Reply #116: Tip: Anger should be used where it can actually be helpful [View All]

"How much oil is leaking? Can you answer the question?"

Lots. Exact quantity doesn't matter, as I've told you many, many times. Once you reach the 'send everything' threshold, you don't need to know how much more there is. At least when capping the well. The government needs an estimate for levying fines, and they have one.

"I can find plenty of facts to prove BP is not the best company for the job"

And where exactly did I say they were the best for the job? The 'best' company would probably be Exxon, due to their offshore drilling safety record. However, they've got a not-wonderful transportation safety record, as residents of Alaska can attest.

BP however is 1) already on site, and 2) the liable party. Government takeover = government liability and BP goes away scott-free. We will then have to endure decades of complaints from people like you that BP wasn't held accountable by Obama.

"Please post a link to the data"

Ditto. You've provided a link to a news story where:
1) A CEO is trying to cover his company's ass. But what, exactly, should they do about the underwater plumes? Cap the well, no? Nevermind that oil out in the water is about the best place for it to be, since bacteria there will eat it. Having no oil is by far the ideal, but as I keep saying, in a crappy situation like this your choices are "bad", "worse" and "terrible".

2) Dispersants might harm humans! Yep, it might. We know oil definitely will. Which would you like? Oil that stays around longer, which we know will cause harm, or dispersants that greatly speed up degrading of the oil and may cause harm? I've heard reports that other dispersants are more effective. I've also heard reports that other dispersants are less toxic. I haven't seen anyone list a dispersant that is both more effective and less toxic. Again, the choices are "bad", "worse" and "terrible". Do you go with more effective and more toxic, or less effective and less toxic?

So where's the data? What's the size and chemical composition of the plumes? The analysis in your story is limited to what it smells like. What's the LD-50 of the dispersant?

Oh wait, there's no actual data in your link either. Damn.

"Exxon and BP simply manage oil contract firms. BP has the worst record in the business"

If BP is just managing the contract firms, why does BP's safety record matter? Under your theory, BP's not doing any of the work and we can just swap in any old manager on top of the professionals doing the actual work. So BP or not really wouldn't matter under your theory.

"You say you agree that the press should do their job, but your titled your as quoted above. So I'm calling bullshit"

I'm saying that the most of the press, especially the national press, is doing a terrible job regardless of access. Local press, especially the Houston Chronicle and a few oil blogs, are doing very good reporting. Access is an independent problem from journalistic competence.

"Let's see where I said Bush should escape all the blame"
That would be here:
"It was disgusting when republicans blamed 911 on 8 years of Clinton, it is equally disgusting to hear democrats blame this on 8 years of Bush"

You follow it up with a stereotypical "pox on both their houses" attack, but all of your anger and yelling is directed at Obama.

No anger directed at W's administration for approving the drilling without adequate safety measure, nor the conservative's 3-decade long deregulation of the industry that lead to it, nor Clinton's failure to clean up MMS back during his presidency. If you actually believed in your "pox on both their houses" argument, one would expect some vitriol for both houses.

"We are fucking angry and you better get used to it."

Then point that anger at the idiots who caused the spill, and work with us to regulate offshore drilling out of existence. Instead, I fear you'll continue to fight against Obama and do your damnedest to ensure a Republican Congress in 2010 which will block all attempts at reform.

After all, if it's a pox on both their houses, why does it matter which house is in charge?

This will be followed by more anger that the Democrats failed to reign in 'big oil' and Obama's just an evil corporatist, ignoring that a Republican Congress has the power to block reform.

But keep yelling at the gusher. I'm sure your anger alone will stop it soon.