LAT: Oil Executives Expected to Get Flak Over High Prices

[DeepModem Mom]

Oil Executives Expected to Get Flak Over High Prices
By Richard Simon, Times Staff Writer


WASHINGTON — Oil industry executives summoned to Capitol Hill are expected to receive a grilling this week — perhaps unlike any they have received before — over their record profits at a time of high oil prices.

But the questions won't be coming from just from the usual critics. Some of the industry's traditional Republican allies are eager to chide the executives at the televised hearing Wednesday and show their constituents that they, too, share their anger over high prices and record profits.

The hearing, expected to feature an industry defense of its profits, illustrates the political pressure that is driving Republicans to make a show of getting tough on an industry that has been a major source of GOP cash.

In addition to the Senate hearing Wednesday, House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) is preparing to call oil industry executives to a meeting, perhaps later this month, to confront them on what they are doing to boost fuel supplies and bring down prices....

***

"Republicans are trying to get in front of this issue because it is clearly an anchor around their ankles at the moment," said Marshall Wittmann, a former Senate Republican aide who is now with the centrist Democratic Leadership Council. "There's no doubt that the high gasoline prices are contributing to the low popularity numbers of both the president and the Republican Congress."...


http://www.latimes.com/business/la-110705oilexecs_lat,0,2030465.story?coll=la-tot-promo&track=morenews

[LiberalEsto]

1. They're crying all the way to the bank

They couldn't care less about some petty flak from the likes of us little people.

[INdemo]

2. this is a joke..

Cant fool the public on this one......The Republicans are so indebted to the oil companies it will be comical to see just how they will try and play act this toughness....this is like saying Faux News will now be aligned with the Democrats, as of tomorrow....

[aquart]

3. Uh huh. Pull the other one.

Maybe they're calling them in for a better distribution deal.

[Wickerman]

4. Yeah, Hastert will rebuke, and the execs will leave with tax incentives

to build new refineries that they should've been investing in for the last two decades. Oh, what a tongue lashing it will be. Afterwards, Denny and the execs will get together for brandy and cigars and a good chuckle - and the checks will be cashed before the ink is dry.

[IChing]

5. "Centrist Democratic Leadership Council".

"A Senate Republican aide who is now with the Democratic Leadership Council'..

If the DLC is Centrist, what Democrats are to the right of the council?
I'm just asking since I'm from the looney left.
It good that some of the rats are escaping the stinking sinking ship but
did he go to a reeducation camp or sign a loyalty oath?


Anyway,I'll put the photo up again since some people like the comparison.

Lee Raymond, chairman of Exxon Mobil Corp.

[Daphne08]

7. I thought of Jabba the Hutt when I saw that photo

of Oil Exec.

[IChing]

8. Grotesque and powerful criminal overlord

of exxon, laughing at the meeting

http://www.benandgrover.com/ep6/audio/jabbalf2.wav

and then there is Jabba the Hutt laughing also

http://www.benandgrover.com/ep6/audio/jabbalaf.wav

I still need to know the answer to my question in my above post.

[Jackpine Radical]

6. It's HARD WORK bein' a CEO. And a thankless job, with lotsa abuse.

We should all stand in silent thanks for a minute that there are those brave souls who are willing to take on such jobs for a paltry few tens of millions per year (not counting options). Say a special prayer for these brave men (always men) who are sacrificing themselves for us.