Bwaaaaaaaaaah Rachel just played Dumbya demanding

[malaise]

that congress lift the ban on off shore drilling on the Continental shelf from July 14th 2008.

The technology was so safe said W.

Go Rachel - that was priceless.

Rachel just PWNED Bush and Cheney.
Super journalism Rachel - push that moratorium sister.

sp

[H2O Man]

1. Very good.

Recommended.

[malaise]

7. Here's the transcript

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/950488/President-Bush---Press-Conference-Transcript---July-15-2008

[saracat]

2. She is also PWNING us because Obama also said it was safe, just before the leak!

[malaise]

8. Yes he said it too

and I bet if he could erase one comment that would be it.

[theFrankFactor]

65. +1 Careful! You'll make us a stronger, more effective party!

[lukasahero]

73. Who's "us"?

Some of "us" were pretty pissed off when Obama ok'd offshore drilling just like we were when it was Dubya promoting it.

[WarhammerTwo]

75. In context...

Obama was open to offshore drilling because, as the compromising moderator that he is, he was offering it up as an olive branch to the GOP (and those friggin' Blue Dogs) to get support for his Cap and Trade energy bill. It's like he always does. He tries to give the Party of No something so they'll say yes...which they never do. And I was pissed that he said it and is still even trying to work with Republicans. But he keeps trying. Because that's who he is. Anywho, that's why he promoted offshore drilling. It was a bargaining chip for Cap and Trade.

[texastoast]

77. How could the pukes argue? They had wanted it. He delivered.

There was something the Party of No couldn't say no to without looking even stupider.

Now, let me put on my I-Am-A-Stupid-Republican tinfoil hat and allege that the only reason Obama gave the pukes the offshore drilling go was because he knew that he planned to sabotage the Horizon so he could take away offshore drilling and make us lefties "happy."

:crazy:

[mod mom]

80. not some of "us" who were very opposed to drilling.

[bobbolink]

3. This should be SOP for all news programs. Too bad it was Jon Stewart who had to light the way.....

[clarence swinney]

50. MORE WE WANT THE LAST 7%

2007
1% owned 43% Total National Wealth
10% owned 70%
20% owned 93%
80% owned 7%=120,000,000 workers=shafted shafted

we want that 7% so get Conservtives back in power.

olduglymeanhonest

[MannyGoldstein]

4. What Did Obama Say That Was Different?

She may have pwned somebody else with that clip.

[ProSense]

5. He said

it was Bush and Cheney's fault.

[MannyGoldstein]

6. Was That When Obama Called For More Offshore Drilling?

And did zero to change Bush/Cheney's MMS?

[Jim Sagle]

10. Whaddya, some kinda PUMA?

;)

[O is 44]

12. Ok, we get it ,you don't care for this President, but to say

this administration did nothing to change MMS is just false. Besides the President already did more than Bush/Cheney in his first year to move us towards clean energy. Did you forget the large amount of money allotted in the stimulus pkg? To act as if his energy policy is no different from the energy policies of the two oil men who just vacated the WH is disingenuous.

[Bluebear]

16. OK, what did he do to change MMS, if the allegation is so false? Thanks.

[saracat]

22. There will be crickets to that because even the WH admits they didn't do anything. Ken Salazar

was "going to do something". He announced it a year ago but he didn't get around to it yet.

[Bluebear]

29. Stop! you're "disingenuous"!

:silly:

[O is 44]

71. Mock all you want I stand by my comments. n/t

[O is 44]

70. The answer is not crickets, refer to the President's

comments. They have a lot more to still do but to say they had done nothing before this explosion is a lie which many on here continue to peddle to support their narrative.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-gulf-oil-spill

[saracat]

81. You cite WH P+R as a "source" ? Sorry but Rolling Stone covered the issue better.

This is just "damage control" and even in this peice the WH doesn't cite anything that was DONE prior to the spill. They infer Salazar was going to clean up M+M, but he DIDN"T. They admit M+M was corrupt and the fact is they did NOTHING about it . Salazar said he was "going to clean it up".The fact is, he did NOT.

