Should we just call the USA...BPA?

[Onewitnessus]

The light bulb comes on! YES, OF COURSE the big corporations are running this country. WHERE THEHELL HAVE YOU BEEN?>>>

[luvcheney1]

@Onewitnessus Corporations exist because of free, voluntary exchanges between people. Huge corporations allow such economies of scale, pooling of resources, that ordinary slobs can have extraordinary cars, computers, cell phones, electricity.

[rwcbanzai]

Bravo Thom, you must be the only independent journalist in America! Your commentary about PB & Corporatism running this country is scaring the right wing ogliarchs to literally SITPants! Now that the Gulf of Mexico is a cesspool & BP is still in Business they can "drill baby drill" amywhere they please....it's called a precedent!

[luvcheney1]

@rwcbanzai More than likely, big oil will not drill in deep US Gulf waters any longer. The punishing regulations to come will make it uneconomic, so those high paying jobs will disappear, and the revenue from these operations to the Gulf states will end also. Federal oil leases will decline. They will move to more friendly locations, and enjoy the lower corporate tax burdens overseas. Earnings will be left overseas, untaxed by US govt, and US federal revenue will continue its decline.

[early2it]

The LNG cloud is going to be above 5% by the time it reaches Cuba, it could fry the better part of both Florida and Cuba to a crisp when it goes off.

Its appearing to many of us that liberals are less human that what they think about in-human conservitives

[early2it]

Its not a leak, you morons.

Its a "GAS-oil" eruption.

Not and oil leak, what a retarded thing to say.

You know you are characterizing the nature of the nightmare unfolding in the Gulf, soon it will be in the Atlantic, then it will be a flash point between Cuba and America worse than the missile crises.

[morganic88]

@Mosiac, Well sed mate

[mosaicmaster1]

Banking and oil owns America whats new.Consumer society's Have been brain washed not to give a #%$@

[megagagnon1]

*your

[wildpett]

Dude, Obama = Bush. Or maybe = Bush on steroids. Time to wake up. What has this guy DONE which is any DIFFERENT than Bush ? He is increasing deficits, troop levels in Afghanistan. Obama is financed and run by Wall Street.

[exenrontexas]

@wildpett I agree that there are many who supported Obama who are disappointed that he did not arrest and WATERBOARD the BUSH adminstration. Obama DID NOT LIE to AMERICA to start TWO immoral, illegal and unwinnable wars.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas If you google "WMD Iraq Kennedy", or Bill Clinton, Hillary, Gore, Kerry, Madeline Albright, Carl Levin, U.N.etc, you can find many quotes made by these Democrats BEFORE Bush even elected, and after too, talking about WMD in Iraq. This belief was common knowledge ( wrong) among most everyone. Thats why they voted for war, and had no objection to it, until much later, and then "pretended" they were always against it!!

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 NOT ONE of the people you accuse has EVER invaded Iraq without cause. NOT ONE. So...why do you continue to LIE?  Perhaps you are trying to build a case of guilt by association? The fact REMAINS that BUSH and his regime LIED TO AMERICA to start an immoral, illegal and unnecssary war so Halliburton could grap Iraqs OIL. BUSH and NO ONE ELSE murdered America GIs so he and his oil cronies could get rich.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas Everyone of those people talked about the WMD in Iraq, BEFORE Bush was even President. After 9-11, they did NOT protest the invasion of Iraq, until after public opinion went against the war. THEN, they pretended they were always against it. The pure lack of character in such a lie, is astounding! Google " Clinton explains Iraq strike Dec 16, 1998". Google any one of those folks with "Iraq WMD" too, and they believed WMD were there. Thats why the war occurred. Obama didnt stop it.

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 Talk is just talk and talk is cheap but BUSH acted to shed US GIs blood for OIL based on KNOWING LIES. HE LIED to America to start a war for Halliburton.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas Bill Clinton, Dec 16, 1998 "Saddam Hussein must not be allowed to threaten his neighbors or the world, with nuclear weapons.." 1998, Bush wasnt President, and the big Dems all thought he had them, same as Bush. He was no more wrong than anyone else, and with 9-11, Dems were few and far between to object. Until AFTER public opinion changed.

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 MEANINGLESS DRIVEL. It is BUSH who should be arrested and waterboard to confess to LYING to America to start a war for PROFIT against EVERYTHING the Constitution stands for. BUSH is the WORST PRESIDENT EVER and, of COURSE, YOU DEFEND HIM,.

