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[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/06/18/tony.hayward.congress.gi.art.jpg caption="BP CEO Tony Hayward declines to speculate on what may have prevented disaster."]
BP chief's testimony angers lawmakers
(CNN) – As oil continued gushing into the Gulf of Mexico from BP's ruptured deepwater well Friday, the political firestorm sparked by the environmental disaster showed no signs of slowing.
Lawmakers said many questions remained after BP CEO Tony Hayward faced a bipartisan barrage of criticism during a heated day of testimony on Capitol Hill.
"It was frustrating, not just to me but to the American people," Rep. Bart Stupak said Thursday on CNN's "John King, USA."
U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the government's oil disaster response manager, is expected to brief reporters on cleanup efforts Friday morning.
On Thursday, he said drilling of two "relief wells," viewed as the ultimate solution to the Deepwater Horizon gusher, was ahead of schedule, but he shied away from saying the well would be plugged early, citing the complexity of the operation. Read more
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If a web-cam on a driver's helmet is deemed unconstitutional, then all municipal and private cameras, such as those used in public places and private convenience stores, should also be deemed unconstitutional.
As an average American citizen, I am ashamed of our members of Congress. I am a proud legal American citizen who, along with the majority of American citizens, look at our congressional members as unfit to perform the responsibilities assigned to them. They cannot be trusted to look out for the interest of the People of this Great Nation and listen to the People and act accordingly. They can't even read the bills that they pass. As for the BP hearings, they are looking at this hearing as a way to get the heat off their backs for not supporting the American People. They didn't or can't read the Health Bill that they passed; they want to criticize the Governor of Arizona and the officials of Arizona regarding illegal immigrants entering the state when they don't even support the federal bills passed to support this situation. They can continue to spend this country until it is bankrupt. Their personal morals are disgusting. They are more interested in taking God away from the People of this Great Land. And now, these lowlife Congressional members have the guts to ask that the BP CEO be fired or resign. Maybe they should look at their own track records and see the poor job that they are doing and resign before the American Citizens vote them out of office for their poor performance. Hell, the members of Congress can't even get together to improve the unemployment and financial crisis facing this Great Nation. They should be ashamed of their actions, but their EGOS stand in the way.
I am a proud American, but I am not proud of our government officials, including the President of the United States and the members of Congress.
Have a nice day.
Bob
Yesterday I was doing some checking on what is available for alternative fuels, and found some very interesting info! There is a company called SOLAZYME that not only has created an alternative bio-fuel made from algae, but has contracts with the US Navy, Chevron, and a health food company. In 2008, they figured they could be ready for mass production in about 3 years, but cant find an updated date for that so far. It reduces carbon emissions by about 90%. We need to scream loud and clear about this, louder than the oil company lobbyists!
Although I do disagree to some extent with your assertion that BP doesn't know how to stop the spill. I believe they can cap it, but that they've realized if they do, they may not get another chance to come back for the mother load. The president, if it is properly capped, may just say, thanks but no thanks we'll get another company to deal with it [something I believe he should do anyway]. At least this way, they can continue to skim some off the top of the water, and in their eyes some profit from it, is better than none from it.
We pay $billions for MMS oversight. Obama recognizes the need for reorganization. However, as always, Obama's management skills are lacking in his choice of qualified people for key jobs. Why not select someone with Oil Industry knowledge and management skills? That would be unique!
The real shame is that after ragging on Bush at every turn, he took charge, appointed the management team and they choices from Salazar on down perpetuated the incompetence. No one in MMS recognized that there was no ready to go technology in place to handle a complete blowout! Shouldn't we expect more from our highly paid government employees? Once again, Obama's administration is a day late and a dollar short!
@Bill Grafio
I completley agree. I thought I was the only one that caught that smirk. hesat there lieka petulant child jsut grinning away as he got scolded by peopel he has no fear of and certainly doens't respect.