[O is 44]

68. Please refer to President Obama's comments on

May 27th regarding MMS


http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-gulf-oil-spill

(When Secretary Salazar took office, he found a Minerals and Management Service that had been plagued by corruption for years –- this was the agency charged with not only providing permits, but also enforcing laws governing oil drilling. And the corruption was underscored by a recent Inspector General’s report that covered activity which occurred prior to 2007 -- a report that can only be described as appalling. And Secretary Salazar immediately took steps to clean up that corruption. But this oil spill has made clear that more reforms are needed.)

[saracat]

82. But Salazar didn't DO anything. He said he was "going to". That was over a year ago.

[Laelth]

54. Obama's putting Salazar in charge of Interior was all I needed to know.

Obama actively intended to cater to the mining, forestry, and oil interests. He intended to give those interests whatever they wanted. He had no interest in changing the status quo.

Now he does. Too little, too late.

:dem:

-Laelth

[O is 44]

72. "Too little, too late" so you take your marbles

and go home? Thank goodness the President does not have your mind set.

President Obama, May 27th

(When Secretary Salazar took office, he found a Minerals and Management Service that had been plagued by corruption for years –- this was the agency charged with not only providing permits, but also enforcing laws governing oil drilling. And the corruption was underscored by a recent Inspector General’s report that covered activity which occurred prior to 2007 -- a report that can only be described as appalling. And Secretary Salazar immediately took steps to clean up that corruption. But this oil spill has made clear that more reforms are needed.)

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-gulf-oil-spill

[lark]

61. False meme

We are not talking about this administrations energy policy but their oil drilling policy and it was as much pro drilling as the puppet's was. Obama is the one who ended the drilling moratorium off the Gulf and Atlantic coast.

Meet the new boss, way too similar to the old boss.

[Canuckistanian]

14. You weren't supposed to mention that.

Now let's drop it and continue with the discussion.

[ProSense]

15. It's fine to mention it

Doesn't change the fact that this is Bush and Cheney's fault.

Still, you have to wonder about people who see President Obama in the same light as a man who lied the country into a war that killed nearly one million Iraqis, then goes around bragging about it along with the use of torture.

Easy to confuse the two, huh?

[Canuckistanian]

18. Sure WE know that it's Bush and Cheney's fault

But try to get Eric Holder to take action on that.

In fact, if somebody else tried to take legal action against Shrub & Darth, the Obama Justice department would be defending them with everything with everything they've got.

I give you this - Obama is not too bad on doing the right thing. But he's LOUSY at holding OTHERS accountable even when it's fucking obvious.

[saracat]

19. Changing the subject again. This is about The Prez declaring drilling safe.

just as Bush did.Keep on topic. This isn'about the Iraq war. That is another topic.

[ProSense]

32. Check the OP for the subject. n/t

[saracat]

44. It is about the Drilling NOT the Iraq War. I am aware of the subject. You are the one redirecting.

[jgraz]

37. Obama declaring drilling safe is far more damaging than Bush and Cheney doing it

Two right-wing oil men are expected to be apologists for Big Oil. But when the alleged opposition completely cedes the debate, what chance do we have of enacting sane environmental policy?

Yet another opportunity lost. :banghead:

[theFrankFactor]

66. +1 Careful! You'll make us a stronger, more effective party!

[jgraz]

69. I seriously doubt there's a chance of that happening.

[theFrankFactor]

67. Obama's Cabinet Signaled How Much He Would Suck, Right Out of the Gate.

[malaise]

21. More than that

Exactly what would have been the reaction if Obama had fired all of MMS on assuming office.

That said I was upset when he included the off shore drilling in his energy policy plans and I'm sure he wishes he could take that back.

[saracat]

24. Somehow, from what everyone I know in DC says, there would have been cheering if

he fired them all.

[malaise]

28. Interesting n/t

[juajen]

79. You're absolutely right. I though he would fire them all. I was

very disappointed, and remain disappointed. Yes, I supported Hillary Clinton, but I did expect we would have a more democratic president than Obama has been.

[glinda]

36. Contract was under their watch.

[demwing]

48. Just because their shirts don't match

doesn't mean that they're not wearing the same color ties.

