Born again consumer advocates!!

[flamin lib]

From yesterday’s Houston Chronicle:
===============
“After five years of catering to oil company wishes for lower taxes and fewer environmental regulations, President Bush only last week concluded that "the nation does not have to choose between a strong economy and a clean environment." On Tuesday the president urged Congress to take back the tax cuts it approved for industry in the last energy bill.”

“Republicans in Congress, after years of coddling the energy industry, now voice suspicion that their generous supporters are gouging their constituents. Rep. Joe Barton — chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and famous for giving energy company lobbyists opportunities to recognize his influence in Congress with large campaign donations — now complains that he is troubled Exxon Mobil would give its departing CEO $400 million while U.S. refinery capacity lags.”
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/editorial/3819804
================

My, my. With Deadeye Dick Cheney designing the energy policy with the help of Exxon/Mobile, Enron (remember them?) and his good buddies at Halliburton, Smokin’ Joe Barton writing hundreds of millions in tax cuts to the energy industry while launching an inquiry into Venezuela for offering cheap oil to poor Americans and the Republican Congress giving $7 Billion in royalties earned on public lands back to the energy companies they have all found religion!

Suddenly in light of a $36 billion profit by just one of the oil producers (total industry profits toped $125,000 billion), a half $ billion retirement plan for Exxon’s CEO and gas prices passing $3.00/gallon they realize that it looks bad to give big oil all those tax cuts.

This isn’t about a concern for the middle class. It’s about getting caught. It’s about being seen for what they really are; a bunch of toadies who grovel at the feet of big business. It’s about voters realizing that Republicans care more about mega corporations than for us poor peon tax payers.