Where did it say anywhere in the satement that McConnell is blaming anyone for not getting involved?

McConnell is only accusing Democrats of playing politics with the Oil spill...wait...isn't that what McConnell is doing?

How true - you just can't make this stuff up!

Good afternoon fellow DAV. McChuckles is off the reservation. The repugs do not want more government but they sure get to the head of the line for thr freebees don't they. They get pissed off when one of their members tells the truth that they support Big Oil, President Obama is too tough on them, bla, bla, bla. These ropea dopes of nope have no morals or ethics at all. They lie right to our faces as if we are stupid even though they are looking at the same facts we are. Sooner (I hope) or later America is going to get smart and put these crack pots in their place. Unemployment Line. Give them a taste of what they created.

Yours in Service

De=regulation? It didn't work on Wall Steet, MINING, the Gulf, etc. Good old Bush and Cheney really did us in. We the people need to demand safeguards for the regular folks.

Terry, Disabled Veteran. Thank you for your service. You are the reason we enjoy the freedoms we enjoy.

One of the problems here is that there seems to be a need to win an argument by traveling from one extreme to another. Far right and far left are about as extreme as you can get. The truth is, though - and I think most people realize this --- is that most of us are in the middle, or at least center left or center right. The "big government" blah blah blah criticism.....ugh.

The Government has responsibilities. Most of us pay taxes so that the Government can carry out their responsibilities in a proper manner. The Federal Government sets tax policy, fiscal policy, monetary policy, regulation of industry and commerce, provides some infrastructure and social services (programs to help the poor, the needy and disabled), emergency services such as FEMA, and national defense. They write legislation that is supposed to be good for all of the people, as long as the Federal Government doesn't overstep their bounds (as outlined in the Constitution).

State governments and local governments are supposed to collect our taxes and provide for infrastructure, education and safety - police, fire fighters, hospitals. These are the things we pay for through our property taxes, state and local taxes.

Before anyone leaps onto a "you're a hypocrite!" soap box...Social Security and Medicare are government run retirement and health care programs. My money pays My premiums to those programs. These are programs that return benefits to people who paid for them with their own money - just like private retirement and health insurance plans. I will collect Social Security when I retire. It's part of my retirement plan. Not because I'm entitled or depending on it but because it was my money in the first place and I would like it back. It's not an evil socialism plan. Well, except for people who draw on those programs without having actually contributed over the years (with exceptions).

Government is not supposed to stick it's nose into the day to day operations, policies and business plans of businesses. They are not supposed to tell businesses what to produce or manufacture, what to pay their executives, who to hire, who to fire or how much their stock should be worth. The job of the Govt is to craft regulations by which businesses are to abide. If businesses do not abide or cause some harm by non compliance, the Government should certainly take them to task and penalize according to the law. It would be nice if the Government made for a relatively friendly business environment so employers wouldn't be so freaked out and maybe hire a few of my out of work friends and fellow Americans.

Okay. The point is.....after all of this.....is that the Federal Government has areas they are supposed to be responsible for. The States have responsibilities too. It's when the Government over reaches and gets involved in areas they don't belong that conservative people get unhappy. Simply read the Constitution.

Please, please refrain from the "Republicans want smaller government (yes, we do), but want the Government to get more involved!" (We just want them to do the jobs they are supposed to do. ) It's not black and white. And it's not the truth.

Thanks again.

Oh, and the Federal Government should be throwing everything they've got down to the coast, waive red tape, get a grip, get that mess cleaned up and help those folks down there. They should.

Man, please enlighten me on how Kentucky keeps sending anal orifices like this guy back to congress. Hell, he's your SANE senator! Bunning? Lord, I'd like to see the Rohrschach results on THAT guy!

I'd love to help, but I'm only here temporarily (don't tell anyone, but I'm going to. . . College). It's especially weird when you discover how many more registered Democrats there are in Kentucky than Republicans. Almost every local office is still dominated by Democrats, and remember that both Senate candidates in the D-primary got more votes than Random Paul, even though he got the most Republican votes ever in the state. It's got to be one of those state-v-fed things; at least, that's how I see it.

BTW: here, everybody (even the ones who voted for him) know Bunning as Batsh!t crazy Bunning; like I say, it's a mystery.

In defense of Jim Bunning:

Father's Day, 1964. A warm summer afternoon. Dad's got the hamburgers going on the old charcoal grill and I'm helping Mom put the finishing touches on the potato salad and setting the picnic table. My brothers have the Phillies game on their transistor radio. Long about the middle of the 7th inning, we realize Bunning's got a perfect game going, though of course the announcers couldn't mention it for fear of the dreaded jinx. We all - even Mom, who hated sports - went rushing into the house to catch the last two innings on the black & white tv. Six outs later - a perfect game. Hugs all around. The high point in a season that still lives in Philadelphia sports infamy. Burgers ended up as charcoal themselves and the potato salad was warm by the time we finally sat down to eat. My parents divorced several years later and my Dad's gone now, but I've never spent a Father's Day without dusting off that memory. Best Father's Day Ever.