[clarence swinney]

51. Reagan-Bush- Cheney march to Hague

1945-1980 were Great Middle Class Years.
Affordable Education-Homes-Health Care-Jobs Jobs-Unions-Pensions

Reagan and Neo-Cons came on in 1981.
Ir was intentional ENRICH Wall Street reduce Middle Class.
1945-1% owned 30% Total Financial Wealth
1980-1% owned 20%
1989-36% (Ron big tax cuts for 1%)

2008--Bush Finished the Job
1%=43%
10%=70%
20%=93%
80%=7%-=120,000,000 workers=SHAFTED

20 years 3 Conservative presidents
18 years Conservative Senate
12 years Conservative House
6 years TOTAL CONTROL
Bush 8 let Wall Street go into Big Time Gambling
Instead of using investors money to create new businesses and increase current ones and create Jobs,
They created 31,000 Net New Jobs per Month.A shame.
Prior were Carter 218,000--Reagan 175,000--Clinton record 237.000
31,000 was an insult to working America.
During Bush 8 Wall Street shipped 2,300,000 of our jobs to China.
It will take creation of 250,00 new jobs per month for five years to get back to full employment (5%)

The Conservative ideology of Market knows best gave us Great Depression and Great Recession. Even Ultra Conservative Alan Greenspan had to admit it.

WHAT DID THEY DO??
Since 1980
60% Tax Cut to Top 1%
47% Tax Cut to Gamblers on Wall Street in Unearned Income Tax
Huge Estate Tax Cut
Revenue Sharing costs to rich in income taxes transferred to Middle Class in property taxes.
Fed gave Bush 1% Interest and big increase in Total Money Supply
1920's Deja Vu. Banks rushed to borrow and lend lend lend to Developers
to build homes too large-too expensive for middle class declining disposable income
Increased Middle Class Payroll Tax
Taxes SS income
Five Cent Tax On Gas
Spending Spree on Defense which enriched Rich Investors in Defense
stocks,.
The Big Three took a 1000B of Debt from Carter and added on 8000B in 20 years of Spend + Borrow Our kids Can Pay Tomorrow.

Carter left Reagan a 600B Budget to which he added on 80%.
Carter left Reagan a less than 1000B of Debt and he added on 1700B
Clinton left Bush an 1800 B Budget which Bush took to 3600B..
Clinton left Bush a Surplus as far as an eye could see and Bush added on
6000B Debt or more than we had after 220 years.Grover Nutquist had a party..

Folks! It was intentional. Grover Nutquist of ATR made 127 visits to White House in Bush first term. He was one who wanted to drown Government in a bathtub..How! Spend and Borrow to force us to eliminate Social Programs.
He has us, in 2010, exactly where he wanted us.
Facts hurt. Democrats are just dumb to not preach it over and over
8 more of Neocons And American World Status will disappear to number two or three or worse.
Neocon ideology destroyed Rome-Spain-Holland-England and now America?
cswinney old ugly mean honest

prove me wrong please with facts and numbers

[SecularMotion]

59. Great summary, thanks for posting

May I suggest you add an entry for wage disparity to the list?

"The United States has the highest inequality and poverty in the OECD after Mexico and Turkey, and the gap has increased rapidly since 2000, the report said. France, meanwhile, has seen inequalities fall in the past 20 years as poorer workers are better paid."

http://firedoglake.com/2008/10/23/mind-the-gap-us-wage-disparity-worst-among-30-nations/

[lark]

60. Ding ding!!

:hurts:

[depakid]

11. He said among other things:

I want to put out, by the way, that oil rigs today generally don’t cause spills. They are technologically very advanced.

So today we’re announcing the expansion of offshore oil and gas exploration, but in ways that balance the need to harness domestic energy resources and the need to protect America’s natural resources. Under the leadership of Secretary Salazar, we’ll employ new technologies that reduce the impact of oil exploration. We’ll protect areas that are vital to tourism, the environment, and our national security. And we’ll be guided not by political ideology, but by scientific evidence.

Ken and I were colleagues in the Senate, and I appointed him because I knew that he would be a faithful and pragmatic steward of our natural resources. And as Secretary, he is changing the way that the Interior Department does business so that we’re responsibly developing traditional sources of energy....

