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What Obama knew of the oil spill and when

Sandhusker

Well-known member
http://www.examiner.com/x-37620-Conservative-Examiner~y2010m6d17-The-oil-spill-stories-that-even-the-conservative-media-refuse-to-cover
 

katrina

Well-known member
As the deepening crisis of the catastrophic Gulf oil disaster continues to unfold, several oil spill stories of major importance have been virtually ignored. Even the conservative media has refused by and large to cover these stories.

(AP Photo/Dave Martin, File).

Conservative Examiner was among the first to break these stories, yet to this day not a single major media outlet has been willing to report them, not even Fox News or conservative talk radio.

These stories are explosive, conclusive, factually verified, and of utmost importance to understanding what is truly happening in the Gulf and the scenario that led to it.

First, on June 4 Conservative Examiner reported that Coast Guard log records indicate that the U.S. government was fully aware within 3 hours of the Gulf oil spill that the gusher would be a major disaster that would at least equal that of the Exxon-Valdez tanker spill in Alaska. Obama was informed of that information.

Here is a copy of the actual official log directly from the U.S. Coast Guard, via the Center for Public Integrity.

Within 3 days of the oil rig explosion the U.S. Government, and Barack Obama himself, were warned that the gusher would more than likely create a disaster much worse than Exxon-Valdez.

By April 23, 4 days after the explosion, Obama and the Coast Guard knew that the gusher could result in a spill of 64,000 to 110,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

The Center for Public Integrity, which obtained the records from the Coast Guard official logs, stated the following:

Over the first three days of the crisis — long before the public heard of a leak — the minimum estimate for a total well blowout ballooned eight-fold and the president was warned by his top aides that a major spill larger than the 1989 Exxon Valdez might be coming, according to the documents and interviews.

The logs, obtained by the Center for Public Integrity, provide the most detailed account of the early days of the BP disaster, and identify key events and notifications that were omitted from the White House’s official timeline of the crisis.

The estimate of the potential leak on April 21, the day after the rig exploded, reveals that first responders almost immediately understood the environmental threat to the Gulf of Mexico when Coast Guard officials detected the first signs of oil appearing on the Gulf waters.

“Potential environmental threat is 700,000 gallons of diesel on board the Deepwater Horizon and estimated potential of 8,000 barrels per day of crude oil, if the well were to completely blowout,” the Coast Guard reported on April 21, less than 24 hours after the accident was first reported.

Thus, when Barack Obama stated in his speech to the nation Tuesday night that he had 'been on top of the crisis since Day One'--his oft-repeated line--what he actually means is that he knew from Day One that this was a looming catastrophe of historic proportions, but did nothing. Offers of help from the Netherlands and at least a dozen countries were flatly turned down. Mega oil tankers that have the ability to vacuum up large areas of oil slick sat empty and were not deployed to the scene.

And that brings us to the second major story that Conservative Examiner was among the first to report but remains largely ignored not only by the mainstream media but the conservative media as well.

The primary line of defense against the spill that was employed by BP was the use of chemical dispersants manufactured and sold by a company called NALCO. These dispersants are toxic and pose a threat to wildlife and human life.

Obama allowed BP to handle the crisis on its own knowing full well how the company would go about attempting to clean up the spill, including the use of the chemical dispersants. We know this because at one point Obama publicly ordered BP to stop using the chemicals. But that appeared to be only window dressing. We now know that BP continued to use the dispersants, resulting in the oil sinking beneath the surface, out of sight. That oil is now sitting on top of the sand on the Gulf floor along the beaches of the region, but it cannot be seen with the naked eye unless one reaches into the water and scoops up a handful of sand, which will be soaking with oil.

Why would a company rely solely on the use of a chemical dispersant to deal with a spill of this magnitude? Follow the money.

As reported by Conservative Examiner, BP is heavily invested in NALCO, the company that manufactures and sells the chemical dispersant. NALCO is a so-called 'green' company that Obama and other Left-leaning individuals and corporations prefer due to its development of water purification systems.