I watched as much of the hearing as I could yesterday and from what I heard it was a waste of time and money. I agree with having hearings to find out what happen and how to prevent this from ever happening again but for now the focus should be on stopping the leak. I feel the politicians are using this as a political gain instead of the issue on hand. The politicians should be concentrating more on getting the leak stopped first then we can worry about who to blame. Rep. Barton made me sick when he apologized to B.P. then he wants to retract the apology for fear of loosing his position. What a joke! What a good example of how two face our great politicians are. It’s been two months and oil is still pouring into the gulf causing destruction to our marshes, beaches, marine life and way of life. When is the pressure going to come down on B.P to stop this leak?
Let's not put the blame on BP. Put it onourselves. When we and our so called leaders endorse an immoral agenda of homo-sex, abortion, and fetal stem cell research we get the curses. Deuteronomy 28. Check it out folks. Obama should kick his own ass.
Tony Hayward got away with flipping off Congress and smirked the entire time. After all, he knew that the hearing had no real meat. There was no threat of any punishment to Haywood or BP.
I wonder where the $20 Billion BP has put away will really go?
As I watched the hearing, I was laughing to myself as I remembered a common phrase, "A meeting is that activity that causes all real work to come to a complete halt"
As an Engineer, I can tell you that if BP knew how to stop the spill, they would have done it by now. They have no idea how to stop it. I wouldn't be surprised if this spill continues through Christmas.
AMAZING: WE the people are our own worst enemy. WE yell & complain about everything but cannot agree on anything! WE know that we are addicted to oil but refuse to give up our "toys", don't want to consider anything new, even if it would create jobs. WE have a total disaster ongoing, probably for years, and screaming to keep drilling.
WE watch our "elected children" continually screw up, yet, we let them stay in office. Does anyone really beleive that T. Hayward was going to say anything worth a hoot? Do you think that the other oil companies are not taking shortcuts to make more $$$? Do you think that IF WE all got together, as the "little people" and tried to vote all these children out of office, make them create new laws to help us, that it would make any difference, or that we even could? WE have allowed ourselves to be put in the troubles we now have and have given tacit approval by our non-action, laid back, who gives a darn, attitude! Welcome to the NEW America! Lets see how long it lasts before our real enemies just come in and take over.
I hear a lot of misplaced anger in these comments and comments from around the world.
Has anyone besides me lost TOTAL and complete faith in our current politicians? They had 5 minutes to ask questions – FIVE MINUTES and all but 2 spent most of their time acting like a child I would smack upside the face. Whining! You wasted MY MONEY by sitting their saying that what's happened in terrible. DUH! Ask about what BP investigation is doing, directions their taking, etc. Don't insult my intelligence by fluffing up your "Peacock" feathers but ASK A RELEVANT QUESTION.
I say fire them, the commission, let the professionals deal with the spill, then let the gov't get involved with an investigation.
I'd be willing to bet that if I could have a conversation with Mr. Hayword that I could find out more over a lunch than those bafoons on capital hill did in a whole day.
No wonder the US is in trouble.
I did not watch the hearings at all. I believe they are a wate of time and tax payers money. The BP CEO was grilled for over 6 hours and said nothing. It should have been obvious after the first hour the committe would get no answers and should have ended the hearings then and there. To continue was just ridiculous. Congress needs to do their job and reduce the number of hearings. Get out and talk to the people they represent.
Let's keep things in perspective folks..
Barton SINCERELY apologized to BP CEO Tony Hayward, and then INSINCERELY apologized to the American peopel and especially thsoe families who los tloved ones and the people suffering in the gulf coast states.
So don't MISCONSTRUE who the real culprits are in all this; the oil companies and the politicians who love them.
Jane, those comments were made in his 2nd apology!!! Which btw was released by Rep Boehner's office, not his!!!! I have no problem w/ the administration using strong arm tactics to protect Americans from harm caused by giant corporations!!!! I suppose you think those in the Gulf should wait 20 years for compensation like the victims of the Exxon-Valdez spill did. BTW: 6,000 of thos victims died w/o ever receiving compensation!!!!!
Jane that's BS and you know it.
This president has been nothing but accomodating to people who don't deserve such accomodations.
