What ever in the world made anyone think they would actually blame their big oil masters who are really the ones behind it. Is three any wonder why their have billions in profits? And yet they still want the fattest taxpayers teat.

No...let's blame Obama. He is the one who holds the gun to the heads of the big oil companies and force them to raise the prices of gas just to make the American people suffer even more. At least that is what the GOPTeaBags want us to think.

This is not Obama's fault , but our record rising disastrous crushing debt is ....

isn't it amazing that we have subsidies going to the oil and gas industry??? isn't it amazing that our domestic oil is being sold overseas??? Does this mean that we want the government to control our prices??? is that what the republican party wants???? just like they did during the Nixon years????

Make no mistake the republicans could do no better than the President is doing now, except they would pump more money into the oil business in the form of subsidies that do no good. it is the speculators and the "free" market that is causing oil prices to spike... Oh which is a republican stronghold...

This Is time for the electric car so we don't keep being held hostige like this Hey is there anybody in there just smile if you can hear me is there any one home?

It's like this. The GOP will seize any reason to blame this President, for the economy, the fact that industrialists moved the jobs out of the country, insane rants about his place of birth---anything. If we don't fix this runaway train and restore some regulation over the trading of futures, nothing meaningful in the future will come of this country.

There's some serious defects in the safeguards of this country's very existence. We allow unlimited funds to flow from those to be governed that those in public office. This President has been forced to cut deals to benefit the average American and it did cost him in the polls. I know for fact that there are plenty of people right here on the Vine that have received direct benefit from him covering the back of the 99%.

The endeavor to make sure that the wealthiest Americans keep even more is a joke. Romney is the recipient of the Wall Street system. His class will benefit more than anyone if he is elected. Santorum is a man that has no concept of separation of church and state.

We've got the right guy in office now. Wall Street can aid in the increase in oil prices and can easily manipulate the market to make us feel it at the pump.

Exactly Whatthetruth52, we EXPORTED a record amount of oil and gas last year! Gas and oil are sold on the open market and prices are based on a myriad of different conditions. No matter what the Repubs say they would have absolutely no say in pricing any more than Obama does!

The continuing turmoil in Europe and the saber rattling of Iran are two major factors in rising oil prices at the present time.

This oil price increase is nothing compared to Obama's 1 million dollar increase in our debt every 30 seconds ....

This is not Obama's fault , but our record rising disastrous crushing debt is ....

If Obama had not started 2 unpaid for wars, 2 huge tax cut and drove the economy into the toilet, the national debt should be close to zero by now. Some people thing that Bush did all these bad things but us republicans know that it was Obama. Maybe he was putting drugs in Bush's coffee.

Everything the Downgrade President touches is a disaster. A complete failure has been unmasked, and through-the-roof gas prices will be his final undoing. Good riddance in November, Teleprompter in Chief. The end of an error!

how would that debt be without the trillions spent on the iraq war, started by bush??

Obama could bring down the price of gas and anyone who doesn't believe that has choked on their Kool-Aid. Speculation is a two way street, having a Pres willing to tap our own resources (gulf and ANWAR) and build the most studied pipeline in history would cause the price of oil to fall. In addition there are other things the Pres COULD push for which to lower the price at the pump but let's not con ourselves shall we? High oil prices fit right into Obama's agenda of promoting "green" energy. Only when we really start bitching about the cost of gas will the Pres make any effort to appear to be proactive. Only when he's afraid it will bite him in the polling booth will he "take action". Of course that action will be 75% blame the GOP, the rich, corporations, etc...; 25% token, meaningless, albeit sounding good, BS like tap into the strategic reserve.

Just wait to see what we are paying for gas if Obama gets another term and has no reason to give a sh!t anymore.

Insane rants from the GOP...why am I not surprised. Obama did not create the deficits; that's simply not factual, but blindly listening to fakes news may lead you to believe it. Obama did contribute though...by continuing the GOP wars, not decreasing the defense budget, continuing the Medicare Rx drug program which the GOP forgot to pay for, and by extending the Bush tax cuts that primarily benefit the 1%. The cost of the wars was conveniently omitted from the deficit in past admins, but the Obama started including it in a show of honesty with the American people. Of course now the GOP'ers claim that it is "an increase" that he created. Sorry people, I don't make the facts, just report them. I realize that many of you don't accept facts that don't support your world view. To put it nicely, you are all scarecrows. Keep following the yellow brick road and you may find what you seek. I'm not confident it will help you though.

Libs blamed Bush for high gas prices, and now we get to blame Obama, gas has doubled since the Chicago Nightmare was elected.

I recall gas being ALOT more expensive under Mr. Bush. Alot. Its cheaper now. Speculators are SPECULATING it will be more but almost 2 dollar gas is great in comparison. Two wars dint make stable the mid east. It added to its instability. And it is SPECULATORS choosing to speculate gas up instead of down [cuz they can go down if they so chose] that is THEE biggest cause of high prices at the pump. ; ]

Tea bagging republican extremist in government are PA THET IC. ; ]Always with the what ifs shoulda woulda coulda's. Get real luv . ;]

Cheers

Three things:

#1 - The President does not personally set the gas prices each morning.

#2 - The rise may have something to do with the fact that the entire middle east is embroiled in wars

#3 - Gas prices are going up, the oil companies are posting record profits every quarter, and yet the govt is still giving them hundreds of billions of dollars in handouts and subsidies every year.

@SanityCheck

I realize that many of you don't accept facts that don't support your world view.

As the saying goes- takes one to know one.

@jeff-1403070

how would that debt be without the trillions spent on the iraq war, started by bush??

Were you attempting to make a point? Bush spent money we didn't have so now Obama gets to do the same?

And btw- "trillions"? Really? Do you have any clue what the hell you're talking about? When it's all said and done the so-called "stimulus" will cost about as much as the war in Iraq. Both were an incredible waste of our money. Much of which went into the pockets of their fiends and contributors.

We're selling our gas overseas, not pursuing further domestic oil production, providing big oil with huge subsidies, allowing US based speculators/companies to trade the price of oil/gas futures up dramatically even when consumption has dropped, allowing gas companies to post the highest quarterly profits ever (with subsidies), continuing to support ethanol even when it has been proven to do NOTHING for gas prices or the environment (actually it hurts the economy, environment and food prices), and when gas prices drops we start saber rattling in the Mideast.

The dems blame the republicans and the reps blame the democrats. Yet neither party steps forward to do anything to fix gas prices.

Lets see EITHER party put forth legislation to address ANY 5 of the major problems above (or others) then challenge the other party to do better. It would be such a political landmine something would get passed.

The reason they do nothing is simple, BOTH parties receive major donations from big oil companies! So blaming each other means it's a minimal political consequence issue, which keeps the big donors happy.

Can everyone see the Extortion from the GOP in their attempt to push that Oil line so their buddies can continue to RAPE America ......... The change that we need is get rid of all the GOP puppets come this election and I bet gas prices will go down, because there will be no more puppets to watch these oil companies backs ... Maybe it's time to turn the tables and talk about losing all their subsidies and what ever else we can twist their arm with ..... Two can play the same game .......

id like to think the american people arent so stupid they would believe these republican lies.however.....the same people that sold us free trade/job exporting will be hard at work spinning this new yarn.no doubt coming from the nothing but spin network fox.i wonder how much itll cost the rich this time.lets change the countries name to the united states of chevron.they run the country now anyway

As for the US and the use of "electric vehicles" to eliviate the problem, what kind of electric car do you drive? And for the truth of the matter, US consumption for transportation has actually fallen per capita over the last 25 years....as opposed to industrial and household energy consumption whis has steadily increased. Add to this the steady fall of our refining facilities and domestic production due to over regulation and environmental fear mongers. It is not accurate say our economy is petroleum based as much as it is energy based. That is a fact and unfortunately when you choke off domestic energy supply (and devalue the domestic currency by printing trillions that are not backed by anything) then you have a situation where everything costs more and people have to work harder to achieve middle class status. Like it or not, the devalued american dollar and the downsizing of domestic energy fall squarely on the shoulders of current adminstration...to argue with the facts shows partisan blindness and true ignorance.

As I read the post here a lot of you (both left and right) are forgetting the main principle when it comes to oil, OPEC sets the prices on oil, NOT the US or other countries. Having said that, something to consider on both the left AND right.

The President has NOTHING to do with the spike in gas prices. Those that believe that he does, state your source AND reason. Conditions around the world and the price of the dollar are what dictates the price of oil. The ONLY thing the president can do to alleviate the pain at the pump is open up the reserves we have.

REMEMBER Bush had this similar issue his last year in office (gas spiked to $3.95, over $4 in some states) until he opened up the reserves. it was the same thing then (China and Europe demands for oil spiked). Bush tried the same thing as well as the famous chant by republican candidates (drill baby, drill) Each and every state including Bush's OWN brother Jeb, told him "NO" to moving the drilling line closer to the Florida coast. Even as the economy was in the process of collasping, NO ONE said anything to Bush about how he was responsible for the price of gas.

Maybe it could be because the economy is slowly improving, more jobs which creates more demand, a stronger dollar vs. EURO COULD be the cause of the rising gas prices? I WILL AGREE that the price of gas should NOT be this high and I strongly believe that it is being artificially inflated by those that have influence and an "interest" in oil.

If both Dems AND Repubs really want to "rock" the boat and "prove" that they are not in the pockets of big oil, end the unnecessary subsities that benefit NO ONE but the oil companies and apply that money toward paying down the debt.

Oh and for the person that thinks the stimulus and other "policies" Obama enacted cost more than the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, maybe you should do the math again. An estimated $30 bil a month X 12 X 8. See what you come up with...........

Also, for those of you who don't know, the world standard currency value for oil is the american dollar. Therefore, the less the dollar is worth, the more value oil attains. The cost of oil is not rising because of "Big Oil"...but rather due to the decline of the american dollar.

For all of those blaming republicans - Name 3 concrete things that the democratic party has put forward in legislation to reduce the price of gas????

For all of those blaming democrats - Name 3 concrete things that the republican party has put forward in legislation to reduce the price of gas????

Those things can't include political speech talking points! I want actual legislation directly aimed at gas price reduction (and not the bs of it would help the economy so gas would be cheaper) that was put forward and struck down by the other party on the floor or in committee!

mike,

hmmm so you are all for free markets except when it comes to something that you personally want.

You know what will cause the price of oil to drop? reduced consumption, but then reduced prices will increase consumption. It is a catch 22 that you can't get out of unless action is taken to artificially break out of that cycle.

Too bad they don't realize that Obama has little to do with rising gas prices.

Now,if we could somehow harness all that hot air spewing from their mouths,I'm sure we could find something to do with it.

Jobs,jobs,jobs,no earmarks,and issue du jour are all blah,blah,blah not just IMO,but rather FACTUAL.

These guys are so all over the map about what their concerns are that it doesn't appear that they even know what they themselves want. More lobby money,more money,no taxes,less government,and hatred of non-aryans (by themselves and proclaimed by God) are all that they actually ARE consistent on though.

Tax breaks for the 'job creators' create jobs huh? Well,it's been over 10 years with these breaks and the only thing to show for it is a bunch of asswipes running around spewing crap which is normally uttered in a looney bin. OVER 10 YEARS!!! The point? YOU PROVED IT YOURSELF THAT THE TRICKLE DOWN THEORY IS JUST THAT,A THEORY... AND IT'S BEEN DISPROVEN JUST AS MUCH NOW AS HISTORY ALREADY HAS.

Bi,bi next year or ASAP asswipes.

Jonathan-

Your post is unfortunately far from truthful or factual. For the "price" of oil to drop, see my post on 1.23. Also you are not thinking globally when it comes to consumption. Previous 3rd world countries are beginning their jouney into industrialization and their energy consumption will go through the roof within a few decades. Again, oil is valued in US Dollars, the stronger our economy, the less oil is valued....it is that simple.

Reduced consumption, how's that going to work?, if the consumption decreases they will just raise the price so they make the same amount it's happening right now every where you look from food to your Cable TV, that my friend is just another spin on the real problem, America needs to move away from combustion engines period and that is ONE of the main reasons these oil companies hate OBAMA, Americans need to wake up before its to late, what is needed is more regulations not less, Crime is one of those deregulated things in America, get the point, they want to steal us blind legally .. Soon only the RICH will be driving and guess what watch how much people will be paid for working if that happens, don't think the GOP has your back because your not filling their pockets ....

Uh just for the record, the stimulus cost significantly MORE than the entire Iraq War. Please check your facts.

Ummm riley, just for the record, you forgot the fact of epidemic foreclosures that were going strong since 2007, the 100's of thousands of job losses at the end of President Bush's term, the unfunded Medicare part D and TWO wars. Add all that to the European economy on shaky ground which DOES effect what happens in America and visa-versa. Try checking gas prices in other countries and I'm sure you'd be happy as hell paying $4 a gallon, since most of Europe pays close to $10 a gallon RIGHT NOW. Funny how the GOP bullseye on President Obama keeps moving; It's the Economy...ooops, it's the jobs...ooops, the President has done nothing about terrorism...ooops, it's rampant welfare...ooops, it's Equal Rights...ooops, it's Women's Health and contraceptives...ooops, Oh Wait!!! Let's go after him about gas prices! YES!!!YES!!! (Speaker Boehner sneering..."We just won't say WE have our hands in the oil pot.")

excuseme riley, but I think you mean it cost more money than the "assigned" budget for the iraq war. Thats not including the extra costs for the war itself... then all the contract expeditures that went along with it, along with the extra costs for the contract expenditures. ETC ETC ETC.

Accusations coming from the Republican Tea Party ?

What a bunch of HYPOCRITES.

There is no big unrest in the middle east that was not there the past 10 years and before. This is just being used cover up the fact that during 2008 the price of oil had tanked to abt 20 -40 dollars per barrel down from 140 dollars per barrel. During that time there was a glut of oil on the market to where the oil was bought and barged because there was just too much to even refine.

Now we hear these folks trying to start something with Iran, as if Iran want to start anything with us when there is no proof.

They are so desperate for another war they will say anything to start another conflict, even when people are already war weary and after 10 years of war the only thing we have gained is more debt, more injured and sick, unable to afford to care for our own vets, crumbling infrastructure that we cannot afford to repair, upgrade, or rebuild.

So seeing that all oil and gas harvested in the USA is sold on the world market to the highest bidder how is drilling more here in the USA going to lower gas prices for us when it is also traded as a commodity?

This is artificial spiking of gas prices which has nothing to do with playing or trading fairly, it is simply about capitalistic greed and an attempt to c-raping of the masses by corporations as per usual even as these folks get all the tax breaks and subsidies that they do not need and do not even want to pay their fair share of taxes as some are paying zero taxes and even still getting refunds now.

How does gas prices go up? When there is a shortage.... well there is no shortage of oil on the world market and further more drivers in the USA and elsewhere are cutting back.

Well that glut of oil that was bought cheaply during the fall of prices in the 20 or so dollar range in the 2008s is what these oil traders are trying to sell at over 100 plus dollar per barrel. That is one heck of a markup. Now they are trying to say it is about some unrest in the Middle East that is the problem? LOL And that it is President Obama's fault? Pleeease LOL

These T'pubcons will say anything and their corporate master will have them say anything to cover up the continued corporate capitalistic greedy raping of our economy and the American people.

Well this time round the T'pulicons will be fooling the only the very ill informed, ignorant, stupid, hiding somewhere under a rock folks i.e. those folks that will believe just about anything negative just because we have a black man as President type period.

On the other hand this could also be to force the building of the Keystone pipeline from Canada that nobody wants... Let Canada run the pipeline across their own country, and bespoil their own environment with their poor quality tar sands oil.

We need our clean water, farmlands, cattle and clean air. Also it seems that the Canadians do not want the pipeline either and have been fighting it, that is why it seems that the Keystone pipeline folks want to run it here in the USA, and why there has been this push by these T'publicons for the doing away with certain environmental rules, regulations and oversight in the the USA. LOL

By the way the way the mainstream/beltway media is interpreting the present disagreement with Iran you would think that all countries have signed on to some conflict with Iran..... What, are we going to go at it with Russia and China too while we are at it? LOL

Well I suppose all these hawkish folks are ready for a DRAFT.....sending their children first of course.... Hope Canada and Mexico close their borders tight when the draft is instituted here... LOL

Wonder what would happen if the President released some of our oil reserves ..... that would push prices down wouldn't it? LOL

Oh well, the long con attempt is on it seems.......

Peace......wisdom.... think for yourself.....

“Gas prices up 91 percent under Obama.”

“The president is keenly aware of the impact that higher gas prices have on families trying to make ends meet,” Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, said last week.

I hope he will be 'keenly aware' that this WILL affect his reelection.

Obama was top recipient of BP-related dollars in 2008

http://articles.cnn.com/2010-05-05/politics/bp.lobbying_1_bp-center-for-responsive-politics-house-energy?_s=PM:POLITICS

Keep voting for Obama.......if you can afford it!

As the value of our dollar decreases due to massive deficit spending it will increase the price of fuel.

ALL Politicians should share the blame.

