Yep, that pipe started rusting the day Bush took office. Ya don't suppose that just maybe it's the fault of the PRIVATE company (BP) that's actually responsible for maintaining that pipe do you knucklehead?

Gene, you gotta stop this. It's really uncool.

What is uncool are the policiese we are following that ignore the most basic needs of this country.

MasonM

BP is one of the companies that Bush and the GOP gave a $12 Billion Tax cut. BP is one of the Oil Companies that has had an obscene increase in profits as we pay over $3.00 per gallon for gasoline. What is clear is the policy we are following that is allowing the oil companies to generate outrageous profits, pay their key executives salaries that can not be justified and these companies are NOT even properly protecting the pipe lines needed to insure our oil supply. They are not building new refineries and how much NEW energy that is under OUR control have they brought on line with these added profits? What is taking place is the Bush/GOP policy toward BIG OIL has gone into the pockets of the wealthy at the expense of the reminder of our citizens!

Why is it that you feel that Bush is somehow directly responsible for everything that breaks? He is not an inspector, he doesn't survey sites day in and day out to make sure that everything in this country is fine tuned and working properly. You are such an ignorant person. BTW, not giving money to fix something does not mean our economy is bad. all the basic needs of this country have been ignored for years, way longer than Bush was in office. You know nothing about politics and history, less than I do anyways. Shame on you.

does bp's pipeline count as infrastructure?

whether bp's abyssmal negligence is a consequence of insufficient oversight by an oil industry friendly administration is certainly a legitimate concern.

no doubt any shortage will work to bp's ultimate advantage.

seein as how hurricane season is just gettin underway, i'm thinkin of franchising a chain of livery stables.

CharlesC

Here is the issue. Bush and the conservatives have this idea that wants to have as little government regulation as possible on business. When I was corresponding with the economics Professor Bush had at Harvard this is one of the things he told me about GWB. He was very much opposed to almost ANY government regulation of business.

As it turns out, the useful life of the pipeline was set at 25 years. The pipeline is 29 years old. The way this problem was discovered is when a federal agency required BP to inspect the pipe due to the fact it was 4 years BEYOND its useful life. BP did not inspect the pipe until required to do so by a Federal Government agency. That turned out to be too late! BP ignored the 25 Year guide line. BP if left alone the way Bush and many conservatives believe would most likely have been discovered when there was an oil spilled over Alaska.

Enron with the regulations in place scammed this country. There are countless other examples. Thus the policy embraced by Bush and people who think like him has been proven NOT TO BENEFIT our country. Companies left on their own are interested in ONE THING-- Their Profits no matter what that may mean.

Bottom line-- The Bush/GOP policy to reduce or eliminate government oversight of business DOES NOT WORK. In a like manner, we can not allow unneeded regulations that do not enable companies to operate in a profitable way. There must be a balance. The problem we face today is that we have a government that is too far to the right and on the side of no or inadequate regulation. We need to move to more reasonable government regulation to protect this country!

Mama said if ya ain't got anything nice to say best not to say anything. I'm just gonna heed mama's advice.

You're a fucking retard! BP owns that pipeline. That's the way it works in the oil and gas industry. You build the pipeline to transport your oil or you pay to put it in one that belongs to someone else.

So when my company builds a pipeline and the hurricane comes up through the Gulf and destroys it, we are responsible for the repair. Pipelines break everyday. I guess since the media has chosen to jump all over this particular break you find an oportunity to blame Bush again.

Why are you crying so much over one pipeline in the US. The greater percentage of our oil comes from overseas. Oh yeah ... this is your MO.

BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH BLAME BUSH

It is not the responsibility of the government to look over the shoulder of private industry to ensure they're doing everything right. Doesn't matter how essential that private industry is, short of nationalizing it, it's not the duty of the govt to keep tabs on it. No amount of circumlocutive reasoning will make it otherwise.

As it turns out, the useful life of the pipeline was set at 25 years. The pipeline is 29 years old. The way this problem was discovered is when a federal agency required BP to inspect the pipe due to the fact it was 4 years BEYOND its useful life. BP did not inspect the pipe until required to do so by a Federal Government agency. That turned out to be too late! BP ignored the 25 Year guide line. BP if left alone the way Bush and many conservatives believe would most likely have been discovered when there was an oil spilled over Alaska.

You do realize that you just explained who is really at fault with this paragraph? So why is this exactly Bush's fault again? Or are you so obseced with hating him that anything that is in any way close to him is somehow his fault if it goes wrong? i'm sure you blame Bush for the pot holes in your town as well.

The issues are the policies Bush and the GOP are following. They allow the companies to police themselves and reward them with tax cuts. Now we must ALL PAY for the failure of BP to properly maintain the oil lines. That system is not working but Bush will Stay the Course. Much of the other infrastructure is not private such as water/sewer systems, bridges, dams etc. We are ignoring all these essential facilities. Bush can recognize the need to repair them in Iraq but not in the U.S. WHY!

so...for all the pipelines that have not busted....is that Bush's doing, too?

Much of the other infrastructure is not private such as water/sewer systems, bridges, dams etc. We are ignoring all these essential facilities.

Typical Gene... Makes dumb ass blame Bush comment when it is proven yet again he has no point (or brain) he changes the subject. It's called misdirection Gene and the liberals have been doing it for years. Why don't you try a ploy that isn't so tired.

It is not the responsibility of the government to look over the shoulder of private industry to ensure they're doing everything right.

in this case, it is the responsibility of the department of transporation's pipeline & hazardous materials division to ensure proper operation and maintanence by bp--as it is also that of the environmental protection agency. bp may very well be liable for criminal prosecution since it appears the company deliberately chose underfund maintenance budgets for quite some time despite racking up record-setting profits during that same period of time. too bad the dot and epa can't be prosecuted as well for malfeasance.

considering both agencies report to and are directed by the executive branch--and factoring in the bush/cheney energy industry involvement--gene isn't nearly as far off base as yall would like to believe.