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St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Lee Enterprises

Friday, July 4, 2008 8:49 PM CDT
LETTER: Gas taxes yield far more profits than Big Oil

By DON GHERARDINI, Sullivan

By Article 1 of the Constitution, no funds can be drawn from the treasury before legislation is passed by the Senate, and by constitutional amendment, no legislation providing new items of appropriation can be voted on until first passing through the Appropriations Committee.

A good exercise in finding the truth of who is responsible for gas prices can be accomplished by looking at the testimony section of the senate’s website. (www.appropriations.senate.gov/index.cfm) For instance, Shell’s proposal for developing new oil resources, and request for drilling permits, (controlled by the energy sub-committee). Denied by committee vote

Also seek the testimony about oil recovery from oil shale, to give us an 800 billion barrel supply. Denied by vote in may. 14 to 15 Dems against. These are the true reins steering our economy.

A great cross reference to these issues is the US Dept of Interior. (www.doi.gov)

Do a search here on “Oil Shale” for reports that document the largest deposits of oil shale in the world are in our rocky mountains. Look at the reserve estimates, from 1.2 trillion to 4 trillion in place.

You can then understand Shell Oil’s desire to bring them to the public. The testimony you read at the Senate appropriations site in may of 2008 described that with their new technology, they can recover an estimated 800 billion barrels of oil from shale in just 3 states and it will be economically feasible even if oil gets down to 30 dollars a barrel!

The Minerals Management Bureau (www.mms.gov) reports this is from 3 to 5 times the oil in Saudi Arabia. Look at the numbers here also of all the offshore oil we have pumped to date (11 billion) to get a scope on just how much 800 billion barrels is.

These are reports by paid experts, not paid off politicians.

Speaking of devils. Here is a great place to keep track of the overall scope of our tax burdens.

The Tax Foundation, since 1937 has been keeping records. (www.taxfoundation.org)

Ever wondered how many people actually check the box on the 1040 tax return that says “Check here if you want $3 to go to the presidential campaign fund?”

One that will really open a person eyes is a search like, “Oil company profits vs. tax revenues.”

This will tell you truly just who has the most to gain from high gas prices.

The tax collected on gasoline is many times the oil company’s profits.

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The Question wrote on Jul 5, 2008 12:02 PM:

" Gas taxes don't yield any "profits" at all. They help pay for the vital economic infrastructure that is crumbling around our ears in the U.S. Oil companies do make vast profits, though, and they spend them on items like the $400 million retirement package for Exxon Chairman Lee Raymond. I certainly hope he can feel secure in his old age with a little less than half a billion to fall back on. "

1 cav wrote on Jul 5, 2008 1:04 PM:

" Mr. GHERARDINI,
Thank you for the time to write this informative letter along with all the facts. Maybe some will take the time to read it and be better informed from it. "

father bob wrote on Jul 7, 2008 9:53 AM:

" the only thing you seem to omit is the fact we don't have the technology to get the oil out of shale. perhaps when someone makes that discovery, drilling will be okay'd. "

exbricklayer wrote on Jul 7, 2008 12:42 PM:

" The cure for heroine addiction has never been more heroine. The sooner this country realizes this the better. Remember, step 1 is admitting you have a problem. "

sapient wrote on Jul 7, 2008 1:37 PM:

" FB: The governor of Montana doesn't agree with you. "

even steven wrote on Jul 7, 2008 2:01 PM:

" Wrong, father bob... we do have the technology to extract oil from shale. There are companies doing that very thing as I type this. Not utilizing the abundant energy reserves right here in the US has cost our economy trillions of dollars. It's sheer idiocy for our elected crooks to keep placing these resources off-limits. "

what? wrote on Jul 7, 2008 3:22 PM:

" I guess if gas was $10.00 a gallon, all our problems would be solved, courtesy of those wonderful tax revenues. "

sapient wrote on Jul 7, 2008 4:02 PM:

" Exbricklayer: There is no way you can compare heroin to oil. To try to do so is absurd. Heroin is a very harmful drug while oil is a very useful natural resource. I'll bet your hypocrisy allows you to fill up at the gas pump on occasion. Do you use heroin regularly? Maybe you do. Just admit you have a problem. "

Tom Andres wrote on Jul 7, 2008 4:23 PM:

" My wife and I drove 800 interstate miles over the 3-day weekend. On the way out, we averaged 63 mph and 26 mpg. On the way back, we purposely slowed down and averaged 59 mph and 30 mpg. Some would say we wasted 26 minutes on the return trip, and maybe we did; but one thing is for certain, we reduced our fuel consumption by about 15% at the lower speed.