As Obama rattles the sabre for war in Iran it will get worse.

mowdy5gs

I recall gas being ALOT more expensive under Mr. Bush. Alot. Its cheaper now

Perhaps you should check your recall button, its stuck!

http://www.treehugger.com/corporate-responsibility/2008-us-gas-price-year-in-review.html

Dec. 31, 2008—Crude oil prices plummet below $37 a barrel while the U.S. average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline falls to an amazing 5-year low of $1.61.

I'd noticed that some knucklehead posted, "gas prices doubled since Obama took office". Oh, really? So, Obama took office in 2000?

Clinton left office, gas was approx $1.15 p/gal. The Grand Oil Party blasted him for high gas prices. Bush left office, gas was approx $3.20 p/gal, often rising to near $4.00 during his reign of terror.

The rightwing idiots keep pointing to Obama for their failures. Lucky for them that the uneducated will keep consuming their BS and supporting the destruction of the middle class.

GOTP = Class Warfare!

fed - good point, and the other part is that while our production is way up, it is despite

Obama's ban on gulf drilling despited court orders that doing so was illegal

despite Congress/Obama holding up exploration on Federal Lands.

Despite throwing road blocks to the keystone and other pipelines (BTW billionaire Warren Buffet gets more business for his railroads by oil production in the midwest, west and Canada having to be transported by rail - Which TRIPLES the cost of Transporting Petroleum.

Bull@!$%#.

Obama wins this conversation easily.

The fact of the matter is that we now have to admit that gas prices have NOTHING to do with how much domestic oil we harvest or how much domestic gasoline we produce. The GOP and big oil economic fairy tail contends that prices will somehow be held down if we get our own oil versus importing it.

Oil prices here at home follow global oil prices... it's that simple. The GOP and big oil story is a lie.

You would think it difficult to explain that our current exports exceed our imports in the oil business. Anyone scratching their heads on THAT one?

Drilling more oil at home or importing it from Canada or whatever has little to do with the price we pay or our so called "oil security". It has to do wit profit margins going into benefactors' pockets.

But, yes, I can hear the Super-PAC lying commercial already... and some will swallow it.

Rockyroad-531554

As the value of our dollar decreases due to massive deficit spending it will increase the price of fuel.

Nice sound byte. Makes absolutely no since, but it DOES sound good. I guess that's what we're down to now... if the sound byte fits our agenda, it MUST be true.

International concern over what may happen in Iran is pumping up prices. That's the short true story. Got it?

Check out this animated graph of gas price averages, per month, from 1993, through the Bush/Cheney Big Oil Bailout years to 2008.

http://projects.flowingdata.com/gas-prices/

Yep, Obama really doubled the price of gas. BS!!

To stop subsidies to the oil companies for blending ethanol, would very likely mean another rising cost at the pump. Can ethanol stand on it's own as an economical fuel source? No. Someone will have to do it, and pay for it. What people need to realize, it's not just oil. but the rising cost of energy overall is likely what caused this mess. It effects the price of everything we consume that is transported using energy. The higher the cost of energy, the longer we endure. I still have a hard time swallowing some of these numbers coming from the white house. Things are still declining here. We can't change what happened o 9/11/01, but justs deal with the outcome.

I remember when gas prices shot up to 3.00 a gallon" thats when the economy tanked, everything everywhere shot up in price mostly because of the trunking industry..You can change your little numbers at the pump all you want, until you can bring down prices that affects everything it really doesn't make a difference..

Attack all you want, rightwingnuts. As the stock market is just about to go over 13000 , as jobs continue to return, as the housing market continues to improve, you will cling onto any bad news you can. The party of doom and gloom is, well, just doomed.

Boner put the cheerleading outfit on again! Rallying his counterparts to blame the president again! Even dumb down America isn't falling for this one!

republicans continue to induce vomit in the throats of REAL Americans.

republicans are going to get thier asses handed to them in this next election because this is all they can do.

Their ideas are pathetic, their choices for legislatures is beyond pathetic, and those of them that blindly follow that agenda are beyond pathetic.

nationalize the oil companies

JK when you point the finger beware - there are 3 pointing back to you.

Although prices reached a peak of $4.00 (National Average) during Bush, he reversed his dads executive order banning off-shore drilling, that started the drop in prices, and then congress did a limited lifting of the Ban a month later (congressional law is superior to executive orders). The final cause of the drop was the Crash in Finance.

Notice that in January 2009, the rise began again. Two things happened - A total melt-down had been averted and Congress reversed it's partial lifting of the off-shore drilling ban. http://gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx

As for the others this chart points out how price is influenced by wars and embargos.

http://zfacts.com/p/35.html

Carter & State level Democrats regulated the crap out of our industry dropping our supply drastically by increasing the costs to producers to the point many smaller producers were eliminated because of the volume of older wells made them unprofitable. Half of the Stripper wells were abandoned causing a drop of 10% in the national supply. OPEC took advantage of it the myopic laws. Reagan did little to de-regulate other than to lift some federal restrictions the states didn't cover and the big one was drop the windfall profits tax.

One thing you clearly don't know is that Clinton excellerated approval of off-shore drilling leases which kept prices dropping. Cheap energy is a huge part of maintaining prosperity.

Bush actually approved more off-shore drilling than Clinton (again in areas not banned per congress and his fathers off-shore drilling executive order). The problem became that India and China have experienced a huge increase in demand overwhelming the amount of production.

ANY time supply is restricted in any way, the price is going to go up, and because of the increase in demand it is exacerbated.

Ken, you are correct -

Ethenol is either energy neutral or energy negative - it takes as much if not more energy to produce ethenol as you get from it burning it. So, it will never be a viable alternative fuel.

Also, WORLD OIL PRODUCTION HAS PEAKED. That has nothing to do with this president or the last one. It simply means that the worldwide rate of production of oil cannot keep up with demand. And as the third world continues to develop and world population continues to increase, this demand will continue to go UP UP UP. Supply will continue to go DOWN. Prices will continue to SKYROCKET. More efficient cars are part of the solution, but we use oil for FAR more that fuel. Pretty much everything around you right now is made from oil - including the corn grown in Iowa and fertilized by oil derivatives before it is shipped thousands of miles to your dinner table in various forms.

So, as the price of oil skyrockets, so will the cost of living because everything we depend upon to live is made from oil. Make sense?

Multiple books have been written about this problem, so I have neither the time nor the space to fully elaborate on the gravity of this issue, but if you would like to get the "quick" version, four documentaries to watch:

Crude Awakening, The End of Suburbia, Collapse, and Blind Spot.

I wonder if the republicans mentioned that, there are 4 east coast refineries down right now for maintenance. They are switching over to summer blend gas.

This is a clear example of our failed model for energy resource management. We have an attitude of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", instead of "Plan ahead". We run our economy on a diminishing resource. The foolish conservatives say "we ain't run out of oil yet", or "Drill More". I was always told that, in the capitalist market, as technology increased, prices would come down. This is so untrue.

The end of oil ill happen. America is 30 years past peak production.

I am not against drilling more, nor am I against the oil based economy. I am against the fool's plan.

At least Obama is pushing for renewable resource developement.

If we fail because of rising energy costs, the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the oil companies and nobody else.

We go through this every few years, and we always say we need to build more refineries and drill so this doesnt happen again. We need to be energy independent. WELL WHY DONT WE EVER DO IT!!!! Damn we are dumb. We have had years to build new refineries. We should be exporting our oil and gas to others to drive the price down. I am also not sure why the govt insists on sticking their nose into all these other areas that the people dont need governed, but the things they could help with they sure as hell dont do anything about.. LIKE GAS PRICES!! Take oil of the market like it is and make it a damn competitive market like it used to be.. I am not an Obama fan, but if he wants to win an election he must get gas prices back down at least in the 2$ area.. I cant believe that we as Americans arent protesting and striking about gas prices.. We are a nation of sheep these days. We should also support an attack on Iran, then we would have control over some of the Iranian oil. Funny how we used to fight wars for resources and land but now we dont take any of that stuff when we conquer a country.. WHY NOT?? If we were smart we would take what we win...

Way to go Republicans, just keep pushing for more PROFITS for big oil companies! You are the people who want free markets to act on supply and demand. Don't tell me about the price of oil/gasolinne being high. The price of oil is TOTALLY determined by the freely traded commodities markets. Much, much, much more demand in China as they put 24,000 NEW cars on their roads everyday of the year, and will for the foreseeable future. Maybe we can ask the Republicans in Congress to pay for their own cars (Limos), drivers, and GASOLINE. Maybe they willl fly a little less to campaign and go on SPECIAL INTEREST sponsored junkets to exotic lands. Lets start with them and see how much they can conserve before we jump on the middle class AGAIN! Pretty soon they will blame Obama for salt in the oceans. They are absolutely insane. Perhaps if they would admit that birth control prevents future oil consumers we could expand to other areas of discussion on ways to reduce oil consumption. These GOP/TP folks are rediculous in their accusations.

If you think the gas prices are high now..wait a month they be higher..the refineries are right now switching their systems from a cheaper winter blend to a more expensive summer blend for gas.

Buy a bike..save money and your health at same time.

If you misdiagnose a problem, you come up with wrong solutions.

Hence the GOP tax cuts to the rich. But let's talk about oil - It's not Obama's fault. It's not the fault of big oil.

This time once again - It is the fault of big banks. See the article below -

http://www.centralbanking.com/central-banking/research/2104130/oil-price-volatility-driven-speculation-ecb-paper

Oh - and it has got nothing to do with the ban on drilling in Alaskan reserves either.

jimsepa,

I'm am certainly not a Republican nor a Liberal, just a hard working second class citizen..So enlighten me where are these jobs you speak of..

Back Country, I think your name absolutely fits where you came from and your education. Please tell us where in the world you get your "facts" unless it is Faux News. We exported more than we imported last year. The Oil companies sell for the biggest price no matter where. Please study how much the stimulus actually cost us in the end. We made money off of almost every bail out ... to the point the cost was a fraction of the 700 billion.. Secondly, gas was going up before the lates Iran news because the oil companies can get away with taking production off line for no reason. They manipulate this all the time. Not to mention probably the Koch Bros may have something to do with this as well... The Reps are scared they are going to lose, so they will toss out anything and everything to get Obama... isn't going to work... so you can go back your backwoods home for four more years.

Wonder how much the GOP and Dems have made in commodity investments and campaign funds. Bet it was alot. None of these people gives a damn about the average person just as long as their pockets are kept filled.

What? Gas and Oil Prices? How about corn? How about the price of a "chicken?" The slogan will be "A Tank of Gas and a Chicken In Every Pot." and pot in....skip that....

It is well known, across this great nation, that 50% of our corn crop goes towards making ethanol. The last time I had the pleasure of pumping my gas the little sticker on the pump stated that 10% of the product was ethanol. What is that doing to the motor in my automobile. Am I alone in hearing and feeling a difference in the "two-cycle" motors which use a gas/ethanol/oil mix? The old outboard, mower, hedge clippers, back-pack blower are not built to enjoy the ethanol. This is like watering down an aged bottle of scotch, with a cheap 4 year old blend.

“It was reported this week that we’ll soon see $4-a-gallon gas prices. Maybe higher." I have been paying close to 4 bucks a gallon for heating oil. It costs much more than gasoline and why is that? It takes far less to refine #2 heating oil than it does to refine gasoline.

Shortage? Three weeks ago the robed dudes of Saudi Arabia, the ones with emeralds and rubies just dripping off of them, said that they would pump more and compensate for any and all shortages if there is a reduction in oil from Iran. Those OPEC sobs.....Fifty years of them and we the people still take their s---? Some people are said to even bow to them!

I read where hundreds of people have frozen to death in parts of Europe. They tell me, they the media, that it has zip to do with the cost of heating fuel and those who have frozen are "street-people," and "drunks." Well then, if those are the ones who have died, people of that ilk, the suggestion is that they can be easily dismissed and forgotten.

They have been trying to sell me on the idea of a pipe line from our northern border with Canada down to the Gulf of Mexico, ( Gulf of America?). The stated reason for that is because that is where the refineries are. We all know that there is a serious shortage of refineries in our country. My thought was why not just build a new refinery for all of that Canadian oil just to the south of our shared border? That would create more jobs, add to the production of refined oil and so on. Then they could tap into the existing pipes around Chicago and let it flow across America. The Keystone? Yes, that's it. The purpose and goal of which is to add to our supply of oil. Sounds good right? More oil, the cheaper the price, and a reduction in our having to bow to the OPEC nations. Well.....that is just another line of s___. They want to pump it south and refine it down yonder where tankers are sitting ready to ship the refined oil to countries like China, it is not all for us......Lies Lies and more lies...It sounds good just as wind and solar power sounds good. My question is will their application reduce my monthly electric bill? Yes, this time it is about me and the criminal cost of electricity. Heck no, I will not see any cost reduction even after my tax dollars are used to create and produce these so-called "alternative" forms of energy. We are getting the shaft my fellow Americans and for some reason can't seem to get it together to tell the people who allow this that we really don't like it.

I remember well, in the 1960s, I was buying gasoline, the leaded type for 25 cents a gallon. Then after putting a shine on my wind-shield the guy would ask, "may I check under your hood sir?"

I hope all of you have massive numbers of shares of stock in the oil companies. Your dividends will compensate for what you pay for gas and oil.

I think it's reasonable that some aspects of the economy under President Obama actually stick to President Obama. Sure- he didn't start deficit spending, but government deficit spending went up 50%($10T to $15T) in his three years. Sure- he didn't create spending on groceries, however groceries are costing 20-50% more in the last three years. He didn't create demand for oil, however gas has doubled in the last three years and is projected to go up to $5 this year(it's currently about $3.70 nationally)- if it goes to $5 that's up 264% from three years ago. Then there are the things eh had a direct impact on: Healthcare- With Obamacare in it's first stages, the cost of "regular" insurances has risen upto 50% in three years (9% last year per the Kaiser Foundation), the President is demanding "Free" contraception (BTW- someone pays for it- the companies still get compensated) so the costs go up, etc. There are many other ways to "stick" economic items to the President, his adminstration, and the current Congress- Regulation, taxation, new programs, new spending without having an income source to cover the additional costs, etc.

He does need to own something from his first term.

Lusitania, please DON'T take my word that jobs are returning. I would urge you, however, to find a reliable source and come to your own conclusion. With that being said, we have gone from loosing 750,000 jobs per month to gaining over 250,000 jobs per month. I would say that's good news.

Recent increases have been seen in professional and business services, leisure and hospitatlity, health care, wholesale trade employment, retail, auto dealers, manufacturing, motor vehicle parts.......the list goes on. But again, please, feel free to do your own research.

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

Here's a thought for all you Obama fans. He consistently lacks any energy plan. Flip flopping between eco-friendly moves and big corporate bashing, all the while creating uncertainty about our energy future. Remember when he was dead set against nuclear energy - well surprise his administration just approved new power plants - first in decades... Hush hush though as he doesn't want to make any political waves.

This uncertainly impacts the futures market of which gas prices are set every day. The one to blame is Obama and Obama alone as he can't seem to understand the job he has and the impact his lack of solid direction (except increasing government spending t o record levels year on year) has on our lives...

So I guess the party of "small government" and "getting the government out of the way" and "making the federal government inconsequential in our lives" - that party - intends to have the government force oil companies to lower prices.

Yes, Mr Boehner, lets have a discussion of how a Republican led Congress can drive it's freedom-lovin' socialist heel onto the neck of the oil industry.

Remember the press conference with DUH-bya Bush on Feb 28, 2008???

During his press conference today, a reporter asked President Bush what his “advice” would be to the “average American” who is “facing the prospect of $4 a gallon gasoline.” Bush replied, “That’s interesting, I hadn’t heard that.” Yet a few minutes later, Bush wouldn’t answer a question regarding donations for his presidential library because, he claimed, “I, frankly, have been focused elsewhere, like on gasoline prices.” Watch it:

[flv http://video.thinkprogress.org/2008/02/bushgasprices.320.240.flv]

Digg It!

Transcript:

QUESTION: What’s your advice to the average American who is hurting now — facing the prospect of $4 a gallon gasoline, a lot of people facing –

BUSH: Wait a minute. What did you just say? You’re predicting $4 a gallon gas?

QUESTION: A number of analysts are predicting $4 a gallon gasoline this spring when they reformulate.

BUSH: That’s interesting. I hadn’t heard that.

QUESTION: Yes, sir. [...]

QUESTION: Any restrictions on who can give? Will you take foreign money for this?

BUSH: Yes, probably take some foreign money, but don’t know yet. We just haven’t — we just announced the deal. And I, frankly, have been focused elsewhere, like on gasoline prices and, you know, my trip to Africa, and haven’t seen the fund-raising strategy yet.

And so, the answer to your question is really I can’t answer your questions well.

The abominable Greedy Obstructionist Party are shameless hussies who think alot of the people in this country is like their forgetful illiterate base!

Robert,

The other day Rep Hoeven (R), N.D. was on c-span. He stated that right now the price paid at the wellhead in N.D. is $28.00/bbl. That means that the landowner where the well is located (if they own the mineral rights) receives only 12-18%/bbl, which is about 1-1 1/2 gallons at the pump. The oil company trades it on commodity floor for $103.00. Pretty good profit , hey. Who's screwing who?

