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Don't Fall for "Gas Was Cheap" When Bush Was Prez

See where it craters? January 2009: Obama's Inauguration. Source: MotherJones.com.

Dishonesty bugs me. I try never to be dishonest, because frankly, lying requires too much remembering. If you tell the truth, you don't need to try very hard to remember things. Plus, you know, being honest is just the right thing to do.

So, it really pisses me off that there are a bunch of Republicans running around talking about how cheap gasoline was when George W. Bush was president. Man, things were sweet in the waning days of 2008, weren't they? The economy was rosy, the world was shiny and new, and then that [black] fellow took over, and everything went all to hell! Of course this is a fiction. The economy was tanking, the financial world was reeling, the stock market was crashing and. . .gas prices cratered.

Yes, it is true--but highly misleading--to say that when President Obama was inaugurated, gasoline was $1.78 per gallon. Misleading, why? Because the price hadn't been holding steady there, it had crashed there. Recently. Prior to that--in the summer of 2008--gas prices were at an all time high, a price that hasn't been topped (or if it has, only barely). So, this is just one more example of missing context and deliberate misdirection on the part of conservatives. I love the smell of desperation in the morning!

Republican Talking Point #315: A President Cannot Can Influence Gasoline Prices!

A little cognitive dissonance/hypocrisy political humor, from The Randi Rhodes Show.

 

azette.blogspot.com/2012/03/rush-limbaugh-listeners-on-par-with.html

FOX "News" Says No President Has the Power to Increase or to Lower Gas Prices

I'll bet if you tried, you could find quotes from 2001-2008 from FOX "News" and their buddies in talk radio that contradicts everything they're saying about President Obama now. We know they don't practice that "don't speak ill of the President during war time" rule they wanted liberals to live by. And they've forgotten what they said about gasoline prices back in '08. Imagine that.

Found at: BoyCulture.com

A Word About Gas Prices

Newt Gingrich released a stream of lies, half-truths and twisted facts in his oddly triumphant failure speech on Super Tuesday. But it wasn't his twisting of the truth that bothered me. It was the truth, out of context. And that is, gas prices when President Obama took office on January 20, 2009.

Yeah, $1.61 gas lasted a long time, didn't it? Image from GasBuddy.com

Newt said gas prices were below $2 per gallon on Inauguration day, and he wasn't wrong. But he wasn't fair either. Because that was the nadir of gasoline prices during a very volatile time. During President Bush's last year, gasoline prices soared to--as yet--still unprecedented levels. The average price got as high as $4.12, and I personally paid over $4.65 in California in June of 2008.  But take a look at that chart. Gas prices plunged in a never before seen way. From north of $4 to below $2. It then hit an uptick at the end of December, 2008. The direction changed three weeks before Obama was inaugurated.

So, when you hear the line that gas was cheap, and "Obama's policies" made it go up, you can chalk some of that up to timing more than policies. No way did an Obama policies make gas go above $2 in his first three months. And in no way can you take January 2009's average gas price as some sort of baseline, or usual price. It just wasn't. Context is everything, but perception unfortunately often rules the day.

Conclusion: Newt knows all of this, but doesn't provide context because he thinks the people listening to him won't know the difference. That--to me--shows a contempt for his audience: us. I don't like that, do you?

Obama: Opponents are ‘Rooting for Bad News’ on Gas Prices

No kidding. Could we please get some real discussion on this subject now? "Drill, baby, drill" isn't just overly simplistic, it's stupid. More oil is being drilled and refined under President Obama than under Bush. When is right-wing world going to realize that if we pipe oil sands from Canada to Texas that the oil doesn't magically become "ours?" That oil prices aren't controlled by the United States? That if we drill, baby, drill, we're not going to move the price of gasoline?

[Excerpt]


Obama: Opponents are ‘rooting for bad news’ on gas prices




President Obama said Thursday that there are no “quick fixes” for rising gasoline prices that are threatening the economic recovery and providing fodder for attacks from his political rivals.
Gas prices have risen 29 cents per gallon since December, with regular-grade gas now averaging $3.64 a gallon in the Washington region at a time of year when consumers usually enjoy a respite from price hikes. . .

