A few comments...
Liberals are convinced, consciously or otherwise, that the only reason gas isn't cheap, cars aren't getting 200 mpg, and chickens don't drop gold nuggets instead of chickenshit is raw, corporate greed and malevolence.
I'm sure most liberals think the high gas prices are bloated and excessive, and that certainly the gasoline companies could get by on a lot less profit.
When one points out that much of the current gas prices consist of taxes, and that maybe those could be cranked back a bit, then it's "oh, no! The government can't possibly get by on any less money!"