How is BP, With Obama's Order, Going to Capture 'Up to 90%' of the Leaking Oil?

[tekisui]

When President Obama made that claim last night, I was puzzled. Will they really be able to do it? How? They have tried everything they can, and have only been able to capture around 20 percent at any given time.

How are they going increase the capability of capturing leaking oil to 90 percent in just a few weeks?

Of course this would be great if they could do it, but I am skeptical of that figure.

[Laelth]

1. That's a ridiculous claim. The President will have to eat those words. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[dipsydoodle]

2. Aside from which

if its taken out of BP's hands how is any other body gonna do it ?

[yourout]

3. I was thinking the same thing....sounds like BS to me.

[pocoloco]

4. Mouth overloading ass!!

[LeftyFingerPop]

5. They are not.

His statement was an attempt to soothe, and it fell flat.

K & R.

[gristy]

6. "up to 90%" means the same as "no more than 90%"

Might be 20%. 40%. Who knows. Whatever it is he'll have met his promise. If he captures more than 90% then he will have "failed".

[tekisui]

7. I know the 'up to' clause will cover his ass for some.

I still don't see how it will be anywhere near that.

[Statistical]

10. He never made a claim that it would be anywhere near that.

Sadly those are what are called 'weasel words'. They sound good and create a positive but false impression.

If BP capturing effort dropped to 1% of oil it would still be up to 90%.

If I promise you that you elect me and your SS checks will be UP TO $10,000 a month and then once elected cut SS payments by 2/3rd I wouldn't be violating my campaign promise.

People buying those infomercial house flipping systems earn UP TO $20,000 a month but most never make a dime.

Nobody lied or was factually incorrect. People just assume the words mean what they want them to mean.

Hence it is why they are called 'weasel words'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weasel_words

[Statistical]

8. Right now BP is capturing "up to 90%".

You got to watch those late night infomercials (you can lose UP TO 100 pounds, you can make UP TO $20,000 a month, results may vary) and addresses from oval office closely (BP will capture UP TO 90% of oil).

Unless BP capture 90.1% or more of oil Obama statement is factually accurate.

Now if he had said something like BP "will capture AT LEAST 70%" of the oil (and it came true) I would be more impressed.

[tekisui]

9. And absolutely hollow.

[Captain Hilts]

11. Magic! nt

[FLPanhandle]

12. Simple: Calculate what BP does capture; add 10% and claim that's the total flow

Since they won't let any independent sources measure what's coming out, who'll know?