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View Full Version : Bush Offers Some Good Ideas for Oil Problem


mylanta
04-25-2006, 11:26 AM
Hey I don't know who gave him the ideas, but they are right on!
http://money.cnn.com/2006/04/25/news/economy/bush_energy/index.htm
Bush seeks end to oil tax breaks
President also sets investigation into gouging, halts deposits to stockpile in bid to deal with soaring gasoline prices.
April 25, 2006: 10:45 AM EDT

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - President Bush Tuesday announced a gas-gouging probe and a halt to deposits to the nation's emergency stockpile of oil as he seeks to deal with rising oil and gasoline prices ahead of this fall's midterm elections.
"The prices that people are paying at the gas pump reflect our addiction to oil," he said in an address to an industry group in Washington.
http://www.kickenhardware.net/2006/04/25/news/economy/bush_energy/bush_apr25.03.jpg President Bush called for steps to deal with rising gasoline prices. Video http://i.cnn.net/money/.element/img/1.0/misc/plus_green.gif More video (http://www.kickenhardware.net/services/video/)
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/video/politics/2006/04/25/jr.gas.outrage.story.jpg Gas stations across the nation are shutting down until prices drop. CNN's John Roberts reports (April 25) Play video
(javascript:zwyc();cnnVideo('play','/video/politics/2006/04/25/roberts.gas.price.outrage.affl');)

The nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve is large enough to deal with any potential shortages, the president said. "By deferring the deposits to the fall, we leave more oil on the market," Bush said. "Every little bit helps."
The administration is trying to get more oil onto the market and help reduce rising gasoline prices, a senior administration official said earlier.
The president also announced that the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission would be conducting probes into energy prices, as well as helping state officials investigate whether there is price gouging taking place at the pump.
He called on Congress to expand the tax credit for hybrid vehicles, making all buyers of the fuel-efficient vehicles this year eligible for federal tax credits, rather than having caps on the number of vehicles eligible for the tax break.
He also called for a rollback in $2 billion in government assistance and tax breaks for oil companies over the next 10 years for items such as research and development for deep water drilling.
"These energy companies don't need unnecessary tax breaks," he said. "Cash flows are up, and taxpayers don't need to be paying for some of these expenses on part of energy companies."
Bush also repeated his earlier calls for speeding the permitting procedures for new gasoline refineries as well as opening the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve to oil exploration. He also pushed for greater use of alternative fuel in his address to the Renewable Fuels Association in Washington.
The president, whose ratings have fallen to the lowest of his presidency, and fellow Republicans are under pressure due to the upcoming midterm elections. http://i.cnn.net/money/images/bug.gif (http://www.kickenhardware.net/forum/#TOP)

RAK
04-25-2006, 12:26 PM
This is courtesey of The Huff Post; remember, it's an Election Year:

In the brilliant ‘80’s movie “A Fish Called Wanda”, Kevin Kline says to Jaime Lee Curtis, “don’t call me stupid”. The bad news was that the Kline character WAS stupid.

The following statement has been taken from the Bill Frist web-site:

“WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and U.S. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) today sent a joint letter to President George W. Bush urging him to direct the U.S. Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission to investigate any potential gasoline price gouging or energy market speculation that could be contributing to high gasoline prices.”

They, along with so many other Washington insiders, are saying to America, we think that you are stupid, and will not realize that we (the government) have arranged for our country to be in the horrid place we now find ourselves. How about having congress look at the laws that they have written and passed in order to determine if there have been unexpected consequences from their legislation?

DUH!

At the same time, our President (the oil guy, you do remember him), is NOW speaking out in favor of eliminating our dependence on imported oil. Where in heavens name has he been all of these years? And of course one can remember his relationship with “Kenny Boy”.

DUH!

The Congress and the administration have given the “foxes” at the energy companies the proverbial “keys to the hen house”, and are now speaking out calling for an investigation of the foxes in order to determine if they are the ones eating any chickens.

DUH!

As a nation, we all now have a new metaphor with Jack Abramoff, and the intense lobbying that has gone on in our country on behalf of “vested interests”. The people who govern us vote and legislate with their own pocketbooks in mind, and they hang out with signs around their necks that say “for sale”.

