Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Oil Companies, Oil Industry, No Price Manipulation We at The Lunch Counter are increasing our bandwidth here in order to be able to handle the flow of apologies from all of the media and other enemies of Big Oil and the free-enterprise system, including most of the Democrats and half the Republicans in Congress, for their now proved baseless accusations of the oil companies like Exxon, and the industry in general of engaging in price gouging.   My political sense tells me that there won't be a flow of apologies coming. The latest report, as all those that preceded it, says that the oil companies did not artificially raise prices, did not gouge, and, that the price fluctuations were due to market fluctuations.  I remember vividly seeing politicians practically fall over each other for TV face-time, for the sole purpose of jumping on the anti-big-oil bandwagon.  Oh how silly they look now.   FTC finds minimal gas price gouging after Katrina 4:40:27 PM    comment [] trackback []

Nation's Capitol Is No Safe Haven For Corrupt Politicians House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) needs to get a grip and not confuse the separation powers with law enforcement.  Churches or mosques are not safe havens for terrorists, same as the Capitol isn't a safe haven for corrupt politicians. Speaking to the FBI raid on William Jefferson's offices, Speaker Hastert said "The actions of the Justice Department in seeking and executing this warrant raise important Constitutional issues that go well beyond the specifics of this case." If there ever was a phony issue, this is one.  This is not a separation of powers issue.  This is a law enforcement issue, and the trail lead to William Jefferson's office.  An intrusion?  Not.  Not when you also consider that the people he was involved with were Nigerian officials.  The same country and people he was making trade deals with in his official capacity as senior member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee and its subcommittee on Trade. He is also a member of the House Committee on the Budget. He serves as Co-Chair of the Africa Trade and Investment Caucus as well as the Congressional Caucuses on Brazil and Nigeria. and then there's this factoid. . . Two of Jefferson's associates have pleaded guilty to bribery-related charges in federal court in Alexandria. One, businessman Vernon Jackson of Louisville, Ky., admitted paying more than $400,000 in bribes to the lawmaker in exchange for his help securing business deals for Jackson's telecommunications company in Nigeria and other African countries. Given that, wouldn't you say that a search of the Representative's office would be prudent from a law enforcement standpoint?  Rep. William Jefferson's (D-La) legal problems have absolutely nothing to do with any separation of powers issue.  Hastert is now calling for all the evidence that the FBI collected to be returned.  Is he nuts or just crazy?  Or is his arrogance and 'I'm holier than thou' attitude showing? 10:52:15 AM    comment [] trackback []

© Copyright 2006 Ross Calloway. Last update: 6/1/2006; 12:58:32 AM.