Record breaking gas prices followed by record breaking profits

Gas prices are just a few cents short of the all time record high of the oil embargo of 1981. On the eve of these reports of record breaking gas prices the largest Oil companies in the world are posting the largest profits ever.
Chevron posted a record high $4.1 billion dollor profit for its last quarter, its the largest ever in its 126 year history. Chevrons 14.1 billion dollor profit for 2005 was also the highest every in chevron history. Chevron is expected to set another record this year as oil prices are expected to remain above $60 a barrel.
Sen. Barbara Boxer attacked chevron chairman David O'Reilly and other oil company CEO's when they appeared before congress in November and lashed out again on Friday at the bush administration "I call on the Bush administration to put an end to this price gouging " Boxer went on to say " you would think the FTC stood for friends to chevron"
Exxon Mobil Corporation posted one of the largest quarterly profits in American history $10.7 billion for the fourth quarter of 2005, up from more than $8.4 billion a year ago. Exxon Mobil is the largest publicly traded oil company in the world.
Royal Dutch Shell reported a 67 percent increase in 2005 third-quarter profit to US $9.39 billion, as soaring oil prices outweighed lost production and damage to rigs from fierce hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico.
Halliburton posted a $1.1 billion profit for 2005 the company's largest ever earnings since it was formed 86 years ago. The company was once led by Vice President Dick Cheney. It has also received huge contracts from the government ranging from everything to providing food for the troops to building detention centers.

Gee I wonder if the president and his men are friends with any oil companies or have ever owned or worked for any huge oil companies :) think we all know the answer!