Yup, BP was negligent in its inspections and testing of the Blowout Preventer that failed and caused the disaster. Yup, Tony Haywood, BP's CEO made some poorly conceived statements. Yup, the Gulf suffered from the spill.
I am pretty sick of the Government taking credit for stopping the leak and cleaning the oil from the Gulf. Thad Allen, the government's point man has done his best and I do not fault him. However, Mr. Obama has said "WE" plugged the well, "WE" cleaned up the oil. "WE" are providing aid to the workers, etc.
No sir, with all due respect, it wasn't "WE". it was 100% "BP".
Mr. Obama stopped all drilling in the Gulf when other Countries are drilling away only miles away. Yes there was a terrible accident but when an airliner crashes he doesn't stop all flights for 6 months! There has been drilling in the Gulf at hundreds of rigs for years and years without a major disaster. We need that oil, we need those jobs and we need a bit more honesty from Obama. The reason he ordered the moratorium on drilling was to help his move away from fossil fuels and his Cap and Trade bill. This administration does nothing that is not political even in the face of disaster.
I would like to see two things right now:
1. Release the moratorium and get back to producing much needed oil.
2. Thank BP for a job well done in the aftermath of the well failure.
Lets not forget that BP said on day one that it would pay for all necessary actions involved in the capping of the well and the clean up. They did. Lets stop talking about 100 days like it took too long. The technology BP used to cap that well a mile below the ocean surface, in the dark, using robots was nothing short of astounding. No other physical damage on that scale has ever been done in a little over three months.
The media keeps reporting that the workers are not getting paid. BP has paid over $300,000,000. Million so far to aid the workers. However, it is the Government appointed Lawyer that is responsible for getting the money to the people. Not a word about that? The workers who have been paid by BP for their boats and labor in the clean up are now complaining that those earnings should not be deducted from lost wages. You gotta love it. Double dipping while complaining.
Finally, though BP was at fault, lets not forget that Government inspectors were approving their well inspections all the while. No reporting of that either.
So while Mr. Obama does all he can to villainize BP and demand money they already committed to anyway for show, we still don't drill. Each day we do not drill, we but oil from our friends in OPEC providing them with a multi-billion dollar windfall.
It is sad that truth just can't get out in a fair way anymore. So again, I say BP, you did make a giant mistake but you also did a magnificent job afterward so Thank You.
Gov Gone Nuts
Monday, August 9, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Re my previous post:
In the post prior to this one I mentioned things about the situation with the Taliban in Afghanistan. I failed to state my source for some of the information was an article by Aryn Baker writing from Kabul and published in the8/9/2010 issue of Time.
Do we know who we're fighting or, for that matter, where we are fighting?
We fought in Bagdad great expense in blood and money and than Mr. Obama declared when we would leave. Anybody notice how the bombings and killings have increased? Anybody wonder why? The enemy, whomever that is correctly figured out that the new administration would cut it losses and get out. Now we fight in Afghanistan and we do not send enough troops and weapons to win, only to barely hold on. Sound like our US border situation? Seems to me this administration is not in it to win and that is what signals the enemy to keep fighting.
As to the enemy, who might that be? Sure we say its Al-Qaeda but that is a simple minded statement and one that provides fodder for the Liberal Media i.e.: We haven't caught Osama Bin Laden, blah, blah, so we lost the war! Bull pockey!
It is my opinion that we need to define who it is we are fighting and why and do it quickly. I believe we are fighting the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Iran. The Taliban is the core and Al-Qaeda's enabler. Iran is the sponsor providing money and weapons and Al-Qaeda is the face.
As to the Taliban, it is important to know who they are which is difficult at best. If we are to define what we are fighting and why, we must include stopping the Taliban from gaining any political footholds or power anywhere, especially where that power can spill over into our country. I do not really understand these people, but when I look at what they do in the name of their Muslim and Shari'a beliefs I become convinced that we must fight them with all our might. That said, President Karzai who is only there because of our blood and money is considering giving the Taliban a seat in government. Our supposed ally, Pakistan is home turf for the Taliban and so far not much in the way of progress.
If we can not figure out who and what they are, how about looking at what they do in the name of their cause;
*Beautiful young women runs away from abusive Husband and In laws. Caught. Taliban brings her to the mountains, husband and brother-in-law cut off her nose to the bone and cut off her ears than leave her for dead.