When the president was still campaigning, he stated flat out that he wanted a greater attention paid to green/renewable resources. As he continued his campaign he realized that the oil companies and coal companies had their teeth sunk too deep into the American psyche; so, he altered his original platform to accomodate people like you who support big oil and big coal, even going so far as to buckeling to offshore drilling and so-called clean coal industries.
Both of which are farcical at best. there's no such thing as clean coal, and obviously I dont' have to brign up the dangers of jsut drillign for oil much less the danger of oil revenues going to terrorist sponsoring countries.
Business shoudl be able to run unfetterd in a well regulated economy, and that's exaclty what obama is tryign to get us towards; a WELL REGULATED, yet unfettered economy.
All this claptrap abotu Obama interfering in business is jsut tea party talkign poitns that deserve no credibility.
BP don’t want to plug the hole. They can’t stop the flow of oil coming out of the BOV, because if they do it will stop the siphon process. Then that hole will be dead and they will have wasted time and money drilling the hole. This is such a big oil find and worth billions of dollars, It’s better to keep the oil flowing into the ocean at any cost to the environment, while their drilling the relief wells than to loose billions of dollars.
i think this hearing on tony hayward is only for the duds postering before the tv cameras. they know tony will not reveal anything because of the possibility of criminal and\or civil lawsuits. just another way to screw us taxpayers. looking back, i cant remember any hearing has had any merit. the only think that had any merit was the congressman that apologized to tony hayward.
norman
texas
These hearings are a joke... a photo-op for inept congressmen! The telling question raised by the congressmen was: Mr. Hayward, are you insulting our intelligence? That would be impossible!
Well these guys draw pay from us so weather it does any good is beside the point right, i mean after all when do we get to see so many of our elected do so much of nothing and some make fools of them selfs, To bad they did not do their jobs right in the frist place and BP would not have been in the gulf in the second place
The Congressional hearing yesterday was a joke. Nothing but bluster and showmanship from a group of Congressmen who know very little about the oil business. Tony Hayward did not say much in the inquisition due to the threats by this administration of criminal action. Rather than work with BP to solve this problem, the knee jerk response of this Democratic administration is to pursue criminal charges rather than acknowledge this was an unprecedented accident.
Would they expect Barack Obama, as CEO of our country, to know the background and reason for EVERY decision that was made at a lower level in one of the many agencies within our government? That is apparently what they expect of a CEO of a very large business.
I never missed you (people) everyday of my life. I watched a.m. and evening CNN up to LKlL program. So, I don't missed anything if you ask. Pres speech does't change anything. Anchors people can blah....blah all day you won't change anything. The main concerned is to stop oil leak and no one STILL can do it. BP's devices failed.And if there's someone who can do it bureacratic redtapes interfers ending the situation to getting more worse instead of being solve. So, how we stand.? CNN yaks too much but don't want to do any thing or al least help the person who's spilling his guts to be notice to help stop the oil leak. Politicians, and whole media does the talkings but zero in action.. I am advocating myself that if they will let me, I have a simple way to stop the oil leak in the Gulf and yet oil rig still be operational after repair. This statement of mine been circulating for a month now but no one seems want to get serious. So, we let go oil gushing furiously until the whole thing hit the fence and situation go beyond repair. I just can't understand why installing? My idea if BP build it and apply it correctly 100% it will work and the problem is solve. My life is equal to my idea."What I can do to breaks redtapes? THIS IS INSANE!
Democrats repond to the Supreme Courts ruling in January allowing corporate full range in poltical cash gifts in United States elections.
They ladeled it DISCLOSE Act or the Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act).
A friend said DISCLOSE 's gist is that campaign ads must reveal who paid for them. That's good but–that's it? That's like legalizing bank robbery, as long as the robbers wear name tags...lol he is a card!.
Remember the Wall Street reform business and American's wanting reform? The Senate banking chairman said his bill is the American folks victory.
Why are Wall Street the bankers smiling? Well Obama and Congress added a tiny incresase of regulations while they allowed bankers to keep their overwhelming size and power and their monopolistic market control intact. Didn't break them up!