The major recipients of the taxpayer funded 'bailout' of large Wall Street corporations are heavily invested in NALCO, including Goldman-Sachs, Citigroup, Berkshire Hathaway, Blackstone, Apollo, and BP itself.

A further look will reveal major individual investors in NALCO--individuals who are connected with Leftwing causes--George Soros, Tony Rezko, Al Gore, Warren Buffett, John Holdren, and Maurice Strong--all of whom have close ties to Barack Obama.

Even Obama's Chicago pal and Chief of Staff, Rahm 'Dead Fish' Emanuel, lived rent-free in an apartment provided by the consulting firm that has been helping BP change its image from an oil company to a 'green energy' company.

Interestingly, this story was the only one widely reported in the mainstream media, but not in the aftermath of the Gulf oil disaster. The media conveniently ignored the Rahm Emanuel connection to BP, although it had reported prior to the disaster the appearance of conflict-of-interest in the arrangement.

The bottom line? This still-burgeoning catastrophe has Barack Obama's failures written all over it along with the smoking gun of Leftwing activists, big government, and large Obama-friendly corporations all lying snugly together in a sardine can.

Yet the large media outlets have said nary a word about it.
 

jcummins

Well-known member
Angusgord said:
AND just WTF was he supposed to do??? Stick his finger in the hole,honestly you people look for anything to discredit him for. He doesn't own BP.....

He had the opportunity to PROMPTLY respond...and did not, and I suspect because of unions. Do I discredit him for that...damn right I do.

From the article....Thus, when Barack Obama stated in his speech to the nation Tuesday night that he had 'been on top of the crisis since Day One'--his oft-repeated line--what he actually means is that he knew from Day One that this was a looming catastrophe of historic proportions, but did nothing. Offers of help from the Netherlands and at least a dozen countries were flatly turned down. Mega oil tankers that have the ability to vacuum up large areas of oil slick sat empty and were not deployed to the scene.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
I love it...All those from the radical right that are always complaining against ALL/ANY rules and oversight of Corporate America-- and saying for government to keep their nose out of Corporations business---Now are the same folks thinking Government didn't act fast enough to solve Corporates problems- think Government is the only answer- and are blaming Government for not enough rules or strict enough enforcement....

Pure partisan BS...

Now some of these same rightwing partisans think we shouldn't be making BP/Corporate Oil pick up the cost of their screwups- and that Obama was too harsh on them....

I guess they figure the taxpayer should do it.... :???:

Republicans on the Hill have calculated that President Obama's successful demand that BP set up a $20 billion escrow account to pay out claims is ripe for political attack. In the wake of Wednesday's White House announcement, a host of GOP officials are raising questions about both the process by which the deal was made and the deal itself -- going so far as to apologize to BP on America's behalf.

"I'm ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday," said Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.) during a hearing on Thursday morning with BP's CEO Tony Hayward." I think it is a tragedy in the first proportion that a private corporation can be subjected to what I would characterize as a shakedown -- in this case a $20 billion shakedown -- with the attorney general of the United States, who is legitimately conducting a criminal investigation and has every right to do so to protect the American people, participating in what amounts to a $20 billion slush fund that's unprecedented in our nation's history, which has no legal standing, which I think sets a terrible precedent for our nation's future."


At least all the R's aren't in the corporate oil pockets- and think they should be held liable for their damages, instead of it coming out of the taxpayers pockets..


Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL), who represents Pensacola, has called on Rep.
Joe Barton (R-TX) to resign as ranking member of the House Energy and
Commerce Committee after his apology to BP
.
 

Big Muddy rancher

Well-known member
OT and AG what about not waving the Jones Act and getting in those big skimmers right away. Would that not have helped even if he couldn't plug the hole.
Bush was bashed for his slow response to Katrina but he had the Jones Act waived so relief ships could get in to help as soon as they were able.
 
