New Orleans--While many Americans undoubtedly agree with the decision of U.S. District Court Judge Martin Feldman to overturn the Obama administration’s moratorium on deep water drilling, not everyone is happy. In fact, the Judge is now receiving death threats in the aftermath of his bold ruling.
Last night, Feldman served as a celebrity judge at a cooking contest at a school gymnasium in Uptown New Orleans. Due to the threats, Feldman was accompanied by a federal marshal security team.
It is a sad indictment of our society today that a judge with such a sterling record of integrity and service to his country would be subject to such threats. Feldman was appointed to the federal bench by President Reagan in 1983. Today, he is in the eye of a political hurricane unlike anything he has ever experienced.
In issuing his ruling, Feldman said that the moratorium was faulty because there was no “rational connection between the facts found and the choice made.” While there is often debate about the merits of judicial decisions, seldom does the criticism focus on the integrity of the judge. Right after he issued the ruling, Feldman came under attack as a tool of the oil industry. Media outlets reporters noted that the Judge held stock in oil and gas companies and implied that his decision was based on his own personal financial considerations. Such a personal attack is unfair and completely unwarranted, especially for Feldman, a distinguished judge known for his commitment to the law and a jurist who has earned the praise of people throughout the legal community.
Much of the sensational reporting on Feldman’s investments was based on outdated information. The Judge was blasted for owning stock in Transocean, Ltd and Halliburton, two of the major companies involved in the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Feldman owned those stocks in 2008; however, he sold those shares long before issuing his ruling this week. In fact, this updated information will be released in the next report on his stock holdings.
If Feldman held financial interests in any of companies involved in the lawsuit or the Deepwater Horizon rig, he would not have been allowed the take the case. The 5th District Court uses a sophisticated computer system to check whether judges have a conflict of interest in any legal proceeding. This system automatically determines whether a judge needs to be recused from a particular case. In this lawsuit, Feldman was allowed to take the case because he did not own any stock related to the parties involved.
The attack was not based on facts, but it was a character assassination as a way to mitigate the influence of the scathing decision. If anyone should be questioned, it is the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar who disregarded the advice of his own scientific experts in declaring the deep water drilling moratorium. In the wake of the Judge’s ruling, Salazar said he would issue a “refined” moratorium, ask for a stay of the ruling and appeal the decision. Some legal experts predicted the preliminary injunction would lead the government to compromise on the moratorium. In fact, Salazar decided to be confrontational instead of working with business interests in Louisiana to find common ground.
The lawsuit was filed against the Department of Interior by more than a dozen companies involved in offshore drilling operations, led by Hornbeck Offshore Services LLC. Feldman found that the Obama administration did not base the moratorium on solid facts and made a sweeping decision that was not justified. The Judge noted that just because the BP well was beset with problems and resulted in a massive oil spill, there is no reason to believe other wells would have similar problems. "If some drilling equipment parts are flawed, is it rational to say all are? Are all airplanes a danger because one was? All oil tankers like Exxon Valdez? All trains? All mines? That sort of thinking seems heavy-handed, and rather overbearing,” Feldman wrote.
Feldman is right on target with his ruling, which is why a constant stream of people thanked him last night for his decision. The final outcome remains in doubt, but Feldman exposed the faulty reasoning that the Obama administration used in banning deepwater drilling. The suspension of drilling in the 33 wells 500 feet or more below the surface could have a major impact on Louisiana’s economy. According to some estimates, the ban could cost the state of Louisiana 50,000 jobs or more. In a horrible economy, these are good paying jobs that no state can afford to lose.
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m.weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at
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The next time an airline crashes, all flights should be suspended until flying can be made accident free.
The next time somebody is killed by an errant baseball, all baseballs should be recalled and locked up until baseballs can be made accident free.
The next time somebody slips and dies in a bathtub accident, all bathing should be stopped until it can me made accident free.
The problem is that democrats have been lead to believe that life is risk-free, responsibility-free, and work-free.
The next time somebody is killed by an errant baseball, all baseballs should be recalled and locked up until baseballs can be made accident free.
The next time somebody slips and dies in a bathtub accident, all bathing should be stopped until it can me made accident free.
The problem is that democrats have been lead to believe that life is risk-free, responsibility-free, and work-free.
...
why don't you care that obama has promised billions to petrobras that is drilling at 14000 plus feet??you must be invested with soros.do you drive a car do you use plastic tupperware ect all made with petroleum FOOL!!!
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Mr. Lucky,
I would also add that anytime anyone has a car accident, we should suspend all driving until it can be made accident free. That would definitely get rid of our foreign dependence upon oil.
I would also add that anytime anyone has a car accident, we should suspend all driving until it can be made accident free. That would definitely get rid of our foreign dependence upon oil.
Nancy Pelosi Right?
More hate speech and violence the Speaker of the House warned us about.
But, again, not the Tea Party folks.
But, again, not the Tea Party folks.
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Cudos to the Judge....and baaah to the environmentalists. Everybody should read what the MSM is not covering...the Rolling Stone June issue entitled, "Spill, Scandal and the President." Everybody serving in this administration should be fired....and a Community Organizer has no business being the President of the USA.
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Ah, those peaceful progressive green activists, they are so cute, with their death threats and everything. Thank goodness Janet Napolitano is focused on those conservatives who violently protest with their signs and their chairs for small government and low taxes.
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You can bet that the intimidation and death threats are coming from Obama's personal goon squads; the SEIU and ACORN.
This evil communist administration has nothing but contempt for the rule of law. Obama is doing his best to destroy the separation of powers by attacking the judicial branch and circumventing the legislative branch with executive orders.
This evil communist administration has nothing but contempt for the rule of law. Obama is doing his best to destroy the separation of powers by attacking the judicial branch and circumventing the legislative branch with executive orders.
Retired
It is interesting to note that all of the governors of the states affected are either Republican or Independent. Not one Democrat in the bunch! No wonder Obama refused to assist those states in the cleanup. For the first time a judge did what was right for the country and was in fact within the law. Not a judicial activist.
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And I thought the tea parties were the big threat in America? LOL
Please. It's Obama and the hard left that is out of control.
2012 can't come soon enough.
Please. It's Obama and the hard left that is out of control.
2012 can't come soon enough.
Whose "Ass to KICK"
I have given the following marching orders in the past to my lemmings,
“Argue With Neighbors, Get In Their Face”
“If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun,”
“Hit Back Twice As Hard”
“Argue With Neighbors, Get In Their Face”
“If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun,”
“Hit Back Twice As Hard”
Energy is abundant
At least there is one Judge that can make a decent ruling even though he knew it would not be a popular one. Next time you go to the grocery store, or fill up with gas, remember, those high prices are driven by the USA not investing in multiple energy resources. Why let all the rest of the word suck the earth dry of oil while we suffer and watch. We have 100 years or more to develop smarter and cleaner energy resources....let get to work on that in the meen time and enjoy lower prices for food and goods now. We do not have to be paying these prices for gas.
ummmm
Must be those tea party members. the media always tells us that they are violent and threatening. I bet the riots at G20 are by them too.
Wow I saw this on Countdown last night.
Whoops no I didn't. I was thinking of the endless ranting about the evil right when the Healthcare bill was passed. you know their call for civility and serious investigations of the tea parties. No doubt Keith will be pounding his desk demanding that Janet and Eric conduct serious investigations of Greenpeace and the Sierra Club. Not holding my breath.
obama and the oil spill
It is really clear that obama did nothing to encourage or help a clean-up and our oceans will all be ruined in given time. He could have said yes to the many countries offering to help but he said no. He is the very worst thing to ever happen to this country. He is evil. He should be anchored and dropped into the middle of the gush.
Who else!
Now who would threaten a judge that reversed the ruling of the newly found king of America? Who would do such a thing? Let's see- Union activists under Andy Stern (SEIU), or a member from Americans for progress under John Podesta, one of Rahm Emanuels thugs or maybe even one of George Soros' cronies. Bottom line is that we have thugs running and influencing our government and we all have to stand ready to face and deal with their tactics. We have to back people of integrity like this judge to the point of protecting him if need be. Here's one where Andy Stern's philosophy of "persuasion of power" is not going to work. Thank you judge for your courage the American people stand behind you.
