Barack Obama, British Petroleum, Class War, Control the Information, Democracy, Disenfranchised, Escrow Account, Gulf Coast, Ken Feinberg, LIVE YOUR LIFE, Oil Spill

What does Wisconsin have to do with the Gulf Coast?

In a word? Climate. I’m not talking about environmental climate change, I’m talking about the political climate, the deregulation climate, the climate that continues to sweep through this country and threatens you, the American citizen at your door with not a polite knock, it’s more akin to home invasion, battering rams that splinter the wood with its force until the whole thing smashes in and … Continue reading What does Wisconsin have to do with the Gulf Coast?

Drake ToulouseMarch 1, 2011March 1, 20111 Comment

Barack Obama, British Petroleum, Class War, Disenfranchised, Escrow Account, Ken Feinberg, Oil Spill

Really, Obama? No tax breaks for claimants?

Back in the first week of January, I wrote a little something about how the reparation money paid to claimants should be tax free. In the hard times across the Gulf Coast, the last thing people need is to budget 25% of their payment to the IRS, especially people receiving the quick payment: 25% of $5000 dollars to an individual or $25,000 dollars to business. Well, … Continue reading Really, Obama? No tax breaks for claimants?

Drake ToulouseFebruary 17, 2011February 17, 20112 Comments

British Petroleum, Escrow Account, Ken Feinberg, Oil Spill

People eager to tell Feinberg their opinions on GCCF methodology…

When Feinberg posted the GCCF’s methodology, he opened up a two-week public comment period and requested claimants in the Gulf Coast post their thoughts directly to the website. He pledged to monitor the public feedback and make adjustments to his methodology as necessary, taking into account the concerns of the people most affected by the oil spill and the claims process. A perusal of the … Continue reading People eager to tell Feinberg their opinions on GCCF methodology…

Drake ToulouseFebruary 6, 2011February 6, 20111 Comment

British Petroleum, Control the Information, Escrow Account, Ken Feinberg, Oil Spill

The GCCF Methodology…experts, experts and more experts, paid for by BP

On Wednesday, Ken Feinberg and the GCCF released their methodology to show how interim and final payments will be determined. They highlighted a chorus of retained and consulted experts who expect the Gulf to be back to normal by 2012. They also pointed out, a few times, how claimants would be eligible for twice their documented 2010 damages and eligible oyster harvesters could receive four … Continue reading The GCCF Methodology…experts, experts and more experts, paid for by BP

Drake ToulouseFebruary 4, 2011February 4, 20118 Comments

British Petroleum, Control the Information, Disenfranchised, Escrow Account, Gulf Coast, Ken Feinberg, Oil Spill

What denial looks like…a request for help with the GCCF

Hey all… A simple request for help: Yesterday, I received a message from a person in Louisiana regarding a claim with Ken Feinberg’s GCCF, which shows just a photograph of the frustration thousands are having with their oil spill claims. The person who wrote this letter states several different business owners with quick pay claims have received similar correspondence from the GCCF as shown below. … Continue reading What denial looks like…a request for help with the GCCF

Drake ToulouseJanuary 5, 2011January 5, 201129 Comments

Barack Obama, British Petroleum, Class War, Disenfranchised, Ken Feinberg, Oil Spill

The Taxman Cometh…

Stories abound across the Gulf Coast of people with legitimate claims who have been denied by Feinberg and the GCCF, but what of those who have been approved, who have received checks? Many have been given paltry sums, pennies on the dollar that didn’t come close to making up for their damages or lost earnings as a result of the BP oil spill, and for … Continue reading The Taxman Cometh…

Drake ToulouseJanuary 4, 2011January 4, 2011Leave a comment

British Petroleum, Control the Information, Escrow Account, Gulf Coast, Ken Feinberg, Oil Spill

BP, Feinberg and $4 Billion Dollars

As a result of the Federal lawsuit against British Petroleum for violations of the Clean Water Act and Oil Pollution Act, estimates are the resulting fine for British Petroleum could be between $5 and $20 billion dollars, depending primarily upon whether BP is found grossly negligent in the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon. Though these numbers have been written about for months, according to an … Continue reading BP, Feinberg and $4 Billion Dollars

Drake ToulouseDecember 18, 2010December 18, 20105 Comments

British Petroleum, Control the Information, Gulf Coast, Macondo Well, Oil Spill

Bob Dudley…what are we playing for?

British Petroleum’s CEO, Bob Dudley has provided estimates to the business world and more importantly, to its investors that BP’s share of costs associated with the Deepwater Horizon will not exceed $40 billion dollars when all is said and done. Still trying to reassure his company’s investors, Dudley has even indicated that dividend payments will resume again in the new year. Course, there is a … Continue reading Bob Dudley…what are we playing for?

Drake ToulouseDecember 10, 2010December 10, 2010Leave a comment

British Petroleum, Coast Guard, Gulf Coast, Headlines, Macondo Well, Oil Spill

“Breathtakingly Inept” BP leaves oil on the seafloor

Bill Reilly, co-chair of the Presidential Commission to investigate the oil spill, released prepared remarks to be given at an oil and gas conference conference in New Orleans writing “There is virtual consensus among all the sophisticated observers of this debacle that three of the leading players in the industry made a series of missteps, miscalculations and miscommunications that were breathtakingly inept and largely preventable.” Oh … Continue reading “Breathtakingly Inept” BP leaves oil on the seafloor

Drake ToulouseDecember 9, 2010December 9, 20104 Comments

British Petroleum, Disenfranchised, Gulf Coast, Katrina, New Orleans, Oil Spill

An Audition: British Petroleum’s Public Relations Department

By now many of us have read of British Petroleum’s increased ad spending in the months following the April 20th Deepwater Horizon Explosion. Rep. Kathy Castor was especially upset by this, saying “BP is overdoing it, it’s really making people angry. Every day you get up and see these full-page ads in every newspaper and the TV ads…while BP’s advertising campaign ramped up, businesses and the … Continue reading An Audition: British Petroleum’s Public Relations Department

Drake ToulouseSeptember 22, 2010September 22, 20103 Comments