Friday, December 17, 2010

"Bobby's Berms."

*
I want to start this post by giving a shout out to GQ Magazine for featuring the last surviving member of the original three Wailers in this latest issue of their magazine. It was a pleasant surprise to open up the pages and see my man Bunny Wailer in full effect.

Anyway, tonight I want to write about rising GOP star, Bobby Jindal. Seems my man, like so many wingnuts before him, was wrong about something else:

Remember when Jindal was ripping his O ness a new one about his administrations inactivity and incompetence during the gulf oil spill? My man even wrote a book about it and was on every wingnut talk show from California to Maine patting himself on the back and praising his skills as a governor on knowing how to get things done. Not so fast.

Now it seems that Jindal might have been wrong all along.

"The GOP's rising star, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, was the driving force behind the construction of sand berms to curb the Gulf oil spill. They were considered environmentally unsound, and a presidential commission has found that they didn't even work.

A draft of the commission's report was released yesterday, and aside from the obvious (BP), Jindal comes out looking pretty scummy. That shouldn't really shock anyone, but the particulars of the berm deal are pretty bad. So what really happened? Well, the berms cost about $220 million to build with another $140 million committed to finish the project. The report describes them as "underwhelmingly effective, and overwhelmingly expensive." The sand berm project got nearly three times more money than any other oil spill relief project in Jindal's state of Louisiana.

But how does Jindal himself feel about the berms' effectiveness? According to Bloomberg, on November 15, Jindal appeared on the Today Show touting the project's effectiveness: "The reality is, it worked. And the reality is, it prevented that oil from getting into the wetlands 15 to 20 miles away." Hmm. How well did it work? According to the presidential commission's report, the berms only stopped about 1,000 barrels of oil... out of about 5 million barrels that were spilled into the Gulf of Mexico. Nice try, Bobby!

And Jindal could have listened to skeptical experts during a June meeting to weight the pros and cons of moving ahead with the project. According to the report, "A Coast Guard officer present at the summit offered a similar [dismal] assessment. According to that officer, the experts ‘all said it's pretty crummy' and offered no ‘glowing endorsements' of berms as a spill response measure." That sure doesn't sound like something a fiscally responsible Republican would get behind.

Jindal responded with a typically shitty statement, calling the report "partisan revisionist history at taxpayer expense," which means we can call Bobby's Berms "the result of very little scientific evidence, at the environment, and people of Louisiana's expense," right? So, to all of the Gulf residents struggling to squeeze money out of BP in the wake of the oil spill, you can thank Bobby Jindal for sucking up hundreds of millions of dollars for a joke of a relief project." [Article]

What a fraud! It just goes to show you that you can't trust a wingnut with anything having to do with science.

Finally, I would like to invite all of you reading this to come to Philadelphia and see the "President's House "display. If you are a student of real history it will be worth the trip.
* Pic lifted from Gawker.com

44 comments:

PilotX said...

I remember that. I believe it was environmental experts from LSU that stated they were not going to work. Think I saw that on the Rachel Maddow show. Yeah, Bobby is a typical wingnut but I don't know if he's for real or not. He has a degree in Biology from Brown but is on a creationist kick after he converted to Catholicism. Like so many conservatives I have to ask does he really believe this or did he take the shorter route as my wife often says, the line in the GOP especially for someone with brown skin is extremely short. I have to debate whether or not he is still a rising star after his Mr. Rogers impersonation in response to the state of the union address. Science is like kryptonite to conservatives, that's why they want to rewrite it it's too hard of a subject for them to understand.

LACoincidental said...

Sadly, Piyush "Bobby" Jindal is a typical wingnut cynic - spouting BS for political capital, even though he knows better.

Wesley R said...

Field,

Remember Foxnews was running stories how Obama wasn't going fast enough to do what Jindal wanted etc.. etc..
BTW, the post is on point

field negro said...

Yes Wesley, I remember all too well.

"spouting BS for political capital, even though he knows better."

La~, are we sure he knows better?

"Science is like kryptonite to conservatives, that's why they want to rewrite it it's too hard of a subject for them to understand."