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Anonymous

Guest
Big Muddy rancher said:
OT and AG what about not waving the Jones Act and getting in those big skimmers right away. Would that not have helped even if he couldn't plug the hole.
Bush was bashed for his slow response to Katrina but he had the Jones Act waived so relief ships could get in to help as soon as they were able.

Two threads down everyone was praising putting unemployed Americans back to work-- now you want to ship in more foreigners :???:
 

Liveoak

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Big Muddy rancher said:
OT and AG what about not waving the Jones Act and getting in those big skimmers right away. Would that not have helped even if he couldn't plug the hole.
Bush was bashed for his slow response to Katrina but he had the Jones Act waived so relief ships could get in to help as soon as they were able.

Two threads down everyone was praising putting unemployed Americans back to work-- now you want to ship in more foreigners :???:

How about we just keep the partisan garbage out of it and just get a solution? If America didn't have the giant skimmers available then outside resources should have been utilized.
 

Big Muddy rancher

Well-known member
Liveoak said:
Oldtimer said:
Big Muddy rancher said:
OT and AG what about not waving the Jones Act and getting in those big skimmers right away. Would that not have helped even if he couldn't plug the hole.
Bush was bashed for his slow response to Katrina but he had the Jones Act waived so relief ships could get in to help as soon as they were able.

Two threads down everyone was praising putting unemployed Americans back to work-- now you want to ship in more foreigners :???:

How about we just keep the partisan garbage out of it and just get a solution? If America didn't have the giant skimmers available then outside resources should have been utilized.

Your right Liveoak, When i hear about those giant skimmers not being able to work in US waters and see pictures of the clean up of guys walking the beach with plastic bags or little hoses sucking up oil or guys dipping it with little hand held nets i just burn. If it's UNION jobs that's on the line rather then the health of the Gulf and it's people I am pretty sure Most would vote to let the foreigners help. :?
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
Big Muddy rancher said:
Liveoak said:
Oldtimer said:
Two threads down everyone was praising putting unemployed Americans back to work-- now you want to ship in more foreigners :???:

How about we just keep the partisan garbage out of it and just get a solution? If America didn't have the giant skimmers available then outside resources should have been utilized.

Your right Liveoak, When i hear about those giant skimmers not being able to work in US waters and see pictures of the clean up of guys walking the beach with plastic bags or little hoses sucking up oil or guys dipping it with little hand held nets i just burn. If it's UNION jobs that's on the line rather then the health of the Gulf and it's people I am pretty sure Most would vote to let the foreigners help. :?

Yep, shop vacs are the tool of the trade, it seems.

OT, the $20 billion is going to be split over how many years? So BP could put up $5Billion, go broke 2 years from now, and the taxpayer will still be stuck holding the bag.

All this agreement did, was to limit the amount that BP will pay, in the near future.

In my opinion, it would have been better for the Government to hire who ever is needed to get it clean-up, and then to charge BP for the costs.
 
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Anonymous

Guest
Has BP ever asked for any help they didn't get- or even asked for any waivers :???:

In response to such calls for more foreign help, the oil spill unified command on Tuesday streamlined the waiver process, adding that 15 foreign-flagged ships are already operating in the Gulf. More are on their way, according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

-------------------------------------------------

Despite this frustration, the Coast Guard says it has received no requests to waive the Jones Act – from the president or from anyone else.

“While we have not seen any need to waive the Jones Act as part of this historic response, we continue to prepare for all possible scenarios,” Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen said in a unified command press release Tuesday. “Should any waivers be needed, we are prepared to process them as quickly as possible to allow vital spill response activities being undertaken by foreign-flagged vessels to continue without delay.”

Perhaps the boldest use of the Jones Act waiver would be to enlist foreign supertankers to suck up water and oil and transfer it to shore, where it can be separated. It's been reported that Saudi Arabia used its fleet of supertankers to clean up a massive spill in the Persian Gulf in the 1990s.