[ProSense]

13. "oil rigs today generally don’t cause spills"

Right, generally, that means sometimes they do.

Bush: “pass legislation lifting the Congressional ban on safe, environmentally friendly offshore oil drilling,”

Not quite the same is it?

[depakid]

20. Reminds me of Clinton arguing over what sex is...

Montara rig- Timor Sea, August-November 2009

[ProSense]

31. I see your problem.

What does Clinton trying to parse the word sex have to do with the fact that the two statement in the previous comment have nothing to do with each other?

[depakid]

33. If you don't get the obvious, I can't really help you here.

[Winterblues]

47. Clinton did not argue over what sex is..

He argued over what the prosecution described sex as and that he did not say anything that differed from their definition..

[MannyGoldstein]

34. Are You For Real?

You're saying that Obama anticipated a disaster of this magnitude, and that you're cool with that?

Really?

[malaise]

23. Sadly Ken cannot be trusted in

matters oil

[wiggs]

17. Obama didn't stuff regulatory agencies with industry hacks and lobbyists who

outright change findings and conclusions of scientific inquiry.

There is a difference.

[depakid]

25. errr... think again

Ken Salazar and his role in allowing this to happen. Salazar has been a major proponent of the offshore oil drilling industry. He passed legislation as a senator in 2006 to open up the Gulf of Mexico in the first place to offshore oil drilling. He gets campaign contributions by British Petroleum. And then he walks into this agency he is supposed to reform, and instead of reforming it, pushes it to do even more offshore oil drilling. So Ken Salazar is part of the problem here, not the solution. He should not be doing the investigation of MMS. He should be under investigation for helping to cause this crisis.

Here is some background information (from Wikipedia which is thoroughly documented) on Ken Salazar showing why Obama never should have chosen him to be our steward of the environment as Obama’s Interior Secretary:

Salazar took office As a U.S. Senator from Colorado on January 4, 2005.

Soon after arriving in the Senate, Salazar generated controversy within his party by introducing Attorney General nominee Alberto Gonzales and sitting by his side during Gonzales’ confirmation hearings.

In 2005, Salazar voted against increasing fuel-efficiency standards (CAFE) for cars and trucks, a vote that the League of Conservation Voters notes is anti-environment.

In the same year, Salazar voted against an amendment to repeal tax breaks for ExxonMobil and other major petroleum companies.

In August 2006, Ken Salazar supported fellow Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman in his primary race against Ned Lamont in Connecticut.

In 2006, Salazar voted to end protections that limit offshore oil drilling in Florida’s Gulf Coast.

In 2007, Salazar was one of only a handful of Democrats to vote against a bill that would require the United States Army Corps of Engineers to consider global warming when planning water projects.

Several prominent environmentalist groups are wary of Salazar, noting his strong ties with the coal and mining industries. Kieran Suckling, executive director of Center for Biological Diversity, which tracks endangered species and habitat issues states "He is a right-of-center Democrat who often favors industry and big agriculture in battles over global warming, fuel efficiency and endangered species."

Salazar was one of several Obama Cabinet appointees confirmed in the Senate by voice vote on January 20, 2009, shortly after Obama’s inauguration. Salazar became the 50th Secretary of the Interior succeeding Dirk Kempthorne, who praised Salazar’s appointment.

On May 9, 2009, Salazar announced the upholding of a Bush-era policy that prevents the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions via the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a policy he pledged to reevaluate when he took office in January. The policy states that, despite the apparent negative impact global warming has on polar bears, an endangered species, greenhouse gasses cannot be regulated with the ESA.

Salazar stated in a conference call announcing the decision that "The single greatest threat to the polar bear is the melting of Arctic Sea ice due to climate change," but the Endangered Species Act "is not the appropriate tool for us to deal with what is a global issue." The decision was met with criticism from environmental groups and praise from energy groups including the American Petroleum Institute...

