World-News: 18 June 2010

rudkla - 18. Jun, 16:14

Gentechnik-Durchmarsch stoppen!

http://www.umweltinstitut.org/gentech-stoppen

rudkla - 18. Jun, 10:02

The power of the presidency

The Nation
by Laura Flanders

06/17/10

President Obama’s announcement that BP would set aside $20 billion in a fund for victims of the Gulf spill is a welcome relief to communities where businesses and homes have been destroyed. The total amount needed to compensate, however, is being estimated at closer to $60 billion. Obama swears the 20 is not a cap — I guess we’ll see. More to the point: since the president had no legal basis to demand the set aside, on what basis did he extract those billions? It’s called the power of the president. It just goes to show what you can do when you’ve got the top job...

http://www.thenation.com/blog/36383/power-presidency

BP doesn’t deserve a liability cap

Cato Institute
by Richard Epstein

06/16/10

Our national frustration continues to rise with each new drop of BP oil that leaks into the Gulf of Mexico. Everyone knows we can’t legislate away environmental risks without consigning ourselves to the Stone Age. What’s needed going forward is a comprehensive legal strategy that addresses the risks though a combination of regulation before the fact and tort liability (and criminal sanctions where appropriate) afterwards. Tort remedies are essential to protect people (and their property) who do not have contractual relations with defendants from harms such as air and water pollution. The legal system should never allow self-interested parties to keep for themselves all the gains from dangerous activities that unilaterally impose losses on others — which is why the most devout defender of laissez-faire must insist, not just concede, that tough medicine is needed in these cases. The fundamental question here is one of technique: What mix of before and after sanctions will do the job at the lowest cost?

http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=11905

Liberal despair and the cult of the presidency

The New Republic
by Jonathan Chait

06/17/10

Few people follow the arcana of Congressional debate. They attribute all political outcomes to the president, and thus when the outcome is unsatisfactory, the reason must be a failure of presidential willpower. … Rachel Maddow offered a perfect example of the phenomenon the other night. She delivered her fantasy version of the speech President Obama should have given...

http://tinyurl.com/29eszgt

Barack Obama’s square box

The American Spectator
by Daniel Oliver

06/18/10

When John F. Kennedy Jr.’s plane crashed into Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, in July 1999 some observers said he had gotten himself into a “square box,” meaning that he had run into the limits of his experience and his imagination. Barack Obama is in a square box, and observers are now beginning to talk about his inevitable crash...

http://spectator.org/archives/2010/06/18/barack-obamas-square-box

Executive privilege

AntiWar.Com
by Philip Giraldi

Even if the long war finally ends some day, there will be no revival of the liberties enshrined in the United States constitution and the protections afforded by the rule of law. This will be the most enduring legacy of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. It hasn’t mattered which party has been in power, the objective of both has been to establish an all powerful executive that can operate without any constitutional restraints. Since 2001, the creation of just such a central authority, fueled by an exaggerated fear of terrorism, has led to the dismantling of many of the freedoms that Americans enjoyed for over two hundred years...

http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2010/06/30/executive-privilege/

Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

--------

Let's Not Write Our Future in Oil
http://unearthed.earthjustice.org/blog/2010-june/lets-not-write-our-future-oil

Obama, BP and the Gulf Oil Disaster

Max Ajl, Truthout: "The most pathetic images I have seen in the aftermath of the explosion of the Deepwater Horizons deep-oil drilling rig were of pelicans drenched in oil, with brown glistening gunk matting down their plumage. When pelicans become covered in oil, they can't properly regulate their body temperature. In Louisiana summer, they overheat and die."

http://www.truth-out.org/obama-bp-and-gulf-oil-disaster60523

Waxman: Tony Hayward Acting Like He Has Nothing to Do With BP

Deb Weinstein, Truthout: "Unflappable before lawmakers choking back their anger, BP's Chief Executive Officer Tony Hayward responded to questions from the members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce with the equivalent of rank, name and serial number."

http://www.truth-out.org/waxman-tony-hayward-acting-like-he-has-nothing-do-with-bp60536

Corruption and Collapse

Francis Shor, Truthout: "Since the explosion of the British Petroleum Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010, we have been treated to a case study in both the endemic corporate corruption of US politics and the inherent environmental catastrophes of the fossil fuel economy. The spread of toxicity, whether from oil, chemical dispersants, or corporate lobbyists and their willing handmaidens in Washington, DC, is so evident that even President Obama has been forced to ramp up his rhetoric about 'cozy relationships' and conflicts of interest."

http://www.truth-out.org/corruption-and-collapse60356

How Halliburton Is Profiting From the Gulf Oil Spill

Matt Rocheleau, The Christian Science Monitor: "Shortly before the Deepwater Horizon blowout, Halliburton bought an oil spill prevention firm. The oil-services industry is consolidating, which is not necessarily good news for quality, experts say. Eleven days prior to the April 20 Deepwater Horizon blowout, Halliburton Co., the contractor in charge of cementing the rig's well, agreed to purchase a little-known company."

http://www.truth-out.org/how-halliburton-profiting-gulf-oil-spill60551

Weeping and Anger Over a Lost Shrimping Season, Perhaps a Way of Life

Elizabeth Grossman, SolveClimate: "'This is the one thing that could destroy our culture and I don't want to see it happen,' says Grand Isle, Louisiana resident Karen Hopkins wiping at tears she's clearly fighting. She's talking about this year's lost shrimp season, and the fear that it won't be the last."

http://www.truth-out.org/weeping-and-anger-over-a-lost-shrimping-season-perhaps-a-way-life60570

