B.P.'s Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Thread (it's all here).....

petros

The Central Scrutinizer
Nov 21, 2008
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Re: Did Bush neglect strict laws on oil drilling due to favouritism?

A smart politician would use this as a career and political history maker.
 

SirJosephPorter

Time Out
Nov 7, 2008
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Re: Did Bush neglect strict laws on oil drilling due to favouritism?

It sure is something else watching these folks squirm in their hypocrisy... Blame Bush for an uncontrollable natural disaster, but offer up excuse upon excuse to absolve Obama.

Hell, one of the first things he did in office was to relax restrictions on off-shore drilling.

Nobody blamed Bush for Katrina, they blamed Bush for the inept way he handled the aftermath of Katrina.

As to relaxing restrictions on offshore drilling, remember 'Drill, baby drill', the republican slogan in the 2008 elections? Republicans favoured much more drilling than Obama ever permitted, including drilling in the pristine wilderness of Alaska (which would have turned Alaska into a Mordor, if such a disaster had occurred in Alaskan wilderness).

Indeed, when Obama relaxed restrictions on drilling, Republicans criticized him, not for relaxing the restrictions, but for not relaxing them far enough, Republicans favoured even more drilling. They favoured much more drilling than Obama ever did.
 

SirJosephPorter

Time Out
Nov 7, 2008
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Re: Did Bush neglect strict laws on oil drilling due to favouritism?

They're all hypocrites regardless of political stripe. The beauty of this situation is that those that pissed and moaned all this time about some other politician's short-comings are now enjoying a steaming plate of crow.

One thing is for sure, this has set the cause of offshore drilling in USA back by several decades. One rarely hears the Republican slogan 'drill, baby, drill' these days. Obama recently canceled all the new offshore leases and declared a moratorium on any new offshore drilling and there was not a pip out of Republicans (normally there would be howls of outrage).
 

lone wolf

Grossly Underrated
Nov 25, 2006
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Re: Did Bush neglect strict laws on oil drilling due to favouritism?

One thing is for sure, this has set the cause of offshore drilling in USA back by several decades. One rarely hears the Republican slogan 'drill, baby, drill' these days. Obama recently canceled all the new offshore leases and declared a moratorium on any new offshore drilling and there was not a pip out of Republicans (normally there would be howls of outrage).

Do you really think oil companies don't learn from their mistakes? I doubt if anyone could have predicted a gusher like that.
 

Curiosity

Senate Member
Jul 30, 2005
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Re: Did Bush neglect strict laws on oil drilling due to favouritism?

Is Offshore Oil Drilling a matter for the U.S. government or the state where the drilling occurs?

Who in our government actually signs the go ahead with corporate work off shore of any state in the union?

Who owns the oil? The driller or the nation or the state? Anyone know? If there is money to be made from natural resource development, who profits? Does the state share with the federal government or what?

Why wouldn't any president past or current be pleased about a vast oil find so close to home to be mined for profit? The government operates on money and lately it seems to be in heavy demand with all the giveaways going on.

I also heard this morning Alaska BP has had yet another spill or overflow - will see if I can find any details.

Here is something:BP Oil Spill Costs Alaskans Jobs - KTVA
 

captain morgan

Hall of Fame Member
Mar 28, 2009
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Re: Did Bush neglect strict laws on oil drilling due to favouritism?

Who owns the oil? The driller or the nation or the state? Anyone know? If there is money to be made from natural resource development, who profits? Does the state share with the federal government or what?

It is the governmental body that owns the resource. In the case of the Gulf, I'm unsure if it's the feds or the state that owns it (although I suspect the feds do). An oil company will buy the rights from the government to extract the oil and assume all the costs.

Although the company buys those rights, they will owe a royalty % to government. The royalty takes the form of a % of production, in many cases for big finds, that % can be up to 50%.


Why wouldn't any president past or current be pleased about a vast oil find so close to home to be mined for profit? The government operates on money and lately it seems to be in heavy demand with all the giveaways going on.


They are generally very interested in exploiting those resources as it brings in huge amounts of money.

The royalty income stream is obvious, but the oil company will also pay the standard (corporate) income taxes, they hire lots of people in the area that will pay (personal) income taxes and the increase in the economic activity adds money into the tax coffers.
 

captain morgan

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Mar 28, 2009
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Re: Did Bush neglect strict laws on oil drilling due to favouritism?

Nobody blamed Bush for Katrina, they blamed Bush for the inept way he handled the aftermath of Katrina.

And how's Obama handling the spill 40 days into the disaster?.. Not so great I'd imagine.


