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Obama Says He Would Impose Oil Windfall Profits Tax (He Supports Failed Carter Policies Of The Past
Reuters ^ | 6/9/2008 | Staff

Posted on 06/18/2008 12:47:12 PM PDT by Laissez-faire capitalist

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Monday he would impose a windfall profits tax on U.S. oil companies as he sought political gain from Americans' pain over high gasoline prices...

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: barackobama; carter; democrats; election; electionpresident; elections; energy; jimmycarter; mccain; obama; obamatruthfile; obamatuthfile; oil; reuters; taxes; windfallprofitstax
Obama hasn't just considered a windfall profits tax like John McCain. Obama has supported a windfall profits tax on oil for quite some time. And not just a tax on oil profits, either. Obama wants to tax the hell out of natural gas and coal, too. When oil companies were hit with windfall profits taxes in the past, they reduced oil production in the US and shifted production elsewhere. The result sucked then, and it would suck again under Obama.

Obama supports failed Carter policies of the past - and not just these, either - there are many more.

Jimmy carter's policies were an economic disaster of epic proportions that this country felt for quite some time.

And I don't think Americans want to wait 8 yars to get relief from those kinds of policies again, either.

Obama hits McCain with the canard that he supports "failed policies of the past."

Obama, though, need only look in the mirror to see the one who really supports failed policies of the past.

1 posted on 06/18/2008 12:52:11 PM PDT by Laissez-faire capitalist
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To: All

Ok, got the memo on the AP.

Will go with it.

Would have been nice to see the other thread through to the end, because Obama has really opened himself up politically on this, just as with his canards of “Bush 3rd term,” Obama will reach across party lines, etc. I pointed those out and exposed them too.

But the Admin Moderator calls the shots. I can go with that, too.

Gotta go for today.

Have fun.


2 posted on 06/18/2008 12:55:02 PM PDT by Laissez-faire capitalist (Keep working! Welfare cases and their liberal enablers are counting on you!)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

A lot of people want to see it - not knowing that we, the consumers will pay the tax. Corporations don’t pay taxes - it’s passed on to the consumer as a cost of doing business.


3 posted on 06/18/2008 12:55:44 PM PDT by R. Scott (Humanity i love you because when you're hard up you pawn your Intelligence to buy a drink)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

The question is, is he just stupid and economically illiterate, having been taught by too many Marxists? Or is he more likely smart—hoping to wreck the oil industry, worsen the crisis, and make political hay from the resulting emergency?

I think he’s pretty smart, in an evil sort of way. Marxists SAY that they are helping the poor and oppressed, but their real purpose is to seize their countries, quell all opposition, and drive the people into the ground where they can be most usefully manipulated by their masters.

This has happened too many times, in too many places, to be accidental.


4 posted on 06/18/2008 12:57:54 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

Somebody on Fox this AM pointed out that Coke makes more profit on its product as a percentage of sales than oil does. Simply put, we sell more oil than we do coke.

.....Bob


5 posted on 06/18/2008 12:58:15 PM PDT by Lokibob (Some people are like slinkys. Useless, but if you throw them down the stairs, you smile.)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist
Name one single Liberal/Democrat/Marxist government plan, program, or policy that has been a “success”.... thought so....
6 posted on 06/18/2008 12:58:55 PM PDT by xcamel (Being on the wrong track means the unintended consequences express train doesnt kill you going by)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist
Ok, got the memo on the AP.

Thank you :)

7 posted on 06/18/2008 12:59:03 PM PDT by rabscuttle385
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

It makes sense that Obama supports the Cahtah idiocy. After all, they are both anti-American friends of our enemies.

What is really surreal and sad .....is how far down this country has sunk when someone like Obama (and Carter) can even get that close to making decisions that will negatively impact the USA. Our fore-fathers must be turning over and screaming in their graves at this travesty.


8 posted on 06/18/2008 1:00:32 PM PDT by XenaLee
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

McCain is the candidate of change on this issue. Obama supports things that have been tried and failed in the past: taxes on oil companies, government ordered conservation, alternative energy subsidies.

The only thing that hasn’t been tried is drilling, and now McCain supports that, so he is the candidate of change, and Obama is adhering to the failed policies of the past (and present).

Yes, Obama is right that drilling won’t provide relief for another 10 years, but neither will excess profits taxes, conservation, and alternative fuels. In fact, those things won’t provide relief at all, as proven by the fact that they have failed to provide results after 30 years already.

The Democrats have had their way on energy, and the result is gasoline at $4.50 a gallon. If Clinton had not vetoed the plan to drill at ANWR which was passed in the 90’s, we would not now be having this problem. If the Democrats had approved Bush’s plan to drill back when he made it 7.5 years ago, we would not now be having this problem.

Of course, even before Bush was sworn in, the Democrats made clear that they would never let him govern, and the carried out their promise. Having done so, this problem is their fault.

We can either get to work fixing their foolish mistake (or intentional malice) now, or we can wait, as Obama would have us do. If we wait, then we will be paying $20 a gallon for gasoline in 10 years, and Obama will be saying the same thing at that time: It won’t get to the pumps for another 10 years.


