Jeremy LangleyMy website for the random times when I blog

I was a bit under the weather today, so I spent some of my time watching the Congressional testimony of BP CEO Tony Hayward. Before it began, the thought of BP’s leader being buried by Congressmen excited me, but after I watched about 5 minutes of this grandstanding, I was disgusted by the people we have elected to Congress. They made me ashamed. They embarrassed me.

Here’s what got me first: Many of the Congressmen wouldn’t even give the guy a chance to answer their questions. They would ask, and when he got two words into his response, they would interrupt with a follow-up question accusing him of refusing to answer. It was absolutely clear that these politicians were being just that. They were playing politics with a very serious topic. They weren’t concerned about how the groups could work together to come to a reasonable conclusion. They were interested in seeing how much of a show they could put on for the folks back home. Even my own representative, Congressman Mike Ross (D-Presskit), failed in my opinion. (Yes, I know it’s actually Prescott, but don’t get me started about the land of the Squirrelly Wolves… I mean Curley Wolves.) I would have liked to seen things done a little differently.

The Congressmen wanted to blame Hayward, as if he were personally responsible for the disaster. He kept trying to get it through their thick skulls that as CEO is he not a part of every decision that is made within the company. That makes perfect sense. Here is an analogy: Do you think Bobby Petrino, head football coach at the University of Arkansas, calls UA System President Alan Sugg to clear a play before it is called? No, he doesn’t. No chief executive is involved in EVERY decision.

The members of the committee kept asking Hayward if he had fired anyone yet. Hayward continually told them that someone may end up getting fired, but to date, the investigation is ongoing. They don’t want to jump to any conclusions. What ever happened to due process? Apparently, the members of Congress do not believe in basic human rights.

Congress should be taking some of the heat, too. Who passed the law that said permits must be granted within 30 days? Congress. This law removes the ability to conduct environmental impact studies. They should examine themselves before they start blaming others.

So, cut Tony Hayward some slack. He seems to be trying to do the right thing.