[luvcheney1]

"Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery system, and his nuclear program". Hlllary Clinton, Oct 10, 2002. and"Iraq`s search for weapons of mass destruction has been impossible to deter". Al Gore 2002. and "Hussein`s regime is a grave danger, and that his pursuit of weapons of mass destruction cannot be tolerated. He must be disarmed". Ted Kennedy, There are of course, dozens of these. Bush agreed with these Dems, they agreed to war.

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 NONE of the people you mentioned was responsible for the IMMORAL and ILLEGAL invasion of Iraq except...GEORGE BUSH. There are many tyrants around the world who either have or are seeking WMDs. ONLY BUSH cooked up a scheme of half-baked lies to grab Iraqi oil. ONLY BUSH and his regime of criminals.

I saw WATERBOARD the ENTIRE BUSH CABAL to gather evidence for his trial for HIGH TREASON. We could pay off the debt by selling DVDs of the process.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas You stated he lied, misled the people. All those Dems were just FINE with the war, as well as the American public when we went. The public got tired, changed their mind, which is fine. What is just STUPID is they pretend they were not for it, that they never thought there was WMD, when they did. Fortunately for the Dems, most of the public is stupid. You re-write history.

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 The FACTS are that BUSH LIED TO AMERICA to grab Iraqi oil. The evidence is UNDENIABLE and MOUNTAINOUS. He should be waterboarded to discover the OTHER lies that he told America about:

His UNHOLY relationship with ENRON.

His secret meetings with the Taliban in 1997 in Houston.

His cowardly desertion during the war in Vietnam.

His conspiracy and collusion to steal BOTH elections.

He and his family involvement with the 9-11 attacks.

His war mongering activities with Carlyle.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas Iraq sells its oil, and has billions in the bank. You are a dumb, sick fuck.

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 WRONG! Halliburton and the other oil companies now CONTROL Iraqi oil and have NOT begun to pay BACK the US taxpayer for this illegal and immoral war for OIL.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas How about a reference that shows the US is taking Iraq oil for itself? Halliburton is involved in over 70 countries oil businesses. Controlling and operating oil production in Iraq is of the greatest importance to the mission. If Iraq does not become well economically, the mission fails. Helping a country rebuild an industry is a good thing. The oil is Iraq`s, the profits are Iraq`s, Halliburton gets paid for work done. As you do, or did, I suppose.

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 The mission FAILED when US troops moved into Iraq in 2003. It was the failure of democracy to expose and control LIARS in government and to select good men to lead a nation.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas CNN reported that when the war in Iraq began, 3 out of 4 Americans supported it. I already have documented the opinion of Dem leaders, who just follow public opinion. Public was for... they were for, public against... they lie and say they were always against. But, their words are available to you.

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 You are making my case for me for the effectiveness of the GOP propaganda machines who supported BUSH and CHENEY LIES to start an illegal and immoral war to grap Iraqi oil for Halliburton. Do I need to quote Hermann Goerings quote at the Nuremburg trials about the ease that fascists have in leading the people into illegal and immoral wars?

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 Naturally, the common people don't want war.But it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship. ...voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas When we went to war, the Dems joined the Reps and Bush, and CNN stated that 3/4 of the American public wanted war. You are erasing everything everyone said, including the UN, and the intelligence agencies of so many nations on earth. Now, only Bush and Cheney believed it, according to you. Almost everyone wanted war. AND, when a bunch of Americans get killed again, all will want more blood, including Obama and the Dems. Obama will give them what they want.

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country. Hermann Goering at the Nuremburg trials.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas Uh...... werent we attacked? Arent they still trying to attack us?

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 NO we were NOT attacked by the Iraqis. Get out a map and find Iraq and then find Saudi Arabia. One is the enemy, the other is not. Learn the difference OR find a large caliber handgun and end your misery and the misery of those around you.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas Saudi Arabia is NOT an enemy. The regular people who live in Saudi Arabia are our enemies. Nearly all Islamic people are our enemy. But the govt of Saudi Arabia is a fair ally, and Saddam was an enemy. You confuse leadership with the public.

[zoticus1]

@luvcheney1

Your an idiot!

There are MANY (BILLIONS) of Muslims in the world and unknown to most idiots who spew ignorance all day, do not know that the MAJORITY of them do not live in the middle east.

And if you had a clue of any sort you would know that the US government has acknowledged that MANY Saudi princes funnel money to fundamentalist organizations.

Are you really this stupid or just faking it?

[julsHz]

Are we mad enough, yet? This is an iconic disaster. It indemnifies the corporate ruination of not only our environment- our world- but of our political system as well. The EPA is considering barring BP from gov't contracts- they have before on a site by site basis, but never the company as a whole- but won't decide until this investigation is complete- about a year from now. In the meantime, guess who supplies our military with most of its fuel- you guessed it--- BP! Tough contract...