Read more at: Washington Post

Why Are Gas Prices Going Up With Low Demand?

With the economy improving on most fronts, and an upward trajectory for quite some time, it is no longer assured that the Republicans can win on "it's the economy, stupid." Because, if the economy is improving under President Obama's leadership, why should we change horses? An excellent question.

But one sticky wicket is gas prices. Gas is at about $3.50 per gallon on average right now, which isn't--by far--an all-time high, but it is higher than it has been in a while. Why? Demand is down. Republicans are sure to zero in on President Obama. They're wrong, and they're right. First, Obama isn't the reason for high gas prices. But, Obama could have lead the charge to reign in oil speculators, who caused gas prices to rise into the near-$5 range in 2008, and seem to be behind the most recent rise.

We got screwed by speculators in 2008. Why on earth didn't Obama, or hell, even the Republicans do something about it after that?

UPDATED JUST TO ADD: Notice that anything you read about this will say that we can expect gas to go over $4 this summer, and possibly $5 by the end of it. How. In the world. Does anyone. Know this? Speculation!!! (cue the scary music)

[Excerpt]

Oil Prices Are Rising Despite Lowest Demand Since 1997

. . .Strangely, the current run-up in prices comes despite sinking demand in the U.S. “Petrol demand is as low as it’s been since April 1997,” says Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst for the Oil Price Information Service. “People are properly puzzled by the fact that we’re using less gas than we have in years, yet we’re paying more. . .”

Read more at: Think Progress

What Happens in Vegas: Donald Trump Drops F-Bombs

And the crowd. . .eats it up? This wasn't his only one either. I tell ya, my prediction that Donald Trump's media whoring would peter out may have been premature. But the big mucky-mucks in GOPistan must be scheming to get this colossal douche off the stage. He is without redeeming qualities. You know how they say, "he's classy with a 'k'"? The Donald doesn't even have that much class.

Captain Obvious: Oil Companies Can Do Whatever They Want

This afternoon while running errands, I passed a gas station that had regular unleaded at $359.9 per gallon. Exactly a week ago, I paid $319.9. I've noticed the steady climb each day this week. What are the odds that the gasoline in the tanks at that station was drilled for, refined, trucked and pumped since last week? Practically zero, I'd say. My suspicion that the gas stations raise prices willy-nilly on the chance that the refining process is going to become more expensive was confirmed on local Las Vegas television. A gas station manager was interviewed by a reporter, and said (paraphrasing here), "Yeah, we noticed everyone else was raising their prices, so we had to too." Isn't it nice to know that one of the biggest influences on the American economy is decided by speculation and peer pressure?

Not to mention profit of course. The gas stations raise their prices instantly in response to whatever reason they want, and lower them very gradually when those reasons change or don't pan out. If there was a sudden shortage of water in a city, and every retail outlet started jacking up prices instantly, they'd be guilty of price gouging. And of no morality whatsoever. Oil companies nearly always get a pass. We need it, they've got it, and we'll pay whatever they ask. Back in mid-2008, prices jumped to $4.50 per gallon. We groused about it, but we paid it. It gradually dropped back below $3.00, but not at nearly the speed at which it climbed. We got used to paying for gas at $2 - $3 per gallon, and have done so ever since. But recently, the price crept over $3, and in the last two weeks has shot up like a rocket sled, allegedly in response to unrest in the middle east.