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Oh yeah, , ,and he should take piglosi, reid, emanual, holder, frank, and the rest of the creeps with him to anchor and oil.
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Hey Judge you got character. These low life progressives don't. They think we'll just lay down while they ruin our country.
Please Check out song called teapartiers I can’t hear you at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJfboOindCo
Please Check out song called teapartiers I can’t hear you at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJfboOindCo
concerned American
the same black thugs that were standing outside the philly voting station are the ones who threaten anyone who crosses obama policy. Wake up this is a civil war were heading for the Commies are here and they need to be dealt with starting in Nov.
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I question your statement:
"The 5th District Court uses a sophisticated computer system to check whether judges have a conflict of interest in any legal proceeding. This system automatically determines whether a judge needs to be recused from a particular case."
I believe that this system:
a) Can only check against information that the judge provides.
b) Can only check against the exact security name entered: i.e. IBM vs International Business Machines.
c) Is advisory only. Any decision is up to the judge.
I have nothing against Judge Feldman or his ruling. I would appreciate credible reporting.
"The 5th District Court uses a sophisticated computer system to check whether judges have a conflict of interest in any legal proceeding. This system automatically determines whether a judge needs to be recused from a particular case."
I believe that this system:
a) Can only check against information that the judge provides.
b) Can only check against the exact security name entered: i.e. IBM vs International Business Machines.
c) Is advisory only. Any decision is up to the judge.
I have nothing against Judge Feldman or his ruling. I would appreciate credible reporting.
angry citizen, supporter of secession!
Hey, has anyone noticed how much alike Hugo Chavez and Obama are in their disdain for constitutional law, for their disdain for the rule of law?
It is time for people to seriously consider secession. I'm ready for the insurrection against Obama, Inc.
Obama and his goon squads are not going to allow Republicans to win control of congress. You can bet that Obama and his people are working on was to steal the upcoming elections. And, they will succeed. They have the power. They have the model to follow in Hugo Chavez, they have an unlimited supply of money from Soros. They can flood the country with illegals and then by presidential decree, allow them to vote, the constitution be damned!
Time to seriously consider secession. Time to energize the militias! Time to defy the Federal government, and then dare them to do anything about it. Time for the militias to start arming. With the porous border, the militias could obtain any weapons, even tanks from the Mexican drug lords, and have them smuggled into the country.
It is time for people to seriously consider secession. I'm ready for the insurrection against Obama, Inc.
Obama and his goon squads are not going to allow Republicans to win control of congress. You can bet that Obama and his people are working on was to steal the upcoming elections. And, they will succeed. They have the power. They have the model to follow in Hugo Chavez, they have an unlimited supply of money from Soros. They can flood the country with illegals and then by presidential decree, allow them to vote, the constitution be damned!
Time to seriously consider secession. Time to energize the militias! Time to defy the Federal government, and then dare them to do anything about it. Time for the militias to start arming. With the porous border, the militias could obtain any weapons, even tanks from the Mexican drug lords, and have them smuggled into the country.
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You can expect nothing less from the progressive scum. The sooner we rid the country of them the better. Re-education camps doesn't sound bad!
the obozo world, where bizzaro is in the white house.
Obozo, everything with this guy sounds like it is ass backwards., He is bizzarro, instead of saving civilians, he puts them directly under the bus, or on the train tracks, or in front of speeding car. Sounds like a real communist.. In the stealthy way he and admin suggest everyone else is evil, except them because they are trying to help the little guy. More like get control of the little guy.. Too bad Americans dont know how communism started.
Answer "I question your statement"
The the securities business the checking system is more complex.
The Judge need only provide the his account numbers, the brokerage would then report any current holding automatically.
Then matching the securities held would most likely be based on the legal description of the holding or a unique identifier like a Ticker, or a CUSIP or an ISIN.
Such a system already exists within the brokerage because if the brokerage company has any interest in a company then all securities related to that company are placed on the brokerage company's restricted list and nobody that works or that brokerage is allow to trade such restricted securities.
So the checking would be quite through.
And it's not "advisory" as at the time the check is done, the Judge has not yet been assigned the case.
The Judge need only provide the his account numbers, the brokerage would then report any current holding automatically.
Then matching the securities held would most likely be based on the legal description of the holding or a unique identifier like a Ticker, or a CUSIP or an ISIN.
Such a system already exists within the brokerage because if the brokerage company has any interest in a company then all securities related to that company are placed on the brokerage company's restricted list and nobody that works or that brokerage is allow to trade such restricted securities.
So the checking would be quite through.
And it's not "advisory" as at the time the check is done, the Judge has not yet been assigned the case.
walk the walk then
All you anti oil drillers I want to see each and every stinking one of you Park Your Cars.
I want to see you use nothing derived from oil.
You want to talk a big game preaching your green agenda lets see you put you money where your mouth is and walk the walk...
Or I guess you can choose to talk all your s$!# and live like your hero Al Gore with his extravagant life style. Jetting around the globe , moving in large motorcades, living in a mansion that uses 10 times the energy that most Americans use all the while telling us common people we need to change our ways or we are all going to hell.
But go ahead and stand on your hypocritical soap box and spout your brainwashed agenda, just don't break your neck when you fall off that box.
You panty waste leftist couldn't park your car for a day much less make a real lifestyle change .
Your a JOKE, look in the mirror at your own lying face.
I want to see you use nothing derived from oil.
You want to talk a big game preaching your green agenda lets see you put you money where your mouth is and walk the walk...
Or I guess you can choose to talk all your s$!# and live like your hero Al Gore with his extravagant life style. Jetting around the globe , moving in large motorcades, living in a mansion that uses 10 times the energy that most Americans use all the while telling us common people we need to change our ways or we are all going to hell.
But go ahead and stand on your hypocritical soap box and spout your brainwashed agenda, just don't break your neck when you fall off that box.
You panty waste leftist couldn't park your car for a day much less make a real lifestyle change .
Your a JOKE, look in the mirror at your own lying face.
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It would have to be some radical green peace person.........out of work oilfield workers would
not be behind this............nor the tug boat captains,tankers,refinery , etc related with oil...........it seems now that every time someone wants to stand up and say "no" to these idiots, they want to sue you,or make death threats against you, or pass some "Saturday Night Live" law and make it law by sundown.................
Its seems as tho' our common morals and ethics and the foundation on which this country was built are being attacked with a agenda to drive it into the ground............and forget doing things by the law of the land.........the constitution or the declaration of independence..........."we have had enough of that" seems to be the call these idiots agree with............WE had better stand and fight and we had better turn out in herds come election time and WE had better get back to PRAYIN" in this nation as we should have been doing............................
texashorn
not be behind this............nor the tug boat captains,tankers,refinery , etc related with oil...........it seems now that every time someone wants to stand up and say "no" to these idiots, they want to sue you,or make death threats against you, or pass some "Saturday Night Live" law and make it law by sundown.................
Its seems as tho' our common morals and ethics and the foundation on which this country was built are being attacked with a agenda to drive it into the ground............and forget doing things by the law of the land.........the constitution or the declaration of independence..........."we have had enough of that" seems to be the call these idiots agree with............WE had better stand and fight and we had better turn out in herds come election time and WE had better get back to PRAYIN" in this nation as we should have been doing............................
texashorn
False left threats
They only threaten to kill good men... all others get a pass. If you haven't been slated for death by an environmentalist today, you're doing something wrong.
The painter
In the midst of U.S. been turned upside down, ONE JUDGE , has the guts , THIS DECISION HAS RENEWED MY FAITH FOR A MOMENT !!!CLEAN MY GULF!!!BARRYSATORO!!!!CLEAN MY GULF!!!!!CLEAN MY GULF!!!IM PISSED !!!!!CLEAN MY GULF!!!!!!!!!CLEAN IT NOW!!!!!'CLEAN MY GULF!!!!!!!
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I disagree vehemently with one of the writer's assertions; this is not an indictment on society. This is yet another indictment of the kook left that has taken control of the Democratic Party. The administration may wish to argue that the right represents a rising threat in this country, but time after time after time it is the left that is engaged in violence and making threats of violence with those they disagree with.
His name is Marty Feldman! hahahaha! I loved Young Frankenstein!
His name is Marty Feldman!!!! hahaha I loved Young Frankenstein!!
