A few days ago Politico ran a Chuck Schumer dog and pony story as Senate democrats summoned oil company executives to Congress so they could use them as punching bags.
Chuck Schumer: Democrats to aim at gas prices
Senate Democrats this summer will roll out their recipe for dealing with high gasoline prices, emphasizing conservation and alternative energy to wean the nation off oil.
The plan will come up sometime after the Memorial Day recess, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer told reporters Wednesday.
“In June and July, we will be introducing legislation that will promote conservation, that will promote alternative energy and that will do many things to reduce the price,” said Schumer, the Senate’s No. 3 Democrat. “That is a long-term issue.”
Then he said
“But the only way that we’re going to get the price down at the pump — you know it and I know it — is by having a long-term plan to reduce our dependency on foreign oil and on the Big Five oil companies,” he said.
He apparently missed the memo from Obama in which Obama promised to substitute foreign oil from the Mideast with foreign oil from Brazil. The he and his colleagues proved that there is nothing so stupid as a democrat politician:
Schumer and four other Senate Democrats spoke Wednesday at an ExxonMobil gas station on Capitol Hill to make the argument that Exxon and the four other biggest oil companies should give up billions of dollars in annual tax incentives. The lawmakers stood in front of a sign promoting prices well over $4 a gallon.
Thus once again perpetuating the lie that oil companies have any control over oil prices. Democrats are either total idiots or complete liars. Take your pick. Then, just to shove their contempt for the American intellect right up your nose, they blathered:
Democrats acknowledge that that bill would not lower gas prices, but they have rejected critics’ arguments that repealing the incentives would hurt production and raise prices. The Democrats point to the companies’ healthy first quarter profits as evidence that they don’t need the help.
Then other democrats added their voices:
CHAIRMAN BAUCUS: Our Bill ‘Is Not Going To Change The Price At The Gasoline Pump’
SEN. MAX BAUCUS (D-MT): “You know, this is not going to change the price at the gasoline pump. That’s not the issue. I don’t see that as an issue at all. The issue I see is who shares.” (U.S. Senate, Finance Committee, Hearing, 5/12/11)
SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D-LA): “It will not reduce gasoline prices by one penny.” “I would just like to add my strong voice to urging my colleagues to read this bill, to look at it and understand the inherent unfairness in it, the lack of significant deficit reduction, and the fact that it will not, although it is being touted as, it will not reduce gasoline prices by one penny.” (Sen. Landrieu, Floor Remarks, 5/11/11)
SEN. MARK BEGICH (D-AK): “It won’t decrease prices at the pump.” “There is a lot of talk right now about ending tax incentives for oil and gas industry, but the high profits right now of these companies are easy targets. But one thing Alaskans know, just because you have an easy target doesn’t mean it is the right thing to shoot. It won’t decrease prices at the pump for our families and small businesses. It will discourage companies, especially the independents, from domestic investment and job creation.” (Sen. Begich, Floor Remarks, 5/11/11)
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): “This was never intended to talk about lowering prices.” (CNN’s “The Situation Room,” 5/11/11)
SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ (D-NJ): “Nobody has made the claim that this bill is about reducing gas prices.” (“McCaskill: Savings From Cutting Oil Tax Breaks Should Be For Deficit Reduction,” The Hill’s E2 Wire Blog, 5/10/11)
So let’s recap: democrats are introducing a legislation to reduce the price of oil except that it will do nothing to reduce the price of oil. Specifically, when Schumer said the legislation would “do many things to reduce the price” what he meant was “This was never intended to talk about lowering prices.”
OK, I think I have it now. Democrats are going to deal with high gas prices by doing nothing about high gas prices.
As for those high gas prices, they are exactly what the Obama administration said they wanted. I just don’t know how anyone can respect a democrat.
I heard an interesting pair of facts:
For EVERY gallon of gasoline sold in the USA the oil company (from station to refiner to producer) makes $0.07.
For EVERY gallon of gasoline sold in the USA our government (from city to county to state to federal) gets $0.88.
Who is gouging the American people?
Looks to me that they are trying to put enough squeeze on the oils companies that one or more will bail on US operations — allowing the Feds (read bho and his behind the scenes Chi-town and niew yook shitty mafias and mo bros in SA ) to start nationalizing the US oil and fuel production and distribution systems — it was one of our main strengths in WW2. Make no mistake — a large portion of the Demo party is working for the international socialists — keep your powder dry.
NanG, yes, the total profit on a gallon of gas is $0.07. But the federal government rakes in 18.4 cents for every gallon you buy. And if you want to know how much the tax is in your state, here is a chart:
http://www.commonsensejunction.com/notes/gas-tax-rate.html
Now the government also rakes in billions of $$ by leases and lease permits. And remember, the federal government does NOTHING to earn that money but make the lives of the oil companies miserable.
The problem is that there is is that if you combined all the Democrats together in one person, you could not find someone who understands economics. They talk about all the “profits” that oil companies make, but back in the 80′s, when the oil market crashed and oil companies operated at a loss, you never heard a peep out of the Dems then. Oooooh, but the oil companies are such easy targets. But here is the truth of the matter: the more product you sell, the more money you will earn. Econ 101. So while GE made $14.5 billion in profit just last quarter, and paid NO tax, the Demos will continue to pound on an industry that employs 2 million people in Texas alone. GE employs very few in the U.S. due to having off-shored their entire production.
It is impossible to respect any group that distorts the truth about anything. The Obama administration along with MSM has told so many lies no one can believe anything they say. Their opinion on oil companies are they are the big evil. If we tax then into oblivion the public will be better off. They do not care that high fuel prices effect everyone. If one believes just because they don’t drive they are not effected, they are only fooling their selves. After it takes petroleum to haul in Wal-Marts ware from China, and we all shop at Wal-Mart
Dee
Stunning isn’t it? This is why the Liberals wind up with bill(s) that are 2000 + pages…they have to incorporate hundreds of pages of double speak…
Evidently the Democrats were for the high gas prices before they were against the high gas prices… Err, something like that.
Hey Senator Kerry, help me out on this one, wouldja?
Another good reason to lack respect for Democrats is that they promised to have a budget by yesterday…..but they still have not got one.
We are at 744 days late.
That’s how long ago Democrats in the Senate last brought forth their own budget.
The Congressional Quarterly published a report indicating that the Senate Democrat Budget (that cannot even get out of the Democrat-led Senate Budget Committee) had even fewer savings than advertised – cutting only $1.5 trillion over the course of 10 years.
Sheesh!
Yet another excellent reason not to respect Democrats is their new proposal ….. to remove the “Advise and Consent” Function of Senate for Numerous Federal Appointments!
Chuck Schumer is ostensibly behind this.
Schumer proposes to let the president appoint people to these positions:
without explicit prior oversight.
The sheer possibilities for graft and bribery here are colossal – and that’s before we even get to the possibilities for covert policy implementation.
Sheesh!
Again!
@retire05:
Roads and highways don’t come cheap: Generic Cost Per Mile Models
Does anyone know how to build roads and highways without collecting taxes to pay for them?