US govt "clearly" can take over spill cleanup-BP

[time_has_come]

Source: Reuters

HOUSTON, May 24 (Reuters) - It is "clearly" within the U.S. government's power to take over operations to contain a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico from BP Plc. (BP.L), a company executive said on Monday.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2423877020100524?type=marketsNews

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What this means, exactly, is not clear. Title says "cleanup," BP guy says "if the government felt there were other things to do it is clearly within their power to do that."

Seems like he's just saying the government has the power to do things. Big revelation, that.

[livetohike]

1. Just typical of Republicans - they make the mess and expect

the Democrats to clean up after them :eyes:. Oh and the President isn't mopping fast enough.

[Spazito]

2. BP would like nothing more than the federal government to...

'take over', it frees them of their responsibility AND severely limits their liability as they would simply shift the 'blame' from that point on.

[Karenina]

14. HALLO!

:hi:

The vigilantes on Grand Isle who have "commandeered" 40 BP boats may indeed find themselves in a world of even MORE hurt...
THIS after they REFUSED federal assistance. :eyes:

[louis-t]

3. Sounds like he's saying "Put up or shut up".

[dipsydoodle]

5. Sounds like a fair assessment of the situation

.

[gateley]

4. And I'm watching the WH Press Conference and a Coast Guard

Bigwig just said (in response to the question could we replace BP?) "Replace them with what?" He said what we've heard previously, that BP is the only one with the equipment to address this.

[State the Obvious]

7. Dead silence in the room... when he said, "Replace them with what?"

Wasn't that Admiral Thad Allen ? I saw it too.

[gateley]

12. Yeah - that's who it was. nt

[BakedAtAMileHigh]

6. the bottom line is that this means we are f**ked

There is no way BP would issue a statement like this unless they KNOW clean-up will not work and the relief well will not stop the flow in August. This is a disaster and they would LOVE it if the Obama administration assumed responsibility: they know damn well how short the public's attention span has proven to be time and time again.

This is a terrible sign.

[State the Obvious]

8. Republicans would like nothing more.....

...government takes it over.....taxpayers pay for it. Bad democrats.... :sarcasm:

(Ready-made Republican talking point if Democrats take the bait.)

[Berry Cool]

9. Sounds like this is a really good time to reiterate the GOP belief in small government

and say "I don't believe the government should have to do this job. This is a job for private enterprise..."

In other words, BP, you broke the Gulf; now you bought it.

[thereismore]

10. You would like that, fuckers, for us to clean up after you! nt

[joanmj]

11. BP would like nothing more....

:puke:

[pdefalla]

13. Let Market Forces Clean it Up!

Or perhaps we need to give BP a massive bailout of taxpayer funds because we cannot allow them to fail!