Rand Paul: White House criticism of BP is "un-American"

[JRserver]

How anyone can listen to this clown speak and still want to vote for him is beyond me.

[hodoprime]

What a moron. In the real 'psycho' world, accidents happen, people die. No matter how many OSHA, EPA, TSA, SEC agents we have, the government cannot make us completely safe. They only make our lives less productive and keep us from what we want to do.

[AfriSynergy]

Rand Paul can't have it both ways. He attacks the administration for showing the courage to mitigate the situation which is regulations and investigation of possible violations. He then says he loves the white sand beaches and don't want to see oil washing up on those beaches. It is clear that an investigation had to take place and BP needed to financially commit to fixing the situation. Rand is now going to learn not to run his mouth so quickly.

[mizzoulibertarian]

BARRY IS DROPPING IN THE POLLS BY THE SECOND!!!!

[Tailypoe777]

ExcUSE me ? ? ?? ??

dude, bp & obama obviously colluded to make th' spill happen,

and they are now DE-FINITELY making the crisis ABAP. ( As bad as possible. ).

They need it for the carbon tax.

If a real conservative like paul was in charge of the country, big corporations like bp would be smaller, more accountable, and less able to control government and do things like install dictators in Iran

or use corexit.

fake liberal knee-jerkooffs gotta learn they're serving a bunch of

ex-nazi bankers.

[finallykickinback]

He's just talking the party line to get in on the action.

[MoJoSB]

@AugustusOctavianus No my friend, what is idiotic is partisanship when you are talking about the health of our country. Rand cares about the health of HIS PARTY, nothing else.

Boot heal and un-American? Really, I know the Republicans want to win some seats in 2010 but give me a fucking break. Everyone sees right through this, except for those that HATE Obama.

If Bush had said this instead of Obama, I wouldn't have had a damn thing to say about it and I HATED BUSH! Still do.

[jackolini]

How is Rand defending BP if he is saying they are willing to pay whatever is necessary to clean up the spill? I mean if he really wanted to defend them, he would be saying there should be a government cap on liability for the spill.

Accidents do happen, who the fuck here thinks that BP wanted this to happen? I'm sure they wanted to create an environmental disaster that is going to cost them billions of dollars not to mention tarnishing their reputation forever.

[u2bzane]

Un American? As opposed to thanking a foriegn corporation for fucking up our coasts? Rand Paul, go to britain and lick the queen's toes something, i don't give a shit, just get the hell out!!!

[nickcarter1987]

@u2bzane what kind of intelligent comment is this? please dont speak if you're going to be so stupid.

[Wintermute01001]

We all know that all Republicans are tools of the wealthiest businesses but Rand is the first one that outright WORSHIPS them. He's as bad as his namesake, Ayn.

[MoJoSB]

"Boot heel on the throat of BP?" BOOT HEEL ON BP???????

What in Gods Name is he talking about. We are pretty close to having this be the biggest oil disaster up in history of the oil industry and he takes THIS time to get on his knees in front of BP to service them? He is a coward, traitor and is so filled with hatred for this administration that he has lost ALL common sense.

[sundimented]

How many lives have Amercians destroyed? how much pollution does America produce? The workers at the time were American! fuckin yank twats!

BP is 40% owned by America

[MusesMetaphorium]

@sundimented It's 100% owned by wealthy people from all over the world who don't give a flying flip about NATURE and the rest of the human population -- which side are you on, again?? The 1% that owns BP???

[sundimented]

@MusesMetaphorium I dislike pollution like most people, but the way the Yanks went about this situation is laughable, the yanks are the worst Polluters in the world, pot calling kettle black, springs to mind.

[anth1945]

YOU PEOPLE THINK CONGRESS IS BAD NOW. GOD HELP US PEOPLE. TALK TO THE PEOPLE ON THE GULF COAST ASSHOLE.

[816cameron]

Exibit A: This is why Sarah Fail'n stays away from the truth.

[livadi23]

Obama is a joke. Rand Paul is right on.