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This action by the Nature loving peaceful Progressive Fascists really shows what they are all about.. " I get My Way anyway I can even with False Doicuments" or I'll revive that Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin , Mao tactics as prescribed by the supreme Majik Messiah Communist and Destriy you... Guess that the so often verbalized "Rule of Law By Holder and his Inept boss means NUTTIN as they are really tearing up our Constitiruin....Oh well Pregressive derangemant syndrome is put out in the open once more!
It's time
70% of America has your back Judge. Let's see one, just on incident regarding your correct ruling.
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Very typical of the Left.
It is the Left that moves to violence at almost every turn.
it is the Left that lives on hatred.
And unfortunately, the hateful comments on this thread speak for themselves.
It is the Left that moves to violence at almost every turn.
it is the Left that lives on hatred.
And unfortunately, the hateful comments on this thread speak for themselves.
captain
This wouldn't be a chain of command directive typical of Chicagoans. No, it couldn't be. Although they do want the moratorium to stay. Watch out American citizen.
And Moonbat hatred is blinding you.
"What we do know right now is that these wells do not have the proper regulation, have already killed 13 people, and no one can say if the equipment used is safe and we have no idea what to do if it is not. Any business that operated under these conditions would be liable without question. The judge should be removed from the bench and at the very least held accountable for the deaths of anyone working on these unsafe wells in the future. " said John.
No, John. What we do know is that THIS well had problems. We do not know for sure what happened and may never know completely. We have a good idea based on the information disseminated so far, but even that has been edited and provided by press that often has an agenda.
The entire Gulf Coast region is affected by the oil industry, either directly or indirectly, particularly, on an economic level and to make a knee-jerk move such as shutting down ALL the wells is very short-sighted. Many of these well have been in place and producing for years with no problems and this appears to be a circumstance of fixing some things that aren't broken.
I can't see where anyone would have an issue of inspecting equipment or verifying that procedures are being followed on other rigs, wells, or platforms. Planning for future events so another event doesn't occur, if possible but at least, be prepared to act, if it does . (Of course, duh!) Review or implement better oversight of the industry. There's numerous options to improve and correct for the future.
However, enough financial woes are being being visited on the Gulf Coast area without additional burden of lost jobs, wages, and taxes by putting people out of work, when the jobs they have performed for years are being performed professionally and safely. Why don't we wait until the investigation is complete, try to fix the issues/problems, before we condemn an entire geographical area's industry to financial death. Seems more sensible and less Chicken Little-ish.
No, John. What we do know is that THIS well had problems. We do not know for sure what happened and may never know completely. We have a good idea based on the information disseminated so far, but even that has been edited and provided by press that often has an agenda.
The entire Gulf Coast region is affected by the oil industry, either directly or indirectly, particularly, on an economic level and to make a knee-jerk move such as shutting down ALL the wells is very short-sighted. Many of these well have been in place and producing for years with no problems and this appears to be a circumstance of fixing some things that aren't broken.
I can't see where anyone would have an issue of inspecting equipment or verifying that procedures are being followed on other rigs, wells, or platforms. Planning for future events so another event doesn't occur, if possible but at least, be prepared to act, if it does . (Of course, duh!) Review or implement better oversight of the industry. There's numerous options to improve and correct for the future.
However, enough financial woes are being being visited on the Gulf Coast area without additional burden of lost jobs, wages, and taxes by putting people out of work, when the jobs they have performed for years are being performed professionally and safely. Why don't we wait until the investigation is complete, try to fix the issues/problems, before we condemn an entire geographical area's industry to financial death. Seems more sensible and less Chicken Little-ish.
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Not shocked since ther is a Marxist Muslim Thug in the White House who ignores law and implements Chicago thuggery!
What would Jesus do?
I think Jesus would want to fix the oil leak first then make sure all the rigs are safe to resume drilling. What do you think?
JESUS FOR STOPPING THE LEAK!!!!!!
JESUS FOR STOPPING THE LEAK!!!!!!
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Judge Martin Feldman, state of Arizona, and anyone else standing up to the evil trying to destroy this country, mad props to you!! In God we trust!
He is a Judge not a Politician
Loved Mr Lucky's and Layne S inputs. Spot on!
What people seem to miss though is that the job of judges is not to rule on social factors or environmental goodess in cases like this, but of the constitutionality of the case. Unlike politicians who make decisions based upon what will get them reelected, judges are sworn to make judgements based upon the legality (based upon constitutional law and legal precedent) of the case in front of them and they are not supposed to consider anything NOT presented as part of the case nor are they 'supposed' to inject personal feelings into their decisions. Feldman's ruling wasn't a ruling on the right or wrong of drillingl, it was that Salazar was trying to implement a moratorium with insufficient cause. He did EXACTLY what he was hired to do - a good public servant!
What people seem to miss though is that the job of judges is not to rule on social factors or environmental goodess in cases like this, but of the constitutionality of the case. Unlike politicians who make decisions based upon what will get them reelected, judges are sworn to make judgements based upon the legality (based upon constitutional law and legal precedent) of the case in front of them and they are not supposed to consider anything NOT presented as part of the case nor are they 'supposed' to inject personal feelings into their decisions. Feldman's ruling wasn't a ruling on the right or wrong of drillingl, it was that Salazar was trying to implement a moratorium with insufficient cause. He did EXACTLY what he was hired to do - a good public servant!
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Either way the judge ruled in this case, there would have been death threats. The only plausible solution is to take a page from our President, and just vote, "Present".
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Our glorious comrade president Obama and the true followers of the people in congress,is showing us
the way to the light of truth.
He is leading us into the way of light and truthfulness for his namesake. He restoreth our souls and
maketh us to lie down in green pastures with the peoples of brown skins and the true inheriters of
earths bounties.
Gone are the days of white rule. We are destroying the white advantage all across the land.
Our glorious comrade president will restore the earth to the true humans and wipe the trash from the
face of a beleagured planet.
Fall down on your knees all those who believe in the new messiah from Allah. WOrship him ,the savior
of the people, he purifies the world with his radiance and fills our heart with love and joy of the
true god of his fathers and the wisdom of Allah.
Our glorious leader will destroy the capitalists and the repugnant past slavers of black america. In
a short time we will all be one race, one government, one leader and the pathfinder of the NWO.
The end of capitalist America is will be over come 2012.
The end of the white oppressor will be over in 2012. Our brothers in congress and govt will see to it.
We are winning in a landslide while the idiot whites are counting thier money, which will soon belong
to us.
White america will be extinct by 2012.
Our glorious comrade president will rule for life.
The peoples of the new North Amerikan Union will lead the way to a new workers paradise, a land where
there will never be another white oppressor or white politician or a rich white anarchist.
We are taking Amerika away from the stupid greedy oppressors and they will be eliminated very soon.
COme join us in our great struggle. With our muslim brothers we will anniahlate the white christians
and the slavers of Europe and Amerika.
Now is the time to strike, strike hard, double down and get in the face of the slavers of america.
They are cowards,they talk tough, but its all talk, they have no heart for a fight and will fall like
dominoes in an earthquake.
Prepare yourself for the new just and right way for our peoples. Our friends from the south will soon
destroy states rights and will start the crumbling of other border states. The revolution is at hand,
arm yourselves and be prepared to fight. It will be a short effort for us. THe whites will run away
like rabbits. They have no courage and are scared to miss a days work while they drool about the
making of another capitalist dollar. They are more concerned about thier worthless dollar.
Allah ahkbar, the days of a new world for us is at hand. Follow the example of our brothers from the
south. Swarm over them like bees, they will run away. Just a threat of a lawsuit will kill thier
spirits and they will surrender before having to face our peoples courts. We ARE victorious.Follow us.
the way to the light of truth.
He is leading us into the way of light and truthfulness for his namesake. He restoreth our souls and
maketh us to lie down in green pastures with the peoples of brown skins and the true inheriters of
earths bounties.
Gone are the days of white rule. We are destroying the white advantage all across the land.
Our glorious comrade president will restore the earth to the true humans and wipe the trash from the
face of a beleagured planet.
Fall down on your knees all those who believe in the new messiah from Allah. WOrship him ,the savior
of the people, he purifies the world with his radiance and fills our heart with love and joy of the
true god of his fathers and the wisdom of Allah.