How did they escape? Money. In the past year, while Congress's banking committees have been writing the reform bill, Wall Street executives and lobbyists have held 845 fundraising events for the members of those committees, putting millions of dollars into their re-election campaigns.
I don't have a problem with what Rep. Barton said yesterday. He acknowledged that BP is at fault for the leak and that the company needs to take responsibility. However, what is also apparent is that our current administration does not like big business and has been very heavy handed with many sectors. This meeting on Wednesday was another example of the strong arm tactics this White House employs on groups they don't like. Why was Eric Holder in that meeting other than to intimidate?
Doug Lewis ... I think you have been sniffing way too much glue to compare filling your car with gasoline .... and a beach full of crude oil. Try inhaling some fresh air to clear you brain cells please.
The biggest arguing point for those who support oil drilling in the Gulf is that it will decrease our dependence on foreign oil. That's a LIE!!! All oil, no matter where it is recovered goes on the international market!!! Anyone who thinks oil from the Gulf goes directly to US gas stations does not know the truth of the matter. It goes to where demand is the highest, where it can get top dollar!!!
I am very highly trained in Haz-Mat handling and have a comment. Having employees wear masks to clean up crude borders the ridiculous and scares the populace.You will breath more toxix fumes from filling up your auto with gasoline than you will breath all day cleaning up crude oil .
The oil disaster was caused by people that proclaim proudly that they are conservatives. Including top executives of BP, Halliburton, and Transocean, as well as the top regulatory officials. THEY AIN"T no they are those anything goes corporatist. So too are the five Supreme Court justices who recently enthroned corporate money over democracy are routinely labeled by the media as "conservative"–but THEY AIN'T –their reckless rulings destroy our democratic values, rather than conserve them. Again, corporatists all...
Can anyone tell us of any politician – in any party – that hasn't taken money from big oil?
I would like to appologize to Mr Haywaed for subjecting him to such a bunch of rank fools who know very little of how businesses should be run.This only occured due to extremely poor timing on behalf of BP.
Mr Hayward (and all who followed the debacle on TV) should take into consideration the fact that the voters of the USA are smack dab in the middle of changing everyone on the hill in a move to save the USA from fiscal disasters of the greatest measure.
The first clue should have been how the idiot interogators expected not only full findings of a disaster this soon, but they even had the audacity (stupidity) to expect the very top brass of an extremely large company to know what was written by employees in emails and on post it pads.
All of this from folks who allow purchasing 800 dollar hammers and 30,000 dollar toilet seats....GO FIGURE
and to the rest of you blaming obama for the lack of oversight... give us a break. First, you paint his supporters as seeing him as the new messiah [a flat out lie] and then oyu attack that notion, then you attack him for using a teleprompter, as if presidents should now be required tio have a photographic memory, and yoru biggest spokeswoman agianst sucha thing Sarah "failin" Palin is caught readign notes on her hand, and now you're claiming he shoudl have known everythign that was going on in oversight committes he wasn't privy too as if he was omnipotent?!
Give us a break.
Bill of St. Louis you know how the CNN only loves hyping sensationalism so they won't report things about politics where legislature is hurting people. Instead of reporting and questioning the why the US Senate can not pass extended unemployment insurance benefit, you will hear and see tons of their pundits knocking Obama for not getting jobs...these cab;e and network stenographers (anchors) only long to discuss chefs and other eliteist things they live to do...
and that's PRESIDENT OBAMA Dave, not Sheik. Your bigotry is disgusting.
If anyoen may be compared toa sheik it would be the oil tycoons, Bush/Cheney. Get your facts straight dude.
Barton apologizes for what others misconstrued..?!
mis·con·strue (mskn-str)
tr.v. mis·con·strued, mis·con·stru·ing, mis·con·strues
To mistake the meaning of; misinterpret.
In other words, he apologizes for you, John, or you Kiran... he apologizes to us, for our misconstruing what he meant by what he said when he did exactly apologize TO BP! He apologizes for YOUR complete lack of understanding of what he meant by what he said.
That's NOT an apology, that's a slap in the face.
