While we're taking that stroll, could we note that gas prices were so low because of the massive economic crash, and that just months before they were as high or higher than they are now?

Shostie: "Sorry, sir, but that is well outside the purview of your powers and probably illegal."

"Oh. Well, that's a pisser. ... So hookers and blow, then?"

What that last line should read is: "Well, lets get a bill put together and get some big sponsors for Congress," but the President isn't big on that.

Obviously, this means Sarah Palin should automatically be named President, any and all laws that she doesn't like should automatically be declared null and void, and we should nuke Iran from orbit.

MaudlinMutantMollusk: Like anything that reduced oil company profits or raised their taxes could get through congress?

As people seem to have completely forgotten, symbolic fights have value. Obama, and apparently most of the people on this site, are completely incapable of realizing that. It doesn't take a whole lot of thought to realize that if he had made a push on this with Congress he would be relatively immune from attack now and have a defense.

Correlation always equals causation.

Before W came into office those high gas prices were unprecedented except for the whole oil embargo which made the high prices easily explainable at that time. Many people were looking for someone to blame and an oil man in the whitehouse that appears shady was a simple answer. I think at this point people have become more savvy about what drives higher gas prices so the republicans might not have as much success with this narrative as they want to.

Barfmaker: He talked about working towards energy independence, not reducing the price of gas

And he has done exactly that. Domestic production is up, imports are down.

Barfmaker: He talked about working towards energy independence, not reducing the price of gas . In fact there were three bullet points at the end of the clip:

Windfall profits penalty
Invest $150B in alternative energy
Create 5 million jorbs

Mark harshly, but at least mark based on what he said.

Yep, maybe there was a hint towards a very long term reduction through alternatives. He mentioned the high gas prices as a symptom of our oil dependance. He has worked to remove us from our dependance (and failed in many regards yes), while this opposition wants us to remain oil dependent and is only touting international oil independence, not independence from oil itself, just from Mideast oil..

BTW the Cato Institute came out with a thing in the last couple days that said gas prices aren't Obama's fault.

/waits for heads to asplode

Most Americans say Obama could lower gas prices if he gave a fark.

Link (new window)

Deal with it, people. These are the masses speaking.

cretinbob: If $4 gas wasn't Bush's fault, then it's not Obama's fault either.
STFU and GBTW

Well ultimately there is a fault at the Federal level for our lack of a cohesive energy policy that uses a variety of energy sources. Not entirely the Presidents fault, and its a long term problem, more than just one President. But each President in office has had an effect.

cretinbob: If $4 gas wasn't Bush's fault, then it's not Obama's fault either.
STFU and GBTW

But it was Bush's fault. He wanted to make sure his friends in the oil business made extra money. He liked to look out for his good friends in the oil business by raising gas prices.

Here's an interesting video that mentions high gas prices before Obama took office (new window)

Cletus C.: Most Americans say Obama could lower gas prices if he gave a fark.

Link (new window)

Deal with it, people. These are the masses speaking.

That's the single most useless comment I've ever read. The people believe it - it must be true!

cretinbob: If $4 gas wasn't Bush's fault, then it's not Obama's fault either.
STFU and GBTW

Well, except for the fact that Bush relaxed restrictions prohibiting speculation of oil prices. Oh, and that whole "two wars in the Middle East" thingie-mabopper.

I think the only way we can truly lower the price of gas is to invade another sovereign country.

Right-wingers exalt their conception of the Free Market™, untrammeled by government fascism.

Right-wingers simultaneously want the government to effectively confiscate the domestic oil supply instead of allowing it to be traded on the world market.

P.S. Your blog sucks.

Supposedly we could reach peak oil in 2040.

What B-RAWK might look like.


/fark you subby, that battle music is going to be with me all day now.

THIS JUST IN. Politicians say what we want to hear to get elected.

Mitt Romney, your comments?

imontheinternet: That said, Obama CAN lower gas prices somewhat by regulating speculation in the short term, developing natural gas in the mid term, and developing green energy in the long term.