Quote of the night.

Anonymous said...

Field, "What a fraud! It just goes to show you that you can't trust a wingnut with anything having to do with science."

Why must you call names when Conservatives don't call you names?

FYI Conservatives are far more trustworthy with science than those dirty progressive liberal dems. Obama still has yet to live up to anything he promised. Charlie Rangel is one of the biggest political crooks in the history of Congress. As a matter of fact, the entire progressive liberal dem CBC is crooked.

Of course, that is to be expected, isn't it? It doesn't matter if you are a barber or a congressman..if you are Black, chances are you are crooked. This has been proven again and again and again.

Anonymous said...

Field, "Science is like kryptonite to conservatives, that's why they want to rewrite it it's too hard of a subject for them to understand."

There you go again plagarizing my comment from another thread. And you have the nerve to accuse Conservatives of being untrustworthy. You project on the GOP everything that is actually you.

Anonymous said...

"Science is like kryptonite to conservatives, that's why they want to rewrite it it's too hard of a subject for them to understand

Liberals/Progressive/communist/socialist/takers are just plain fucking hilarious. Science is supposedly the bastion of liberals now? HA. YOU have to be liberal and insane to believe this. Science is, has been and will always be a conservative hallowed ground. You see Science is based in reality...not liberalism bullshit like Global warming even though science proves otherwise and it is against all logic. Conservatives are realists and speak the truth. Liberals are the pansy whackjobs who say oh no, change the name of that thing and that will solve it. There are no islamic terrorists, its man made disasters.

Liberals want things their way so bad they just wish it so...and this is science....HA!!

Arent liberals the ones doing away with all of the challenges in life that helped develop the best and brightest minds? Because competition and challenges are too hard and unfair. Arent liberals the ones who give trophys to all and teach our children to be useless and dont worry everyone wins so dont work so hard. Arent liberals the ones who dumb donw every standard and test there is because certain people dont have the intellectual capacity to pass them so they must be racist? Yes, this is your mind on liberalism...

APOI said...

You folk's don't undertand how the the Gulf of Mexico works. It's warm water. It disssipates the oil. The fish could give a crap.

In World War II, the entire Eastern coast of the US was covered by oil, from German U-Boats sinking tankers. Where's that oil today? We didin't have gooofballs wearing HAZMAT suits back then.


NOW....when the Exxon Valdez ruptured, that was COLD water. It couldn't disssipate.

I know, I work in the industry. All ships are double-hullled now, so it isn't even an issue anymore.

Unless you think stuffing an otter into your gas tank will get you up to the store to buy your Twinkies.

Yo know where oil comes from? The Earth. Maybe it has more right to this planet than we do.

And, NO, oil does NOT come from dead dinosaurs, whatever you're dumb teachers told you.

focusedpurpose said...

from previous post-

"It's obvious why she does it. Why every friggin night after 12:00 AM" blah blah drooling, helmeted,soiled pants blah

taking you off of ignore for just a minute:

we are on different coasts genius. additionally, i am self employed, control my time, and most importantly NOCTURNAL by nature. while other folks are sleeping i am giving myself the edge. in short, i do what i want when i please...with focused purpose. you haven't figured THAT out yet? lol. quick one aren't you? and i don't know what makes you think a husband or male company is hard to come by. you need to spend less time watching dora the explorer and more time THINKING. there is NO man shortage. there IS a bm shortage that has no end in sight. because you are so mentally challenged, my sounding the alarm and putting the younger bw up on game is registering in that brick dome of yours as "hate". LOL. you are going to be alright. God protects fools and babies...

now, YOU are the one that is trying to convince folks you are happily married and on the east coast, yet will respond to my comment(s), changing names in the process unless there is another total blithering lost soul exactly like you that thinks life is a box of chocolates; when posted in the wee hours of the night YOUR time. this might explain your little fixation with sexual toys. the wife is dependant on her little pleasure drawer, while you are in the basement huh? LOL.

plus, i didn't call your name when i talked about the sexism and disrespect of bw on this blog. so again, if one hurls a rock into a pack of dogs, the one that yelps is the one that got hit! yelp away!

now go on back over to ignore.

