Need help rebutting insufferably pedantic RW acquaintance re BP/Obama

[Hello_Kitty]

He claims that Pres. Obama "strong-armed" BP out of $20B and into "giving up its rights under tort law".

I don't see how BP is giving up any rights in the courts by this voluntary agreement to set up an escrow account to help compensate victims but I'm not an attorney so does the RWer have any sort of a point?

[gratuitous]

1. Gosh, if only BP could afford to hire an attorney!

They shoulda called Jacoby & Meyer.

Your friend is a dolt.

[Hello_Kitty]

3. LOL!

:rofl:

[county worker]

2. Tell him it's tort reform!

[proud patriot]

4. I'd ask your friend why he's defending

the perpetrators of Negligent Homicide over the American Victims Families ?

[arcane1]

5. Step 1: "show me the law that's being violated"

The friend made the claim, the friend should have something to support it.

Then ask for specific evidence of strong-arming.

No need for a rebuttal until they offer you actual facts.

[Luminous Animal]

6. Tell him that it will enable more money going to small business people and less to lawyers.

[The Magistrate]

7. My Line, Ma'am, Would Be 'Good! The Bastards Needed Strong-Arming!'

Then press the counter-attack by reminding the acquaintance that 'You talk all the time about greedy trial lawyers trying to steal from businessmen who need to make a profit, and want suits against business limited and their liabilities capped. Don't bother to deny it; we both know it's true. You just want to see a big corporation skate on paying for the harm it's done to ordinary folks, because heaven forbid a corporation lose a penny of profit!' Closing with 'You make me sick....' is optional....

[alsame]

8. Why does your friend

hate the Gulf of Mexico?

Seriously, it takes a real cold-hearted stupidity to be worried about a soul-less corporation rather than people, wildlife and the environment.

[indepat]

12. Soul-less indeed, but it's a shame corporations have all the rights of person-hood, but none of the

responsibilities. :P

[DailyGrind51]

9. So, would your RW associate prefer the victims to wait 20 years for payment?

Only to have the Supreme Court reduce the award, following repeated BP continuances!

[monmouth]

10. I'm so glad this is really getting under their skin. Obama really screwed

them both ways on this one.

[izquierdista]

11. Here's a question back at him

Who has caused more economic damage to the Gulf Coast, BP or Al Qaeda?

[Scuba]

14. You don't have to limit to the Gulf Coast....

...while more people died in 911 (so far), the destruction of the Gulf dwarfs the damage done on 911.

[MidwestTransplant]

13. Let the 20%ers side with BP over the President. That will do them well with Indys.

[ThomThom]

15. Tell your aquantance that this is just a down payment for the damage

that they have caused. 20B is no where near what this mess is going to cost BP. Obama was just getting the ball rolling. This money is past needed to start helping people damaged and to pay for the cleaning up. BP has already admitted responsibility, tell him/her to sell their stock before it goes to zero.

[Curmudgeoness]

16. You have to know when to walk away from an idiot.

Just shake your head, roll your eyes, and turn your back on them. There will be no argument, no matter how valid, that will get through to "insufferably pedantic RWers. So don't waste your energy. Take it from me, I have tried and tried.