Our glorious leader will destroy the capitalists and the repugnant past slavers of black america. In
a short time we will all be one race, one government, one leader and the pathfinder of the NWO.
The end of capitalist America is will be over come 2012.
The end of the white oppressor will be over in 2012. Our brothers in congress and govt will see to it.
We are winning in a landslide while the idiot whites are counting thier money, which will soon belong
to us.
White america will be extinct by 2012.
Our glorious comrade president will rule for life.
The peoples of the new North Amerikan Union will lead the way to a new workers paradise, a land where
there will never be another white oppressor or white politician or a rich white anarchist.
We are taking Amerika away from the stupid greedy oppressors and they will be eliminated very soon.
COme join us in our great struggle. With our muslim brothers we will anniahlate the white christians
and the slavers of Europe and Amerika.
Now is the time to strike, strike hard, double down and get in the face of the slavers of america.
They are cowards,they talk tough, but its all talk, they have no heart for a fight and will fall like
dominoes in an earthquake.
Prepare yourself for the new just and right way for our peoples. Our friends from the south will soon
destroy states rights and will start the crumbling of other border states. The revolution is at hand,
arm yourselves and be prepared to fight. It will be a short effort for us. THe whites will run away
like rabbits. They have no courage and are scared to miss a days work while they drool about the
making of another capitalist dollar. They are more concerned about thier worthless dollar.
Allah ahkbar, the days of a new world for us is at hand. Follow the example of our brothers from the
south. Swarm over them like bees, they will run away. Just a threat of a lawsuit will kill thier
spirits and they will surrender before having to face our peoples courts. We ARE victorious.Follow us.
How old is this brilliant judge?
If the picture attached to this story is Judge Feldman, he appears to be a very young man. Yet, he was appointed to the Federal bench by Reagan in '83..?? My math tells me that that was 27 years ago. Was he appointed right out of high school?! Anyway, great decision by Judge Feldman based on the law, not on whims.
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It is not proper to thank the judge for his ruling. He did not rule as he did so we would like him, or respect him, or honor him. He ruled as he did because he believed it was the right ruling. It would, however, be entirely proper to tell the judge how pleased we are to have a man of dignity and honor serving us on the bench, and that we hope he will continue his service for many years.
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“No, John. What we do know is that THIS well had problems. We do not know for sure what happened and may never know completely. We have a good idea based on the information disseminated so far, but even that has been edited and provided by press that often has an agenda. “
What failed here was not just the one well. The regulations that ensure these wells are safe have been shown to be dangerous and reckless and ineffective. It is just stupid to drill a well in water so deep you cannot stop it if there is a problem. Had the inspectors done their job and BP been honest, these wells never would have been started in the first place.
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“The entire Gulf Coast region is affected by the oil industry, either directly or indirectly, particularly, on an economic level and to make a knee-jerk move such as shutting down ALL the wells is very short-sighted. Many of these well have been in place and producing for years with no problems and this appears to be a circumstance of fixing some things that aren't broken. “
Once again the right political rush to attack this administration has them turning to flat out lies to defend their position. There were only 33 wells affected by the stop. Out of over 3,000 wells! The idea that stopping less than 1% of the wells is an economic burden and continuing to operate wells we know are not safe is not a position you can defend without repeating the garbage they accept from talk radio as factual.
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However, enough financial woes are being being visited on the Gulf Coast area without additional burden of lost jobs, wages, and taxes by putting people out of work, when the jobs they have performed for years are being performed professionally and safely. Why don't we wait until the investigation is complete, try to fix the issues/problems, before we condemn an entire geographical area's industry to financial death. Seems more sensible and less Chicken Little-ish.
Right, chicken little. It’s not like people died or anything, it’s not like it is the biggest natural disaster in history. Let’s just wait , maybe it won’t happen again because the people that said it could never happen, are now telling us it is safe and will not happen a second time? Until we know these wells are safe it is just stupid to allow them to drill. Right now, the only thing we do know for sure, beyond doubt, with the biggest and most obvious example possible, is that these wells are not safe.
What failed here was not just the one well. The regulations that ensure these wells are safe have been shown to be dangerous and reckless and ineffective. It is just stupid to drill a well in water so deep you cannot stop it if there is a problem. Had the inspectors done their job and BP been honest, these wells never would have been started in the first place.
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“The entire Gulf Coast region is affected by the oil industry, either directly or indirectly, particularly, on an economic level and to make a knee-jerk move such as shutting down ALL the wells is very short-sighted. Many of these well have been in place and producing for years with no problems and this appears to be a circumstance of fixing some things that aren't broken. “
Once again the right political rush to attack this administration has them turning to flat out lies to defend their position. There were only 33 wells affected by the stop. Out of over 3,000 wells! The idea that stopping less than 1% of the wells is an economic burden and continuing to operate wells we know are not safe is not a position you can defend without repeating the garbage they accept from talk radio as factual.
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However, enough financial woes are being being visited on the Gulf Coast area without additional burden of lost jobs, wages, and taxes by putting people out of work, when the jobs they have performed for years are being performed professionally and safely. Why don't we wait until the investigation is complete, try to fix the issues/problems, before we condemn an entire geographical area's industry to financial death. Seems more sensible and less Chicken Little-ish.
Right, chicken little. It’s not like people died or anything, it’s not like it is the biggest natural disaster in history. Let’s just wait , maybe it won’t happen again because the people that said it could never happen, are now telling us it is safe and will not happen a second time? Until we know these wells are safe it is just stupid to allow them to drill. Right now, the only thing we do know for sure, beyond doubt, with the biggest and most obvious example possible, is that these wells are not safe.
...
Again, this is typical behavior exhibited from Left Wing Progressives: Accept and honor everyone, unless they don't think like Progressives then you can kill them.
Oh the Green People so young, so dumb, so ignorant and easily manipulated. If they aren't young their brains just haven't developed yet.
Oh the Green People so young, so dumb, so ignorant and easily manipulated. If they aren't young their brains just haven't developed yet.
Retired American Citizen
Thank You, Judge Martin Feldman!!! You are fair and balanced! Your decision is the "correct" decision! I pray other judges will follow in your footsteps, and not allow the government to threaten, scare, bribe, nor bully them into decisions, just as you have stood your ground, and made the obvious honest and fair decision!!!
I totally admire your toughness in standing and following the law
Grams
I totally admire your toughness in standing and following the law
Grams
Communism is almost here.
There's signs of communism around us... something the CPUSA has been working towards for decades. Yeah, I sound like one of those kooks. It surprises me too.
...
ummmm.. a plane crash... doesn't compare to the casualities we are about to encounter in 4 States! sorry one trick ponies! jobs come and go..oceans to do not! and neither do species!
The next time...
The next time a liberal says something dumb, all liberals should keep their mouths shut until the reason why is found out and fixed.
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Communism, Acorn, Obama, Unions, Mulsims, secession, plastic tupperware, henchmen, Slazar, Chicago thuggery, and even Jesus.
This is who you fools blame in this blog? The people that told us drill baby drill, don't worry it is safe and now pointing at everyone but themselves. A gulf full of dead fish and oil and 13 people killed and you still do not get it? It is one thing for the Congress that was bought our by big oil, its another thing entirely that you people are being used and still can't see it.
There is not one post here that explains why wells that we know are not safe should be operated before they are safe. Not one. You are never going to get a bigger clue than this.
This is who you fools blame in this blog? The people that told us drill baby drill, don't worry it is safe and now pointing at everyone but themselves. A gulf full of dead fish and oil and 13 people killed and you still do not get it? It is one thing for the Congress that was bought our by big oil, its another thing entirely that you people are being used and still can't see it.
There is not one post here that explains why wells that we know are not safe should be operated before they are safe. Not one. You are never going to get a bigger clue than this.
Wells - safe or not?
So after years of inspections and permits, now you want to say to shut down all wells? That is fodder. Exactly what proof is there that other wells are known not to be safe, how many are there and where are they, and why is this a valid reason to shut down all wells. Facts please.
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Why aren't all cars banned. Thousands of people die each year from car accidents. Using democrat logic, all automobiles should be banned until they are made accident proof and/or people are made accident proof.
...