[morningmayan]

I've been making vids about this saying the SAME THING! I heard the white house press sec say as a response to it's lack of leadership on this " The Government can't get involved with a private companies business! Good job spreading this - Did the redcoats just win the war!

[fal2grace]

excellent. thank you.

[silversoul7]

I gave Obama a long leash. I kept telling other progressives, "No, just wait. You'll see. He's just got a long-term strategy, and you're just being impatient." Well, enough of it. There's no room for patience on this one. If he doesn't step up his act and start taking this crisis seriously, he's dead to me.

[exenrontexas]

@silversoul7 I suspect that he is trying to avoid yet another confrontation with the GOP and that is NOT the way to go. The GOP is trying to drag everything he is doing DOWN by always saying NO. Maybe they should be told NO back? My other suspicion is that he is trying to avoid ending up like the presidents he has been compared to. Lincoln and Kennedy. And he is neither.

[D0g63rt]

@exenrontexas

He's much less impressive then either of them.

I just want him to start cracking heads at this point, maybe do something that actually IS fascist so that everybody gets a taste of what the word actually means.

[exenrontexas]

@D0g63rt I do NOT think that is a wise path since once it gets started it is impossible to stop. Try the democracy path which I agree is frustrating and laborious but ALWAYS, ALWAYS make them PROVE what they are saying and NEVER EVER take them at their word. If they say REFORM make sure it IS reform. I worked at ENRON and I KNOW how the GOP liars work.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas Polishing floors at Enron was an honorable job, but doesnt qualify you to comment anymore than anyone else.

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 FINALLY a truthful statement. Polishing floors at Enron WAS an honorable job but it was NOT done by Enron employees but by contractors.

I was in the room when Ken Lay got his job at Enron. Six months later I was in the room when Ken Lay swore an oath to 500 Enron employees in the East Annex that the HQ of Enron would NOT move to Houston. 30 days later it did. I was in the room when Lay SWORE that the rumors of fraud were false and we should buy more Enron stock.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas In other words, you are a poor judge of character, and easily deceived. Goldman Sachs gave way more to Obama than McCain, and corps giving to politicians is the norm, not an exception to Bush. Enron gas all to do with falsifying accounting records, to keep stock values up, and an actual crime. Ok, so you didnt polish the floors, that was contracted to an contractor of illegals, since Americans dont polish floors. Perhaps you filled the printers with paper?

[exenrontexas]

@D0g63rt Now don't get me wrong. There are plenty of DEM liars too. LBJ was one of the worst. But never before has the GOP been more organized, well financed, well practiced and supported in their lies. It reminds me of what Germany must have been like in the '30s and that is very, VERY dangerous to democracy.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas 

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas  More like Mao and Ho Chi Minh.

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 Actually we finally find something we can agree on. BUSH/CHENEY are very much like Mao and Ho. It was BUSH that opened up trade with Vietnam as free trade is the path to totalitarian dictatorship and it will break the backs of labor. Reagan, Nixon, BUSH, CHENEY....all the same megalomania bent on dictatorship.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas So, you are another LIB idiot against free trade? 

[luvcheney1]

@silversoul7 Obama and you, and those like you, are infected with the idea that the Federal Govt is all powerful. It cant now, or ever, do shit about anything. It cant fuel our cars, it cant regulate anything, and it cant plug this whole. BP might not fix the leak either, but they are the only hope, or another, oil corp. Or, wait for the relief well. BTW, the oil will disappear by itself, and eventually there will be more fish than before because of all the oil. Short run it sucks...

[73849309378]

"The liberty of democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in essence, is Fascism -- ownership of government by an individual, by a group or by any controlling private power." --President Franklin Roosevelt

[twinnumber3]

Great video! But I think it's Goldman Sachs that runs the world. They're the financial equivalent of a thousand blown wells (or 9/11s).

[luvcheney1]

@twinnumber3 The financial meltdown was due to collapsing mortgage values because houses fell in value. Banks held mortgages as assets. They wouldnt have fell, if there wasnt a bubble. So... how can houses all over the country keep

getting bigger mortgages if there wasnt increased credit? Who regulates credit?? Goldman Sachs?? What a dope. Grow up.

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 WRONG! The financial meltdown is due to the risky and speculative bets made by large corporations on DERIVITIES. It was Brooksley Born the Clinton regulators who WARNED America and her regulatory efforts were shut down by Cheney buddies, Phil Gramm and Mitch McConnell.