ML, i have already called it with you. i have had and still enjoy the blessing of knowing real men. THEY will NOT stand like dumbstruck mutes when WOMEN are being disrespected in their presence by males. EVEN when they don't know the woman. your consistent behavior speaks for itself. shrug. coward plus in denial i see. no wonder you seem rather depressed. remember, FN said you could email him to work it out.

i don't hate cowards. i just don't respect them and reserve the right to call it. i don't even get all bent out of shape over it. there are more cowards than bravehearts in all colors both genders. shrug. it is what it is...just don't expect me to fall in.

Anonymous said...

I THINK our blessed AB is in Chicago, CST time, FP....maybe

Mack Lyons said...

"Why must you call names when Conservatives don't call you names?"

"Liberals are the pansy whackjobs who say oh no, change the name of that thing and that will solve it."

And there you have it. Why do Conservatives have to be such ugly little lying bastards?

"ML, i have already called it with you. i have had and still enjoy the blessing of knowing real men. THEY will NOT stand like dumbstruck mutes when WOMEN are being disrespected in their presence by males. EVEN when they don't know the woman. your consistent behavior speaks for itself. shrug. coward plus in denial i see. no wonder you seem rather depressed. remember, FN said you could email him to work it out."

Somehow, I have the feeling that your interpretation of what a "real man" is supposed to be is colored by your own neurosis. A lot of reasonable people are starting to back away from you -- PilotX won't have nothing more to do with you. Other commentators are beginning to ignore you. Me? I'm not about to waste any more of my time with a temperamental misandrist who has a bone to pick with Black men.

Real men would have backed away in droves from your toxic, neurotic behavior. The "real men" you seem to adore and attract are actually cowards, lapdogs and "yes" men. With a personality like yours, you're bound to attract more defective men than you will honest, caring and responsible ones.

But enough about that. I'll leave you to somehow manage the bitterness in your heart, before it eats you alive. Meanwhile, I'll focus my time and energy on other things, such as....

"Jindal responded with a typically shitty statement, calling the report "partisan revisionist history at taxpayer expense," which means we can call Bobby's Berms "the result of very little scientific evidence, at the environment, and people of Louisiana's expense," right? So, to all of the Gulf residents struggling to squeeze money out of BP in the wake of the oil spill, you can thank Bobby Jindal for sucking up hundreds of millions of dollars for a joke of a relief project."

...this guy. What a card. And one has to wonder who's benefiting from the $360 million devoted to building the berms. Someone, somewhere has had or will have their kickbacks, no doubt.

PilotX said...

Well well well typical conservative huh? You are correct that science relies on facts and data which is why only 6% of scientists are self reported Republicans with 55% identified as Dems and 32% independent. Goes to show that even when debating facts conservatives have none on their side. Typical.
http://www.slate.com/id/2277104/

Suzan said...

Long time lurker Field.. love your site. Go visit the LA Times when you get a minute... looks like the Grim Sleeper could've killed over 100 sistas...I have no words. May they Rest in Peace.

field negro said...

"Science is, has been and will always be a conservative hallowed ground. You see Science is based in reality...not liberalism bullshit like Global warming even though science proves otherwise and it is against all logic. Conservatives are realists and speak the truth."

I need some truth on this one: How long did it take to create the world?

"Well well well typical conservative huh? You are correct that science relies on facts and data which is why only 6% of scientists are self reported Republicans with 55% identified as Dems and 32% independent."

Damn it Pilot X, there you go with facts again. :)

Suzan, I saw that article. I co-sign with you: May their souls rest in peace. :(

focusedpurpose said...

LOL. ML, in english, PX clearly indicated he had nothing to say about my comment. probably because we both know, there is not a comment section on this blog where he can be seen addressing the unwarranted consistent, vicious, homophobic attacks against his "ally" AB.

you and bm like you can just keep on trying to re-define "manhood" all you want. i am not the only one in the world not buying the non protector non provider version of "manhood"...

just so you know, if you would fall back and ignore me- i would not take offense. in fact, i would give you credit for not being a dumb coward. i believe in giving credit where it is due.

to anon that decided to attack AB in her absence without provocation-

my comment was for and in response to uts. i was tapping on his helmet. clearly your helmet is a few sizes too small, making it difficult for you to keep up. fix that and do better. thanks. lol.

have a good weekend everyone.

