your beaches covered in oil, or 50 times the amount of human fecal matter?” they would most definitely choose the crap.

Try getting -refined- motor oil off your hands – it's difficult. Think about that. You know there's something wrong when people would prefer their land to be ridden with human feces than this oil spill.

And this is a guy that we're allowing to draft the laws of this country.

Misconstrude, BULLS@#%!!!!! I nearly chocked on my coffee watching the hearings……….He said what he meant and meant what he said …..America did not misunderstand what the GREEDY MORON said CLEALY MR BARTON IS IN THE POCKETS OF B.P. SHAMEFUL

The president is stepping outside of the law and putting pressure on BP – no doubt with threats and intimidation. It was bad when Bush expanded unconstitutional executive power and it's bad when Obama does it. The Constitution clearly defines the role of the president, and it's a shame that we've allowed presidents to become de facto dictators in recent years.

Do terrorists have the right to a trial or should they just be summarily executed?

Would you have wanted the man that murdered your sister to be lynched by a mob or have a trial by jury and then punished according to the law?

What precedent is he afraid of creating? That corporations that suffer huge ecological disasters through their own negligence have to pay dearly for their mistakes? You wouldn't want that!!

All of the Banana Republicans wanted to share in his “misconstruction” only they feared the wrath of “We the People” for a change. Obama made those petrocriminaqls put the money in escrow so it couldn't dissappear, or the company file bankruptsy, or simply change it's name, to weasle out of what they owe us “little people”. The Corporate Christers were flabberghasted at this move that made their client obey the law. Obama is finally growing some balls. 'bout time!

Texas and all of it's Christer politicians are in the pockets of the petrocriminals, period. I'm all for taking up a collection to start a lobby to allow, in fact force them, to seceede. “If I owned Texas and Hell, I'd live in Hell and rent out Texas”. Gen. George, Tecumseth Sherman

People should start camping out on his front lawn, helping to educate this dumb son of a b*tch.

Hell, it's worse than that. If the Banana Republicans do manage to take the Senate over, this fall, that nutball Christer, Barton, will become the head of the Senate Energy Committee. Consider that!

Treason, in christian and Teabagger circles is more common than jaywalking, and given about as much thought.

Not in Texas, mark my words. Barton is so high up in the Jesus Coup that he is not even known by most people, even Xians. Sharlett was even afraid to give Barton much more than a passing mention in his book. All of these misquotes of the founding fathers, you have been seeing for the last ten years, were written and published by his son David Barton in the '70s and are now comming out as fact. These are the criminals behind substituting Calvin for Jefferson in the elementary school history books. Traitors! One and all.

Obama thwarted that by putting the money in escrow. Now, the petro criminals will have to go to court to get their money back instead of the other way around.

We have a Corporate Christer Coup on our hands, a national emergency. Do you believe that the finest Congress money can buy would have ever agreed to putting the money in escrow? No they would have handled it like the Exxon Valdese and BP would have stalled in court untill all of the plaintiffs died of old age.

Lynch mobs and tar and feathers are an old and honored American tradition. They keep the Corporate criminals and their crooked politicians in line. We can't get justice in the courts, they own the courts. We can't take their money away, they are expert a hiding money all over th world. If we send them to prison, they go to a facility that is more enjoyable than any vacation we are likely to ever have. BUT a corporate criminal after the lynch mob is just as dead as a homeless bum in an alley on a 10 below morning. The only equality we have is in death.

In spite of what the Popes Supreme Court has said, Corporations are not people, and therefore do not enjoy the rights of people.

Rep Joe Barton (R-TX) has the moral sensibility of a $3.00 meth whore.
SHAME on the voters of his District for putting this politislut into office!!!

Misconstrued…? It was blatantly obvious what his original statement was….there was NO misconstruing…Barton's from Texas and to dumb to not to show his love of the oil companies (money) and utter disdain for the American “peasants” (the little people)…..although there are plenty more of his kind in Congress…both parties…for the most part the others manage to cover-up their love of money, (in closed door meetings..no peasants allowed) always saying they are working for the American people…yeah…the richer American (Corporate) people, not the peasants, (you betch'a) …makes it harder to spot them, unless you do your homework, which at least half the American people have NEVER done in their entire lives…………..

Would be nice to know how much stock or options Barton holds in BP.

Guess he has none, but other congressman do:

http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/search_results_…

I don't know what a Christer Coup is. You're right in that we need to reform the court system.

Hey, I like tar and feathers and a mob as much as the next guy, but it's supposed to be conducted by the people – NOT the government. We must try to force the government to operate lawfully and ethically because we entrust them with so much power.

This has nothing to do with a corporation's rights. It's our rights as free people NOT to be oppressed by a government, whose duties are clearly laid out in the Constitution. Bullying corporations is not an enumerated power.

