BP Ordered to Pay State of Alaska $255 Million Over Lost Royalties Due to Negligent Spills

/0 Comments/in , /by

A subsidiary BP has been ordered to pay the state of Alaska $255 million for royalties the state lost because of production shutdowns after two North Slope oil spills in 2006 and a subsequent pipeline replacement project.

A three-member arbitration panel unanimously ordered BP (Exploration) Alaska Inc. to pay the state $245 million, plus another $10 million in fines, by December 3.

The panel heard the case over four weeks last May and June in Anchorage, and reached its decision Oct. 31, the state said in a release Thursday announcing the award.

The amount of the settlement cannot be appealed.

‘We’re absolutely pleased with the result,’ Alaska Attorney General Michael Geraghty said.

Read more from this story HERE.

Biden: Clear ‘Mandate’ to Raise Taxes

/10 Comments/in , /by

Vice President Joe Biden told reporters on Air Force Two today that last night’s election represented a clear “mandate” to raise taxes.

“Where specifically do you think Republicans will be willing to compromise on issues of debt/deficit?” a pool reported asked Biden.

“Well look, I think — You guys have probably looked at the internals of the vote more than I have so far,” said Biden. “But from what it appears is that, on the issue of the tax issue, there was a clear, a clear sort of mandate about people coming much closer to our view about how to deal with tax policy. I think we can move, I’d like to see us, I think we can do something on corporate taxes sooner than later. That would be positive, be a little confidence-building. And you know I just think it’s going to take time for the Republicans to sort of digest what the consequences for them internally. But i just think there’s too much, I’ve been saying to you all along and I know I may be the only guy – well, I think Clinton shares this view, President Clinton, we talked about it. But I think the fever will break. And you know, Barack’s re-elected so this sort of cause to keep a second term from happening’s done. He’s there for four years. So I think there’s going to be – I hope there’s going to be some real soul-searching about, on Republican Party, about what they’re willing to cooperate on.”

Read more from this story HERE.

Video: Celebrating Obama Supporters-“No More Israel, F–k Those Mother F–kers”

/20 Comments/in , /by

This disturbing video was taken at a celebration of Obama supporters after the election.

Although this is obviously not a scientific sampling of the Democratic Party attitudes toward Israel, it is exceptionally disturbing to see such an open display of antisemitism among Obama’s supporters.

One celebrant is asked why he is there. He says, “Obama.” The interviewer asks what that means to him. His first answer? “No more Israel.”

Another claims to be the son of a Jewish parent but says Israel is wrong about everything. He also says that “I really don’t think that us being with Israel is a good choice for us or for the world.”

Caution: the following, eye-opening video is packed with profanity:

Obama Re-Election “Riot” at University of Mississippi

/6 Comments/in , /by

JACKSON, Miss. — A protest at the University of Mississippi against the re-election of President Barack Obama grew into crowd of about 400 people with shouted racial slurs as rumors of a riot spread on social media. Two people were arrested on minor charges.

The university said in a statement Wednesday that the gathering at the student union began late Tuesday night with about 30 to 40 students, but grew within 20 minutes as word spread. Some students chanted political slogans while others used derogatory racial statements and profanity, the statement said.

The incident comes just after the 50th anniversary of violent rioting that greeted the forced integration of Ole Miss with the enrollment of its first black student, James Meredith.

Ole Miss Chancellor Dan Jones promised an investigation and said “all of us are ashamed of the few students who have negatively affected the reputations of each of us and of our university.”

On Wednesday night, about 700 people held up candles and called for racial harmony outside the administrative building at the university in Oxford, countering Tuesday’s protest over Obama’s re-election.

Read more from this story HERE.

Gun Stocks Surge After Obama Re-Election; Other Stocks Nosedive

/1 Comment/in , , /by

Gun maker stocks surged on early Wednesday morning as President Barack Obama’s re-election has stoked fears of tighter gun control measures in his second term.

Shares of the top two U.S. gun manufacturers Smith & Wesson and Sturm Ruger exploded early Wednesday morning, reports Investor’s Business Daily.

“The re-election of President Obama should drive political firearm sales,” said Benchmark & Co analyst Mike Greene.

Obama has said he supports the right to bear arms in the past, but in the second presidential debate he said he would support an assault weapons ban if re-elected.

“The administration has not really lifted a finger in the last four years to tighten gun control legislation,” said Wedbush Securities analyst Rommel Dionisio. “There is a consumer fear that Obama will tighten gun control legislation, but whether or not they will do it this time I don’t know.”

Read more from this story HERE.

‘This Race Is Far From Decided’: Allen West Wants a Recount

/8 Comments/in , /by

Facing defeat, Florida Rep. Allen West on Wednesday demanded a recount in his bid for re-election against Democratic challenger Patrick Murphy.

With all precincts in the south Florida district reporting, Murphy has 160,328 votes, or 50.4 percent, to West’s 157,872 votes and 49.6 percent, according to the Associated Press, which has still not officially declared a winner.

In a statement Wednesday morning, the Republican congressman and Tea Party favorite’s campaign said the race was still far from over.