Big oil is the most profitable enterprise in the world. Americans should be outraged by the GOP's refusal to remove subsidies for big oil. Exxon-Mobil profitted nearly 40 billion in 2010 and paid ZERO in taxes. In fact, we the people gave them an additional check for hundreds of millions . What a bunch of bull. As far as OPEC controlling prices, that is propoganda put out by the oil companies to deflect the spotlight off of them and those in congress that support them. A provision in Dodd-Frank would rein speculation in not only in the oil market but also essentials like grain.

As to Iran , let the new sactions work. America is tired of war and those that push such an agenda. Imperialism is not the order of the day.

The oil companies are going to shutter more refineries this year giving them a stronger control over supply. Considering that there is a glut of crude they have to come up with an excuse to justify the rape of the public. I ,personnaly do not think they can. We are presently producing more gas and oil than at any time during the Bush administration yet it makes little difference because it gets sold on the world market and shipped all over the globe.

Ke Bai Hu

Wow lots of ignorants posting here this morning (most liberal, naturally). First of all, anyone remember when the left blamed Bush every time to the gas prices shot up? Yes, there was that one time in 2006 when gas spiked to $4/gallon, but that was largely due to back to back hurricanes disrupting refinery production along the Gulf Coast, along with disrupting oil tanker deliveries to said refineries. But within two months gas prices quickly plummeted back to a nominal sub-$2/gallon price. When Obama was sworn in, gas was $1.85 average nationwide. Now nearly exactly three years later that number is $3.50. Now you liberals kindly tell us why it's not Obama's fault now when it was Bush's fault back in 2006.

With that said there is another huge driving force in the cost of gas: our record debt that continues to drive the value of the US dollar down. Oil is an international traded commodity and when the US dollar falls, the cost of oil goes up. Now Obama has put us more in debt in just his first three years than Bush in all eight of his (including when Democrats controlled both the House (Pelosi) and Senate (Reid) with a super majority during Bush's last two years in office.

Third and finally, Obama puntiedon the Canada pipeline project to keep his environmentalist left wing friends happy. I hate to break it to them, but nearly half of our foreign oil - 44% - is imported from Canada and Mexico combined, not the evil Middle East as most libs believe (Mideast oil imports are 25%). Canada will just export their oil to China instead who will more than be happy to take it off their hands.

And let's not forget what all this is doing to food prices with that ethanol nonsense and Obama killing coal. Anyone checked the price of beef lately? Eggs? What are the costs up to since 2009, 15%? 20%? And how about your power bill since Obama started killing coal? My KW/Hr rate has gone up 11% since January 2009.

But you liberals/Dems keep trying to blame the GOP on Obama's failed policies (and I won't even get into the waste and fraud in that $860 billion "stimulus" bill rammed through Congress in 2009 that was to keep unemployment from going above 8%...$550 million for the failed Big Green energy company Solyndra anyone? Shovel ready jobs that vaporized anyone?

He does need to own something from his first term.

JoeNY #1.59 - you know as well as I that this narcissistic divider president will not ever accept responsibility for his own failed policies. Nor will those who voted for him and continue to support him (thankfully it appears he is losing quite a bit of the ignorant youth support he had that carried him to victory in 2008: http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/desperate-jobs-youth-flee-obama/378596)

I mean really. This is the same guy who tried to tell Boeing to kill their plant with his buds in the NLRB in SC because it was a non-union rights state - then has the gall to praise it while on an Everett plant tour it this week: http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/obama-touts-sc-boeing-plant-nlrb-sued/381216

The guy is just unbelievable.

Headlines are crafted for greatest effect - ATTACK! That's the signal for Americans to go for each other's throats. Never seen a more divisive time, driven to great extent by the media fire builders. Beyond that - saber rattling promotes all kinds of consequences - prices going up on gas is one of them, as in this case. To say administration actions don't influence this in any way is to ignore the truth. Ignoring the truth is how we allowed our country to move so very far away from freedom and law. Save the ATTACK mode for emails directed to congress and the administration regarding a demand to bring our country back under Constitutional law and away from federal overreach.

jhawke, a complete misrepresentation of the facts. President Obama is not the only one who wants the Canadian pipeline project STOPPED and re-evaluated (yes, re-evaluated not terminated) - the REPUBLICAN governor of Nebraska also wants it re-evaluated. Yes, a republican governor. Why aren't you blasting him as well?

I will support Obama's policies that are bringing jobs back, increasing the stock market and restoring the housing market to the old-fashioned policies of the rightwingnuts that seem to just drive our economy into the ground.

Jim - I didn't say it was terminated. I said he PUNTED on it. And there is no surprise on a few "NIMBY" syndrome Repubs out there - just like in Florida where they didn't want natural gas drilling. That doesn't override the OVERWHELMING majority of the GOP being against Obama's decision.

Regarding jobs, when Obama took office, there were 142.2 million of them. Now there are 139.7 million of them (BLS.gov). And regarding housing, it was Democrat policies like "Fair Housing" that led to the collapse of Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac. Yes the ones that Bush & the GOP tried to increase regs on in 2005 but Dems like Barney Frank said there wasn't any problem with them. And speaking of jobs, how many of them are government jobs? How many job seekers have dropped out of the job market besides those 1.2 million last month?

Once $5 gallon gas hit the voters pocket, no one will listen to any spin or excuses, President Obama will not be re-elected. I seriously doubt that any incumbent will be re-elected, unless he proposes legislation to decrease the price of gasoline.

One way to improve efficiency by 20% is to do less stopping at traffic lights. This could be accomplished either by setting the timing of the traffic lights to optimize the flow of traffic or people could use the MIT solution of learning when the traffic lights are going to change. The MIT solution would require an exchange of information.

http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/smartphone-saves-gas-0825.html

Another solution is to heavily tax any export of oil or gasoline from the US, that way when we drill for oil it would be used in the US and not in some other country. Drill baby drill is of no value to the US unless the oil is consumed in the US.

jhawke, I wouldn't belittle the NIMBY syndrome, regardless of someone's political bent. A nuclear power plant is slated to be built in Georgia. This is a major accomplishment for the Right and for a red state like Georgia. And yet, local residents are petitioning to have it stopped. When a person's livelihood is threatened, they tend to think differently.

Gasoline could go to $10 a gallon, and I still wouldn't vote for anyone in the Republican lineup.

Obama 2012

Clinton 2016

Why don't they ever talk about eliminating as much stop and go traffic as possible? No they talk about tire pressure? Sure some stop and go traffic is inevitable.

Hello

Another possibility is to change the way that America does business. There are a lot of jobs that could be done from a remote location like home. 76% of workers drive alone to work and they travel an average of 25 minutes.

If President Obama was serious about decreasing the amount of oil that is consumed in the US then he would seek legislation to search for means of increasing the number of people who could work from home.

The goal should be to get 10% of the workers to do their work from home.

http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/acs-15.pdf

People will vote against President Obama at $4 for a gallon of gasoline, at $5 they will vote against any incumbent. At $10 per gallon of gas, people will be living out of their cars in the parking lot where they work.

jimsepa, I don't have to examine that much research to know some are getting their jobs back, I guess I am on a different track than you.

The teapugs are putting big oil up to this, here we go again ?

The GOP is playing on thin ice, the American people are getting sick & tired of their Bull$hit.

This recession would be over if it wasn't for the teapugs.

Candidates like Santorum would destroy this Country, we don't need garbage like him in the White House.

The teapugs must be getting desperate to support a fool like Rick ?

The 1% are getting richer by the day, thanks to the GOP.

The GOP Teanutpugs are drawing flies !!!!!!!!!

The GOP and their teabaggers blocked nearly every bill Obama tried to pass to create jobs.

Obama has rescued our nation from a financial disaster, we dodged a teapug fueled depression.

This recession was completely owned by "W" ( "FACTS" )

The Teapugs are outraging so many people that they don't have a chance.

The Teapugs conservative values are lies.

The GOP Tea-ReTards are playing Russian roulette with America.

Why is Obama worried? He will merely release some of our oil reserves right before the election. Prices will fall, and those who are unable to think for themselves and make the connection will vote for him because they will think he is responsible for the decrease in gas prices, which will only last until the election is over and our national oil reserves are no longer being depleted. He did this last fall as a trial run to see how quickly the prices will decrease when oil reserves are released and how quickly they will recover once the release is halted.

How can anyone even possibly think that Obama does not want and "energy policy" as this article suggests that some believe? It is clear that Obama wants an energy policy that includes anything and everything that will have no effect on the current price of oil/fuel. Obama "wants" green energy such as solar and wind and electric cars. Speaking of electric cars; I can't help but wonder as Obama wants to see more and more of them, and wants to make it increasingly more expensive and difficult to produce reliable electricity in this country, just how does he think people are going to continue to recharge their little electric cars? When was the last time anyone out there piled the family in their eclectic car, or motor home and took a family vacation over 25 miles from home? Has it ever occurred to the anointed one that many, many places in this country are reliant on people on vacations visiting and spending their money there for their very existence? Has it occurred to him that many thousands of jobs are dependent on the tourist trade or for that matter does it even appear that he truly cares.

Bottom line is this: Any one can say they want lower oil/fuel prices and less unemployment. It is how they go about acheiving this that truly counts. To date in spite of what Obama has said, his actions point to destroying private sector jobs and increasing the cost of oil and fuel prices. Point in case is the much debated Keystone pipe line. It is estimated that this would have created 170K jobs. About 120K in the construction industry and about 50k in the service industry. I will not debate where the oil would have went once it got to it's destination in this country because simply put I DO NOT KNOW FOR A FACT. Another case in point is Yucca Mountain. This was killed by people and a Senator who would not have even been effected by it had it been finished and been now in use. Senator Harry Reid lives (other than Washington DC) in Searchlight, NV which is in Clark County Nevada. The majority of people who fought so hard against Yucca Mountain live in Clark County Nevada. Yucca Mountain is situated in Nye County Nevada. Yucca mountain would have created over 30K jobs the first year and ended up with an estimated 3,000 long term jobs that would have greatly benefited Nye county (14.9% unemployment rate) and brought federal money into Nye and other rural Nevada Counties. But NOOO! Obama and Harry Reid could not have this!

Does anybody remember what gas cost in 2006? American people have the memory of a goldfish.

How far will the Teapugs go in destroying our economy & nation to win the Presidency ? The GOP Tea-ReTards that signed that pledge allegiance to Grover Norquist should be prosecuted for treason and put in jail for deliberately sabotaging our Nation.

Anyone that thinks more drilling or more pipelines will lower the price of gas is BRAINDEAD! The oil companies will just export more or will find more ways to raise prices and try and blame Obama/Democrats for their treasonous thievery.

This anti-American Marxist president just gave $7000 bonuses to all union members at the Communist/Union run Government Motors, while it still owes us taxpayer $60 billion, to buy their votes.

Obama's comrades at GM should be prosecuted and put in jail

AK Sabin.

Oh please tell me how my post isn't truthful or factual? ANd what does that have to do with your post, which I do agree with, but MY post had nothing to do with the currency valuation of the US dollar. It had to do with SUPPLY AND DEMAND, which, since you seemed to know about the 'pricing currency', is something that I bloody well hope you know.

The way to lower the price of oil, yes from a global perspective, is to REDUCE CONSUMPTION, which will cause an oversupply and therefore cause the market price to drop. But then that will create the opposite problem which is that the price of oil will drop and therefore there won't be an incentive to actually migrate to other forms of energy, which will negate the 'consumption drop' because it will increase consumption.

It is a catch 22. And yes, it is a GLOBAL ISSUE, it isn't just a US issue.

Now please tell me how that isn't factual, because it sure is just plain common sense.

Lusitania,

First you say, "So enlighten me where are these jobs you speak of.."

I answer where these jobs are, with a citation.

Then you say, "I don't have to examine that much research to know some are getting their jobs back, I guess I am on a different track than you."

I'm getting whiplash.

NYT, GM is now the top selling auto company in the world. Hardly the work of an anti-American Marxists as you suggest. I still don't get why some Americans hate it when America does something good for a change.

It's good to see most people in this thread realize the GOP nontroversies are cover for having no plans or solutions of their own about anything... But if any political Party IS responsible for high gas prices, you need to see the video of Eric Cantor reassuring speculators on Wall Street that they will be protected. If there aren't shortages of oil, yet prices are going up, it's due to speculation on Wall Street.

Ask your Republican representative what they are doing to stop speculation on Wall Street. The GOP is against any regulation of Wall Street as well as refusing to end subsidies to Big Oil. And they want to blame the president?!

LOL.....for the Obama fans.....

Mr. Obama's release of 30,000,000 barrels of oil from our Strategic National Reserve last year worked so well, why not persuade him to release more of it ?

• http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/168049-obama-to-release-oil-from-strategic-reserve-

Or maybe someone could "ask" Mr. Obama to persuade Brazil to send the oil to the U.S. Wait a minute, he "praised" Brazil for their oil drilling effort and even "gave" American taxpayer dollars to do it:

• http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203863204574346610120524166.html

I can hardly wait to hear the White House spin on this one, since spin is the only game this administration plays. Can't wait to hear Mr. Carney's, uh, uh, uh, uh response.

TruePatriot-445959

Ask your Republican representative what they are doing to stop speculation on Wall Street

And our Democratic representatives have done what exactly? How about when they had total control, what did they do about it then? Or do you only notice what the "other guys" are doing while giving "your guys" a free pass?

Obama has no control over the gas prices, unless you want him to be a dictator. Oh no wait, you Teapublicans already think he is one. First of all, the GOP is criticizing Obama for being soft on Iran, while their policies would start a new war and actually increase gas prices. Secondly, gas is determined by three things, supply and demand, speculation, and OPEC. The last two have a huge impact, and the first one indicates that as the economy improves and demand grows, so does the price. Third of all, we are exporting a huge amount of oil. We already have enough; its just that speculators are pushing up the prices due to foreign event.

And there is a solution to fix this economic problem. To all those concerned about the debt, there is also a solution. Here it is:

I. Reduce the debt by $8 trillion over 10 years.

• $750 billion in defense cuts: cut waste in private contracting; reduce investments in new military projects to more sustainable levels; reduce active military personnel by about 8%; demolish 200 bases to save over $55 billion a year; prioritize investments for drones, efficient weapon systems, and cyber-defense systems.
• $1.25 trillion in entitlement savings: Raise payroll cap to 90% of income; reinstate COLA; reinstate estate taxes; raise premiums for beneficiaries who make over $250,000; progressive indexing.
• Cut $1.5 trillion from discretionary spending except from NASA and Department of Education. Find ways to remove waste, trim costs, etc.
• Save $2.8 trillion by repealing Bush tax cuts but retaining about $700 billion for the middle class.
• Institute Buffet Rule and save $500 billion.
• Reform tax code: decrease about 70% of all tax expenditures unless they are PROVEN to promote a significant amount of growth. Close loopholes, lower corporate tax rate to between 20-25%. Eliminate all corporate welfare. Approximate savings=$ 737.1 billion a year.
• Reduce subsidies to oil companies, farmers, and ethanol producers by $100 billion.
• Total savings=~$13 trillion plus perhaps trillions more in interest.

I am not joking. Check (http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3472). Just removing 90% of our tax code's loopholes and tax expenditures would save $947 billion a year. Maybe we ought to do that and simply reform entitlements and we'd have practically no debt by the mid-to-late 2020s.

II. Economic Recovery Package

• Education reform. Increase funding for Department of Education, adopt RAND education policy and further Head Start programs.
• Create Department of Tourism with $36 billion budget to support 150,000 employees to speed up process for foreign tourists to apply for visas to US and make system more efficient.
• $90 billion in infrastructure bank to leverage capital for infrastructure repairs to employ millions of Americans.
• Incorporate policies of Obama's Jobs Bill.
• Offer incentives for businesses to buy US-made equipment and to employ people in America to the tune of perhaps $2,000-$3,000 per head; includes only people earning the median salary that the companies provides for its workers.
• Increase duties and tariffs for Chinese goods to 35% until China appreciates its currency and lowers subsidies; place more cases on Chinese fraud and stealing,
• $60 billion in incentives and federal loans and grants to green technology.
• Regulatory overview to decrease unnecessary regulations for economy and add regulations were needed.
• Reinstate Glass-Steagall.
• Lift moratorium on offshore oil drilling and open up certain areas for energy exploration WITH safety and environmental precautions and insure safety.
• Invest $40 billion in new R&D projects.
• Offer more scholarships and Pell grants; prioritize scholarships to promote getting degrees in engineering, technology, etc.
• Negotiate lower tuition deals with private institutions in return for aid and invest more money public higher education. Negotiate with states for a state education surtax to pay for public universities.
• Help housing market: tighten regulations on housing and financial markets, reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; create partnership programs between the government and the private sector to buy houses and rent it out to former owners; persuade banks to write off parts of underwater mortgages; quicken time for foreclosures; demolish old buildings to open up to construction projects.
• Increase federal gasoline tax to $.225/gallon and use extra revenues to revamp infrastructure.
• Extend payroll tax cut.
• Reform Post Office. Eliminate 60,000 payrolls through early retirement, increase stamp costs to $.51, cut administrative salaries and budgets, pay freeze, adopt methods that FedEx and UPS do, transition to an energy-efficient postal fleet and turn postal buildings "green," and find more ways to trim costs.

