Biden: GOP criticism of BP fund 'outrageous'

Biden: GOP criticism of BP fund 'outrageous'

www.washingtontimes.com

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Thursday said it's "outrageous," ''astounding" and "incredibly out of touch" for a GOP congressman to criticize the White House for demanding a BP victims compensation fund.

Mr. Biden responded to comments made by Rep. Joe L. Barton, Texas Republican, at a House hearing earlier in the day.

Mr. Barton, an oil industry ally, said he was "ashamed of what happened" and accused the White House of conducting a "$20 billion shakedown"

(visit the link for the full news article)

For once I agree with the Vice President. The fund should have been more like $100 billion considering there there oil spill is going to cripple multiple industries including fishing and tourism.

This guy needs to be voted out asap.

This $100 billion should have been paid by all companies involved but the $20 billion is a good start.

www.washingtontimes.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

I watched that earlier on MSNBC. That guy said the government should apologize to BP! Now the Republicans are saying the Democrats have received a huge Christmas present to slam the GOP because of that one guy.

This could have serious ramifications.

I wonder how much the two cities blown up with nukes america paid compensation too.

America is still the biggest mass foreign killer on earth, and they talk about this compensation. How many murders did america commit today alone?

reply to post by LDragonFire


The executive department is so obviously overstepping their bounds on this. Their part is to do what the legislature tells them to. Screw them for being power-hungry maniacs trying to manage the BP situation which has nothing to do with them. They need to just shut up. Obama should just shut up about BP in fact. He should do what the legislature tells him to that has passed the law books and nothing more. Now if the justice branch of the government demanded the victims fund that would make sense because compensation of victims is a justice branch job.

I don't know how people can appreciate the branches overlapping and doing each others job. I guess just like BP doesn't care about the safety checks designed to prevent blowouts, Americans don't care about the safety checks designed to prevent tyranny and chaos within the government.

For those who don't know its supposed to work like this:
Legislative Branch = Design the laws.
Executive Branch = Execute the laws.
Justice Branch = Ensure Victim Compensation & Ensure Higher Laws are not Broken with Lower Laws.

And it was made that way to prevent tyranny. But it didn't work and we are getting it, clearly. And its partially the fault of the people like the OP who do not protest the cross-pollination of the branches designed to be separate to prevent tyranny.

There is no law about victims compensation funds therefore Obama & crew are just making things up. And no, that isn't okay! That is a crime! Obama should be thrown in prison over the fund for all I care. What a criminal.

[edit on 17-6-2010 by truthquest]

Biden can talk?

I havent heard a peep from him since the elections. I am glad to know he is still alive. And yes, the Republicans jumping all over BP is pretty hypocritical, but, it does illustrate just how theatrical our politics are. Reality has NOTHING to do with what comes out of a politicians mouth. Ever.

Here is his apology:

After calling White House agreement with BP a 'slush fund,' Barton says he was misunderstood

misunderstood???? ha are you serious?

reply to post by andy1033


regardless of the American governments homicidal ways, that doesn't mean they don't have the right to demand BP set this fund up to compensate for the damage before they somehow declare they don't have the money to since it is a possibility (though not likely) that they could start crashing.

That would be like saying a guy who beats his wife has no right to tell other guys not to beat their wifes because it makes him a hypocrite. It doesn't make his claims any less valid. It's still wrong to hit your wife, just like it still a good thing that the gov't had them set up this fund.

Your making an ad hominem attack. Do you think it was wrong for the government to demand they set up this fund?

Every liberal media source in the US will be pushing that one talking point. Ignoring the complete failure of the govt to respond and oversee the oil spill, out of control spending, home foreclosures at record highs, unemployment getting worse, etc.

reply to post by truthquest


I understand what you are saying and I am concerned also about the lack of division between the duties of the different branches of government; however, was this an ultimatum? I'm not sure. If the Prez did demand this fund and also state a consequence if his demands weren't meant, then most certainly this was a breach of power.

But I still think the president should have a right to demand that a fund be set up. If BP gives in and does, that's there deal. If they didn't and the Prez retaliates, then, yes, that would definitely be inexcusable.

I can't believe the absolute stupidity of the GOP in siding with BP. The anger is so pervasive at the irresponsibility of BP in their rush for profits to endanger a whole ecosystem and livelyhood of millions with this disaster. And it's only going to get worse when the true extent of this catastrophe is made known. Try as they might, BP will not be able to spin this as anything but an event much like 911 in changing the consciousness of the American people.

Does the GOP think that the dembs won't use this "corporate worship" against them in the coming elections?

It's plain to me that the GOP has....

Let their ideology get in the way of their common sense.

It's almost as if they want to lose.



[edit on 17-6-2010 by whaaa]

reply to post by Illusionsaregrander


That is exactly the same thing that came into my mind

mr. vice president for the BofA doesn't know that more than half of the congress politicraps in Washington are big oil share holders and that most of the campaign money is oil financed.

So anything coming from the mouth of politicraps is nothing but a show, Bp and the rest of the oil barons have them all in their pockets.

Michelle Bachman calls BP fund REDISTRUBUTION OF WEALTH for cripes sakes!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by whaaa


It's plain to me that the GOP has....

Let their ideology get in the way of their common sense.

If there was a vote for quote of the week this would be it.

In the end no matter what you do you just can't fix stupid.

[edit on 17-6-2010 by LDragonFire]

Oh there's criticism to go on the BP fund, but not for the reasons the GOP is saying.

The BP fund will shield BP. And this is coming from WSWS, a socialist website.

Obama administration’s “escrow” account will shelter BP

Indeed, whatever the escrow account’s value—reports vary from $5 billion to over $20 billion—it will serve to shield BP from the real financial damages the spill has caused, which could be upwards of $1 trillion and far surpass the London-based firm’s market capitalization.

After the Exxon Valdez disaster, Congress passed the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, which capped at $75 million oil firms’ total liability for economic and environmental damages to private parties. The paltry sum was not indexed for inflation and remains at the same level.

If it gets Biden's panties in a knot, it must be a good thing! Maybe we'll get to see Obama's blood pressure come squirting out of his ears.