As to relaxing restrictions on offshore drilling, remember 'Drill, baby drill', the republican slogan in the 2008 elections? Republicans favoured much more drilling than Obama ever permitted, including drilling in the pristine wilderness of Alaska (which would have turned Alaska into a Mordor, if such a disaster had occurred in Alaskan wilderness).


Obama had control of both levels at one point, he still relaxed the restrictions. All you are trying to do is off-load the issue onto anyone other than the democrats.

That position is ridiculous at best.


Indeed, when Obama relaxed restrictions on drilling, Republicans criticized him, not for relaxing the restrictions, but for not relaxing them far enough, Republicans favoured even more drilling. They favoured much more drilling than Obama ever did.

See above.
 

EagleSmack

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Feb 16, 2005
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Re: Did Bush neglect strict laws on oil drilling due to favouritism?

And how's Obama handling the spill 40 days into the disaster?.. Not so great I'd imagine.

Exactly.


Obama had control of both levels at one point, he still relaxed the restrictions. All you are trying to do is off-load the issue onto anyone other than the democrats.

Fortunately the clear headed Dems are calling him on it and telling him that he has screwed up royally. His diciples still cling to the days when everything was Bush's fault.


That position is ridiculous at best.

At best...but you cannot be surprised.
 

L Gilbert

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Nov 30, 2006
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Re: Did Bush neglect strict laws on oil drilling due to favouritism?

It sure is something else watching these folks squirm in their hypocrisy... Blame Bush for an uncontrollable natural disaster, but offer up excuse upon excuse to absolve Obama.

Hell, one of the first things he did in office was to relax restrictions on off-shore drilling.
Yep.
 

L Gilbert

Winterized
Nov 30, 2006
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Re: Did Bush neglect strict laws on oil drilling due to favouritism?

Nobody blamed Bush for Katrina, they blamed Bush for the inept way he handled the aftermath of Katrina.
And the Big O is doing just as admirable a job with the Gulf spew.

As to relaxing restrictions on offshore drilling, remember 'Drill, baby drill', the republican slogan in the 2008 elections? Republicans favoured much more drilling than Obama ever permitted, including drilling in the pristine wilderness of Alaska (which would have turned Alaska into a Mordor, if such a disaster had occurred in Alaskan wilderness).
So you are saying the the Big O is actually a Republican?

Indeed, when Obama relaxed restrictions on drilling, Republicans criticized him, not for relaxing the restrictions, but for not relaxing them far enough, Republicans favoured even more drilling. They favoured much more drilling than Obama ever did.
So both sides are hypocritical. There's a shocker! :roll:
 

L Gilbert

Winterized
Nov 30, 2006
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Re: Did Bush neglect strict laws on oil drilling due to favouritism?

One thing is for sure, this has set the cause of offshore drilling in USA back by several decades. One rarely hears the Republican slogan 'drill, baby, drill' these days.
Yeah, that was a couple years ago. Living in the past?
Obama recently canceled all the new offshore leases and declared a moratorium on any new offshore drilling and there was not a pip out of Republicans (normally there would be howls of outrage).
Unlike you, perhaps the Republicans saw the sense in clamming up.
 

L Gilbert

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Nov 30, 2006
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Re: Did Bush neglect strict laws on oil drilling due to favouritism?

It is the governmental body that owns the resource. In the case of the Gulf, I'm unsure if it's the feds or the state that owns it (although I suspect the feds do). An oil company will buy the rights from the government to extract the oil and assume all the costs.

Although the company buys those rights, they will owe a royalty % to government. The royalty takes the form of a % of production, in many cases for big finds, that % can be up to 50%.

They are generally very interested in exploiting those resources as it brings in huge amounts of money.

The royalty income stream is obvious, but the oil company will also pay the standard (corporate) income taxes, they hire lots of people in the area that will pay (personal) income taxes and the increase in the economic activity adds money into the tax coffers.
Yep. And in this case, BP was renting a Swiss rig to get the US oil. Individual states own the oil inside them, I think. Off-shore is fed.
 
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captain morgan

Hall of Fame Member
Mar 28, 2009
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Re: Did Bush neglect strict laws on oil drilling due to favouritism?

Individual states own the oil inside them, I think. Off-shore is fed.

I'm a little curious if there is recognition of territorial waters on both a state and federal level... I'm thinking about California (or BC) and how they've banned any offshore development.
 

ironsides

Executive Branch Member
Feb 13, 2009
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Re: Did Bush neglect strict laws on oil drilling due to favouritism?

You cannot drill for oil without the Feds giving their blessing first, then the state in that order. One is no good without the other normally.