The stock market took a bit of a tumble in the last few days too, also allegedly in response to the unrest in the middle east. But I've grown suspicious of market prognosticating too. In the morning they might say, "The Dow is taking a hit today in response to the turmoil in Libya," or they might say, "Stocks are up a tick, despite the turmoil in Libya." They don't really know, and they never have to be correct in their guesses. The Dow can go up in the morning, down in the afternoon, and back up at the close. At each step, the market news can be exactly wrong. And nobody loses their job. When it comes to gas prices, this guesswork is all it takes to drive prices up, up and up. . .even if the turmoil in Libya ultimately has little effect on actual oil prices.  Don't get me wrong, I'm aware that the price of a barrel of oil has risen of late (though I'm not convinced it's for concrete reasons), but should have had zero effect on the price of already refined and processed gasoline. They just did that because they can.
Through it all, the oil companies are the highest profit makers of any other industry in Earth history. They are also tax payer subsidized to the tune of additional billions of dollars. We pay for them to drill it, we pay for them to refine it, we pay for the final product. When you factor in all of the costs for oil (don't forget our military in the middle east), I wonder what the real price per gallon is? Whatever it is, we'll pay it.

Democrats say that we ought to develop new, greener, more efficient forms of energy in order to wean us off of oil, and make the price of it irrelevant. Republicans think we ought to "drill baby drill" anywhere and everywhere--despite any ecological or aesthetic damage--to flood the oil market, and bring the price down.  One is a long-term fix, one is a short-term fix, and both will take a decade or more to implement. In the meantime, we'll pay whatever Big Oil asks. And they'll continue to be the most profitable corporations on Earth, while the Middle East remains the most volatile region on Earth.

Ryan Reynolds: The Price of a Gallon of Gas

I agree with what Ryan Reynolds is saying here, and. . .I. . .oh, who am I kidding. Even if I didn't, I'd watch him just stand there.

Liquids Cost Comparison (Oil the Cheapest!)

This is sort of a fascinating chart. We knew that inkjet ink was expensive, but who realized it was that expensive? Of course, ink makers would argue that the cost is for the technology, and the cartridge (which holds the ink) itself. But damn, dudes, you guys came up with those little-bitty plastic cases with the complicated chips in them in order to make more money. No excuse!

This is interesting, but the relevance is elusive. I remember when gasoline was shooting over $4.50 gal., some stupid politician (R-Naturally) arguing that gasoline was still cheaper than milk. Like anyone needs 16 gallons of milk at a time. But geez, ink costing almost twice as much as human blood? Wow.

Source: Joe.My.God

Energy Department: High Gas Prices? Get Used to It!

Photo from source, Huffington Post

On her radio program, Randi Rhodes has often tried to use logic to explain the rise in gas prices. It's one of those times where I actually had the train of thought before I heard it from her. We're told that the high gas prices are a supply and demand issue.

But that can't be. Demand is down, because people aren't buying as much (we can't afford it). Supply has not been curtailed: have you witnessed lines at the stations because others were out of gas? Didn't think so.

So, another explanation is that the price of crude has gone up. This much we know is true. But profits for the oil companies are through the roof. Logically, if the price of oil goes up, and they raise the price of gas to compensate, it should be a wash. Profits should be flat. But they aren't. A lot of the $4.25 we're spending now is boosting profits.

Right-wing talk radio is telling us that it's all the Democrats fault. They won't let us drill in ANWR! They won't let us build refineries, or drill offshore! Debate the merits of those arguments all you want, it doesn't explain why the Republicans--in charge of all branches of government until 18 months ago--didn't accomplish those things themselves.

I will freely acknowledge that I don't know anything about the speculators, or how the price per barrel gets set. I don't know what impact of Alaskan or domestic off-shore oil would have on the price at the pump--or how long it would take. But I do have a theory. I believe that the oil companies like making a certain percent of profit. And I think they want to keep that percent constant (or better). Multiplied by the number of gallons in your tank, that amounts to a hell of a lot more money for them per fill-up. Certainly more than if they kept a set dollar amount of profit. It's just a theory.

[Excerpt]

Energy Department: Get Used to It!

Motorists can expect gasoline prices around $4 gallon through next year, the Energy Department said Wednesday, with oil prices staying well above $100 a barrel.

