but like the catalytic converter story and others that have disappeared, the public record that documents the failure of these neocon stories also disappears when they disappear. 

When a person consistently gets things wrong it is helpful to have the record so that when new questions arise that have to do with developing public policy, a person can look back when the neocons propose something with great certainty and force, and in the course of public review and development of policy, we can review the record and say, hey, you have been so wrong about so many things in the past, why would your certainty and confidence regarding planning mean anything except possibly to warn us all not to follow the advice of folks who have consistently been wrong on important issues in the past? 

As for the refinery capacity explanation, I guess we have to ask for data if that comes up as the explanation.  Looks like the energy companies have been making money and would be able to afford to build refineries if they wanted to. From a business planning pov I would be inclined to build refineries close to the source of the crude if I was in the petrol business, especially if the refineries were then sited in an area with a work force that could not engage in collective bargaining and where the environmental requirements would allow for more profitable refining with a higher level of environmental degradation.