[hitmanhart670]

How any politician can fix their face to support BP at a time like this is amazing to me. Yet he somehow has support...

[bobodd5]

yankee traitor how dare you

[goldenrule22]

seems to me there were regulations in place but the explosion still occurred....hmmm makes you wonder....why didn't those regulators stop this tragic event!

[Aspetta17]

Exactly lol

The idea that businesses are just naturally responsible, naturally run smart & safe operations, and that "market accountability" keeps them in check so gov't doesn't have to - ALL of this logic should be called into question in light of the events unfolding in the Gulf

Last week, on my local news channel, there was a segment explaining why it's virtually IMPOSSIBLE to boycott BP. This event effectively REFUTES the entire "free markets are the best way to hold accountable" argument.

[YaoiHuntressEarth]

@Aspetta17 It's a naive belief and if anyone had seen the actions of businesses in the early 1900's shows they didn't act responsible, regulate themselves or take responsiblity. Example: They'd rather sell tainted meat than chip in the money to keep their factories clean and provide protective measures to make sure human fingers didn't get mixed in.

[ayersj14]

@YaoiHuntressEarth I agree that businesses should be regulated (to a degree). Totally agree. I think what Rand Paul was saying was that the EPA shouldn't be able to say to legislature and the President, "well if you're not going to pass this we will." I think what he wants is for the department to have to clear it with Congress before it goes out and does something that may not be what the American people want. If they want to pass something, the citizens have to okay it (through Congress).

[AngelofAntistupidity]

Why are we asking BP to pay the money for the spill? I think it'd be much more fun if the government withdrew their protection under the law, and we could go open season on their BRITISH asses...

[dohboy200]

I think the next step for Rand Paul is to physically paste special interest bumper stickers on his forehead...lol at the tea party - your hipocrosy is paramount

[feelytouchy67]

Problem: while I think he has a good legal (and Constitutional) point about Congress being the ultimate "rule-maker" (rather than the EPA), he does NOT bring up the long-standing favoritism that the oil industry has always had in regard to tax rules written by Congress. The "Oil Depletion Allowance" has been around since at least the early sixties -- and it grants oil companies the biggest tax deductions of all. This is "discriminatory taxation" -- everyone else has to pay more.

[sming01]

Rand Paul is the man and I agree with him. The left wing media is hyping all of his comments but I think he will still win

[Michaelprotectsme]

alex jones supports this guy what the fuck this guy is a bp cronie fuck him

[asperin]

He never protected BP as people are saying.

People, stop watching MSM and stop getting emotional.

[ThePoliticalMoose]

WAKE THE FUCK UP RAND!

[ThePoliticalMoose]

What is so 'crazy' about this comment?

There hasn't been a major oil spill for almost 20 years, accidents do 'sometimes happen.' The mainstream media is out of control.

[tubeinaredcircle]

@ThePoliticalMoose

So it's Oky-Doky with you to have a major oil catastrophe every 20 years? When is it unacceptable to you, every 10, 5, or 2 years?

At what point do you say our coastlines aren't worth the risk?

Or do you simply say, "Drill Baby Drill", and screw the consequences?

[ThePoliticalMoose]

@tubeinaredcircle

You're right. I completely agree. We should continue to fund foreign dictators who hate us with oil money. Energy independence? screw that! An oil spill happens every 20 years, that's way too high of a price to pay.

[tubeinaredcircle]

@ThePoliticalMoose If energy independence is your main concern AND you are so willing to randomly sacrifice our land to achieve it, why not CONTROL what land gets sacraficed.

You do realize that if a mere 100 square miles of say, Arizona desert were utilized for efficient solar energy production it would produce enough energy to power the ENTIRE COUNTRY.

What's your problem with that, gets rid of the oil man?

[ThePoliticalMoose]

@tubeinaredcircle

wow! really?! Do you want to start a business? Obviously you know how to capture that energy from Arizona cheap and efficiently, so we shouldn't have any problem becoming millionaires by selling energy! OMG!?! How did no one think of that before?

