No matter how tenuous the connection (and this connection is better than tenuous), there had to be some way that Dick Cheney was connected to the BP oil disaster in the Gulf Of Mexico.
Not only his overall philosophy that government should let business do anything it wants, and that government regulation and safety concerns are over-blown at best; but, his former employer, Halliburton, did not reveal that the cement mixture being used at the well was flawed.
Halliburton is a horrible company involved is some of America's most unsavory business practices. They operate with impunity and their philosophy matches that of Cheney, who helped make the company such a success.
So, perhaps Dick Cheney wasn't directly involved in this criminal behavior; but his mark is on it. I am certain he approves of Halliburton's work and will stand by them until the end.
When Jed Clampett was "shootin' at some food" and "up from the ground came some bubbling crude" he discovered oil on his own. No government subsidies or tax breaks, just a clean shot and a bounty of wealth. Jed cashed-out and moved his family to Beverly. "Hills, that is."
British Petroleum was shootin' at some food in the Gulf of Mexico and out from the seabed has come a bubbling crude (oil that is, black gold, Texas tea). Sadly, it is floating on the water, poisoning sea life, destroying industry, and making it's way to the coast, the beaches.
The area that is being affected is the home area of a different kind of tea. Most of the Gulf Coasts states lean towards being what passes as "conservative" but is really more accurately described as "selfish," and these people claim to be a Tea Party (a Texas Tea Party, now, I suppose). This community boasts the glory of the corporation, and demeans their government (sometimes in a treasonous way). The almighty dollar over the almighty nation.
Now one of these sainted corporations is destroying their environment. I wonder if they expect their horrible, terrible government to clean up the mess; or will they have the courage of their convictions and show us how corporations can do things better, demand that BP clean-up their corporate mess, and save their beaches.
Tea Party supporters, of course, don't have the courage of their convictions, they want the government to stop spending money on others, but expect the government to be plenty big to take care of their needs and demands.
Corporations can manage things better than the government, right?
Well, I want to see the Tea Party marching on Washington, and pronouncing on Fox News, that the government get out of the way of the clean-up, stop wasting tax dollars, and let the oil industry take care of business.
Surprisingly, none of them are in the Pacific Northwest or the New England states. Not surprisingly, on the other hand, they are all in Gulf states:
Mobile, Alabama--67” rainfall; 59 rainy days Pensacola, Florida--65” rainfall; 56 rainy days New Orleans, Louisiana--64” rainfall; 59 rainy days West Palm Beach, Florida--63” rainfall; 58 rainy days Lafayette, Louisiana--62” rainfall; 55 rainy days Baton Rouge, Louisiana--62” rainfall; 56 rainy days Miami, Florida--62” rainfall; 57 rainy days Port Arthur, Texas--61” rainfall; 51 rainy days Tallahassee, Florida--61” rainfall; 56 rainy days Lake Charles, Louisiana--58” rainfall; 50 rainy days
On the same day, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a press release warning that "they expect 13 to 17 tropical storms, with seven to 10 of them becoming hurricanes and three to five of them in the strong category."
Guess where hurricanes like to travel? The Gulf states!
If you live along the Gulf of Mexico, this might be the time to consider a relocation to the desert!
by Dick Mac