9 posted on 06/18/2008 1:03:50 PM PDT by Brilliant
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

If the Repubs cannot make this issue work against Obama and the Democrats, they deserve to fail. Sad to say.


10 posted on 06/18/2008 1:04:54 PM PDT by Attention Surplus Disorder ()OK. We're still working on your ones.)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

To my undying shame I voted for that jackass Jimmy Carter.

I was young, stupid, and drunk much of the time.


11 posted on 06/18/2008 1:07:04 PM PDT by Mikey_1962 (Just a typical white guy: clinging to my guns, my religion, and my antipathy...)
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To: Attention Surplus Disorder

At least we now see some clear differences - McCain has proposed some details about an energy policy, Obama simply wants higher taxes on fuel. Will the American people notice? Will the MSM report it?


12 posted on 06/18/2008 1:07:37 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

No more windfall taxes!


13 posted on 06/18/2008 1:08:05 PM PDT by Earthdweller
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To: Attention Surplus Disorder

I wonder if these threats have anything to do with Exxon getting out of the retail market. Maybe they just want to focus their assets on producing and refining oil, but maybe they want to reduce their visibility.


14 posted on 06/18/2008 1:08:30 PM PDT by Oldexpat
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

Tax and Spend Obama PING.


15 posted on 06/18/2008 1:09:53 PM PDT by WOSG (http://no-bama.blogspot.com/ - co-bloggers wanted!)
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To: Lokibob

Yeah, Coke’s profit margin is 11.8%. That’s with all the advertising they do, as well, obviously.


16 posted on 06/18/2008 1:10:25 PM PDT by CaspersGh0sts
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To: Cicero

Nah, I believe he’s dumb AND a Marxist.

He’d speak better extemporaneously if he were the evil genius that you give him credit for.

Someone that IS an evil genius is propping this puppet up, though.


17 posted on 06/18/2008 1:10:41 PM PDT by MrB (You can't reason people out of a position that they didn't use reason to get into in the first place)
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To: xcamel

The correlary of your post:

Name one problem that we face today that ISN’T the result of, or exacerbated by, some liberal policy.


18 posted on 06/18/2008 1:11:44 PM PDT by MrB (You can't reason people out of a position that they didn't use reason to get into in the first place)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist
"But the point is, the oil companies have got to be more participatory in alternate energy, in sharing their profits in a variety of ways"
- Comrade Juan McNuts,

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=/Politics/archive/200806/POL20080612a.html

19 posted on 06/18/2008 1:35:18 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie (McCain / Kerry '08! ************* McCain's Dream Ticket, only the names have been reversed)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

SOMEBODY...........PLEASE! Tell these idiots the definition of “Windfall Profits!”

Businesses who achieve a profit by supplying a need, do not qualify!


20 posted on 06/18/2008 1:35:56 PM PDT by gidget7 (Duncan Hunter-Valley Forge Republican!)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

His pals in Hollywood, who make billions from that industry, will they face a windfalls tax - or how about Clinton’s friends in the hedge fund business who make billions literally gambling every year...

What a bunch of losers the democraps are.


21 posted on 06/18/2008 1:37:30 PM PDT by Beatthedrum
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To: gidget7

The only “Windfall Profit” from Oil is the one the government gets.


22 posted on 06/18/2008 1:41:38 PM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

IMPOSE? He would IMPOSE?

Does he think he’s running for Dictator? He wouldn’t have to work with the Congress?

He’s an empty suited idiot.


23 posted on 06/18/2008 1:42:36 PM PDT by savedbygrace (SECURE THE BORDERS FIRST (I'M YELLING ON PURPOSE))
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

An Obama presidency would, indeed, be the 2nd Carter term. He surrounds himself with Carterites and Clintonoids. We are headed for a train wreck with this guy, unfortunately, McMecha is hardly better, though enough that he will probably get my vote.


24 posted on 06/18/2008 1:44:40 PM PDT by attiladhun2 (Obama is the anti-Reagan, instead of opposing the world's tyrants, he wants to embrace them)
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To: massgopguy

To borrow a phrase from the Rats: “We can’t tax our way out of this.”


25 posted on 06/18/2008 1:49:18 PM PDT by csmusaret (John McCain is the evil of two lessers)
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To: Brilliant

BO’s logic about energy policy is illogic. He says we can’t drill our way out of this oil crisis because it will take 5 years, but that technology that will take more than 5 years to develop, and may not even be viable, will?


26 posted on 06/18/2008 1:54:03 PM PDT by attiladhun2 (Obama is the anti-Reagan, instead of opposing the world's tyrants, he wants to embrace them)
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To: MrB

Soros is the one moving the lips for this dummy.


27 posted on 06/18/2008 1:57:48 PM PDT by attiladhun2 (Obama is the anti-Reagan, instead of opposing the world's tyrants, he wants to embrace them)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist
Exactly how would someone calculate what a "windfall profits tax" is? Do they go by percentage of profit? Do they go by total $ amount (in this case, would the IRS get taxed since they collect a buttload of $ for not doing a goddamn thing), or would they go by "product?"