All of those would require the cooperation of Congress, which he will not get.

His press conference this morning: "It's not fair that China is locking up energy reserves and rare earth metals worldwide. We are filing a complaint with the WTO."

Instead of allowing US companies to go out and buy/develop resources, he cries like a biatch.

cretinbob: If $4 gas wasn't Bush's fault, then it's not Obama's fault either.
STFU and GBTW

Only if the price spike is related to dropping bombs or threatening war against an oil exporting country. That is really the only guaranteed way the executive branch can impact gas prices, and only in a negative way.

Gas prices are what they are because that is what the global commodity market prices them at. Oil contract buyers will pay that much. Hell, we use less gasoline/diesel than our domestic refining capacity so now we are EXPORTING those refined products to Asia and South America. So yes, even though US demand has been dropping for years, the increasing global demand (and speculators) are pushing the prices up. Get used to it America. The only thing that will get prices low again is another massive recession (which is why gas was so cheap at the end of GWB's term). When nobody has any money prices do tend to drop. Hell, you could say that the run-up in gas prices is a sign of a growing economy.

Negative decrease?



Also, the American President is not the President of OPEC.

If the President seized the oil companies today and jailed the executives,he wouldn't even have to campaign for re-election.

chi_tino: His press conference this morning: "It's not fair that China is locking up energy reserves and rare earth metals worldwide. We are filing a complaint with the WTO."

Instead of allowing US companies to go out and buy/develop resources, he cries like a biatch.

I was unaware that there's some sort of law preventing US companies from doing this.

In other words: WTF are you talking about?

Of course back in 2008 when the price was this high it was probably all Obama's fault too. Because he was leading McCain. He can't do anything right!

Link (new window)

AverageJoe77: Of course back in 2008 when the price was this high it was probably all Obama's fault too. Because he was leading McCain. He can't do anything right!

Link (new window)

Well, of course. Prices started spiking because the Democrats took the Congress, then went back down because it looked like McCain would win, then back up when Obama won.

he did do something about it, it was called The Making Work Pay Credit, it was essentially a gasoline subsidy, then the Conservatives refused to renew it, that's right they raised taxes.

qorkfiend: Cletus C.: Most Americans say Obama could lower gas prices if he gave a fark.

Link (new window)

Deal with it, people. These are the masses speaking.

That's the single most useless comment I've ever read. The people believe it - it must be true!

It's true the people believe it. What does that tell you, Gomer?

Foundling: If the President seized the oil companies today and jailed the executives,he wouldn't even have to campaign for re-election.

Cárdenas did it! Well, not the whole election thing.

WhyteRaven74: BTW the Cato Institute came out with a thing in the last couple days that said gas prices aren't Obama's fault.

/waits for heads to asplode

Well, if they keep saying stuff like that, no wonder the Koch brothers are infuriated. They know damn well it isn't Obama's fault because it's theirs. They are largely the creators and main speculators after all.

Lord_Baull: I think the only way we can truly lower the price of gas is to invade another sovereign country.

I'm all for that. I say we invade Canada for several reasons.

A) They farked up bacon (this is reason enough imo)
B) Canadian football!? wtf? really?
C) Simple logistics, we can just drive there.

cretinbob: If $4 gas wasn't Bush's fault, then it's not Obama's fault either.
STFU and GBTW

Bush wasn't running for re-election.

I suppose that there's no chance Republican Obstructionism - with the sole goal of making Obama look like a terrible, do-nothing President so that they can regain power - has anything to do with the viewpoint that Obama has failed. They've plainly stated that their goal wasn't to fix the economy, or control gas prices, or anything else that would actually benefit the country. It was to make sure Obama wasn't re-elected. No solutions, just "we want power back, and we'll do whatever it takes to get it back."

No, couldn't be...

I also remember when Bush said he would get Osama "Dead or alive" and that he was a "Uniter, not a Divider"....

So what's your point, subby? That politicians lie in some cases, and are overly optimistic in others? Yeah, we all knew that already.