“This race is far from decided and there is no rush to declare an outcome,” the campaign said. “Ensuring a fair and accurate counting of all ballots is of the utmost importance. There are still tens of thousands of absentee ballots to be counted in Palm Beach County and potential provisional ballots across the district.”

The campaign went on to voice suspicions about the actions of one county election supervisor and called for a full hand recount.

Read more from this story HERE.

Obama Wins, U.S. Now Backing New U.N. Arms Treaty Talk

/4 Comments/in , /by

“caveman chuck” cokerUNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Hours after U.S. President Barack Obama was re-elected, the United States backed a U.N. committee’s call on Wednesday to renew debate over a draft international treaty to regulate the $70 billion global conventional arms trade.

U.N. delegates and gun control activists have complained that talks collapsed in July largely because Obama feared attacks from Republican rival Mitt Romney if his administration was seen as supporting the pact, a charge Washington denies.

The month-long talks at U.N. headquarters broke off after the United States – along with Russia and other major arms producers – said it had problems with the draft treaty and asked for more time.

But the U.N. General Assembly’s disarmament committee moved quickly after Obama’s win to approve a resolution calling for a new round of talks March 18-28. It passed with 157 votes in favor, none against and 18 abstentions.

The main reason the arms trade talks are taking place is that the United States – the world’s biggest arms trader accounting for more than 40 percent of global conventional arms transfers – reversed U.S. policy on the issue after Obama was first elected and decided in 2009 to support a treaty.

Read more from this story HERE.

Marijuana Legalized in Several States, Colorado Governor Says “Hold On”

/2 Comments/in , , /by

Colorado voted to legalize smoking marijuana Tuesday, but the governor warned tokers not to “break out the Cheetos or Goldfish” just yet, since the federal government still takes a dim view of pot.

The Centennial State joined Washington in becoming the first states to legalize recreational use of marijuana Tuesday night, setting up a battle between the states and the federal government, which prohibits use of the drug. The historic votes were among a host of decisions on ballot initiatives that will shape state-level policy on everything from recreational drug use to same-sex marriage. But Gov. John Hickenlooper, who opposed the marijuana measure, said the federal government still considers marijuana taboo, so breaking out the bong could be premature.

“The voters have spoken and we have to respect their will,” Hickenlooper said. “This will be a complicated process, but we intend to follow through. That said, federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug, so don’t break out the Cheetos or Goldfish too quickly.”

The Colorado measure has sparked a national debate about marijuana policy, with supporters pushing for the federal government to end marijuana prohibition nationwide. The Colorado measure states adults over 21 can possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana, or six marijuana plants, for personal use. Opponents have said it will make the state a haven for drug tourists.

The measure in Washington State, Initiative 502, will legalize and regulate the production, possession and distribution of marijuana for residents age 21 and older.

Read more from this story HERE.

GOP Civil War: Herman Cain, Others Call For Third Party

/34 Comments/in , /by

Right-leaning pundits have been taking turns beating up on Mitt Romney and blaming him for the loss last night. Donald Trump just tweeted, “Congrats to @KarlRove on blowing $400 million this cycle. Every race @CrossroadsGPS ran ads in, the Republicans lost. What a waste of money.” And GOP leaders are already taking to the barricades on either side of the divide, which basically comes down to this question: Were Romney and the GOP too conservative or not conservative enough?

Steve Schmidt, a top Republican strategist who ran John McCain’s 2008 campaign, invoked the term on MSNBC this morning. “When I talk about a civil war in the Republican Party, what I mean is, it’s time for Republican elected leaders to stand up and to repudiate this nonsense [of the extreme right wing], and to repudiate it directly,” he said.

But on the other side of the fight, Herman Cain, the former presidential candidate who still has a robust following via his popular talk radio program and speaking tours, today suggested the most clear step to open civil war: secession. Appearing on Bryan Fischer’s radio program this afternoon, Cain called for a large faction of Republican Party leaders to desert the party and form a third, more conservative party.

“I never thought that I would say this, and this is the first time publicly that I’ve said it: We need a third party to save this country. Not Ron Paul and the Ron Paulites. No. We need a legitimate third party to challenge the current system that we have, because I don’t believe that the Republican Party … has the ability to rebrand itself,” Cain said.

Read more from this story HERE.

The GOP Needs Modernization, Not Moderation

/1 Comment/in , /by

photo credit: donkeyhoteyIf Mitt Romney had lost the election solely because of Ohio, I would be lamenting his lack of a populist appeal. Or, if he had lost Florida narrowly, I might be writing about how Gary Johnson played spolier.

Instead, I’m writing about an identity crisis. Make no mistake, the GOP faces serious challenges going forward. This wasn’t “just a loss.”

But that doesn’t mean the party should sell out its core values, either. In many cases, reinvention means drawing a clearer contrast with liberals. The GOP probably needs to reaffirm some values.

For example, it would make no sense for the GOP to abandon its role as the party of life. It would make no sense for the GOP to abandon its role as the party of individual liberty.

But there must be some reevaluation. It’s time to rethink, “who are we?,” ”what do we believe?” — and “why do we believe it?”

Read more about this story HERE.