A, B, C,... okay, repeat after me.. A, B, C. got it??

Even a kitten stuck in a paper bag could follow these three stories (from today's news) to their logical earth-destroying conclusion (thanks to Think Progress):

1) Today, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is touring an oil rig off the coast of Louisiana in order “to highlight his support for increased domestic offshore drilling.” Although he will not join McCain today, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) promoted McCain’s oil rig visit in an appearance on Fox and Friends this morning. Making sure to note that the drilling platform McCain will visit is owned and run by Chevron, Jindal oddly suggested that the photo-op will “emphasize that drilling alone is not enough” to address America’s energy needs. It should come as no surprise that the McCain chose to visit a Chevron-owned drilling platform, considering that lobbyists for Chevron both fundraise and work for his campaign. The Chevron oil rig McCain is visiting is a joint venture with Exxon, which owns 38.38 percent of the project. Lobbyists for Exxon also work and fundraise for McCain's campaign. McCain's plan to cut the corporate tax rate would result in a $480 million per-year tax break for Chevron and $1.2 billion per-year tax break for Exxon.

2) F. Chase Hutto, a senior Cheney advisor, is the leading candidate to be appointed assistant secretary for policy and international affairs at the Energy Department, the Washington Post reports. Former EPA official Jason Burnett said Hutto is “naturally and philosophically opposed to regulation,” adding, “I can’t think of a case where Chase advocated more environmental or health protections.” Hutto is also deeply opposed to regulating greenhouse gas emissions from cars. As one energy official described in July: “He [Hutto] would talk, for example, about not wanting greenhouse gas controls to do away with the large American automobile. Last month, a U.S. House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming report found that Hutto, "along with unidentified individuals from Exxon Mobil Corp. and the American Petroleum Institute," played a key role in the Bush administration's decision not to allow the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act.

3) The oil industry is spending record amounts of money this year to protect its interests as Congress considers a barrage of energy bills. According to recent data the industry has spent $55 million on lobbying so far in 2008. In what may be surprising to some, the most recent figures from the Center for Responsive Politics show that the oil industry gives a relatively small sum to individual political campaigns - it's 16th on a list of top 50 industries. When it comes to lobbying - and spending money that goes toward researching, writing and convincing lawmakers to vote its way - the industry ranks fifth. If the spending continues at the current pace, the industry is set to break last year's $83 million record. The amount spent on lobbying by the industry, along with lobbying money in general, has been setting records since 2005. With record gas prices, a contentious fight over energy legislation and a huge election on the horizon it's not surprising the industry spent so much on lobbying this year.