Not sure what went wrong with Bunning after that, but my theory is to blame it on Gene Mauch, the Phillies manager who repeatedly pitched him and Chris Short every other day for the last two weeks of the season in a doomed attempt to hold onto the National League Pennant. What the hell, we cursed Mauch for everything else for the next 40 years, we might as well add the Bunning of today to his list of sins!

Or maybe there's just nowhere to go from perfect but down.....

Yes, and the GOP demonizing government for 30 years, gutting its ability to protect people from things like this hasn't helped. By saying government is bad often enough, people buy it without ever asking why government has failed them--government hasn't failed the people but the politicians who gut government's ability have.

Hear, hear! We need to keep pointing this out. It's not just W's fault; it's been that way since Raygun.

The financial collapse, mining disasters, BP's explosion all have roots back to Reagan; government's effectiveness was systematically dismantled through tax cuts and placing people in charge who were unqualified. Reagan's mantra: govt is the problem, deregulate, free-market trickle down voo doo economics, tax cuts, anti-union. Each of those things are the root cause of today's economic and environmental nightmares. After he started deregulating the financial institutions, we had the savings and loan meltdown. The problems of today began in 1981 and unfortunately, some democrats bought it. Clinton should never have signed the repeal of Glass Stegal.

So true Dottie.... a wax statue that sat out in the sun for too long.. lol

LOL Fiesty, quite the mental image

Good thought, Paul. However, the moderators here won't even kick off foul-mouthed, hate-filled people.

I watched one of the engineering experts on Keith or Rachel saying that the berms that they wanted put in place were nothing more than political, that they would be washed away in the event of a hurricane. Just smoke & mirrors by the dopes of nope. There are no real solutions at this time. The Corp of Engineers were at lunch when they built the walls, etc. to protect New Orleans, and they are going to be at lunch now if they think that 10 foot berms periodically placed can hold back a flood.

That's what I would expect to happen. Sand doesn't stay in place around moving water, it just doesn't have the structural integrity.

As for New Orleans I'll defend the Corps on that one. They had been warning that New Orleans would one day go underwater since at least the early 1970s, but fiscal conservatives insisted that spending a few billion on flood protection was a waste of money to prevent hundreds of billions of dollars in damage.

I live in Louisiana, and love it, and I feel compelled to offer some information. Yes, Louisiana does get a lot of oil revenue, but is also a major producer of agricultural products: rice, cotton, soybeans, corn, sugar cane, timber. It is NOT because oil is our ONLY source of income that we need to continue drilling in the Gulf. Alternative sources of energy are not yet widely available to take the place of oil as our primary source. The oil will one day run out, and hopefully by then other sources of energy will be able to provide what we need.

Let me also say, lest anyone misunderstand, I am a Democrat, voted for President Obama, still support (not worship) him, sent money to his campaign, and believe in what he is trying to do.

I have a daughter-in-law who is a geologist (master's degree) with an oil company (NOT BP, and not one of the Big 5 on Capitol Hill the other day). Her take on this (as I understand it from a long conversation that we had recently) is this. The chances of this blowout were astronomical. There are many, many layers of safety precautions before it even gets to the Blow Out Preventers. There are SEVEN BOP's on a deep water rig. That all of them would fail is just not conceivable. Her company has wells on land, in shallow water and deep water in the Gulf. The permitting process to start a well is extremely rigorous, and takes years.

Having said all that, if a company was going to have a major catastrophe, BP would be the one.

On all deep water wells, probably all wells, anyone working on them can at any time, if they see a safety problem, can shut down the operation to deal with it.

If the moratorium were lifted tomorrow, it would be too late. Her company's rigs are already on their way to the west coast of Africa.

We, the people of Louisiana, are pragmatists. We cannot do without oil in, at least, the short term. Oil drilling CAN BE DONE SAFELY. People in the state of Louisiana depend on oil drilling for jobs, for driving our cars, and all the things people need in all the other parts of the country do.

What I found out mostly, from my daughter-in-law is that most people don't have a CLUE what they're talking about when they pontificate on the spill and how to fix it.

BTW: The Bobby Jindal that you saw rebutting President Obama's State of the Union speech was NOT the Bobby Jindal that we see every day. He is a hands on staunch defender of the state of Louisiana. Remember that I am an Obama Democrat! People of good will can work together for the betterment of all. (The OF GOOD WILL is the important part.)

