Your car can't run on Congress' hot air

Orange County Register ^ | May 24, 2008 | Mark Steyn

[moderatewolverine]

I was watching the Big Oil execs testifying before Congress. That was my first mistake. If memory serves, there was lesbian mud wrestling over on Channel 137, and on the whole that's less rigged. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz knew the routine: "I can't say that there is evidence that you are manipulating the price, but I believe that you probably are. So prove to me that you are not."

Had I been in the hapless oil man's expensive shoes, I'd have answered, "Hey, you first. I can't say that there is evidence that you're sleeping with barnyard animals, but I believe that you probably are. So prove to me that you are not. Whatever happened to the presumption of innocence and prima facie evidence, lady? Do I have to file a U.N. complaint in Geneva that the House of Representatives is in breach of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?"

But that's why I don't get asked to testify before Congress. So instead the Big Oil guy oozed as oleaginous as his product before the grand panjandrums of the House Subcommittee on Televised Posturing, and then they went off and passed 324-82 the so-called NOPEC bill. The NOPEC bill is, in effect, a suit against OPEC, which, if I recall correctly, stands for the Oil Price-Exploiting Club. "No War For Oil!," as the bumper stickers say. But a massive suit for oil – now that's the American way.

[rockrr]

Excellent article. BTW: I’ve suspected the barnyard animals thing for a while now - isn’t it time we had an investigation?! ;’}

[ozark hilljilly]

It shall be illegal and a violation of this Act,” declared the House of Representatives, “to limit the production or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any other petroleum product ... or to otherwise take any action in restraint of trade for oil, natural gas or any petroleum product when such action, combination, or collective action has a direct, substantial, and reasonably foreseeable effect on the market, supply, price or distribution of oil, natural gas or other petroleum product in the United States. Except when such exploration, drilling, refining and distribution should be benificial to the national security and economy of the United States.

There. Fixed it for ya! (that's what they really meant.)

[Piquaboy]

Calling someone what he really is cannot be PC. Are you not ashamed?

[knews_hound]

Thanks for the ping MD.

Pinging the NEW Mark Steyn Ping List.



On or off, FReepmail  or Ping me.

Cheers,

knewshound

knewshounds blog

[y6162]

“We can’t drill our way out of this problem.”

This is a common Dem tactic: assert that the most promising solution is impossible. They give themselves away every time.

[goldstategop]

No - the kind of change promised by government inhibits real change. But don't look for bloviating politicians in Washington to tell you about it.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[sheana]

It sounds like they just opened the door for some fine upstanding lawyer (maybe working for the oil companies?) to sue them for the right to drill under this act.
We need to learn to use their stupid legislation against them. They always leave loopholes.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[Homer_J_Simpson]

But that's why I don't get asked to testify before Congress.

The poor schlubs at the Canadian Thought Police Kangaroo Court Commission didn't get the memo on Steyn. I'll bet they are already sorry they got involved in his hate speech case.

[Dustbunny]

Steyn, always nailing it.

Wonder if he heard the Waters statement about her being her a Liberal that wants the Government to take over the oil refineries.

Guess she wants the USA to go the way of Cuba,Venezuela etc.

[ridesthemiles]

Seems like the House just passed a law which they are most in violation of.

[RJL]

The US is actually fairly wealthy in oil resources.

Ironically, I wonder how Congress will feel when they are sued by numerous countries in some international court because we won't sell them our oil at a price they'd like to pay.

Mostly, I think other sovereign nations are simply laughing at the US House of Representatives over this.

[hattend]

Hey! Stop being logical and making sense. Congress isn’t required to do either.

[thirst4truth]

He also vetoed the bill the R congress passed to drill in Anwar over 10 years ago.

[maica]

Whatever happened to the presumption of innocence and prima facie evidence, lady? Do I have to file a U.N. complaint in Geneva that the House of Representatives is in breach of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?"

Reading Mark Steyn is always good for the soul.

[AndyJackson]

In Britain, new "green taxes" do nothing to "save" the planet, but they are estimated to cost the average family about $6,000 a year. That's change you can believe in.

Brilliant double entendre.

[AndyJackson]

panjandrums

Isn't that hate speech like niggardly.

[COUNTrecount]

Thanks.

[Rembrandt]

“This is the way it is, get used to it.”

---

Jammah Cahtah used almost that exact same line back in 1980 before he was destroyed and swept out of office by Sir Ronaldus.

[UnklGene]

Debbie Wasserman Schultz "Any oil today?"