Rottnkid said...

FYI Conservatives are far more trustworthy with science than those dirty progressive liberal dems.

OK. Fair enough.Answer me this..If conservatives are "more trustworthy" then why does FOX News lie on a daily basis?

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/17/study-some-viewers-were-misinformed-by-tv-news/

field negro said...

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201012170014?lid=1150087&rid=57354784

Rottnkid, may I play co-counsel?

maria said...

http://mije.org/richardprince/barbering-while-black-clipping-while-hispanic#Barber

has links back to FN...following up from yesterday's thread and notice this isn't about obama or wfs.

reporter explains story.

Anonymous said...

Strawman and ad hominem are not arguments. They are the only tools in the wingnut debate arsenal.

Sorry FakeAnons, some of us know this thing you call Science.

Why is it partisan revisionist history when Scientists do the work? Or is that NutSpeak for Facts?

Mold

Hathor said...

APOI,

Oil that's spilled and not recovered is wasted energy. Oil is finite like coal, natural gas and diamonds. It may not disappear in your lifetime, but if the rest of the 4 billion people in China and India consume as we do, it just may.

Those hydrocarbons were created by the organic material that existed millions of years ago, from decay and extreme pressure, probably with the help of microbes. If you think they magically appeared, whatever you do in the oil industry must not have anything to do with science. You could be an accountant.

Just don't take my word for it.

Mack Lyons said...

Release of photos in Grim Sleeper case brings major response

Rottnkid said...

"Not a single answer or solution from the entire crowd. They don't even know where they stand on the issues of the day. Instead, they wait to learn where Obama stands, and then they claim to be against it. The 2012 GOP candidates are worse than what they offered in 2008. Palin is damaged beyond repair. Conservati ves don't trust Romney. Huckabee can't draw a crowd on Fox. Daniels, Pawlenty, and Thune are about as exciting as Evan Bayh. Gingrich has far too much baggage. Christie is a YouTube controvers y waiting to happen. Barbour has no appeal beyond the south. Perry is crazier than Palin."

Nice!

PilotX said...

@FP, last post on the topic and then I'm done. Anyone who professes to be pro-Black and assists the community is my ally thus I see you work to uplift our people so I see you as an ally too. I see that WE need to work together and get exasperated when I see divisions and think that gender and skin tone debates are not useful and thus I dislike them. Everyone here seems to have their heads and hearts in the right place so I see no need to take sides. If my sister and brother are fighting I won't take sides as I love them both equally and support both and attempt to mitigate the damage done until they make up.
Now back to my usual course and abrasive self which I get from my mother;-)
A fellow night owl.

APOI said...

"22 AM

Hathor said...
APOI,

Those hydrocarbons were created by the organic material that existed millions of years ago, from decay and extreme pressure, probably with the help of microbes. If you think they magically appeared, whatever you do in the oil industry must not have anything to do with science. You could be an accountant.

Just don't take my word for it.

10:26 AM"


Tell me this, Hathor....why is there so much oil in the Middle East? Why do some countries ha no oil, an others, you just poke a stick in the ground, and i flows up? Did nothing organic die in the countries with no oil?

People originally thought oil came from organic matter, because as the oil pushed it's way to the surface, fossils & "Microbes" came up with it.

Did you know oil fields around the world, which were once considered "drained-dry", are magically refilling? It's a fact, even happening in the Gulf of Mexico. Look it up, if you don't believe me.

And....I'm an Operations Supervisor for the US Gulf Coast....not some damn bean-counter.

AND....I agree. Spilled oil IS wasted energy & money. NO oil company wants to see that happen.

Regards,

chicago dyke said...

there is only one question that is ever needed to be asked when republicans spend taxdollars:

which of their crony campaign-contributing friends owns the corporation getting paid?

