Government To BP: We Are Your Overlord. You Will Pay As We Say.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/oil-spill-spreads-gulf-bp-calls-liability-waivers/story?id=10536850

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano told "Good Morning America" today that it was unacceptable for BP to ask fishermen it hired to help with the cleanup of the Gulf oil spill to sign waivers that would limit the company's liability.

"I'm looking into that right now." she said. "I was just alerted to that and if that in fact is the case, that is a practice we want stopped immediately."

BP CEO Tony Hayward told "GMA" this morning that the company has already put a stop to the practice.

"That was an early misstep George, frankly. We were using a standard contract. We've eliminated that," Hayward told George Stephanopoulos.

The oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico, which is estimated to be the size of Puerto Rico, has shown no sign of stopping as the country braces for what could be the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history.

Napolitano and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will meet with BP executives in Washington, D.C., today.

Napolitano said she wants to ensure that people who have been affected by the oil slick have a clear claims process and "prompt reimbursement."

"They are going to pay for the federal government's cost, for the states and most importantly for the individuals and communities that are going to be most directly impacted," Napolitano said.

The spill threatens four Gulf states and hundreds of miles of sensitive coast line. There are reports of injured wildlife including an oil-covered bird in Louisiana and 20 dead sea turtles in Mississippi, although it will require additional tests to find out the cause of death.

More than 6,800 square miles of federal fishing areas, from the Mississippi River to the Florida Panhandle, have been closed for at least 10 days.

Amid criticism of the federal government's response, President Obama Sunday visited the region to reiterate support and make clear that BP will be held accountable for the cleanup.

"Let me be clear, BP is responsible for this leak. BP will be paying for the bill," Obama said.

Hayward said that while his company is in charge of the cleanup, BP was not responsible for the accident April 20 that led to 11 deaths.

"The drilling rig was Transocean's drilling rig, it was their equipment that failed, its their systems, their processors that were running it," Hayward said.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/oil-spill-spreads-gulf-bp-calls-liability-waivers/story?id=10536850

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano told "Good Morning America" today that it was unacceptable for BP to ask fishermen it hired to help with the cleanup of the Gulf oil spill to sign waivers that would limit the company's liability.

"I'm looking into that right now." she said. "I was just alerted to that and if that in fact is the case, that is a practice we want stopped immediately."

BP CEO Tony Hayward told "GMA" this morning that the company has already put a stop to the practice.

"That was an early misstep George, frankly. We were using a standard contract. We've eliminated that," Hayward told George Stephanopoulos.

The oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico, which is estimated to be the size of Puerto Rico, has shown no sign of stopping as the country braces for what could be the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history.

Napolitano and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will meet with BP executives in Washington, D.C., today.

Napolitano said she wants to ensure that people who have been affected by the oil slick have a clear claims process and "prompt reimbursement."

"They are going to pay for the federal government's cost, for the states and most importantly for the individuals and communities that are going to be most directly impacted," Napolitano said.

The spill threatens four Gulf states and hundreds of miles of sensitive coast line. There are reports of injured wildlife including an oil-covered bird in Louisiana and 20 dead sea turtles in Mississippi, although it will require additional tests to find out the cause of death.

More than 6,800 square miles of federal fishing areas, from the Mississippi River to the Florida Panhandle, have been closed for at least 10 days.

Amid criticism of the federal government's response, President Obama Sunday visited the region to reiterate support and make clear that BP will be held accountable for the cleanup.

"Let me be clear, BP is responsible for this leak. BP will be paying for the bill," Obama said.

Hayward said that while his company is in charge of the cleanup, BP was not responsible for the accident April 20 that led to 11 deaths.

"The drilling rig was Transocean's drilling rig, it was their equipment that failed, its their systems, their processors that were running it," Hayward said.

That is the most asinine argument that I have ever heard. BP caused the oil spill and BP should pay for it. Why should billions of taxpayer dollars be spent to fix a problem that was caused by someone else. A power trip? Making some entity responsible for their actions is not a power trip, that's logic. Do the crime, you do the time. You caused the mess, you clean it up. Simple as that. Overlord? Powertrip? You get an "A" for bizarre hyperbole but an "F" for logic.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

That is the most asinine argument that I have ever heard. BP caused the oil spill and BP should pay for it. Why should billions of taxpayer dollars be spent to fix a problem that was caused by someone else. A power trip? Making some entity responsible for their actions is not a power trip, that's logic. Do the crime, you do the time. You caused the mess, you clean it up. Simple as that. Overlord? Powertrip? You get an "A" for bizarre hyperbole but an "F" for logic.

BP wasn't responsible for the accident itself. They may have rights to the oil, but they didn't manufacturer/keep up with the rig (from what's been see thus far).