Oh and jimsepa, the GOP doesn't hate it when America does something good. Just when it occurs when a Democrat is in office.

OBAMA BIDEN 2012

Speculators, speculators, and more speculators. Wall street. Commodities Brokers. The camels feces looked odd this morning. Might mean trouble. Need to run up the price of crude. Oh yeah, run up the price of refined fuel products. What can the American consumers do about it? Nothing. Could the Congress do anything about it? Yes. Democrats? Most. Republicans? Not a damn one. Go ahead Republicans. Keep chewing crap the people will never swallow. You're already choking to death on your stupid stance denying Womens rights. Now, add the fodder you grew and harvested for unscrupulous Money Mongers and you are likely to finish yourselves.

.....

John boner um, I mean Boehner is the worst speaker i've seen in my 62 years. The entire gop-tea party has no solutions for the problems facing our nation, they only cause alot of the problems. These so called "leaders" are the root cause for most of the problems here in this country. Why wouldn't boehner tell his members to listen to the people and find a way to fix things as opposed to fu*king things up even more. I strapped a rifle on my back at 17 yo to fight for my country and these as*holes think it's this is some kind of game they're playing.

Yes, most of guys these are the same people that looked for deferments so they didn't get drafted and to avoid military service, yet they took away yours/mine G.I. benefits by stopping the funding to the VA. The damage these so called polititians have done to this country is unbelievable. What a bunch of Worthless, Brainless, Spineless, Incorrigible, Elitist, and Lying people they are. Vote independent and read up and use your own brain to make decisions when you vote because the problems in this country can only be fixed and repaired by working together as one, not by dividing everyone.

Oh yeah, Boehner thinks the people are stupid enough to believe Obama sets the prices for crude oil. Actually, he has asked Saudi Arabia to make up the difference so thank your US oil companies for shutting down refineries and Wall St for specualating commodities for the rising oil prices. For the life of me I don't understand how we let Wall St specualators control the prices of commodities like food, fuel, minerals, and goods that are needed to survive human life.

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

Free #1.90 and et al....Is there still a moratorium on off shore drilling? That was lifted a long time ago. If I remember correctly several additional permits were granted for more drilling off shore.

One of the problem is that oil is still leaking in the Gulf... but no one is talking about that. The toxic dispersants that was used to disperse the millions of gallons of oil during the Gusher in the Gulf...where did it disperse the oil to? How much of the sea life, wild life and wetlands is this oil and dispersants still killing? Look how long it is taking to bring back the Chesapeake bay and that was from runoffs into the bay having to do with phosphates if I am not mistaken.

The problem regarding to energy is that oil drilled and harvested in the USA is traded on the world market like any other commodity. Even if there was an attempt to have an energy policy the T'publicons and their minions would rubbish it anyway for their own purpose.

Look at the way some in the mainstream/beltway media are presenting the Iran issue and the hearing last week from Mr Panetta, the Generals and others in the know about these issues... who did not state that Iran wanted or was actively working on starting a war with the USA or anyone else for that matter. Instead these reporters or talking heads are giving the impression that Iran is trying to start a war/conflict by picking bits and pieces of the hearing and presenting it as the whole statement and as fact to support their theory.

How many in the mainstream/beltway media actually do the necessary investigations and then report on what is actually happening throughout our country and abroad, staying away from political rhetoric/bias? Very few to none imo.

If you want to hear what is happening in our country you have to go to some talk programs and to channels like MPT, Current TV, MSNBC, BBC America, Aljazeera, and many of the other foreign channels that simply present the news around the globe.

For example would we have known about the citizen push back in Wisconsin against their newly elected republicon govenor and the various recalls? Would we have heard about the roll out of policies taking away collective bargaining, while another republicon govenor setting up an overseer over some cities and towns taking away the rights of the citizens and that of their elected leaders in places like Benton Harbour amoung other places? How about the war on women's health and reproductive choices that the T'publicons in Congress has spent the whole past year attempting to pass new laws trying to roll back women's rights to birthcontrol, abortions etc instead of spending that time to work on policies to create a climate that will create more jobs and lower our deficit? What about the T'republican Southern States strategy. See Virginia and their new government mandated rape by vaginal ultrasound law. Also the drug test before public assistance and their voter suppression laws that the newly these elected republicon govenors are pushing too amoung other things. Read that a young woman was locked up because she had a miscarriage....apparently there is no such thing as a spontaneous abortion/miscarriage to these people.... LOL

Many thing are happening in this country that affects us all from coast to coast and inbetween, yet for the most part it is not being made known except on a few programs.. ED on MSNBC was the person to break the Wisconsin story, Maddow also broke the reproductive rights story and the Benton Harbour etc issue followed by many others who are not looked upon as mainstream/beltway media. The complete coverage of the "Occupy' protests was and is covered on Current TV by Olbermann, the Young Turks etc. The war on voter rights was presented by Politics Nation Al Sharpton etc.

That is the problem, most people are not getting a full picture of the news especially if one does not have access to cable or the internet for example. How many people in the rural areas have access to the internet or cable for that matter and may only be hearing the usual spewing forth over the radio of a T'con point of view per Limbaugh, Beck and folks of that ilk. That is why there are folks who are posting revisionist info here about who is at fault for the financial meltdown, the housing implosion and the aftermath thereof. No wonder they believe all the negative crap about President Obama. The cost of the Iraq and the Afghanistan wars were kept off the books when President Bush Admin was in charge. It was not until 2009 when those costs were added to the nation's budget. Also the rescue for the financial too big to fail folks on Wall Street was set in motion by the Bush Admin and the repubs to begin with in 2008. That bailout was privatized including the profit from same, but the debt to the nation was nationalized. LOL Those loans to the financial/Wall Street folks should have been nationalized period imo and we would have had a say in from salaries etc to outcome unlike what happened where mainstreet got skrewd.

The bailout of the Auto industry giving them a loan and partially nationalizing that industry was under President Obama. The auto industry and all the other collateral industries were also saved and are doing well now including paying back of their loans.... while creating more good paying livable wage jobs.

By the way... we cannot cut our way out of our problems. There will have to be a tax increase by doing away with the Bush era tax breaks for the rich and corporations, closing of the tax loopholes, and stopping the various subsidies and refunds to these folks. Cutting the public safetynets and all those things that help the masses including Medicare and Social Security should be off limits. We need to help our own citizens who need the help as charity begins at home. There needs to be a Medicare For All not for profit healthcare plan period. Employers should not provide healthcare as part of the employees' benefits package period.

Now we have this farce about the cost of oil and thus gas at the pumps going up to 4 dollars per 9/10th of a gallon? It is already there for a full gallon of gas. Back in the day about 2006, there was talk about gas going to 7-10 dollars per gallon to be in line with what is or was being paid at the pump in Europe. So what's new? They did not take into consideration the stellar public transportation that is in Europe or the fact that a lot of people live in the cities/towns and are not spread out like we are here. No wonder the T'publicondinos rubbished any plans for faster public transportation like high speed trains, trams, marc trains etc... they do not want any competition to the airline industry or for transportation that uses gas.LOL

Why is oil from Algae not getting more attention when it already is being done? How about giving the true info on Solar, solar technology and other green energy? That is because these folks do not want any competition to fossil fuel and the profits.

There is a big difference between the democrats and the T'publicons/dinos i.e democrats in name only.... The democrats/progressives/liberals/lefties will actually discuss their own faults in public. They will even disagree with each other in public. They all do not speak in one voice like a bunch of zombies with only 1 working brain or thought. LOL

On the other hand the T'pubcondinos will blame their faults on someone else, they will also circle the waggon and spin, spin spin their faults as/into virtues, as well as they will all stick to the same talking points never breaking ranks...Who else would sign an allegiance to an unelected person who does not represent our government is not our King or dictator, carrying out his edits like they have done by signing an allegiance to/setting up Norquist as having the power to decide for all the citizens of this country.... that is the T'publicondinos for ya.... LOL No wonder they are always talking about taking our country back, to a time when women were controlled by male members of their families, were tied to the kitchen sink, barefoot and pregnant. Working and educated women make them nervous. Come to think about it everything forward thinking makes them nervous. That is why they want to take away reproductive rights from T'pubdino women so these women can procreate up a storm to put them in the majority again, especially with the reports about the 'browning' of America where the minority will be the majority in the USA in the next 15 or so years.... LOL

Ranted out....

Peace....investigate....research..... think for yourself.....Laugh

@BZe1: Damn good and worthy rant. Thanks

BZe1: you've pretty much summed it up. Nice job; too bad the Teapublicans are too stubborn to admit to.

Thank you Kevin Q, for both your service of this nation and your comment on the real state of the union. Maybe the American people will see the Tea Party GOP for the foolish right-wing scum that they are.

OBAMA BIDEN 2012

Jonathan - You still didn't answer my question!! Perhaps the issue is you can't name 3 things your party has actually done legislatively to fix gas prices. That's okay others can't either, because neither party has. All they do is blame each other so they can do nothing and get paid by big oil to continue doing nothing.

Also, I have no problem with government regulation as long as it has some level of sense about it and doesn't violate our constitutional rights.

Both parties are guilty of inaction that has led to the current energy mess. The President has continued the failed corn sourced ethanol policies that got the green light from President Bush in 2007, with $4 a gallon gas in 2008 as the reward !!

It is entirely appropriate to use the skyrocketing fuel prices and almost certain economic downturn that will follow to criticize the President, so unless he has some good ideas that he's holding back, he should stand by, because there's gonna be a bumpy ride down the road to November !!

Robert D-3111119

We go through this every few years, and we always say we need to build more refineries and drill so this doesnt happen again. We need to be energy independent.

Actually, we HAVE increased production and we HAVE increased our drilling and now EXPORT more than we IMPORT. So... do you FEEL more oil independent?... do you FEEL like we have better control of pump prices?

THAT should make some heads explode.

@LMarcT

we HAVE increased production and we HAVE increased our drilling and now EXPORT more than we IMPORT.

BS. Where are you getting that drivel?

Crude oil and refined products imported in 2010-4,304,533,000 barrels-http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_ep00_im0_mbbl_a.htm

Crude oil and refined products exported in 2010-858,685,000 barrels-http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_ep00_im0_mbbl_a.htm

The US exports more refined product, such as gasoline and diesel, than it imports but if you're talking oil in all it's forms or just crude it's not even in the same ball park. You've just bought into the drivel your puppet-masters are cramming down your throat. Maybe check some facts on your own next time and you won't seem like a blind clueless parrot.

Sorry, second link, exports, should be-http://205.254.135.7/dnav/pet/pet_move_exp_dc_NUS-Z00_mbbl_a.htm

@Backcountry164

Crude oil and refined products imported in 2010-4,304,533,000 barrels-http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_ep00_im0_mbbl_a.htm

Crude oil and refined products exported in 2010-858,685,000 barrels-http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_ep00_im0_mbbl_a.htm

The fact that really tells the tale is this - the United States produces ALMOST 10 million barrels of oil, but we use nearly 20 million barrels of oil per day. So, if we were going to produce as much as we use, we would have to DOUBLE production. THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. The US will always be importing large amounts of oil until there is nothing left to import.

Backcountry164,

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/story/2011-12-16/us-oil-boom/52053236/1

http://www.clarkhoward.com/news/clark-howard/environment-energy/united-states-export-more-oil-we-import/nFrSn/

We can argue the details and whether it is crude or not crude, but the fact remains that our exports have increased dramatically versus our imports... and it has NOTHING to do with our price here at home. If the oil company can get a dime more for the crude elsewhere than it gets here, it's exported. If they can get a dime more for finished product elsewhere, it's exported. The game and the name remains the same.

Will, So can you tell us why we export crude AT ALL, given we only produce half of what we need?

@LMarcT

We can argue the details and whether it is crude or not crude

No Mark we can not. There is NO argument. Your "details" are nothing more than BS and rhetoric.

You can regurgitate all the drivel you want, the facts however do not support your rhetoric. The US exports a FRACTION of the crude oil that we did in the 80's and 90's. 15,000k in 2010 compared to 105,000k in 1980. The crude exports today are up from the 2000's but those were at a low not seen since the oil shortages of the 60's and early 70's. Excluding the shortages prior to the 2000's you have to go all the way back to the 1920's to see crude exports as low as what we had in 2010. So yeah, crude exports have increased, pretty hard not to when you consider they were near an all time low.- http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/hist/LeafHandler.ashx?n=pet&s=mcrexus1&f=a

Aside from that what is your point? Do you go to the grocery store and bitch that the price of rice is too high because we export so much of it? You expect industries to make less money just so they can cater to you? We import crude oil, refine it (JOBS!!!) and then export some of what we refine. Would you prefer we are just cut out of the system altogether? Let those countries export their crude directly to China (KEYSTONE!!!) and the Chinese can refine it themselves. I'm sure they'd prefer it that way but why would we? You think that would lower the price at the pump here?

It is like a foreign car company who has a plant in the USA where they build their cars. When they sell those cars here, it is as imports isn't it?

Wouldn't that be the same with oil harvested in the Gulf by a foreign owned oil company. It is their oil to sell under their company name so they sell it on the open market, and thus when the oil is purchased by the USA it is as imported oil even though it was harvested here in the Gulf. Isn't that the way it works?

The American govt purchase oil from a variety of suppliers BP is one of them. One would have thought after the debacle in the Gulf with the environment and livlihood bespoiling Gusher, that affected from Texas to Florida and beyond - maybe even Cuba and other islands in the Caribbean- that contract would have been reviewed and even if purchases continued there would be strings attached. Like a fine of x million barrels per year for the next 20 years for the misery and distruction you have caused or you will never get another govt contract to supply our military or any other govt entity with oil ever again.... something like that. LOL

Or like you broke it..now you fix it pronto and fix it right, because for as long as it takes you to fix the problem, stop bespoiling our waters, sealife, wetlands and livlihood, tourism etc and to restore same- we will be levying a fee of x million dollars in cash and x million barrels of oil per quarter until it is proved by independent scientists/engineers etc -including by scientists and engineers of your competitors etc that the problem is fixed and our lands and environment is restored to better than it was. Either that or we nationalize your company and all its assets period. LOL

That should also have been done to Exxon after the Exxon Valdez debacle, as Exxon has never made the people and environment they harmed whole even after all these years.

In Alaska the pipeline has leaked and bespoiled the environment there. That was not the first leak either. It appears that the pipeling maintainance is not all that high of a priority for some companies, just like maintainance does not seem to be a high enough priority for some of these companies refineries thus workers die in explosions from the look of things. Yet there are those who are pushing for deepsea drilling in the pristine waters there and on preserved public forest/lands. Can anyone imagine the catastrophic event that would take place if the same thing that happened in the Gulf should happen in frigid waters far away from quick access and help?

Why is there this push in the USA to do away with rules regulations and oversight especially in this day and age? So these companies can continue to do as they want without worry of being required to fix the problems and/or protect their workers. If they cannot get rid of the rules, regulations and oversight then they have those in Congress that will defund or underfund these departments that provide the oversight. That is why there is this continuous talk about making goverment smaller. No oversight...

Many of these foreign companies could not do in their country what they do in the USA. They would not be allowed to bespoil their own country and if they did there would be a serious cost, not a wrist slap like is done here.

Even worse is that American companies from finance to widgits do the same to their own country without a thought it seems as profit is the only thing to some of them. It is not about pride in ones country , it is not about being honorable either. These people do not even know the meaning of the word as evidenced by the crap that is coming to the attention of the masses these past few years.

One good thing about the housing implosion was that it is now forcing people to stay put instead of moving every few years, thus not paying attention to what is happening in their communities. These local leaders move up to state leaders and then have visions of going on to the national stage. Sadly some people do not even vote in these local elections. The beliefs and politics of these local leaders are very important as they are the ones who perhaps get elected to the State govt and then to Congress, taking their beliefs and donor/backers that they are beholden to with them.

It was noted that we had a larger turn out of voters in our recent local elections this past year, up from previous years. It was certainly the first time that I received robo calls and flyers etc from the people campaigning even though I have lived in the area for quite a while. LOL

Peace... increase attention span....think....mull... review....

We don't need to give tax incentives to companies. Another country will give them the breaks and they'll get the jobs. 'Don't know if we'll have the money to buy it from them. By the way, it's good obama and his family are vacationing in Aspen right now. It's been almost a month since they got back from 17 days in Hawaii...and that's too long. I can see why he'd want to keep his job. The perks are great. Are you better off than you were 3 years ago?

I f Boehner's meeting with Republicans was "behind closed doors" as the writers of this article stated, how do they know what the Speaker said or did not say ? Are they making a story out of hearsay and innuendo ?

Let's be honest though. Obama took the Gulf Oil Spill as an opportunity to pretty much halt the permits for new deep water drilling rigs. Then, he follows by stopping the proposed pipeline through Nebraska. He has poured millions into his failed green initiatives and he is only now talking about natural gas development to make himself look good before the November elections.