Anonymous said...

chicago dyke said...
there is only one question that is ever needed to be asked when republicans spend taxdollars:

which of their crony campaign-contributing friends owns the corporation getting paid?

1:46 PM


This message was brought to you by someone who can't grasp the fact that there's a reason why women were born with a vagina, and men were born with a penis. Take from it what you will.

I'll bet faggots are just horrible at putting jigsaw puzzles together.

chicago dyke said...

Anon, i'll say to you, just this once, what i say to all trolls who attack my sexuality while failing to make a substantive counter-argument to my on-topic comment. and it is this:

come out. it's ok. i know you know this, deep down inside, but actually straight people? they may make the occasional passing, tasteless joke about homosexuality, but they don't often go into detail like you do. do you know why you obsess about homosexuality? it's because you yourself are likely a homosexual, or at the very least bi-curious, or because you've had one or more homosexual encounters and you're trying very hard to deny that you enjoyed them.

people who are out and proud have encountered people like you hundreds of times in the course of our dating lives. indeed, some of us were once closeted like you, pretending we wanted what we didn't really want. straight people think about opposite sex. gay people think about gay sex. it's really that simple. if you feel compelled to leave a senseless comment that has nothing to do with anything other than my homosexuality on a political blog where your opinion is not really welcomed by the community, you should think about why that is. it's OK to be out. it won't kill you or even hurt you. know that if you can come out, the queer community will accept you and welcome you like the prodigal son. we all know that coming out is very difficult.

on the off chance you're the other type of troll, substitute "you know there are african americans in your family history but you are desperately pretending you're 'all white'" for "homosexual." those are really the only reasons people like feel compelled to troll blogs like this one. i pity you, because there is a good chance that one or both of what i have said about you is true, and that you're receiving a tiny paycheck from the right wing for the express purpose of trolling liberal blogs with comments like that, just to disrupt the conversation at places like these. that is on the order kicking the younger children at the playground. surely you have higher aspirations in life.

PilotX said...

@Chicago. Don't bother with the conservatroll. Rightwingers NEVER have substantive arguments thus they have to resort to name calling and off topic BS. Keep in mind the irony of this thread being about science which relies on facts and data. When it comes to real world stuff conservatives are lost and thus retreat to their comfort zone of imaginary friends and rules created by their invisible friends.

Anonymous said...

Well, only one wench appeared today and predictably carried baggage from a previous post.

All in all, it's a better day than others.

field negro said...

"conservatroll." I will add that to my vocab. I like it!

Anonymous said...

Hey Field! heard you missed me, I'm back, just like Herpes...
and finally somethin we can agree on, I mean I wish those dot-heads would stick to what they know, Convenience Stores, Dry Cleaning, Cardiology, worshiping sacred Cows, and getting slapped around by the English for 400 years, and what was that deal with Gandi wearing a diaper?? Yeah, that non violence worked about as well for the Mohatama as it did for MLK...
Oh, and your welcome, for MY team giving you only the best QB in the NFC, see you in the Playoffs, Sucka...
and hope you enjoy watchin the Igels on TV, cause thats the only way you'll see em, HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE BABY...

Frank "Whiter than Matt Ryan, and thats pretty White" Drackman

Anonymous said...

dear Mr. field, i thought as a blogger with a blog called Field Negro, that you would be more towards the center politically and would welcome diverse opinions.

but i see you don't welcome conservatives at all.

Anonymous said...

Frank D. where the hell have you been? what's with the long absence? did someone offend you?

btw, have you read what those two characters called Mack Lyons and PilotX have said? Let them tell it they are the fine bm of the 21st century. at least, that's what they are trying to pass off to the sistas....some things about bm nerver change.

the eagles have never been good at winning the big ring. they choke every time. that means your team has the advantage. before the game starts let me congratulate your team on a win!

field negro said...

Hi Frank, I am glad to see you back. I hope your probation officer doesn't have a problem with you being on the field's blog.

"dear Mr. field, i thought as a blogger with a blog called Field Negro, that you would be more towards the center politically and would welcome diverse opinions.

but i see you don't welcome conservatives at all."

