One of his colleagues disagrees.
The truth is we know very little about what the release of tens of millions of gallons of oil underwater will do to the marine ecosystems of the Gulf. Add in the application of some 2 million gallons of chemical dispersants, which have never been used—and were never meant to be used—in such vast quantities. We know that there are oil plumes under the water—but we don’t know what they might be doing to marine life. And there are great fears that the Gulf’s rich fisheries might take years to recover.
Meanwhile, how long before oil industry shills Republicans start citing Grunwald’s reporting in talking points?




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Very savvy of Time. Publish a BS report by one writer, then immediately publish a contradictory report by another. That gets the BS out there, and once out there and repeated enough times it becomes accepted as the truth.
Just reread the December 31, 1999 issue of Time which featured Albert Einstein as Person of the Century. Incredibly, the issue was pumping up Osama bin Laden as a terrorist poised to strike the U.S. Pearl Harbor II was in the works well in advance of the 2000 election, and propaganda organ Time was setting the table.
Yesterday I learned I didn’t have to pay attention to global warming; today I learn that I don’t have to pay attention to the oil surge. Good times are here and the carbon industry is winning the publicity war.
Two memes will now come forward from the MSM:
–Spill wasn’t as bad as “some” said it would be; and
–GoM was really polluted anyway (see NYT today)
No teachable moment. No lessons learned.
63 U.S. troops have died in Afghanistan in July, record month: democracynow. No report on Afghan civilian deaths.
dn: O trying to increase U.S. share of global arms sales by streamlining U.S. bureaucratic process for authorization. Oh joy.
Since when do Little Brown People count?
Gotta keep reminding that they don’t count.
He’s just doing his part to protect the most vulnerable among us.
Good Morning BT and All
I guess people who say the Gulf Disaster’s not that big a deal didn’t read this:
Scientists have found signs of an oil-and-dispersant mix under the shells of tiny blue crab larvae in the Gulf of Mexico, the first clear indication that the unprecedented use of dispersants in the BP oil spill has broken up the oil into toxic droplets so tiny that they can easily enter the foodchain.
So do some think that the gusher is just going to speed up the natural evolution of the Gulf? Wait a minuter, that’s science. But, then, if they don’t believe in science, what about being good stewards of God’s Gifts?
I know, I woke up with too many questions, as usual.
Tweety has an unfortunate habit of allowing right wing ideologues and zealots and shills of all stripes who actually know nothing factual about their topics a platform from which to spout propaganda. This is why I don’t watch the clown.
T Hayward says he’s been criticized for doing the right thing…wonder what that was? Good Morn’g
So al Shebab (or however it’s spelled) bombs a soccer game viewing site in Uganda because there are Ugandan troops occupying Somalia. O’s solution? Send more Ugandan troops to Somalia. I’d say that’s a brilliant way to protect the vulnerable.
The sole purpose of the dispersents is to limit the liability of BP. But as you point out, there is serious concern that the dispersants are doing far more damage to the Gulf ecology that the oil itself.
If he has a second or third or fourth or … home in the Gulf area, he might want to permanently rent it to someone else and stay away from the area for the rest of his life.
But the very first word in that paragraph will cause right wing minds to snap shut like rat traps: “Scientists”. They see that and think, “Damn elitists telling me what to think again…”, and it’s all over. The right wing media machine has done it’s work so very well.
Paul Krugman’s NYT column today is a must read. Marion posted it earlier, but just in case you didn’t see it…
Curbing Your Enthusiasm
Science is only for those instances where it shows the incredible healing powers of God’s creation — no matter how much we try to fuck it up.
The Black Napoleon needs to have a learning moment where someone explains to him what it really means to protect the most vulnerable.
I hadn’t thought of it that way. D’uh!
O has already learned all he needs to know. If he hadn’t, he wouldn’t be prez. (Free market works, ya see.)
Best line among many:
Yep. Krugman is spot on again as usual. If somebody started a paper featuring Krugman, Glennzilla and a few others, I’d so subscribe to it, dead tree or otherwise.
How ya doin’? I actually applied for two jobs yesterday. I look for ones where they are actually wanting someone “mature”. One ad said If you are going to spend half your day tweeting or texting your boyfriend or girlfriend, do not bother responding to this ad. I wanted to add a note in my cover letter that I’ve never tweeted or texted anyone, ever, but then I thought maybe that would make me look not techie enough.
Tapping my nailes, waiting for the phone to ring. (Not)
Scathing attack on O ‘education’ program on dn.
I liked this one:
EDIT: “it” being the Obama administration.
Scientists Find Evidence That Oil And Dispersant Mix Is Making Its Way Into The Foodchain
It appears that he sat out the lecture on compassion.
I’ve been applying of course but the pickings this week are pretty lean. No jobs that leap out as great opportunities yet. Guess I’m going to be stressed until next week when I find out whether tier IV is automatic or if I have to jump through more hoops to qualify.
Um, I think you owe me a coffee. See my #9.
Two incompetent clowns — Obama and Duncan — making victims jump through hoops of untested theories while students, parents, and teachers suffer.