If Obama gets re-elected, the push for Cap and Tax, er .... Cap and Trade will begin once again. Higher gas prices will simply mean higher cost of living for everyone, leading to higher costs of production and a competitive disadvantage for our country.

Obama kind of reminds me of Don Quixote jousting with a windmill ... so sad !

"A recent “Pundit Prep” document cited the national debt, unemployment and the price of gas as the three best ways to define the “Obama economy.” "

Let's see now;

National Debt for fiscal year 2008 (Bush's last year) = $9.986 Trillion.

National Debt at 2/20/12) = $15.413 Trillion, UP $5.399 Trillion (+54%).

Unemployment when Obama took office = 7.2%.

Current Unemployment Rate = 8.3%, UP 1.1% since Obama took office.

Price of Gasoline when Bush left office = $1.84 per gallon.

Current price of gasoline under Obama = $3.52 per gallon, UP $1.68 (+91%).

About a year ago, there was a billboard sign of a smiling Bush saying "Miss me yet?". I wonder what most people think of that "Change we can Believe in" NOW?

Yea, why don't you run your George Bush ads then, Roy. Why don't you start trying to tell people that your guys are just like George Bush... See how that turns out for you.

The Republican messaging machine seems to have stretched itself too far, you're not going to be able to get by with that kind of bologna logic anymore.

Technically, Bush set the 2009 fiscal year budget. Plus when Obama took office, it was the trough of the recession and jobs were being shed like dead skin. You forgot to mention that unemployment peaked at about 10% before slipping down to 8.3%. In addition, the price of gas when Bush left was low due to a lack of demand thanks to the recession and the absence of foreign troubles (unlike now with Iran, which the GOP wants to worsen by waging war). In addition, much of the added debt over the past 3 years was because of the recession. Roy, if you really knew what you were talking about you would have put that most of the debt came from decreased revenues and increased spending on safety nets because of the recession. In addition, that budget deficit was stuffed on top of Bush's deficits, which were estimated to be about $400 billion in 2009 (but went to $1.4 trillion). Plus Bush had taken the price of the foreign military adventures in appropriations, while Obama put them on the actual budget. Don't try to spread smut without having evidence to back it up.

OBAMA BIDEN 2012

HOPE AND CHANGE 2012

Every body here should watch this short film. It will help explain to you why gas prices are going to go up and keep going up. Hint, it has nothing to do with any president or secret club. It's a function of logical issues that nobody can deny. Whether you think we have 100 years of oil or 20 years, the fact is we are at the halfway point or beyond. Oil is going to start disappearing and the cost of gas should be the least of our worries.

Crack down on those who speculate on oil futures.

If there's no other way to do it, tax their profits at 90%, and don't exempt their losses.

ORLY?

http://gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx

Use the crude oil prices which I was referring to and the entire 13+year period...

Google - US DOE crude oil prices...

I bet you believe in AGW also- keep cherry picking that info...

Cherry picking info? You're counting any number of years before the massively increased demand in East Asia, AND before the various wars GWII got us into. The point is - Obama's essentially on the same trajectory that Bush was at the end of his term. And Obama hasn't managed to hit Bush's peak, either.

Talk about cherry picking... Hell, let's talk about how cheap gas was under Clinton, then.

Ac do you not believe in the free market??? do you not want the oil companies to sell to the highest bidder...

Way to hand pick some VERY limited numbers to prove an incorrect point. Let me post a couple facts that you might not hear inside your bubble.

1. Yes, the December 2008 average price of oil was $32 a barrel. HOWEVER, the YEARLY average was $91.48 a barrel with a peak monthly average of $126 a barrel in June and July.

2. At the end of 2008 the average gas price was $1.90, BUT the YEARLY average price was $3.30 a gallon and had averaged over $4.00 a gallon in June and July.

3. The average price of crude oil over the last three years has been LOWER (by a lot) then the last year of the Bush administration.

4. No year since 2008 has averaged "$95+" a barrel of oil. In fact, the price of crude has only averaged over $90 a barrel for THREE MONTHS since it hit record highs during Bush's last year in office.

So yes, at the very end of 2008 oil and gas prices were very low, but that was not due to any Bush policy... at least not directly. Its because the world was falling into a massive recession and demand for oil crashed as it does in an economic down turn. Since Bush caused the recession I guess you could say he drove down gas prices, but thats your call. As for the price of oil under Obama, its actually be quite low until this summer, and I think we can all agree the unrest with Iran is not helping things.

Again, way to hand pick a couple numbers to prove a point, and ignore all the others that completely destroy it. You might be cut out for a job at Fox News.

Heres the source link for average oil prices by year/month... actually do some FACT CHECKING before you post your nonsense: http://www.ioga.com/Special/crudeoil_Hist.htm

We must forget that gas hit a record high of $4.11 on July 8, 2008 and the reason it went down later that years was because nobody could afford to buy any gas. The solution to getting gas prices down is another depression as any smart republican will tell you.

John S-400329,

HISTORY OF ILLINOIS BASIN POSTED CRUDE OIL PRICES???

The World standard for US crude oil prices is West Texas Intermediate...

reference - http://www.oil-price.net/

Keep cherry picking that info...

JimS-459172,

The TWO main reasons that crude oil dropped in price:

1. The oil Spot Market was being manapulated by the hedge funds and numerous investigations were started... see http://oilspot2.dtnenergy.com/e_article001256591.cfm?x=b11,0,w

2. 'Thunder Horse' a 'Deep Sea' drilling platform in the GOM came on-line and was producing/providing a additional OVER 1% of the TOTAL US oil/NG production...

For more information on how Obma is KILLING the US OIL Industry... see http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Obama-Shocks-Oil-Industry-by-Cancelling-Exxon-Mobil-and-Statoil-Leases.html

Hey, AC Robertson,

Show me again with your "proof" how Obama supported Al Qaeda to take over Libya and restore a muslim socialist caliphate to the mid-east?

Come on buddy. You were full of references like that leading up to Libya. I want to hear about how Obama supports Al-Qaeda from you again!

He supports them so much he f'ing killed Osama.

You always provide so much "proof"

Guess I will soon be buying me a horse and buggy. The Republicans said they would do everything in their power to ensure Obama is a one-term president. I guess I never dreamed it would be the total annihilation of the middle class. Wow.

There is a quite simple way to prove the Republicans are talking out of their @sses. Drag Oil Company Executives back to Congress and this time make them take an Oath to tell the truth. Walk it like you talk it, or else your just full of sh!t.

John - using average is a way of hiding the truth. You have to use the entire history as AC Roberts is.

Using averages is what the politicians use fool people. It is more important to see the direct cause and effect of policies.

This comment thread might not've deserved to be collapsed, but the author of it sure has a lot of disinformation throughout it.

Dangerous Mind,

Nice try at diverting the subject...

Where are these comments, you refer to???

And when, just when was the last time Fox, a known Murdocks NAZI spewing machine ever told the whole truth? Yep, according to them and you, it's worth repeating the lies, right?

Faux Noise also said that a poster by the name of stonepipe is gay. I guess that must be true also, right?

I found that out on FOX this morning

LMAOROFLSMK! I picked up on the sarc, stonepipe!!

Anybody who honestly thinks the potus has any control over the price of gas needs to get their head examined. Oil is traded on a WORLD market and a about 50% of the current price of a barrell of oil is caused by speculators. The president doesn't have squat to do with it. Of course we're going to hear from the "drill baby drill" crowd who have bought into the line of BS that drilling for more oil will magicly lower the price. The oil companies aren't going to spend millions of dollars of their money to flood the market with oil just to make less on it especially when there's no shortage to start with.

SallyAnn- have you ever heard of sarcasm or are you just stupid? And ONE time does not make you gay. And besides, I was on top.

Seriously now, I'm just trying to help you. You shouldn't be writing that you believed something that you heard on Fox news. Most of what Fox news says is conjecture. You can tell when they begin reports with "some people say" that it is not a factual news station.

yes lets drill some more so that they can export our oil to other countries where the price is higher... look at the numbers people... oil companies are exporting our oil to other countries because they can get a better price for it...

Gary- are you related or married to Sally?

Notsojingo- thanks, small wonder the right laughs at libs, they give them all the ammo they need. I am middle of the road by the way. But a small favor, I'm what used to be called middle aged and I figured out the lmao but what in the heck is the rest?

Some generally sane people are so used to other people trumpeting faux noise that they cannot discern the sarcasm and/or irony from people who are on their side!

@Jennifer Barker

Anybody who honestly thinks the potus has any control over the price of gas needs to get their head examined. Oil is traded on a WORLD market and a about 50% of the current price of a barrell of oil is caused by speculators. The president doesn't have squat to do with it. Of course we're going to hear from the "drill baby drill" crowd who have bought into the line of BS that drilling for more oil will magicly lower the price

Polly want a cracker? Clearly you have no clue how speculation works. Anything else you don't understand that you'd like to reguritate on the rest of us?

Well it is sometimes difficult to pick out subtle sarcasm in written statements. I had to read stonepipe's missive twice before I picked up on it. I have actually seen quite a few right wingers who have came out with such statements and be totally serious. I'm thinking 'say what???'.

LMAOROFLSMK!

LMAORolled on Floor Laughing Slapping My Knees! Just my personal addition, plus your comment was FAS!!! Funny As Sunshine!!!!!

FR Sent!

Peace

Peace to you my jingo brother, can't sleep and the vodka is just kicking in so "Good Night and Good Luck" thank you for responding. Dang it you did it again, FR Sent Oh, my head.

Yeah and Faux always tells the truth, what a joke, just keep spinning it because you and all the Faux followers are the only ones who can't see the facts even when they are right in front of your nose.

"say what?" this just keeps getting better and better.

Dang it you did it again, FR Sent Oh, my head.

FR means friend request, so it's friend request sent. check ur newsvine profile, you'll see jingo on ur friends list and the option to accept or decline...my one good deed of the day done!

Thanks joe and thanks jingo Thank you for being a friend na na nanq and back again..... damn can't remember anything anymore. I don't know how to do all this fancy 21 century stuff I am stuck somewhere between 1850 and 1945 so forgive me. I would be proud to be your friend.

No sarcasm and my wife would wonder what the hell I am making a friend on the innertube machine for anyway.

I find the liberal media and the Demopcrats a bunch of hypocrites on this issue. Schumer,Pelosi, Hilary Clinton all critisized Bush for $2.00 gas prices and yet I dont hear a peep about the crazy prices on gas under the Obama 's watch. A double standard.!!!!!!!!!!!! Well I would rather pay $2.00 a gas under Bush's watch then $4.00 as gas under this President who doesnt care about us middle class who are on a budget. How is these gas prices helping us middle class who cannot aford these green cars unless Obama wants to give away all these green Volt cars for free who cannot afford the prices. Oh thats right if you make 170k you can afford the Volt.Obama you and the Left are hypcites and liars. You all speak the double tongue.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

piegan, you must have a very short memory. During the last part of Bush's term the gas price average was 4.12 a gallon. Better do some research.

piegan, check this link to cure your amnesia.

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2008/02/28/19916/bush-falsely-claims-hes-focused-on-gas-prices/

Juno- in response to your comment. Were's the out cry from the Left on these high gas prices? I dont heare much from you Liberal hypocrites or the media Left? Well if you morons are ok with the GAS prices then apparently Obama is doing so well for you idiots. I hope Obama raises it to $5.00 so you morons will be forced to buy that crappy VOLT.!!!!!

I will bet you 10,000.00 dollars this game the TeaPugs are playing will backfire on them, the GOP lost their way. I know lifelong Republicans who think the GOP Teabaggers are so full of bull that they are planning on jumping the ship.

No sarcasm and my wife would wonder what the hell I am making a friend on the innertube machine for anyway.

Thanks for accepting and making me crack up, again!! And thanks to joe420er for his kind intermediaryism!!

FR also sent, Joe!

Peace

Why is no one talking about how oil speculation on oil futures by hedge funds is jacking up the oil price ?

why do people not @!$%#ing read and research instead of spouting bull@!$%# about drilling and pipelines and goats and chicken and whatnot ?

Its ok patriot, I know just as many die hard Dem'swho will not vote for this liar again..He's a prov-en liar, unless you really believe his dad was a goat herder, even though it has come out he was in the Government of the Dutch East Africa I believe..Funny thing, his birth certificate forgery says Kenya, even though it had not become Kenya yet...Another blatant lie exposed. .They will not even debate with me anymore?..One is a very liberal dentist from Columbus OH, he wants to start another business before the health-care law comes into full swing...LOL...Nobody wants to talk about the doctors ready to jump that ship now do they?...LOL

People are posting like this is twittervine. Some of the things I read I am not altogether sure I should agree with it, even although some things I do definately agree to.

Having read some really off the wall stuff posted here it is no wonder folks are having a difficult time realizing that it is either sarcasm or a joke, because there are those folks who present that sort of thing as fact. LOL

Plus I thought I heard recently that Faux is changing.... trying to move away from the crazy it seems since the whole hackergram thing broke. LOL

Or was that hackcell, hacknscella, hackpin , and paynhack, paynprint, paynsay...what ev.. LOL

Peace....

No,... actually, Robert is right.

Robert D. McConnell.

Research;

1. The ETHANOL rebate that Al Gore cast the deciding vote for. Is about $0.50 a gallon...

2. The oil companies started receiving BILLIONS in tax relief when Bill Clinton enacted the 'Deep Water Drilling' incentives in the GOM...

3. It was Obama that INCREASED(almost doubled) the limit that ETHANOL is added to US Gasoline. This INCREASED the total tax incentives that the energy companies are now receiving and LOWERED the vehicles overall MPG...

4. It was Obama who loaned Brazil Billions to develop their oil fields. While he was closing the drilling areas in the USA and increasing the restrictions. Both of which have resulted in thousands of well paying jobs being lost.

5. It was Obama who has closed the import of Canada's Tar Sand oil and forced Canada to sell to China. Costing the USA thousands of jobs and access to cheap oil/NG. While the USA will still be suffering from the environmental damage cause by the Tar Sand exploitation..

robert is speaking the truth... oh but right wingers don't recognize that so you have to talk about kool aid...

Actually what's been driving up the price of oil are other factors. First of all the number one export of the U.S. in 2011, is fuel. U.S. refiners exported approximately over a 100 million gallons per day of different fuels such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, etc (That's per the U.S. census). Guess why? By shipping oil out of the U.S. we lower the supply and keep the prices artifically high to the U.S. consumer. Second, all this sabre rattling by Israel and the U.S. is scaring a lot of people and that's also pushing the price of gasoline up. So blame Israel and our own fellow U.S. citizens.

The only reason Israel is going to attack Iran is to cause Gas Prices to spike thus causing the sheep over here in the United Commerce States to vote against Obama.

There is no other reason for Israel to attack Iran except to get Obama voted out of office due to high Gas Prices. Gas Prices will fly through the roof when Israel Attacks Iran.

AC, some studies state the amount of jobs as low as 500 - 1400 and even then temporary. Most would be for highly skilled welders not low skilled laborers. Also the oil would STILL be put on the open market (capitalism) so it STILL wouldn't lower our gas prices one iota!

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505123_162-57361212/keystone-pipeline-how-many-jobs-really-at-stake/

LOLOL....I kinda laugh at how the media and the current
administration are able to portray the oil companies as being evil. The current
US citizen is being brainwashed into believing the oil companies actually have
control of pricing of crude oil, gasoline, and other oil products. If anyone
studies just a little about what is called the “Futures market”, an average
person would learn how pricing is set in the marketplace. Go to Google and put
in the words, “What Determines Oil Prices?” Study and get the REAL and ACTUAL
facts…..One day people should realize, 99% of what you are being told by the
media and the current administration is all LIES….the administration believes
we are all STUPID US citizens….

@Nora-616050

Also the oil would STILL be put on the open market (capitalism) so it STILL wouldn't lower our gas prices one iota!

Economics 101- If you increase the supply you lower the cost, even in a world or "open" market.

From travels in Europe and Asia I agree that gas prices in the US are much lower here. I wonder what is being done to prepare this country for the inevitable shortages of oil and gas? Aren't there technologies available now that would provide cheap or free energy for heating and transportation, to communities and individuals? Do some of the 1 percent maintain their power by controlling energy policies and benefiting corporations? Many are singing questions and waiting for honest answers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49z3cheFN20

The addition of oil from the US would be offset by lower supplies from other countries. The oil cartels decide how much there is, not the President of the United States.

Backcountry164, Saudi Arabia is targeting $100 dollars a barrel for oil prices to keep up with it's public spending and need a price of at least $80 per barrel just to balance it's budget. If the price were to fall to less than what the oil producing countries are targeting they will just cut back on their production till the price rises back to those levels. It would mean more money in American oil companies pockets but the price of consumer gasoline would still be up there.

AC......,

Since the Senate was controlled by the Democrats there must have been Republicans who also voted for those rebates.