Not true Anon. I welcome all kinds of opinions.- Ask the president of Anon Inc.- Now as for that center politically thing, now that's a different story.

I happen to be a left leaning leftie.:)

Anonymous said...

Field, "I happen to be a left leaning leftie.:)"

That's horrible. you have my sympathy.

Anonymous said...

You should watch this video in direct reply to your Islamic points.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGwtG8nVpUU&feature=player_embedded


Conservative scientists: Liberal gene discovered

scientists have a message for liberal voters: Blame it on your genes.

According to researchers at the University of California and Harvard, one of the brain’s neurotransmitters — called DRD4 — could be stimulated by the novelty value of left-of-center opinions, according to a new article in the Journal of Politics.

This biological trait leads those possessing it to seek out unconventional companions — and therefore, later in life, to hold more unconventional political beliefs.

The research claims that those who carry the DRD4 gene are compelled to seek out “novelty” — which, the researchers seem to have concluded, is one way to describe non-conservative thought.

The findings undermine beliefs that allege social factors play a large role in political beliefs.

http://www.metro.us/boston/national/article/676290--conservative-scientists-liberal-gene-discovered



Also lets not forget the leaning of scientist political affiliations is a a matter of economic self-interest. Scientists are frequently funded by the government, so of course they want to increase government spending.

Sound familiar? Liberals want big government to take money from people who have earned it to take care of them and support their unproductive and unprofitable lifestyles.


A Psychiatrist can explain why liberalism is a mental disorder better than me: "Based on strikingly irrational beliefs and emotions, modern liberals relentlessly undermine the most important principles on which our freedoms were founded." "Like spoiled, angry children, they rebel against the normal responsibilities of adulthood and demand that a parental government meet their needs from cradle to grave." ~Dr. Lyle Rossiter

Anonymous said...

'Well, only one wench appeared today and predictably carried baggage from a previous post.

All in all, it's a better day than others.'


'http://mije.org/richardprince/barbering-while-black-clipping-while-hispanic#Barber

has links back to FN...following up from yesterday's thread and notice this isn't about obama or wfs.'


Just mean!

field negro said...

'"Field, "I happen to be a left leaning leftie.:)'

That's horrible. you have my sympathy."

Save it. To quote a famous person; "life has been very good to me." I am very happy.

But thanks for caring.;)

PilotX said...

blah blah blah anon @314. Well ge here is some research that shows conservatives are suffering from mental disorders backed up by research from U Cal Berkley. http://reason.com/archives/2004/10/20/pathologizing-conservatism
Conservatives tend to be fearful of change, more racially prejudiced, more religious and intolerant ect ect ect. I will search for this Dr. Rossiter you use and betting he's a quack. I can play this game all day.
BTW, liberals were responsible for civil rights and womens rights and just about every liberty most of us enjoy today. Thanks for nothing conservatives.

PilotX said...

Not really great but all I could do on short notice. I may have more time for debunking in the next few days but this will have to do for now. Sorry.
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/250462

PilotX said...

@anon 1118. As far as I can tell I'm not trying to pass myself off as anything and especially not a "fine Black man of the 21st century". This is the internet, I could be Adolf Hitler III and you would never know so don't let your projection pass as facts. I'm sure you on the other hand are the most perfect person in Zeus' creation huh?

Yvonne said...

Well, the berms may be a waste as far as preventing oil from hitting the Louisiana shore. But the orginal story (linked above) conveniently left out that the presidential report noted that the berms could have the effect of reducing coastal erosion. Which, of course, is a HUGE thing here in Louisiana.

I personally don't care much for Bobby as governor, but I gotta give him props on this one - he's doing what he can to save our coastline. And if BP is helping pay for it, all the better. They pooped in our gulf, so it seems fair they should help a bit with the coastline (since they're not doing anything to get all their sludge currently coating the ocean floor...)

PilotX said...

@Yvonne, I could be wrong but wasn't there a report that stated the berms would hasten the erosion? Too lazy to search right now.

Wine Dog said...

Here I am on Christmas morning catching up on blog posts and there it is, a gift from Field.

Thanks for making my morning.