As usual, when liberals don't get their way, they scream obscenities, racial baiting slurs, and even get violent. The useful idiots of the world have proliferated like rats.
dissenter
But it is OK with comrade Hussein and his thugs if Petrobras drills at 1 1/2 miles off the Brazilian coast, with U.S. government assistance of $2 billion, since Soros owns almost a billion dollars worh of Petrobras stock. And yes, the death threats most certainly came from the Obummer and Soros thugs, who do not like their ongoing theft conspiracies blocked. They need to impoverish the middle class and punish the achievers to gain their primiary goal, communist rule ala Cuba.
mrs
Liberals are pure evil...and the Obama, the lord of the flies, is the worst! The violence of the left shows what they are...pure evil!
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I suppose if the airline industry had challenged the flight ban after 9/11, this idiot judge (and most the commentators here) would have said it the ban was unreasonable because there was no evidence there would ever be another terrorist on a plane.
Folks, this well may never be plugged. It certainly won't be plugged any time soon. The entire tourism economy of the Gulf states will be in shambles for years. Species will go extinct. the environment of the marine and shorelines will NEVER be the same. Certainlynot in my lifetime, anyway. BP can never "make it right" no matter how much money they pay.
Now we know that the industry lied. We know they have no plan, no capability even to handle a deepwater disaster. There have been no improvements in spill cleanup since Ixtoc. None. If the judge needs more evidence, drop his tail in the gulf and let him swim in the oil with dying sealife for a few minutes. What more evidence does he need.
And for the rest of you who would rather ruin our lives, economies, and environment for generations rather than pay 50 cents more a gallon at the pump, or god forbid, support a real transition to clean energy, I have no printable words for you.
Folks, this well may never be plugged. It certainly won't be plugged any time soon. The entire tourism economy of the Gulf states will be in shambles for years. Species will go extinct. the environment of the marine and shorelines will NEVER be the same. Certainlynot in my lifetime, anyway. BP can never "make it right" no matter how much money they pay.
Now we know that the industry lied. We know they have no plan, no capability even to handle a deepwater disaster. There have been no improvements in spill cleanup since Ixtoc. None. If the judge needs more evidence, drop his tail in the gulf and let him swim in the oil with dying sealife for a few minutes. What more evidence does he need.
And for the rest of you who would rather ruin our lives, economies, and environment for generations rather than pay 50 cents more a gallon at the pump, or god forbid, support a real transition to clean energy, I have no printable words for you.
citizen
I think that these death threats are being inspiured by the likes of Chrissy Matthews, Keith Oblerman, Fatboy Schutlz, Rachael Maddox and the other Obama attack dogs.
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Typical threats from followers of the Little Dictator. 20% of the country putting their boots to the throats of those who believe that under the Constitution America is the Greatest Country the world has ever seen. This 20% is determined to turn us into a third world country. November is just around the corner, if we can hold out that long.
allie
>
> A dire report circulating in the Kremlin today that was prepared for
> Prime Minister Putin by Anatoly Sagalevich of Russias Shirshov
> Institute of Oceanology warns that the Gulf of Mexico sea floor has
> been fractured beyond all repair and our World should begin
> preparing for an ecological disaster beyond comprehension
>
> Most important to note about Sagalevichs warning is that he and his
> fellow scientists from the Russian Academy of Sciences are the only
> human beings to have actually been to the Gulf of Mexico oil leak site
> after their being called to the disaster scene by British oil giant BP
> shortly after the April 22nd sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil
> platform.
>
> BP's calling on Sagalevich after this catastrophe began is due to his
> being the holder of the World's record for the deepest freshwater dive
> and his expertise with Russia's two Deep Submergence Vehicles MIR 1
> and MIR 2 [photo below] which are able to take their crews to the
> depth of 6,000 meters (19,685 ft).
>
> According to Sagalevich's report, the oil leaking into the Gulf of
> Mexico is not just coming from the 22 inch well bore site being shown
> on American television, but from at least 18 other sites on the
> fractured seafloor with the largest being nearly 11 kilometers (7
> miles) from where the Deepwater Horizon sank and is spewing into these
> precious waters an estimated 2 million gallons of oil a day.
>
> Interesting to note in this report is Sagalevich stating that he and
> the other Russian scientists were required by the United States to
> sign documents forbidding them to report their findings to either the
> American public or media, and which they had to do in order to legally
> operate in US territorial waters.
> www.whatdoesitmean.com/index1379.htm
>
>
>
>
>
>
the past as a teacher
The Socialist New World Order...is not so new..all socialist parties of the past are now melded into a uni-party with world domination on their minds...and means justifies the ends.. and all of these past entities have "social scars" of violence.. Stalin killed 50 million? Hitler killed millions, and let us not forget Mao @ 70 million...whats one more federal judge?
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Did the judge wake up to find a dead fish in his bed?
And they said the Tea Partiers were the violent bunch - LOL!!!
And they said the Tea Partiers were the violent bunch - LOL!!!
You are all stupid
If a plane were to crash because of a faulty part, yes they would stop all airlines until they were fixed. Just like there should have been a law that the oil companies must have a relief well pre- drilled in case of accidents. Simple
Socialism...
Yeah, Obama is a socialist at its finist. Wait, what's the definition of a socialist again? I'm not sure, but anyway, he's obvisously wants only the worst for the country. That thug, telepromter reading, anti christ. Wait, why is he the anti christ again? That's right, I'm just throwing out the perceived worst possible things I can think of. This oil spill really isn't that bad, right. Taking precautions at this point would just be stupid. Drill away!
The Judge
Thank God for Texas. We will not be bullied. If liberals would like to make a statement I suggest they come down here in August to discuss their problems. The Judge is a hero and a true man, something you can't say about liberal metro-men with with their drawers on backwards. Why is it no one is questioning the goverment inspectors that were all over that rig before it blew up and gave it a passing grade. Where are the questions? Were these Obama shills?
Marketing Manager
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When an airplane crashes due to a mechanical failure, all planes of that type are grounded until they are inspected and corrective measures are taken. Many airports in Europe were closed when the Icelandic volcano ash drifted over Europe. Judge Feldman may not have owned the Transocean Stock at the time of his decision but his bias was evident. I don't condone death threats against Judge Feldman or anyone else.
John C JR and Allie
The analogy should be to the driver who drives while drunk, kills someone, and the government thereupon by fiat orders no more driving by anyone until we can be sure that the spirits industry has been safely and permanently shut down.
From what little information we know, it is abundantly clear that BP's representative on the rig (the company man) and/or its higherups in Houston, made not one but a series of bonehead decisions (i.e.,similar to driving after drinking heavily). This could very well have been in response to someone in authority at BP probably having made some sort of a threat like "if this xx#@& well isn't completed and the $500,000 per day TransOcean vessel released by (some date certain) heads will roll". Fearing for his/their job, and under enormous largely self-induced pressure, the individual(s) commenced upon a series of reckless and risky decisions, the result of which was this catastrophe.
The regulations in place, and the procedures a prudent operator would take would have made it impossible for this scenario to paly out elsewhere (and indeed, it hasn't previously in the Gulf). Now the MMS is clearly in need of major overhaul, and some additional safeguards may have to be imposed on the operators--even to the extent of requiring parallel wells to be drilled simultaneously in certain environments to permit quick entry and shut off if there is an out of control well. But the technology (e.g., B.O.P. appropriate to the well bore conditins and water depth pressure, etc.) properly employed and well maintained to industry standards, is up to the task. That is, provided appropriate decisions are made concerning how cementing is to proceed, using what type and how long following its application it is allowed to set, be logged for assurance of successful application, etc. before changing the viscosity of the fluids and muds being circulated in the well bore. In each of these moments of truth, it appears that certain BP personnel operated out of fear rather than employing the time tested techniques of the industry.
And make no mistake, whether protecting walruses was included in the boiler plate language of other oil companies' published well control response plans is entirely beside the point--though the idiots in the Congress certainly loved playing up this red herring, and their dupes in the media repeated those foolish comments like an entire team piling on the pitcher after he won the chanpionship. Rather it was the series of poor decisions made by the BP personnel, and only that, that resulted in this debacle.
If deepwater drilling were so inherently unsafe in the first place, then please tell me,why did the Feds authroize--no demand--the immediate drilling of the not one but TWO relief wells currently underway ? Wouldn't we be safer by letting the current flow continue rather than risk the chance of twice or three or more times the flow erupting from these additional wells?