Excellent. Thank you for sharing your thoughts based on personal experience.

Cheryl Randall. Appreciate your sharing personal knowledge. I may have implied that oil is the only product but I know LA has other economic resources--fishing and seaford for one. I hear you, people think the only thing Iowa produces is corn, soybeans, hogs but that's a small portion of what is produced or manufactured here. My mistake in not mentioning the other aspects. But oil and the state's dependence on it along with some politicians whose pockets are greased, has also caused great harm to the state. And I agree Jindal seems genuinely interested in doing the right thing. That said, he can't expect to get much sympathy from us when demanding the leak be fixed while demanding oil drilling continue despite the damage it has caused. Before the moratorium is lifted, we need to make sure rules, regulations and a better disaster plan is in place.

What trouble are Republicans in? They are not in the majority. Democrats are the ones that are worried. If they weren't why would Ole' 9 and a Quarter fingers be out there touting this is the Republicans governing philosophy. Emanuel is a clown and everyone knows it.

Republicans doesn't need a candidate for 2012 yet. That would be stupid for someone to get out there now and get dragged through the mud. 2011 is soon enough.

If I poll a bunch of Liberals of course Republican ratings are going to be low.

You're too funny with your comment about a party that represents half of the country as irrelevant. I guess anyone that doesn't agree with you is irrelevant.

Why does Texas produce so many idiots? Could the Oil Patch dependent economy explain it?

Paul....I've often wondered the same thing myself. Perhaps it is something in the water, oil, who knows. I know some good people from TX cant say they are all like that, but they have disproportionate number.

I guess that mean your mother is a dumb azz too.

Look at that GM - what the morons got nothing else - 'smack' out comes the your 'mama' card!

Personally I think they've been smoking too much tumbleweed or maybe it's the drive through liquor stores?

ITM - you used to be fun to play with... now you're as predictable as the sun setting in the west! LOL

Love that "Now that we're in the minority we've got you just where we want you" strategy.

Bush/Cheney administration supporters didn't do so blindly, they did so because they wanted to benefit from the corruption. This is why they don't want to be investigated or talk about the recent past unless they can bring up Hitler.

hmm you must be a republican paul...lol j/k

That was his SOUL that died a while back. He sold it to Satan. He's just a corrupted zombie now.

That's not true, K Mac. I saw that interview. She did respond. Yes, we're dependent on BP to fix the "hole". but, those are federal waters and by law the federal government is required to keep them safe, maintain them, etc. So many things could have been done, as Sarah said, to keep the oil from coming to shore, and Obama chose not to do them. If he says he's in charge, then be in charge. Get the clean up done and bill BP! He didn't have a problem squeezing a slush fund for his "pay czar" to operate. What a joke when Obama said an "independent body" would oversee the fund. Yet, Fineberg was on TV this weekend saying he ws "under orders" from the White House to do A, B, C. Sure, it's an independent body.

I beg to differ with you Dirt. She did not say definitively what she would do to stop the oil leak. She continued to offer unproven solutions and basically said we have to depend on BP. Well, isn't that what the present adminstration is doing?

Next, Fineberg said he answered only to the people of the Gulf and that was his only concern.

You have no idea what money has been transferred under the table to politicians from the oil companies. Joe Barton has been paid more by oil companies than Obama has received through official channels. Campaign contributions are NOT HOW THEY BUY AND CONTROL YOU. The threat of the withdrawal of support is how they try to influence you.

That amount was a pittance by comparison with what Joe Barton and the rest of the drill baby drill crowd.

The President has not been in politics for over 20 years, so how could he be that recipient? Now on the other hand, Ol' Joe has been sitting pretty in Congress for 26 years and a number of those years he has been chairman or held a position of seniority on the energy committee, you don't think he was getting his coffers filled by the oil company paymasters?. You are more delusional than some of of oil's supporters.

Just show me your under the table proof since you are so positive. I hope you are not just assuming, cause you know what that means. And the records go back 20 years for every dollar donated by BP and its emplyees, and its PAC, and of any politician he (Obama) has received the most, unless you count the conspiracy theory, unproved under the table, unofficial channels, made up in your mind donations. Again do your own research, the numbers are there for all to see. If you have other numbers, i'd love to see them, i love to be educated. Thanks

There is very little evidence of your love for education.

wow thats a good one Paul ha ha ha. I had a feeling if i asked you for a fact I'd got a response like I got. Again, anytime you have proof, feel free to come back and post. I will be waiting. You will find you will be much more persuasive aguing with facts instead of feelings.

An educated person would understand that the evidence of graft and corruption and under-the -table payments would be something difficult to prove or provide on a comment board. It's a little like demanding to see someone's birth certificate when you have no abilty to produce your own. Try not to be so proud of your ignorance.

