Boycott Citgo working

[StClone]

This is one of the few boycotts I've seen work. And it one of the dumbest ASS things I've ever witnessed. In my town two Citgos are gone and in a nearby city I've see three have closed or changed brands. I usually make Citgo my first choice to gas up and buy sundries.

Here is a link to one boycott site: http://citgoboycott.org/

The dumb thing is Hugo will not be hurt in the least. His petrol will good happily to China or elsewhere on the world market. It is the small time gas station OWNERS that are hurt here in the U.S. So the Saudi's are better humans than Chavez?

I asked the manager of the first Citgo in my town to go what brand they will be selling. He replied he didn't know but said it will be an "American Blend." America produces very little of it's own gasoline and some ethanol. Surely a pat answer to serve to the idiot Americans driving their HUMs, SUVs and ATVs.

[Snarkoleptic]

1. My family and I boycott Exxon/Mobil.

These are some of the more rotten and well-connected scumbags in the industry.

[StClone]

2. Clearly

Exxon would gladly have you think Citgo is bad and it wouldn't be surprising to learn they are one of those behind the scenes propagating the "boycott Citgo" stupidity.

[pleah]

3. When we could afford to travel,

we used to go out of our way to stop at a Citgo, just to stick it to the so called Amercian gas companies. There are no Citgo stations in Red State,MS. Or at least the part where I live.

Also, that was 1.00 dollar a gallon ago.

[usaftmo]

17. There's at least 1 in the Biloxi area.

Although I have no idea how much longer it will be Citgo. As for the time being, they've got my business!

[defendandprotect]

4. Right . . . I've also used a Citgo station . .. and one of them closed . . .

[blue sky at night]

5. IMO...

we should support Citgo, not boycott...I would much prefer to support the Venezuelans than the Saud's.

[StClone]

8. This is about what Bush has done.

I do support Hugo!

Bush the oilman is catering to the hyper-obese Oil Company giants to protect them and beat up on the nationalization efforts of the oil industry of other countries: http://www.pinr.com/report.php?ac=view_report&report_id=492&language_id=1

But the ignorant don't know, or don't care to know, that Bush ordered the CIA to oust Chavez. Chavez outsmarted the coup and even sought to show his contempt for Bush and fealty to the Americans with free heating oil. The history of exploitation and killing at the hands of the U.S. Government to control Latin American minds and resources is legend.

[Nutmegger]

6. Citgo discounts heating oil to the disadvantaged.

Where's Exxon Mobil with their record breaking profits?

I always stop at Citgo.

[Kitty Herder]

7. I go out of my way to buy Citgo. I wish others would. nt

[StClone]

11. Me too, and boycott the former "School of the Americas"

[knitter4democracy]

9. We have three in town, all of them doing well.

They're usually cheaper, so they're pretty busy, often with lines.

[StClone]

10. Good to hear

Many don't care but the Am Radio hate throwers have spoken and enough sheep are falling in line to have an effect.

[knitter4democracy]

16. Michigan's hurting too badly to boycott cheaper gas.

People here are really hurting, and it's getting worse by the week, I swear. No one's going to pass up cheaper gasoline when it's gotten this bad.

[StClone]

18. LOL get err done but not in Bush times

Thanks

[dader]

12. Boycott of CITGO

I disagree with the premise that the boycott will not hurt Venezuela because the oil can always go to China. The situation with Venezuealan oil is unique in all of the petroleum producing states. The oil that comes from Venezuela is extremely poor quality - the worst in the world when it comes to impurities, especially sulfur, that are hard to refine. The refineries in the southern US are the closest with the technology to refine the Venezuelan crude into the advanced fuels. I don't know if China is set up to refine the 'gunk' that comes from Venezuela, but when you add those added costs to the much greater shipping costs, I don't believe China or India are good prospective customers for Venezuelan oil. A sever boycott on the part of the US will be felt, and if Europe ever followed suit, it would be devastating.

[Robb]

13. Welcome to DU!

Don't be confused about Venezuelan extra-heavy crude, it takes a different process to refine, nothing more or less. China's already become a major partner (CNPC) in the process.

Once V starts developing outside the Faja, they'll have something on the order of 300+ billion barrels of recoverable oil. That's what all this is about.

ONGC (India), PetroPars, Gazprom, Lukoil... these aren't oil companies that just dick around, and they're on the ground, now.

[go west young man]

15. I would refer you to this 2006 article.

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/2311

[StClone]

21. That's on par with my thinking

China is a committed partner. Is it ironic that U.S. debt is taken via China and converted in to bolivars? (The bolivar in 2007 weakened but China trade helps stabilize it.)

[StClone]

19. Good to know

See the snopes link below, too.

[Historic NY]

14. snopes

http://www.snopes.com/politics/gasoline/citgo.asp

[madrchsod]

20. really? i guess that`s why they have a huge refinery in chicago

a large percentage of gasoline is refined by citgo and others in chicago. boycotting citgo is one of the dumbest ideas in a long, long time. this is the third year of providing low cost heating oil to the poor in america..

[StClone]

22. Pyrrhic victory

Now that this discussion has taken place I think I see what's going on. The name Citgo may change but Venezuelan crude still comes in uninterrupted volume selling under a different name. Fueling up at at the lowest price, maybe at Citgo, outweighs the silly boycott.

Thanks for the info.

[provis99]

23. since ALL retailers will buy gas from ANYONE,

how does the boycott affect Venezuela at all? Don't those boycott idiots know that Citgo buys gas from all over, not just Venezuela, and Shell, Exxon, and BP buy gas that started out as crude oil in Venezuela? What incomprehenible thickwitted twits people are.

[dader]

24. CITGO BOYCOTT

Apparently, my knowledge of the Venezuelan oil situation was less than stellar - thanks to all of you that put me straight with replies to my post; but in theory, the boycott would "hurt" Venezuela not because CITGO buys gas from Venezuela, but because CITGO is owned by the Venezuelan government.