[charliebrownout]

I've been watching the news with the Fed guys and Congress and Bush chanting "drill"....

I'm just wondering if they're already in the bargaining stage of grief, because it seems like they're trying to buy time with the drilling and shoring up things that can be.

Or is this still just a function of denial?

[evilgenius]

It's tough to say. Nobody could have written a script that could take them this far. At best the script's instructions would be something like, 'Big recession meant to change the distribution of energy, leaders talk their way through it.' Paulson may have a net out there in demand destruction, but only if some of his other safeguards hold. He will necessarily become rather inventive.

[jlw61]

If this is bargaining, then they did not spend much time in anger. I would have expected a whole lot more finger pointing and yelling from the mountain tops.

Of course, this is an election year so I wonder if anger could be replaced with bargaining so quickly if it would gain political points. The next stage is depression...

Hmmm... nope, I'm for them still being in the denial stage. Anger isn't usually skipped this easily. The politicos are going to be holding hearings and demanding people be sent to jail when they hit anger. Besides, the people aren't out of denail yet so what are the chances that the estemed leaders are actually leading?

[mos6507]

It's still denial because the oil production charts still indicate a plateau. Only when all the charts show a downward spiral that looks to most to be permanent will people openly admit peak oil.

Of course, a prolonged plataeu is no party either, because of the increased demand, but that's just not enough to convince people. It has to be the production side going down that will do it.

[jbrovont]

For the record, I'd like to point out the misuse of the word "leader" here. The people we're talking about are either far behind the curve, or using their knowledge and positional power to profiteer.

Henceforth, I submit they be christened and called by a more appropriate title: quislings. If needs be, "judas" can serve as derogatory slang for them, and of course the most straight-forward label is still useful: traitor.

[charliebrownout]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jbrovont', 'F')or the record, I'd like to point out the misuse of the word "leader" here. The people we're talking about are either far behind the curve, or using their knowledge and positional power to profiteer.

Henceforth, I submit they be christened and called by a more appropriate title: quislings. If needs be, "judas" can serve as derogatory slang for them, and of course the most straight-forward label is still useful: traitor.