Huh, misplaced priorities. Obama missing it from day one is pinning the tail on the donkey. I just wish Jacque Cousteau was still alive because he would never have allowed this shit to come down like it has. I am just as pissed as you and I hate to break it to you but all you and I can do is play coulda, woulda, shoulda.
Huh, misplaced priorities. Obama missing it from day one is pinning the tail on the donkey. I just wish Jacque Cousteau was still alive because he would never have allowed this shit to come down like it has. I am just as pissed as you and I hate to break it to you but all you and I can do is play coulda, woulda, shoulda.
everyday that goes by opens this issue up to major conspiracy theories, no doubt. even the most government-loving American must, at this point, start wondering what the hell is actually going on. Then the news comes down this week that a Taiwanese oil skimmer named "A Whale" had already sailed to the USA and is currently docked in Norfolk, VA but not allowed to help out in the gulf. BP and co have supposedly skimmed off 650,000 barrels so far but this ship skims 500,000 barrels PER DAY. However, the good ol EPA has stepped in and will not allow the ship to help out until they figure out if it "meets their standards". wow
EPA, Coast Guard delay skimmer deployment
The current administration seems intent on prolonging the crisis and hampering relief efforts.
AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
In yet another example of government bureaucracy acting in defiance of all logic and common sense, the Florida Pundit (check out the photo) reported Sunday that the Taiwanese-owned, Liberian-flagged oil skimmer A-Whale, currently on route from Norfolk, VA to the Gulf of Mexico faces several regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles to its deployment.
The six month old ship, Owned by the Thaiwanese company TMT, was originally built as a super-tanker and then recently refitted as a gigantic oil skimmer for specific use in the Gulf. According to the Pundit, reaching a payment agreement with BP is a non-issue; however: “To join the fight, the ship also might require separate waivers from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.”
The problem for the EPA is that they have no data on the efficiency of the separation process and therefore have no idea how ‘dirty’ the reintroduced sea water might be. Note to the EPA: It will be cleaner than it was when it was originally skimmed! The A-Whale pumps oily water into internal tanks where it is allowed to separate naturally before the cleaner water is pumped out again. At this point, is there really any reason to question the efficacy of a device that is intended to mitigate the amount of oil in the water? It’s less than it was when they started! Even so, the ship’s operators have agreed to work with the EPA to determine an acceptable level of contaminant in the discharged seawater.
Another major hurdle facing deployment of the A-Whale stems from the 1920 Jones Act: “TMT also is working with the Coast Guard to gain approval to operate in the gulf, which may require a waiver from a 90-year-old maritime act that restricts foreign-flagged vessels from operating in U.S. waters, said Bob Grantham, a TMT project officer… Capt. Matthew Sisson, commanding officer of the Coast Guard’s Research and Development arm in New London, Conn. would not offer a timetable for Coast Guard approval of the vessel, but said he will try to “turn around a report … as soon as humanely possible.” How about right now? Is that not soon enough?
Unless you’re paying attention to the ‘man behind the curtain’, none of this makes any sense. As I posited here, there is a method to this big government madness “In keeping with White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel’s revealing statement ‘never let a good crisis go to waste’, Barak Obama took the opportunity in last night’s speech on the oil spill to further his government regulated energy agenda, declaring "The tragedy unfolding on our coast is the most painful and powerful reminder yet that the time to embrace a clean energy future is now". He went on "I say we can't afford not to change how we produce and use energy - because the long-term costs to our economy, our national security, and our environment are far greater."”
And they call themselves Americans.
EPA, Coast Guard delay skimmer deployment
AP Photo/Charles Dharapak
In yet another example of government bureaucracy acting in defiance of all logic and common sense, the Florida Pundit (check out the photo) reported Sunday that the Taiwanese-owned, Liberian-flagged oil skimmer A-Whale, currently on route from Norfolk, VA to the Gulf of Mexico faces several regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles to its deployment.
The six month old ship, Owned by the Thaiwanese company TMT, was originally built as a super-tanker and then recently refitted as a gigantic oil skimmer for specific use in the Gulf. According to the Pundit, reaching a payment agreement with BP is a non-issue; however: “To join the fight, the ship also might require separate waivers from the Coast Guard and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.”
The problem for the EPA is that they have no data on the efficiency of the separation process and therefore have no idea how ‘dirty’ the reintroduced sea water might be. Note to the EPA: It will be cleaner than it was when it was originally skimmed! The A-Whale pumps oily water into internal tanks where it is allowed to separate naturally before the cleaner water is pumped out again. At this point, is there really any reason to question the efficacy of a device that is intended to mitigate the amount of oil in the water? It’s less than it was when they started! Even so, the ship’s operators have agreed to work with the EPA to determine an acceptable level of contaminant in the discharged seawater.
