Good news. Obama says Justice Dep't will check to see if there is price gouging by oil companies.

[Cal33]

It seems he is working hard to win back the confidence and votes of those on
the left he has alienated. Now that he is running for his second term, he
seems to be not only talking tougher, but also acting it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42699556/ns/politics-decision_2012/

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Well then, we're all set. Grate news!

Thanks.

[KG]

2. 'if'?

[golddigger]

3. Hahahaha!

[Cal33]

5. You wouldn't be laughing if we had to pay close to $6/gal like

they do in Germany. But then, all Germans enjoy benefits like coverage for
health insurance, job-loss insurance, etc. Also their income taxes are
higher than ours. Of course, they do get back a lot for what they pay out.
Also, they have the feeling of secuirty. How much is that feeling worth to you?

[golddigger]

12. It's all election "BS."

[Cal33]

13. Maybe. But don't forget, election day is 18+ months away. He might

really have to do something in the meantime. He must have taken
that into consideration, or he would have postponed to say this
till later.

[galileoreloaded]

17. Thats what decades of not having to spend on defence will get ya!

thanks America!

[izquierdista]

4. It's an act all right

Anyone up for a wager? My money says that his buddies at Goldman Sachs will be cleared of any improprieties in oil speculation. Anyone want to short Goldman?

[L0oniX]

6. Good news ...for campaigns ...oil companies will be contributing more...

and you know why.

[Cal33]

9. The oil companies certainly wouldn't like it, if the price for gas

were to drop. So, we'll have to wait and see what the investigation will turn up.

[SoCalDem]

7. In other news... a fact finding commission will be appointed to

investigate why the sun always comes up tomorrow:)

[golddigger]

11. +1

:thumbsup:

[jp11]

24. More like if it was legal for the sun to go down at night.

[formernaderite]

8. it's the weak dollar

and high gold prices... oil for us is not coming down anytime soon.

[Marr]

10. More symbolic, election-year bullshit.

If he wanted to address energy costs, he would target Wall Street's commodities trading operations.

Unfortunately, that's like asking Ronald McDonald to criticize the meat industry.

[CTyankee]

14. My senator, Dick Blumenthal, is trying to do the same thing...he's a huge

consumer advocate. I sure hope Dick gets somewhere with his ideas. He had a lot of corporations running scared when he was AG of CT...

[Cal33]

15. I wouldn't be surprised if the Dem. politicians really will try to get tougher

with the right-wingers from now on. Their winning in Nov. 2012 may depend on it.
And since election day is 18+ months way, they'll also have to act tougher.
Obama, for instance, has nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

[gratuitous]

16. Allow me to save everyone the trouble

Justice Department to Big Oil: You guys aren't gouging the public, are you?

Big Oil to Justice Department: Bwahahahahahaha!

Justice Department to Big Oil: Hey, we're serious here!

Big Oil to Justice Department: Bwahahahahahaha!

Justice Department to Big Oil: Come on-n-n-n-n-n.

Big Oil to valet: Release the hounds.

Congressional Republicans: Hey, lay off Big Oil! We're sorry; did the mean old administration scare itty bitty woogums?

Big Oil to Congressional Republicans: Good boy. Here's a campaign contribution.

Big Oil to American public: That'll be $5 a gallon.

Justice Department: Hey, we asked a question!

Big Oil: Cha-ching!

[crickets]

18. Ding! Winner. -nt

[Bluebear]

19. ++++

[truebrit71]

20. "if"? "IF"? Exxon increased their profit by 60% and you're wondering "if"?

...Fucking clueless...

[JoePhilly]

21. But he can't mean it.

If he says nothing ... BAD OBAMA.

If he says the right thing ... BAD OBAMA.

The message ... BAD OBAMA.

Got it.

[cherokeeprogressive]

27. But he always SAYS the right thing...

[JoePhilly]

33. Hardly ...

During the last 3 months, his every word was parsed and presented as PROOF that during his recent deficit speech, he'd announce major cuts to social security and medicare.

When he did not do that ... his actual words were tossed aside.

Same was predicted for the State of the Union ... and his Budget proposal earlier in the year. In each case, he had used words which were CODE for huge cuts to be announced at each of these events.

Did not happen.

If he says the right thing ... he doesn't mean it ... if one can parse his words and manufacture an outrage, THAT is what he clearly really means.

[ohheckyeah]

22. I can save the Justice Department the time

and trouble. YES, THEY ARE PRICE GOUGING. Duh.

[Iggo]

23. Next up: Justice will check to see if bacon is delicious. (n/t)

[Cal33]

30. Bacon may be delicious, but it's unhealthy. :)

[L. Coyote]

25. Remember before Big Oil was the government. Just TAX excess profit already.

[Javaman]

26. In a follow quesiton...

when asked when the report would be released, the president reponded, "sometime after the election".

LOL

what ever happened to him looking into the subsidies?

oh never mind.

[cherokeeprogressive]

28. +1 LOL n/t

[Motown_Johnny]

29. This is the standard response, it happens all the time... But....

I disagree with your characterization of his actions while in office. Perhaps you are not aware of:

Two great choices for Supreme Court.

The Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

The Matthew Shepard Hates Crimes Prevention Act (which they said could not be done)

Children's Health Insurance

Tobacco Regulation

Credit Card Reform

Student Loan Reform

The Stimulus (including the largest tax cut ever, the largest investment in clean energy ever, the single largest investment in education in our country ever)

Health Reform

Wall Street Reform

The New G.I. Bill

The Food Safety Modernization Act (the most expansive food reform bill since the 1930s)

The Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal

The New Start Treaty (even when the (R)s said he would never be able to get it passed)

Locking up over half the loose nuclear material in the world in less than half of his first term, something most (R)s thought impossible.




Most of that list is from The Rachel Maddow Show and is included in this clip
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#4077...

In that clip she also estimates that ~85% of what President Obama said he wanted to accomplish in his first term had been accomplished in the first half of his first term.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

31. Gas mysteriously shot up to $4.17 at a series of local area gas stations here in Indy

Apparently, it was so bizarre that the Indiana AG, a Republican, is going to be looking into it.

[Cal33]

32. Since he declared he is running for a second term, he is trying to win back those

liberals who are angry at him. So, he is acting tougher lately.