GOP apologizes to BP, sides with Big Oil over the American people

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Eleven Americans are dead due to the negligence of their employer BP (British Petroleum); the Gulf of Mexico is becoming a dead zone for sea life as giant plumes of oil pollute the water; fragile ecosystems along the Gulf Coast of the United States are being destroyed as oil washes up into marshlands and estuaries; Gulf Coast residents, many of whom for generations have made a living fishing in the Gulf, see their livelihood and way of life being destroyed as BP delays paying their economic losses resulting from BP's negligence; BP tried to pull a fast one on these same Gulf Coast residents by hiring them for clean-up jobs for a few thousand dollars, with a contract that contained a "waiver of claims" provision ("you're screwed, suckers!"); clean-up crews and wildlife rescue workers are becoming ill due to exposure to toxic substances and inadequate safety equipment; BP has been lying to the U.S. Coast Guard and government regulators for two months now about the size and scope of the leak, and what BP has the capacity to do to stop the leak; it is now the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history.

Despite this environmental disaster, Republican Governors Bobby Jindahl (LA) and Haley Barbour (MS) pleaded with the president not to suspend off-shore oil drilling. Louisiana in particular is a wholly owned subsidiary of the petro-chemical industry. These Gulf Coast governors still want "drill, baby, drill" at the same time they demand federal disaster funds and government assistance. They talk big about the so-called GOP values of self-reliance, smaller government, and reducing the federal debt. But Southern Republicans are always the first with their hands out for government money and assistance every time there is a flood, tornado, hurricane, or man-made disaster of their own making (ask Gov. Jindahl about what environmental regulations Louisiana imposes on the petro-chemical industry. "What environmental regulations?" is the correct answer.)

The tools of ignorance at FAUX News blame the president for the oil spill, not BP. The tools conveniently ignore that it was two Texas oil men, George W. Bush and Dick Cheney (of secret Energy Commission fame) who deregulated Big Oil and stacked the Minerals Management Services with their industry cronies to green-light more off-shore oil drilling in ever deeper water. While demanding that "Barack the magic Negro" (Rush Limbaugh) use his "magical powers" to stop the leak, the tools of ignorance at FAUX News continue to preach deregulation and an unfettered free market for "drill, baby, drill" for Big Oil.

The Minnesota Loon, Rep. Michele Bachmann, has emerged as BP's chief defender. She worries about poor BP being "fleeced" by the president. You read that right. BP should not have to pay for the damage it has caused, despite its public promises to do so. Oh no, you the American taxpayer are once again going to be asked to pay for another company "too big to fail" — it is you who should be fleeced. Republicans vs. making BP pay:

Leading off the crazy was Michele Bachmann, who called the escrow fund a "redistribution of wealth fund." She told Dave Weigel that she worried that BP was being "fleeced" by the Obama administration.

Now today, Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) unbelievably apologized to BP's Tony Hayward, saying that he is "ashamed" how America has treated BP. If a Democrat did this, FAUX News would be running screaming chyrons across the screen accusing the Tory traitor of treason against his country and demanding his prosecution. Hayward hearing: Republican apologizes to BP CEO:

Here's the first (and probably the biggest) jaw-dropping moment of today's hearing with BP CEO Tony Hayward: GOP Rep. Joe Barton, the top Republican on the House Energy Committee’s subcommittee for investigations, apologizing to BP CEO Tony Hayward, saying he’s "ashamed" of the American response to BP’s oil spill.

According to Barton, asking BP to set up an escrow account to compensate victims of BP's disaster was a criminal action — a "shakedown" as he put it.

More at Daily Kos: The GO(B)P:

The GOP becomes the party of BP and Republican Joe Barton goes full on belly up for his European masters:

I apologize … 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 …

(Image by Karen Wehrstein).

The GOP sides with Big Oil over the American people. Rather than hold BP accountable, Republicans want to blame the U.S. government — which is "We the people" — and rather than BP pay for the cost of clean-up and economic damages, Republicans want "We the people" — the taxpayers, to once again bail out a company "too big to fail" — a foreign company no less. Why? Because the super-wealthy international "investor class" wants its dividends from the global corporations that the Republican Party represents and defends. The American people be damned. 

Once again, Republicans want "free market" capitalism so long as there is a profit to the investor class, but want socialized debt when investments go bad. Republicans want to eliminate any risk to the super-wealthy investor class. The American taxpayer is their insurance policy against loss.

That's it! Not one goddamn Republican should be elected to office at any level of government. They have sold this country out time and time again to global corporations, and now they want to do it again. The "corporatocracy" that Republicans seek to impose is a threat to the continuation of our democratic Republic.