From what little information we know, it is abundantly clear that BP's representative on the rig (the company man) and/or its higherups in Houston, made not one but a series of bonehead decisions (i.e.,similar to driving after drinking heavily). This could very well have been in response to someone in authority at BP probably having made some sort of a threat like "if this xx#@& well isn't completed and the $500,000 per day TransOcean vessel released by (some date certain) heads will roll". Fearing for his/their job, and under enormous largely self-induced pressure, the individual(s) commenced upon a series of reckless and risky decisions, the result of which was this catastrophe.
The regulations in place, and the procedures a prudent operator would take would have made it impossible for this scenario to paly out elsewhere (and indeed, it hasn't previously in the Gulf). Now the MMS is clearly in need of major overhaul, and some additional safeguards may have to be imposed on the operators--even to the extent of requiring parallel wells to be drilled simultaneously in certain environments to permit quick entry and shut off if there is an out of control well. But the technology (e.g., B.O.P. appropriate to the well bore conditins and water depth pressure, etc.) properly employed and well maintained to industry standards, is up to the task. That is, provided appropriate decisions are made concerning how cementing is to proceed, using what type and how long following its application it is allowed to set, be logged for assurance of successful application, etc. before changing the viscosity of the fluids and muds being circulated in the well bore. In each of these moments of truth, it appears that certain BP personnel operated out of fear rather than employing the time tested techniques of the industry.
And make no mistake, whether protecting walruses was included in the boiler plate language of other oil companies' published well control response plans is entirely beside the point--though the idiots in the Congress certainly loved playing up this red herring, and their dupes in the media repeated those foolish comments like an entire team piling on the pitcher after he won the chanpionship. Rather it was the series of poor decisions made by the BP personnel, and only that, that resulted in this debacle.
If deepwater drilling were so inherently unsafe in the first place, then please tell me,why did the Feds authroize--no demand--the immediate drilling of the not one but TWO relief wells currently underway ? Wouldn't we be safer by letting the current flow continue rather than risk the chance of twice or three or more times the flow erupting from these additional wells?
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This kind of thing is what is driving our country to open rebellion AGAINST the government.
Anyone with a brain knows Obama's motives for the ban on drilling and all of the other crap he and his Chicago thugs keep coming up with has nothing to do with concern for people - it is for
power over ALL OF US.
Death threats against this Judge for doing the right thing was made by some wimp low life coward who willl stay hidden under his rock but, rest assured some body in La. knows who you are.
Enough said.
Anyone with a brain knows Obama's motives for the ban on drilling and all of the other crap he and his Chicago thugs keep coming up with has nothing to do with concern for people - it is for
power over ALL OF US.
Death threats against this Judge for doing the right thing was made by some wimp low life coward who willl stay hidden under his rock but, rest assured some body in La. knows who you are.
Enough said.
seriously...
All you all serious? There's an oil leak at the bottom of the Gulf, it's been leaking for 60 days, there is no telling when it will stop, and there are no guarantees that the relief wells will work -- and you just say, 'yeah, no big deal, keep drilling, what are the chances that will happen again?'. Don't you really want to know what the chances are that will happen again? 11 (now 13 lives), billions of dollars, and destruction that will last for decades. Christ, I"m glad your not the ones making the decisions -- although, I guess that Judge is thinking in a similar way. Well, good luck. There will be cheap land with ocean views in the Gulf. If it's not such a big deal, why don't you invest and move down there.
For Mike
I did and I have and I love it down here on the RedNeck Riviera, where I'm "all in". If the oil companies and their drilling contractors use prudent, time tested internal control procedures while drilling and completing their deep water wells, as Shell, Exxon and all others (excepting BP) have done without mishap, the possibility of another catastrophe such as this is nil. This appears to be the result of carelessness and/or recklessness by BP personnel who were pressured into taking big risks, pure and simple. Much more thought, planning and coordination needs to be done, however, in the way of governmental actions, reactions and their timing. But this does not require a moratorium.
TAXPAYER
JUDGE FELDMAN IS A PATRIOT. IT IS FACT THAT A FAILING ECONOMY AND LOSS OF JOBS IS THE LARGEST THREAT TO OUR PROSPERTY AND FREE SOCIETY. THE THREAT OF TERRORISTS, BOTH HOMEGROWN AND FROM ABROAD IS GROWING AT AN EVER INCREASING RATE. GURANTEED U.S. PROSPERITY IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE IN MAINTAINING OUR FREEDOMS. LET US NOT FORGET WHAT RESULTED FROM THE PANIC SET FORTH FOLLOWING THREE MILE ISLAND AND LET US EXAMINE WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR CHILDREN.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Probably came from the WH. Can't interfere with buddy Soros' chance to help make more $$$$$ and socialize the USA. O may need more contributions.
JUDGE'S RULING
I WOULD BET THAT IS CORUPT ADMINISTRATION HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE THREAT. OBAMA AND HIS HINCHMEN ARE NOTHING BUT THUGS.
By whose account?
Since this article appears to have become the lightning rod for a political firestorm, don't the readers deserve to know the source of this claim that Judge Feldman is receiving death threats?
Does no one care if the story is true or not? If it comes from a reliable source?
Does no one care if the story is true or not? If it comes from a reliable source?
And now, a quick recap of comments.
Very typical of the Left. It is the Left that moves to violence at almost every turn. it is the Left that lives on hatred. And unfortunately, the hateful comments on this thread speak for themselves.
This evil communist administration has nothing but contempt for the rule of law.
White america will be extinct by 2012.
He is the very worst thing to ever happen to this country. He is evil. He should be anchored and dropped into the middle of the gush. Oh yeah, , ,and he should take piglosi, reid, emanual, holder, frank, and the rest of the creeps with him to anchor and oil.
As usual, when liberals don't get their way, they scream obscenities, racial baiting slurs, and even get violent. The useful idiots of the world have proliferated like rats.
the same black thugs that were standing outside the philly voting station are the ones who threaten anyone who crosses obama policy. Wake up this is a civil war were heading for the Commies are here and they need to be dealt with starting in Nov.
Not shocked since ther is a Marxist Muslim Thug in the White House who ignores law and implements Chicago thuggery!
The administration may wish to argue that the right represents a rising threat in this country, but time after time after time it is the left that is engaged in violence and making threats of violence with those they disagree with
Liberals are pure evil...and the Obama, the lord of the flies, is the worst! The violence of the left shows what they are...pure evil!
Time to seriously consider secession. Time to energize the militias!
You can expect nothing less from the progressive scum. The sooner we rid the country of them the better. Re-education camps doesn't sound bad!
And I thought the tea parties were the big threat in America? LOL
Please. It's Obama and the hard left that is out of control.
This evil communist administration has nothing but contempt for the rule of law.
White america will be extinct by 2012.
He is the very worst thing to ever happen to this country. He is evil. He should be anchored and dropped into the middle of the gush. Oh yeah, , ,and he should take piglosi, reid, emanual, holder, frank, and the rest of the creeps with him to anchor and oil.
As usual, when liberals don't get their way, they scream obscenities, racial baiting slurs, and even get violent. The useful idiots of the world have proliferated like rats.
the same black thugs that were standing outside the philly voting station are the ones who threaten anyone who crosses obama policy. Wake up this is a civil war were heading for the Commies are here and they need to be dealt with starting in Nov.
Not shocked since ther is a Marxist Muslim Thug in the White House who ignores law and implements Chicago thuggery!
The administration may wish to argue that the right represents a rising threat in this country, but time after time after time it is the left that is engaged in violence and making threats of violence with those they disagree with
Liberals are pure evil...and the Obama, the lord of the flies, is the worst! The violence of the left shows what they are...pure evil!
Time to seriously consider secession. Time to energize the militias!
You can expect nothing less from the progressive scum. The sooner we rid the country of them the better. Re-education camps doesn't sound bad!
And I thought the tea parties were the big threat in America? LOL
Please. It's Obama and the hard left that is out of control.
Where's the evidence?
I've read several articles on conservative blogs, and have yet to see where the rumor has been confirmed. And if someone has made threats, no one has figured out who it was. So to balme it on environmentalists is just jumping to conclusions. Goodness knows, it's more than environmentalists who are angry at the oil companies. How do you folks know (if it's even true) that it wasn't some angry relative of one of the guys killed on the rig? Or some businessperson who's losing their shirt because of BP's recklessness?