Bush needs to step up to the plate and make some unpopular executive decisions! Such as: lowering the national speed limit, drill for domestic oil and gas, build nuclear (or nucular as he likes to say), build FutureGen, etc, etc! Its been over 30 years since weve had an effective national energy plan. Surely the time has come. And by the way, taxing on any form of energy does not qualify as an effective national energy plan. "

what? wrote on Jul 7, 2008 5:11 PM:

" Wev'e had an extremely effective and efficient energy plan for the last seven and a half years, or not, just depends on your point of view. "

Harry Potter wrote on Jul 7, 2008 5:50 PM:

" What? Tom is calling for a return to Jimmy Carter's speed limits? LOL!

Tom is right about the speed reduction. Lowering your speed will yield the kind of results he and his wife got.

I drive the speed limit on interstates and very rarely pass anyone, and am constantly passed by everyone, including semis. "

Harry Potter wrote on Jul 7, 2008 6:35 PM:

" From the point of view of the oil company executives, is has been very successful. But of course there is no price gouging going one either. I know because Bryant Lamphier told us. And when Bryan speaks, everyone.... "

Bryant Lamphier wrote on Jul 7, 2008 7:53 PM:

" Big Oil profits eh-

This must be a continuation of the Prescott Bush: Nazi-Saudi-Anti-FDR-Skull-and-Bones-JFK-murder-Elvis-in-the-grassy-knoll-
eeeevil conspiracy.

Harry Pooper will tell you all about it.

...............just as soon as he puts a fresh set of batteries in his tin-foil hat......... "

Bryant Lamphier wrote on Jul 7, 2008 7:55 PM:

" Actualy fatherbob said his wife works for a big evil oil company-

maybe we should blame him..... "

what? wrote on Jul 7, 2008 8:24 PM:

" Surely they wouldn't bottleneck the supply at it's point of entry, the refineries, and thus control the supply of refined petrolium products, and thus the market for these products. "

Harry Potter wrote on Jul 8, 2008 6:58 AM:

" The stories circulating about the major oil companies making record profits is a left wing tin-foil hat loony conspiracy theory. It just ain't so. The major oil companies are struggling just to stay in business. Just ask the resident expert on everything, Bryant L.

That 400 million dollar Exxon myth is just that, at myth. wink wink

Hmmm...do you think maybe the folks at Exxon had a heads up on the Supreme Courts upcoming decision on all the claims against them? (oh no, another tin foil hat theory- LOL!) "

Presidential Candidate wrote on Jul 8, 2008 8:11 AM:

" I certainly agree with Tom Andres when he wrote on Jul 7, 2008 4:23 PM: "Bush needs to step up to the plate and make some unpopular executive decisions!" but I cannot agree with all of his recommendations.

Lowering the national speed limit is a temporary fix and has no long term sustainability.

Adding taxes to "big oil" will have the opposite effect desired. (Mr. Andres didn't recommend this, but others have.)

Investing in domestic drilling will have a positive domino effect on the economy that is sustainable. Domestic drilling will 1)reduce our dependence on foreign oil which will 2)drive the price of the foreign oil we DO have to purchase down, 3)create more jobs in the domestic economy which will 4)increase the amount of tax revenue the government receives without having to raise taxes on anyone, 5)stimulate the economy by stimulating the optimism of the American people, 6)lower the retail price of a gallon of gasoline, and 7)will likely be the agent to start Wall Street back toward the black ink. Not bad for just one executive decision.

Have either of the candidates said they unequivocally favored domestic drilling?

