RE: BEACHMAN -bubba - no oneAll due respect, Kobe, the BEST thing for ALL of us to do is BUY gasoline from BP.
I have a LOT of experience in BANKRUPTCY law - if BP is unable to pay all of their debts, they will file bankruptcy. Then, the claims of the people from the Gulf Coast will be reduced to GENERAL UNSECURED, meaning they will share only in the proceeds of the estate AFTER the bankruptcy trustee takes his fee, attorney fees, etc. - not a good result.
On the other hand, I think it's rather NICE of BP to OFFER to pay all of these claims without having to be FORCED to pay in a lawsuit, which could take years. In addition, the last I heard there is a CAP they would have to p[ay anyway, YET they are offering to pay IN EXCESS of that cap. I think our esteemed "President" would be well-advised to be "nice" too. People are getting fed up with his attempt to get political mileage every step of the way.
Here's some MORE food for thought. I happen to know quite a bit about the finances of a lot of these shrimpers/crabbers/etc. The fact is most of them do well to "break even" or make $20,000 per year. Yet, they are waltzing into BP headquarters representing they make $5,000 per week. I think I'm going to recommend to BP that they require copies of the last 3 years of tax returns from the claimants after this thing is all over. I think we will then see who the real LIARS are. Sorry, but, it's true.
By the way, Sarah Palin was on TV last night explaining how she handled the oil companies in Alaska - she had a special commission that was formed EARLY ON to bone up and confirm all facts proffered by oil companies - that way, she stayed AHEAD of the game at the negotiating table with these companies. Our "President" would be well-advised to follow her lead. BOTTOM LINE: She doesn't present very presidentially (she comes off as kind of goofy), but the SUBSTANCE of what she says is RIGHT ON - and she is very smart on many issues.