And as far as confirmed violence, it IS the Right who has far surpassed the Left in real threats and real violence.
So, you can play your paranoid fantasies that Obama --or the Left or environmentalists, or whoever it is you feel like demonizing-- is behind this all you want. But at some point, if you're honest, you have to admit it's just fantasy. If you don't get that, you're too far into denial to be convinced of the truth.
And as far as confirmed violence, it IS the Right who has far surpassed the Left in real threats and real violence.
So, you can play your paranoid fantasies that Obama --or the Left or environmentalists, or whoever it is you feel like demonizing-- is behind this all you want. But at some point, if you're honest, you have to admit it's just fantasy. If you don't get that, you're too far into denial to be convinced of the truth.
Talk about violent rhetoric
Good grief. Just looking at cowpunk's remarks, it's pretty clear which side is engaging in violent rhetoric.
Calling the Left evil--just because you don't agree with them.
Fantasizing about reeducation camps. You can pretend you're just joking, but there's nothing funny about that.
Jumping to the conclusion--based on nothing--that it's the Left that's out of control in this country.
Um, no, any objective observer would read that comment and have a very hard time finding the equivalent on the Left.
And the sad truth is that level of hatred and demonizing is pretty par for the course for Right Wing rhetoric. It's not at all hard to find.
So, pretend all you want that the Left poses a threat to this country. You only have to read a few comments on a typical Right Wing blog to see which side has the overheated rhetoric.
Calling the Left evil--just because you don't agree with them.
Fantasizing about reeducation camps. You can pretend you're just joking, but there's nothing funny about that.
Jumping to the conclusion--based on nothing--that it's the Left that's out of control in this country.
Um, no, any objective observer would read that comment and have a very hard time finding the equivalent on the Left.
And the sad truth is that level of hatred and demonizing is pretty par for the course for Right Wing rhetoric. It's not at all hard to find.
So, pretend all you want that the Left poses a threat to this country. You only have to read a few comments on a typical Right Wing blog to see which side has the overheated rhetoric.
lngbchSaint
Boy Republicans and corporations really got you rednecks in their pockets!!; Enjoy your redneck riviera, and your oil drenched beaches and marshes for the next several generations...
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I'm a software architect and have evaluated a lot of the systems used by state and federal governmnet agencies. I'm going to call your bluff on the "sophisticated computer system to check whether judges have a conflict of interest in any legal proceeding." I've seen the disclosure forms the judges submit, and I know how these agencies work. If this system exists at all -- and frankly I don't believe it does -- it matches the names entered on the disclosure forms (and typed into the system by some clerk) with the names of defendants and plaintiffs. This is incredibly error-prone, and practically useless for determining whether a judge has any conflicts of interest. For example, let's say a judge has, oh, let's see, investments in a company that provides maintenance and equipment management services to the deepwater rigs affected by a drilling moratorium. The moratorium causes that company's stock to tank. The judge loses money. That's called a CONFLICT OF INTEREST. And if any person or system in the 5th district checks for that very common kind of scenario, I stand corrected. And amazed.
For Dan Davis Re: Conflict of Interest
Mr. Davis--You seem to believe that if a Judge holds any stock of any company in the industry that would be affected by the decision, thay is a conflict of interest. Is it not equally true that a person living in Louisiana and NOT owning any shares in any company in that same industry would have an equal but opposite conflict of interest? The LA resident not holding any would be indicative of a wacko environmentalist whose agenda (and financial stake) may be with companies (and zealots) who would benefit from upholding the moratorium. At the end of the day, Judge Waldman's decision(s), was surely guaranteed to be reviewed on appeal irrespective of which way the decision went. ( Indeed, it has now been announced it will be reviewed next week. And, by the way, Mr. Davis, it's the Fifth Circuit, not "District"). So his decision must be evaluated based on the legal principles he employed, and whether that decision was consistent with the facts. If his decision was a bad one under the law, it will be overturned. If it was correct, it will be affirmed. Now, it being the Fifth Circuit, which includes within its jurisdiction the states of LA and Texas, it is probable the panel will include jurists whose portfolios include energy industry stocks, just as it will include some jurists whose portfolios may include alternative energy stocks (and, indeed, some whose portfolio includes both). So, using Mr. Davis's methodology, we're guaranteed to receive a decision whose validity is open to question as being tainted by a conflict of interest.
@NotSoFastEddie
Thank you for the correction regarding "Circuit" vs "District." By the way, the Judge's name is "Feldman," not "Waldman" -- just so you can experience the warm feelings associated with being corrected on something that has no bearing on the point you are making.
I hope you are not assuming that, because I am concerned about the judge's possible conflict of interest, I just might therefore be one of those "wacko environmentalists" you mention. I am not. I just happen to believe that judges are accountable to the public to uphold the highest standards of ethical behavior. The US Judiciary's "Code of Conduct for United States Judges" agrees with me on this point:
"Public confidence in the judiciary is eroded by irresponsible or improper conduct by judges. A judge must avoid all impropriety and appearance of impropriety. This prohibition applies to both professional and personal conduct. A judge must expect to be the subject of constant public scrutiny and accept freely and willingly restrictions that might be viewed as burdensome by the ordinary citizen." (Canon 2A, Commentary)
As to your contention that any person NOT holding shares in a given industry would have an equal and opposite conflict of interest is a logical fallacy. You are saying that the absence of evidence can constitute evidence to the contrary, which is, well, just ridiculous. Moreover, this is not a question of which stocks a person might choose. It is purely a matter of whether a judge's verdict has a direct personal financial impact that might reasonably become a consideration.
Actually you are also incorrect regarding the basis on which Feldman's decision can be overturned. If he is found to be in violation of judicial canon, having failed to recuse himself or even to disclose the possiblity of conflict, his decision will be nullified no matter how legally "correct" it might have been. He is definitely in danger of being found so. Look at the text of the canon regarding disqualification -- particularly item (c):
"C. Disqualification.
(1) A judge shall disqualify himself or herself in a proceeding in which the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned, including but not
limited to instances in which:
(a) the judge has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party, or personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts concerning the proceeding;
(b) the judge served as a lawyer in the matter in controversy, or a lawyer with whom the judge previously practiced law served during such association as a lawyer concerning the matter, or the judge or lawyer has been a material witness;
(c) the judge knows that the judge, individually or as a fiduciary, or the judge’s spouse or minor child residing in the judge’s household, has a financial interest in the subject matter in controversy or in a party to the proceeding, or any other interest that could be affected substantially by the outcome of the proceeding;"
This is pretty clear, and just to provide one specific example (there are several more), Judge Feldman's 2009 disclosure shows that, as of the end of 2009, he held stock in Allis-Chalmers Energy. In fact, by looking through past disclosures one can see he is a long-term investor in that company, and there is no record of any divestiture. Allis-Chalmers is actually on record in SEC filings as saying they are "very dependent on drilling activity in the Gulf of Mexico." They were thus "affected substantially by the outcome of the proceeding" -- as was the judge's portfolio.
Feldmen divested himself of Exxon stock at the last minute, but not of any of the stock he held in 11 other companies who depend on offshore gulf drilling as a significant portion of their business.
Whether he was aware of his conflict only he can say, but, according to the canon, "appearance of impropriety" is sufficient grounds for overturning a decision. No matter which political home team you root for, it might be a good idea to take a moment to think about the ramifications of condoning an ethical lapse because it aligns with your team's goals. You might one day find yourself before the bench and suddenly realizing the judge has a curiously high level of concern for what the guys at the OTHER table do for a living.
But anyway, my original point was that I don't believe that this so-called "sophosticated software system" for determining conflict of interest exists, and I hereby challenge anyone reading this to prove me wrong.
I hope you are not assuming that, because I am concerned about the judge's possible conflict of interest, I just might therefore be one of those "wacko environmentalists" you mention. I am not. I just happen to believe that judges are accountable to the public to uphold the highest standards of ethical behavior. The US Judiciary's "Code of Conduct for United States Judges" agrees with me on this point:
"Public confidence in the judiciary is eroded by irresponsible or improper conduct by judges. A judge must avoid all impropriety and appearance of impropriety. This prohibition applies to both professional and personal conduct. A judge must expect to be the subject of constant public scrutiny and accept freely and willingly restrictions that might be viewed as burdensome by the ordinary citizen." (Canon 2A, Commentary)
As to your contention that any person NOT holding shares in a given industry would have an equal and opposite conflict of interest is a logical fallacy. You are saying that the absence of evidence can constitute evidence to the contrary, which is, well, just ridiculous. Moreover, this is not a question of which stocks a person might choose. It is purely a matter of whether a judge's verdict has a direct personal financial impact that might reasonably become a consideration.