[tubeinaredcircle]

@ThePoliticalMoose

People are thinking about it.

[tubeinaredcircle]

@ThePoliticalMoose Here's what's going to happen.

1) Countries will transition to solar energy, why? Because it's the largest source of energy in our entire SOLAR SYSTEM, that's why.

2) The countries that have the forsight to begin the transition sooner will be rewarded with a shitload of patenets and the wealth that brings.

3) All else will be stuck forever scraping whatever oil is left off of their shorelines, paying 70$ per gal for whatever drops they can suck out of the ground.

[ThePoliticalMoose]

@tubeinaredcircle You're retarded

[tubeinaredcircle]

@ThePoliticalMoose

LMAO, You can't debate a retard.

[ThePoliticalMoose]

@tubeinaredcircle

Agreed. Goodbye

[tubeinaredcircle]

@ThePoliticalMoose Well.. at least we agree on something.

We can't agree that solar or wind is the way to go?

We can't agree that solar or wind is far safer (can't recall the last solar or wind related disaster, can you) than fossil fuel?

We can't agree that given a teaspoon of targeted research we can make solar and wind extremely effecient?

We can't agree that the US should be the leader and inovator in this endeavor?

[ThePoliticalMoose]

@tubeinaredcircle

Hey Retard, if 'a teaspoon of research' could create efficient wind energy than a private company would do that & patent it. The US has the largest venture capital force on the planet. If there is going to be a breakthrough, it will be from venture capital NOT some bureaucrat from Washington who got a C+ in high school physics.

Every penny you take out of the capital markets and give to Washington is a wasted penny. Let American innovation work, it will solve the problem

[tubeinaredcircle]

@ThePoliticalMoose Bad model. Private energy control leads to situations like Enron, price gouging and the very topic of this video (BP putting profits over safety.)

it's much better that energy research/ production be a division of the DOE and DOT. The new energy model will be integrally tied into the road and highway system, to provide power as you drive. Government is the only entity to handle the retrofit. Private firms utilized for reaserch not distribution. Profit would offset taxes.

[ThePoliticalMoose]

@tubeinaredcircle

It's scary to me that someone as disconnected from reality as you are is able to vote.

[tubeinaredcircle]

@ThePoliticalMoose What's really scary is the depth at which we have allowed ourselves to sink into the tar pit of oil dependancy. Lucky for you though a growing number of people are willing to disconnect from that reality and redefine our energy situation. I think this gulf spill will tip the scales, enough of big oil already. Time to toss out the oil rigs and renovate our energy situation from top to bottom. Agree?

[raybanfandom]

@ThePoliticalMoose

Why are you such a name calling troll? Tubeinaredcircle is speaking about the future of the planet. A little info: Reagan smashed every effort Carter fought for. As soon as Reagan became president, he pulled the plug on alternative energy. The US government employed highly competent scientist for the task, of which two went on to win Nobel Prizes. Not C+ Physics students. More like genius level. If Reagan had vision, we would be #1 in pollution free energy, thus #1 today.

[MrYoubrian]

@raybanfandom FINALLY!!!! Someone stands up for a great American and human being, President Carter. We never got to see the potential of this man when he was president. He warned us about becoming dependent on foreign oil, said we need to house the homeless,and that green energy was the wave of the future.

The Republicans crucified him for that......

[raybanfandom]

@MrYoubrian

Thank you. I agree. Carter was way ahead of his time and we can see it now.

[SlightyDisturbedNBK]

@TheConstitutionLives Yea sure....

[leeroynaggins]

Rand...

You better get your Top-hat on before your Fountainhead explodes...

[fabregatoribio]

Funny thing is that is the democrat the one actually revieving money from BP, jus check out opensecrets . org it show the contributors to each campaign

[MrROLLO70]

At this point...the only way Rand Paul can win, is if his opponent is caught with a dead hooker.

