Monday, May 31, 2010

Gov. Bobby Jindal gets $25 million from BP for cleanup, but doesn't distribute the funds.

This morning State Sen. Butch Gautreaux appeared on MSNBC.

Because Sen. Gautreaux is from St. Mary Parish, which borders the Gulf of Mexico, the reporter was interested in getting a clearer picture of just how bad the BP oil spill disaster will be for coastal Louisiana. Parishes along the Gulf of Mexico will, no doubt, be the areas most severely impacted by the devastating oil spill.

When asked if Pres. Obama's response to the oil spill was quick enough, Sen. Gautreaux said he personally witnessed US Coast Guard involvement shortly after the oil spill was reported.

After that question was answered, the interview really turned bad for Gov. Bobby Jindal.

The reporter then asked Sen. Gautreaux if Gov.Jindal's criticism of Pres. Obama was justified.

In response to that question, the senator dropped a virtual "political nuclear bomb" on Gov. Jindal.

Sen. Gautreaux said that, Friday, he learned BP gave Gov. Bobby Jindal $25 million to help with cleanup efforts in Louisiana coastal parishes. Sen. Gautreaux said Gov. Jindal has used a measly $3 million of the $25 million for cleanup efforts in the coastal parishes.

So, Gov. Jindal the question is "where has all the money gone... long-time passing?"

Gov. Jindal needs to make a complete accounting of his efforts to timely distribute the remaining $22 million.

The problems only get worse over time! So why wait, Gov. Jindal? Also, why weren't the funds immediately distributed to the coastal parishes to help with cleanup efforts?

Hopefully Gov. Jindal's tune about government response will change. Otherwise, we'll be singing, "Who took the cookie from the cookie jar? Bobby took the cookie from the cookie jar? If not you, then who?"

Friday, May 21, 2010

Tea Party takes the side of BP against Louisiana.

It’s offensive, but it’s expected!

Today, Tea Party Republican Rand Paul took the side of BP against the people of Louisiana.

Determined to protect the British corporation, the Tea Party's Republican Senate nominee Rand Paul criticized President Barack Obama's handling of the Gulf oil spill Friday as putting "his boot heel on the throat of BP" and "really un-American."

Paul made his comment on Good Morning America. "I think that sounds really un-American in his criticism of business." Psst...Rand, BP's British; Louisiana's American. Do you understand the difference?

Paul further explained, "And I think it's part of this sort of blame-game society in the sense that it's always got to be somebody's fault instead of the fact that maybe sometimes accidents happen."

So what does “sometimes accidents happen” mean in Tea Party language? It means: Hey Louisiana, get over it, sometimes sh** happens.”

Thursday, May 13, 2010

More BP Finger Pointing, But No Clean-Up

They're at it again!

As the first congressional hearings into the incident prepared to get underway, the Bigwigs of Big Oil are doing their level best to lay blame on each other. They really...really...are!

So, here's the question: What happened to corporate responsibility and corporate governance? Enough finger pointing. You broke it; now fix it!

See H. Josef Hebert, Associated Press, The Advocate 05/11/2010 Read Article: The Advocate

Monday, May 03, 2010

The finger pointing begins: BP says it’s not responsible for accident

By now, news of the disaster off the coast of Louisiana has circulated around the world. But, the finger pointing among the corporations responsible for the disaster is just beginning. BP's chairman claims that BP "is not responsible for the accident." In the corporate world, passing the buck is good business.

BP claims that Transocean, the owner of the drilling rig, is responsible for the accident.

This is not the first time that BP has failed to take responsibility for safety failures. BP caused a major casualty in Texas in 2005 and avoided liability for it. The safety problems at BP are so bad that the US Department of Labor called BP's safety failures "systemic."

Will BP eventually pay for the disaster? Probably not.

Exxon was found guilty of the Valdez disaster and ordered to pay $5 billion in punitive damages. How much has Exxon paid? NOTHING! That's right, not a penny!

So, don't hold your breath for BP to pay. Let the finger pointing begin!