One problem: diverting tankers per a presidential request could roil global oil markets.

Besides, the US maritime industry says the US has enough vessels on hand.

"The Jones Act fleet is one of the largest in the world, so there are plenty of US flag vessels right now hard at work, more ready to go to work," says Glen Nekvasil, a spokesman for the Maritime Cabotage Task Force, a consortium of shipbuilders, ship owners, and merchant marines based in Washington. "But if an instance arises where there is no qualified Jones Act vessel, we will not stand in the way of a waiver."
---------------------------
 
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Anonymous

Guest
hypocritexposer said:
Big Muddy rancher said:
Liveoak said:
How about we just keep the partisan garbage out of it and just get a solution? If America didn't have the giant skimmers available then outside resources should have been utilized.

Your right Liveoak, When i hear about those giant skimmers not being able to work in US waters and see pictures of the clean up of guys walking the beach with plastic bags or little hoses sucking up oil or guys dipping it with little hand held nets i just burn. If it's UNION jobs that's on the line rather then the health of the Gulf and it's people I am pretty sure Most would vote to let the foreigners help. :?

Yep, shop vacs are the tool of the trade, it seems.

OT, the $20 billion is going to be split over how many years? So BP could put up $5Billion, go broke 2 years from now, and the taxpayer will still be stuck holding the bag.

All this agreement did, was to limit the amount that BP will pay, in the near future.

In my opinion, it would have been better for the Government to hire who ever is needed to get it clean-up, and then to charge BP for the costs.

You think Government is that much better at solving problems and more efficient than industry-eh :???:

You think BP and the rig should have been Nationalized then ? Or do you support nationalizing all ofshore drilling- or the oil industry?
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Has BP ever asked for any help they didn't get- or even asked for any waivers :???:

In response to such calls for more foreign help, the oil spill unified command on Tuesday streamlined the waiver process, adding that 15 foreign-flagged ships are already operating in the Gulf. More are on their way, according to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

-------------------------------------------------

Despite this frustration, the Coast Guard says it has received no requests to waive the Jones Act – from the president or from anyone else.

“While we have not seen any need to waive the Jones Act as part of this historic response, we continue to prepare for all possible scenarios,” Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen said in a unified command press release Tuesday. “Should any waivers be needed, we are prepared to process them as quickly as possible to allow vital spill response activities being undertaken by foreign-flagged vessels to continue without delay.”

Perhaps the boldest use of the Jones Act waiver would be to enlist foreign supertankers to suck up water and oil and transfer it to shore, where it can be separated. It's been reported that Saudi Arabia used its fleet of supertankers to clean up a massive spill in the Persian Gulf in the 1990s.

One problem: diverting tankers per a presidential request could roil global oil markets.

Besides, the US maritime industry says the US has enough vessels on hand.

"The Jones Act fleet is one of the largest in the world, so there are plenty of US flag vessels right now hard at work, more ready to go to work," says Glen Nekvasil, a spokesman for the Maritime Cabotage Task Force, a consortium of shipbuilders, ship owners, and merchant marines based in Washington. "But if an instance arises where there is no qualified Jones Act vessel, we will not stand in the way of a waiver."
---------------------------


But obama has turned down help from other countries, did he not? Help that was offered within days of the disaster, when obama was aware of how big of an environmental disaster this was going to be.


Can you think of any reason why other Countries are offereing to help, OT?
 

jcummins

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
Big Muddy rancher said:
OT and AG what about not waving the Jones Act and getting in those big skimmers right away. Would that not have helped even if he couldn't plug the hole.
Bush was bashed for his slow response to Katrina but he had the Jones Act waived so relief ships could get in to help as soon as they were able.