[TheConstitutionLives]

@MrROLLO70 May 20, 2010: "A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in Kentucky, taken Wednesday night, shows Paul earning 59% of the vote, while Conway picks up 34% support. Four percent (4%) percent prefer some other candidate, and three percent (3%) are undecided" ;)

[MrROLLO70]

@TheConstitutionLives I bet you $100.00 Rand Paul does not win.

[guyjohn59]

@MrROLLO70 ...and the media covers it. You have to add "and the media covers it" because they probably wouldn't; or they would spin it and say that it's Rand Paul's fault because he is for prostitution.

[guyjohn59]

@MrROLLO70 @MrROLLO70 ...and the media covers it. You have to add "and the media covers it" because they probably wouldn't; or they would spin it and say that it's Rand Paul's fault because he is for prostitution. Either way he would still win.

[MrROLLO70]

@guyjohn59 I will bet you $100.00 Rand Paul does not win.

[simply2ghetto]

Watching Rand Paul is like watching a car crash in slow mo.

[guyjohn59]

@simply2ghetto ...towards you? Because he isn't going to end up with a scratch. Obviously he will win the Kentucky seat, he's up 20 points and the media coverage only helps.

[bobby200606]

Good Job Rachel Maddow.....expose all these racist for who they are!!!!

Tea Bagging Rednecks!!!!

[12dogpal]

Not only does he appear to be argumentive, totally wrong about government regulations -but he doesn't even know that BP is drilling in US waters? And this guy wants to be another US senator that protects the rights of corporations? No Thanks Pal...we;ve had enough of your kind. Get rid of this clown.

[RebelThoughts]

Rand Paul is a corporatist clown. Who the fuck defends BP?

[m530bc]

Clearly this silverspooner is uninformed & trying to get money from the oil lobby

[robertinrinrin]

This guy is a fucking clown. One of those dangerous clowns.

[Opiman000]

I just ran over Rand Paul with my truck.

Oops. I'm sorry. Accidents happen.

[MrTouchShriek]

@Opiman000 Your running over RP was obviously the government's fault!

[2bRealist]

@Opiman000

lol... don't worry i'm sure his family won't "blame" you

[bobd0]

Imbecile.

[junkforkaryn]

this arrogant prick is nothing more than a flamer--who in the world uses "un-american" as a concept these days without fully knowing it's incendiary meaning?--nobody would even know his name if he didn't try to cause such controversy and then blame the media for reporting on it. libertarians have always been the reality show candidates and he's no different.

[MrTouchShriek]

"Accidents happen" Paul really needs to visit the Louisiana coast before he trivializes such events. AH Paul should also revisit the records of the coal mines IN HIS OWN STATE before he dismisses the miners' deaths. There were numerous citations and violations attributed to the mine THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.

[KurzLuppii]

@MoJoSB

Funny when the government has constantly betrayed you time and time again.

[MoJoSB]

@KurzLuppii See, part of the problem is some hate are president so much, they can't even agree with him when he is right and it's sad.

[KurzLuppii]

@MoJoSB

The fact is Un American is that the President shouldn't be getting involved with getting the money. Its the States, Congress, Judicial who are supposed to be involved.

Instead we get backroom deals, and we have no idea what deals were made to get those 20 Billion dollars.

[MoJoSB]

@KurzLuppii I can't say I know enough about who's meant to be the collector in all this, all I know is, whoever is STICKING it to BP, I'm on their side.

Do you really think this BS has anything to do with what is going on or is it their hatred for the POTUS and the desire to win come 2012? Let's be honest here.

[MoJoSB]

@KurzLuppii See, I know where you are coming from, cause I hated GWB with all my heart and soul and no matter WHAT he did, I hated him for it. This of course was after 911, at least I gave him that long.

In any case, I understand but I would at the very least, not use any opportunity to attack GWB, only when he was causing people to die for money, power and oil. Other wise, I didn't really care to comment.

However, those who hate Obama, will use any chance to attack and that is very sad.

[KurzLuppii]

@MoJoSB

Funny thing is... I hate both these presidents. I ain't some dumb ass Republican.

In fact I voted for Obama based on his campaign promises to end the war.

Curious answer me this... How is money created?

