[libertarianPA]

Democrats & Republicans... I can't tell the difference anymore. They're all trying to appeal to the same voter.

Pretty soon we're going to start saying, "Sieg Heil" (sp?) to our government officials.

[Mogollon]

Democrats & Republicans Rino's... I can't tell the difference anymore. They're all trying to appeal to the same voter.

That's more accurate I think.

[wouldntbprudent]

Yes, it's a boneheaded idea, but what I read about Grassley was that he was attempting to "shame" the oil companies into contributing more to some "fuel oil for the poor" fund, not actually trying to take the profits.

[Pylot]

Grassley is generally ok, but he does go looney tunes once in a while.

Years ago he was on a radio talk show in Iowa and I got to ask him a question.

They were talking about the national debt and the general irresponsibility of congress.

I asked him to acknowledge that the government was required to put excesses from social security into the general fund. He did acknowledge it! I was surprised.

He said "Thats right and the excesses are just spent by congress".

Then he said "We have to do something about that". And that was the end of my call.

But this latest call to get into the oil company profits is misguided. Prices are falling because there has been a consumer based backlash to the high prices. We have driven less, car pooled and become more economical with our use of gas as a result of being gored.

[Red Boots]

Why not write to him here: grassley.senate.gov/webform.htm.

I did, and suggested that he drop the R; and use T, for THIEF !

There's no pesky party line to pretend to toe, and it's more accurate, too!

[conservative physics]

Actually since no one really owns anything in America he is a socialist.

The government just wants people to believe that they own their property.

But when someone can make you pay rent on your property (property taxes), can tell you what you can and can't do with your property (environmental regulations) and can take it away from you any time it wants to build a walmart (eminent domain/Kelo decision) ... then you don't really own the property, the government does. But the government just wants you to believe that you own it so you won't overthrow the government.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

So, how does this apply to this fine Republican senator? Grassley, it seems, feels that there is a role to be played by the federal government in decisions relating to how corporate profits must be spent, invested or disbursed. Grassley is now on record as wanting (the rhetorical equivalent of “demanding”) that oil companies “donate” 10 percent of their profits to help poor Americans pay their heating bills. Grassley sent letters to oil companies outlining his request; letters he claims to have sent to “embarrass” the oil companies into contributing to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Embarrass? I don’t think so. The right word here would be “intimidate.” Grassley says “It’s not unreasonable to expect corporations with 50, 75 or 100 percent growth in earnings this quarter to contribute a mere 10 percent of those profits to fund programs that supplement LIHEAP. In those letters Grassley also asked that these oil companies report to him on their recent charitable contributions.

I wonder how much of HIS salary this idiot is donating to his local fuel fund?

HEY, ASSLEY, WHADDYA THINK THIS IS, ATLAS SHRUGGED?!? INTIMIDATE THIS! EXTORT THIS!!!

[Nephi]

There is one thing that congress can do that would help lower gas prices immediately:

Nationalize gasoline formulas so that refineries only have three recipes, not 40+. They could insert language allowing states to create their own recipes only if they build refinery capacity to satisfy the production of their boutique fuel.

Who benefits from no new refineries in 30 years?

Who benefits from limiting new oil exploration and drilling?

Who benefits from boutique fuels bottlenecking refinery production?

Revenge on oil companies has to include reversing those policies, not punishing taxpayers by passing a windfall profits tax.