Presidential Address - Do you waste the...

[Terry Oxandale]

Keith, in honesty, I had never even considered the "nationality" of BP when I wrote my post. I've seen and experienced too many situations of indigent "collateral" damage by our own oil and gas industry to look at nationality. I'd pay European rates on fuel if I knew that chemicals used to fracture were not ever going to end up in my drinking water, or the oil would never end up on the shores, or that decades old brine damage would allow vegetation to grow again, or crippling other's livelyhood or (yes, the "tree hugger" is coming out), or cripple the wildlife I so much enjoy, never happens.

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It’s one thing if BP (or any industry) has an accident that happened when all known safety procedures, processes, and knowledge were adhered to. It’s quite another when the industry knowingly circumvents those same (and to save a only a fraction of what their profits are?????) and has this happen. That alone speaks volumes for BPs LACK of committment in doing the right thing, the right way, for the right reason. I have absolutely no tolerance for that. I also have no tolerance for those that will attempt to abuse the spirit of compensation.

My guess is that based on the greed shown on our own shores (and the historically low business ethical standards and the lack of any political ethics as well), that it was not unexpected that BP be required to “demonstrate” its sincerity of compensation with a “slush fund”. In our country, the name is changed and the new company says, “what?…me?…you want what?…I’m sorry, that was their problem (then they turn to the lobbiest and ask 'you took care of that, right?'
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[Pete McCluskey.]

IMHO I think it is super hypocritical for the president of a country that consumes huge amounts of oil to criticize the C.E.O. of BP for an engineering mistake, particularly when he has stated categorically that he will not rest until the problem is fixed. Instead of playing the political blame game Obama should be asking Hayward what can the U.S. do to help?
Sure it is a disaster, but the real disaster that Obama seems to have ignored along with the media is the tragic loss of human life.

 

[Jack]

Big +1 on that Pete!

 

[Terry Teadtke]

IMHO I think it is super hypocritical for the president of a country that consumes huge amounts of oil to criticize the C.E.O. of BP for an engineering mistake, particularly when he has stated categorically that he will not rest until the problem is fixed. Instead of playing the political blame game Obama should be asking Hayward what can the U.S. do to help?
Sure it is a disaster, but the real disaster that Obama seems to have ignored along with the media is the tragic loss of human life.

The way I see it since you're a citizen of Australia you have no opinion, at least none that counts. Watching the Limbauge circle jerk is high comedy. Carry on!

IMSA 07

 

[Keith]

The way I see it since you're a citizen of Australia you have no opinion, at least none that counts. Watching the Limbauge circle jerk is high comedy. Carry on!

IMSA 07

WTF? :huh: You can't silence an Aussie mate.....:shout:

This 'disaster' IS taking on the shape of high comedy (or farce to be more accurate) and I confess after watching the 'grilling' of Hayward this evening I have really no idea what that circus is supposed to be about. I have seen films of Mafia gangsters being so 'grilled' but that seemed almost gentle compared with the appearance of people smeared with oil and the rhetoric so used and Mr Hayward does not even have the benefit of being able to claim the 5th.

If this is a useful part of democracy at work, I am sorry, but I fail to understand the benefit thus gained unless it is some kind of attempt to show how tough you can be on camera. Please someone explain that process to me as it is obviously an American type procedure but it looked sort of witchy hunty style to me - a trial even? Has he been burnt at the stake yet? Haven't checked the news.

Finally, I think I have now come to a conclusion vis a vis anything I care to add further to the debate, mainly because I am totally at a loss to comprehend how an elected member of the United States Government can suggest that perhaps Haywards best way out is to commit suicide.

That statement by a Congressman and a comparison of the Gulf spill with 9/11 by the Chief Exec is far too rich for my blood and I realise this all is way over my head.

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

The way I see it since you're a citizen of Australia you have no opinion, at least none that counts. Watching the Limbauge circle jerk is high comedy. Carry on!

IMSA 07

I obviously don't have an opinion that agrees with yours. Do you like sex and travel?

 

[Dalton Veitch]

If you do like sex and travel, are you free Saturday night?

The quest for oil affects all of us on the globe, so I suggest we all have input.
Potential drying up of our oil reservoirs will start increasing the pricing, and disasters such as this will accelerate price rises, to allow for more safety measures, or more insurance for remedial work after accidents.
Therefore, while it will take a considerable time, I think the emphasis on alternative fuels will escalate. Hence we should enjoy our muscle cars while we can, before we are gliding around in solar electric or peanut oil cars. They'll end up being fun, but in a totally different way.

 

[Graham]

The way I see it since you're a citizen of Australia you have no opinion, at least none that counts. Watching the Limbauge circle jerk is high comedy. Carry on!

IMSA 07

Is that your opinion, or are you referencing what you consider to be Obama's opinion???

If it's your opinion, then I suggest you head to your local library and grab a book called "How To Make Friends and Influence People"...

You obviously need it. :thumbsdown:

 

[Randy V]

Isn't it odd that someone new (or is he) to our forum decides to post first on a thread like this and taking a level-shot at one of our existing members?

I'm watching...

 

[Garry]

+1 Randy! As for me, I am always glad to get the global perspective. So to all of our mates I say good onya.