/watch?v=o5qzJ5Bvcfk

/watch?v=ACkiKVtF3nU

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas The derivatives that exploded were based on Mortgages, dumb fuck. Derivatives have been part of financial matters since ancient Mesopotamia, 5000 years ago. You likely hold derivatives yourself, moron. I bet you have a contract that is worthless until your car is burned, then it is worth something. The problem wasnt derivatives, it was home values collapsing, making mortgages worthless, and investments based on mortgages became worthless. Home value collapse caused the meltdown.

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 WRONG! Brooksley Born and subsequent testimony by the CEOs of large banks have proven that this was NOT a mortgage back securities problem. The Derivitive exposure to the US economy was SEVERAL HUNDRED TRILLION DOLLARS which FAR exceeds the sum total of ALL mortgages in the US. The problem deriivitves were risky bets made by large banks on BUSINESS deals who laid off THOSE derivitives with others and so on. The mortgage problem is a RESULT of the business derivitives NOT the cause.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas  Think. Hundreds of Trillions in Derivatives? The Federal Reserve is responsible for the currency, the supply of money. It regulates reserve requirements, interest rates, so if there was such a massive quantity of money created, it had to go somewhere, a bubble. When the govt creates masses of money/ credit, dont blame a private business for it.

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 VIEW this and then take a moment to comtemplate your error and then apologize for nearly every post you make on youtube.

/watch?v=ACkiKVtF3nU

You ARE permitted your own opinions but NOT permitted your own FACTS. THESE are the facts coming back to smack you in the face.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas I never have luck finding a video this way. I tried twice.. Write the exact title of the video, I will watch. But why do Libs refuse to state their beliefs? All they can do is refer to videos, and just say no. You act like Mrs Reagan for God`s sake.

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 The link is good. Perhaps you should review the youtube help to understand how to view video links. And I have repeatedly stated my views. Watch the video, think and then apoiogize. I understand that may be diffcult for someone with your limite intelligence but give it a try. You salvation is at risk.

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 Ken Lay, like you, was a son of perdition and a follower of the father of lies. His pride would never allow him, like you, to admit a fault and deceit, like you, ruled his mind and his mouth. Lay was Bush's #1 supporter in 2000 and UNLIKE you bragged of raising $110 MILLION for the Bush campaign. Lay paid for Bush's legal fees in the BOGUS SCOTUS case to decide the stolen election and ENRON paid for the inaugeration.

[exenrontexas]

@exenrontexas Like I said, there was an UNHOLY relationship between the largest FRAUD in WORLD HISTORY and the BUSH family. Nice going, bucky, picking who you will defend.

I have made a very good case for BUSH and CHENEY to be allies of the enemy of all mankind. The spirit of evil known as Satan.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas Unholy alliance? Now you sound just like a Christian fundamentalist! BTW, the Bush family was in the oil, energy business, so it is not at all strange they would know the head of Enron. Govt regulators knew Enron too, and couldnt figure out the co was a fraud. If Bush was involved in a criminal way with Ken Lay, or Enron, I think Libs would have gotten charges. Obama is a free man, even though he like Ayres, knowing what he did. Bush may have seen lay, NOT knowing..

[Mahoivlich]

If something else than the "official story" happened to that rig and Bp was playing along, that also might explain the police, coast guard and military response. The Euro Times is claiming a media blackout for what the Russians are saying was a North Korean sub attack.

[outerconnection]

The leak hasn't stopped yet. And not anytime soon.

[zoticus1]

I have a question for you Thom,

At what point will you realize that the Obama administration is nothing more than an extension of global conglomerates?

At what point will you realize that our laws are written by the very forces they were empowered to regulate?

OBAMA=WALL STREET SHILL...

[MarmaladeINFP]

@zoticus1

Obama=Wall Street shill

Paul=BP shill

Don't trust either of them.

[Mojo1982]

@MarmaladeINFP

What relationship does Ron Paul have with BP? Can you please elaborate sir.

[MarmaladeINFP]

@Mojo1982 I was actually referring to Rand Paul's vocally defending BP and rationalizing the event with the statemnt, "accidents happen". As for Ron Paul, I've heard that BP has operations in his district. More generally speaking, I think neoliberal libertarians like both Pauls act as shills for big business (whether or not that is their intention I cannot say).

[megagagnon1]

@MarmaladeINFP In other words you voted for Obama, and while you were voting you said over and over again "libertarians are shills" - ignoring of course that the real shills are republicans and democrats.

[exenrontexas]

@megagagnon1 It was BUSH who was accused and covered up voter fraud, not Obama. My sister lived in Dade County, FLA in 2000 and there were FL state patrol doing vehicle inspections, back ground checks and stalling the polling. There were HUNDREDS who were denied their Constitution right to vote because of the BUSH GOONS.