I called for the domestic drilling for oil on June 9 - long before oil hit $140/barrel and long before a gallon of gasoline hit the $4.00 mark. And I DO have the hangy-downs to step up to the plate and make an executive decision.

http://voteformein2008.blogspot.com "

father bob wrote on Jul 8, 2008 9:54 AM:

" Tuesday, July 8, 2008 6:45 AM CDT
Calif. group proposes George W. Bush Sewage Plant

By MICHELLE LOCKE

SAN FRANCISCO - A California group submitted a proposal Monday to rename a sewage treatment plant after President Bush, calling the initiative a fitting tribute to the outgoing chief executive and the "mess" he'll leave behind.

just in case the bushies missed the actricle, it can be read online. "

father bob wrote on Jul 8, 2008 10:01 AM:

" Oil shale can be mined and processed to generate oil similar to oil pumped from conventional oil wells; however, extracting oil from oil shale is more complex than conventional oil recovery and currently is more expensive. The oil substances in oil shale are solid and even steven wrote on Jul 7, 2008 2:01 PM:
" Wrong, father bob... we do have the technology to extract oil from shale. There are companies doing that very thing as I type this. Not utilizing the abundant energy reserves right here in the US has cost our economy trillions of dollars. It's sheer idiocy for our elected crooks to keep placing these resources off-limits. """"

HEY EINSTEIN.....read this little excerpt. the technology isn't there yet to do it efficiently enough. you're using more energy to get it than it can produce.

"" It cannot be pumped directly out of the ground. The oil shale must first be mined and then heated to a high temperature (a process called retorting); the resultant liquid must then be separated and collected. An alternative but currently experimental process referred to as in situ retorting involves heating the oil shale while it is still underground, and then pumping the resulting liquid to the surface.""" "

Tom Andres wrote on Jul 8, 2008 1:19 PM:

" Actually, HP, it was Nixon who signed that legislation in January 1974. It was extended indefinitely about a year later under Ford. Carter didnt take office until January 1977. The law was repealed in 1995, under Clinton.

Presidential Candidate, you say "Lowering the national speed limit is a temporary fix and has no long term sustainability." I didnt say anything about lowering the national speed limit temporarily. If it makes sense to lower the speed limit to save gas and to save lives and to reduce wear and tear on our highways, why would we ever increase the speed limit again?

There were many so-called independent studies conducted while the lower limits were in place that claimed the lower limits didnt save lives or fuel or even road repair costs all of which were driven by dubious political influences (lobbyists). Common sense tells us that driving slower allows for a greater response time for accident avoidance, saves fuel, and reduces very expensive road repairs. If were not willing to spend an extra 30 minutes on the road to travel to Chicago, were not really serious about reducing gas prices now are we? "

cd wrote on Jul 8, 2008 2:10 PM:

" We're on a steep, slippery slope in going "Green". It's going to be like going down a steep rocky hillside without mountaineering equipment or a walking stick...you're going to scraped and beat up before you find the bottom.
When we get to the bottom, their will be no oil or gas, no coal or electricity. Trees will be on the endangered species because burning them for heat will leave a carbon footprint.
Their will be rioting, stealing, and killing for food. Even those that are able to live off the land will have to watch their backs for those that can't.
Welcome to the Second Stoneage! Possible fringe benefit could be an ICE AGE. "

The Question wrote on Jul 8, 2008 4:35 PM:

" How the Bush administration lied and cheated about energy policy and global warming.
------------
Seeking to play down the effects of global warming, Vice President Dick Cheney's office pushed to delete from congressional testimony references about the consequences of climate change on public health, a former senior EPA official claimed Tuesday.
The official, Jason K. Burnett, said the White House was concerned that the proposed testimony last October by the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention might make it tougher to avoid regulating greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere.
Burnett's assertion, which he made in a July 6 letter to Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, conflicts with the White House explanation at the time that the deletions reflected concerns by the White House Office of Science and Technology over the accuracy of the science.
Burnett, until last month a senior adviser on climate change at the Environmental Protection Agency, wrote that Cheney's office was deeply involved in getting nearly half of the CDC's original draft testimony removed. "

Harry Potter wrote on Jul 8, 2008 4:36 PM:

" Thanks for the clarification, Tom. Unlike the old gasbag Bryan L, I'll admit it when I make an error. LOL! "

Harry Potter wrote on Jul 8, 2008 5:20 PM:

" What! Dick Cheney involved in underhanded deeds? I'm truly shocked.