[MoJoSB]

@KurzLuppii Ohhh I know this one... Money is created out of thin air for the most part. It's a bit more complicated than that but when you break it down that is where you end up. It's kind of a promissory note on goods, or labor, however you want to look at it.

As someone who grew up in NYC, I knew the game was rigged since I was 10 or so, this is no shock to me. The government has always been a kind of gangster organization. The only thing is, when it go TOO far, gets too greedy. cont...

[MoJoSB]

@KurzLuppii However, it's really not the governments that are the REAL gangsters, they are like front men for the gangsters. The REAL gangsters are the corporations. You can see this in who really makes policy and changes the way laws are made. It's the corps, wall st, bankers, not really the government.

You can see that in the way corps can move around the world and do as they wish, how many US corps have jumped ship and do business overseas. How else would BP be able to get way with this?

[MoJoSB]

@KurzLuppii Look, some people will always be on top, in this society anyway, it's set up that way. That is not such a horrible thing but when those on top, forget the shoulders that are standing on, who allow them to be there, that is when things go really, really bad,

It's the greed and it's the way we all see our place on this planet. Nothing and I mean nothing will really change, until we change our belief systems. We are still very tribal and that is our biggest problem.

[KurzLuppii]

@MoJoSB

There will be people always on top that's the same way of all types of societies.

The problem stems when the money supply is continuously inflated since Nixon closed the Gold Window. Every year your savings your capital is getting undervalued by the money supply.

All the problems we are having stem from our Central bank since thats where the government gets all its money.

In Capitalism wealth changes hands, in this corporatism power stays with gov + friends.

I hate Big government.

[MoJoSB]

@KurzLuppii And I hate big business, in almost all it's forms. I mean who do you think created the central bank? Huge financial institutions, AKA banks.

At this point, there's really no devaluing that which has no intrinsic value like paper money. Money is now faith, not wealth.

The Central bank was made to have more power over us, what is power but greed, the desire to have power over others is greed. That desire is in most of us and that is what needs to change.

[nync888]

yeah its un-American to be critical of BRITISH Petroleum for taking a big huge dump all over your Gulf Coast. This is what happens when you keep on deregulating corporations, they will cut corners whenever they can to save a buck, people and the environment dont figure into their profit margins.

keep digging that hole RP.

[bjphysics]

This is just Libertarian dogma; never mind the facts or what is practical, I believe what I believe. This kind of people are steadfast, they believe the same thing on Wednesday they believed on Monday no matter what happened on Tuesday.

Libertarian philosophy has something in common with contemporary Republican ideology; they either dont know or ignore the lessons of history and if that does not work, they rewrite history to suit their agenda.

[bizethics]

@bjphysics The BP spill is more proof that Libertarianism does not work. There's no reason why the same market forces required by Libertariansim are not creating pressure on companies to reduce operating risk and negligence. Where are the boycotts? Without government intervention BP would have just walked away and lawyered-up. Some market players can have huge power. If they did go out of business in a libertarian utopia, it would just lead to a monolopy and right back to the 19th century.

[lmn8bush]

Isn't rand paul a tea bagger ? Didn't the American Colonists protest ( Criticize ) the British by throwing tea into Boston Harbor ? Is he trying to say that tea baggers are un American ?

[MrTouchShriek]

I agree. It's un-American to hold responsible BP for the oil spill THEY CAUSED! LOL! Conservatives get dumber by the day.

[daderone]

ahh the paulies always shilling for big corporations and big oil interests. repugnant spineless fucks. Get it straight progressives 'libertarians' represent what is worst from conservatism not what is best. That goes 360, economically, socially, politically.

[daderone]

fuck this guy & the republicon tactic of saying insane ridiculous things so that people w/ a brain talk about u & call u an idiot b/c in the end the r-wing banks on the other idiots, insane & ridiculous people 2 vote off name recognition.

[daderone]

The last thing this country needs is more rich boys trying to ride in on daddys coat tails telling us we shouldnt care about each other or people w/ less.