Kick the bums out; the man has to go.
Another fine example of the media trying to create the news rather than just report it. The media plugged these hearings, then gave them full coverage & now are only asking if they are just another way for politicians to posture! You & I knew that before you covered yesterday's hearings!!! Rep Stupak now says Mr Hayward was absurd & ridiculous. Not anymore than the hearing itself or the media's coverage of it!!!
As for Rep Barton's apology to BP, what do you expect from a Congressman who has received more money from the oil co's than anyone else in the House? His 1st apology to the citizens shows how insincere our lawmakers are & how stupid they think we are. I'm sorry that you misconstrued my comments?
His comments shouldn't have shocked anyone since the GOP has been trying to protect BP & the oil industry since the explosion occured. They have repeatedly blocked raising the liability cap, condemned the moratorium & even defeated a repeal of $35 billion in tax breaks for the oil industry!!! Not any different from how they have and are protecting the financial giants who caused such hardship for millions of Americans!!!
Good point K, why even bring him (Tony H.) over when he is facing potential criminal charges. That's why civil suits take place AFTER associated criminal suits. Couldn't he have pled the 5th on every question. I'm certainly not defending him or BP. It just seems that these questions are going to be best answered by subpoena, depositions of whistle blowers and the like – NOT the current CEO who has to answer to his board as well as keep his keester out of federal prison!
Will Washington be up on crimminal charges too? They should be for this oil tragedy.
Karen I am like you in that I'd like names and instances of sex and drugs and pay-offs and rubber stamping from BP to the inspectors of the MMS. Expose them lock,stock and barrel. The list and instances must exist from the investigation that told about them.
Expose it and make these people known so it might deter it from occurring again and might save 11 lives like those that perished in the Gulf rig explosion.
Please tell me why there no one reporting that the US Senate can not pass extended unemployment insurance benefit. The US
will see millions on the street. You will see bread lines in two weeks.
Thank you,
St. Louis Missouri
I have never seen so much biased reporting and news persons on CNN. It started right after this president took office. CNN needs to stop the 24/7 polling of the president. I wish his supporters will speak out on this matter and limit the time spent watching CNN. For the most part, look at the makeup of the panelist. They are mostly white males spreading their spin.
Some of them with their better halves could care less about the president.
There are already products on the market that can drastically increase a women's sex drive, they can be found at almost any health food store. All natural, breast enhancement pills!
What I want to know is the Obama administration going to be held accoutable for approving and signing off on the "safety" regulations that were in place before the oil spill occurred?
Yes, hearings have ther elements of postering. But anyone who lived through the Watergate hearnings knows their value. There are things learned by "Slicing and Dicing" a witness. If a witness is evasive, we can deduce a lot from what and how they evade a question. For instance, there was a lot of evasion during the Watergate hearings about where the money came from for the coverup. This led direclty to campaign reform laws.
So yes, there is a lot of postering, and they can be messy, but they're needed. If you think your senators or congresspersons are psotering, let them know – or kick them out.
Enough already! I wish congress would put as much energy into getting skimmers, barges, berms, whatever it takes into action to save our beaches and ecosystems and to help gulf coast business people. There will be time for criminal proceedings after the crisis is solved. When will congress understand that actions speak louder than words, insults do not help the situation. This country has so many problems, we need some managers to take control of the situation and move ahead – I'd like to participate in a "hearing" raking these congress members over the coals! Oh yea, I'll get to do that at the ballot box.
What i want to know is Rep.Barton going to be held accountable for his words he spoke so loudly in that hearing or will you the media not cover this part of the story and let him get away with it, I mean after all he is a Republican and they after all do no wrong. I think this will get a pass by most of the media......
Yesterday's hearings were nothing more than a construed spectacle that did nothing more than to highlight grandstanding of politicians. Tony Hayward masterfully allowed the politicians to show their inefficacy by saying little or nothing! The less Tony said, the more our representatives became frustrated and wiggled!
And the questions Tony was asked? Ridiculous! No one would answer such questions in the face of a potential prosecution! As schmarmy as BP may be, yesterday Tony Hayward proved they were not the MOST schmarmy!