The article didn't mention if he was carrying a shotgun. "

father bob wrote on Jul 8, 2008 5:38 PM:

" Snotnosed TommieBush needs to step up to the plate and make some unpopular executive decisions! Such as: lowering the national speed limit, drill for domestic oil and gas, build nuclear (or nucular as he likes to say), build FutureGen, etc, etc! Its been over 30 years since weve had an effective national energy plan. wrote on Jul 7, 2008 4:23 PM:"""

you're expecting this out of an oil man? not to mention a mentally defective? "

Tom Andres wrote on Jul 8, 2008 7:00 PM:

" Oh, b-u-a-u-o-b-y, b-u-a-u-o-b-y, b-u-a-u-o-b-y, give us all a break already. Can you try really, really hard to come up with a fact-based post for once? Pulease? The old bash-bush thing is stale, and totally irrelevant. "

Don G wrote on Jul 8, 2008 7:01 PM:

" Father Bob,
Instead of quoteing AP wireline propaganda a year old, why dont you simply do what the letter to the editor suggests? Go read the testomony to the energy committee about shell oils method of drilling a conventional well, and coupled with Raytheons newly designed microwave generator that will go downhole and heat up the formation and simply let the oil run in the hole out of the shale. He specifically mentioned that no old fashioned and expensive strip mineing will be used. they have done it on their own leases for a year and it is extrememly successful. The 30 dollar a barrel stuff is there also, I went and read it. Why dont you?
You were offered a light of truth, given the direction to find it, but still refuse to even go and seek. Whatever your sources are, they are terribly dated. "

what wrote on Jul 9, 2008 12:16 AM:

" The bush bashing thing may ring stale to some, but it is not totally irrelevant, he and those who "influence" him are largely responsible for the predicament were in. If we refuse to confront this truth, we commit ourselves to further self destruction. "

Harry Potter wrote on Jul 9, 2008 7:45 AM:

" Yeah, you gotta watch those AP guys and their propaganda. This coming from someone who tried to foist the idea off on us that Obama wasn't half African black, but was in fact half Arabic. LOL!

I'm gonna take a wild guess, and say that you probably are a big fan of the fair and balanced folks at Fixed news, aren't you, Don?

Got any more good theories for us, Donnie? I really enjoyed that Obama claim, but did notice that none of you fellow Repug buddies joined you on that far out idea. Wonder why that was? "

Harry Potter wrote on Jul 9, 2008 7:53 AM:

" But Tom, Bush is so much fun to bash. And besides, Bush is still president, isn't he? Wait and see what happens if Obama gets in. LOL! You'll probably big one of the biggest Obama critics on here, and you know it. I'll be sure to watch for it, and of course will remind you of your comments on this issue. Now, if I just had an extensive file on you.... "

Harry Potter wrote on Jul 9, 2008 7:58 AM:

" And speaking of Bush bashing, here one for Tom A.

BUSH AND CHENEY HAVING LUNCH

He and Cheney are having lunch at a diner near the White House. Cheney orders the "Heart-Healthy" salad. Bush leans over to the waitress and says "Honey, could I have a quickie?"
She's horrified! She says, "Mr. President, I thought your administration would bring a new era of moral rectitude to the White House. Now I see I was wrong and I'm sorry I voted for you," and she marches off.
Cheney leans over and says, "George, I think it's pronounced 'QUICHE "

Bryant Lamphier wrote on Jul 9, 2008 9:40 AM:

" Hey fat-head-bob

Since your wife works for a Big Oil company- don't you think you owe the rest of us an apology for profiting off of our misery?

Oh, and you can answer back in any of your names: Harry Pooper, Dohbaugh, The Question, Early Bird, or SpeedBump Bob............

the one-size tin-foil hat fits all.....

ewwwwww...conspiracy........ooooooooooo "

Bryant Lamphier wrote on Jul 9, 2008 9:43 AM:

" Don G - "Father Bob,
Instead of quoteing AP wireline propaganda a year old, why dont you simply do what the letter to the editor suggests?"
--------

Now Don, don't go throwing facts at SpeedBump Bob-

.......it makes his leaky head hurt and his tin-foil hat smoke.....then he needs a nap....zzzzzzzzzzz "

The Question wrote on Jul 9, 2008 9:58 AM:

" Point 1) Bush and Cheney's immoral U.S. invasion and occupation destroyed Iraq's oil production, destabilized the Mideast and put a third of the world's oil capacity at risk - a fact that has prompted energy speculators to further bid up the price of the commodity.
Point 2) Constant, lunatic threats of war against Iran only worsened the effects mentioned in point one.
Point 3) The huge increase in oil prices has caused the collapse of the U.S. dollar, another factor puffing up inflation throughout the reeling U.S. economy.
So if you wonder why oil prices have increased fivefold since Bush and Cheney took office, don't blame mere increased demand. Blame Bush and Cheney. These oil company kleptocrats have done exactly what they set out to do - rob you blind.
But at least the Democrats can claim they voted against this. You Republican fools actually begged to be mugged. Put that in your big, stupid Hummer and take it for a spin, why dont you? "

The Question wrote on Jul 9, 2008 10:54 AM:

" I will be bashing Bush for the rest of my life, because he has caused horrendous problems that will continue to plague America for the rest of my life.
Isn't it funny how right-wingers always claim you can't criticize a Republican president because he's the all-holy, lick-his-boots Commander in Chief, and then say you can't criticize him because he's no longer going to be the all-holy, lick-his-boots Commander in Chief.
Transparent intellectual dishonesty. like most of what they do. But I con understand why Republicans are in such a hurry to bury Bush's record, as if it were something the dog vomited up.
By the way, if the next all-holy, lick-his-boots Commander in Chief turns out to be a Democrat, feel free to brand him a tyrant and a traitor, as Rush Limbaugh and Fox News did, and to threaten his life, as the racist Republican Sen. Jesse Helms did.
On Nov. 22, 1994, Helms, slated to be the new chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Clinton was so unpopular on military bases in North Carolina that "he better watch out if he comes down here. He'd better have a bodyguard." "

even steven wrote on Jul 9, 2008 11:56 AM:

" Well, father bob, the fact remains that there are companies extracting oil form shale. You initially said the technology didn't exist. So you were indeed wrong. It is interesting that you so quickly resort to name-calling, too. Nice tactic... for a five-year-old. For an adult, it's just weak and pathetic. "

Bryant Lamphier wrote on Jul 9, 2008 3:23 PM:

" The Question- "Transparent intellectual dishonesty. like most of what they do."
-------

Oh that's rich. You of all people have got to be (by far) the most dishonest and hypocritical big-mouth on this site.

I've exposed your lies and double-standards too many times to recall. Just last week I had you in a corner over your use of the troops as criminals one minute- then as victims the next. And I had you so boxed-in that you had to switch to your Harry Pooper moniker in a frenzied attempt to change the subject.

You're nothing more than a far-left screwball loud-mouth and a want-to-be-intellectual, who obviously has more time than sense.

All you do is pump out the same tired old Libtard propaganda that can be found on dozens of moon-bat web-sites. And you keep spewing it like the good little Nazi that you are.

Spare us your contrived outrage and moral indignation. You'll tell what ever lie, distort whatever fact, omit whatever truth, and simply ignore whatever point you have to- in order to further advance your distorted liberal view of the universe.

Give us all a break- Herr Goebbels. Sieg Heil! "

Harry Potter wrote on Jul 9, 2008 3:59 PM:

" You seem to be awfully comfortable using the phrase, Sieg Heil, Dohnuthole. Considering your Fascist tendencies, that seems about right.
+
You'll tell what ever lie, distort whatever fact, omit whatever truth, and simply ignore whatever point you have to- in order to further advance your distorted right wing fascist view of the universe. "

Bryant Lamphier wrote on Jul 9, 2008 4:51 PM:

" Harry Dohbaugh- "Considering your Fascist tendencies, that seems about right."
-------

And what Fascist tendencies would those be Mr. "Chock-Full-O'-Nutz".....? "

The Question wrote on Jul 10, 2008 12:51 PM:

" Five paragraphs of frothing at the mouth, and not a single fact. My, my. Sorry if I tipped over your rocker and left you kicking on the floor there, BL.
Here are some of more of those facts you find so inconvenient for your fascist warmonger theories.
----------------
At least seven people have been killed and some 19 injured in a suicide car bombing in Iraq's northern city of Mosul, Iraqi officials say.
They say the attacker targeted a convoy carrying an Iraqi general, who escaped unharmed. The victims were his bodyguards and civilians in the area.
Earlier, bombs exploded in the western city of Falluja, killing four policemen and two civilians, police say.
Eighteen people were injured in the two blasts outside a bank in the city. "

The Question wrote on Jul 10, 2008 12:55 PM:

" You wonder what your fascist characteristics are, BL? Here are some of them:
From Laurence Britt's 14 Elements of a Fascist State:
- Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism.
- Disdain for the importance of human rights.
- Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause.
- The supremacy of the military/avid militarism.
- Obsession with national security.
- Power of corporations protected.
- Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts.
----- "

father bob wrote on Jul 10, 2008 1:00 PM:

father bob wrote on Jul 10, 2008 1:03 PM:

" Bryant Lamphier wrote on Jul 9, 2008 9:40 AM:
" Hey fat-head-bob

Since your wife works for a Big Oil company- don't you think you owe the rest of us an apology for profiting off of our misery?"""

