The hassling, detainment of photogs on the Gulf Coast is easily explained if we consider that any violation of federal statutes documented, means BP can no longer legally be a military contractor. How often are photogs stopped from documenting dead turtles? Each sea turtle coated in oil represents a violation of the Endangered Species Act of 1972. How is it we are hearing our feds are helping BP burn dead sea turtles to hide the evidence? Where does US Mil buy its oil? BP. Connect those dots folks! C’mon, keep up, kids. http://blackgulf.blogspot.com/2010/07/truth-comes-out-our-military-is-biggest.html

So the more I look at this story, and I reflect back on other stories regarding the siezure of cameras and the hassling of press by BP or on behalf of BP,  and the more I also think back to the way the message about the spill has been tightly contained, sometimes to the point of a press blackout—-Anyone else having flashbacks to the Proposed Legislation of Patriot Act II regarding EPA and Big Chemical Plants and Spills?

OMBWatch—Patriot  That the EPA would be prohibited in sharing Worst Case Scenario Information on Chemical Spills and their impacts with the Public, and of course Industry paperwork that normally would be a matter of FOIA and public record are suddenly sequestered in Reading Rooms where one is prohibited from taking notes or making copies for “Security Reasons”.
Sorry, thats what this story made me think of. The legislation failed did it not? And yet I cannot help but wonder if it wasn’t slipped in piece by piece in other later pieces of legislation.

The Police State is HERE! Hope yer all ready!!

Maureen, your cars, your ATVs and your furnace are what’s creating this in the first place. We all need to look a little closer to home before berating big business for producing the fuel we crave.

@simone

I take it you are a vegan off-gridder who walks everywhere, does not buy anything from corporations and who offsets all internet use emissions and any other “unavoidable” polluting activities by supporting carbon reduction projects pro rata to the tonnage of CO2 and pollution your lifestyle emits?

No?

Then shut it.

Know your rights. You never have to let a police officer see pictures. You can legally and lawfully refuse. Demand they get a warrant. Is also not legal for them to give third parties the pictures taken from public just because it is of a “sensitive” area.

Amazing as I read these comments. People talk. The sheeple still sleep. Basically when the words come to me, “Talk is Cheap”. This is going to take more than words. Something truly needs to change here. When asked “Would you give your life for your belief?”, Would you? Most truly wouldn’t. They always have excuses. That is why this has happened in the country. We are a country of excesses and the price is our family and children’s future. The Gulf is only the latest atrocity. When did American’s ever have to rely on someone else to come to our aid? Some day, someone else isn’t going to do it. Then who do you have?

Did the Fourth Amendment get suspended when nobody was looking?

They have the right to detain and search this individual. What about if this individual was from the Middle East, would everyone feel that same?

The FACT is after Sept. 11, DON’T TRUST ANYONE!

“They have the right to detain and search this individual. What about if this
individual was from the Middle East, would everyone feel that same?

The FACT is after Sept. 11, DON’T TRUST ANYONE!”

So now we’re advocating profiling?

We get what we pay for. We want to drive our HEMI SUV’s wherever and whenever we want. We also want to drive our boats, ATV’s, off road vehicles, whatever, whenever, wherever. But we are offended by BP and their pals? Wake up! WE ARE OUR OWN WORST ENEMIES! Only we can change this nightmare. I read about the local police bracing a photographer citing national security? These morons couldn’t deal with a runny nose much less a national security issue! I don’t get it. Have we become this stupid or have we always been? Are we entrusting our safety to a bunch of Texan dumbshit cops?

T o Tom McElvy:-
YEAH!!