Why I hate conservatives, Episode 5000 (Kristol, again)

[agentS]

Think Progress reports on the latest Bill Kristol stupidity. With video
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/06/20/kristol-healthy-bully-bp/

WALLACE: Question Bill Kristol, is the President standing up to big business or is he bullying boardrooms?

KRISTOL: I think his own Interior Secretary said something about keeping his foot on the throat of BP, which doesn’t sound like standing up to anyone. It sounds like bullying. I have no sympathy for BP. We have an article in the Weekly Standard this week saying that BP should stand for “Beyond Pathetic.” I think it was the least responsible of the Big Oil companies. It has managed to handle itself pretty poorly even since the disaster let alone before. But it’s not healthy for the country, for the economy as a whole, for the President to bully different companies and different industries and I think it’s not helping us.

The blogosphere and MSM have been reporting all week that conservatives 'icons' like Kristol have been complaining about Obama's successful negotiation with BP for the $20 billion escrow fund. Sure, Kristol also harps on BP, but let's focus on the bold text here.

Fundamentally, the President (FDR, Obama, Eisenhower, etc) and Salazar shouldn't have to force BP or other companies (Exxon, etc) to do the 'right thing' (i.e. cleaning up their messes, building things to code/safety specs). These crummy corporations should have enough sense to properly manage risk in the first place! AND they should have proper disaster plans and resources in place to deal with disasters! But they don't, so ON COMES THE BOOT TO THE NECK!

Kristol and other conservatives (what a misnomer- these folks couldn't conserve a gallon of gas even if it was on the back of a bicycle) just don't get it! For a group that talks a lot about 'personal responsibility' and 'ownership society' they certainly don't like it when responsibility goes to people who pay their checks (BP, EXXON, Halliburton, etc). Say what you will about MMS' shitty review process, MMS didn't dig the damn well or fail to install the blowout preventer- BP did. Primary responsibility belongs to the one to make the mess and the ones that usually make the mess are greedy corporations. And if they don't want to act appropriately, then the President has every right and obligation to MAKE THEM.

Conservatives don't get it. Therefore, wherever there's a 'country club' cluster of these crazies, DOE should put a BP refinery or leaky fission reactor right next door, and see how they like it when (not IF, WHEN) one of these things explode and cover their dog in oil or their BBQ grill in U-236. THEN we'll see how much they want the 'boot' on their own personal BP!

[The Magistrate]

1. Hear Hear, Sir! This cannot Be Said Too Often,,,,

"Say what you will about MMS' shitty review process, MMS didn't dig the damn well or fail to install the blowout preventer- BP did. Primary responsibility belongs to the one to make the mess and the ones that usually make the mess are greedy corporations. And if they don't want to act appropriately, then the President has every right and obligation to MAKE THEM. "

[OHdem10]

2. Conservatives are committed to Business. In fact, it was one of

the Republican Parties' founding principles. Have you
also picked up on Conservative Democrats and their PRO-
Business stands.

[agentS]

3. Conservatives are conservatives in my book

regardless of party.

However, I don't recall any conservaDems rushing to the mike, complaining of bullying. Even blug dog Melancon D-LA hasn't complained of bullying. Maybe you've seen something somewhere that i've missed?

[agentS]

4. Comment #35 at TP best summarizes the GOP plan

Max Anax junius 1 (BOYCOTT BP) says:

.

The GOP Answers to the Problems Facing America

High unemployment:
Cut unemployment benefits, export jobs to China and then tell unemployed Americans to get off their lazy butts and find a job

Budget Deficit:
Give more tax cuts to millionaires to further increase the deficit

Two expensive wars:
Add a third expensive war by invading Iran

Immigration Problem:
Eliminate the 4th, 5th and 14th amendments and then harass brown people

Wall Street Corruption:
Hold closed door meetings with wall street execs and “shake them down” for protection money in exchange for GOPERS continuing to filibuster finance reform bills

Environmental Pollution:
Apologize to the Polluters

[bluestateguy]

5. I am all for the president bullying big companies

In fact, we need even more bullying from him.

No apologies. You know where I stand.

[Cobalt-60]

6. Bullying?

I would personally go past bullying.
I would be eliminating their corporation as an example to the others.
Their assets would stripped and sold.
Their board would be contained in a military prison, for their protection, of course.
And anyone that tried to defend this criminal corporation's craven negligence would get absolutely all the trouble that could be brought to bear.
These ecological terrorists have done grave damage to the United States.
In the past nations that did that much damage got destroyed for their trouble.
Corporations should enjoy the same privilege.