In this video, Joe Scarborough tries to get Eric Cantor to admit that republicans agree with Joe Barton, who apologized to BP for the Obama administration "shakedown."
Barton was allowed to keep his energy post. Cantor says Barton is not the issue and that Barton apologized.
No one believed that "apology" and everyone knows what republicans think of oil companies. Barton's tweet undermined his apology by pointing to a Spectator article that said Barton was right. He since deleted his tweet. What a dumb move that was. Cantor then goes on to insult the vice president. Cantor also said McChrystal had to be fired, but he said McChrystal was frustrated.
Obama ought to send VPOTUS out when people whine for an emoter. No one emotes like Joe Biden. If you missed the apology by Joe Barton, an oily Texas republican, it was precious. You can watch it here.
Representative Joe Barton of Texas apologizes to BP for government "shakedown." He calls the claims account a $20 billion "slush fund."
What in the world is he thinking? Is this guy nuts?
I understand that there is a lot of theatrics going on right now in the public lashing of BP, but the company's rig killed 11 people, wiped out local economies and killed wildlife. The long-term effects are unknown. There looks to be evidence that BP was irresponsible and minding only its profits when it was setting up its oil drilling rig.
But why do people expect companies to do anything else but make profit a priority? That's what companies do and that's why they need oversight.
What is shameful is that Joe Barton seems to have more concern for big corporations that caused this disaster than the fishermen, small business owners and communities whose lives have been devastated by the destruction. Congressman Barton may think that a fund to compensate these Americans is a ‘tragedy’, but most Americans know that the real tragedy is what the men and women of the Gulf Coast are going through right now. Members from both parties should repudiate his comments.
Democrats in the House Energy and Commerce Committee have taken a novel precaution to head off Republican efforts to slow action this week on a sweeping climate bill. They are hiring a speed reader.
Republicans on the committee have said they may force the reading of the entire 946-page bill -- as well as major amendments that measure several hundred pages -- all aloud. This is a procedure lawmakers have a right to invoke. Republicans are largely against the bill, which aims to cut emissions of so-called greenhouse gases by more than 80% over the next half-century but would be costly.
Republicans haven't tried the tactic, but Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D., Calif.) is prepared. WSJ