--------

The Crash Is Underway
http://www.lewrockwell.com/celente/celente38.1.html

http://sharenews.twoday.net/search?q=Obama
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Bush+legacy
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=presidential+power
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=executive+privilege
http://sharenews.twoday.net/search?q=Constitution
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Waxman
http://sharenews.twoday.net/search?q=climate+bill
http://sharenews.twoday.net/search?q=fossil+fuel
http://sharenews.twoday.net/search?q=British+Petroleum
http://sharenews.twoday.net/search?q=Tony+Hayward
http://sharenews.twoday.net/search?q=Halliburton
http://sharenews.twoday.net/search?q=lobbists
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=corruption
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=conflict+of+interest
http://sharenews.twoday.net/search?q=Laura+Flanders
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Richard+Epstein
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Max+Ajl
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Deb+Weinstein
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Francis+Shor
http://sharenews.twoday.net/search?q=Matt+Rocheleau
http://sharenews.twoday.net/search?q=Elizabeth+Grossman
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Rachel+Maddow
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Jonathan+Chait
http://sharenews.twoday.net/search?q=Philip+Giraldi
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=/celente

rudkla - 18. Jun, 09:17

Billions of New Nuke Giveaways in Kerry-Lieberman Bill Exposed

These tax breaks totaling $9.7 billion to $57.3 billion (depending on the type and number of reactors) would come on top of the Kerry-Lieberman measure's lucrative $35.5 billion addition to the more than $22.5 billion in loan guarantees already slated for nuclear power.

http://www.foe.org/billions-new-nuke-giveaways-kerry-lieberman-bill-exposed

Washington: Theater of the Absurd

By Ralph Nader

This week, a united Republican cabal, joined by Senators Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and Ben Nelson (D-NE), blocked a $120 billion package (the threat of filibuster again) to extend unemployment benefits, preserve Medicare payments, extend tax credits for corporate research, raise taxes on oil companies, other big companies and investment partnerships.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article25776.htm

From Information Clearing House

--------

Unemployment: Outlook Grim For Jobs Bill Ahead Of Vote
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/06/24-2

http://sharenews.twoday.net/search?q=Lieberman
http://sharenews.twoday.net/search?q=nuclear+power
http://sharenews.twoday.net/search?q=tax+break
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=unemploy
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Ralph+Nader
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Arthur+Delaney

rudkla - 18. Jun, 08:49

Make BP pay? May be out of Obama's control

In assuring Americans on Tuesday that BP won't control the compensation fund for Gulf oil spill recovery, President Barack Obama failed to mention that the government won't control it, either. That means it's anyone's guess whether the government can, in fact, make BP pay all costs related to the spill.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37720386/ns/disaster_in_the_gulf/

WH requests $15 million for oil spill commission

The White House is asking Congress for $15 million to pay for the presidential commission that will investigate the BP oil spill. President Barack Obama made the request in a letter Wednesday to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/06/16/1684638/wh-requests-15-million-for-oil.html

BP Finds a Champion

At least one member of Congress, Rep. Joe Barton, a Texas Republican and former chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, is sympathetic to BP. Actually, he's rather mad at President Obama and Congress on BP's behalf.

http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2010/06/17/bp-finds-a-champion/?xid=rss-blogs

BP Admits That - If It Tries to Cap the Leak - the Whole Well May Blow

Video

Oil industry expert Rob Cavner said that BP must "keep the well flowing to minimize oil and gas going out into the formation on the side",

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2010/06/bp-admits-that-if-it-tries-to-cap-leak.html

BP starts burning oil from leaking ruptured well

Once that gas reaches the rig, it will be mixed with compressed air, shot down a specialized boom made by Schlumberger Ltd. and ignited at sea. It's the first time this particular burner has been deployed in the Gulf of Mexico.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100616/ap_on_bi_ge/us_gulf_oil_spill_containment

Protester interrupts BP hearing

A woman with a black oil-like substance on her hands and face stood up and started shouting down Hayward before he could get a word in. "You should be in prison!" she yelled at the BP chief.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/103833-protester-interrupts-hayward-hearing

From Information Clearing House

--------

Gas stations boycott: Is there a better protest?

Christian Science Monitor

06/17/10

Boycott local BP stations? The oil giant makes only a small portion of its profits from retail gas sales, and can sell excess fuel to other retailers.The 10,000 BP gas stations in the United States are run by small business owners with supply contracts to various oil companies, not just BP, which are difficult and costly to break. ‘Anytime you boycott a local gas station you’re doing far more harm to that station owner than who they’re buying their gas from,’ said Brandon Wright, a spokesman from the Petroleum Marketers Association of America. BP’s local gas distributors, called jobbers, are starting to see serious losses, said John Klein, a spokesman for the BP Amoco Marketers Association...

http://tinyurl.com/256rm6g

As the spill expands, so does presidential power

Reason
by Steve Chapman

06/17/10

The other day, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs was asked what will happen if the people running BP decline to go along with everything the administration demands of it. ‘The president,’ he replied with chilly menace, ‘has the legal authority to compel them to do so, and if they don’t, he will.’ As a matter of strict truth, Barack Obama may not have all the legal authority he would need. But punctilious adherence to the law is rarely the hallmark of American presidents. When the head of the executive branch makes his desires known to a private corporation, the company defies him at its peril...

http://reason.com/archives/2010/06/17/as-the-spill-expands-so-does-p

Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

http://sharenews.twoday.net/search?q=Obama
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=presidential+power
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Robert+Gibbs
http://sharenews.twoday.net/search?q=British+Petroleum
http://sharenews.twoday.net/search?q=oil+spill
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Steve+Chapman

rudkla - 18. Jun, 08:37