The audacity of the McCain campaign
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Frank J. Costanza
Published: August 4, 2008
I am astounded by the audacity of the McCain campaign.
They consistently accuse Obama of being naive and inexperienced on the national and world-wide political scene. Yet, in their latest attack ads they blame him for the rising cost of gas at the pump.
Explain to me how one so inexperienced can wield the power and experience to control the producers of oil in such a way as to manipulate the price at the pump. If Obama is to blame then he must have
experience beyond his years that should make him a fantastic president.
On the other hand, I believe that the present administration with its vast amount of oil expertise should be able to remedy our problems.
Maybe by letting go of some of their exorbitant profits and sharing with the poorer folks, not to mention to start drilling on the already approved 60,000,000 plus acres they are sitting on while whining
about the need to desecrate our beautiful shoreline with oil rigs.
It is time for a president that cares about our people, environment and appearance to the rest of the world. Last week Barack Obama proved his ability to appear presidential by gracefully communicating
with foreign leaders, while John McCain was tripping over himself to provide political pundits with gaffe upon endless gaffe. Just let me step over the border from Iraq into Pakistan, oops, sorry Iran, I didn’t
see you there. This is obviously one of the many problems our Republican leadership cannot come to grips with, not only to see the obvious but to understand the need to communicate with all sides of a
disagreement in order to resolve conflict.
When I was in elementary school, I was taught that the way to settle an argument was to listen to both sides and try to negotiate some middle ground that satisfies both contentious parties.
I also learned that a bully is never respected and eventually is an outcast among his peers. Does this sound vaguely familiar in respect to how the United States is looked upon by other world leaders
today?
FRANK J. COSTANZA
Manassas
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Posted by ( RonCharest ) on August 08, 2008 at 6:17 am
The reality is that the oil companies are not reinvesting profits from existing sales back into exploration for new oil resources, not opening new wells on the 40 million acres of off-shore leases they already have, and are not investing in research into alternative sources of energy.
The oil they are pumping now are from wells opened back when oil was $30 / barrel or less. Those wells were opened then because they were profitable at $30 / barrel, and now they’re earning $120+ .
The rational for the windfall profits tax is to force oil companies into reinvesting their profits, or else have the US government invest for them.
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Posted by ( Rick Smith ) on August 07, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Comparing oil with Pepsi or Coke is absolutely ridiculous. The latter are luxuries; the former is a strategic resource that has a tremendous effect on every aspect of our economic health and well-being. The is nothing “socialist” about the suggestion that oil companies not be permitted to gouge the American people. Exxon just posted the largest profit in the history of this country. No one is suggesting that they not make a profit. But record profits on a strategic resource while the people and economy suffer?
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Posted by ( jVA ) on August 07, 2008 at 10:47 am
“First off I think if you take a second look at the McCain ads that you’ll find that they do not blame Obama for high gas prices but say that he has no real solutions for the high prices. However McCain is in my opinion too limited in thought to put so much focus on just oil.“
Energy is obviously one of the most important issues facing us right now. But I don’t see a huge difference in positions between McCain and Obama at least on the surface. Its kind of a wash to me.
Whichever man wins, we should demand to see real movement on a new energy policy as promised within the first four years or send that man packing quickly from the White House. No excuses.
“I just can’t believe in the year 2008 we have a Presidential Candidate advocating for windfall profit tax’s against our Oil Companies”
I understand the argument you’re making Cobra, but something is seriously out of whack with big oil. I think the tax on their “windfall” profits is more of a message to the oil companies against price gouging and manipulation. The amount of money they’re making while Americans are suffering at the pump is ridiculous.
The oil companies have been arguing that they’re just passing cost increases on to consumers. That doesn’t explain their incredible and ever increasing profits. This is as fishy as Enron.
You may be right about the windfall profit tax. We are capitalists, after all. But I would at least like to see more scrutiny and regulation of that industry which literally has our country over the barrel.
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Posted by ( RonCharest ) on August 06, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Actually, I have to give credit where credit is due.
Because of Senator John McCain, we now have the entire United States of America debating the merits of the Paris Hilton Energy plan.
Thanks, wrinkly white haired old man.
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Posted by ( cobra ) on August 05, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I just can’t believe in the year 2008 we have a Presidential Candidate advocating for windfall profit tax’s against our Oil Companies who by the way employee hundreds of thousands of Americans. Are we going to do the same to Pepsi, Coke, and Deer Park Water? The costs of a gallon of Coke is now $8.89 as we now pay $1.39 for a 20oz soda at the local 7-11. Coke spends very little money bringing it’s product to market. The demonization of a legitimate American Company is shameful. They spend billions of dollars on research and exploration. They make approx $.09 a gallon in profit. I keep hearing the left talk about drilling on lands already leased. Wake up folks. If there was Oil to be had in those areas they would be drilling. It is too expensive to bring that crude to market. Bottom line is that both parties have failed the taxpayer miserably on this issue. We should have been drilling off our coasts and exploring alternatives 20 years ago. None of our current millionaire legislators have to worry about filling up their gas tanks. I have to say that we have two of the worst possible Presidential Candidates in history. Both parties could have certainly done better.
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Posted by ( NewsJunky ) on August 05, 2008 at 8:37 am
First off I think if you take a second look at the McCain ads that you’ll find that they do not blame Obama for high gas prices but say that he has no real solutions for the high prices. However McCain is in my opinion too limited in thought to put so much focus on just oil.
Second, just yesterday Obama himself says he is now open to limited off shore drilling to increase the supply of oil. So to that I congratulate Obama for being open, now if we ca convince McCain to be more open about solar wind etc.
Third, Obama’s idea of taking profits from big oil is just socialist in nature and in my opinion very short sighted because it does not solve the underlying problem of short supply and an overwhelming demand. And if anything the oil companies would just pass the loss of there profits onto the consumers with higher prices.
I do agree on the negotiating and finding a middle ground and start from there. This country will not make any substantial progress if it stays so polarized. I really wish we could put both Obama and McCain in a locked room for however long it takes to come up with a solution both can agree on.
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Posted by ( willow703 ) on August 05, 2008 at 7:27 am
“the way to settle an argument is to listen to both sides and try to negotiate some middle ground ...“ And if you are unsuccessful, what then?
“A bully is never respected and eventually is an outcast among his peers.“ Putin, Hu, Chavez, Ahmadjinedad, Kim, Bashir, bin Laden, which is the outcast?
How would the writer have dealt with Adolf Hitler, Hirohito Tojo, & Benito Mussolini?
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