throw the bums out

Lawmakers, especially on the Republican side, "need some cover in the face of record-breaking profits," says Christine Tezak, an energy analyst for Stanford Washington Research Group. "Expect a lot of criticism ... but there is far more rhetoric than votes in support of windfall profits taxes."


Together the five companies — ExxonMobil Corp., Chevron, ConocoPhillips, BPAmerica and Shell Oil USA — reported more than $25 billion in profits in the July-September quarter as the price of crude oil hit $70 a barrel and gasoline surged to record levels after the disruptions of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

ExxonMobil chairman Lee Raymond said Tuesday on CNBC, showing no sign of being defensive about his company's nearly $10 billion in earnings, on revenue of $100 billion, during the third quarter.

Once again it will be all talk and no action. Let's throw the bums out at the next election.