Your wrong they always count as targets.
“We don’t know what we don’t know.”
Who’s this guy, Donald Rumsfeld Jr.?
Mornin’, BT, pups
Really late this morning. Major disaster in the kitchen with canned cat food. It’s Gabby’s fault.
Like Jeb Bush, Obama wants to kill the public school system. Simple as that.
Awww, skip the coffee and go for the gold! The Cuervo Gold!
The Reich Wing will now put out a report that OIL in the food chain is good for u and that BP should charge any food producers that are selling OILY food for using their oil without paying for it. Hey, property rights of “real” people AKA BIG CORPS. is important stuff folks. Pay attention! Also, remember we are and have always been @ War with west Asia.
Forgot about that. During the Vietnam war, body counts of the “enemy” were always rushed so the numbers could be posted on the nightly news. Made for higer ratings.
We go to the beach with the Gulf that we have.
Was there ever any doubt?
Thanks, Peggy. I love those shoes. When my kids were little, we never missed an episode of Pee Wee’s Playhouse. And, I love his bike too.
No doubt they’ll gleefully inform us that petroleum oil is low in saturated fats…
Pish posh … why not even one Walrus has been killed thus far !
G’morning all.
BP is considering changing its name to Amoco, a company BP acquired years ago. Yeah, that’s the ticket. A new name will solve all of BP’s problems. Methinks rebranding is not gonna work out.
Good morning Deb. :)
Another field may be involved in the spill…interesting geology:
http://georgewashington2.blogspot.com/2010/07/thad-allen-says-gas-seep-is-from-rigel.html
Woo Hoo! It’s the nice and smart :)
The only thing I didn’t like about the column is that some might interpret it as K-man saying that Obama can correct for the way he has punched the DFHs by appointing Warren. I know that’s not what he means, but some may take it that way.
Even your Gabby knows that. Is she in the penalty box?
Yep.
Apparently there’s a new head of teachers’ union in Chicago who is going to be much more aggressive at fighting back & pointing out that the Chicago school system, the test case for these wonderful ‘reforms,’ is still the worst in the nation. Wonder how long she’ll last (I think it’s a woman, but I got distracted when I was listening.)
He must have also missed the history lecture on Afghanistan being the graveyard of empires.
Oil in the food chain will be reported as a cure for constipation.
It would be a start but yeah, that’s not even a bone when it comes to what he’s done to us.
Worked for Obama. From Republican to Democrat.
Trilobites as well remain unaffected…
Rockefeller, Inc. (the Rockefeller Family Offices are in the same building with NBC.
The real power in the US is centered here.
Why do you think Zbig’s daughter, Mika, is prominently featured?
Connect ALL the dots and call them out by name.
Obama was (s)elected by David Rockefeller, or he would not be pResident at the White House.
Rockefeller owns JP Morgan Chase, JP Morgan Chase is the largest shareholder of BP, Etc. Etc.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14836500/
FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein
15 August, 2006
Let’s just “privatize” every fuckin’ thing.
Are these people completely insane? (I apologize for asking rhetorical questions.)
Current dn segment on all the pro-sports owners sucking off the public teat. A lot of neocons, GS relatives, Prince relatives, etc. A real rogues’ gallery.
BT, what I was really struck by was how aggressive the reporter was and the dismissive — almost derisive — expression on his face throughout the piece.
Off to swim in the great capitalist cesspool.
US KIA Irak: 4,413
US KIA Afghanistan: 1,212
Iraki and Afghan casualties: estimates vary to over 1.5M
US MBS 2010: 26,040 and counting
Volunteers of America
Be good to yourselves, and all other living things.
Namaste
I do believe that Afghanistan’s neighbors Russia, Pakistan, and Iran missed that lecture.
Nope. Just super f*cking greedy.
The slogan:
But the U.S. is better than all of those empires. So if we do it one more time, and a little bit harder, surely it will succeed.
Nah, I blamed it on him cuz I was putting a bowl full of food up where he couldn’t get to it while I fed the others. He can wolf down half a bowl in about 30 seconds. I was watching him instead of what I was doing.
Current dn segment: CIA & google teaming up on the same startup at the same time.
Unfortunately, I think the President thinks that people like his senate mentor Joe Lieberman helped make him what he is. The poor slobs who voted for him are just pawns in the game of his life, wherein his legacy with the people who “matter” is the prime goal.
One ad is all it might take:
Ah ha! You’re a good dad to be so honest. It’s the best policy. Have a great day, SD.
And what Jeb tried to do to Florida.
Doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result. Isn’t that the clinical definition of insanity?
What happened to Cheaters never prosper? Huh? Who’s in charge of making sure the old cliches are followed through?
Nope. Not insanity. It’s called HISTORY.
The cheaters became lawmakers.
There is a strong tendency among really arrogant people to overvalue the people with whom they cut the very last deal while forgetting all those who put them in the position to get that last deal.
Like the bullies on the playground, changing the rules to suit them. Juvenile.
History is no more than the retelling of tales of insanity.
Good find with that article.
Unfortunately, his last paragraph or two is exactly what I’ll be doing this year. I’ll be sitting it out or voting for a 3rd party candidate that will ultimately fail.