[wiggs]

39. Salazar may be a conservative dem from a conservative state and perhaps he

wouldn't be my pick for Interior, but if you can show me where he doctored findings, when he ignored science for his ex-colleagues, gave BP a pass on permitting and oversight (happened way before), when he worked for oil and gas companies...then I'll take your point. The extent to which Bush appointed hacks, fundraisers, and lobbyists cannot be compared to the extent to which Obama has...Salazar and Geithner notwithstanding.

Bush (Cheney) turned every part of the government into a political machine and purged non-believers and non-corporatists. There's a difference, is my point. Not saying Obama is perfection.

[depakid]

43. "when he ignored science for his ex-colleagues, gave BP a pass on permitting and oversight"

It's all laid out in this expose, starting at page 2:

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/17390/111965?RS_show_page=0#userComments

[lark]

64. We get it, Bush and Cheney were active evil

Obama is not an actively evil person, but he does not stand up for good either. He tolerates and compromises with evil thinking to get good out of it. It's not going to happen. Increasing oil drilling to get solar/wind power is a horrible trade off. Taking single payer off the table so he could get a semblance only of health care reform - actually the "give all your money to the insurance companies and big pharma act" - was a horrible trade off.

When will be get that compromising with evil (Repugs) will not get him to the change he promised?

[malaise]

26. There is a big difference

but it is also true that big oil has significant power over more than a few Dems.

[wiggs]

40. Unfortunately, there always seems to be enough dems to get conservative legislation

passed or to thwart progressive legislation. There are dems who believe, like conservatives, that America's strength lies in corporate vigor and concentrating power into fewer hands.

Obama isn't one of the ones under corporate control, I believe. I'm willing to believe he chose Salazar because he thought Salazar could work effectively with all participants....not because Salazar would implement POTUS's ideology blindly and at all costs. Obama just wants to find consensus among diverse opinions and get something done...unfortunately it isn't always the best solution but it might be the best achievable solution.

[saracat]

27. Maybe not but he KNEW they were there and let them stay! He KNEW

that Salazar did nothing about it. And he has done nothing about Salazar. Salazar even let one of the worst stay to get his 30 years in. Some reform.

[wiggs]

41. I hear ya. nt

[lark]

62. Sin of omission here

No, he didnt' stack the MMS with ringers, but he also completely tolerated those ringers and did NOTHING to change MMS and increase safety. If he was aware that sometimes there are oil rig disasters, why didn't he do a single freaking thing to stop this preventable nightmare? No, he just opened up our waters, our coastlines, our way of life, to destruction so he would appear to be working with the radical right. Still has not done a thing to increase the safety, other than have a "committee" to work on this with half of the committee being an oilman. Still not much being done to ramp up the clean up either.

[emulatorloo]

30. Your Posts Titles Are Very Difficult To Read Because You Are Capitalizing Every Word

Not trying to be picky, trying to help you get your messages read.

[Scurrilous]

9. K & R

:thumbsup:

[mzmolly]

35. He must be the (pro-arctic drilling) "extreme greenie" Sarah Palin mentioned

recently?

[lpbk2713]

38. We need a bumper sticker widely distributed.

Dumbya on one side. A burning Deepwater Horizon on the other side. And Dumbya's quote in the middle.


I'd love to see it. I'd use it.


:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[mistertrickster]

42. Here's the WaPo transcript.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/15/AR2008071501260.html

Since it's a gov't document owned by US taxpayers, I assume that the four paragraph maximum doesn't apply.

BUSH 15 July 2008--

To help address the pressure on gasoline prices, my administration took action this week to clear the way for offshore exploration on the outer continental shelf. It’s what’s called OCS. Congress has restricted access to key parts of the OCS since the early 1980s. I’ve called on Congress to remove the ban.

It was also an executive prohibition on exploration, offshore exploration. So yesterday, I issued a memorandum to lift this executive prohibition.

With this action the executive branch’s restrictions have been removed, and this means that the only thing standing between the American people and these vast oil resources is action from the U.S. Congress.

Bringing OCS (ph) resources on the line is going to take time, which means that the need for congressional action is urgent. The sooner Congress lifts the ban the sooner we can get these resources from the ocean floor to the refineries, to the gas pump.

Democratic leaders have been delaying action on offshore exploration and now they have an opportunity to show that they finally heard the frustrations of the American people.