I never asked to see anyones birth certificate, but i do have my own. All i am saying is stop acting like you are speaking facts when you have nothing to back it up except for your feelings and assumptions. I'm not saying they are not corrupt, and i'm not saying they are. But arguing your feeling will get you no where when you have no facts to back it up. They may be. All i was saying is that over the last 20 years, records show Obama has received more contributions from BP than any other candidate according to records (otherwise known as facts) But don't mock and argue with me for posting facts because they are not aligned with your assumptions and feelings. Get some facts to back up those assumptions and you may actually be taken seriously.

So Paul, is it better to make statements that you cannot prove, and then admit that you can't prove them, or is it better to reference them as opinions, which you then don't have to prove, because they're opinions. I ask mostly for my own benefit, but it might be interesting to see what your take on it is as well.

I "ASSUME" you are indeed proud of your ignorance. GWIF12. I know for a FACT that you do NOT possess your birth certificate. It is impossible for you to obtain your birth certificate. So much for your understanding of facts versus perceptions. You may have a certified copy, but you do not have your birth certificate. Just as you reference facts and published figures about campaign contributions, yet you never provide so much as a simple hyperlink, it bespeaks your ignorance to think that those numbers would tell you even half the real story. This is not a semantic argument. You are clearly brainwashed into not knowing what you are talking about. Try not to be so proud (a feeling) of your ignorance.

Its called the Center for Responsible Politics. Look it Up. You can see every contribution made to Mr Obama (and other politicians of course) All the data your heart desires. Just like a lib, if I don't agree with your opinions I must be ignorant. You must be right because all your opinions are stated as fact. Everyone I'm Ignorant cause Paul says so. Wooohoooo. Go with that big man. Again, anytime you come up with some numbers feel free to post.

NOW WHO'S GOTTEN EMOTIONAL LITTLE MAN? Do you have your birth certificate? NO. Did you state as a fact that you have your certificate? Yes. Was this true or even a fact? No. Do you think that the absence of proof negates its existence? Probably, because you and LA sem to be proud of your ignorance. Numbers aren't always proof, numbers aren't always facts, nor are they dispositive of the full story. And Joe Barton has received more money from oil companies than Obama. You won't understand that truth either, just like the Birth certificate, maybe it's not a matter of your ignorance, maybe your just stupid. Like most conservatives.

Living in LA - As it relates to your post from earlier in the day about hangovers - thanks for offering that as an excuse. I wish the explanation was that simple. Unfortunately, today was actually a fairly tame day on here, and tomorrow will bring more of the same. Hope that doesn't discourage you. Keep posting - some of us gave up hangovers a long time ago!

You're not ignorant because i say so, you're just ignorant of the truth as our exchanges have just proven.

So I've visited the site you wouldn't bother to hyperlink, and guess what everybody, GWIF12 can't read statistics with anything more than a perfunctory understanding of them. BP EMPLOYEES gave more money to Obama than to anyone else. Ya think maybe because he was running for President at the time?$77,401!!!!! Out of 884,000 from all the oil companies. Guess who got more from big oil? John McCain, still a sitting Senator. What does this prove? Nothing. Except GWIF12 doesn't understand much. Joe Barton has gotten more money from oil companies than Obama.

GWIF12, I too visited the site as did Paul 977599, and guess what, I read it the same way, it was BP employees who gave that much, $77,401 when he was running for President. Do you think that might have had some bearing on the amount?

As for Ol' Joe Barton, he ranks #10 on a list of whom BP has donated funds to. From BP he has received $27,000 and from other oil and gas entities he has received a whopping $1.4 million. Now just how much influence do you suppose that has bought from him over the years? Probably enough so far, to justify to him, why he apologized to Tony Hayward and BP.

If nothing else, GWIF12, those amounts should give you pause to reflect how much influence is being bought and sold just in this industry alone and that should have you look with a jaundiced eye at all politicians, but especially with GOP members who have cornered the market in contributions from the oil industry and in turn how they then push agendas when in Congress.

What has Big Government done for McConnell? The paychecks haven't bounced, have they?

They can't bounce paychecks as long as they can print money. They can just spend so much that it creates inflation over time making your paycheck and pensions worthless.

Auntie Fascist

What has Big Government done for McConnell? The paychecks haven't bounced, have they?

Not yet. But thats only because Obama is running a yearly $1.5 trillion dollar deficit. Want to guess on what happens when that money runs out?

When WHAT money runs out, JoAnna? By definition, a "deficit" means we're ALREADY out of money. We'll do what we've been doing ever since the good old days of George W. Bush: Print more or borrow more. After all, worked for him, didn't it?