Cons love 2 tea bag each other but are carbon copies of the crown royalists who the Americans fought @ home & abroad 4 our independance.

[tubeinaredcircle]

So this nut thinks it's "Un-American" for the POTUS to critisize a FOREIGN company for vomiting millions of gallons of of THEIR oil upon the beaches of OUR shores.

This teabagger would have sided with the British back in Boston.

[daderone]

@tubeinaredcircle thats exactely what i'm saying. Who's side is he on? Foreign corporations. Who are we to critisize these pieces of shit for allowing billions of barrels of oil to flood into our oceans and wreak havoc on local businesses and ecosystems.

[afromosaic]

At first I thought Rand Paul was a true libertaian, But the more I hear him the more he sounds like a typical politician. Instead of talking about the issues important for Kentucky he is ranting and raving about the oil spill. Also it seems he wants to run against Obama not his opponent. Rand also flippedHes not a Washington outsider.

[daderone]

@afromosaic you're on the way to understanding why his dad is probably one of the most full of shit, hypocritical and inauthentic people in government. Its like George W.'s extremist/fundamentalist cousin in law. Oh sure I'm sure that be great for us. Maybe they can start doing keg stands and tipping over cars outside of Congress. I had no idea Kentucky was a fan of the frat boy approach to government and economics.

[lmn8bush]

@daderone You're right on that one ! The shit doesn't fall far from the asshole !

[feelytouchy67]

I have that same concern about him. It is odd that his namesake (Ayn Rand) is known mainly for touting the virtues of individual responsiblity, yet Rand Paul seems to arguing against it in this case, arguing that BP not be held liable for its own pathetic incompetence.

[Aspetta17]

@feelytouchy67 "Incompetence" is the word that needs to be repeated over and over and over again.

And Paul's position is nothing short of "apauling" lol.

Basically telling us not to "cry over spilled milk" -- INFURIATING, really...

[feelytouchy67]

And to me, @Aspetta17, what makes this so infuriating is that I actually have (or maybe had??) quite a bit of respect for the libertarian point of view. Rand's father has been rightfully respected for voting with the more progressives on some issues, like closing the SOA, as well as being against the Drug War, and wanting to close all overseas military bases. He is even moderate in his anti-immigration rhetoric. But his son, Rand -- I don't know about him! He seems rather dim witted!

[anth1945]

@Aspetta17 i soo agree with you . This is ruining peoples livihoods,Tourist spots, The amazing wildlife and may ruin the entire east coast. Accidents happen yes. This is not just an accident THIS IS AN UNSEEN DISASTER AND THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE. GOD HELP US.

[jamesmorgandavies]

*FAIL*

This was not an "accident" - it was manslaughter; according to one of the survivors, they were bringing up chunks of rubber from the annular that was installed to prevent just such a catastrophe, & management told them to proceed anyway, knowing that the high pressure involved made for a situation likely to end in tragedy. They also ordered 2 seals instead of 3 on the well. They may as well have put a loaded gun to their heads & pulled the trigger.

Criticism of THAT is "un-American?"

[juntao]

Rand Paul! He's the man!

[4g63gen1]

@juntao  Ron and Rand are good people and you see it! Your smarter than most.

[SuperContinuum]

Wheter an accident or just pure negligence makes no difference. BP is responsible for the damage, not the American tax payer. BP must be held accountable for the destruction their corporation has done to the wildlife, fauna, and the economy of the Gulf region.

[bizethics]

@SuperContinuum There a large difference if negligence is involved. Negligence would most likely be criminal negligence. And if found guilty, they should be sent to prison.

[bizethics]

Accidents happen. Nobody is saying that BP purposely planted explosives to take out its $300m rig and create a massive oil leak. That doesn't mean that someone is not responsible for the accident and needs to be held accountable. That doesn't mean we should not learn from an accident and take steps to reduce the likelihood (or frequency) of it happening in the future. Negligence also needs to be considered.

Same applies to auto accidents. Anyone disagree?

