Looking for the tipping point? Here is one to think about. One of the first things President Obama did after taking office was returning a statue of Winston Churchill to England. Part of the explanation is his anger at the U.K. for their actions towards his grandfather in Kenya during the fight to expel English citizens following World War II.
So now we have President Obama looking to “Kick Ass” with the British Petroleum being the obvious candidate, and diminuitive Robert C Reich urging the U.S. government to seize control of BP. BP is not an American company There is no legal precedent that I know of for forcing a global company into receivership outside of its home country. BP stock is held in the retirement accounts of many pension funds, especially in Europe.
Wars have been fought over much smaller issues. Germany is already cozying up to Russia because of shared interests and German dependence on oil and gas from Russia.
Those are just a few examples of a much larger (global) storm that I don’t think we can avoid. I also don’t think we can mitigate it. In fact, we seem to be steering into it more and more. Hugh Hewitt said something recently that, to me, seemed naive. A caller asked him something along the line of “what will happen if the US turns its back on Israel.” First, I think we already have. Hugh’s response was that of “US citizens will vote out the officials that would attempt to do so.” I say his response was naive because the legislature is impotent. What would they do? Pass a resolution giving our support to Israel? Meaningless. The decision to stand with or steer clear of Israel will come from the White House. And Obama isn’t going anywhere until January, 2013 at the earliest. A lot can (and will) happen before that inauguration day.
Perhaps I’m missing something, but it seems like the people who vote in this country are confused and ill-informed.
Getting back to your point, Art. Nationalizing energy (oil, coal, natural gas, wind, biomass, and everything else), utilities, communications (including the internet) are the goal. Will our vote really effect much…dare I say…CHANGE? Are the republicans going to stand in the way of such a move? Sure they will. Just like they did with healthcare.
I can’t recall a time in my 40 years on this planet when it seemed like so much was in the mix. Israel v. everyone, the Korean peninsula, this administration, shifting alliances (watch Latin America and, as you mentioned, Germany), an increasingly discontented citizenry, and nuclear proliferation make for a powder keg. Only this time, the powder keg isn’t in Eastern Europe. It’s everywhere.
Among other things, I’m noticing that message boards are getting very very quiet – not because of moderation, but I think people are scared to express opinions, and I don’t blame them.
This is an excuse-based presidency. I’d look for something more familiar such as allowing our Pacific fleet to be decimated. If parts of the SEast US have to be evacuated or the dispersants start turning out eight legged frogs…. maybe. He may claim to be looking for some butt to kick; in the fortitude department he is as smooth as a Ken doll.
Didn’t Hugo Chavez nationalize all of Venezuela’s oil companies recently, and take over the operations that had been held by Shell and others? Chavez is one of Obama’s role models, so don’t be surprised if he makes a similar move toward BP’s Gulf operations.
Two additional examples… England is unfamiliar with th Litigation Lottery in the US…
Some guy who has rental properties on the coast is upset that BP is not paying the full amount he wants. He has been “fixing them up” since the hurricane in 2004 and his story mentions nothing about having had tenants who left
the biggie is going to be that Obama & Company now plan to go after BP for the economic damages caused by the Obama Administration’s decision to stop drilling in the Gulf. Nationalization is the goal. The Comminists in the White House view confiscating property as a way to fund their government expansion – it’s as simple as that. Until the Bank of England says Nyet to Tim Geithner and the Fed next time there is a panic