In the words of that famous philosopher Taylor, the energy guys are following their built in policy of “what’s the use of having power if you don’t abuse it,” and now all of the politicians who have “organized things” are running to the media proclaiming “the sky is falling, the sky is falling, and we are going to hold hearings to determine why”

DUH!

I only wish that I could blame the Republicans alone, but I can’t. I blame the failure of the human condition, and our system of government, that has allowed the people in Washington to be corrupted by an inherently corrupt system.

“Mr. Smith, (Jimmy Stewart), surely you did go to Washington, but sadly you did not stay there.


NORMAN HOROWITZ

RAK
04-25-2006, 01:38 PM
Just think for a moment what we witnessed today. Bush stood up in front of a phony cornfield to sing the praises of Ethanol to a group of ETHANOL LOBBYISTS! We marvel once again at the sight of our Petroleum Pusher-and Chief lecture us for being Oil-Junkies; The Great Denier of Global Warming declaring our salvation to be the easing of Enviromental Controls. Take a look at Texas lately; it's a little hard to see it clearly through the toxic cloud hanging over it. Since oil companies don't need government handouts while making obsene profits, will he issue an Executive Order repealing all the freebies and Tax Cuts they are receiving at this time? (Start holding your breath).
Hey, Rich, I just clicked on that CNN link; this one's a dooze:

Some Democrats have called for a so-called "windfall profit tax" on large oil company profits in the face of higher oil prices. Without mentioning that proposal directly, the President criticized Democratic calls for higher taxes in response to higher energy prices.

But he did call on Congress to rollback $2 billion in tax breaks for oil companies over the next 10 years for items such as write-offs for some research and development for deep water drilling.

His solution to not enough oil is to discourage companies to LOOK FOR MORE OIL! Priceless.

mylanta
04-25-2006, 03:15 PM
RAK,
Don't get me wrong here. I was only pointing out something I never thought would ever happen, and it is the first time in 5 years he has ever said anyting sane, aimed at helping solving anything so I felt I had an obligation to say, "we agree once" anyway. Assign all the motivation you want, I'm sure it's all true. Point out the ludicracy of some pronouncements, well I believe he is mentally ill so you have no problem with me there either.

RAK
04-25-2006, 04:26 PM
Liars are always liars, Rich. It's just another opportunity the screw the working class, plain and simple.

mylanta
04-25-2006, 04:33 PM
Of course...I agree. I simply want to be fair is all even if they are not.

RAK
04-25-2006, 10:41 PM
I know, it's just I trusted this guy once, after 911; and That will never happen again. And judging by his other "successes", I don't have much confidence. Hey, seen Zarqawi's new video? Pretty professional job, with even SAM missles! Yeah, we really got him on the run(Of course that assumes that he isn't really a CIA creation).
Peace, Rich.

RAK

jcampi
04-26-2006, 08:01 AM
It's about time GW thought of something proactive to do other than provide incentives to the oil companies. The GOP party line on this stuff is amazing. They complain about the environmental restrictions and the fact that there haven't been any new refinneries built in years. In fact, the oil industry most likely would not expend if they could because they like the supply to be limited as it keeps the price up. Thus profits are great. I have a bridge to sell anyone that believes gas prices are part of the free market and lined to supply and demand. There are only a few companies and no one varies by more than a few cents at the pump. The indepnedent gas stations have almost all vanished. Wouldn't you think the oil companies profits would be somewhat stable and not linked to the price of oil per barrel? The companies are just taking advance of the public and use any excuse possible to raise prices.

mylanta
04-26-2006, 08:25 AM
I get a kick out of the internet call to not buy Exxon-Mobil and all the press answering with it won't work. All the parade of experts saying it won't happen that way etc. But what I find hyterical is I have yet to see one of them explain why it won't work. You mean to tell me if no one bought Exxon-Mobil gas, it wouldn't hurt them and have a cause and effect? Give me a break! So in the mean-time, I am done buying Exxon-Mobil gas.