Ban on offshore drilling lifted...

[Stealth Hunter]

Originally Posted by The Article

The report discloses that in 2008, Judge Feldman held less than $15,000 worth of stock in Transocean, as well as similar amounts—federal rules only require that judges report a range of values—in Hercules Offshore, ATP Oil and Gas, and Parker Drilling. All of those companies offer contract offshore drilling services and operate offshore rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. Judge Feldman also owned between $15,000 and $50,000 in notes offered by Ocean Energy, Inc., a company that offers "concept design and manufacturing design of submersible drilling rigs," according to its web site. None of the companies were direct parties to the lawsuit seeking to overturn the ban.


Judge Feldman did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Ah, makes sense he'd reverse the ban. And that he hasn't commented on this development lol.

[SteamWake]

Wow dident take long to dig up some dirt... but 'shrug' he is after all a federal judge no real supprises there.

Just as there is no supprises as to the reactions.

[Zachstar]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Wow dident take long to dig up some dirt... but 'shrug' he is after all a federal judge no real supprises there.

Just as there is no supprises as to the reactions.

So knowing a potential conflict of interest is "digging up dirt" now.. Gotcha

This development is very good tho. The likely CoI will sink the case in appeal. About time too after a string of horrific right wing activist judge decisions as of late.

I am for continuing drilling in the gulf but not until the leak is stopped and there is time to make absolutely sure it wont happen again. Its been proven now that the "safe and secure" argument is a bunch of lies.

Originally Posted by Zachstar

So knowing a potential conflict of interest is "digging up dirt" now.. Gotcha

This development is very good tho. The likely CoI will sink the case in appeal. About time too after a string of horrific right wing activist judge decisions as of late.

I am for continuing drilling in the gulf but not until the leak is stopped and there is time to make absolutely sure it wont happen again. Its been proven now that the "safe and secure" argument is a bunch of lies.

Obama wanted to build more oil rigs in the gulf and off the state of Florida and Virginia just before this crisis happened! Obama didn't seem too worried about it then and only now is he concerned about the safety and security of building any more. You're desperately looking for an excuse to blame GWB for this. Go ahead and admit that and make yourself look even more foolish.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by thorn69

Obama wanted to build more oil rigs in the gulf and off the state of Florida and Virginia just before this crisis happened! Obama didn't seem too worried about it then and only now is he concerned about the safety and security of building any more. You're desperately looking for an excuse to blame GWB for this.

Well, isn't it then natural that he changed his mind after such a disaster instead of keeping going as if nothing had happened?

[Tchocky]

Originally Posted by thorn69

You're desperately looking for an excuse to blame GWB for this. Go ahead and admit that and make yourself look even more foolish.

I've just quoted the first mention of President Bush in this thread.

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by Zachstar

So knowing a potential conflict of interest is "digging up dirt" now.. Gotcha.

At worst the Judge showed a poor lack of judgement I am un aware of any laws against judges holding shares of publicly traded companys.

However he should have been aware of the possible implications of a conflict of interest.... unless...

[Zachstar]

That is one thing that will keep Obama from gaining additional seats in congress. His stupidity of supporting additional drilling to the decry of environmentalists and progressives (AKA his base) Means he cant really use the BP spill to rally the base.

However we all bought the bullcrap that BP and the other companies are dilling safely. Bush did Clinton did everyone did.

Originally Posted by Zachstar

That is one thing that will keep Obama from gaining additional seats in congress. His stupidity of supporting additional drilling to the decry of environmentalists and progressives (AKA his base) Means he cant really use the BP spill to rally the base.

However we all bought the bullcrap that BP and the other companies are dilling safely. Bush did Clinton did everyone did.

Did you just call Obama "stupid"? There may be hope left in this one!

[Zachstar]

Believe it or not I used to be a republican but put your hope aside. I have been one long enough to know I wont be going back to the party of no to us yes to corps. (Even tho democrats are quickly becoming the same)

Tell you the truth I honestly think Mrs. Clinton would have done a far better job at this point. First she would not let the repubs block her every step of the way until her goals become pork infused pieces of junk. And BP. Well the CEO would likely be in tears and begging to give up everything just to not hear her yell at him for another minute.

Still better than McCain I guess.. Sigh...

[XabbaRus]

When you are drilling at 1500m there is no such thing as safe and secure. There is minimising risk. That is all any of the oil companies can do.

There is so much ignorance around about drilling operations and I am talking in general not at people on this board. Hell I'm reading the BBC news and shaking my head.

Then again the news has gone down the toilet here a long time ago.

[Zachstar]

Then there should be no more drilling at that depth until it can be made safe and secure through technology.

Pick that or pick so much gov red tape that they will never make a profit because one way or another easy drilling is history. If they had spent the money and got the shutoffs and safety systems they would not be paying 20billion+ many more. On top of giving environmentalists the political ammo needed to put a serious dent in land drilling as well.

[CaptainHaplo]

First off - the BP notified the MMS about problems at the rig in FEBRUARY... the 13th to be exact. Obama's hand picked people ran that office. They had MONTHS to act - and now there are 11 people dead and Millions of gallons of crude going into the ocean. According to Obama, the buck stops with him - but funny when he posed for the photo op with the families of the dead, I doubt he mentioned that it was his people that failed just as much as BP/Transocean did. Those deaths and the ecological disaster fall on his shoulders too, but because he is the "Chosen One", I guess he is supposed to get a pass on it. I doubt the family members of the dead would think he should.

Secondly, the appeal will fail for 2 seperate reasons. There was no conflict of interest - note it says he "OWNED" - past tense - instead of owns which would be current. There is no conflict if his interest was terminated prior to his hearing this matter, because he can not profit from a decision either way any longer. So yes - this was "digging stuff up" instead of actually raising an legitimate legal issue. Secondly, the decision will stand because the decision was based in law - the ban had no legal authority on which to reside.

Just because tree huggers don't like the decision doesn't mean it wasn't right. In fact, one reason we SHOULD be drilling is so that Obama can show how he has acted to resolve the issues in the MMS to promote responsible management of our natural resources...... or was that all a bunch of hot air from him too????

What's wrong lib's - don't you trust your own guy when he says he is fixing the problems?????

Guess it says something when the answer is no! And then they want to argue that he isn't a one term-er!