In order to add to the supply- ProPublica, May 25, 2010 "The royalty waiver program was established by Congress in 1995, when oil was selling for about $18 a barrel and drilling in deep water was seen as unprofitable without a subsidy. Today, oil sells for about $70 a barrel, but the subsidy continues." The Senate and House were controlled by Republicans in 1995

I can't find anywhere that sells E15 fuel so I'm not sure how much effect there is from #3

From Rolling Stone-On November 10th, the State Department announced that it was postponing a decision on the pipeline's permit until 2013 at the earliest, pending further review of the project's proposed route.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/is-the-keystone-pipeline-really-dead-20111123#ixzz1moDYA4dF

http://www.factcheck.org/2009/09/bogus-brazilian-oil-claims/

Nora-616050,

When constructing a pipeline, welders are in the minority, as most of the welds are done by automatic machines...

You also have to count the people:

1. That make and transport the pipe and other specialized equipment...

2. That dig the ditches or build the supports...

3. The people that survey and purchase the routes...

Long term there are the:

1. Inspectors and maintenance workers, that maintain the thousands of miles of righ-of-way and pipe...

2. The people that operate the pumping stations and distribution/storage systems...

3. The people that are hired and/or not layed-off due to the US refineries now operating a max efficiency for many more decades...

Whatever,right or left, this country goes straight to hell if nothing changed soon.

The last President to set wage and price controls was Nixon. Thanks.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=gasoline_factors_affecting_prices

Stated in article-Taxes Add to the Price of Gasoline

Federal, State, and local government taxes are the next largest part of the retail price of gasoline. Federal excise taxes are currently 18.4¢ per gallon, and State excise taxes averaged 22.06¢ per gallon at the beginning of 2011. As of January 2011, 12 States levy additional State sales and other taxes on gasoline. Additional county and city taxes can have a significant impact on the price of gasoline in some locations.

Bush's/Cheney/Haliburton... all you need to know about American oil. They used/sold our military for profit. Haliburton is hiring.

Democrats have run this country now since January, 2007. They have done a SWELL JOB, right? LMAO. Sheep......Baaaaaaa Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

All of you free loaders and die hard democrats are the only ones who agree with Obama===if Obama makes a second term all of you will cry fowl for he will not pay any attention to you then.

What a wash, but to be expected rom two faced liars, known as politicians. Obama has nothing more to do with gas prices today then Bush had with gas prices in 2008. But I will mention something that adds a lot more to the price on gas then presidents, and that's the speculators on Wall Street who can speculate the price high (even against what they believe future demand will be, but it currently isn't), without ever having to take posession of the product they're speculating on. Perhaps these campaigners should turn an eye to the speculative market, and see what they can uncover there. But, oh yeah, that wouldn't be as self serving. Carry on....

Robert D: I don't believe in calling people "idiots" but have you ever considered that subsidies to oil companies may be keeping the cost of gasoline down !!! Think about it !!!

Actually, gas prices in the USA are NOT the lowest in the world. The USA is the 3rd largest oil producing country in the world. I lived in the 18th oil producing country where gas prices were under 40 cents a gallon compared to around $2.00 we were paying at the time. I pretty much bet that gas prices in that country haven't gone up much while it continues to spike here.

@Nora-616050

Backcountry164, Saudi Arabia is targeting $100 dollars a barrel for oil prices to keep up with it's public spending and need a price of at least $80 per barrel just to balance it's budget.

OMG, more of your inability to comprehend what you are reading I assume. Either that or you are just full of sh!t.

The Saudis want oil to sell at $70-$80 per barrel. They DON'Twant it to sell for $100 because they fear that will drive us to look to alternatives, primarily green sources.-http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-28/alwaleed-says-saudi-arabia-seeks-70-to-80-oil-to-preserve-sales-to-west.html

Aside from that the Saudi's only produce about 10% of the oil on the market so their individual desires aren't the be all end all when it comes to determining the price of oil.

@Nora

I suggest you do more research, Saudi also want to supply more oils, but guess what? Oil corporation said they don't need them and thus artificially increase price.

That was like 6 months ago, look it up.

Economic 101 like you said would work, except that is not how oil price is operated on. You ever try to fill a water tank through a big hole? Speculators and the artificial pricing are the real problem here.

Democrats and Republicans are hilarious. Always playing "my dad can beat up your dad" like a bunch of kindergarteners. I have some bad news, Children. You have the same dad. If you remove garbage issues like abortion, gay marriage and the imaginary war on religion, all you're left with is big government, socialists on all sides of the aisle.

The reason Big Oil gets subsidies, is because whiny-ass Americans are always complaining about having the cheapest gas prices in the world. At some point, elected politicians placated the average retard and subsidized pump prices. Big Oil gets a subsidy, you get cheaper gas. See how that works? Remove the subsidy, and they'll just hit you up for more at the pump to compensate and you'll pay EVEN MORE, because the socialists in Washington won't even refund the subsidy allotment back to the taxpayer. Basic principles of supply and demand, and socialist government. I think Down's Syndrome is one of the most under-reported conditions in the United States. Judging by party affiliation registers, at least 62% of the population suffers from it.

I'm sure that at some point in the past, I've read a more delusional liberal comment on MSN, other than the one posted by Robert McConnell at number 5, but at the moment, I sure can't think of what it might have been.

@TwistedCross

I hate to break it to you, but global capitalist are the cause of artificial high gas price. Let's also not forget the global capitalist cause the recession and the collapse of middle class. The US government is operated on a mixed of socialist and capitalist in case you didn't know.

@ConservativeNotRepublican

So, which part is delusional from liberal? You seems to generalize and label, but you give no factual facts or any source/links whatsoever to support your points. It is so easy to say others are wrong because they are not agreeing with your opinions, but it also end there when you provide nothing else but your opinions as facts like usual.

if obama wants to present himself as master of the command economy and tell everybody what they have to buy, he has to take the bad with the good.

AC,

Hate to burst your bubble but Keyline was never going to result in a drop of oil for the US. The Canadians were pumping the oil down to a duty free port in Texas in order to ship it at no tax cost to China.

All it would have resulted in was a couple thousand permanent Us jobs but nothing else; in other words it is not worth it.

All it would have resulted in was a couple thousand permanent Us jobs but nothing else

Jobs are evil.

weasely, for the amount of potential danger caused by the pipeline 1,000 + permanent jobs and 4000 temporary ones are not worth it.

This pipe line goes right through our remaining agricultural states and over many aquifers. The company that was going to build it stated within 7 years there would be a spill, but in fact the exiting pipe line that this is being built off of had 12 in one year due to faulty steel bought from an Indian company.

The oil itself coming down that pipe is not crude oil, it requires more energy and water to convert it into usable crude oil then it can output once used as a combustion-able substance.

Here are some more facts about how dangerous and costly that line would be:

http://www.tarsandsaction.org/spread-the-word/key-facts-keystone-xl/

As several posters have pointed out the President has no control over the price of gasoline. Who does? We do not get one drop of oil from Iran, the Straights have not been closed to oil traffic, big oil says we need an increase NOW, on oil bought and paid for six months ago and at a cheaper price. So who do you think is trying to put a damper on the small uptick in employment? How many Democrats can be found at a big oil meeting? Some of them bandy a price of ten dollars per gallon, but in truth the oil producing Countries know that their bottom line is also tied to our productivity. Who would they sell their oil to if they lost the American market? It would force a glut of oil and they would have to reduce their prices to get sales. They have set a tentative tacit agreed upon high point on the price per barrel. None of them want to go beyond this price. Big oil manipulates the price at the pump by creating false shortages, through closures of refineries for scheduled (maintenance) actually limiting the number of refineries and illegal manipulation of prices across the board no matter what brand of gas you buy. check any three closely positioned gas stations of different brands, all have the exact same price per gallon. Look at the transporters of gasoline, the same company that delivers Sunoco, delivers to BP and any other independent station. If you want to know why gas cost more, sit in on an oil companies board meeting.

Typical attack dog Republicans. Who are they fooling? They are so up Big Oil's butt they'd be the first to know when Big Oil plans on another predatory price gouging.

In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if the red state bully boi politicians who kiss Big Oil ass urged them to increase oil prices.

Fact...For 3 years now in the worst recession, Big Oil recorded in the first fiscal quarter of every one of three years obscene profits not seen in a decade. Do they need this price increase? Of course not.

It's just Big Oil Bois control freak way of punishing this administration for not immediately signing off on that Keystone pipeline. Since they've recorded billions in profit these last 3 years, what the hell do they need Keystone for?

Isn't is so sweet how these Big Oil pigs think they can manipulate the entire country with their almighty power and all they have to do is scare the daylights out of the rest of us with the words "price increase".

Anyone else had enough of this BS? Electric cars work and gas stations soon will be replaced by charging stations. Eat your heart out Big Oil!

Hybrids are on the road in the millions. Solar energy in the northeast is so successful the solar companies can't keep up with the demand. In fact, in my state NJ, the demand for solar energy is so high that the solar companies now offer residential and commercial units free solar just for the privilege of generating more solar power.

Sorry Big Oil. Your ass is grass and we are the lawn mowers.

What the, NC and Ewent, you make several very good points. I'm all for going green. Let's not forget the media that has become like a tabloid in politics. They are also somewhat controlled by the same 1%.

Christian conservatives, You cannot worship God and Money.

Ewent, a question. With a failing power grid, nationwide, and the "dumbing down" of our schools, (where the future engineers are going to originate,) and no jobs, or jobs in the "service sector, (usually part time, at best, with NO benefits,) and millions more jobless past their unemployment benefits, (and thus NOT REPORTED in any of the media, or the National Labor Statistics,) how are we going to change to these hybrid cars, and maintain them, (as they are much more expensive to maintain, especially if the batteries have to be replaced every three years?)

As far as the current situation, I have seen several posts on how to resolve this issue; start taxing ALL oil exports, and fine the dickens out of the oil companies if they fail to maintain a "national asset," the refineries. If we are in some form of a "national emergency," as we were during WWII, where all automobile factories were converted to supplying assets for the national state of emergency, and not to making their stockholders profits.

Another post I am heartily in full agreement with, the only people really having a good time right now is the media, ALL of them. They are getting richer than anyone, even the big oil people. As long as they can stir controversey, and spread hate and discontent, they get richer. They actually produce nothing of value for the average citizen. We need to stop this vitriole amongst ourselves, and direct it where it belongs, to ALL the people we hired to work for us, you know, the 535 idiots in Washington, D.C, the highest paid, part time, employees, anyone can imagine. Also the most crooked of any employee, which they are, regardless of political affiliation.

Fact...For 3 years now in the worst recession, Big Oil recorded in the first fiscal quarter of every one of three years obscene profits not seen in a decade. Do they need this price increase? Of course not.

And then this...

Sorry Big Oil. Your ass is grass and we are the lawn mowers.

Something doesn't connect with that line of thought.

High oil prices lead to alternative energy sources being more cost competitive. I'm sure that's exactly what the oil companies want to do. If you follow the logic that oil companies are gouging the consumers, then you could also reason that green energy has the most to gain from this.

President's have no control over oil prices, except Bush.

"Subsidies" are given to oil companies, and by "subsidies" you mean tax breaks. If the companies didn't make a profit there would be no profit to tax, therefore no tax break.

The real subsidies are found in the Green Energy sector far more than Oikl. The government directly gives the companies money out of the taxpayer pocket (grants and loans that aren't paid back), as opposed to a tax break, which simply allows the company to keep more of the money it earned.

Does anyone wonder where the oil companies have received a majority of their tax breaks from? Green Energy Investment.

I am in agreement though. We should not incetivize one sector of the economy over another through tax breaks. End the government loan programs, end the grants, end the tax breaks across the board.

Let the free market truly decide the winners and losers.

Eventually oil supply will be so low that it will dictate that it is prohibitively expensive to produce. Why do we keep attempting to artificially accelerate this process? It will naturally occur over the next 150 years. Over this same time frame alternative energy will look like an economically viable solution.

And they are not fooling a majority of Americans not just about this but a lot of things, we've got their #

Obama/Biden 2012

Laura, you are not a majority, but just one.

Anyone but Obama 2012

make that two. obama 2012!

joe42er - make that seven - my family

Make that every intelligent person in America

President Obama, if I've got my information correct was elected by a majority of the voters in this Country, and they were not all black by a wide margin. I don't think he even got a hndred percent of the black vote. Could that majority have been so blind as to elect a black man with all of the faults as portrayed by some of the media and posters today. I think not. The majority of voters who elected this man over looked his race and skin color and looked at him from a perspective of his values as a President. In three years he has become a pariah against religion, a hater of millionaires, a quasi Moslem, a distributor of food stamps, a forcer of medical coverage, a gas price raiser, a bailer outer of banks and auto companies, he has brought our troops home from a war that we didn't want in the first place, he wants to force women to have abortions and use contraceptives when every decent God fearing MAN knows this is a sin. How could we the majority of Americans been so fooled by such a charlartan. Did I forget to mention that he killed Bin Laden yet refuses to show the pictures of his dead body. Can five percent of the black race been so right when they refused to vote for this man and the rest of us been so gullible. Paint whatever picture you want but the majority of Americans will see through the Art gurus interpretation and they will tell you they may not be an expert but they know art when they see it.

NC, what a crock. That post warrants no further commentary.

bmerbob...Typical "MY way or the highway" response. Whenever a neocon can't get their way or someone disagrees with them, the OTHER person is always wrong. See anything insane or irrational in that BS yet?

NC Norton:"In three years he has become a pariah against religion, a hater of millionaires, a quasi Moslem, a distributor of food stamps, a forcer of medical coverage, a gas price raiser, a bailer outer of banks and auto companies, he has brought our troops home from a war that we didn't want in the first place, he wants to force women to have abortions and use contraceptives when every decent God fearing MAN knows this is a sin. How could we the majority of Americans been so fooled by such a charlartan. Did I forget to mention that he killed Bin Laden yet refuses to show the pictures of his dead body. "

I see nothing but insanity and and BS in that.

Maybe I'm taking him seriously when he is tying to be sarcastic?

@ bmerbob

Our troops whom we don't want in the first place? And you call yourself an American?

Force medical? You mean like the way GOP denies even basic rights of every women, wow. So, if someone believe in natural healing, they shouldn't pay heal insurance? Or like Muslim shouldn't pay anything to women?

You know what GOP reminds me of? MUSLIM. They want women to have as little rights as possible and have a government based on religions. I guess GOP is more Muslim like they want to deny.

CuongDNguyen

I'm was quoting NC Norton's post. That is certainly not my position. Please read my post more carefully. I do consider myself American and by the way anyone with whatever position they take is still an American (provided they actually are). It is our right to have whatever opinion we have. To call someone not an American simply for a differing opinion (which yours and mine probably aren't) is what is not American.

Please look before you leap. I will accept your apology when you post it. Thank you.

Republicans might not be fooling anyone, but it appears Democrats are lol. Demublicans are the dumbest people in the country.

I LOVE watching this nonsense. Everyone is tired of the way things are. Let's change things. ahahahaha. The new election comes around, and all you retards want to do is talk about Democrats and Republicans. I thought you wanted change? OMG, you're phucking hilarious.

@ewent

Typical "MY way or the highway" response. Whenever a neocon can't get their way or someone disagrees with them, the OTHER person is always wrong. See anything insane or irrational in that BS yet?

Change neocon for progressive and your post describes pretty much every post I've ever seen you make. See anything hypocritical in that BS yet?

bmerbob

I'm was quoting NC Norton's post. That is certainly not my position. Please read my post more carefully.

Ever heard of quote tags? It's easy, just use the little button third from the left between the I and the strikeout.

@TwistedCross

Dumbest? So where is your source for that? Last I checked, someone who based their decision on a religion's belief seem to take the lead there. Muslim did that also in case you didn't know about their religious based government.

Again, nothing but your opinions with no source or facts.

@ bmerbob

And what do you call people who want soldiers to stay at battle field and refuse to let's them go home? I already see your opinions and it sure doesn't seems to be one that support or care for those who fight for your freedom and liberty.

Surprising that people who favor the free market still believe that if the US produced more oil our price of gasoline would be lower. Unless the government made it illegal to export US oil or petroleum products, that oil or gasoline will go to wherever the cost/profit ratio is most favorable to the oil companies. If China is willing to pay more for Gulf of Mexico oil or Houston gasoline, that product will go to Beijing, not Boston.

Please explain how the Keystone pipeline would effect gas prices at the pump in the US. The oil is to be process into diesel fuel and shipped overseas, not gasoline to be sold in the US.

Also this might be interesting- From the New York Times, March 25, 2011-

"The oil and gas industry has nearly 7,200 permits to drill on public lands that it has yet to use, according to Bureau of Land Management data obtained by Greenwire."

Robert,

There actually was a bill offered by Rep. Ben Ray Luhan (D) NM that would have helped fast tracked permitting if there was a guarantee that the oil and it's refined products were sold in the US market only. It was voted down by the Republican controlled House. Go figure.

SS you left out the little item that even some Republican Governors didn't want the pipeline due to it going across aquifers in their state with the likelihood of burst pipes and contamination due to the high pressures involved in moving tar sands.

@Nora-616050

SS you left out the little item that even some Republican Governors didn't want the pipeline due to it going across aquifers in their state with the likelihood of burst pipes and contamination due to the high pressures involved in moving tar sands.

Nora you've neglected to keep up. That issue has been resolvedfor months. btw- it was ONE Governor, so not only are you not keeping up, you're not keeping track. Great way to make a point.