*Women accused of adultery (adultery by their definition) are stoned to death.
*Flash a bare ankle from under a burqa and get whipped.
*Forget to remove your nail polish after your wedding? get beaten in the street.
*Women's voices banned from radio and T
*Family finds itself shamed by a daughter sometimes sells her into slavery, or worse subjects her to an honor killing.
*New bill passes Afgan Parliment: Husbands in Shi'ite families are authorized to withhold money and food from wives who refuse to provide sex, limited inheritance and custody of children in the case of divorce and denial of freedom of movement without the permission of their families.
*Catch a Non-Muslim Soldier, reporter, Aid worker? Cut their heads off.
*Burn down girls schools and throw acid in the face of students.
*If a woman leaves the home she must be accompanied by a male relative.
*Women who dare to work in the south of Afghanistan where the Taliban is strong receive "Night Letters" under the cover of darkness. One says "We warn you to leave your job as a teacher as soon as possible otherwise we will cut the heads off your children and shall set fire to your daughter." Another one says "We will kill you in such a harsh way that no women has so far been killed in that manner."
*Finally;
A female Afghan athlete says now runs in the stadium where the Taliban used to play football with women's heads and fears life for women will go back to that if the Taliban return to a position in the government.
So that is who we are fighting plain and simple. These are barbarian masochists who do horrible things in the name of the Koran and Shari'a. I can not find any religion that condones murder, disfigurement, stoning and other human abuses. I only find sick cowardly zealots who have absolutely no respect for life, mothers, sisters, nuns, nurses or any other women who has a brain.
That is who we are fighting and what they are capable of as a part of everyday society!!!! Already there have been honor killings here in our country. So the question is, do we want to stop these people or not? You decide. For me, I believe we need to get real, stop this barbarism get involved in Pakistan and use our considerable might to get this over with or, get out and let the chips fall where they may. We seem to be always half way in with one arm behind our backs and expect our valiant military to do the job anyway.
As to the enemy, who might that be? Sure we say its Al-Qaeda but that is a simple minded statement and one that provides fodder for the Liberal Media i.e.: We haven't caught Osama Bin Laden, blah, blah, so we lost the war! Bull pockey!
It is my opinion that we need to define who it is we are fighting and why and do it quickly. I believe we are fighting the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and Iran. The Taliban is the core and Al-Qaeda's enabler. Iran is the sponsor providing money and weapons and Al-Qaeda is the face.
As to the Taliban, it is important to know who they are which is difficult at best. If we are to define what we are fighting and why, we must include stopping the Taliban from gaining any political footholds or power anywhere, especially where that power can spill over into our country. I do not really understand these people, but when I look at what they do in the name of their Muslim and Shari'a beliefs I become convinced that we must fight them with all our might. That said, President Karzai who is only there because of our blood and money is considering giving the Taliban a seat in government. Our supposed ally, Pakistan is home turf for the Taliban and so far not much in the way of progress.
If we can not figure out who and what they are, how about looking at what they do in the name of their cause;
*Beautiful young women runs away from abusive Husband and In laws. Caught. Taliban brings her to the mountains, husband and brother-in-law cut off her nose to the bone and cut off her ears than leave her for dead.
*Women accused of adultery (adultery by their definition) are stoned to death.
*Flash a bare ankle from under a burqa and get whipped.
*Forget to remove your nail polish after your wedding? get beaten in the street.
*Women's voices banned from radio and T
*Family finds itself shamed by a daughter sometimes sells her into slavery, or worse subjects her to an honor killing.
*New bill passes Afgan Parliment: Husbands in Shi'ite families are authorized to withhold money and food from wives who refuse to provide sex, limited inheritance and custody of children in the case of divorce and denial of freedom of movement without the permission of their families.
*Catch a Non-Muslim Soldier, reporter, Aid worker? Cut their heads off.
*Burn down girls schools and throw acid in the face of students.
*If a woman leaves the home she must be accompanied by a male relative.
