"I'm ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday," Barton said. "I think it is a tragedy of the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown, in this case, a $20 billion shakedown." "I apologize," Barton told Hayward. "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." http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20008020-503544.html You can't make this stuff up.
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You should be thanking him, in secret service like fashion, he just dove in front of the bullet for Obama, and saved Obama's ass atleast for a couple days.
Barton has given the White House and MSM something to talk about. Nice distraction from the very real fact which is, the oil is still gushing, clean up efforts have been abysmal, and everyone is hoping the next gulf storm won't happen until next year. Sorry, when that oil gets picked up at 70-100mph and starts spraying the coast, Obama better have a rain coat on, because the pissing contest will only be getting started.
This sums it up: "Had British Petroleum affiliated with Al Qaeda and tried to blow up an airplane, it would have gotten due process rights, a court appointed lawyer, and miranda warning while avoiding Henry Waxman."
Due process rights? Regarding culpability? You mean you're still unclear if BP did it? Are you related to Barton?
It's crystal clear. But the rule of law is obviously not for you. Joe Barton is Right: There Was a $20 Billion Shakedown in the White House Posted June 17th, 2010 at 3:00pm Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) is under fire from the White House and the Beltway media for his statement to BP today: 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 âshakedownâ of Godfather-like proportions. Lets review: 1) BP agreed to pay $20 billion over four years to an âindependentâ 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 Obamaâs 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 ânegotiatedâ 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 doesnât. The mob canât collect from a bankrupt business. Clinton administration Deputy Attorney General turned BP lawyer Jamie Gorelick let slip what the game is really all about: Well, not anyone who expects the law to be followed. Yesterdayâs White House victim was not BP. It was the rule of law. Just as the Obama administration junked the bankruptcy code last year to protect their union allies, they are doing the exact same thing this time for their environmental ones.
1) BP agreed to pay $20 billion over four years to an âindependentâ party ------------------ Which brings to mind, where would this obligation land if BP filed bk, today. first are the creditors, then the employees, then the environmental claims, and then the likes of shrimpers