House Republicans lose it over BP escrow deal: "Chicago-style shakedown politics"

[ProSense]

House Conservatives Call Escrow Account 'Chicago Style Shakedown'

Rachel Slajda

The Republican Study Committee, a group of conservative members of the House, released a statement today calling the $20 billion BP escrow account a "Chicago-style political shakedown."

"BP's reported willingness to go along with the White House's new fund suggests that the Obama Administration is hard at work exerting its brand of Chicago-style shakedown politics, wrote chairman Tom Price (R-GA). "These actions are emblematic of a politicization of our economy that has been borne out of this Administration's drive for greater power and control."

The full statement:

We all agree that BP should be held fully responsible for its complicity in the oil tragedy in the Gulf," said Chairman Price. "In fact, BP has already begun paying claims. Any attempt by the company to sidestep that responsibility should be met with the strongest legal recourses available. However, in an administration that appears not to respect fundamental American principles, it is important to note that there is no legal authority for the President to compel a private company to set up or contribute to an escrow account.

BP's reported willingness to go along with the White House's new fund suggests that the Obama Administration is hard at work exerting its brand of Chicago-style shakedown politics. These actions are emblematic of a politicization of our economy that has been borne out of this Administration's drive for greater power and control. It is the same mentality that believes an economic crisis or an environmental disaster is the best opportunity to pursue a failed liberal agenda. The American people know much better.

Lunatics.

[FrenchieCat]

1. Them some crazy ass mofos!

Guess they don't realize that they are the gangsters here!

Someone ought to let them know. Holding this fucking country for
ransom....Those Assholes! :grr:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

2. Good! I hope they go on the teevee tomorrow and say this as loudly as possible.

[bluestateguy]

3. Chicago-style shakedown politics

Yes indeed! And keep it coming too.

[Cha]

4. Where would the gops be without Chicago

and Elliot Ness references?:)

[Pirate Smile]

11. I always love this The Untouchables clip re the "Chicago way".

http://movieclips.com/watch/the-untouchables-1987/the-chicago-way/

[Cha]

13. Thanks! Obama is Elliot Ness and BP is

Al Capone and the gops are the chorus Whining in the background.

[CakeGrrl]

5. HA! You know they REALLY want to say

"Obama's gone 'street'".

:rofl:

So much hypocrisy it's beyond funny. If the President was an "R", they'd be touting his "toughness" all over the airwaves.

[mopinko]

6. that's what i'm talkin about. i was waiting for the shake

downin' to commense. take it to 'em barack.

[Cleita]

7. Who gives a crap about what those crooks think. n/t

[vaberella]

20. Unfortunately we need too b/c they do have minions in this nation. n/t

[Clio the Leo]

8. "It's like the Sopranos only in Chicago and with BLACK people!" nt

[caledesi]

10. Yes. Obama = Chicago = bad! nt

[tularetom]

9. Now they're defending BP? Obama derangement syndrome has pushed em over the edge

I don't think they're going to find a lot of support for that position.

Most people I've talked to think Obama has been too nice to BP.

[gateley]

12. And how do they characterize the deception and questionable (if not illegal)

business practices of BP?

[scheming daemons]

14. I REALLY REALLY hope they campaign on this....

...we'll gain seats in both chambers if they do.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

15. Me too. I might write them some letters saying "THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP FOR AMERICA!"

"CONTINUE TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWUR!"

*spelling error thrown in to make it authentic

[guruoo]

16. "...there is no legal authority for the President to compel...

a private company to set up or contribute to an escrow account."

Yes, which means BP is doing so willingly.

[quaker bill]

17. Since they are republicans,

and therefore part of the largest organized criminal conspiracy to have ever existed in this country, they should understand the definition of a "shakedown" far better than they apparently do. A "shakedown" can happen when someone does something illegal or highly embarrassing, and you threaten to go public with the info unless they fork over some cash. Given there are 24/7 video streams of this crime available on the internet, and everyone with a pulse and room temperature IQ knows BP did it, there is no place for a proper "shakedown" to occur.

Steal fifty bucks from a convenience store, and these guys would be all over putting you in jail. Destroy or severely damage the way of life for millions of people through criminal negligence, and collecting a slice of the eventual penalty to compensate those directly harmed becomes a "government shakedown". Somehow the double standard in their actions does not even occur to them.

[h9socialist]

18. It reminds me of . . .

. . . Sarah Palin bemoaning the big government takeover of "our healthcare system." These Republican pukes have a disgusting tender love for giant corporations. And sometimes it gets sappy!

[vaberella]

19. They're really missing those dividened checks. n/t

[Inuca]

21. Lunatics is perfectly put

Almost unbelievable

[Jennicut]

22. The public is massively against BP and has outright hatred for them. Let Rethugs sell this to them.

[peekaloo]

23. and their damn pizza has too much crust! who the hell puts tomatoes

on their hot dogs!

insanity i tells ya!!!!!

[Phx_Dem]

24. Love it! What they're really pissed about, is that this is

a huge achievement for the President, and that kills em.

[LiberalFighter]

25. Chicago Sytle Shakedown does not work in the federal govt.

It's just plain laying down the cards so they can see what they're dealing with.

[WeDidIt]

26. That might push Louisiana into the blue column

Once checks start rolling in to the people hurt most by the negligence of BP, Louisiana residents will see the Republicans for the bastards they are.

[AspenRose]

27. I'm actually surprised to see Jindal disagreeing with Haley Barbour

Publically, even