What side are the parties on?

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Once again, we learn what side the Democrats are on and what side the Republicans are on.

The Democrats

That's right. $20 billion up front from British Petroleum to cover the astronomical costs of damages resulting from the oil spill. That's in comparison to a statutory $75 million cap.

The Republicans

Joe Barton: I think it is a tragedy of 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. . .

Michelle Bachmann: “The president just called for creating a fund that would be administered by outsiders, which would be more of a redistribution-of-wealth fund,”

Rush Limbaugh, the intellectual head of the Republican Party: “Who's gonna get this money? Union activists? ACORN people? Who's gonna get this money. Let's keep a sharp eye on who Feinberg gives this money to. Because I'm telling you, this is just another bailout fund, called something else, and we'll see who gets it.”

The Republican Study Committee: “BP's reported willingness to go along with the White House's new fund suggests that the Obama Administration is hard at work exerting its brand of Chicago-style shakedown politics. These actions are emblematic of a politicization of our economy that has been borne out of this Administration's drive for greater power and control.”

This squarely presents the issue. The Republicans have been pretending to be some kind of little-guy populists, fighting against the entrenched power in Washington. In fact, they're in bed with the wealthiest, most reprehensible corporations in the world.

We need to keep pounding on this theme right on through November.

Oh yeah, on other thing. Later today, Joe Barton apologized for his apology to BP. In fact, he said that if anyone misconstrued his earlier statement, he apologized.

Don't worry, Joe. We didn't misconstrue anything.

 Cross posted from Rational Resistance.

5 thoughts on “What side are the parties on?”

  1. Thanks Jack.  The GOP comments here were disgusting, but hardly surprising.  As usual, they showed their colors.  


  2. Since the Deepwater Horizon rig’s explosion in the gulf on April 20, here are the fundraisers by lobbyists who represent BP:

    — Paul Brathwaite and Cristina Antelo, who both lobby for the Podesta Group, were among numerous hosts for a May 26 party benefiting CHC-BOLD PAC, a PAC for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

    — Tim Glassco, also a lobbyist for the Podesta Group, was a host of a “young professionals” happy hour on May 25 for Rep. Glenn Nye (D-Va.).

    — Dan Meyer, a lobbyist for the Duberstein Group, was a host of an April 29 event for Carly Fiorina, who was seeking the GOP nomination for a California U.S. Senate seat.

    — Podesta and his wife, Heather, hosted an April 28 breakfast for Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla).

    (Even after BP oil spill, fundraising events were hopping, Washington Post, 06/18/10)

    Come on now … after all these years you still think the DC Democrats really give a shit?

  3. Jack, having lived on “This royal throne of kings, this scepter’d isle,” for a year, I have nothing against its inhabitants. But I’m happy to see you have called the company British Petroleum at the start of your post, even though the company had re-branded itself to BP in 2001. Did you happen to see this in the Economist?

    http://www.economist.com/node/…  

  4. pound on this theme (as they should)until November I hope they can muster the votes to pass an unemployment benefit extension bill,for the small and large people unlucky enough to be without jobs.

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