If it's by product, is that raw material or finished product. If finished product, does that include byproducts of oil (i.e., plastics?). Can of worms

So then they just get down to brass tacks and say Exxon, Shell, BP, etc....we gonna bugger you specifically..give us your profits....

Why don't they go after Microsoft, Apple, and Intel? They make profits, probably more on a percent basis than Big Oil....

I think if these cretins (politicians) get their "windfall profits taxes," it should be in 'crude' and they should have to drink the damned stuff....either that or they should be the recipients of a very 'tres chique' enema.....

28 posted on 06/18/2008 2:05:28 PM PDT by Gaffer
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To: Oldexpat

“I wonder if these threats have anything to do with Exxon getting out of the retail market. Maybe they just want to focus their assets on producing and refining oil, but maybe they want to reduce their visibility.”

Could be both or either; my understanding is that the retail gas biz is flat out a complete POS. Apart from the crappy margins, one of these days, if you’re the property owner, you’re gonna get hit for mid-six-figures and a year offline for a remedial tank-leak digout and repair. That’s a heck of a long time at 8 cents a gallon.

This (drilling our own oil) is an issue that can be reduced to a third or fourth grade understanding. “Make it so”. Democrats traditionally win elections working from weak economic conditions by promising nirvana, and they will win this election if they can make themselves the antidote to the current economic malaise. If they do it by successfully conjuring meaningless platitudes about nonexistent alternative sources; If the Repubs cannot overcome this lamebrain BS scam; if this issue is not made to resonate with the sheeple: Then the Repubs will have failed and failed miserably. And much as I detest the Dems, they will have deserved to lose.


29 posted on 06/18/2008 2:12:13 PM PDT by Attention Surplus Disorder ()OK. We're still working on your ones.)
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To: Lokibob

Except to Larry Sinclar.


30 posted on 06/18/2008 2:22:53 PM PDT by ljco (I think the best possible social program is a job. - The Gipper)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

What a bunch of god damed fools we presently have in congress. I hope we all remember them when they seek office again.


31 posted on 06/18/2008 2:24:53 PM PDT by ronnie raygun (IF YOU ARE NOT CONSERVATIVE BY 35 YOU HAVE NO BRAIN. W CHURCHILL)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

Democrats’ solution to the high gas prices -
Do Nothing, and raise Taxes!

Hey - That would be a great bumper sticker!


32 posted on 06/18/2008 3:26:50 PM PDT by Gumdrop
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To: massgopguy

Precisely!


33 posted on 06/18/2008 4:37:41 PM PDT by gidget7 (Duncan Hunter-Valley Forge Republican!)
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To: Beatthedrum

http://www.publicradio.org/tools/media/player/start/00:09:21.0/end/00:11:38.0/marketplace/2005/11/08_mpp.ram

This is from 2005, I believe.

One of Obama’s biggest campaign contributers is Goldman Sachs. Funny how Obama’s campaign is all about wealth redistibrution.

From free college educations for all kids/young adults to free health care for the poor. This same old class warfare BS is straight out of every Marxist book and website. Obama’s “collectivism” is nothing new to commies. Do not let his PR agencies or his prepared sales pitch fool anyone.

I have no idea, who Obama’s ecomonic advisers are, but; they
have forgotten the basics of econonics and the dangers of waging war with the wealthy. When Obama’s wealthy supporters speak- the truth remains silent. Obama’s supporters do not know the difference between what Obama and pals want to seize and what they really possess. They want to seize power, which is an entirely different subject.

Which party cast the deciding vote on NAFTA? Who vetoed drilling in ANWR?

Obama is much like Carter. Carter is great at building homes for the poor with other people’s money. I have yet to ascertain anything about Obama, except his hate for what most Americans hold dear. He makes a bookie look like a piker. I guess we all get get a wide screem TV and no electriciy if he cannot rob all the rich.


34 posted on 06/18/2008 4:56:52 PM PDT by Lumper20
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To: ronnie raygun

The Democrat Party runs the media and only good things can be said about the Great Obamba. Repeat these things: McCain is like Bush, McCain is like Bush...McCain is Old, McCain is Old....Obamba is Change, Obamba is Change...you are getting sleepy...now open your eyes!


35 posted on 06/18/2008 5:51:27 PM PDT by FreedBird
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To: MrB

I agree that he’s not the brightest bulb in the pack. BUT. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to follow the Marxist scenario. Mostly it takes training in the ideology and the methodology, which he has had, and it takes a certain amount of hatred and contemp of other people, so you enjoy wrecking their lives in the process of gaining power.

I’m not sure how bright George Orwell’s pigs were, but they knew what they wanted, and they set out ruthlessly to get it.


36 posted on 06/18/2008 7:09:25 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Laissez-faire capitalist

Absolutely devastating to the lower income American....


37 posted on 06/18/2008 7:17:15 PM PDT by Fred (The Democrat Party is the Nadir of Nilhilism)
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