[detoth67]

What this tea bagging retard doesn't understand is that it WANS'T an accident. It was negligence. The signs of a potential disaster were looming for weeks and did nothing.

[kardentyrell]

@detoth67 no he's saying it is not yet clear if it was negligence, or just a blowout of pressure from the ocean floor, that couldn't have been prevented..even WITH the measures taken.

[bestwrmd]

The Civil Rights Act forces black restaurant owners to serve members of the Ku Klux Klan. Do you agree?

Yes or no?

I agree 100000% with Al Green. we need to END discrimination and we should start with the Black Caucus which Al Green is a member of which does not allow anyone other than blacks to join.

[jhamm999]

freedom is such a remote concept for liberals. thank you senator paul. can't wait for the revolution at the ballot box in november.

[SuperInfective]

@jhamm999 You know why it's a remote concept? Because freedom creates social inequality, which in turn spawns conflict. Social equality = world peace

[jhamm999]

@SuperInfective so the answer is to restrict freedom for others? and how do acquire social equality? govt cannot mandate that. economic freedom means yes some people are more successful than others,but they also create jobs and opportunity for others also.

[SuperInfective]

@jhamm999 In the case of the society we live in, social equality is economic quality. This means the government stepping in to make sure everyone has equal opportunity.

[jhamm999]

@SuperInfective equal opportunity,yes. but given that,if everyone starts at the same line,there are going to be winners and losers.

[PArbuckle18]

@jhamm999 It's a remote concept for most people, both Republicans and Democrats. Both, unfortunately, would prefer to guide humanity in the direction they see fit. Republicans are typically afraid of gay marriage and drugs, and Democrats are want to tell people how to run thier businesses and who people should give their charity to. Both have their own views of how to achieve unachievable eutopia.

[jhamm999]

@PArbuckle18 well we do need societal norms. i'm not against regulation,just over regulation that does nothing but drives up the price of goods for everybody. as far as gay marriage i think it should be a states rights issue.

[PArbuckle18]

@jhamm999 I think most issues, as you probably agree, should be settled at the state level, particularly because federal government is SUPPOSED to be constitutionally limited. I think its ones desire to tell others how to live that drives people to try to make change at the federal level, and insights others to go so far as to invade other countries to tell them how to live (i.e. spread democracy).

[SuperContinuum]

@PArbuckle18 Since this accident affects the coastline and economies of at least 5 different states, it should be a federal responsibility. The US Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation to handle instances like this where more than one individual state is affected by commerce or invasion or whatever.

[PArbuckle18]

@SuperContinuum I agree with you, and BP should be held accountable should it be decided that they were at fault.

[bizethics]

@PArbuckle18 Would you then say this is a result of overregulation? There should be no regulations on how business (international and interstate) operate? And how did market forces work to prevent this spill? How are market forces working to prevent this in the future? BP is not losing much in profits (relative to the risks taken and its past profits). Are boycotts happening? I believe in ideas of Milton Friedman--fraud and negative externalities limit markets. Markets are not efficient.

[PArbuckle18]

@bizethics I believe that BP has lost 19 % of its market value in the stock market since the leak started. I'm willing to bet that share holders are a bit upset, to say the least, LOL. These oil companies do themselves no good to allow accidents to happen. Additionally, I believe that much of the risk in drilling is subsidized by the government (like borrowing and lending in banking) thus allowing BP and other companies to take risks they would otherwise avoid or have to pay for.

[bizethics]

@PArbuckle18 A 19% loss in the short-term is only noise. It only matters what happens to profits in the long-term. The executives will do just fine and not be force out (esp. in a libertarian utopia). You're missing the conflict of interest btw shareholders and mgmt. Also, your way off on borrowing and drilling risk. 1st: BP can not use the Fed window to borrow. 2nd: Drilling is not mostly from financing costs. So, the risk of an auto accident is mostly due to the cost of a car loan???

