Posted on 05/02/2006 10:57:32 AM PDT by kellynla
So it has come to this: A group of Senate Republicans has proposed $100 rebates to low-income people to ease their "pain at the gas pump." They also are entertaining the possibility of higher taxes on oil industry profits, as if government does a better job of spending money than private industry. Have they forgotten the last time government imposed a "windfall profits tax" from 1980 to '88? Oil production fell (but demand grew) as "big oil" had less incentive to explore. A history of this bad idea can be found on The Tax History Project Web page www.taxhistory.org.
A recent Wall Street Journal editorial called the $100 rebate proposal "destined for the pandering hall of fame." When Democrats want to hand out checks, Republicans call it "welfare" and they claim to oppose it on principle. What should it be called when Republicans do it, hypocrisy?
GOP impotence in the midst of fuel price hikes may be the final proof that this is a party that has run out of gas. Democrats aren't any better and should they regain a congressional majority this fall, it won't be long before they again indulge in the same pandering, unethical behavior and content-free politics that has exposed Republican ineptness.
Where is any sign of real leadership? President Bush has made some personnel changes at the White House, but does he intend to say what needs to be said and do what should be done? Why is it so difficult to tell people that if they want to see gas prices go down, they should reduce consumption? Some estimates I've seen indicate that cutting consumption by as little as 3 percent could lower prices. It's called supply and demand, but too many of us have been making too many demands, not only on petroleum...
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
If only we had a regular program to review politicians' performance, fire the sub performers, and hire new ones.
Are they still RINO when the entire GOP has swung to the far left?
We may have to change the name of the whole party.
its time to open the windows and doors and turn on the firehoses to flush out the congress and the government. if we want to keep our country we better be damn serious about getting rid of these clowns who obviously could care less about America.
Good point. Perhaps CINO would be a better name going forward.
WINO's? winners in name only?
"We may have to change the name of the whole party."
How do ya like my new name for the GOP,
"Gelding Old Party" LOL
As soon as I see that $100, I'm forwarding it to the Minute Men for the wall & I'm letting the RINO's know it on the donation request I just received.
Quote: "Are they still RINO when the entire GOP has swung to the far left?"
No offense, but I am growing tired of lumping the entire party into the shyt pile just because of prominently featured RINO's. I believe Tom Coburn is raising hell, should we trash him, Trancedo, Pence? Jeez, there are conservatives in Congress, they just don't get the press that the MSM loves to heap upon the RINO crowd.
Cal displays his usual keen grasp of the obvious.
When someone who has Cal's conservative credentials is writing like this 6 months before the election even Paine Weber is listening. But alas, not the feckless GOP.
Can't or won't secure our borders and now pandering with $100.00 as payola ... It just can't get anymore ridiculous than this.
Farfetched? Probably, but I'm beginning to think we couldn't do much worse.
"Some Republicans think they can squeeze by this fall with scare tactics, such as reminding voters of the liberals who would gain leadership positions if they lose their current majority"
______________________________
Stinkie comes to mind....among others.
"Giving Out Poverty"
I am glad you are so loyal. Cal Thomas is not MSM, however. Hope you optimism will encourage the Republican House, Senate, and White House (oooopppppps ... gosh that is all "the power") to get something done.
It is high time for the Republicans to quit trying to out-Democrat the Democrats.
View the energy situation like a war.
We will 'win' only if we are willing to make the necessary changes and effort to get from where we are to increased domestic production and refining of our own oil, alternative energy sources, the utilization of resources which we are not using (coal, nuclear), and doing so without so d@mned much bantering about whose back yard everything is going to sit in.
As long as we are dependant on foreign sources we will be at the mercy of external market factors.
Ripping off the oil companies to fund a "rebate" to welfare mavens which might stimulate one facet of the Ethanol industry (the consumable one) instead of end up in a gas tank is disingenious at best.
And you can put McCain's name at the top of the RINO list.
Cal is incoherent. He criticizes the GOP for turning it's back on it's small government mission. And he criticizes them for not being nanny state scolds forcing us all to consume less.
A few months ago he wrote a column (I can't find it, but it was posted on FR) extolling the virtues of gas rationing and how wonderful it was to grow up in WWII when the government restricted virtually every aspect of life.
Make up your mind, Cal.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.