Another major hurdle facing deployment of the A-Whale stems from the 1920 Jones Act: “TMT also is working with the Coast Guard to gain approval to operate in the gulf, which may require a waiver from a 90-year-old maritime act that restricts foreign-flagged vessels from operating in U.S. waters, said Bob Grantham, a TMT project officer… Capt. Matthew Sisson, commanding officer of the Coast Guard’s Research and Development arm in New London, Conn. would not offer a timetable for Coast Guard approval of the vessel, but said he will try to “turn around a report … as soon as humanely possible.” How about right now? Is that not soon enough?
Unless you’re paying attention to the ‘man behind the curtain’, none of this makes any sense. As I posited here, there is a method to this big government madness “In keeping with White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel’s revealing statement ‘never let a good crisis go to waste’, Barak Obama took the opportunity in last night’s speech on the oil spill to further his government regulated energy agenda, declaring "The tragedy unfolding on our coast is the most painful and powerful reminder yet that the time to embrace a clean energy future is now". He went on "I say we can't afford not to change how we produce and use energy - because the long-term costs to our economy, our national security, and our environment are far greater."”
And they call themselves Americans.
Yes it really makes you wonder doesn't it. They still have not waived the Jones Act and this alone is perplexing. The Whale is certainly worth a shot and is probably the best shot that has come along so far. E.P.A. (Enough Paperwork
Already). We need to pull out the stops quickly if not sooner. Imagine the EPA trying to OK Noah's Ark!!!!!!
Already). We need to pull out the stops quickly if not sooner. Imagine the EPA trying to OK Noah's Ark!!!!!!
Finally!!!!!!!!!!
US accepts international assistance for Gulf spill
US accepts international assistance in dealing with ma
On Tuesday June 29, 2010, 6:43 pm EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States is accepting help from 12 countries and international organizations in dealing with the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The State Department said in a statement Tuesday that the U.S. is working out the particulars of the help that's been accepted.
The identities of all 12 countries and international organizations were not immediately announced. One country was cited in the State Department statement -- Japan, which is providing two high-speed skimmers and fire containment boom.
More than 30 countries and international organizations have offered to help with the spill. The State Department hasn't indicated why some offers have been accepted and others have not.
US accepts international assistance for Gulf spill
US accepts international assistance in dealing with ma
On Tuesday June 29, 2010, 6:43 pm EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States is accepting help from 12 countries and international organizations in dealing with the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The State Department said in a statement Tuesday that the U.S. is working out the particulars of the help that's been accepted.
The identities of all 12 countries and international organizations were not immediately announced. One country was cited in the State Department statement -- Japan, which is providing two high-speed skimmers and fire containment boom.
More than 30 countries and international organizations have offered to help with the spill. The State Department hasn't indicated why some offers have been accepted and others have not.
Me neither. The only thing I can think of is, that somehow the disaster will help his Cap and Tax bill, thus the longer it takes the better his chances.
Now I know that sounds idiotic but then again you have to keep in mind who we’re dealing with. There hasn’t been a hell of a lot he’s done that’s made sense or worked for that matter.
I’m past believing he’s incompetent, I think he’s just comatose.
You have to be shitting me:
Oil spill visits get partisan
Rep. Steve Scalise holds an Associated Press photo taken by Charlie Riedel of an oil-covered pelican, the state bird of Louisiana, as he questions BP CEO Tony Hayward during a congressional hearing June 17, 2010.
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) wanted to fly 10 lawmakers down to the Gulf of Mexico to see the damage caused by BP’s gigantic oil spill first hand.
House Democrats said no.
Scalise’s trip was rejected for a variety of bureaucratic and logistical reasons, but it has also opened a new vein of partisan squabbling over who should be allowed to arrange a trip to view the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Republicans want to be able to take trips using their office spending allowance. But Democrats have heard from the Department of Homeland Security, which has asked that Congress organize trips through committees of jurisdiction, to avoid having to cater to a ton of individual lawmakers in a disaster zone, Democratic aides say. GOP leaders say they’ve heard nothing of this.
The squabbling over who gets to travel to the Gulf on whose dime is the latest sign that congressional oversight of the oil spill oversight from Capitol Hill has been bogged down by partisanship. Congress has held upwards of 20 hearings on the disaster, often duplicative ones each week, as lawmakers struggle to grasp and fully realize the scope of BP’s giant oil spill.