Doesn't matter if it's resolved NOW or not Backcountry, it wasn't resolved THEN! And if I misread how many Republican governors it was I apologize. One of any party was enough in any case. It was also stated at the time the permit was turned down that it could be resubmitted.

ssmithlg

"Obama was held in contempt of court for illegally obstructing oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico"

I would enjoy reading your sources (Faux News doesn't count).

Nora, how do you misread "1", drink much?

Richie, you are right...there was no contempt charge, but obama and members of the administration did ignore lawful court orders.

The President has the power to bring gas prices down by declaring oil to be a National Emergency. He could force the purchase of all foreign oil to be purchased by the United States Government and he could set a price on what we would pay per barrel for it. We have National oil capacity and reserves enough to keep our head above water for over a year. Can any oil producing Country last that long with a thirty to forty percent reduction in their sales if they are unwilling to meet our price? No Country buying oil can or has the capacity to buy up such a glut on the world market. China, Japan and every oil consuming Country would negotiate for cheaper prices to increase their sales by even ten percent, ineffect reducing the price per barrel in any case. If Saudi Arabia lost forty percent of its market over night where would it store all of that excess oil. At the same time the President could order our naval fleet out of the Mid East. Every Country who depends on our protection would be affected. We could set a price on this protection if they wanted to continue having it say twenty million dollars per day, you know the price of everything has gone up Mr. Emir. I would set a price of forty five dollars per barrel and also state that the first Country who agrees to sell us oil at this price will become our world broker for all foreign oil purchased in the future. If Saudi Arabia agree first, every other Country would have to sell its oil to Saudi Arabia before it could be transported to American shores. It would only involve paper work but the effect would be chilling because we know that the Saudi's would require a mark up of a few dollars per barrel. Thus Countries not dropping their prices immediately would have to sell their oil to Saudi Arabia at forty three dollars per barrel instead of getting forty five. American oil producing companies while not affected by the foreign oil mandate would have to lower their prices as well to compete with forty dollar per barrel foreign oil.

Drill baby drill, that's the GOP live and die for motto. We don't need more oil we need the technology that is already developed to lower the use. It's out there and has been since the 60's. look at the car makers today, 500hp-600hp cars.. where is the logic ? America is what it is, happy to live here, but nothing to be proud about.

None of that is true, ssmithlg. The Arab Spring would have happened with or without his approval. How desperate and illogical. And the GP 'supported' the Arab Spring too. Remember they were calling for a no fly zone, until Obama agreed to the no fly zone, then all of a sudden it was a horrible thing to do, and they (and most likely you)called it an unconstitutional military intervention.

NC, your post is a fairly tale. naming oil a national emergency? What you are suggesting sounds a lot like actual socialism, even though your scenario is so impossible even Wile E Coyote wouldn't buy it. Saturday Night Live might, though. After all, it is highly hilarious.

ssmith...Grow up. Taking this and only this president to court is just more of McConnell's fondest dream of "getting rid of Obama", something that redneck KY Republican idiot stated in the 3rd month of a new president's term.

Isn't it strange how this president must accept blame when Big Oil Bush gets a free pass for his illegalities? That kind of legal BS works only in red states. The rest of the country doesn't live by biased law.

Rather than buy into this nonsensical GOP 'argument' about gas prices being Obama's fault, try reading a little of factual information. Even foxnews has an article on this.

Businessweek and other publications, research and reports, shows that the impact of the XL Pipeline on gas prices will be a reduction of about 3 cents per gallon. That argument is ludicrous at any rate.

If you look at current levels of production, the US actually exported more refined fuel than we imported last year.

"The United States began exporting gas in late 2008. For decades prior, starting in 1960, the country used all the gas it produced here plus had to import gas from places in Europe."

Another good quote from that article: ""We've got plenty of excess refining capacity," said Jonathan Cogan, a spokesman for EIA. "It's a reminder that this is a global oil market, and it's reflected by the movements of products to where they will get the highest prices."

Of course, this is all Obama's fault, since he has socialized the country and the government now runs the oil industry.

"We've got plenty of excess refining capacity," said Jonathan Cogan, a spokesman for EIA. "It's a reminder that this is a global oil market, and it's reflected by the movements of products to where they will get the highest prices."

"I can understand it, from a truck driver's perspective," said Kloza. "You're paying $4 or $4.50 a gallon to run your rig, yet we're exporting the crap out of this fuel. I'd be outraged too."

Thornton is actually right in this instance. The President can cap prices as Nixon did and the Congress can Nationalize our energy even if to the point of only allowing exploration and drilling by American Companies, sending BP, Shell et al back across the Atlantic. The Exxon American monopoly can then be broken down by regions as Ma Bell was and energy prices will return to reasonable and mega profits will go into the treasury, reducing the debt, instead of in Cayman Island and Swiss Bank accounts where they are now sheltered from simple income tax.

@Nora-616050

Doesn't matter if it's resolved NOW or not Backcountry, it wasn't resolved THEN!

What matters Nora is that it was resolved LONG before Obama vetoed it, making your argument moot.

Few things, then I'll let you continue to make yourself look like a complete retard.

-George H. W. Bush (Sr.) was the politician who banned offshore drilling by Exective Order.

-A Contempt of Court charge doesn't mean anything. You can be given one at any time, for any reason by a judge. It doesn't mean you're guilty of anything.

-The power of the Executive Order has never been tested in court. Although Unconstitutional, it has yet to be declared such, therefore, the CoC charge is bogus to begin with.

Like all Presidents, Obama is a complete douche bag, but you might want to brush up on your reasons why. The President has very little power in this country. Congress controls the money, and therefore... EVERYTHING.

I continue to be baffled by those who think the rich are going to share.

Youre not entitled to a share of theirs anymore than they are entitled to a share of yours. Where do you get the idea that the rich are obligated to share their money with you?

I think a lot of the anger about the guy in the whitehouse is because.. wait for it.. he is black. My suspicion is that about 15% of the people in the US hate that a black person is the president and hope the worst for the US economy so that the black guy is not re-elected. The GOP has embraced this opinion and sells fear and loathing to the US electorate at every oportunity. The spin and the lies from those who are blinded by skin color is an expression of their irrational hatred and unreasoned fear of having a black person as president... bottom line. I am white, not gay and not delusional. God bless us All.

Amen!

get over it Dave.....the race card is dead to 99% of America, can you too let it go?

as soon as the tea party does...

care to provide some proof of any tea party racism?

jpeg, Tea Party group and Kansas-based Patriot Freedom Alliance came under attack in December 2011, for posting a skunk on it's website and the saying; 'The skunk has replaced the Eagle as the new symbol for the President. It is half black, half white, and almost everything it does stinks.' That is just one piece of proof, and if you are unable to google the racist material the Tea Party has done, you are as blind as you are ignorant.

jpeg - find the black guy. There is one.

http://killingthebuddha.com/wp-content/articleimages/gopconventionprayer.jpg

jpeg, just listen to Fox, Rush their is plenty of racism there, just look what they are saying about the new NBA star Lin, or the new ad that is out with him with his head popping out of a fortune cookie, need I say more!

Not to meantion the constant accusations that he's a Muslim born in another country despite that he has proven his Hawaiian birth and despite his past and friendly relations with non-extremist Muslims, he's not one of them. This would not happen with a white President, even if he's a liberal Democrat.

jpeg, I live in Texas, and believe me, there are a lot of people who want the n-word out of the White House. They could care less about his policies, the state of the union or anything else. In this state, the 15% is easily correct. The 99% of our comment is dead wrong.

"You're not entitled to a share of theirs anymore than they are entitled to a share of yours. Where do you get the idea that the rich are obligated to share their money with you?"

Steve, I think you miss the point, although admittedly, it could have been stated slightly differently. The ueber wealthy continue to do whatever they can to get more of the money rather than putting some back into the economy to create jobs or in this case ease the price of gas.

Corporations and banks are sitting on more cash than ever before yet they are not creating jobs at any kind of pace to significantly raise the economy. The upper .5 to 1% have increased their income and share of the wealth by leaps and bounds while the rest of us ave either stagnated or declining income and wealth.

On the exportation of refined fuels,it is the oil companies this commodity overseas where they can get higher profits from it. It's that simple. If that fuel were put on the American market, it would likely drive down the price of refined fuel here in the States. It is not the XL pipeline or any Obama administration policy.

Here again, the wealthy are squeezing the public for higher profits and to ensure the prices remain high and go higher.

There is no solution to our problem. These Demublican asshats won't take losers off the government tit, or gut the military pig. Until those two issues are dealt with, this country is a freight train to bankrupt.

bmwebib

Companies are in business to make money, they are not charities.

Steve....until the people are so poor that they rise up and TAKE your money!!!!!! What will you do then?

Bill & Hillary Clinton - By best estimate, accrued $5 million to $25 million through investments in foreign companies, oil giants and drugmakers since leaving the White House.

jpeg, Speaker Boehner has been buying stock in the Canadian oil companies that want to run the Keystone pipeline, and he's STILL in office. Your point is?

The proof on racism in the Tea Party offered here is moronic, just like the people posting the "proof". LMAO. Sheep........... baaaa baaaaaaaaaaa.... If you voted for odumbo because he's black, you are more of a racist than anyone!

ohiofan...I'm caucasion and I fully support 150% this president. If you voted for Bush because HE was white, that makes you a racist. Another closed bigot who can't admit their bigotry.

Why? Because the Ahole Republicans had their 8 years and brought this country as low as it could get. How about baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa to the GOP?

If you are trying to create the impression Big Oil and the GOP aren't kissing cousins...do give it up. President Obama's predecessor was Republican and as Big Oil it gets. What do you call a Big Oil idiot who bankrupts his own oil company? I call him a GOP Big Oil clone.

BIG OIL has most if not all the politicians at all levels of the Federal Government in their pockets.

I fixed it for you, Downy. Wake up.

Exactly notsojingo! There's no president or premier or anyone else who can control their countries fuel prices unless they have complete control of their countries oil output and forbid it being offered on the open market! Even then it would probably have to be subsidized to keep prices at a certain level. Something like Chavez is doing by nationalizing his oil industry. I'm SURE the GOP would advocate that their buddies oil wells and refineries were nationalized to keep America's gas prices down don't you think.

notsojingo...The last time a president tried price controls was under a Republican administration. According to some, Nixon's half-baked attempts at price controls didn't work. The truth is that the price controls were too short-lived to have an impact.

As for nationalizing Big Oil, it's about damn time. Taxpayers have handed them trillions in subsidies to buy rights to land for drilling. Taxpayers also are consumers who have gotten stuck with continuing price increases for no real reason...Use too much oil? Prices go up. Use too little? Prices still go up.

The reality is that US taxpayers own Big Oil by virtue of the contributions of our tax dollars to their industry. A corporation more than half subsidized by taxpayers is OWNED by taxpayers. Bush lobbed 50% of the cost of the Exxon Valdez spill on us in 2007. This is why the Republicans are so hot to be rid of President Obama...they'd love nothing better than to make all of us pay the full cost of BP's cleanup or at the very least 50% of it.

Now, Halliburton, Schlumberger and a host of other privatized vendors want in on an all-in-one oil, fracking, natural gas monopoly. Didn't taxpayers foot enough of Halliburton's bills for Iraq?

If the GOP doesn't watch its asses, there won't be a Republican party left to kiss Big Oil ass.

Great to see you, Ewent!

Here is a fantastic article/piece on the many complexities of Oil as a Commodity.

Commodity:Oil

And for even more mind-numbing information of the supply dynamics involved in Oil transportation and storage:

This Week In Petroleum

I hate to spout another conspiracy theory, but could this be a way the GOP finally has discovered to put a chink in the armor of Obama? Rising gas prices are a way to slow down the economy. If they can slow it down enough until election time they possible can win. ( they cannot do it with the slate of candidates they have out there now!). After their win, the gas prices will mysteriously drop and they can claim credit for it! How about it all you financial wizards out there? Am I spouting nonsense or does it have some merit? Chime in with your expertise, please!

Fred C...Picture this...A mandate from the Obama Administration demanding Big Oil price controls. All those Big Oil GOP ass kissers would be on him like white on rice if he dared to control oil prices in the US.

This is how easy it is to prove what a bunch of liars and phonies they are.

I hear this argument quite a bit, but I bet you beat the Obama drum when Healthcare or the UAW Bailout went through. The Executive office is a figurehead, put in place by men who had a fear of full-time, centralized government. In the modern era, it's status quo for the average, uneducated person to attribute all prosperity, or all austerity to the President.

It is a fact the structure of government in this country does not give a President the power to effect this type of change. It was done in Committee by the Congress, as prescribed in the Constitution. Every dollar in Federal revenue passes through House Ways and Means, and Senate Finance. They, and they alone, control Federal spending.

FactCheck.org : auto bailout

Here are several articles showing the fallacy in the Republican claims of a UAW bailout, as well as the exaggerations and misinformation regarding the deficit projections and deficit spending from before and after President Obama took office.

I will trust those making statements bent on Partisanship to read the facts for themselves, as opposed to using right wing conspiracy theory sites you find exclusively when googling "UAW Bailouts", for example.

Peace

Yeah, and Bush LOST.

Obama can TRY making that same point. It won't work, but he can try.

In the context of the Keystone Pipeline decision, $5 gas is indefensible.

Granted, it would take time for that one to have any impact, but you just know that line is coming. You can take that one to the bank.

Obama did himself no favors with that decision.

The keystone pipeline was intended to pump oil to Texan refineries for subsequent export of refined fuels to Asian markets. Not one drop would have gone to the North American market.

I hate to point this out, but Bush didn't lose. He hit the term limit. Also, $5 gas? That's about what Canada pays. Our gasoline prices are artificially low compared to other countries.

Southern Sandman

What election did Bush lose? (he should have lost the two he won but that is a different issue).

You do realize that presidents are limited by the constitution to two terms right?

FordMan97,

The US prices are higher than many of the world's countries. China just started raising their taxes to curb their peoplies consumption... see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline_and_diesel_usage_and_pricing

The EU prices are INFLATED because of their additional TAXES are used to support their FAILING Socialist societies and have been for DECADES...

"...Our gasoline prices are artificially low compared to other countries."

Is that going to be obama's explanation to the voters?

No this will Obama's answer to your question; Congress overall rating is at 10%??? Since the repugs took the majority in congress they have passed 44 bills on abortion, 99 on religion, 71 on family relationships, 36 on marriage, 67 on firearms, 522 on taxation, and 445 on government investigations...ZERO on job growth....Any other questions?

The ratings plunged under the reign of pelosi and reid, long before the Republicans took control of the house. And while not addressing your stupidity, obama is in charge...jobs are his responsibility, not the minority party.

Donate today, together we can end the horrific disease called liberalism.

Have you noticed that since the Republicans pushed to deregulate, every thing has started to go to down hill? When did that start, Reagan or Nixon? But wait, the republicans don't want us, the people to remember that!

Gas under Bush was above 4 Dollars per gallon here in Florida!! Bohener is a full proof idiot!

Regan deregulated the S&L's in 86' and by 1990 we had the S&L Crisis and Daddy Bush's RTC closings and fire sales of government controled S&L's driving the real estate market and values into the dirt!

Apple does not fall far from the tree!

The ratings plunged under the reign of pelosi and reid, long before the Republicans took control of the house.

True, they did waver up and down quite a bit. However, they didn't take the deep plunge to single digits until the GOP took over. And they pretty much did a steady decline since then, too.

The difference is that Bush was doing what he could to keep the prices from sky rocketing, and Obama isn't. Bush and Republicans lost the White House because of poor economic policies, yet Obama isn't to blame for his? Talk about double standards! The Obama administration did not hide the fact that they wanted higher energy prices so that they could push renewable energy sources. they want higher fuel prices to force change and to force acceptance by the general public. The 2% payroll tax cut they say equals $40/week to an average household. Maybe on average when considering those who make over $100,000 / year but that is certainly not the majority of households in America right now. $20 to $25 would certainly be a more accurate estimate for the majority and in some cases that is even over generous.

Oil companies may receive subsidies from government for a number of things, like exploration, but other countries all do the same in one form or another. In the US and many democracies, the oil industry is a private concern. In countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Brazil, and others it is a state operated industry so subsidies are not required. Their governments are already footing the bill for operating the businesses. Their safety and environmental restrictions are nowhere near as strict.

While I am for renewable energy sources, we cannot ignore the realities of the present while looking to the future. The reality is many families having to choose between paying their mortgage or heating their home, putting food on the table or gas in the tank. The Obama administration is getting their way by keeping energy costs high, but the reality is they are not seeing the effect that it is having in lower and middle class homes across America.

Wake up Southern Sandman, as I posted earlier, the consensus among those who work and analyze the industry, the pipeline might lower gas prices 3 cents at best.

The largest growing export commodity of the US refined fuel. Is that Obama doing the exporting? Hardly The oil companies are making up for declining US consumption by sending refined fuels to countries where they can make more profit from it.

