This is their solution?

From CNN.com: Senators to push for $100 gas rebate checks

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Most American taxpayers would get $100 rebate checks to offset the pain of higher pump prices for gasoline, under an amendment Senate Republicans hope to bring to a vote Thursday.

However, the GOP energy package may face tough sledding because it also includes a controversial proposal to open part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil exploration, which most Democrats and some moderate Republicans oppose.

Yes, this is their solution to the fact that Bush's oil-man buddies are gouging people - kickbacks to the people. The oil companies pay off the legislators, and the legislators pay off the citizens.

You know what'd be a better solution? Telling the oil companies to either stop gouging people or get fined. And while they're at it, they can break up that whole "near-monopoly" thing they've got going. In fact, if I didn't know better, I'd almost think the oil companies were making sure there was no actual competition.

"Our plan would give taxpayers a hundred dollar gas tax holiday rebate check to help ease the pain that they're feeling at the pump," Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist announced Thursday. "It also includes strong federal anti-price gouging protection to protect consumers against anti-competitive behavior by oil companies or other suppliers of gasoline. Our free market system works, but it works best when there's full accountability and full transparency."

Why don't I believe him on this? Then again, this is the man who lied about an essentially-dead woman's condition because he was shilling to the anti-choice, pro-torture lobby.

And lemme tell you something, you hack: The free market isn't working. The free market causes shit like this when it's not regulated, and right now, the market's a hyperactive kid without a parent.

"A lot of these other things we're talking about today, supply, like ANWR, have had Democrats oppose them in the past, when gas was $1.25, $1.50. Gas is now $3," said John Thune, R-South Dakota. "I would expect that there would be a lot more bipartisan support for proposals that would increase supply in this country."

Yeah, because we're going to support something that's not going to help at all simply because your masters are trying to extort every cent from us. How dumb do you think we are?

People, this just isn't an idea. This is a distraction. "Party of ideas", my fat white ass.