*Women who dare to work in the south of Afghanistan where the Taliban is strong receive "Night Letters" under the cover of darkness. One says "We warn you to leave your job as a teacher as soon as possible otherwise we will cut the heads off your children and shall set fire to your daughter." Another one says "We will kill you in such a harsh way that no women has so far been killed in that manner."
*Finally;
A female Afghan athlete says now runs in the stadium where the Taliban used to play football with women's heads and fears life for women will go back to that if the Taliban return to a position in the government.
So that is who we are fighting plain and simple. These are barbarian masochists who do horrible things in the name of the Koran and Shari'a. I can not find any religion that condones murder, disfigurement, stoning and other human abuses. I only find sick cowardly zealots who have absolutely no respect for life, mothers, sisters, nuns, nurses or any other women who has a brain.
That is who we are fighting and what they are capable of as a part of everyday society!!!! Already there have been honor killings here in our country. So the question is, do we want to stop these people or not? You decide. For me, I believe we need to get real, stop this barbarism get involved in Pakistan and use our considerable might to get this over with or, get out and let the chips fall where they may. We seem to be always half way in with one arm behind our backs and expect our valiant military to do the job anyway.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
where is our stimilous money? Helping creat jobs? Guess again.
A perfect example of how the Government is lost in its own world with not no concern whatsoever for what we sent them to do and how much we need responsible people in Washington to act on our behalf. The following is a partial list of items that some Senators or Congressmen actually put into the stimulus package.
*Money to study frozen rat sperm.
*Money to study monkeys on cocaine.
*$16 Million to Boeing to clean up an environment that they dirtied.
*$89,000. for a new sidewalk that leads to a ditch.
*$1.5 Million for international ant research.
*$564,000. to the Forest Service to replace windows in a closed building.
$700,000. for scientists to create a joke machine.
*185,000. to Siberians to help them study how to lobby Government.
There are hundreds more! You can not make this up. If it wasn't such a devastating slap in the face of taxpayers like you and me, it would almost be funny.
The serious part is, what jobs were created? None. Why does Washington keep insisting things are getting better? We are really being duped on a daily basis by these people.
*Money to study frozen rat sperm.
*Money to study monkeys on cocaine.
*$16 Million to Boeing to clean up an environment that they dirtied.
*$89,000. for a new sidewalk that leads to a ditch.
*$1.5 Million for international ant research.
*$564,000. to the Forest Service to replace windows in a closed building.
$700,000. for scientists to create a joke machine.
*185,000. to Siberians to help them study how to lobby Government.
There are hundreds more! You can not make this up. If it wasn't such a devastating slap in the face of taxpayers like you and me, it would almost be funny.
The serious part is, what jobs were created? None. Why does Washington keep insisting things are getting better? We are really being duped on a daily basis by these people.
Equity in your home? Once again we get slammed by Bank and Gov rules
Most of us have counted our home equity as part of our worth and retirement funds. Sadly, the rules used by banks to provide mortgages are so onerous and corrupt, our equity no longer can be counted on.
The real issue which, regretfully, all the talking heads and experts seem to leave out of any discussion of the housing market is APPRAISALS. Lets say you own a home that appraised for $300,000. last year and you owe $235,000. on your mortgage at an interest rate of 7%. The current lie is with interest rates now around 4.7% it would be an ideal time to refinance and get lower payments.
Lets also say that you have improved your property by adding additional square footage or a new bathroom, etc. You would think that the appraisal you got last year of $300,000. would be at least that much or a bit more, right? WRONG.
First, property values have gone down and your appraiser will adjust your property's value downward accordingly. WHY? It is the same house in the same place and even improved. How did its value decrease? I do know the patent answers, supply and demand, neighborhood issues, distance to job availability, shopping, schools, etc. and I accept them as a necessary evil.
Here's where we get screwed royally. Lets now say that on your street or block there is a home very similar to yours which goes into foreclosure. You and all your neighbors just lost a big chunk of your equity. Bingo! No change in anything but now the appraisal will list that foreclosure as a comp and ding and adjust your appraisal downward because of it. That is criminal. Now your home will probably appraise for under $200,000. and you are upside down. Kiss any chance at a refinance goodbye.