OK... i and my Mercedes thank you... "

father bob wrote on Jul 10, 2008 1:06 PM:

" even steven wrote on Jul 9, 2008 11:56 AM:
" Well, father bob, the fact remains that there are companies extracting oil form shale. You initially said the technology didn't exist. So you were indeed wrong. It is interesting that you so quickly resort to name-calling, too. Nice tactic... for a five-year-old. For an adult, it's just weak and pathetic. """"

ok let me correct myself. we DON'T have the technology to get the oil from the shale in an efficient enough manner to justify drilling just for the sake of drilling....now MORON think you can wrap that 3-cell brain of yours around that? "

The Question wrote on Jul 10, 2008 3:12 PM:

" The right-wing propaganda plan is always "distort the public perception of a news story to keep the discussion away from the facts it presents, and then scream bloody murder about the straw man argument you've set up in place of the real story."
Articles that detail Bush's corruption, for example, are always denounced by the right as "Bush-hating" - as if emotions, not facts, were the issue. "

even steven wrote on Jul 11, 2008 6:12 AM:

" Gee, father bob, you're not very civil. Just because you were wrong, you don't have to have a tantrum. Are you always this emotional? I recommend counseling. You may also try reading a little bit more before you spew out a bunch of inane falsehoods, too. Good luck! "

Mattooner at Heart wrote on Jul 11, 2008 8:15 AM:

" Q: I'm not going to argue or disagree that "Articles that detail Bush's corruption, for example, are always denounced by the right as "Bush-hating" - as if emotions, not facts, were the issue" as you stated on Jul 10, 2008 3:12 PM. That happens and I think if we all let facts rule instead of emotions, we'd probably see things differently.

But my question is "How does that differ from calling someone who does not think Sen. Obama is qualified for office a racist and how does that differ from someone who is opposed to the homosexual lifestyle a homophobic as is done ad infinitum on these threads? "

Mattooner at Heart wrote on Jul 11, 2008 8:31 AM:

" Sorry to jump in here so far along in the thread where the subject has changed upteen times since the original letter, but I've been away from this thing for awhile and I'm a little behind in spewing my venom, hate, fear, hypocrisy and homophobia all over the threads. I'll try to do better.

In looking at the title of this letter, "Gas taxes yield far more profits than Big Oil", I have to admit I'm a little confused. How in the world can taxes yield profits? I wasn't aware that the government (recipient of taxes) was a for-profit organization. And if it DOES actually profit, where's the profit going? Profit usually goes to the owners or shareholders of an organization. Who are the shareholders of the govern....oh wait....WE are!

And if total gasoline taxes equal more than the amount of profit of the oil companies, maybe we should put a windfall profit tax on the government. Wait! We can't do that, you and I would have to pay the profit in the form of more taxes.

This is not something they covered in Econ 101. It seems to me like there's some loose change floating around. It seems to me (from the letter) that we could use the profit we make on gas taxes to actually PAY the gasoline taxes and that might reduce the total cost of a gallon of gasoline. I HAVE to be missing something! "

The Question wrote on Jul 11, 2008 10:51 AM:

" But my question is "How does that differ from calling someone who does not think Sen. Obama is qualified for office a racist and how does that differ from someone who is opposed to the homosexual lifestyle a homophobic as is done ad infinitum on these threads? "
-------
Some people who oppose Obama are racists, and some are not. But ALL people who "oppose the homosexual lifestyle" are homophobic by definition, just as all people who oppose Obama's skin color are racist by definition.
It doesn't matter if you try to justify your bigotry by quoting some ancient book of Hebrew myth. Other people's lifestyles just aren't your business, unless you're a bigot. "

father bob wrote on Jul 11, 2008 10:54 AM:

" even steven wrote on Jul 11, 2008 6:12 AM:
" Gee, father bob, you're not very civil. Just because you were wrong, you don't have to have a tantrum. Are you always this emotional? I recommend counseling. You may also try reading a little bit more before you spew out a bunch of inane falsehoods, too. Good luck! "

you haven't seen anything yet dude...i'll sick ol' Brain-Dead Bryant on yer butt. "

father bob wrote on Jul 11, 2008 3:28 PM:

" http://tinyurl.com/6nqxah "

Don G wrote on Jul 11, 2008 9:53 PM:

" Mattooner at Heart,
Dont be confused by the mis-quoted title to the letter, as it was assigned to the letter by the someone at the newspaper,as all letteres to the editor are, and might be better read, (maybe even intended to read) "Gas Taxes yeild far more than big oil's profits" same words..different order.
I would submit that likely some poor overworked employee of the JG just looked at the last line, and accidently misquoted it in assigning the title.
If you think you "Must be missing something",as you wrote, I suggest that indeed you are if you have not yet addressed the mentioned pages to red the records. And I also hope, so you will know just how much more money is collected in taxes than company profits, that you also addressed the sources and read them yourself, because if you didnt, you indeed are missing something!

AND..Father Bob..I just finished watching The Moyers link. I will admit it was hard for me to continue after I saw who was speaking..but nevertheless I did..Even when he made it sound like the 5 american oil companies were the only ones getting these contracts, which is not true, and when he made it sound like it was the whitehouse giving these "no-bid contracts" which is a really terrible lie..I still watched to the end...and I pray for mercy on is decietful soul, for he is gonna need it.
41 foreign oil conmpanies have been awarded these contracts by the Iraqi government Bob..just some of them werer awarded to American companies. The Iraqi Gov decided who got them..And, Even though those american companies drilled them in the first place, under contract by a regime in power there 30 odd years ago only to be run out when the oil was nationalized, I know you dont think they deserve to participate in develpoment today. Still,Since there are NO Iraqi oil companies, they have to hire someone to do it. Maybe you could tell them how evil the American oil companies are, and recommend some for them. Maybe you or Moyers could get them to use the Chinese Drilling Contractors like Castro is doing off of Florida.
Who ever does it Bob, the faster they get those rigs running, and get oil money flowing into their national Iraqi treasury, the faster they will get a good hold on the power they need to stabilize their government and we can get the heck out of there.
That is the big picture. "

father bob wrote on Jul 14, 2008 11:38 AM:

" Don G wrote on Jul 11, 2008 9:53 PM:Still,Since there are NO Iraqi oil companies, they have to hire someone to do it.""

yeah, like maybe a close neighbor? we had to make sure we had a handle on more oil. that's all this bloodletting has been about. you can be as naive as you wish don, but as alan greenspan said last october. this war is largely about the control of oil. "

Cognitus wrote on Jul 14, 2008 12:00 PM:

" father bob wrote on Jul 7, 2008 9:53 AM:
" the only thing you seem to omit is the fact we don't have the technology to get the oil out of shale. perhaps when someone makes that discovery, drilling will be okay'd. "
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Indeed. My daughter lives on the Western Slope of Colorado, i.e. oil shale country.
Everybody remembers Black Monday when the Big Oil companies (1982???) announced they were pulling out.They had built a "city", with all the trimmings , to house their workers -- so what to do with it. Some wise guy said,"It's nice ly located, scenery, on I-70 so let's sell it as a 'retirement community' and get a little money from it and "Battlement Mesa" became a great success". My grandkids often had swim meets at Rangely. It'a ... maybe the size of Tuscola and the oil companies left behind a beautiful city hall, nice little hospital, library, school administration building. In the middle of nowhere, but I've talked to people who moved there because of the low expenses, cheap housing and facilities. "

Cognitus wrote on Jul 14, 2008 12:09 PM:

" Pres. Candidate:"Investing in domestic drilling will have a positive domino effect on the economy that is sustainable. Domestic drilling will 1)reduce our dependence on foreign oil which will ,,,etc, etc, etc,a'
PC needs to look ahead 20, 30, maybe 40 years. We've drilled and drilled until we've drilled ourstlves ABSOLUTELY DRY.
Now as I've tried to point out to the "drillers" before, at that point there are still people who don't like us AND THEY have ALL the oil. So we are attacked. With no oil, how do we fight back??? We get out the history books to see how Grant and Sherman fought the Civil War -- bring on the cavalry. "

