Exxon Mobil invests more than $2 million per day in R&D and is involved in $11.8 billion in development projects as I write this. It spent $6.9 billion on oil exploration in the 3rd Quarter of this year alone.

Through the first 3 quarters of this year, Exxon Mobil has earned net profits of $1,400 per second. It has operating costs of $15,000 per second and it pays $4,000 per second in taxes. In 2007, Exxon Mobil paid more than $140 billion in taxes!

Exxon Mobil employs tens of thousands of Americans at high paying jobs with great benefits. The company spent $10 billion in dividends and share buybacks in the 3rd quarter alone. This money boosts the economy. Exxon Mobil's tax payments, job creation, and wealth creation do more for the economy than 99.9% of people or companies. Even Dumbo Hussein has less impact than Exxon Mobil.

Thank the oil companies for the jobs and tax revenues.

There are several issues with respect to oil supply, drilling. First off, the existing leases of thousands and thousands of acres offshore and on land that oil companies have have not been developed. If they do not plan on developing them, then the leases should be removed prior to them getting more acres.

Secondly, the entire solution and oil supply issue isn't based solely on drilling.

Oil companies have not been making capital improvements for quite some time but instead issuing buybacks. Also, they lack the capability of refining heavy crude oil. Lastly, there are issues which center around peak production to consider.

Perhaps oil companies should first drill on the thousands and thousands of offshore (outer continental shelf) and land where they currently hold leases but haven't developed or pursued development before we open up more land for them to lease and do nothing.

The Supreme Court ruled that carbon dioxide meets the criteria of a pollutant that the EPA can regulate.

It shocks me to think that you're forgetting many dixiecrats joined the GOP. Perhaps a reason many African Americans aren't thinking of the prominent African Americans of the Republican party is because they are too busy thinking about disenfranchisement, those GOP members who are on record stating they would have voted against the Civil Rights legislation (Reagan, etc), Goldwater, Atwater, etc.

The Democratic senator from Illinois will tell the Environmental Protection Agency that it may use the 1990 Clean Air Act to set emissions limits on power plants and manufacturers, his energy adviser, Jason Grumet, said in an interview. President George W. Bush declined to curb CO2 emissions under the law even after the Supreme Court ruled in 2007 that the government may do so.

If elected, Obama would be the first president to group emissions blamed for global warming into a category of pollutants that includes lead and carbon monoxide. Obama's rival in the presidential race, Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, has not said how he would treat CO2 under the act. From the Sierra Club

"They want to have oil and gas drilling in some of the most sensitive, fragile lands in Utah," Podesta said. "I think that's a mistake." The Sierra Club rule has begun.

President Bush talked about "the soft bigotry of low expectations" and he was correct. Liberals have made blacks a permanent victim class because, if blacks were free to live their lives, build wealth, etc. they would have fewer things to be angry about. They could blend in to society, where conservatives don't care about your skin color but, rather, your ideas and your contributions.

I don't hold blacks to lower expectations, make excuses for them, demand less, etc. because THAT is equality. You can't lower testing requirements, etc. and say that you are in favor of equality. Let people be free and let them grow.

A free people will see the government as their biggest hinderance to freedom and wealth creation. At that point, the Democrats lose their built in constituency.

I will also take that pledge. I wish we could debate the issues without the distractions and digressions associated with personal attacks and name calling. So, yes, hold me to it, as well.

Republicans HAVE helped blacks. Bush appointed the first black to the National Security Advisor post, TWO blacks to the Secretary of State position, traditionally the plum Cabinet job, many black to judgeships and lower cabinet posts, etc.

It shocks me that blacks think Democrats are their friends! Blacks are usually in favor of school choice/vouchers, pro-gun and anti-gay marriage and anti-abortion, all traditional Republican positions. Blacks want to be treated as equal, nothing more, nothing less. Republicans offer this. Ken Blackwell, JC Watts, Michael Steele, Thomas Sowell, Larry Elder, Walter Williams and Ward Connerly are just a few examples of conservative blacks who happen to be among our best and brightest citizens. I want to sit down and pick their brains.

How come you omitted Podesta's comment about Obama looking at developing a diverse cabinet including outreach to Republicans and Independents?

President-elect Obama's transition chief said Sunday the incoming administration is looking to reverse President Bush's executive orders on stem cell research, oil and gas drilling and other matters.

John Podesta said the president can use such orders to move quickly without waiting for Congress to act, highlighting the extraordinary powers a president can wield beyond signing legislation approved by Congress. Podesta said people should expect Obama to use those powers to reverse many policies of the Bush administration.

the new president elect, Obama, is inheriting two wars and the worse economic distater since the great depression. give him and his administration time to at least get in office. some much for patriotic citizens. at least people gave bush a chance. he proved himself, that is why he is so unpopular. Obama isn't even in office yet! come on

And your right about the name calling. Even though I didn't say anything in my previous post about you, I do tend to get out of hand.

As my witness, EllisWyatt, I hereby pledge to not hurl names or insults at people I do not agree with.

Not that anybody cares, but I will stand by this affirmation. If anybody notices me doing these things, please feel free to call me a hypocrite.

Will anybody take this pledge with me?

Nothing will be better and they will do their darndest to cover up how much things will be worse. Then at the end of 4 years they will say "It takes time" Re-Elect Obama.

Care to actually address my argument or do you wish to resort to the typical name calling? Address the issues, man!

Carbon dioxide regulations concerning the power industry isn't going to wreck our economy. By the way, I don't understand why you didn't seem to have a problem with McCain's plans to regulate carbon dioxide emissions.

I presume you're aware that Natural Gas power plants only emit 15% of the total carbon dioxide emitted from power plants.

The cost of running coal power plants and building them has increased signficantly from the increased costs of raw materials, transportation costs, etc.

I don't understand why one would make excuses for power companies to not meet regulations protective of public health.

Agreed that CEO compensations often seem out of whack! But shareholders/board members set those packages and hopefully they have been "enlightened" by recent events!