BP oil spill -- GWB's fault?

[Goobieman]

Just in case you were wondering why BP had a rig where it did, and were looking to tie it to GWB...

In 1995, President Clinton signed the Outer Continental Shelf Deepwater Royalty Relief Act which exempted oil wells drilled deep in the Gulf from the normal royalty payments they would normally have owed the government for their oil. Usually, these payments amount to between 12% and 16% of their revenues, so exemption from this requirement did a great deal to catalyze drilling in deep waters in the Gulf of Mexico. As a result of the Administration action, deepwater oil production in the Gulf increased rapidly, growing from 42 million barrels annually in 1996 to 348 million in 2004. The latter figure represents about 6% of total United States oil consumption and about 15% of domestic production. Natural gas production from deepwater Gulf drilling increased tenfold during the same period.

Outer Continental Shelf Deep Water Royalty Relief Act of 1995

 

[Deuce]

I was going to blame BP but ok.

 

[Slartibartfast]

I was going to blame BP but ok.

Yep. Besides, the amount of drilling in deep water does not matter so much as long as there is proper regulation and its actually being followed.

 

[goldcatt]

I'm all for proper regulation and enforcement, but even a lack of regulations shouldn't excuse BP if it turns out they weren't following safety measures standard for the industry. And it increasingly looks like that might be the case. Accidents happen, but blowouts are foreseeable and the severity and effects of this one were definitely foreseeable. Every precaution should have been taken whether it was "regulated" or not, if nothing else to avoid civil liability and what this cleanup will cost.

Bottom line: No politician left or right is responsible for this mess, only BP.

 

[obvious Child]

Yep. Besides, the amount of drilling in deep water does not matter so much as long as there is proper regulation and its actually being followed.

You'd think that proper cementing would pretty much clear up the problems, but hey, logic gets you nowhere here. Anyone else notice how Goobieman ignores the many other deep water drills that haven't had massive failures?

According to the recently leaked memo, BP took severe shortcuts. Maybe that's the REAL problem?

But that would require us to be honest and we all know that's not going to happen.

 

[digsbe]

No, BP was not Bush's fault. Everyone knew that Cheney held the strings and was the brain behind the brainless president. Bush was just Cheney's puppet. So no, the BP oil spill was not Bush's fault, it was Cheney's.
/sarcasm