I suppose we are supposed to forget the secret meeting between Big Oil and Dick Cheney which set the energy policy that has us exporting more oil than we import while paying more for gasoline. Or are we supposed to forget W's assertion that the way to have cheap oil was to vote for "an oil man" even though his management of an oil company bankrupted it and prices for gasoline were on average higher during his administration than any other. This is just a talking point for Far right wing radical, Bible Thumping, Sheep Sheared, Tea Bagging, Homophobic, Wide Stance, Republicans who have nothing else to draw attention too other than "The Toughest Sheriff in America" who has a new perspective on his "Illegal Entry" campaign. It is time to Nationalize our oil and take it from the board room to the Energy department where it belongs as a natural resourse belonging to we the people.

Sandman, Bush lost? He served two terms (please see 22nd amendment to the US Constitution).

Obama has the solution to high gas prices. (sarcasm)

Obama actually wants high gas prices to help leverage his idiotic agenda. (his own words). He wants a catastrophe so he can "fundamentally transform America".

Yes, Bush was held accountable (and opened up the leases, bringing costs down). Obama will be given a pass for this and every other failure of his administration.

If we were smart, the government would drill it's own oil and sell it to the American people. It would create jobs and keep greedy middle-persons ("middle-men" is sexist) out of it.

I would convene Manhattan Project II in Area 51 and they wouldn't come out without a solution to our energy problem.

We could fund the program will all the cash Obamas blowing on Solyndra and the rest of the green energy fairy tale bundlers the left is reveling in.

Rational Brent - Where is the U.S. Government supposed to get the money to start up its own oil drilling company? The amount of money that went to Solyndra and other green companies is a drop in the bucket compared to what would be be needed.
Are you really suggesting that U.S. Government go into competition with the corporations already in that business? Isn't Government control of business a lot closer to the "socialism" the right keeps screaming about?

jpeg - How is Obama supposed to get anything done without cooperation of Congress? Executive Powers only go so far, and the right has been screaming about his so-called abuses of that power already. The GOP announced before Obama even took office that their whole goal for the next 4 years was to make him a 1-term President. Fortunately, they won't succeed. The best they have to offer is a mulch-millionaire that likes to fire people, and an arch-conservative that believes sex is only for making babies. In fact, that is probably his biggest problem. He hasn't gotten laid in so long it is rotting his brain.

You hit the nail on the head. Democrats and Republicans are BOTH clueless, hypocritical asshats.

"When gas prices prices approached $4.00 per gallon under Bush, the GOP reminded America that the President has almost no control over gas prices by himself. Apparently they have changed their tune because a Democrat is in the White House."

When the gas prices got that high, Democrats were blaming Bush, now the Republicans are blaming Obama. You are right, both sides are full of hypocrites

Oil (and gas of course) prices are a COMMODITY. It is world supply and demand that determine the price, along with a bit of transportation mixed in. Maxing out production in the USA by drilling EVERYWHERE will increase world supply by about 2% for a short time and saves us just a few cents a gallon, for a few years. Higher demand is raising the price. The US President is not in the equation - EVER. If the Republicans think this is their best talking point, they better go back to the drawing board.

Folks don't forget that we Hurricane Katrina that stopped all oil production in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. Bush couldn't stop that one. Then don't forget that Obama illegally shut down the Gulf of Mexico for over a year. That didn't help much it drove oil companies from the Gulf and now Obama wants to help Mexico with production over the US Oil Companies. BTW we can not forget about Brazil. Obama wants us to be their number one customer. Where is he going with this mess? I'm sure he doesn't know.

JS, drilling "everywhere in the US would increase supply by 2%"?

I want some of what you're smoking. We could be self-sufficient if we pumped our own oil.

S.M., I'm just offering solutions. You got a better idea? The government runs the post office, why not oil? Are the oil companies gouging us? If you think so, we need to do something about it. No one in office, R or D, has done anything about gouging.

Yeah. I guess it is a little thing until you can't fill up the tank, so you have to walk. But your shoes have holes in them, because you spent all your money filling up the tank. So your feet get holes in them and those get infected.

But then there's a nice friendly foot doctor to cut off your foot, and you have Obamacare to pay for it.

What a plus!

It's hilarious as more and more American slip into poverty, the obama minion's come out in full force to support the years of incredible inflation the country faces.

When is the President going to be responsible for anything that happens on his watch?

Please all you obama supporters...answer that one simple question!

" it's always goes up and it will be going down soon just like the stock market up and then down. They are running of thing's, lol they are"

Yah It time for fleecing America. The price goes up but never goes back to its original price.When prices go up real fast you know its time to give to the masters. Obama gave the American worker 20$ a week. Then gas starts up quickly.Now wallstreet wants it all and they will get it. My question is how much more can we take or will we starve first?

obama did NOT give the American worker $20 a week, it is their money, not being collected for their retirement.

Donate today, together we can end the horrific disease called liberalism.

We don't need librals or conservatives. The correct answers are always in the middle.

Hey Sandman go back to Hypothetical Satire School! That is one Lame analogy!

Oh and BTW if one here in Florida does not have health insurance the walk-ins will see you for a flat rate and Publix will give you your meds for free.......

Now that's ObamaCare!

I'd love to agree with you on that but I've been shocked over the complete lack of interest people have in it. What a sad state of affairs we have when the very rights that make us so "proud to be American" are silently revoked and nobody gives a damn. I've tried explaining what NDAA is to a lot of people, including people that LOATHE Obama and they just look at me with blank stares and shrug. Sad...

President Obama Signed the National Defense Authorization Act ...

Another issue on which the Right is really Left Leaning Right to the Left.

Right?

Scary things going on, but despite the caterwauling, the Right is LOVING It! Just one more of the checklist taken care of in a gracious showing of BiPartisanship by the President...

What is it the Right is actually bitching about again???

Not many people know about it because the media did not cover it. They covered it up with campaign crap and ridiculous irrelevant issues.

Choosing a President is like choosing a snowflake. They're all have little cosmetic differences, but in the end, they're just water and dust.

Obama will win in a landslide if it's Santorum. He'll win by 2008 margins against Romney. Just know, it doesn't really matter. They're just like him, anyways.

So please tell us why then did the Democrats get "shellacked" in November 2010 ?

Keystone Pipeline Decision.

Let's me guess, Keystone will bring gas price down in free market? You really need to educate yourself what free market really mean.

Because he is the President.

If ignorance was bliss, some pixel must be partying 24/7.

The litany of liberal talking points well stated.

They sound like a Broken Rec..Rec..Rec..Rec..Rec..Rec..Rec..Record.

1) It's all George Bush's fault

2) The greedy oil companies are price fixing

3) The Republican's are blocking everything in the House of Representatives

4) Climate change is causing prices to go up

5) Sasquatch is forcing gas station owners to raise their prices

6) Obama is trying to remove our need for middle east oil by growing "green" energy jobs like Solyndra

7) Space aliens are abducting commuters and using electrical brain stimulation force consumers to blame Obama when it is not his fault

8) Right wing conservatives who cling to their guns and religion are purposefully pushing gas prices up in the hopes of making Obama look bad (fyi, Obama doesn't need any help - his countless failures make him look bad enough)

Wow, that is some dang good ol' scusing y'all is cuvring der!

Ah, the voice of ignorance controlled by your masters. You, and those like you, who are manipulated by the 1%, are allowing them to rob you blind while you defend them and attack your allies in this mess. I pray that one day, you may wake up.

Orlando, so really what you KNOW is nothing. Reading your drivel cost me 1 minute of my life I will never get back.

Nice post Orlando...I see the attacks on you have already begun...

Hey Orlando Republican.. Why don't you get Rep. Bohner off his ass, and the rest of his party, with the Democrats, and enact legislation to stop the rising prices. The first time it happened, it was under the leadership of george Bush.. Was it his fault. No the President does not enact laws, Congress does.

Dude you make no sense yet he is going to get re-elected based on your parties INEPT presidential clowns running for president...Congress has an overall rating of 10% as a Republican majority. What is your answer to this? Your party campaigned in 2010 on getting America back to work what have the Republicans done since? They have passed 44 bills on abortions, 99 religion, 71 family relationships, 67 firearms/gun control, 38 on marriage, 522 on taxation, and 445 on government investigation.

ZERO on job creation....What's your defense for the No Party Repugs????

Joseph, democrats are in control of both the Presidency and the Senate....I see no action on either's part to do anything. When it happened under Bush, democrats controlled both houses....still took no action.

When will obama take responsibility for anything?

Donate today, together we can end the horrific disease called liberalism.

Marce, stop with the BS....and the Republicans do not have control of Congress...just the House.

Donate today, together we can end the horrific disease called liberalism.

That's funny, jpeg, didn't Bush have control of BOTH House and Senate for FIVE years? Oooops, I know, fuzzy math syndrome kicking in.

I suppose we are supposed to forget the secret meeting between Big Oil and Dick Cheney which set the energy policy that has us exporting more oil than we import while paying more for gasoline. Or are we supposed to forget W's assertion that the way to have cheap oil was to vote for "an oil man" even though his management of an oil company bankrupted it and prices for gasoline were on average higher during his administration than any other. This is just a talking point for Far right wing radical, Bible Thumping, Sheep Sheared, Tea Bagging, Homophobic, Wide Stance, Republicans who have nothing else to draw attention too other than "The Toughest Sheriff in America" who has a new perspective on his "Illegal Entry" campaign. It is time to Nationalize our oil and take it from the board room to the Energy department where it belongs as a natural resourse belonging to we the people.

You are on to something with 1, 3, and 6. The rest are attempts at humor, and fail. The GOP is the party of no solutions, and have given us 4 presidential candidates who likewise have no solutions. only the same failed policies which got us into this fiscal mess over 8 years of Bush incompetence. Tax cuts for the rich have now given them ownership of over 40% of US assets, and created over half of our Federal debt subsidizing their wealth, which we will all have to pay down. Paul would make a great president in 1880, not now. Santorum is the pork specialist, Romney will say whatever it takes to get the radical right vote, and Gingrich is nothing but a loose cannon rolling about. None of them have solutions, other that doing whatever it takes to get elected. It is party first, nation last. Why else would the GOP house block every attempt to get legislation through which would create jobs. Simple answer, block any recovery until after 2012, with a prayer that no recovery will cause the public to vote for the GOP candidates. Let the nation suffer, so long as the GOP wins. After all, the means justifies the means.

There is collusion in the oil industry. It's not even debatable. The question is whether collusion should be restricted in a demand economy. The answer is, of course, no. If you control a commodity, you should be able to charge whatever you want for it. You still have to balance the price with what people are willing to pay.

I don't see Republicans arguing this point because it would be unpopular with the everyday commie-thinking which has become so pervasive in the average American. Since they're unwilling, or unable, to do so, what do they really have to offer? Focus on social nonsense, of course. Abortion, gay marriage and an imaginary war on religion. Take away those issues, and you'd be hard pressed to show me a difference between Republicans and Democrats. They're all big governmment socialists.

So, by your logic your cheap gas is more important than for millions of other people to be free like us here in the US. Typical selfish right winger.

I suppose we are supposed to forget the secret meeting between Big Oil and Dick Cheney which set the energy policy that has us exporting more oil than we import while paying more for gasoline. Or are we supposed to forget W's assertion that the way to have cheap oil was to vote for "an oil man" even though his management of an oil company bankrupted it and prices for gasoline were on average higher during his administration than any other. This is just a talking point for Far right wing radical, Bible Thumping, Sheep Sheared, Tea Bagging, Homophobic, Wide Stance, Republicans who have nothing else to draw attention too other than "The Toughest Sheriff in America" who has a new perspective on his "Illegal Entry" campaign. It is time to Nationalize our oil and take it from the board room to the Energy department where it belongs as a natural resourse belonging to we the people.

The GOP is shooting itself in the foot, at the current rate, their base will have died off in 20 years altogether.

That's a huge dream, dEd!!

Get on Jacob's Ladder, but don't forget Occam's Razor!

Hypocrisy is the Order of the Day, and has been for decades running. It just seems that the Right makes the more convincing Author of these tales of woe.

Not that Both Parties aren't cleaning up no matter what it does to the Middle Class and below. Just sit back and continue to cheer on our Faves in the Punch & Judy Show!

I'll make some popcorn!

;-)

You mean like that obama idiot who went to war in libya without getting congressional approval as required by the war powers act?

That idiot warmonger?

You guys are forgetting that both sides are working for the same people.

Attacking Iran is not a "war monger" thing. It's a smart thing. When a county is producing nuclear weapons and makes threats to bomb 40 American millitary bases in the region, is it really the Democrat position to allow that to happen?

Seriously?

The Libya involvement was not a war. And if you read the War Powers Act, it was not in violation thereof. How many US Servicemen and women were on the ground in Libya and how many were killed and injured?

The War Powers Act is Unconstitutional. You can only change the power to declare war given to Congress, and the following power of the Commander in Chief given to the President by Amendment.

The United States hasn't declared war since WWII, yet no one would argue we haven't engaged in any war. There is writing out there by men involved in the Constitution's writing that clearly state the Commander in Chief power is an extension of Congress' War power. In other words, the President is only Commander in Chief during a war.

If the dynamic was working at intended, you'd see very few of these wars based on a house of cards. This modern notion that a President is a monarch who can send his pet armies anywhere, at any time is ludicrous in a democratic form of government. Americans are pathetic for putting up with it.

And Obama caused all this, how?

Gotta blame somebody.

And somehow, in the past, President's have taken responsibility of what happens on their watch.

When will obama take responsibility for anything?

Come on big "O"...be a man for once in your life!

Still waiting on Bush to say he was sorry for lying to America.

Still waiting on Clinton to say he was sorry for lying to the World.

"Big Government still makes more than Big oil off the taxes, Obama is an @!$%# idiot gas should be $1.50 per gallon."

Of course they do. Big oil doesn't retain collected taxes. But they get a whopping bunch in tax breaks.

If big oil got less in profits from their industry than the government collects in gas taxes, we wouldn't have a national debt.

In order for gas prices to be $1.50, a barrel of oil would have to be going for about $37. That's based on the historical relationship of oil to gas prices. Even then, more goes into the price of a gallon of gas than the price of a barrel of oil. It is not as simplistic as some people like to make it. Supply and demand, winter vs more expensive summer blends etc all play a role.

The above statement clarifies who the @!$%# idiot is.

Don't forget that Big Oil has several full Oil Tankers sitting off the Gulf Coast, they are not delivering their oil in order to drive up the prices.

Shame on Big Oil!!!

utter nonsense.

a tanker sitting off the gulf coast wouldn't do anything to crude oil prices, but in all honesty, there will always be a few tankers sitting off the gulf coast. Why is that? because they are waiting to offload. That is just the cycle of operation that they are a part of.

@jpeg. Here is your utter nonsense.

"Oil and gas companies drilled fewer new wells on public lands in 2010 than in any other year over the past decade, leaving nearly two-thirds of their drilling permits unused, according to federal records obtained by Greenwire.

The Bureau of Land Management issued 4,090 drilling permits in fiscal 2010, but oil and gas operators drilled 1,480 new wells, using about 36 percent of permits issued."

"As the price of petroleum products rises sharply in the US and globally, some critics are saying an important cause is the Obama administration's efforts to restrict the award of new drilling leases. However, 70% of existing federal oil and gas offshore lease acres and 57% of all federal onshore leased acres are inactive, with no production, exploration or development, according to a Dept. of Interior report requested by Obama and released March 29, 2011. Industry applications for drilling permits have dropped steadily since 2006, and in 2010 were 40% of the 2006 peak. There has been a steady annual pattern of a large percentage of leased acres remaining inactive since at least 2001."

From the article Commodity:Oil

Contango Causes Some Oil Price Volatility

In early March, 2009, an April 2009 oil delivery contract traded for $38.10, while an April 2010 contract traded for $50.26, making it $12.16 more profitable for oil companies to hold onto their oil until April 2010.^[31] When the future price of a commodity (e.g. oil) is higher than its present price, a situation known as "contango", it is more profitable for a commodities producer (e.g. XOM) to store the commodity and sell it at a later date. This causes oil price volatility through various channels: for example, storage of a commodity causes supply to be reduced in the present, raising spot prices, while expectations regarding future supply increase - thereby reversing the cycle, which then causes contango all over again. The wider the spread between the present price and a future price, the heavier the contango and the heavier the volatility.

From Scientific American article, Can Offshore Drilling Really Make the U.S. Oil Independent?

The Minerals Management Service (MMS), is the part of the U.S. Department of the Interior responsible for leasing tracts to oil and gas companies and collecting the royalties on them, which amount to around $8 billion a year. The leases are supposed to be awarded through a competitive bidding process, in which the best-qualified company coming in with the highest split of royalties wins. (The Interior Department's inspector general, however, released a scathing report on September 10 charging that 19 current and past officials in the MMS's Denver-based Royalty in Kind program were both literally and figuratively in bed with energy company execs. The IG report describes "a culture of ethical failure" in which staffers accepted vacations and other pricey gifts from oil companies, rigged contracts, did drugs with one another and had sex with industry reps.

The MMS has estimated that there are around 18 billion barrels in the underwater areas now off-limits to drilling. That's significantly less than in oil fields open for business in the Gulf of Mexico, coastal Alaska and off the coast of southern California, where there are 10.1 billion barrels of known oil reserves as well as an estimated 85.9 billion more.