Thrashertm: You are soooo blindly republican/conservative, that you fail to see your own ignorance. BP's $20 billion escrow fund guarantees that all of the people who have been devastated by this disaster are compensated on some level. The govt is not oppressing anyone. The govt is ensuring that…YOU…if you were a fisherman devastated by this BP screw up, are eventually compensated for the financial losses you experience. It's clear that if you leave the decision to the conservatives, YOU won't get paid for your losses. You conservatives would tie it up in beurocracy for years, with the outcome eventually benefiting BP. You conservatives need to really wake up. You can't stand the Obama administration soooooooooooooooooooo much, that you choose to neglect common sense.

If this were a situation where a conservative president was in office, making these same decisions, you would be all for it.

Get over your hate for the Obama administration. Big corporations have gotten so huge, their influence on politics is much too large, and you conservatives seem to be ok with it.

He was just expressing what the majority of Republicans feel. He's not sorry he said it. He's sorry that the public isn't getting behind it. He's sorry that it may hurt the cause of the Republicans.
He only echoed what was said on the website of the Republican Study Committee.
http://rsc.tomprice.house.gov/News/DocumentSing…

Your partisanship and lack of respect for the rule of law is really disappointing. Just because BP is handing $20 billion over to the government doesn't ensure that it will end up in the hands of the people affected by this spill. Just recently we saw the governemnt steal Chrysler from its owners and give a big chunk to the union.

I oppose Obama because he's Bush 2.0 on most issues, although Obama has generally better PR. I voted Democrat until 2006 when the Congress wouldn't impeach Bush for the Iraq travesty. I loathe Bush and other corporatists (Obama being one).

He's got the Republicans in hot water. I hope his apology and retraction are played and replayed until every American hears it.

To be honest, his apology seemed pretty insincere, if not outright sarcastic.

READ HIS STATEMENT MORE CAREFULLY!!

Rep. Barton apologized for the Presidential $20B shakedown, which is shameful and unheard of. He states in no way that BP is not responsible nor that they should not pay for damages.

What's shameful and unheard of, Mildred dear, is the unbelievable level of violations – some criminal- of all kinds of laws by BP resulting in damage to human life and the environment over the last few years. They have HUNDREDS of times the number of violations as any other oil company. No other oil company comes close. Cutting those corners, however, has added immensely to their profits. But, you're OK with that, right?

The $20 billion put in escrow is there to assure the victims will be compensated without decades of legal battles. Only a slobbering, knee-jerk troglodyte would have a problem with that. Yes, it's an unprecedented amount of money but it's also a disaster of unprecedented scale. The $20 billion is just a down payment.

What we SHOULD be looking at as well as this financial set aside are criminal charges against those at BP and their partners on that rig that knowingly violated their own safety procedures or lied to federal regulators or Congress to cover up for those shortcuts.

Isn't accountability for criminals the cornerstone of conservative philosophy???

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Wow! I guess there will be a showdown when the world is confronted with the choice of truth or denial. In this case Mildred I hope you choose the former. I have a feeling the people choosing denial are going to be violent and hateful to their fellow human beings who choose truth whereas the people who choose truth will be forgiving.

Are you hateful and violent. Because this man who has a problem with a large corporation who serves the public trust putting money in escrow to serve the very people and environment they draw their livelihood from should not be in the position he is in, and further, he should be educated as to how it might feel to someone in the immediate aftermath of this Armageddon type scenario. In my mind it doesn't bother me that the latter is not going to happen to him because he will be effected as will all of us… effected beyond what his tiny mind and heart can imagine.

When I think of what you must look like (on the inside), I see someone who is mean and understands only the letter of the law and not the spirit of the law… to keep predators like bp from screwing over the planet and all the people on it for their own profit.

When I look at this man and many, many other politicians I am flabbergasted at how people can elect someone who looks the way these people look and sound. A weak, timid, and cowardly look that pervades the political spectrum. Just look at some of the people elected besides this colossal wimp of a man in the article, and I admit, some of these people are not exactly politicians but they are political in nature which means people who are not clear on the spirit of the law and look to manipulate the letter of the law for their and their cohorts own ends… lieberman (epitome of weakness, what happened to that man's chin?!!!), gore (lisping wimp), bush (spineless puppet), cheney (the swollen puppet), reid (the pussy), kerry (frightened), wolfowitz (ugly, weak, pathetic man), perle (fearful nazi), kristol (the guy who could only get along with girls in grade school… nothing against girls), rove (compulsive liar because the truth always frightened him), pelosi (the kind of woman who'd jump if you came up behind her and touched her on the shoulder), palin (dum ass bimbo, sorry for being redundant), barton (no strength and it shows in his treasonous and wimpy face), etc., etc., etc..

You get the idea. And I could go on and on and on and on. It simply boggles the mind that people cannot see, in these people they elect, the weakness and lack of resolve to the way of truth and justice for all. People who serve the public trust should be tireless and stronger than people who simply want to get along with their lives. Because there are always the ones who want to pilfer the coffers and they don't sleep much.

[...] GOP congressman apologizes to BP for '$20 billion shakedown' [...]

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