Okay...check this article out. It says that Bush is ordering an investigation to determine whether or not the price of gasoline has been illegally manipulated.

Note it doesn't say "...to compare the rise in price of gasoline to the rise in price of crude." It says to check to see if the price has been "illegally manipulated". The article goes on to indicate that the White House will be putting it's weight behind state governments who find "price gouging" in the petroleum industry.

What turns these seemingly strong statements into idle empty threats is the fact that they're not going to find price gouging. They'll find "competition". They'll find "supply vs. demand". They'll say "That's not price gouging! That's textbook inflation!"

Then the GOP will get into it...they'll inact a bunch of legislation to push the gas prices back down where they should be (conveniently in time for the 2008 election), and Big Oil won't care, because they've already made their nests enough to support their families for generations to come.

I mean...look at Exxon Mobil CEO Lee F. Raymond. Then vs. Now:










He's not struggling! He's not missing any meals, nor is he losing any sleep over the extra dollars that he is sucking out of the American public. The difference between these two photos clearly parallels the Oil Industry's profits and growth over the last 2 years, living off the fat of the people.

This is disgusting.

Know what I'm sayin'??

(Apologies to Mr. Raymond and his family if he has some sort or glandular problem or something.)