What a difference a year makes. In 2008, we were treated night after night to video clips of the obscene spectacle of Congresspersons berating oil company executives because Big Oil was making a profit. There was talk of Excess Profits Taxes, and endless posturing punctuated with faux indignity.

Pictured at right: House of Representatives investigates the oil company profits.

Okay, fast forward to now, and try to pick out the phony headline:

1: Exxon’s Profit Slides 66%

2: Congressman Apologizes For Gratuitous Verbal Abuse Of Oil Company Executives

3: Shell Posts 67% Drop In Net, Cuts Jobs

Yes, that one was easy.  It’s number 2.  In fact, the very hubs of Hell will be frozen before something like that happens.

Here are the real stories:

Exxon Reports Lowest Profit Since 2003

Shell Posts Sharp Drop In Net