Seeking the fixers, but they R us (Wes Pruden on gas prices and politicians)

The Washington Times ^ | 4-28-06 | Wesley Pruden

[smoothsailing]

Seeking the fixers, but they R us

By Wesley Pruden

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Published April 28, 2006

Nobody knows more about gas production than a senator, but there's a difference in "gasbaggery" and "refining gasoline." Nothing illustrates the difference more eloquently than the panic of the politicians over the price of a gallon of gasoline.     

A vice president of Exxon Mobil was so miserable at lunch the other day that he could barely deal with his swordfish steak, so great was the cloud of gloom and fog of melancholia hovering over our table. "Today's news is bad enough," he said of the punditry mocking the $400 million retirement package for the departing chairman of his company. "But tomorrow will be worse. We'll be reporting $10 billion quarterly earnings."    

 This is where we've come to in America, circa 2006. Black ink bad, red ink not so bad. The unfortunate man from Big Oil might envy his counterparts at Big Air, who can take ease in financial collapse and comfort in bankruptcy at our major airline companies. You do have to wonder how anyone can spend a $400 million retirement, with only so many years left to buy so many sports cars, yachts and villas in the south of France stocked with randy blondes, sultry brunettes and eager redheads. But it's nevertheless true that unless he gets a middle seat for a flight to L.A., nobody's mad at a vice president at Delta or United.

[RobbyS]

Pruden nails it.

[smoothsailing]

Pruden nails it.

This was fun:

  Dennis Hastert, the speaker of the House, and Bill Frist, the leader of the Republican majority in the Senate, have clearly been Schumerized and Pelosified. They're demanding that President Bush, a refugee from Little Oil, sic the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department on the likes of Exxon Mobil, Shell, Texaco and maybe even Spur, Hess and Sheetz in hopes of finding fixers and gougers.

LOL!

[singfreedom]

Thank you, Mr. Pruden, for your eloquent defense of our oil companies, some of the most successful large businesses in the world. No person, politician or pundit, said a word when, a few years ago, oil prices fell to $10 a barrel and oil companies were struggling to make ends meet.

Clinton (incredibly)is the one who gave oil companies authority to merge, making their businesses more efficient and better able to compete with the huge nationally owned companies. That's right, most countries own their oil companies. We are one of the very few countries where, true to capitalism, our oil companies are owned by shareholders.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

In the quarter where they berate big oil, I would like to know how much free and clear dollars the government made in that same quarter. This would include all taxes at the pump and well head royalties from both the feds and states?


The government never invests a cent of the pols money or run a risk, yet they suck up the same taxes be it a buck or three dollars a gallon.

And they do such a wonderful job upgrading and maintaining our roads. /S

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

"Thank you, Mr. Pruden, for your eloquent defense of our oil companies, some of the most successful large businesses in the world. No person, politician or pundit, said a word when, a few years ago, oil prices fell to $10 a barrel and oil companies were struggling to make ends meet."

I was there in oil patch when it fell apart in the late 80's. Hundreds of thousands lost their jobs, drilling and exploration came to a screeching halt, companies closed or went bankrupt by the hundreds. Hey, cheap oil, government and the rest of the gasoline consuming nation gave naught but one big collective YAWN to their plight.

We don't call it the oil patch without reason. The petroleum industry is like farming, you have good years, and bad years, without the good years, they can't tide it out over the bad ones.

For those who knock the petroleum industry, in the oil patch we have a name for slackers and know nothings, "WORM."

[wildcatf4f3]

i look forward to every piece this man writes

[JLAGRAYFOX]

It really is amusing when a commentator like Wes Pruden knows more about a problem then the entire US Senate and House. All one had to do is listen to the recent interview between Senator Dick Durbin and Neil Cavuto of Fox News. Durbin borders on idiot/moron status, and knows absolutely nothing about energy problems whatsoever. Of course, the entire Democrat Party is in the same boat, but sad to say so are many Republicans. However, "our" representatives in DC only get that way because we, the people, allow it. The culprit on energy is the American people/voter. The majority of the nation is asleep at the wheel on this and many other critical path issues. Me, I listen to not one bitch or complaint I hear coming from the mouths of upset pwople concerning the high cost of gasoline. You sat by and let the Democrats stop any actions to drill for new oil, now live with what your stupid butts have wrought by your own hand. This oil "thing" is a rose garden compared to what's coming for themselves and their families via Bin Laden and his ilk. Just let the Democrats get back into power, and a bit down the road uncontested open season will begin for the American public. Time is short, so you better get with the "real" world. The barbarians are storming at the gate and the Democrat Party is poised to let them in without any hinderance whatsoever.

[G.Mason]

" ... You do have to wonder how anyone can spend a $400 million retirement, with only so many years left to buy so many sports cars, yachts and villas in the south of France stocked with randy blondes, sultry brunettes and eager redheads."

I just love the sound of male chauvinists early in the morning. (or any other time)

[RobbyS]

You mean he is not going to give it all away and retire to a monastery?

[Alkhin]

What gets me is that idiots are running around screeching "Bush helps Big Oil" - - and yet if that were true, Bush would have spent the first few months unleasing the restrictions on the oil companies to build new refineries and my husband would be complaining that he can't work the overtime he would have. As it is, though, President Bush is sucking up to the envirowhacks and pushing forward more ridiculous and stupid "clean air" restrictions and hasnt done a DAMN thing to make it easier for the oil companies to build more refineries...and my husband is thinking of a career change, cause theres only so much money that can be made repairing the same damn ones over and over again.

I just want to punch the lights out of those who say Bush is helping "Big Oil." Idiots on the left, cowards on the right.