Kieth, +1 on the circus. The American political scence is in an election year and this is just the right scenario for posturing so that these guys can take American people's eyes off of the real issues that we currently face. They would rather go on TV and posture, primp, pimp and postulate than do the jobs we hired them for. All of this could have been investigated by a joint commission similar to the Warren Commission and allow them enough time to get to the facts of the case. Instead, they want to express their personal disgust at what most in the US think is a foreign company, and beat up a CEO for something he is trying to fix. Maybe if any of the current demagogs had any real work experience in the business world they could understand how low level managers make mistakes that can cost a company billions. I think when the real investigation is completed, there will be blame for all parties involved in the drilling mistakes, and I would be surprised if there are not a number of career ending firings that will take place. Funny how the two US companies ahve dodged the bullit isn't it. Maybe they have the better lobby.
Garry

 

[Terry Teadtke]

Isn't it odd that someone new (or is he) to our forum decides to post first on a thread like this and taking a level-shot at one of our existing members?

I'm watching...

Lol, I've been on this forum for years, longer than most. Just with different names. And the shot was meant to be taken at all the people bitching that are citizens of countries other than the U S.

IMSA07

 

[Randy V]

Lol, I've been on this forum for years, longer than most. Just with different names. And the shot was meant to be taken at all the people bitching that are citizens of countries other than the U S.

IMSA07

Isn't "School" out for the year in Vancouver yet?

No personal shots to be taken here.. Not to anyone.
On GT40s - We appreciate the vantage points of all and will remain civil..

I am watching...

 

[Terry Teadtke]

Isn't "School" out for the year in Vancouver yet?

No personal shots to be taken here.. Not to anyone.
On GT40s - We appreciate the vantage points of all and will remain civil..

I am watching...

Lol, is that the best you can do? Asking the insults to stop when you open with one? Can you say hypocrisy?

"No personal shots to be taken here.. Not to anyone."

Since when? As soon as someone goes against the grain? Thought so. Let me guess, No personal shots that may offend te Limbaugh ditto heads and the Faux News zombies. Everyone else is fair game.

IMSA07

 

[Seymour Snerd]

Re: Terry's Opinion - Do you waste the...

The way I see it since you're a citizen of Australia you have no opinion, at least none that counts.
IMSA 07

Leaving aside the matter of rudeness for the moderators to handle, what I notice most about this comment is its sheer lack of logic. This is a discussion forum, not a polling place nor an immigration checkpoint. Thus, one's country of citizenship is utterly irrelevant.

What does count, however, is the degree to which the expressed opinions make sense or are at least entertaining. This leaves the above opinion, Terry, dead last in terms "counting."

 

[Jack]

Boys, boys......

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

Let me explain my comment "Do you like sex and travel" for those of you who don't understand. In Australian terminology it means if you do you can F*CK off then.

 

[Terry Teadtke]

Let me explain my comment "Do you like sex and travel" for those of you who don't understand. In Australian terminology it means if you do you can F*CK off then.

lol

OMSA07

 

[Randy V]

Okay gents..

Lets get back to getting along...

I really don't like to turn my Moderator hat around Front-and-center...

Thanks

 

[Keith]

Let me explain my comment "Do you like sex and travel" for those of you who don't understand. In Australian terminology it means if you do you can F*CK off then.

Your restraint does you much credit Pete.. :laugh:

 

[Jeff Young]

I'd like to add one comment here. I've seen this on many boards that are frequented by middle age guys with some disposable income (and while I'm not rich by any means, I probably fall into that category).

The majority, if not more, of that group are on the "right" when it comes to politics. And that is fine. But here is the phenomenon I witness over and over.

I (and others like me who are a bit more to the center or left) come to a car forum to read about cars. We click on "The Paddock" or the "Campfire Discussion" or the "Groupthink" forum one day and see a lot of right wing talking points (best case) posted and often times a lot of borderline racist/sexist/just down right offensive to people who hold a different viewpoint stuff. Those posts can get personally offensive....

And for the most part, the offensive part of those posts get ignored, or glossed over, or guffawed at.

That's all fine. I'm certainly not about shutting down anybody's ability to post their thoughts and viewpoints on things.

But, and this is a big but, when one of us on the "other" side takes issue with something said, it's invariably pile on AND, in many cases, some of the "sharper" things being said in support of the opposing viewpoint end up being taken as "insult" -- when the same standard is not applied to some of the stuff that is coming from the right that the "group" agrees with.

See, when Al or Molleur basically says that President Obama is a communist and is ruining the country and stealing people's freedoms (claims that are as outlandish and wrong as much of the criticism of President Bush), then basically they are saying that I am unpatriotic or I am ruining the country because I voted for and support President Obama. Attack the man's policies with FACTS rather than silly labels. Sorry. I know they may not mean it as an insult, but it reads that way.

What I am suggesting is not to censor your thoughts or your ideas, but rather to REMEMBER that not everyone thinks like you and not everyone is just dying to read your next stunning analysis lifted from some blog somewhere about how President Obama is destroying the country and we will all be in concentration camps by year's end unless we dress like Indians and throw tea in the harbor.

There are people -- better than me -- who can engage in debate about politics, religion, economics, etc with civility, and a sense of decency. Strive to be like that.

That is all! Sorry for the preaching.