Mother Jones - "Murkowski (R) Backs BP Bailout"

[TomCADem]

It is ironic that when Democrats try to prevent a handout to Big Oil, the media does not suddenly jump in and start spreading the anti-bailout talking points as they did with efforts to regulate Wall Street.

http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2010/05/defense-polluters-large-and-small

Democrats this afternoon attempted to bring up their Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act, a measure that would raise the liability cap for major spills like that currently underway in the Gulf to $10 billion. Under the current law, BP could be on the hook for only $75 million total for the spill—which is far, far less than this spill is going to cost.

Even a $10 billion cap could still be too low; some analysts predict that the total cost of the BP spill could hit $14 billion. Raising the cap, one might think, would be a popular move for Congress. It would both force BP to pay up all it owes to the Gulf Coast, and also ensure that any companies that embark on risky drilling ventures do a better job of ensuring safety and adequate clean-up plans. BP could surely afford to pay the full costs; after all, the company pulled in $5.6 billion in profits in just the first quarter of this year. But Republicans objected to the move.

The block was led by Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski who valiantly stood up for the rights of oil companies, big and small, to dump oil into our waterways with little fear of liability.

[Scuba]

1. Why do Republicans stand on the Senate floor and defend habitual criminals?

What happend to the "party of law and order"?

Hypocritical, corrupt politicians. Where are the indictments?

[Skittles]

2. they are defending their own kind

[Rosa Luxemburg]

6. the poor little guys who are out of work around here support the GOP Grand Oil Party

if you talk to them - they have no clue that the GOP supports oil and corporations.

[Scuba]

7. That's because Fox didn't mention it. They know what Rupert wants them to know.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

12. It is the Dems job to enlighten these souls

[TomCADem]

14. Hence, The Title "Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act," Of Course The Corporate Media Will Not Say It

Compare Fox News repeating the bailout talking points with respect to financial reform, versus the coverage of the Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act. No mention is made of the freakin title of the bill. God forbid that these efforts to protect Big Oil are perceived as a bailout. Thus, we have a complete media blackout.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

15. we need Dems to ask about it on TV?

keep asking

[Andy823]

4. That's easy

The are bought and paid for by any special interest group that wants to give them money! I just can't see this working in their favor at all, and democrats need to hit them hard in this and force them to vote. When the american people see them supporting big oil and trying stick the bill of the cleanup on the taxpayers, the shit will hit the fan!

[Scuba]

5. Hope you're right...

...thanks for your many good posts.

[TomCADem]

9. Except That Democrats Don't Have A Fox News Using The "Bailout" Talking Points Every 5 Seconds

Protecting BP from liability is perhaps the worse example of the federal government socializing the losses attributable to the spill, but you don't have Fox News hosts saying "bailout" in reference to financial reform every five seconds or so. Instead, Fox News relentlessly attacks Obama, in an effort to take the spotlight off the fact that the federal government does not have the assets or expertise to stop the oil leak. They reside in the oil industry.

Fox News is protecting the oil industry by trying to take the spotlight off of their fault and liability, and focusing on trying to pin the blame for everything on Obama. Thus, Republicans can work overtime bailout the oil industry under this corporate media cover.

[roguevalley]

13. she's satanic. she's on the list from CREW of the twenty worst

and most corrupt congress bastards

[Andy823]

3. I wonder...

Do the republicans really think that "bailing" out BP will really go over with the public? Now it might with the small minority of brain dead followers of Rush and Beck, but when the oil starts coming on shore in other states, when it hits Florida, comes up the east coast, do they really think that anyone with half a brain in this country is going to agree with them that the "taxpayers" should foot the bill and we should let BP off the hook? Are they really that stupid? I know they have strong ties to the oil industry, or should I say the oil industries money, but do they think that people are so stupid that they won't hold that against them? Democrats need to push this hard, put it up for vote every day, force their hand, get on TV and point out that republicans want to let BP off the hook, and stick it to the taxpayers! The longer the oil flows, the more states it washes up on their beaches, the more pissed off americans are going to be. I just can't see how they can win on this one! To me this looks like political suicide!

[Angry Dragon]

8. Congress will never wake up until

the oil keeps spewing and it finds it way up to DC. When it gets to their doorstep then politicians finally see things.
They do not live in the same world that you and I live in, theirs' is a special world where they get to spend other peoples' money and live under their own set of laws.

[Canuckistanian]

10. When she speaks, can you see Tony Hayward's lips move?

Because he OWNS her.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

11. YOU CAN COUNT ON REPUBS TO BE RIGHT THERE FOR ANY SCAM