Regardless of whatever compromises Obama has made in pursuit of the greater good, he has failed to run home the fact that the Congress is in gridlock. You can’t just sum it up in a sentence and think “that’s good enough”.
He could have used his position to crucify the Republicans and their obstructionism. Unfortunately, he instead chose to break another campaign promise with all his backroom wheeling and dealing and keeping his compromises under wraps that we are forced to conclude he is party to the watered down sh!@ that has come from his administration since Day One.
Sorry, best predictor of future behavior is that of his past and he’s going to be a loser regardless of whether or not I stay home. The only person that needs to worry is my fair weather Congressman Mr. Doggett. While he likes to pay lip service to progressive causes, his vote for the HCR has cost him my vote. I will carry through with that and vote against him. As far as the Senate goes, Texas is still far too conservative to elect a Democrat, not that this crop is any good anyways. I guess I’ll see who is on the Constitutional or Libertarian party. That’ll be all that’s left here in Texas.
Obama and his party is a fraud. The purge needs to happen.
What bothers me is that I wonder if they are building the suspense around Warren. Let people get all scared he isn’t going to nominate her, and then he’ll do it later this year when Congress is gone and “show the people what a progressive leader” Obama is. Meh.. I’d have preferred he be out there from Day One pushing her, if he actually believed in her.
This country is so doomed.
Have a great day, all. And, try not to ingest any dispersant laden crab larvae.
Seems our collective enabling behavior that once we find suspicion of bad consequences, we always distract ourselves with lies that only further our plight to the race to the bottom; that is when gathering food for the table.
Yul Brynner in the movie “The Magnificent Gunfighter”
“Say after me, I am a theif and a lier. I betrayed this town”
While our ecosystem is being flushed down the toilet with oil dispersants, the fine people at the Nalco Chemical Plant in Sugarland Texas are celebrating all the overtime pay to which they can buy nicer things for themselves. These people are also probably thinking they are saving the ocean. The company will not even disclose what all is in the chemical formula because they are afraid others will copy their formula. What a responsible world we live in; what cowards we are all.
Mark Twain – Wikiquote, An experienced, industrious, ambitious, and often quite picturesque liar.
Nikos Kazantzakis – Wikiquote, Behind the stream of my mind and body, behind the stream of my race and all mankind, behind the stream of plants and animals, I watch with trembling the Invisible, treading on all visible things and ascending.
Behind his heavy and blood-splattered feet I hear all living things being trampled on and crushed.
His face is without laughter, dark and silent, beyond joy and sorrow, beyond hope.
Émile Zola – quote, If you shut up truth and bury it under the ground, it will but grow, and gather to itself such explosive power that the day it bursts through it will blow up everything in its way.
I suspect there have been a couple of big changes in Mr. Grunwald’s life. BP probably has him on speed dial, and they probably now know the code to do an electronic transfer into his bank account.
Pelosi Blocks Oil Spill Investigation
http://www.iraq-war.ru/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=230645
News Feeds:
feed://www.democracynow.org/democracynow.rss
feed://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/feed
feed://lauraflanders.firedoglake.com/feed/atom/
feed://www.iraqwar.mirror-world.ru/tiki-articles_rss.php?ver=2&lang=en
http://www.uruknet.info/
feed://www.eatingliberally.org/rss.xml
feed://leninology.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/full
feed://www.prwatch.org/rss.xml
feed://feeds.feedburner.com/IPS/latest
feed://feeds.feedburner.com/latinalista1
feed://povertynewsblog.blogspot.com/atom.xml
feed://feeds.feedburner.com/GreenpeaceNews
How can he tell at this point in time?
The destruction of the food chain is just now beginning.
OMG he is soooo incredibly off base with this craptastic reporting. The government is complicit to a certain extent in covering this up. A local photographer has pics of what they don’t want you to see. I urge the FDL folks to contact him and use these pics to get the word out about what is really going on. The distance they are keeping the media away from what is going on is keeping the actual damage from getting out there. The damage is widespread and real and if you read anything about the dispersants, they were the wrong thing to do.
http://nativeorleanian.com/category/bp-oil-spill/
Actually, Eurasia or Eastasia, take your pick.
I do not believe that Obama is a party to this stuff, I believe he is the DRIVER for it. The Congressional gridlock is a blessing for him, how else can you explain his ceaseless work to increase the gridlock?
Grunwald’s ‘assessment’ was most stunning piece of propaganda I’ve seen since yesterday, when I happened to step in a pile of Newsmax.
The problem for Grunwald will be that he didn’t just report his ‘findings’ (shoved in his pocket along with a $100.00 bill no doubt), but that throughout the piece and in full Right-wing personal attack mode threw insults to all those who were rightly worried about the spill’s potential impact.
On the other hand Time isn’t known for it’s accurate or fair and balanced reporting, either, so Grunwald is likely safe.
Fifty years ago (when Life magazine was a big thing) there was a saying:
Life, for people who can’t read.
Time, for people who can’t think.
Only thing that’s changed is that Life is no longer around.