Two threads down everyone was praising putting unemployed Americans back to work-- now you want to ship in more foreigners :???:

OT there is a horrendous oil spill of epic portions in the gulf, and specialized equipment these foreigners have could help a great deal. Why can't you understand this? The focus needs to be to get the oil flow stopped, and that oil out of the gulf.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
jcummins said:
Oldtimer said:
Big Muddy rancher said:
OT and AG what about not waving the Jones Act and getting in those big skimmers right away. Would that not have helped even if he couldn't plug the hole.
Bush was bashed for his slow response to Katrina but he had the Jones Act waived so relief ships could get in to help as soon as they were able.

Two threads down everyone was praising putting unemployed Americans back to work-- now you want to ship in more foreigners :???:

OT there is a horrendous oil spill of epic portions in the gulf, and specialized equipment these foreigners have could help a great deal. Why can't you understand this? The focus needs to be to get the oil flow stopped, and that oil out of the gulf.

Has BP tried to bring them in? Or even asked to?

According to the Christian Science Monitor article there are already foreign ships operating in the gulf on the spill-- NO one (BP) has asked for any waivers- and the shipbuilders/merchant marine group said that they would not stand in the way of any waivers...

So why hasn't BP brought in this miracle specialized equipment :???:

Or do you believe, like Hypocrit apparently does, that the government is more efficient and can do a better job than BP/the oil industry :???: Do you too think BP and the rig should have been "nationalized" with government taking over total control and the taxpayers picking up the bill-- with the hopes they can get the dollars back from BP's assets :???: ...
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
Angusgord said:
AND just WTF was he supposed to do??? Stick his finger in the hole,honestly you people look for anything to discredit him for. He doesn't own BP.....

Ummmmm, get his thumb out of his arse and do is job?
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
Oldtimer said:
jcummins said:
Oldtimer said:
Two threads down everyone was praising putting unemployed Americans back to work-- now you want to ship in more foreigners :???:

OT there is a horrendous oil spill of epic portions in the gulf, and specialized equipment these foreigners have could help a great deal. Why can't you understand this? The focus needs to be to get the oil flow stopped, and that oil out of the gulf.

Has BP tried to bring them in? Or even asked to?

According to the Christian Science Monitor article there are already foreign ships operating in the gulf on the spill-- NO one (BP) has asked for any waivers- and the shipbuilders/merchant marine group said that they would not stand in the way of any waivers...

So why hasn't BP brought in this miracle specialized equipment :???:

Or do you believe, like Hypocrit apparently does, that the government is more efficient and can do a better job than BP/the oil industry :???: Do you too think BP and the rig should have been "nationalized" with government taking over total control and the taxpayers picking up the bill-- with the hopes they can get the dollars back from BP's assets :???: ...

you are misrepresenting what I said.

The Fed. Government should let BP concentrate on stopping the flow of oil, and the Feds. should also do whatever it can to mitigate the clean-up.

If that means bringing in extra help that has been offered, it should be done.

If the Government is going to tax citizens to provide for such services as protecting the environment, don't you think they should follow through with their promises?

If the private corporations are responsible for all costs, before all costs are even known, then why tax, for those purposes?
 

jcummins

Well-known member
BP has the expertise...they have to be the ones to stop the flow. But mopping up oil out of the gulf, I thought our government had stepped in and was calling the shots. Am I wrong on that? I know Jindal was trying to get approval to do things, not from BP, but from our own government. Then the bill for the mop up, regardless of who physically does it is sent to BP....that the $20B fund.

I heard today a comment on TV, that there seemed to be no urgency with the coast guard. They even halted some ships from doing things to do a safety inspection. The longer it goes on the more damage it does, and the more cost is involved. It just seems to be so disorganized, regardless if it's BP, or our government.
 
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Anonymous

Guest
It just seems to be so disorganized, regardless if it's BP, or our government.

Government- especially the Federal government with its so many overlapping Dept.s and Agencies is disorganized- and has been that way for years...

But I also think that some of this press coverage- of stopping a few boats that didn't meet safety standards- gets way more coverage than it deserves-- and is blown out of proportion just as a partisan tool in a backstabbing contest..
 
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