This Banking policy and appraisal method is archaic and wrong. Just because one or two people in a community have a problem, every home owner should not suffer loss of equity for it. So, there we have the fallacy of the current housing market you are not being told about. Sure you can refinance but only if your appraisal holds up. No homes today can appraise at what the value was when the original home was purchased and if there was a foreclosure in the local vicinity it is worse. So the appraisal is low balled and the bank will not refinance at the lower rate because the loan to value is to high!
I say when a home is appraised, that is the value for the loan. If the banks want to have the loan to value in good times so they can safely dispose of foreclosed property without a loss ( make no mistake, that's what it is all about) plus have government insurance as well (that we pay for), than they should honor the original appraisal for lending purposes in bad times as well. remember they still have government back up.
It seems everyplace I look, there is a Regulation designed to protect everything but the hard working citizen who works and pays the taxes that allow these crooks to continually stick it to us.
The real issue which, regretfully, all the talking heads and experts seem to leave out of any discussion of the housing market is APPRAISALS. Lets say you own a home that appraised for $300,000. last year and you owe $235,000. on your mortgage at an interest rate of 7%. The current lie is with interest rates now around 4.7% it would be an ideal time to refinance and get lower payments.
Lets also say that you have improved your property by adding additional square footage or a new bathroom, etc. You would think that the appraisal you got last year of $300,000. would be at least that much or a bit more, right? WRONG.
First, property values have gone down and your appraiser will adjust your property's value downward accordingly. WHY? It is the same house in the same place and even improved. How did its value decrease? I do know the patent answers, supply and demand, neighborhood issues, distance to job availability, shopping, schools, etc. and I accept them as a necessary evil.
Here's where we get screwed royally. Lets now say that on your street or block there is a home very similar to yours which goes into foreclosure. You and all your neighbors just lost a big chunk of your equity. Bingo! No change in anything but now the appraisal will list that foreclosure as a comp and ding and adjust your appraisal downward because of it. That is criminal. Now your home will probably appraise for under $200,000. and you are upside down. Kiss any chance at a refinance goodbye.
This Banking policy and appraisal method is archaic and wrong. Just because one or two people in a community have a problem, every home owner should not suffer loss of equity for it. So, there we have the fallacy of the current housing market you are not being told about. Sure you can refinance but only if your appraisal holds up. No homes today can appraise at what the value was when the original home was purchased and if there was a foreclosure in the local vicinity it is worse. So the appraisal is low balled and the bank will not refinance at the lower rate because the loan to value is to high!
I say when a home is appraised, that is the value for the loan. If the banks want to have the loan to value in good times so they can safely dispose of foreclosed property without a loss ( make no mistake, that's what it is all about) plus have government insurance as well (that we pay for), than they should honor the original appraisal for lending purposes in bad times as well. remember they still have government back up.
It seems everyplace I look, there is a Regulation designed to protect everything but the hard working citizen who works and pays the taxes that allow these crooks to continually stick it to us.
Friday, August 6, 2010
GM Expands We get screwed again!
I couldn't let this one pass without honorable mention here in my Blog. General Motors is expanding with an overhall of one of its factories. It would appear a good thing. Maybe the leaner, meaner Company is finally on the path to restoring its market position.
No No No good reader. GM is in fact investing 568 Million dollares in a factory expansion BUT the factory is in Mexico! The money we lent them is not paid back but oh well, Mexico labor needs the stimulous I guess.
More importantly, we (the US Gov) own over 60% of GM. In other words we (you and I) are the majority shareholders. So whoever is on GM's board representing us, US taxpayers has agreed to go ahead with this multi-million dollar invertment in the Mexican economy!
I swear, you can't make this stuff up.
No No No good reader. GM is in fact investing 568 Million dollares in a factory expansion BUT the factory is in Mexico! The money we lent them is not paid back but oh well, Mexico labor needs the stimulous I guess.
More importantly, we (the US Gov) own over 60% of GM. In other words we (you and I) are the majority shareholders. So whoever is on GM's board representing us, US taxpayers has agreed to go ahead with this multi-million dollar invertment in the Mexican economy!
I swear, you can't make this stuff up.
A P.S. to my last post
In my last blog which talks about the auto bail out I listed foreign auto makers. I left out Honda, Suberu, Mazda, Cooper and others. Only wanted to make the point that we have three American Auto Companies left competing with over 15 foreign companies who, by the way received no bail outs.
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