[MarmaladeINFP]

@megagagnon1 I didn't vote for Obama. I protest the two party system by voting third party. I don't think Obama is a bad president relatively speaking (with heavy emphasis on the 'relative' part). I'm also critical of third parties such as the Libertarian party which are beholden to corporate interests. Libertarian think tanks are funded by corporations & have on their boards people such as Rupert Murdoch. Going by Rand Paul's words, he seems to be a neoliberal & not a real libertarian.

[MarmaladeINFP]

@MarmaladeINFP What you have to understand is that neoliberal Republicans have been using libertarian rhetoric for at least a half century now. I'm for real libertarians, but I'm not for neoliberals in libertarian clothing.

[megagagnon1]

@MarmaladeINFP define neoliberal

[MarmaladeINFP]

@megagagnon1 The basic idea of neoliberalism is that supporting liberal economic policies such as less regulation will lead to social progress. The trouble with it is when it's used to support big business at the expense of small business owners and at the expense of the working class. When Rand Paul defended BP, he wasn't defending all of the small business owners who have lost business and all of the workers who have lost employment because of the BP disaster.

[megagagnon1]

@MarmaladeINFP I disagree with Rand on BP, and the coal mining accident. Obama is no friend to small business. Section 9006 of the health care bill -- just a few lines buried in the 2,409-page document -- mandates that beginning in 2012 all companies will have to issue 1099 tax forms not just to contract workers but to any individual or corporation from which they buy more than $600 in goods or services in a tax year. This means millions more 1099 forms and more compliance costs

[exenrontexas]

@megagagnon1 Congress not Obama wrote the healthcare reform bill although I agree that it was his idea originally. There are many things written into legislation for one purpose or another, for one legislator or another, that were not there in the beginning and you KNOW that there were many toxic amendments used by conservative to make it undesireable.

[megagagnon1]

@exenrontexas though it was pelosi who said lets vote for this bill, we'll find out what's in it later.

[exenrontexas]

@megagagnon1 Well, if Pelosi is your representative then you should call her on that. Is she? She isn't mine. Mine is a scumbag, gravy sucking pig former Texas judge who handed out sentences based on how much change he had in his pocket that day AND he got is job because the INDICTED Tom DeLay gerrymandered the TX districts.

[megagagnon1]

@exenrontexas piglousi is the speaker of the house, third in line of succession, and a certifiable loon.

[exenrontexas]

@megagagnon1 Didn't you forget to say that is your opinion? In recent years we have had a long tradition of screwballs as the Speaker of the House. There are FEW if any who exceed the evil of Dennis Hastert and Newt Gingrich. Just listen to Newt talk today. His head is filled with certifiable bat shit. I don't know much about Pelosi but she cannot possibly be worse than him.

[exenrontexas]

@megagagnon1 Gingrich was the first Speaker of the House in 208 years to be officially reprimanded by the House for ETHICS VIOLATIONS.

[megagagnon1]

@exenrontexas is there a point to this? no, i didn't think so

[exenrontexas]

@megagagnon1 The point is that you are a hypcrite for accusing Pelosi when the last TWO GOP Speakers of the House were morally corrupt and evil. Whatever you claim about Pelosi the GOP is far, FAR worse.

'nuf said, case closed.

[megagagnon1]

@exenrontexas I'm not a hypocrite (and i can spell the word) and if you opinion is that repubs are worse than dems, 'fraid not son. They're two wings of the same vulture.

[exenrontexas]

@megagagnon1 Thanks for the spelling lesson though it is due to typing quickly. There are many variables which determine which party is worse and I will admit, as I already did, that there are Dems which are stinkers. However, the GOP has a LONG and DEEP tradition of treason and anti-democracy. That party of Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt and Ike...no longer exists.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas Teddy Roosevelt was a piece of crap Progressive who pretended to be Republican for a while.

[exenrontexas]

@megagagnon1 Here is a good example of GOP treason and hypocrisy. In 1934, a group of conservative Republicans approached Marine General Butler to lead an army of veterans on Washington to assassinate FDR, disband Congress and suspend the Constitution to set up a fascist dictatorship to aid HITLER in his global war.

[speakoutbrad]

@exenrontexas

I've seen that interview. What planet are you from. I hate to tell you but both parties are in danger of being owned by outside interests. Send me the video.

[exenrontexas]

@megagagnon1 Who were these GOP fascists? JP Morgan (richest man in the world), the Remington, DuPont and Goodyear families (war profiteers) and...Prescott BUSH (W's grandfather). Butler exposed the plot and saved democracy in America. He was ALSO a Republican...of a far, FAR different sort. Most of the GOP today is more like the first group and have no clue about Gen, Butler.

[megagagnon1]

@exenrontexas nowadays all mainstream politicians, dems and repubs, are sock puppets for the powerful.

