Pelosi to Bush on gas: A little help, please

[Algorem]

Source: Baltimore Sun




Posted April 22, 2008 7:08 PM
The Swamp

by Matthew Hay Brown

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, under fire from House Republicans for failing to contain rising gas prices, is appealing to President Bush for help.

In a letter today, the California Democrat asks Bush to direct the Justice Department to investigate oil cartel price-fixing, authorize the Federal Trade Commission to pursue and punish "price gougers," end tax breaks for oil companies and invest the savings in renewable energy.

"Lastly, your administration must use the authority given to it by the Congress to end market manipulation," Pelosi writes. "We cannot wait to act in the face of these price increases."

The letters appears to be a response, of sorts, to a campaign by the House Republican Conference accusing Democrats of breaking a promise to contain gas prices. Yesterday, they were calling the increase at the pump since Democrats took control of Congress last year the "Pelosi Premium."...



Read more: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/04/pelosi_to_bush_on_gas_a_little.html

[MikeNearMcChord]

1. How the %$^ is the gas prices Pelosi's fault?

The problem is with two oilmen at the top of the chain.

[orangerevolution]

2. We need to get the Big Oil Subsidies

rolled back after President Obama or President Clinton takes office. They can work with the Democratic congress to do so.

[seriousstan]

4. April 24, 2006, Pelosi said, “Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas

In a press release dated April 24, 2006, Pelosi said, “Democrats have a commonsense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices by cracking down on price gouging, rolling back the billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies, tax breaks and royalty relief given to big oil and gas companies, and increasing production of alternative fuels.” The letter cited policies put in place during the GOP control of Congress that the Speaker claimed had raised prices on American consumers to benefit oil companies.

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/house-gop-challenges-pelosi-for-gas-price-plan-2008-04-22.html

[TheDebbieDee]

3. Those repuke ba$tards have a helluva lot of nerve!

Everybody knows that gas prices are high because the oil companies have been gouging the American public while their bought and paid for pResident looks the other way!

I wish Speaker Pelosi had felt strong enough to speak the truth to those republiscum!

[TommyO]

5. Most likely, this investigation is off the table, as far as Bush is concerned.

[skyounkin]

6. Jesus

Why don't you end the fucking war Pelosi?! How fucking hard it that? That will solve a lot of problems! I hope your ass gets booted out in Nov. I really really do. You have been absolutely and completely worthless!

Sorry- you made you own bed now you can lie in it. You lacked courage to everything this administration has done and then when you get accused of rising gas prices you whine to king george?? WTF?!!

Grow a spine and use small words to explain to the rethugs that it's their war, their probelm with the gas.

You have been the biggest disappointment since Kerry dropped out back in 2004.

[natrat]

7. end the war? no she writes another blank check

[kimmylavin]

8. WTF?

"under fire from House Republicans"

No doubt the self same Republicans who would have fought (or have been fighting) tooth and nail to keep a SINGLE reform from passing.

[newburgh]

9. Pelosi begs the person responsible for and benefiting from the high prices to help,

yet she does nothing to get rid of him. Gotta agree with the Republicans on this one- just not for the same reason.

[unkachuck]

10. oh shut up, nancy....

....you ain't going to do shit....save your political breath....

....we've been waiting two years for you to wean yourself from the corporate interest teat and do the speakers job for the people....and where's the beef, nancy?

....I've seen no discernible difference in my life since you've become speaker....as a matter of fact, things have gotten worse....

....how about you, dear reader?....have you gotten any big thing you've hoped for from this Democratic House and Senate?....I didn't think so....

....c'mon nancy, admit it, you suck!

[rhett o rick]

11. Watch out for what u ask for Nancy. If Georgie gives any help it will be to the oil companies. nm

[jeff30997]

12. Gee!

It's like asking th wolf to tell his buddies not to eat the sheep.

[truthisfreedom]

13. Interesting way to publically turn the tables on the 'thugs. I hope she does more, though.

I hope she finds a way to rub their noses in what they've done.

[lonestarnot]

14. Just what the fuck is wrong with her? Is she nuts toooooooooo?

[orleans]

15. she is such an ASSWIPE! you mean it takes a bunch of fucking

republicans to shame her into DOING SOMETHING??

i can't believe she bothered responding. i mean, she has ignored all of us for two damn years! why do those pigs get her attention and get her off her ass and she just turns her back on democrats and the demolition of the constitution?

[Baby Snooks]

16. Who gave the oil companies all the power to begin with?

The Republicans gave the oil companies the power to begin with and now have the gall to blame the Democrats?

And of course it's the Democrats who are the reason why we are dependent on foreign oil. We have enough oil. The Democrats won't let us drill.

And of course the Republicans believe that Exxon-Mobil and the others would give us a discount on "our" oil. They still don't understand it is no longer "our" oil. It belongs to whoever owns the lease. Which in most cases around the country is Exxon-Mobil. And they screw the landowners on their royalties just like they do everyone else.

The oligarchy is called the oilgarchy for good reason. Oil is what funds the oligarchy. Nationalization is not such a bad thing. As Americans will probably discover over the course of the summer as prices at the pump move quicly from $4 a gallon to $5 a gallon.

And of course it will stay high through Novemeber. So the Republicans can blame the Democrats and get everyone all fired up and turning out in record numbers to get rid of the Democrats.

Hopefully someone will get rid of Nancy Pelosi. The Empress. Serving her Emperor. And his oil companies.

[Amonester]

17. to which one of those fckups can we send this pic:

[Javaman]

18. give it up nancy, your faux show of concern is appalling. nt

[poppysgal]

19. a day late

and many dollars short, but I guess finally doing something is better than never doing anything at all. :think:

[donkeyotay]

20. It's a pretty good letter, points out that bush threatens vetoes

against Democratic solutions. But it assumes an attitude of we're all in this together, when we're obviously not. Pretending that the American people can do business with Business misses the same set of facts boosh misses when he chalks the whole problem up to We're Not Drilling in ANWR. Consider: the Repos insisted on packing our economy up and shipping it to China. Not too surprisingly, the Chinese are seeing their standard of living rise, and are buying cars. They now compete with unemployed Americans for that resource. Not only do they have jobs, but their currency is increasing in value, while the Republican Brain Trust has destroyed ours. When Repos told Americans they had to "compete," they didn't just mean your lifestyle would have to fall, but you'd also have to compete globally for resources. It's a twofer, your income goes down while the cost of everything goes up.

None of this stopped the GOP Brain Trust from deciding you could also pay for a war or two. War put a premium into the oil market, one which no one can see any reason to cancel. So, you not only pay this premium, but you compete with the Pentagon's increased demand for oil. On top of that, boosh is still filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve - and using our taxes, he doesn't care if he pays $5/gal. So, even though you've cut your consumption, the demand doesn't go down much if at all because these other consumers take up the slack.

This is what you and your constituents get for this go along to get along leadership.