These hearings accomplished nothing that we did not already know – Congressional competence is limited clearly to blame games and not creating real and pragmatic solutions. My God, our Government could not even handle an automotive rebate program – and now they want to handle a disastrous oil leak?
Oh I think Tony did a good job. His job isn't to humor Congressional arrogance–his job is to protect his company and fix the problem. I wasn't shocked at all that rather than be sliced and diced, Tony came off as professional and controlled. The members on the other hand looked melodramtic and ridiculous–per usual. If they'd stop pulling people into hearings, that are only designed to give them clips for their re-election campaigns, and allow everyone to work full time on fixing the oil spill, maybe it wouldn't be such a mess down in the gulf right now.
The government of this country is out of control and have as much to answer for as BP. I for one am sick and tired of the corrupt congress and senate putting anyone on the hot seat. Does anyone really believe the money Obama is requesting from BP is actually going to the people that are hurting? These people are paid for by the taxpayers to do their job not to do their little acting jobs on TV. Behind closed doors they are taking money from the ones they are grilling.
These Congressional hearing do not product much real information for the real people hurting in the Gulf BP has yet to say how this happen and were do they go from here There starting an investigation is worthless Just like the story of Van sllot jail cell that more information then I needed to know
gee, thanks for a new low in cnn tv programming. so i guess we should abandon our congressional hearings on this most tremendous environmental disaster because john roberts' fill in doesn't see how it's helpful. ?????? thanks for doing your part to keep the mainstream perspective dumb and short sighted.
I agree that Sheik Obama is using a Chicago style shakedown against BP. First, this is an industrial accident with multiple players and BP, being the owner, is automatically guilty. Liabaility should be established first, then punishment applyed. How much culpibility is applicable to other parties? Second, their penalty is a $20 billion dollar (starting) "fund". Third, Sheik Obama halted further deep well drilling causing unemployement and then turned around and made BP pay for it. Unemployeed workers should be on unemployment. Fourth, what happened to the Fourth Ammendment protection against unlawful search and seaizure without due process?
WOW is an understatement at yesterday's hearing.... Joe Barton's offensive personal remarks is a disgrace to the proceedings. His remarks that he is ashamed to live in the US saying the White House hi-jacked the $20 million to protect us from BP. I SUGGEST THAT MR. BARTON DO JUST THAT RESIGN AND MOVE TO WHATEVER COUNTRY HE CHOOSES. His remarks are shamefull. As for claiming his remarks were personal rather than political is a farce!
Bottom Line People, now that the floodgates have been opened, don’t pick and choose who to bust for the Gulf problem because the reality is that BP would not be drilling anyplace in the United States if someone in the MMS didn’t authorize the go ahead to do so.
Even though the probe into the MMS might give BP legal arguments to back them, we need to find the underlying cause of the problem and not just what makes the United States look good. People that are placed in charge are NOT doing their jobs that they are being paid good money to do. Officials are getting kick backs, pay-offs and big bucks to turn a blind eye. Officials are also doing the American People an injustice by Not recusing themselves when they know that they have a personal interest in certain matters. Not to mention, making the Americans and the Government Officials in charge, look like a bunch of non-communicating, bumbling, incompetent, corrupt idiots.
Now although I am sure that this kind of thing is going on in other governments all over the world, we are suppose to be a Great Power, a Leading Power. Right now, the Gulf is suffering because of authorization from certain government officials and the incompetence and greed of BP and Washington seems to be seizing this opportunity to make their individual parties look good. Yes, I know this is how politics work, however when is it going to be really realized that destruction, incompetence, greed, corruption, and disaster has no particular race, color, creed, or party affiliation? Moreover, if it is already apparent to officials, why are they still just talking about fixing it? How bad does it have to get before our Government Officials stop treating the American People like a bunch of chess pieces on a game board being manipulated to win a game?
In closing, the only true apology should be to the American People from Washington Officials for them taking our taxpayer dollars and NOT doing their job keeping companies in check.