[exenrontexas]

@megagagnon1 Generally, though we keep looking for the exception and America also seems to forget that the executive branch is ONLY one third of the government. They CANNOT make laws or raise taxes and although it has been ignored for quite some time, the WH cannot declare WAR. ANY war that is waged without a formal Congressional declaration of war is...ILLEGAL. General statements or resolutions do NOT count. If you are going to fight a war then DECLARE WAR.

[exenrontexas]

@megagagnon1 It is ridiculous that the GOP criticized Obama for spending. He CANNOT spend one DIME more than Congress mandates.

George Washington, in his farewell address to the nation, warned America of people who are more loyal to ONE party or ONE man than to the Constitution and the PEOPLE of America.

[megagagnon1]

@exenrontexas first, the democrats are in charge of the house and senate. second, you're oblivious to the fact that both parties are screwing the taxpayers.

[exenrontexas]

@megagagnon1 The FACTS are that the DEMS can be controlled. The GOP is soooo arrogant and SOOOO corrupt that they want to topple the government, end democracy in America like they tried before. Everything points to it. If I had to choose the greater evil, the stronger and worse enemy, it would be the Republicans. The Dems are amateurs at the overthrow business.

[megagagnon1]

@exenrontexas You're SOOOO delusional. Takes yer meds.

[exenrontexas]

@megagagnon1 "One of the greatest things that Satan ever accomplished was deceiving the people to think that he did not exist"

[megagagnon1]

@MarmaladeINFP A big federal government will never protect the workers interests - it will defend the corporate interests. That's why the government needs to be decentralized, small feds, strong states. At the very least it makes it more expensive for the corporations to bribe all the states, and they'd have to bribe a lot more politicians. And those state politicians are closer to their voters than washington dc is.

[luvcheney1]

@megagagnon1 Corporate interests, and the interests of the workers and the people are one in the same.

[megagagnon1]

@luvcheney1 So when a corporation moves a manufacturing plant from the usa to china so they can pay 40 cents per hour that's in the interest of the worker and the corporation?

[archelonprime]

@luvcheney1 LOL! My goodness, another pretentious neo-con-artist promoting the mentally and morally bankrupt people that put money above all else and have shown themselves to be more dependent on the government than welfare check recipients. I wouldn't be surprised if you fail to see the connection between fewer things that are made in the USA and our insanely high national debt.

But let's keep bowing to the wishes of these people that hide behind corporations! What a load of tiresome shit!

[luvcheney1]

@archelonprime In Calif, the top corp tax rate is about 45% ( State and Fed), and the rate in England is 28%, and the avg of the OECD nations is about 27% ( 30 nations). The US avg rate is 39%. WHY would any rational corp stay here? I think you COMPLAIN about jobs leaving, while you support ideology that is forcing them out. And you call me morally bankrupt? Too bad issues are not as transparent as you need them to be.

[archelonprime]

@luvcheney1 More jobs were in America (because more things were made in America) when the top marginal tax rate was *74%*! This top marginal rate is now less than half of what it was and yet the jobs were exported anyway. It's a more complex issue than tax rates. Do some research (instead of repeating neo-con propaganda) and you'll see why. But I'm not holding my breath.

[luvcheney1]

@archelonprime The top marginal tax rate of 74% is a personal rate, not corp. Most people dont leave for taxation.some do. ( Lennon). As for "more jobs were in America" when the rate was 74%, unemployment was very low until 2009, historically speaking. BTW, it was 70% personal tax under Carter, when unemployment hit 12%. My post stated corporate rates, which are competitive with other countries, obviously. I agree taxes arent the only reason, unions, regulations, and environmental costs too

[megagagnon1]

@MarmaladeINFP i'm a libertarian, but my primary focus is on the military industrial complex. Other issues are important, but all of them, combined, don't equal the damage the military does to our national debt and safety. As for the corporate take you have on libertarians, i disagree for one chief reason - if Ron Paul were in office, and he was able to change things, the federal govt would be much smaller with much less scope, therefore less bribeworthy for the corporations

[MarmaladeINFP]

@megagagnon1 I agree with you about the military industrial complex. Do you want to know why I identify as a liberal rather than a libertarian? According to Pew (Beyond Red vs Blue), the demographic labelled "Liberal" (around half of which identify as Independent) states stronger support than any other demographic for: 1) balancing the budget, 2) decreasing the deficit, and 4) decreasing military spending. To me, big business pro-capitalism and civil libertarianism don't fit well together.

[exenrontexas]

@Mojo1982 Ron Paul has several large BP operations in his Congressional district. There are many of Ron Paul's constituents that work for BP.