They should match the action I have taken, repeal the congressional ban and pass legislation to facilitate responsible offshore exploration.

[redqueen]

45. You did expect the "OBAMA did it TOO though so he's WORSE cause he should know better!" shit...

right?

[malaise]

49. Not really

Still I am very curious about the reasons why a Democratic House and Senate went along with that lame fuck.

[NewJeffCT]

53. Because they'd have been called names by Republicans

and the RW media.

Anti-business, anti-American, pro-terrorist, etc, etc.

[malaise]

55. And they were worried in an election year?

While we both know Bush fucked up everything before leaving office, I do wonder about the convictions of many Dems.

[smoking357]

46. You Misunderstand

"Rachel just PWNED Bush and Cheney.
Super journalism Rachel - push that moratorium sister."

Bush and Cheney, today, are still for offshore drilling. They'd drill a new well in the Gulf, right now.

You don't really think this has changed their opinions, do you?

[NewJeffCT]

52. Just saw a LTTE today that says the opposite

Says that Obama's MMS gave BP a waiver on Bush-Cheney regulations that would have prevented the oil spill...

[Solly Mack]

56. K&R

[Locrian]

57. Salazar

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/17390/111965?RS_show_page=1

Except that it didn't. Salazar did little to tamp down on the lawlessness at MMS, beyond referring a few employees for criminal prosecution and ending a Bush-era program that allowed oil companies to make their "royalty" payments – the amount they owe taxpayers for extracting a scarce public resource – not in cash but in crude. And instead of putting the brakes on new offshore drilling, Salazar immediately throttled it up to record levels. Even though he had scrapped the Bush plan, Salazar put 53 million offshore acres up for lease in the Gulf in his first year alone – an all-time high. The aggressive leasing came as no surprise, given Salazar's track record. "This guy has a long, long history of promoting offshore oil drilling – that's his thing," says Kierán Suckling, executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity. "He's got a highly specific soft spot for offshore oil drilling." As a senator, Salazar not only steered passage of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, which opened 8 million acres in the Gulf to drilling, he even criticized President Bush for not forcing oil companies to develop existing leases faster.

Salazar was far less aggressive, however, when it came to making good on his promise to fix MMS. Though he criticized the actions of "a few rotten apples" at the agency, he left long-serving lackeys of the oil industry in charge. "The people that are ethically challenged are the career managers, the people who come up through the ranks," says a marine biologist who left the agency over the way science was tampered with by top officials. "In order to get promoted at MMS, you better get invested in this pro-development oil culture." One of the Bush-era managers whom Salazar left in place was John Goll, the agency's director for Alaska. Shortly after, the Interior secretary announced a reorganization of MMS in the wake of the Gulf disaster, Goll called a staff meeting and served cake decorated with the words "Drill, baby, drill."

[malaise]

58. Important post

Thanks

[madriver]

74. Trees, meet forest

Obama knows that we are wholly dependent on fossil fuels and that our economy, such as it is, would collapse without it. Not to mention the implications of dealing with terrorists for oil.

As a pragmatic leader in the throes of a massive Bush-inspired economic meltdown, he had little choice but to proceed with offshore drilling, if for no other reason than to make sure we all have enough gas to get to work.

But beyond all this railing against who got appointed where and their track records I'm stunned at the 90 post indictment of a Democratic president when it's BP who: neglected safety procedures; threatened whistleblowers; apparently had prior knowledge of the unsafe nature of the rig.

It doesn't matter what policies are in place if the corporations feel there are few repercussions for breaking the laws and policies already in place.

[LynneSin]

63. Damnit - Until Barack gets out there with his ShopVac cleaning up the mess it's his fault

:eyes:

[newtothegame]

76. How is it pwning if they're not listening and don't care?

:shrug:

[spanone]

78. the 'real' media is completely clueless

[azureblue]

83. make rachael an honorary Louisian'

she'd done more then trad media to expose BP, so how about some love for her (and maybe send her some Mardi Gras beads)?

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Make-Rachel-WhoDat-Maddow-an-honorary-Louisiana-citizen/105658006149440