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Clinton: Gas costs have been manipulated
United Press International ^ | May 4, 2008 | United Press International

Posted on 05/04/2008 3:12:04 PM PDT by mdittmar

U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., Sunday blamed market manipulation as the likely cause of record high gas prices in the United States.

Appearing on ABC's "This Week With George Stephanopoulos," the Democratic presidential contender said if she is elected in November, she will immediately order an investigation into the industry.

"We know that there's market manipulation going on. So I would launch an investigation if I were president right now by the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission," Clinton said.

The New York senator said any attempts to lower gas prices should require the participation of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

"I would begin to go directly at OPEC," she said. "I think it's been 25 years where we've, you know, largely just been at the mercy of the OPEC countries."

Clinton said in addition to taking on OPEC members, she would confront oil companies about the rising cost of gasoline.

"You see, I really believe we've got to start right now demonstrating a willingness to take on these oil companies," she said in response to a "This Week" audience question.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; clinton; energy; gasprices; hillary; hillaryclinton; issues; opec; pandering
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To: mdittmar

If Mrs. Clinton “already knows” that there is “market manipulation”, what is the purpose of the “investigation”?

The supposed cause of the problem has already been identified, the next step is a solution which should be proposed forthwith for consideration.

These investigations are just an exercise in assigning blame for high gas prices, they aren’t constructive in the least.


21 posted on 05/04/2008 3:26:29 PM PDT by I_Like_Spam
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To: mdittmar

Hillary should start subsidizing gas prices with her own bank accounts.


22 posted on 05/04/2008 3:27:23 PM PDT by choose4urfuture
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To: mdittmar

By all means, Hillary, let’s start investigating.

First, I would investigate why Bill Clinton locked up all the clean-burning coal into a federal preserve of hundred of thousands of acres in Utah and other western states to pay back the Riadi clan of Indonesia, which holds competing coal interests in the world market, for their generous “contributions” to his campaigns and Library.

Then, I would see how a relatively few thousand enviro-nazis were able to freeze our exploration for oil on government land since the Clinton administration, oil that would be on the market now. That oil belongs to all of us, not to the Sierra Club, or Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez, or the multi-millionaire women representing CA. We are entitled to use it.

Last, I would investigate the refineries in the USA that typically run at only 87% efficiency in any given month. The oil companies always import and process less than the nation’s consumers are using, so the phony “shortage” continues, and the commodities speculators can run up the price to ridiculous heights.


23 posted on 05/04/2008 3:28:59 PM PDT by kittymyrib
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To: mdittmar
U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., Sunday blamed market manipulation as the likely cause of record high gas prices in the United States.

Yeah, that crazy manipulation known as "Supply and Demand".

24 posted on 05/04/2008 3:30:07 PM PDT by Recovering_Democrat (Just Say Nobama!)
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To: mdittmar

the gas prices have been manipulated by the democrat congress and senate who refuse to start domestic drilling for our own supplies.


25 posted on 05/04/2008 3:34:37 PM PDT by television is just wrong (you don't have to be white to be a racist.)
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To: kittymyrib
Last, I would investigate the refineries in the USA that typically run at only 87% efficiency in any given month.

I think you mean "capacity", not efficiency.

And at what % should they be running?

26 posted on 05/04/2008 3:35:30 PM PDT by Phantom Lord (Fall on to your knees for the Phantom Lord)
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To: mdittmar

Hillary, you, like the rest of your party, are economic idiots. Supply and demand. You either increase the supply of refined gasoline or you decrease the demand, or both. Only then will the price of gas go down. The oil companies have nothing to do with market prices, nor does the president. But you Democrats have caused this crisis with your unwillingness to allow exploration for new oil or the building of more refineries. High gas prices are YOUR fault.

Everytime someone complains to me about high gas prices by blaming Bush or the oil companies, I blast them right then and there and set them straight. ANWR would be up and producing right now if Clinton hadn’t vetoed the bill opening ANWE back in 1995.


27 posted on 05/04/2008 3:35:48 PM PDT by upsdriver (My kingdom for an acceptable presidential candidate!!)
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To: mdittmar
Clinton said in addition to taking on OPEC members, she would confront oil companies about the rising cost of gasoline.

OPEC can charge whatever they want. So can the oil companies. This bitch wants to regulate the market? It runs counter to free enterprise and basic economic principles. Carter tried that. Then again, they're both Marxists.

28 posted on 05/04/2008 3:36:38 PM PDT by Cobra64 (www.BulletBras.net)
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To: headstamp 2
“I think it’s been 25 years where we’ve, you know, largely just been at the mercy of the OPEC countries.”

Well Beast, what was your husband, Slick, doing about this when he was in office?

29 posted on 05/04/2008 3:38:39 PM PDT by Cobra64 (www.BulletBras.net)
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To: mdittmar
Hitlery and her little Marxist plans.

Trying to blame the oil companies just isn't going to work.

30 posted on 05/04/2008 3:39:09 PM PDT by Rome2000 (Peace is not an option)
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To: TomGuy
Take them on? How? And do what? Wag your finger at them?

Photobucket

31 posted on 05/04/2008 3:40:22 PM PDT by Cobra64 (www.BulletBras.net)
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To: mdittmar
I would begin to go directly at OPEC," she said

LOL

32 posted on 05/04/2008 3:40:51 PM PDT by RightWhale (Repeal the Law of the Excluded Middle)
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To: TomGuy
Take them on? How? And do what? Wag your finger at them?

Nope. Big tax hike- which of course, you and I will pay at the pump.

33 posted on 05/04/2008 3:44:29 PM PDT by Riley (The Fourth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
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To: Mr_Moonlight

Why is that interesting?


34 posted on 05/04/2008 3:50:56 PM PDT by mdittmar (May God watch over those who serve,and have served,to keep us free)
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To: mdittmar
As usual, Hillary is claiming she will do this or that if elected president. The problem is that all the things she promises us are already her responsibility as a US Senator. She is just as empowered to investigate, form a commission, hold hearings, and request action from the departments of justice, treasury, education, state, commerce, etc.....

Why will nobody call her on this?

35 posted on 05/04/2008 3:58:30 PM PDT by blackdog
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To: stboz
By Goldman-Sachs and other commodity firms who claim they're "...just making a market"

You don't even know how to write the name of the firm but you somehow know they're involved in market manipulation?

36 posted on 05/04/2008 3:58:41 PM PDT by Arguendo
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To: mdittmar

The oil companies are investigated every election year - at least since 2000 - then around March following the election, there are 3 paragraphs buried well inside the newspapers saying that no collusion, conspiracy etc. was found.

I hate politicians!


37 posted on 05/04/2008 4:03:16 PM PDT by Let's Roll (As usual, following a shooting spree, libs want to take guns away from those who DIDN'T do it.)
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To: mdittmar

“interesting” in a comical way ... guess I should have added a /chuckle after it ....


38 posted on 05/04/2008 4:08:10 PM PDT by Mr_Moonlight
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To: mdittmar
"We know that there's market manipulation going on."

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

Truer words were never spoken you two-faced, cattle futures trading whore.

39 posted on 05/04/2008 4:15:34 PM PDT by RoadKingSE (How do you know that the light at the end of the tunnel isn't a muzzle flash?)
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To: kittymyrib

“Bill Clinton locked up all the clean-burning coal into a federal preserve”
Is there any way to reverse that decision?


40 posted on 05/04/2008 4:19:02 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ("Don't touch that thing")
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