[luvcheney1]

@MarmaladeINFP Anybody who gets gas in my tank is Ok by me.

[MarmaladeINFP]

@luvcheney1 I'm sure you're not alone in your opinion. Most Americans and most affluent people in other countries don't concern themselves about the morality of much of anything just as long as the cheap oil and gas keeps flowing and just as long as the cheap products stay on the shelves.

[luvcheney1]

@MarmaladeINFP Of course! Thats why WalMart is successful, people like low prices. If Liberty, freedom are words with meaning, then we need to be able to choose what we want, and not have some dope like Obama choose what kind of vehicles we drive. The Market.

[MarmaladeINFP]

@luvcheney1 Are you of the opinion that only affluent people and affluent countries matter? There has been reporting recently about a factory in China that makes parts for a lot of popular technology. The workers live in an enclosed factory, work long hours, are abused by management, make little money, often are injured and there is a very high suicide rate... but they make our cheap products. Yeah, wage slavery! Factories exist like that all over the world making products for WalMart.

[Talondas]

@MarmaladeINFP Proctor and Gamble / Oral-B do the exact same thing. The quarters they give their workers to live in house 8 people to a small room barely large enough to hold thier bunk beds...pictures were shown to us in a power point presentation that was part of the "training" for the factory workers in the Oral-B plant in Iowa.

Slavery is the correct word.

[Talondas]

@Talondas Quick edit - The factory I was refering to is in China. The one that I went to the training at is in Iowa.

[MarmaladeINFP]

@Talondas Wage slavery exists all over the world, but it's much worse in certain countries where there are less civil rights protections and where workers' unions have less power. Is the Oral-B factory you trained at in Iowa City? I live in Iowa City and my friend worked at the factory here. His job was to inspect the bristles and he hated it, but fortunately he had other opportunities and so unlike the Foxconn workers in China he didn't feel so hopeless as to commit suicide.

[exenrontexas]

@zoticus1 There are many who supported Obama who are disappointed that he has not reversed most of the BUSH policies. He has done a few but continued many. I would have arrested ALL the BUSHIES and waterboarded them to get them to confess to being behind the attacks on 9-11. I GUARANTEE a full confession.

[megagagnon1]

@exenrontexas Obama has violated the geneva conventions more than Bush - he's ordered more drone strikes against pakistan in one year than Bush did in 8. The UAV's are controlled by CIA employees, who don't wear uniforms. So if you arrest Bush, you have to arrest Obama also.

[exenrontexas]

@megagagnon1 Hmmmm...sorry you are wrong. Obama did not LIE to America to start two illegal, immoral wars and It is improper to arrest a sitting president. However, since BUSH/CHENEY are no longer in the WH, they are fair game AND the PEOPLE have a right to KNOW what has been done in their name with their money. Secrecy is the friend of TYRANNY and according to John Dean, Nixon's WH Special Counsel, the BUSH WH was the MOST SECRETIVE EVER. Coming from him, that is saying a LOT.

[luvcheney1]

@zoticus1 If corporations didnt write the laws, some bumpkin like Biden, or Lawyer who never produced anything ( Obama) would.

[zoticus1]

@luvcheney1

Do you propose we get arsonists to write arson laws or perhaps a robber to write bank robbery laws?

Without it corporations will have no boundaries to chase profits,often on the peoples dime and health.

Get a fucking clue !

[luvcheney1]

@zoticus1 Without a very large corporation ( Or many) automobiles, energy, computers could not exist. Dont like Global conglomerates? Then you dont want your lights on, or a car in your garage, or a computer on your desk. Silly....

[zoticus1]

@luvcheney1

Your mixing corporations with conglomerates, you may want to find out the difference before you speak on a subject that is clearly beyond your intellectual level.

In which case I will propose a notion of reading a book?

[trajan74]

Any BP rig or well inside the US or its waters should be seized. What is the worst the Royal Navy can do sing Gilbert and Sullivan at the Enterprise Battle Group?

[exenrontexas]

@trajan74 I agree but there is a PROCESS to make that happen. Use the RICO statutes against organized crime. If their profits are generated by criminal activities in an organized way, then I think you might make a case for it. Seize their facilities, buildings, executive cars, bank accounts...everything.

[MarmaladeINFP]

People need to connect the puzzle pieces. Rand Paul defended BP by saying that it was just an accident and he said that the government shouldn't have the power to enforce regulation on corporations. This is the same reason Rand Paul said the government shouldn't have the power to enforce civil rights on corporations. This is the true face of libertarianism, what some call neoliberalism. This same logic is used to argue that the government shouldn't have forced the end of slavery.