Personally, I couldn’t care less about Democrats, Republicans, Liberals, Independents, Tea-Party, Coffee-Parties, race, color, or creed. However, what I care deeply about are people doing their jobs, doing them competently, and not just pretending they are.
I think they are a waste of time. The pplitians are just trying to grand stand for the people on their hometown state. If they want to hold them, wait until the leak is stopped and then everyone will get the answers there looking for.
I am still waiting to hear about the investigators that took gifts. And why Washington didn't get warning bells sounding with BP's past record and check out this company before they even started drilling. Their record was rotten and Washington STILL let them drill. So yes, BP is wrong but Washington is right up there with them. And all these congress commitees should be grilling themselves. Am I the only one who sees this?
Banks will find a way to gouge their customers again... like any other corporation the most important aspect is the bottom line. Call it the BP effect. PROFITS AT ANY COSTS and on the backs of their customers.
Where will lack of oversight and overseerers corruption strike next? Where will we discover government employees watching porn and asleep at the switch instead of enforcing regulations...where will we see death, maiming, bankruptcy and cheating strike next?
Corporations laugh at government fines...it is sad that Congressmen aren't dying in Iraq and Afghanistan in place of our innocent soldiers!
Whoops actually if a credit union is part of the co op network, which most are, you have access to 27,000+ ATMs all over the country FOR FREE! That is a larger network of FREE ATMs than ANY bank!!!
Good Morning BP... err .... I mean CNN....
The little boy sent home because of toy soldiers glued to his hat.... another fine example of political correctness ran amok. Probably confused the hell out of that poor child and scarred him for life. GREAT JOB!
Another mass murder in the American workplace happened in this BP explosion. Another mass murder in the American workplace is still fresh in the minds of the families of those 29 dead miners. The authorities know who murdered the miners. But the killer is one of America's largest coal CORPORATIONS! Massey Energy is the killer
Can't give a corporation the death penalty! Or can you ...Well, the Supreme Court has ruled that a corporation is a "person" – so why not?
Massey – headed by its right-wing multimillionaire CEO, Don Blankenship – has spent millions of dollars on lobbyists and lawmakers to fend off any effective regulations to protect mine workers. By using its political clout to muzzle the federal watchdog, Massey has been able to flaunt the law. Last year, it had nearly 500 safety violations in just one of its mines, including life-threatening violations. It's punishment? Fines totaling a mere $168,000 – chump change to an outfit with $56 million in profits last year.
Blankenship blithely says, "We don't pay much attention to the violation count." On April 5, federal inspectors added two more violations to the tally of dangerous indifference at the corporation's Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia. The honchos just shrugged. That afternoon, Upper Big Branch exploded, killing 29 miners.
Blankenship expressed his compassion by saying, "Violations are unfortunately a normal part of the mining process."
Normal? Nonsense! Other major mining nations provide effective regulatory protections to assure that such deaths are abnormal. By putting its profits over human life, America's coal industry is killing people, passing it off as a "cost of doing business." Shouldn't these profiteers pay more than a fine?
Well done, Tony, well done...and, gosh, what a nice suit you chose to wear for your testimony before Congress yesterday. Custom-tailor on Fleet St.? Will you be gracing us much longer with your stay in our country, or are you now running off for your photo-op as the "New poster-child for integrity" on our planet?
Talk about a wasted education, and a pointless existence.
You're dismissed...
All the "are you sorry" questions seemed like a big waste of time. Of course he's sorry, but it would be more prudent to concentrate on what can be done to stop the leak sooner, and what is being done to clean up the spill NOW!. Playing the "blame game" is not going to solve the problem. Actions speak louder than words. There will be time enough for blaming when the deal is done and the investigations are completed.
I watched the hearings for the most part on yesterday and from what I saw and heard from BP CEO Tony Hayward was thoughtless, indecent and cruel and evil, cleary we can all see that Tony Hayward and BP are all about profit and that's all! Lets all fight to stop offshore oil drilling because the facts have been proven that off shore oil drilling does not reduce our dependence on foreign oil!
Scott Stodden (Freeport,Illinois)