Gulf coast oil spill

[classicman]

For those that don't click on the links - this is from the article referenced by Wiki.

In applying for the lease, BP wrote in its "Exploration Plan" that it had "blowout prevention equipment" and that the "likelihood of a blowout was so remote that this possibility could be discounted entirely," the complaint states.
BP added that "in the event of an accidental release, the water quality would be temporarily affected by the dissolved components and small droplets" but that "(c)urrents and microbial degradation would remove the oil from the water column or dilute the constituents to background levels." BP anticipated "no adverse impact" to marine life, birds or beaches.
Defenders says that MMS granted "categorical exclusion" to BP, which meant it did not have to file an environmental impact statement. The MMS simply told BP to "(e)xercise caution when drilling." It did not explain why BP was given the exclusion, according to the complaint.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Not everyone agrees...

[SamIam]

Who needs a fishing industry, anyway? Let them eat oil!

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Not everyone agrees...

There are people who pimp their daughters, too. Sometimes you just don't need to make money that badly or that way.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

Washington Post, June 17 2010

[SamIam]

As always, Urbane, let me thank you for your thoughtful and informative link. We now return you to regular discussion.

[Urbane Guerrilla]

Krauthammer is nothing if not thoughtful. I pay attention to the man. The unintelligent avoid doing that. Spares them the trouble of losing a syllable.

[classicman]

After only 70 days and letting the oil hit land ... FINALLY

The United States is accepting help from 12 countries and international organizations in dealing with the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The State Department said in a statement Tuesday that the U.S. is working out the particulars of the help that's been accepted.

The identities of all 12 countries and international organizations were not immediately announced. One country was cited in the State Department statement -- Japan, which is providing two high-speed skimmers and fire containment boom.

More than 30 countries and international organizations have offered to help with the spill. The State Department hasn't indicated why some offers have been accepted and others have not.

Link
<Rant on>This was handled so poorly, that I'm amazed. What the hell took so long to accept help. Why did this administration wait until so much damage was done. Why are they seemingly hampering every single thing that the local people are trying to do - berms, booms, vacuums, people.... This is unbelievable. Why weren't experts from EVERY industry, nation, business, everything called in the first week. WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF <Rant off>

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by classicman

After only 70 days and letting the oil hit land ... FINALLY


Link
<Rant on>This was handled so poorly, that I'm amazed. What the hell took so long to accept help. Why did this administration wait until so much damage was done. Why are they seemingly hampering every single thing that the local people are trying to do - berms, booms, vacuums, people.... This is unbelievable. Why weren't experts from EVERY industry, nation, business, everything called in the first week. WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF <Rant off>

You're a guy who espouses less government, yet here you are complaining about less government.

As for your facts, Well
from here

"To be clear, the acceptance of international assistance we announced today did not mean to imply that international help was arriving only now," said State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley. "In fact, before today, there were 24 foreign vessels operating in the region and nine countries had provided boom, skimmers and other assistance."

He said as early as May 11, boom arrived from Mexico, Norway and Brazil.

From here

Fox's tired falsehood: Obama administration turned down foreign assistance in dealing with oil cleanup
Big Government's Flynn: "The federal government has not accepted" international assistance. While discussing the BP oil leak on Glenn Beck, Flynn said: "The Dutch have offered assistance, the British have offered assistance. There's been a lot of international assistance offered. The federal government has not accepted that assistance because of some antiquated law passed in the '20s and '30s from labor unions, the Jones Act. We have denied the use of international ships."

O'Reilly and Morris both say Obama administration turned down foreign help. On The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News contributor Dick Morris said, "We didn't get foreign ships in, because he still hasn't waived the stupid Jones Act." O'Reilly subsequently asked, "Why is the president rejecting Holland? Why doesn't he rescind the Jones Act? Why?" Morris responded, "Because he never asked the questions to understand how important it was."

North suggests Jones Act is preventing foreign assistance in the Gulf. On Hannity, Fox News' Oliver North said, "The way this administration has mishandled it, and the way that president has gone on television and lied repeatedly about what he is doing and what he's not doing -- I'll give you a perfect example." North went on to discuss the Jones Act and said, "This administration has yet to waive the Jones Act, because you've got hundreds of hundreds of skimmer ships all over the world that aren't working on solving our problem."

FACT: International assistance is part of Gulf spill response
Deepwater Horizon Joint Information Center: "15 foreign-flagged vessels are involved" in response to spill. In an interview on the June 15 edition of Fox & Friends, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs stated that "foreign entities are operating within the Gulf that help us respond" to the oil spill. Further, in a June 15 press release, the Deepwater Horizon Incident Joint Information Center stated, "Currently, 15 foreign-flagged vessels are involved in the largest response to an oil spill in U.S. history." The center further explained, "No Jones Act waivers have been granted because none of these vessels have required such a waiver to conduct their operations in the Gulf of Mexico."

[Shawnee123]

My favorite sig line is morethanpretty's:

Republicans: working for government small enough to fit inside your bedroom.

(I would add...except in cases where "bigger" government serves their purpose. Who came up with the whole "oooh, big government" crap anyway? Another tagline that people lap up like sheep at the trough.

[Cicero]

My mom is on the coast with a shovel as this is posted. Though I appreciate her efforts and hope she doesn't get hurt; wtf?
BP and the administration are on my list of "baddies".

[classicman]

Good for her Cic!

[HungLikeJesus]

Do you consider users of illegal drugs that are coming from or through Mexico to be partially responsible for the current troubles in that country?

[classicman]

For those who are interested ...

The Facts about the Jones Act and the Gulf Oil Spill
Good FAQ's in that one

Did the U.S. reject the offers?

On May 5, the State Department issued a statement acknowledging that it had received several offers from countries. "While there is no need right now that the U.S. cannot meet, the U.S. Coast Guard is assessing these offers of assistance to see if there will be something which we will need in the near future," the statement said.

The offer of skimmers was accepted on May 23, when BP purchased three Koseq sweeping arms.

As of June 21, the other Dutch offers were considered "under consideration," and the response team had also accepted aid from Mexico, Canada and Norway.

Link

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by classicman

After only 70 days and letting the oil hit land ... FINALLY

Originally Posted by classicman

For those who are interested ...

My math may be off, but April 20th to May 23 is more like 53 days, not 70.

BP should have and should be doing more, and more quickly.

Just saying.