I agree totaly.
Chavez needs our oil money. If he decides not to ship us oil he will cause huge monetary losses and more poverty in Venezuela. He cannot afford that.
I also think our govt. should start to take steps to fight the EU's apparent discrimination of American business corporations.
We can start with a tariff on Airbus since it is being subsidized by Europian countries.
I disagree with penalizing the Saudis since they are our Second biggest Ally in the east. Israel being the first.

Don't agree on the bit about nationalization. Cause that's an act done by Socialist Govts and we project ourselves not be one (although we think its okay for our Govt to be like the communist Govt and interfere in how parents look after their kids and what they do to punish and discipline the kids - any way that's a different story).

We should freeze assets of all Venezuelan Govt here under a quick/swift court ruling / order and put it in an escrow account with Exxon being the beneficiary. Then negotiate with Chavez Govt.

Don't agree about doing this to the Saudis - they are one of the few who back the US and the ailing dollar as the currency of choice in the commodity market (Oil is 60% of the market and Chavez would like to make Euro the standard for Oil trade - meaning end of the US dollar dominance).

Along those same lines, I think since Exxon is legally stealing from American citizens, we should do the same and sieze all of the assets of Exxon and apply them to the national debt or turn them over to a contract oil company to run the business at cost in order to supply fuel to the American people at a reasonable price instead of racking up outrageous profits quarter after quarter while working people can't afford to purchase gasoline.

The US Dollar is history and will eventually be replaced by the Euro. You can count on our politicians to continue to devalue the dollar, not balance the budget and borrow from China or anyone else who will invest in US Govt obligations until everyone finally decides they've had enough and switches. Then the Democrats will blame it on the Republicans and the Republicans will blame the Democrats and the US economy will be that of a third world country.

Count on your politicians doing everything completely backwards and running their mouths as usual.

Bowdarc, you're a moron--but I guess you have that right. Exxon isn't stealing your money. You're addicted to oil-- and OPEC is hurting your wallet, get over it. The companies have no control over the cost of oil, so stop blaming them. I agree with equal retaliation against Chavez, but agree with Nick that we should cut the Saudis some slack for promoting our currency.

The dollar has been and is still the most important currency the world has ever known. The rest of the world dances to America's financial tune and will continue to do so for the foreseable future.

Convince me I should soften my position on the Saudis.

Mr. Sattler gets my vote for President! As far as Exxon goes, I wouldn't worry too much. Even after their losses "south of the border", their profits are still at record levels.

It's hard to feel sorry for a company that, in spite of an army of accountants desperately trying to lower it, had to post 39 billion on the bottom line last year.

Oh by the way, that's the same year they said they couldn't afford to pay any more to clean up the Valdeez mess.

It's tempting to suggest we emulate Chavez but if we did we would be lowering ourselves to his standards.

XOM does not set the price of oil get a life

Leave EXXon alone and stop the nonsensical and constant squawking about its profits which are less than 10% on sales - much less than many other large companies are doing. You would like to kill the golden goose. Think a little bit before you get out the axe. EXXon pays taxes in an amount that is more each year than 1/2 of all taxes paid by all individual filers. Kill EXXon and be prepared to pay its "fair share" of taxes plus your own and plus any tax increases the Democrats are itching to impose if they get more control than they now have. And also, be prepared to pay more for gasoline if you kill EXXon. Eagle Eye

Get off of our big corporations such as EXXON who do so much good for all of us by providing good products, paying lots of taxes and creating a lot of employment. We are a free and sovereign nation; let us act accordingly.

After that, the Russian actions should be reported to the UN Security Council as an overt show of aggression and a threat of war against our defensive posture. Then we should seriously consider leaving the UN. They hate us there already any way. They wouldn't miss us ... much.-- Quote
I agree .. It would be a savings of around 800 million dollars a year also.