BP Oil (and Other Companies) Pointing Fingers for Blame

Image from Sailing Scuttlebutt

Here's an idea to the oil companies: maybe have a plan for disasters, no matter how "unlikely?" How about having both a plan and a backup plan? This goes for all big corporations.  If you are a CEO and get paid a kazillion dollars, maybe you shouldn't always be looking for a best case scenario?

If you're running a car company, maybe there ought to be a contingency plan if gas prices shoot up or if the economy tanks? Maybe it shouldn't take years to change course after it is obvious that your ginormous SUV fleet isn't selling?  If you run OnlyBank, maybe you ought to consider your options before the economy crumbles?  It's just an idea.

[Excerpt]

BP, other companies point fingers in oil rig blast

Early finger-pointing erupted Monday among companies involved in the oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico and unstopped leak of millions of gallons of oil, on the eve of the first congressional hearings into the accident.

A top American executive for BP, Lamar McKay, said a critical safety device known as a blowout-preventer failed catastrophically. Separately, the owner of the rig off Louisiana's coast said BP managed it and was responsible for all work conducted at the site. A third company defended work that it performed on the deepwater oil well as "accepted industry practice" before last month's explosion. . .

Read more at: 8NewsNow

Thanks to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link

Bush On the Side of CEOs' Compensation Packages

Photo from source, Think Progress

Ugh. One of the many problems I've had with the Bush Administration over of these last eight years is the lack of accountability. This is made worse by the rhetoric used to excuse it. Nobody does anything before there's a problem, and then when a problem happens, they say, "now is not the time to point fingers," or "now is not the time to play the blame game."

It was a mantra after the Hurricane Katrina fiasco. Blame game, finger pointing, blame game. I think Jon Stewart did a montage of it at the time. And now that we're in another crisis, this one financial, they're at it again.

[Excerpt]

Bush Backs Unlimited Compensation For Disgraced CEOs: Now Is Not The Time For ‘Punitive Measures’

We certainly understand and are sympathetic to the sentiment regarding the pay of CEOs and senior management of these firms, but we have to focus on the problem, and the problem is that we need these firms to participate in the program and sell us this debt. Having punitive measures would provide a disincentive for firms to participate, and that would make the program much less likely to succeed. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

John Conyers Wants to do What to Karl Rove?

Photo from source, Think Progress

If there is one thing I cannot resist, it is a catchy headline that doubles as wish-fulfillment. Here it is:

[Excerpt]

Conyers: ‘Someone’s got to kick Rove’s ass.’

Just off the House floor today, the Crypt overheard House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers tell two other people: “We’re closing in on Rove. Someone’s got to kick his ass. . .”

Read more at: Think Progress

FBI Raids Home & Office of Special Counsel

Photo from source, TPM Muckraker

This is another one of those stories that gets my Bush Administration held accountable hope-O-meter pinging. It's difficult to encapsulate, but I think this could really get big. And it involves Karl Rove, and the more trouble he gets into the better.

[Excerpt]

FBI Raids Home, Office of Office of Special Counsel

. . .To refresh your memory, Bloch's agency is a little known one that is charged with investigating whistleblower complaints, Hatch Act violations, and the like -- but who is himself being investigated for retaliating against whistleblowers and politicizing his office. The Office of Personnel Management's inspector general has been conducting that investigation since 2005. The feds are apparently investigating whether Bloch tried to obstruct that investigation by deleting his hard drive, among other things. . .

Read more at: TPM Muckraker

Cheney Aide Must Testify About Torture

Photo from source, Raw Story

I'm not gonna get too excited about this one. Sure, any thorn stuck into the sides of the Bush Administration is welcome. Even better if they're actually sweating it. But I've been let down too many times. Better to just take satisfaction in their annoyance, and be pleasantly surprised if they actually get held accountable for something.

Oh, who am I kidding. . .go get 'em!

[Excerpt]

House committee votes to compel Cheney's chief of staff to testify about torture

By a voice vote, the House Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday morning to compel Vice President Cheney's chief of staff David Addington to testify about his role in approving harsh interrogation tactics at the US Guantanamo Bay prison. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Where is the Accountability?

Photo from source, Fire Dog Lake

Echoing my sentiments exactly, this post from FireDogLake lays out what we expected with the Democratic Congress, and what we're not getting. Very much worth the read.

[Excerpt]

I ♥ Lawyers

Almost a full year later, what do we have? The investigations have found a lot of smoke, but none of the Constitution-scented blaze behind it, nor have they caught Bush or his lieutenants holding a match and jerrycan. They've gotten off some great zingers, but by refusing to go beyond their comfort zone of subpoenas and Strongly Worded Letters, the Democrats have allowed the White House to stall and stonewall with impunity. . .

Read more at: Fire Dog Lake

Important Words from John Conyers on FISA Bill

Photo from Wikipedia

I'm going to shut up, and bring you this message word-for-word from Congressman John Conyers. It's important, so listen up!

The Senate will soon consider legislation addressing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). I emailed you about this issue recently responding to inaccuracies in the press about Democratic efforts to improve protection of civil liberties. I am writing you today to update you on the current state of the bill and to ask for your help.

One critical question being considered in the Senate's FISA bill is whether to offer telecom companies retroactive immunity for any actions they undertook in the wireless surveillance program. The Bush Administration has claimed that this is necessary for national security reasons, but I am skeptical.

If the Administration was serious about arguing for this immunity, I suspect they would take steps to demonstrate to Congress the extent of this surveillance program and what role the phone companies played. Yet they have refused to share even this information with the House. Clearly, it is a bit much to ask for immunity from prosecution without explaining why it is necessary.

Because of these reservations, the House-passed FISA bill did not include the immunity the president sought. In the Senate, however, it is becoming clear that a tough battle will now ensue over this provision. Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut has been a vocal opponent of telecom immunity and has promised to filibuster any FISA legislation that includes this provision.

Senator Dodd needs your help right now. Please visit his site and lend your support to the filibuster now. Your help can make a difference at this important juncture.Thank you again for your continued support for a better democracy.

Your Friend, John Conyers, Jr.

Judge's Ruling Hurts Corruption Cases

Photo of William Jefferson from Wikipedia

With all of the various GOP scandals in Congress over the last few years, the one Democratic scandal, that of William Jefferson in Louisiana--the cash in the freezer guy--may help other Congressmen thwart the law. Needless to say, this is bad news. Why shouldn't crooked Congressmen be held to the same legal standard the rest of us are? I'd contend they should be more accountable.

[Excerpt]

Ruling Will Cripple Probes Of Lawmakers, U.S. Says

A little-noticed aspect of an appellate court decision could sharply limit investigations of members of Congress and hamper ongoing corruption probes, the Justice Department said this week in a motion seeking an emergency stay of the ruling. . .

Read more at: Washington Post