[PArbuckle18]

@bizethics Well, Libertarians arent attempting to achieve utopia, rather they believe that free markets and limited government are the best ways to maximize our potential and provide the best living standards for the most people. I can see and appreciate that you prefer different strategies, and thus we are left to agree to disagree. I also appreciate the civil discourse, and only hope all political discussions were carried out as composed and unruffled as this one.

[bizethics]

@PArbuckle18 Utopian was meant to be my description. It's likely that most socialists also don't consider their ideology as utopian--I do. I believe it is utopian because it requires the assumption of efficient markets, rational and incorruptible people. Free markets mean without government regulation. Meaning BP does not have worry about any regulations. And since the regulators were captured, the BP spill can be considered an experiment in libertarianism by Dick Cheney. Same w/ wall st.

[jhamm999]

@PArbuckle18 i agree with your first point. your second point,if you are talking about iraq,we had intelligence that spurred us to go in. one of the constitutionally mandates for the feds is to protect the people

[PArbuckle18]

@jhamm999 Perhaps, though I'm inclined to believe that the intelligence was skewed to make it seem there was a bigger threat there than there truely was. I'm of the camp that believe that if we would stop bothering them (those in the middle east) then they'd stop bothering us and would instead be preoccupied with blowing each other up. Heck, Bin Laden himself said the attacks of September 11th were a direct response to our activity over there.

[jhamm999]

@PArbuckle18 the mindset of the radicals you remember id that they hold grudges from centuries ago.. they are not rational people.. think also bin laden may have been lying?

[Lukefonfabre123]

Criticizing a British corporation for destroying part of America is Un-American now?

Or is he trying to push America into a Corporate Fascist state?

[SuperInfective]

@Lukefonfabre123 The latter i'd reckon...

[cmfluteguy]

Too bad the media didn't give Bush and Cheney this treatment.

They were far worse than this creep "Baby Paul".

This Paul character is showing his stupidity, arrogance, racism and greed for us all to witness.

[PArbuckle18]

@cmfluteguy How has Rand Paul shown his racism? He said he would have marched along side Dr. King, that he doesn't believe in Racism. He believes in unshackling the chains of government and giving all people freedom.

[TheLILYANNROSE]

Well Rand what do you think Obama should do? Send BP a lovely bottle of bubbly and with a card reading "Thank you for the clean up?"

[SuperContinuum]

Rand Paul is freakin' unbelievable. Who does Paul think will stop the oil companies from turning the Gulf and any other ocean into a gian cesspool? Since oil is fungible, you can never know whose oil you are really buying. And, isn't it closing the barn door after the oil company has already destroyed the environment. This man and his philosophy are dangerous and scary.

[the5allens]

he complains about the "blame game", but 15 seconds earlier he accused George from getting his talking points from "the DNC, Rachel Maddow, and MSNCB"

someone needs to provide him with a definition of consistency, and why he ought to try to stick with one position

[buriedxmemories]

no when a car goes 120 that is the fault of the driver. When a car hydroplanes and flies into a tree it is an accident. BP tried to fix this problem by burning the oil as soon as it happened but the EPA told them that was too harmful to the environment. While they complain and change their mind about what to do the gulf coast economy is destroyed, the marine life is over. Frankly international waters would be considered the job of the Fed govt and once again they have failed us.

[mizzoulibertarian]

it is fascist that the epa can write regulations with out the approval of the people!

diseasters have occurred throughout history. this is tragic. but they will not stop happening. there is no end of history. when bad things happen we adapt to them.

[Kaden0811]

hes toast he will never be a senator

[kaysandesses]

@Kaden0811 Rand Paul thinks he's really something since he won the GOP primary with less votes than the Dem. runner-up. I'm really enjoying watching the teabaggers dismantle the GOP.

[Donthitmeplz]

Wow really...accidents happen? You know when someone on the highway drives 120mph and gets into an accident, you don't just say "accidents happen." There are so many things BP and other oil companies do to circumvent expensive safety features it's amazing. Accidents DO happen, but most accidents can be prevented, or at least when they DO happen, things are in place to prevent it from getting worse. I have not seen BP do any of those.

[btc8128]

bigoted and stupid! ha ha ha