My problem here is the fact that if BP wants to get people to sign waivers and those people want to do so, they should be able to. The government is playing power trip is saying that's unacceptable and that BP will pay for everything no matter what.

BP has offered to pay for cleaning up the spill, as they should, but at the same time the Government has convicted BP without a trial to pay for EVERYTHING in between now as well. That's not right and very overstepping.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

BP don't own the oil rig, but they operate it under license.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

BP wasn't responsible for the accident itself. They may have rights to the oil, but they didn't manufacturer/keep up with the rig (from what's been see thus far).

My problem here is the fact that if BP wants to get people to sign waivers and those people want to do so, they should be able to. The government is playing power trip is saying that's unacceptable and that BP will pay for everything no matter what.

BP has offered to pay for cleaning up the spill, as they should, but at the same time the Government has convicted BP without a trial to pay for EVERYTHING in between now as well. That's not right and very overstepping.

If it went to court, BP and Transocean would be joint and severally liable. That means that both must pay, if BP want to third-party Transocean in a separate lawsuit, that's entirely up to them.

The fishermen are not in a position to make a rational decision, they don't have the legal background, they don't have insurance adjusters, they are being coerced at a vulnerable time. It is almost a case of signing under duress which voids most contracts. BP was trying to cover its azz. That's not a power trip, if the government arrogates unspecified powers unto itself, then we have a power trip.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

God forbid we hold companies accountable for damages they cause. As always, some would love to continue with the American way: Privatize profits, socialize risks. How fcuking retarded to attack the feds for making sure that those responsible will pay every penny of damages they cause.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

God forbid we hold companies accountable for damages they cause. As always, some would love to continue with the American way: Privatize profits, socialize risks. How fcuking retarded to attack the feds for making sure that those responsible will pay every penny of damages they cause.

BP may not be entirely responsible... The Feds have had an action plan for this sort of thing since the 90's and it took them a week to act..... There's a reason why they are blaming BP for everything and it's to cover their own ####.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

BP may not be entirely responsible... The Feds have had an action plan for this sort of thing since the 90's and it took them a week to act..... There's a reason why they are blaming BP for everything and it's to cover their own ####.

I see, so as I said previously: privatize the profits and socialize the risk. You don't disappoint, Paul.

[Heracles 417]

I see, so as I said previously: privatize the profits and socialize the risk. You don't disappoint, Paul.

So true hey...

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

I see, so as I said previously: privatize the profits and socialize the risk. You don't disappoint, Paul.

So now your a picky socialist?

Edited May 4, 2010 by Col. Lingus

[Fandango 1,439]

I see, so as I said previously: privatize the profits and socialize the risk. You don't disappoint, Paul.

That's what the bailouts did

I can't comment on this particular issue because I'm not up to date with all the details. But I had to make this comment because that's exactly how I see the bailouts...

[thongd4me 69]

The oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico, which is estimated to be the size of Puerto Rico, has shown no sign of stopping...

That's just a few degrees of thinness from becoming the size of Texas.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

That's what the bailouts did.

Essentially, yes. And there isn't much of a fan-club for those bailout's either. However, the financial industry has repaid much of those funds to the taxpayer and we continue to get those funds back. I thought the administration was fairly clear on the point that they'll see to it that every last penny comes back into the federal coffers. Why should the oil industry not be entirely on the hook for the cost of the damages they caused?

There's nothing wrong, in my opinion, with deploying everything in the aresenal to contain the damage as long as it is clear and understood that the oil industry will foot the bill entirely - down to the last dime.

Containing the damage, by the way, is what the bailouts did as well.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Oh no, nuance!

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Essentially, yes. And there isn't much of a fan-club for those bailout's either. However, the financial industry has repaid much of those funds to the taxpayer and we continue to get those funds back. I thought the administration was fairly clear on the point that they'll see to it that every last penny comes back into the federal coffers. Why should the oil industry not be entirely on the hook for the cost of the damages they caused?

There's nothing wrong, in my opinion, with deploying everything in the aresenal to contain the damage as long as it is clear and understood that the oil industry will foot the bill entirely - down to the last dime.

Containing the damage, by the way, is what the bailouts did as well.

Here's my problem with this. While I agree BP should pay for the immediate damage done in the waters there, the Government is heavily responsible for that oil slick reaching the coast and spreading like it has.

As pointed out in the other thread, the Government had a plan in case an instance like this happened and they didn't act until a week later and still aren't in full containment mode. - There's been a plan on the books since 1994 on what to do, and they simply weren't ready...

Also on top of that, they had just run tests back in March in case an incident happened... I find that strange in itself as well.