Scalise, who has already been to the Gulf on another codel, wants to organize a trip so lawmakers can fully grasp the impact before they vote on oil drilling regulations. And he doesn't want to do it through a committee, because the members don't fit neatly into specific panels — they stretch across committee, and even partisan, lines.
About two weeks ago, Scalise requested to be able to use his Members Representational Allowance – a fund typically reserved for office expenses and travel back to the district – to go to the Gulf with a group of about 10 other lawmakers.
He sought permission from the House Administration committee, which regulates office account spending and would have to approve the trip. After a few weeks, Scalise was ping-ponged between several committees. Eventually, John Lawrence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) chief of staff, told Scalise’s chief that “it was unlikely that the request would be granted” by the House Administration Committee.
Republicans, however, say Rep. Bob Brady (D-Pa.), who chairs the committee, has approved at least a dozen such trips in 2009 alone – something Democrats don’t deny.
“Unless there is some extraordinary reason to prohibit this trip – which has yet to be communicated to us – this is an unacceptable departure from past practices,” said Rep, Dan Lungren of California, the top Republican on the administration committee. “This is an educational trip for members using their own representational budgets to see, first-hand, the devastating impact of the Gulf spill. Our travel regulations permit this type of travel in support of our official representational duties, and unfortunately, this disaster is already having environmental and economical implications for the entire country – not just those districts represented by Members sitting on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.”
Republicans say that Democrats are just trying to shield lawmakers from going to see the damage in the Gulf.
“Every Member should see the result of eight years of failed Bush-Cheney energy policies that have done nothing to secure our energy future,” said Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill.
So for now, the Scalise visit remains unscheduled.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/39225.html#ixzz0sMjhgdQX
Oil spill visits get partisan
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) wanted to fly 10 lawmakers down to the Gulf of Mexico to see the damage caused by BP’s gigantic oil spill first hand.
House Democrats said no.
Scalise’s trip was rejected for a variety of bureaucratic and logistical reasons, but it has also opened a new vein of partisan squabbling over who should be allowed to arrange a trip to view the impact of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Republicans want to be able to take trips using their office spending allowance. But Democrats have heard from the Department of Homeland Security, which has asked that Congress organize trips through committees of jurisdiction, to avoid having to cater to a ton of individual lawmakers in a disaster zone, Democratic aides say. GOP leaders say they’ve heard nothing of this.
The squabbling over who gets to travel to the Gulf on whose dime is the latest sign that congressional oversight of the oil spill oversight from Capitol Hill has been bogged down by partisanship. Congress has held upwards of 20 hearings on the disaster, often duplicative ones each week, as lawmakers struggle to grasp and fully realize the scope of BP’s giant oil spill.
Scalise, who has already been to the Gulf on another codel, wants to organize a trip so lawmakers can fully grasp the impact before they vote on oil drilling regulations. And he doesn't want to do it through a committee, because the members don't fit neatly into specific panels — they stretch across committee, and even partisan, lines.
About two weeks ago, Scalise requested to be able to use his Members Representational Allowance – a fund typically reserved for office expenses and travel back to the district – to go to the Gulf with a group of about 10 other lawmakers.
He sought permission from the House Administration committee, which regulates office account spending and would have to approve the trip. After a few weeks, Scalise was ping-ponged between several committees. Eventually, John Lawrence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) chief of staff, told Scalise’s chief that “it was unlikely that the request would be granted” by the House Administration Committee.
Republicans, however, say Rep. Bob Brady (D-Pa.), who chairs the committee, has approved at least a dozen such trips in 2009 alone – something Democrats don’t deny.
“Unless there is some extraordinary reason to prohibit this trip – which has yet to be communicated to us – this is an unacceptable departure from past practices,” said Rep, Dan Lungren of California, the top Republican on the administration committee. “This is an educational trip for members using their own representational budgets to see, first-hand, the devastating impact of the Gulf spill. Our travel regulations permit this type of travel in support of our official representational duties, and unfortunately, this disaster is already having environmental and economical implications for the entire country – not just those districts represented by Members sitting on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.”
Republicans say that Democrats are just trying to shield lawmakers from going to see the damage in the Gulf.
“Every Member should see the result of eight years of failed Bush-Cheney energy policies that have done nothing to secure our energy future,” said Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill.
So for now, the Scalise visit remains unscheduled.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/39225.html#ixzz0sMjhgdQX
Why can't a satellite pick all this up and broadcast it. We are not the only country with such capabilities. All they want us to see is the spewing oil on the bottom, which will apparently never cease flowing. The dispersants is another matter.
They let them apply dispersants but they won't let a republican do a fly over. Hmmmmmmmmmm.
