I didn't choose $4 a gallon under Bush as being worse, I chose $ a gallon for 18 months as being worse than $3 a gallon for 18 months.
The Obama 4 Trillion dollar budget
- Thread starter davekc
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Help us in what way? The question asked by Hardwood was in response to Obama's statements that over the "long-term ... the only way we're going to deal with these high gas prices is if we change how we consume oil. And that means investing in alternative fuels, it means that we are raising fuel efficiency standards on cars, that we're helping the automakers retool. ... And when we look at other ways that we're using energy, we have to adapt renewable, clear energies like solar, wind and biodiesel."
Then Hardwood asked, "As difficult as this is for consumers right now, is, in fact, high gas prices what we need to let the market work, a line incentive so that we do shift to alternative means of energy?"
To which Obama replied, "Well, I think that we have been slow to move in a better direction when it comes to energy usage. And the president (Bush), frankly, hasn't had an energy policy. And as a consequence, we've been consuming energy as if it's infinite. We now know that our demand is badly outstripping supply with China and India growing as rapidly as they are. So...
To which Harwood interrupted and said, "So could these high prices help us?"
Which is where Obama responded with, "I think that I would have preferred a gradual adjustment. The fact that this is such a shock to American pocketbooks is not a good thing."
He offered his own preferences that they should increase gradually rather than rapidly.
Well, no, he already answered that question with the first sentence of his initial question when he said, "What is true is that given the global price of oil right now, that we can't artificially lower gas prices. What we can do is provide people immediate relief through our tax code. ... When I'm president next year, what I'd like to do is pass a middle class tax cut, $1,000 per family per year to offset higher prices in gas, food, medical care."
Look, I get it, I understand the premise you want to establish, that being everything that is bad is because of Obama, and if Obama were a Republican that everything would be good, and that during a re-election year the president was wanting and actually saying that he wanted gas prices to go higher. Not only that, but you want to establish that Obama has control of gas prices to the point that he can get the price of gas to where he wants it, and that's why the price of gas is somewhere between above $3, despite the fact that he actually wants it to be somewhere between $5 and $10 a gallon (not sure the exact number you've committed to on that one, tho).
So my question to you is, if Obama has the kind of control over gas prices that you say he does, and he actually wants gas prices to be much higher than they are, which is no higher than they were under Bush, why hasn't he increased the price of gas to where he wants it to be?
That's rhetorical, because he doesn't have control of gas or oil prices. No president ever has, including the Bush Oil-Men Presidencies. Have you completely forgotten the Bush years, when the Oil President was blamed for every single uptick in pump prices, despite the fact that he had zero control over it? So if Obama wants oil prices to be really high, or really low, it doesn't matter either way, because he can't control it in either case.
Carter didn't cause the second Arab oil embargo, he scrambled to contain its effects. Clinton didn't cause Saudia Arabia to flood the market with oil in its attempt to regain discipline and control among OPEC members, although he benefited from it.
The last president to try to control prices was Nixon, and all he got was rationing and long lines at the pump.
If you go back 100 years and look at gas prices, adjusted for inflation of course, you find that the 100 year average price for gas under Republican presidents is $2.55, and under Democrat presidents it is $2.63, an whopping $.08 cent difference, which is statistically a dead heat, indicating that factors other than the presidency is in control of the price of gas and oil.
My original question(what is worse?) was based on REAL numbers. That being unprecedented amount of months OVER 3 dollars a gallon. You gave a hypothetical as your answer.
It's baseless to you because you are still sticking with the premise that Bush satisfactorily controlled gas prices whereas Obama has not, despite the fact that (a) gas prices did the same thing under both presidents and (b) neither president can control gas prices. Obama has done precisely the same thing with gas prices as Bush, yet you clam Obama for it and give Bush a pass, sidestepping Bush and blaming a Dem controlled Congress under Bush, while pointing out 18 months of $3 a gallon gas and ignoring a Republican controlled Congress over that time period. There's yer base right there.
Like I said, I get it. You want to post "Obama bad... everyone not-Obama good" and then want people to jump on board with "Harrumph! Harrumph! Harrumph!"
I don't know that I disagree with "Obama bad... everyone not-Obama good," but I'm not gonna blame Obama for something he can't control, and I certainly won't give him more credit than he deserves. That's as silly as giving credit to the Moron President for being the mastermind behind 9/11 and the New World Order, while being, you know, a moron.
You've now said unprecedented twice, like it matters or something. I'll say it again, r.e.a.l.l.y.. s.l.o.w......
T.H.E.. P.R.E.S.I.D.E.N.T.. C.A.N.N.O.T.. C.O.N.T.R.O.L.. T.H.E.. P.R.I.C.E.. O.F.. G.A.S.
If he could, the one guy who you think wants it to be nose-bleed higher, would do it. Period.
Also, if you look at the 100 Years graphic at the link above, you'll see that it's not even unprecedented (unless you need to compare apples to oranges to make your point).
In response to why gas prices havn't gone up to 5 or 10 dollars yet. Like Obama said: Gradually. We'll get there some day. Probably sooner rather than later. Especially if some are in denial about the role governments play in influencing fuel prices and say or do nothing. While they sleep, the Bureau of E and P is churning out money and weakening the dollar. The EPA is scheming away to put an end to fossil fuel companies. Drilling on Federal Lands closing up shop all because of the president's wishes. Keystone Pipeline being denied.Nothing the President can do about that I suppose. It. Will take a little more time with these gas prices. Those folks on the private lands are drilling like gang busters. I"m sure the government will be putting a stop to that too. Sooner rather than latter.
Just a couple of thoughts:
1. While the price of gas has continued to rise under Obama to just under $4 per gallon...
2. The median household income declined 4.4% during his first term, and income inequality is at historic highs.
Inequality worsens under Obama, reaches historic high - Bob Beauprez - Townhall Finance Conservative Columnists and Financial Commentary - Page full
Yet we hear nothing from the MSM about Obama catering to his pals in the oil business (as Bush supposedly did) or his miserable failure to make life better for middle class Americans. The rich have gotten richer under Obama, and the labor participation rate continues to be at its lowest since WW2. However, everybody knows that inflation has been a factor but is virtually ignored by the media.
Just the action of the Fed printing money creates inflation. No wonder our standard of living is going down. It's not just the cost of fuel - it's almost everything. Wait 'til our new health care starts getting factored in.
1. While the price of gas has continued to rise under Obama to just under $4 per gallon...
2. The median household income declined 4.4% during his first term, and income inequality is at historic highs.
Inequality worsens under Obama, reaches historic high - Bob Beauprez - Townhall Finance Conservative Columnists and Financial Commentary - Page full
Yet we hear nothing from the MSM about Obama catering to his pals in the oil business (as Bush supposedly did) or his miserable failure to make life better for middle class Americans. The rich have gotten richer under Obama, and the labor participation rate continues to be at its lowest since WW2. However, everybody knows that inflation has been a factor but is virtually ignored by the media.
Just the action of the Fed printing money creates inflation. No wonder our standard of living is going down. It's not just the cost of fuel - it's almost everything. Wait 'til our new health care starts getting factored in.