[exenrontexas]

@MarmaladeINFP Rand Paul's father represents a Congressional district in Texas which includes several BP facilities. One hand washes the other. He isn't even elected yet and he is dirty.

[MarmaladeINFP]

@exenrontexas It's easy for well off libertarians to trust the interest of corporations when corporations serve their personal interest.

[Mojo1982]

@exenrontexas

What has Ron Paul said about this disaster? Has been defending BP? Are you alleging that Ron Paul is corrupt and a paid shill of BP?

[exenrontexas]

@Mojo1982 To my knowledge he has done nothing and it may be that he can do nothing unless he is on one of the related committees. It SEEMS that Rand Paul is saying that the Federal government should not be so hard on BP and that is the OPPOSITE of what should be done. The Preamble to the Constittution says that government should do the will of the PEOPLE. If the people want the government to oversee the safety of off shore drilling then they SHOULD.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas A bankrupt BP will not be in a position to pay money back. If the people demand a level of safety that costs too much, big oil will work somewhere else. Already, many multinationals earn money abroad, and never bring it into the US, and dont owe taxes. Most EOCD nations are 8-%10 lower tax rate then the US.

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 I don't want BP bankrupt. It was HALLIBURTON that filed for bankruptcy to AVOID paying court rulings and fines to people they screwed. Could be why they moved their HQ to Dubai? BP is RESPONSIBLE for the blow out and should pay 100% of the damages and clean up costs.

[exenrontexas]

@luvcheney1 AND BTW, it was CHENEY who bankrupted Halliburton in order to AVOID paying similar damages to other Halliburton victims.

[ScaperSteph]

They should have let themselves be arrested. Do it on a Live feed. Maybe all the screaming tea partiers should be out there protesting. The US government one way or the other is going to have go help pay for this cluster#uck.

[exenrontexas]

Hey, Tom, why not produce a list of the top ten questions to ask the BP, Halliburton and TransOcean cabal and then post them on a website so that citizens can forward to their representatives (if they chose) to get these answers. Try to develop a list that addresses the issues without hyperbole and ones that may generate answer that illustrate the problems.

[zoticus1]

@exenrontexas

You want answers from the corrupt?

All you will get is lies and excuses.

[exenrontexas]

@zoticus1 I worked at ENRON. I heard lies from Ken Lay beginning in 1985. I should have quit then. BEFORE Lay seized power is was a WONDERFUL company. You would have to screw the CEOs wife to get fired and maybe not even then. They were enormously profitable, very safety conscious, gave good service and good prices to customers and were..REGULATED. It was a pain being regulated but it kept them out of trouble. When regulation went when Reagan came it, everything changed.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas This was fraudulent, criminal, accounting practices, to make a sick corporation look good. The fraud was very widespread in the corp, maintaining a lie.

[luvcheney1]

@exenrontexas Sure, go try and fuck them all. The US is not the only place BP, Halliburton, Exxon makes a buck. Anywhere is fine, as long safety, taxes are less.

[agitcam]

The attack on Tulane is just another example of America Corporate Fascism at work. It won't end until corporate personhood is taken away from them. Unless the power of the corporations is contained this situation will only get worse.

[agitcam]

BP needs to be swept aside and the clean up should be taken up by someone who really cares about the environment. If BP can send out one ship to suck up the oil what about putting a price on barrels of oil and let people out of work like the fishermen go out and collect the oil. It might get cleaned up more quickly.

[agitcam]

When are people going to wake up. Obama is just a tool of the corporations. His job is to represent them not the American people.

[MrAubery]

I thought it was scary to see their control when I watched the news the other day, and the coast guard said we'll arrest you if you go any further (something to that effect) , then the coast guard said it's BP rules not ours. That's too much authority when a company can arrest you for tresspassing in a supposed public place or have authority over a place they don't own I'd love to see the papers that gives them that authority..

[MrMoodang]

What did you expect? Corporations and finance capital own Washington DC. It's called Corporatism.

[luvcheney1]

@MrMoodang Corporatism exists because the US Govt is so involved in regulation, taxation, permitting, licensing policies, etc. Corporations lobby, donate to politicians because Govt has the power of life, and death over their enterprises. IF Congress stayed out of voluntary exchanges between free people, corporations wouldnt need to "bribe" anybody. Do you support regulating? Then, you CAUSE "corporatism".

[onlywhenprovoked]

Obama had all the time in the world to get involved in the Crowley drama, but is he going to explain to us what's up with BP and Halliburton controlling our shores with the Coast Guard backing them up? Of course not.

It's just another 4 to 8 years of Bush with a better tan and better speaking skills.

We've been hijacked by the mobsters that have become oil tycoons and bankers.