Slick Operator: The BP I've Known Too Well

[duke]

Slick Operator: The BP I've Known Too Well
By: Greg Palast Wednesday 05 May 2010

I've seen this movie before. In 1989, I was a fraud investigator hired to dig into the cause of the Exxon Valdez disaster. Despite Exxon's name on that boat, I found the party most to blame for the destruction was ... British Petroleum (BP).

That's important to know, because the way BP caused devastation in Alaska is exactly the way BP is now sliming the entire Gulf Coast.
<snip>
This just in: Becnel tells me that one of the platform workers has informed him that the BP well was apparently deeper than the 18,000 feet depth reported. BP failed to communicate that additional depth to Halliburton crews, who, therefore, poured in too small a cement cap for the additional pressure caused by the extra depth. So, it blew.

Why didn't Halliburton check? "Gross negligence on everyone's part," said Becnel. Negligence driven by penny-pinching, bottom-line squeezing. BP says its worker is lying. Someone's lying here, man on the platform or the company that has practiced prevarication from Alaska to Louisiana.

www.truthout.org/slick-operator-the-bp-ive-known-too-well59178

[frayne56]

Yes, I'm 100% sure BP wanted this disaster to happen. The article is full of speculative BS as to the cause of the event. We all want cheap oil, BP like any other company that produces a commodity weighs cost/benefit/risk to produce a product. When all is said and done there will be a series of events that led up to this accident and I don't think BP will be found solely at fault. They might be solely responsible for the financial fallout but I think other parties have some skin in this game as well.

[Police Moderator]

Obama biggest recipient of BP cash

While the BP oil geyser pumps millions of gallons of petroleum into the Gulf of Mexico, President Barack Obama and members of Congress may have to answer for the millions in campaign contributions they’ve taken from the oil and gas giant over the years.

BP and its employees have given more than $3.5 million to federal candidates over the past 20 years, with the largest chunk of their money going to Obama, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Donations come from a mix of employees and the company’s political action committees — $2.89 million flowed to campaigns from BP-related PACs and about $638,000 came from individuals.

On top of that, the oil giant has spent millions each year on lobbying — including $15.9 million last year alone — as it has tried to influence energy policy.

During his time in the Senate and while running for president, Obama received a total of $77,051 from the oil giant and is the top recipient of BP PAC and individual money over the past 20 years, according to financial disclosure records.

Read more: politico

[duke]

May 5, 2010 20:36:35 GMT -5 Police Moderator said:

Obama biggest recipient of BP cash

Read more: politico

The publicity surrounding the source, amount and recipient of gifts to public officials is a good process.

The disclosure should include at least the current and former administrations. I hope to see more facts published in the near future.

After more than a year in office this administration must take more responsibility for events such as this disaster.

[frayne56]

Duke, I think you are hoping for a Utopian society and world, unfortunately, none exists in this life.

[Warkitty]

Miranda.

[duke]

May 6, 2010 11:25:45 GMT -5 frayne56 said:

Duke, I think you are hoping for a Utopian society and world, unfortunately, none exists in this life.

I agree that there is no Utopia available past present nor in any future that I can perceive. If you choose to believe in a Utopia in some afterlife, feel free to do so. Any afterlife is not what I expect to help change.

If everyone ignores abuses of power in or out of government without speaking up, there will certainly never be any change. Persons in power will never relinquish power until forced to do so most often by way of public opinion. They have expended too much energy to achieving that power most often represented my money to give up easily.

There are many who will extol their own praises both honestly and dishonestly.

I will gladly acknowledge outstanding examples of good when found. Performing what is required and expected however, cannot qualify as outstanding.

The original article unfortunately has a very bitter tone. It does provide a little back drop on which to view the current disaster and points out possibilities supported by some evidence. Time will tell a more complete story.