Actually you are also incorrect regarding the basis on which Feldman's decision can be overturned. If he is found to be in violation of judicial canon, having failed to recuse himself or even to disclose the possiblity of conflict, his decision will be nullified no matter how legally "correct" it might have been. He is definitely in danger of being found so. Look at the text of the canon regarding disqualification -- particularly item (c):
"C. Disqualification.
(1) A judge shall disqualify himself or herself in a proceeding in which the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned, including but not
limited to instances in which:
(a) the judge has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party, or personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts concerning the proceeding;
(b) the judge served as a lawyer in the matter in controversy, or a lawyer with whom the judge previously practiced law served during such association as a lawyer concerning the matter, or the judge or lawyer has been a material witness;
(c) the judge knows that the judge, individually or as a fiduciary, or the judge’s spouse or minor child residing in the judge’s household, has a financial interest in the subject matter in controversy or in a party to the proceeding, or any other interest that could be affected substantially by the outcome of the proceeding;"
This is pretty clear, and just to provide one specific example (there are several more), Judge Feldman's 2009 disclosure shows that, as of the end of 2009, he held stock in Allis-Chalmers Energy. In fact, by looking through past disclosures one can see he is a long-term investor in that company, and there is no record of any divestiture. Allis-Chalmers is actually on record in SEC filings as saying they are "very dependent on drilling activity in the Gulf of Mexico." They were thus "affected substantially by the outcome of the proceeding" -- as was the judge's portfolio.
Feldmen divested himself of Exxon stock at the last minute, but not of any of the stock he held in 11 other companies who depend on offshore gulf drilling as a significant portion of their business.
Whether he was aware of his conflict only he can say, but, according to the canon, "appearance of impropriety" is sufficient grounds for overturning a decision. No matter which political home team you root for, it might be a good idea to take a moment to think about the ramifications of condoning an ethical lapse because it aligns with your team's goals. You might one day find yourself before the bench and suddenly realizing the judge has a curiously high level of concern for what the guys at the OTHER table do for a living.
But anyway, my original point was that I don't believe that this so-called "sophosticated software system" for determining conflict of interest exists, and I hereby challenge anyone reading this to prove me wrong.
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The Greedy Oil Party has filled the federal judiary over the last 30 years with friendly judges who will block effective regulation of industry.
Reply to Mr. Davis
All of your points are well noted and I do not (and did not) take issue with your comments regarding the Court's computer program concerning conflicts of interest. However, I will now note that if the computer match did not disclose any conflict for Judge Feldman, that would seem to at least show that he had no blatant direct conflicts. Anyway, I would put my comments about a judge not having any energy stocks being indicative of an opposite conflict back into the context in which it was written. You speak of it in the abstract, while I wrote it in the setting of current day realities in Louisiana and the Gulf South (and, indeed, the country as a whole). No person with a personal wealth of any size could meet your expanded definition of what presents a conflict, or a potential conflict of interest in this matter: their 401ks, government pension plans, etc, are ALL invested in, or influenced by the movements of energy stocks to some extent. Also, given the magnitude of the debacle in the Gulf and its pervasive impacts, both direct and indirect, as well as positive and negative, the consequences to the broad based economy of the entire region could result in anyone who owns anything being financially influenced by the outcome of the matter before the Court. Granted, owning stock in BP, Exxon, or any other company with deep water explorarion rights, or of any drilling service company with deep-water drilling rigs in the Gulf would pose the obvious and direct conflict of which you speak. But carried to the extreme, your expanded definition would preclude a Judge owning any stock in any company that has, or may have, a decline or increase in revenues based on the existence or non-existence of deep-water drilling in the Gulf from hearing the case. Judge Feldman's ownership in Exxon, as well as ownership or non-ownership in BP and other companies with a direct interest in the matter, are one thing. And he disposed of the Exxon stock when he found out he owned it (and that it had a rig under contract in the deepwater areas), BEFORE the decision was rendered, so he knowingly gave up the full positive financial impact on the price of that stock following the ruling in the case. In contrast, surely you would not suggest that he should have disposed of any steel, crain or drill pipe manufacturers shares, or any airline stocks he may own, because continued drilling in the deepwater areas of the Gulf would also be expected to have a positive impact on the supply of jet fuel, which would be of benefit to the airlines, and therefore to anyone owning an airline stock, Ditto for a toy manufacturer or a computer manufacturer using significant quantities of plastic, utility companies purchasing LPG or compressed natural gas, , and on and on and on. There is a concept in statistics known as the "coefficient of correlation" and I believe your interpretation of the conflict and Code of Conduct would lead to a requirement that such an analysis be done on all of the prospective Judge's assets, contracts, etc., etc., before being satisfied that the Judge could render a fair decision (or be perceived to have done so). And that is a standard I hardly believe was intended by its drafters, or the Supreme Court that approved it for universal use.
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Judge Feldman was clearly biased in favor of the oil industry whether he actually owned any affected stock at the moment he rendered his decision.
For Mr. Quidd
His decision was commonsensical, based on the rule of law, and not on political or ideological prejudice. This will be borne out as the decision moves up the review process. Now the 5th Circuit has less philosophical propensity to support the energy industry than the 9th Circuit has to support the wacko industry, Nevertheless, I expect judge Feldman's decision will be upheld there. And then we get to hear the Supremes' spin on the matter.
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The Greedy Oil Party got us into this mess by gutting the regulatory oversight of the industry and stocking the federal judiciary with industry friendly judges. We can't afford to let the Greedy Oil Party regain control of Congress. David Vitter must go!
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@NotSoFastEddie: I know this response is late, but I do want to make one point.
Based on recent events, you may be right about how this is handled as it moves up through the appeal levels. As far as I'm concerned, that will be more about judges resisting the perception of chinks in their ability to objectively recuse themselves.than about adherence to consistent application of judicial canon or the merit of Feldman's decision.
That said, it's a little disappointing that you set up straw men to argue against instead of arguing the points I actually made about conflict of interest. I very specifically defined conflicts of interest as being, in this case, investments in "'companies who depend on offshore gulf drilling as a significant portion of their business." In other words, there must be a "single hop" interest, -- not these "multi-hop" cases (like consumers of petroleum products) you stood up and knocked down. This is actually a much narrower definition than what is stated in the judicial canon, but still a test that Judge Feldman fails. Since I find it difficult to beleive that he might suffer from some condition that impairs his ability to be self-aware, I thus conclude that he decided that preserving his ruling was more important than adhering to the code of personal ethics against which he pledged to judge his own behavior. I find that very sad.
The judicial code of ethics has no value as long as judges can narrow its defnitions whenever they need to scoot around it. Since they are not elected officials, that canon is one of the few mechanisms we have for holding them accountable.
Based on recent events, you may be right about how this is handled as it moves up through the appeal levels. As far as I'm concerned, that will be more about judges resisting the perception of chinks in their ability to objectively recuse themselves.than about adherence to consistent application of judicial canon or the merit of Feldman's decision.
That said, it's a little disappointing that you set up straw men to argue against instead of arguing the points I actually made about conflict of interest. I very specifically defined conflicts of interest as being, in this case, investments in "'companies who depend on offshore gulf drilling as a significant portion of their business." In other words, there must be a "single hop" interest, -- not these "multi-hop" cases (like consumers of petroleum products) you stood up and knocked down. This is actually a much narrower definition than what is stated in the judicial canon, but still a test that Judge Feldman fails. Since I find it difficult to beleive that he might suffer from some condition that impairs his ability to be self-aware, I thus conclude that he decided that preserving his ruling was more important than adhering to the code of personal ethics against which he pledged to judge his own behavior. I find that very sad.
The judicial code of ethics has no value as long as judges can narrow its defnitions whenever they need to scoot around it. Since they are not elected officials, that canon is one of the few mechanisms we have for holding them accountable.
