Posted on 06/17/2010 3:22:49 PM PDT by BuckeyeTexan
Barton should have been apologizing to the American people, not BP, but other than that he is 100% correct. What happened in the White House yesterday was a “shakedown” of Godfather-like proportions. Lets review:
1) BP agreed to pay $20 billion over four years to an “independent” party;
2) BP immediately identified $20 billion in U.S. assets that could be liquidated should BP not be able to pay on time;
3) BP received no assurances that the ultimate economic damages would not be higher;
4) BP is still liable for all individual and state claims in court;
5) The fund is completely separate from any environmental damages, which the Obama administration says could top $30 billion;
6) BP paid another $100 million for workers made unemployed by President Obama’s indefinite ban on offshore oil drilling;
7) BP received no assurance that the White House would not ask for more money if the ban becomes permanent.
All of this was “negotiated” while Attorney General Eric Holder, who has already threatened BP with criminal prosecution, stood in the corner. And what did BP get in return? A single statement from the President saying he did not want to drive BP into bankruptcy. Of course he doesn’t. The mob can’t collect from a bankrupt business. Clinton administration Deputy Attorney General turned BP lawyer Jamie Gorelick let slip what the game is really all about: “We know what it looks like when a company is driven into bankruptcy. The claims that come first are the creditors, then the employees, then the environmental claims, and then the likes of shrimpers. This would not be a good result for anyone.” Well, not anyone who expects the law to be followed.
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.heritage.org ...
“All of this was “negotiated” while Attorney General Eric Holder, who has already threatened BP with criminal prosecution, stood in the corner.”
Shakedown is the correct term..
Extortion is also appropriate.
The 20 billion was clearly agreed to before they met. It was probably agreed to days before. That’s why zero said he would get money from them in his speech the prior evening.
(It is the Republican leadership who should be apologizing for threatening a Congressmen for his seat on a committee...for telling the truth, and RIGHTFULLY apologizing for an American President’s 3rd world behavior)
****
[Barton] complained that “the attorney general of the United States, who is legitimately conducting a criminal investigation and has every right to do so to protect the interests of the American people, [is] participating in what amounts to a $20 billion slush fund that’s unprecedented in our nation’s history, that’s got no legal standing, and which sets, I think, a terrible precedent for the future.”
“I apologize,” Barton added. “I do not want to live in a country where any time a citizen or a corporation does something that is legitimately wrong is subject to some sort of political pressure that is — again, in my words, amounts to a shakedown. So I apologize.”
“I’m speaking now totally for myself,” he noted. “I’m not speaking for the Republican Party.”
Sometimes there are coincedences.
Sometimes, things are as odd as they seem.
When I heard Jamie Gorelick was sitting on BP’s side of the table, I knew IMMEDIATELY that something odd was up.
Gorelick is a fixer of the first order.
With Holder in the room and Gorelick on BP’s sid eof the table, I have NO DOUBT that a bunch of strongarming and backroom dealing was done.
What is the link between BP and Goldman Sachs (the democratic money-suppliers)?
I am so disappointed with Rep. Barton. I stood up and cheered when I heard him speak the truth. Now I find out he cannot be a man.
No. It wasn’t a bribe. It was extortion.
That’s a mighty fine list. The only thing I would add would be that our Congresscritters insist on prematurely “investigating” BP’s actions rather than allowing them to focus on killing the well and cleaning up the mess.
It will be used to buy votes in the november election
The Acorn army has to put mickey D’s on the kitchen table
Don't forget, obama received more BP contributions than any other politician. Who knows what kind of dealings brought this about.
When the hell is this Obama gangster going to be halted by the courts of this land?
Very good point.
That's standard procedure in any claims process.
When you accept payment on an insurance claim, you sign a document waiving your rights to file suit.
You can bet those fisherman whom BP has already paid off had to sign waivers.
C’mon... It was like Joe Wilson yelling “liar” during the State of the Union. It was true, but was politically idiotic. If it was only about what was right as opposed to politically astute, McCain would be President.
This is not a traffic accident. Try again. I'll bet they didn't but they will now, that is for sure. After 9/11 Congress stepped and setup a process by law. The administration doesn't have the power to do what they are doing and the only people being screwed in the end will be the tax payers and probably the victims.
right.
Barton should have stuck by what he said.
He would not have had to beg for money as long as he wanted to be re elected.
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