(Okay, Kathleen says she is limiting her comments on the Joe Barton issue to one.  It was two, so I'll limit mine to two).  Joe Barton was right about the shakedown based on the fact that the law limits BP's damages to $75M, which is a long way from $20B.  The law's the law, but everyone would agree that $75M is a joke (I bet the law gets changed).  BP has made staements that it'll take care of the damages, and hopefully $20B into escrow was their idea.  Given the mentality of the federal government, Joe Barton may be right that it was a "shakedown".  Kathleen, your statement that "as wealthy as that company is, $20B is a slap on the wrist" is spoken like a typical liberal whose living has been made in the public sector with no understanding how a private company can make that kind of money......and maybe they shouldn't be allowed to keep it.  That's called a desire for redistribution of wealth.  You, by your admission, are a socialist.  By mine, I am a conservative independent.  You liberals are deathly afraid of a revolution, unless you're in charge of it.    All that conservatives want is restoration and responsibility, restoration to a more basic government and millions of citizens who think they have inherent rights to income taking responsibility.  End of discussion.   

Kathleen, the $1.4 million that Joe Barton raked in wasn't from BP. It appears that BP was pretty stingy with Barton ... contributing less than $30,000 over a decade. To be fair, the $1.4 mil. figure was estimated to be from ALL oil companies combined.

Mixed reviews, at worst, Kathleen.  Joe was right, it was a $20B Chicago style shakedown, but he was wrong, given where they were, to apologize.  I think he later realized that.  I was pointing out a fact, a Rasmussen poll out today, posting "O"s ranking.    You were expressing your wishes, which is an opinion, that it would do great damage to the Republicans and therefore promote the socialist cause.  People aren't asleep anymore, and socialism NEVER works in the long run anyway.  More and more of them are being rooted out everyday and exposed for their treasonous acts.  Where's my turquoise princess phone?  I've got a call coming in from the Patriot Party.   

Lynelle, Jud and Claudia - your comments brought to my mind how special my son is and how proud I am of him come this Father's Day or any other time.  He's not rich (he still lives in Oak Cliff) and he looks extremely average, but he is a great father, grandfather, husband, brother and son to his family.  Let's hear it for all the good guys and let them know that we truly appreciate them this weekend.

Up is down in Memphis.  Outside of Memphis....that poll is DOWN.

"O"'s latest approval rating is 41%.  Of course, he HOPEs for CHANGE.  So do I. 

Jud, obviously I love your story...it proves my point and I'm proud of you for not only giving  priority to the other shopper, but for speaking up relative to the poor performance of the clerk and the fact that she grudgingly waited on the woman. What a pig she must have been.  This perfectly illustrates everything I was trying to say today.  Oh, and BTW, the economic meltdown that we are all suffering from at the moment was all brought to fruition by innumerable "crooks" in three piece suits...who laughed at the rest of the world all the way to the bank...they don't wear baggy pants or have tattoos.  Yes, they are refined, with little boy haircuts and manicured nails!  Yep, those guys are A-okay! Oh, and Jud, could I get on your birthday list?

We need Abraham, Harry, Dwight, Ronnie and Geo 1 now.