President Obama negogiated a deal with BP to start an escrow account with $20 Billion for the Gulf Coast oil spill. I'd say that's a good start to funding the recovery of the Gulf Coast environment and its citizens' livelihoods. And I believe BP, TransOcean, and Halliburton should pay for the entire thing. Being an industrial accident, rather than a natural disaster, the taxpayer shouldn't pay a penny, IMHO.

So I'm just amazed at the sycophantic GOP members that are now calling the escrow account a "fleecing" of BP, and the president using "thuggish" tactics. One GOP rep even apologized to the BP CEO during the congressional hearing for the president's actions. Amazing.

And only a few days ago the GOP was accusing the president of not being tough enough. Now he's a thug.

Pretty transparent, ain't it?

Why are you so surprised? The GOP is so deep in the Oil Trust's pocket, they actually started a two-front land war in Asia for them. Matter of fact another American kid just died today protecting Unocal employee Hamid Karzai.

Have you completely forgotten 2000 thru 2008?

By the time this is over, tapping 100% of BP's assets is still going to leave the American public picking up most of the tab. The $20 billion escrow is probably the smartest thing Obama has done thus far in gov't. involvement with the spill. 30,000 federal workers have been detailed to this effort. BP should pick up that tab instead of the taxpayers, too.

No reason the tax payers should be responsible for a dime of the cost.

Who voted to cap liability?

I applaud Obama for getting that concession from BP. Totally appropraite and justified. The GOP guy who apologized to BP needs to be voted out of office.

"Courts usually decide these things."

Yeah that worked out well for Exxon. Not so well for everybody else.

Sure, not all, but definately more than one.

The Heritage Foundation had this to say.

And Heritage Foundation senior fellow Sally McNamara said this via Twitter:

Always playing the victim card.

As another indicator, House Minority Leader John Boehner, Minority Whip Eric Cantor, and GOP Conference Chairman Mike Pence released a joint statement claiming the spill is a natural disaster. That mentality will lead to taxpayer funded cleanup via FEMA.

BP needs an anal probe, not a BJ

Don't forget Sarah Palin remarking several weeks ago that Obama had his foot on BPs throat - like that was a bad thing. No doubt the Rs have always been in big oils pocket, while the dems got the crumbs. This will hurt the Rs.

Warning!! C&P to follow!!!

According to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Republicans receive far more campaign money from the oil and gas industry than do Democrats.

So far in 2010, the oil and gas industries have contributed $12.8 million to all candidates, with 71% of that money going to Republicans. During the 2008 election cycle, 77% of the industry's $35.6 million in contributions went to Republicans, and in the 2008 presidential contest, Republican candidate Sen. John McCain received more than twice as much money from the oil and gas industries as Obama: McCain collected $2.4 million; Obama, $898,000.

This is a decades-long trend, the center says: Since 1990, oil and gas companies have donated $238.7 million to candidates and parties, with 75% of the money going to Republicans.



To borrow Palin's phrase, does she wonder if there's any connection between the contributions made to Republican candidates and the Republican Party's support for the oil companies. "I don't know why the question isn't asked by the mainstream media and by others."

Is Joe (manbearpig) still moving to FL? This could possibly end this conversation.