Cognitus wrote on Jul 14, 2008 12:17 PM:

" father bob has it exactly right:
"" It cannot be pumped directly out of the ground. The oil shale must first be mined and then heated to a high temperature (a process called retorting); the resultant liquid must then be separated and collected. An alternative but currently experimental process referred to as in situ retorting involves heating the oil shale while it is still underground, and then pumping the resulting liquid to the surface."""
I get the updated reports on this for my daughter lives only 20 miles from the Roan Plateau (near Rifle, CO) where shale is again under discussion and father bob is exactly right. And yes, there are 2 choices: destroy the landscape for miles in all directions to dig the shale out for extraction of the oil at the surface or insert probes into the shale at very high temperatures (do I hear "energy to get energy") to melt
the oil and someshow separarate it to the point it can be brought to the surface.
Read www.denverpost.com to keep up with this. "

Cognitus wrote on Jul 14, 2008 12:24 PM:

" Don G:.I still watched to the end...and I pray for mercy on is decietful soul, for he is gonna need it.
41 foreign oil conmpanies have been awarded these contracts by the Iraqi government Bob..just some of them werer awarded to American companies. The Iraqi Gov decided who got them..
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And WHO is the Iraqi Government these days??? And what are the relative size of the contracts given to American companies relative to others. Read the footnotes. "

father bob wrote on Jul 14, 2008 3:33 PM:

" compressed air is getting a lot of attention in the power-generation world, as well as wind farms to replace some of the natural gas usage.

things of this nature that are relatively inexpensive are the future, getting us away from oil. the japanese have designed a car that runs on saltwater. "

Mattooner at Heart wrote on Jul 14, 2008 3:56 PM:

" Just one question . . . Assuming those who are running the huge energy conglomerates - including the giagantic oil companies - aren't total idiots, and I don't think they are since they're making more money faster than you, me or they can count it, doesn't it make sense that if solar or wind or compressed air or even cow flatulence were a viable alternative for creating power or energy that really worked that they would have already been developing it and selling it at a profit???? "

father bob wrote on Jul 14, 2008 4:08 PM:

" While the U.S. oil industry wants access to more federal lands to help reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, U.S.-based companies are shipping record amounts of gasoline and diesel fuel to other countries.

A record 1.6 million barrels a day in U.S. refined petroleum products were exported during the first four months of this year, up 33 percent from 1.2 million barrels a day over the same period in 2007. Shipments this February topped 1.8 million barrels a day for the first time during any month, according to final numbers from the Energy Department.

The surge in exports appears to contradict the pleas from the U.S. oil industry and the Bush administration for Congress to open more offshore waters and Alaskas Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. "

father bob wrote on Jul 14, 2008 4:20 PM:

" Mattooner at Heart wrote on Jul 14, 2008 3:56 PM:doesn't it make sense that if solar or wind or compressed air or even cow flatulence were a viable alternative for creating power or energy that really worked that they would have already been developing it and selling it at a profit???? "

here in the southwest they are diversifying. "

Cognitus wrote on Jul 14, 2008 6:12 PM:

" One thing that the "drillers" seem to have forgotten is that those who drill are international companies.
There is NO guarantee that WE will get the benefit of the Alaska oil; it will be sold where the price is the highest.
Are you aware that we EXPORT about 10% of the amount we IMPORT already????
Do you think your members of Congress have the courage to tell Exxon, etc. that any oil brought up from US land cannot be sold abroad????? "

father bob wrote on Jul 15, 2008 9:24 AM:

" Jay Leno: "Today, President Bush lifted the presidential ban on offshore drilling that was imposed by his father, the first President Bush, 18 years ago. But hey, remember Bush's dad also said invading Iraq would be a huge disaster, and cutting taxes would ruin the economy. So what the hell did he know?" "

medic57 wrote on Jul 17, 2008 9:47 AM:

" Tom Andres

Back in the 70's when they lowered the speed limit to 55 mph, they didn't just pick that number out of a hat, they found that carborators (remember those) power enrichment needles kicked in at 57 mph using much more fuel, thos same people now say, with fuel injection, 60 mph is the ticket for better fuel mileage. Of course I'm sure the Oil companies lobbied against both of those. "