Slow Eddie Rendell: Jackass and hypocrite.

Gov. Ed Rendell today called on federal policy-makers to enact a windfall profit tax on gasoline to curb what he called "profiteering" by the major oil companies.

Here's the jackass part:

"These profits are ungodly. (What Would Moses Do? eh, Eddie? - F. G.) There is no excuse for this, absolutely no excuse. It is embarrassing," Rendell said.

At an outdoor news conference at a Harrisburg gas station, Rendell said oil company profits have soared 23 cents a gallon in 1999 to 99 cents a gallon last year.

At the pumps, he said, the retail price has doubled in just three years to around $3 for a gallon of regular gas.

Rendell said the price increases are hurting Pennsylvania families and the state's economy.

The average gas price in Pennsylvania now stands at $2.94. The national average is $2.90.

Some argue that lowering the state's 30-cent-a-gallon tax on gasoline would help alleviate the price at the pump, but Rendell said that would take about $300 million away from the state's transportation needs.

And that there is the hypocritical part. Oh, no! We dare not take away 300 million units of Slow Eddie's power, he's still gotta win reelection!