Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour say the oil washing ashore is safe as toothepaste

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/06/02/1460425/barbour-labels-oil-spill-wake.html


POSTED: Wednesday, Jun. 02, 2010
Barbour labels oil spill wake-up call for federal, state workers

By GEOFF PENDER AND KAREN NELSON - McClatchy Newspapers

PETIT BOIS ISLAND, Miss PETIT BOIS ISLAND, Miss. - Oil that came ashore here Tuesday had been washed away by storms, leaving only tar balls by the time Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour toured the island late Wednesday morning.

Barbour called this "a blessing," but also said it was a "wake-up call" for federal, state and BP workers to be more vigilant, and spot and deal with oil slicks before they reach Mississippi's shores.

"This slipped through on us," Barbour said. "We were fortunate that it was not a bigger deal. We have to have more of our vessels further out and a larger number of vessels beyond the barrier islands. We've got to throw our defense, project it further out." NOAA warned Wednesday that winds continue to blow from the southwest, meaning Mississippi and Alabama could see more landfall of oil.

Barbour said if the thin, 2-mile-long strand that "broke loose" from a larger slick had been spotted sooner, boats could have tackled it with booms and skimmers before it hit Petit Bois.

"By God's grace, it didn't come through the pass," Barbour said. "I don't think the island was hurt one iota. (Tar balls) are all on the beach, and they should be easy to clean up with rakes and shovels, then put in bags and hauled off on Gators (four-wheeled ATVs). They're going to be cleaning areas 400 yards at a time." Oil appeared weathered Barbour and Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Director Trudy Fisher said samples of what was apparently the same oil slick, taken when it was farther south of the barrier islands, were "nontoxic." Fisher said water and weather had helped all the volatile chemicals in the oil evaporate. Barbour described the oil as "weathered, emulsified, caramel-colored mousse, like the food mousse." "Once it gets to this stage, it's not poisonous," Barbour said. "But if a small animal got coated enough with it, it could smother it. But if you got enough toothpaste on you, you couldn't breathe." Barbour said he spoke with a member of President Barack Obama's staff on Air Force One while he was on the island, after telling the administration in an early-morning conference call that oil had come ashore in Mississippi.

[Champion Jack]

1. So... why doesn't one of our brave media ask him to eat some?

On camera.

[maddezmom]

2. well, lets see him brush his teeth with it

:eyes:

[underpants]

4. That's asking a lot

I mean watching Barbour move is like seeing a pig walk

I think asking a pig to brush its teeth is a bit too much to ask

[maddezmom]

8. maybe Rush can join him with some that is on the keys

and it'll be like the 3 little pigs...

[unhappycamper]

3. Glad to hear it.

I sure hope Haley is around when the oil hits the coast; I suspect his tune will change. :shrug:

[saltpoint]

5. We should all send Governor Barbour a toothbrush.

Several hundred thousand of them arriving in his office over the next couple weeks should be a safe, harmless way of letting him know his comments are wildly irresponsible and baseless lies.

"But if you got enough toothpaste on you, you couldn't breathe." How often is that an issue with most people, exactly? And even if it were commonplace it would be a choice. The birds and fish and larger mammals in the Gulf of Mexico were just minding their own business when the explosion occurred. They had no say in their fate.

Barbour's comments are as poisonous as the toxins spewing into the sea from the BP disaster site. Shame on him.

[liberal N proud]

6. We should all send him toothbrushes and a quart of used oil

USED oil of course, don't want to supply the SOB with oil for his auto.


Anything for the love of the corporation.

[Scuba]

7. This is the same guy...

... who said slavery was a 'myth'. 'Nuff said.

[nickinSTL]

9. then I want to see him brush his teeth with it

n/t

[peekaloo]

10. Lots of tourism commercials for Miss. Gulf Coast now playing in Florida

featuring Porky (mouthing his wife's lines) extolling the pristine conditions on the Miss. shoreline. Very surreal and almost comical if it weren't for the sad fact that he's a lying sack of shit.

[Lerkfish]

11. those are paid for by BP, you know

[peekaloo]

12. That was my first comment upon seeing them.

Gov. Barwhore.

:hi:

[old mark]

13. I guess they have special "safe oil" in Misssissippi, Republican oil.....

Mint flavored.


mark

[rudy23]

14. Mr. Barbour, we're ready for your close-up. Say cheese!

MF

[Javaman]

15. Not only is there no worry, but the fish will be minty fresh!

christ, you can't make this bullshit up.

I wish someone would just stand up and say, "Are you fucked?"