Comments on: Gee, what another shocking revelation…McCain=Big Oil

By: pandora

pandora — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 03:09:44 +0000

My heros! But, really, it doesn’t bother me. A Bundy adds nothing of value… he/she is a sad person with nothing better to do.

By: Steve Newton

Steve Newton — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 03:03:40 +0000

And a further point: as contentious and vituperative as the recent Cathloic flame-war got (I believe I called dv a “whining pussy” at one point and DD labeled me an apologist for child abuse; God only knows what dv called me–the spelling always leaves room for doubt)–there was a level of mutual consent to mudslinging (both past, present, and assumed for future) whereas the current gratuitous attack on Pandora is a completely different matter.

By: Steve Newton

Steve Newton — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:56:15 +0000

Once again, Pandora, your huge box reeks of ignorance.

For once, I’m having trouble arguing with jason.

By: Jason330

Jason330 — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:52:34 +0000

I think the personal attacks cross a line. So if you enjoy them feel free to allow that crap at DWA.

By: Jason330

Jason330 — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:49:31 +0000

As you might have guessed, I’m thinking bundy is female.

Anyway, she/he will be not commenting here for long.

By: Mike Matthews

Mike Matthews — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:43:38 +0000

Let’s hope. Is it really necessary to ban someone? You know how I feel about such censorious tactics.

By: Jason330

Jason330 — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:41:34 +0000

Enjoy mike bundy is getting banned. Maybe she can bring her low class loser act to DWA?

By: mike w.

mike w. — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:31:24 +0000

“And no I don’t think the big three auto makers are too big to let fail.”

Steve – I couldn’t agree more. Why continue to prop them up when they can’t make a competitive product.

Pandora – I’m with you on the bail-outs. I can’t believe Congress just bailed everyone out of the whole mortgage mess.

By: Mike Matthews

Mike Matthews — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:07:45 +0000

A. Bundy,

You are about the creepiest, most disturbed motherfucker commenting on this site.

And I love it!

By: A. Bundy

A. Bundy — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:59:31 +0000

“Through June, Exxon employees have given Obama $42,100 to McCain’s $35,166. Chevron favors Obama $35,157 to $28,500, and Obama edges out McCain with BP $16,046 vs. $11,500.”

Um…anyone?

“But it wasn’t until June 17th that McCain gave his oil friendly speech. What do July’s figures look like?”

Once again, Pandora, your huge box reeks of ignorance.

You guys don’t know what you’re talking about! Obama wants to really tighten campaign finance laws…Oh that’s right!

By: pandora

pandora — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:50:16 +0000

Isn’t the freedom to fall flat on your face as well as succeed the backbone of Capitalism? Why are profits always applauded and losses end in “government bail-out”?

Has American Capitalism become risk free?

By: Steve Newton

Steve Newton — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:41:50 +0000

I understand what you’re saying about potential job loss, but can we at least stop all the corporate welfare? They don’t seem to need it anymore.

My point has always been that corporations who choose to accept government welfare payments have absolutely no right to complain when the government comes in to regulate them.

Want to be free (or at least more free) (free-er? is that a word? i forget), corporate America? Then stand on your own damn feet and quit lusting after my tax dollars.

And no I don’t think the big three auto makers are too big to let fail.

By: pandora

pandora — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:26:28 +0000

“If Democrats enact policies that hurt the oil industry (or make it more profitable to go overseas), that has an effect on people here in the U.S., including employees of those companies.”

I understand what you’re saying about potential job loss, but can we at least stop all the corporate welfare? They don’t seem to need it anymore.

By: Steve Newton

Steve Newton — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:23:14 +0000

The problem in a research sense is that you cannot either completely dismiss company employee donations as unrelated to company agendas or completely count them, either. There are many companies which exert all sorts of indirect (and direct) pressure of middle- and upper- level executives to donate to the “correct” candidate.

But since PAC money now plays such a small part in donations to either McCain or Obama (source: http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/MapAppCompare.do

You have to make some sort of attempt to weight those donations.

I don’t follow the oil industry sector closely enough to be able to tell you how to do it. However, by analogy, look at the defense sector: personal contributions from employees of major defense contractors are running about 70-30 in favor of Obama–and most companies fit into one of three categories–all Obama, all McCain, or almost exactly a 50-50 split. I refuse to believe that’s coincidence.

Moreover, if you cross list the major retired military figures (and their wives) who work as lobbyists or frontmen for huge defense contractors with the major retired military figures who have publicly endorsed Obama, you discover an amazing almost 1-1 ratio.

I am not raising this issue to bash Obama, but to make the point that under the new election laws the best way for industry sectors to have an impact on the presidential race is to “encourage” donations to the “correct” candidate from employees. Some firms’ donations openly prefer one candidate or the other; other firms’ appear to be hedging their bets.

So while it seems like the oil/energy sector is lining up behind McCain (along with tobacco, health insurance, and pharmaceuticals), it also seems like the defense industry and the entertainment sectors (plus–although I haven’t done the numbers–the transportation industry) seem to be lined up behind Obama.

But the way the election donation laws are now written actually helps obscure which industries are choosing to support which candidate.

If I were a smart oil company right now, I’d be hedging my bets with about 25-30% donations to the Obama campaign.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:23:00 +0000

BTW, I’m an “all of the above” kinda person. Even though I’m a native born Texan (and have seen first hand the impact of Washington on oil producers), I kinda agree with Paris Hilton. Drill here, drill now, and develop alternatives.