Crude oil prices are likely to average $126 a barrel in 2009, $4 higher than this year, as oil supplies and demand are expected to remain tight, Guy Caruso, head of the department's Energy Information Administration, told a House hearing. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Gas to Hit $4 This Summer?

Photo from source, AOL News

Nobody wants to believe it, but it looks like it's going to happen: $4-per-gallon gasoline. Oddly, I've gotten rather used to the $3+ price, no longer cursing--as much as I used to--at the total bill each time I fill up my Jeep. There was a time when it cost me just over $20. Now $20 whizzes before it's even half full. I, and we will suck it up and pay $4 too. But if it stays at $4--or creeps up to $5 or more--I have a strange feeling we'll actually start to change our ways.

None of this takes into account the price of everything else, which will all have to go up in price too, to offset the trucks and planes that get everything to us. It's especially dicey for folks like me who live in a remote desert locale. There's a reason Stephen King picked Las Vegas as one of his end-time locales in The Stand!

[Excerpt]

Summer Gasoline Prices Could Hit $4

Retail gasoline prices pulled back slightly from record levels Tuesday and gave some consumers a small break, but a new government forecast said gas could reach as high as $4 a gallon during the summer driving season. . .

Read more at: AOL News

Cooking With Gas: Congress Grills Oil Companies

Photo from source, My Way

OK, right up front, I'm going to admit that I don't understand high finance. No matter how many times the stock market is explained to me, I still don't get it. The same goes for oil and gasoline prices.

Why does the price of unrefined oil today make the price of the (already refined, already trucked) fuel at the gas station go up immediately? What the hell does "supply and demand" have to do with anything, unless we're (currently) running short of it? The price goes up during the summer, because "demand is up." What does the demand have to do with the price? Did somebody run out? Or is it as I suspect, because they can?

And if the price at the pump is necessary because of oil prices, refining, trucking, etc., why are the oil companies making record profits? And that's no exaggeration. They're making more profit than any company--ever--in all of human history! So, good for Congress for at least making them squirm a little.

[Excerpt]

Congress Presses Oil Execs on High Prices

Top executives of the five biggest U.S. oil companies were pressed Tuesday to explain the soaring fuel prices amid huge industry profits and why they weren't investing more to develop renewable energy source such as wind and solar.

The executives, peppered with questions from skeptical lawmakers, said they understood that high energy costs are hurting consumers, but deflected blame, arguing that their profits - $123 billion last year - were in line with other industries. . .

Read more at: My Way

Gas Prices Hit All-time High Average in US

Photo from Motortrend

As much as I love my 10-year-old Jeep Wrangler, it may start spending a bit more time in the garage. At 15 mpg, the cost per gallon is essentially the price it will cost me per day just to go to work and back. At $3.20 or so, that isn't all that tragic, and I don't wander far from home anyway. But at $4.00 and up, I have to think I'll start to notice.

I remember during the "run up to war" back in early 2003, taking note of the price of gas at a local Shell station. This would be March 2003, at a station that never had the lowest price, and it was $1.359 for regular unleaded. We are rapidly approaching a full $2 per gallon increase since before the Iraq war.

Side note: I ran a post recently, about an MSNBC site that finds the lowest gas prices in your neighborhood. Go here to check it out.

[Excerpt]

Gas Prices Rise to New National Record

The cost of filling up the family car climbed to a record high Tuesday, adding to the challenges consumers already face with falling home values and rising food prices.

Gas prices at the pump rose overnight to a record national average of $3.2272 a gallon, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. That's a tad higher than the previous record of $3.2265, set last May. . .

Read more at: Breitbart

Military Using 340,000 Barrels of Oil Per Day

Photo from source, Raw Story

Oil and gasoline are big story topics, on the left and right, in the mainstream press, even on FOX "News." The stories cover the gamut from greenhouse gasses and global warming, to the price at the pump, and the finite amount of oil in the ground.

This story covers an angle that I hadn't considered. It is frankly staggering how much oil is being used in the Iraq War, and thus purchased, expended and belched into the atmosphere. So outside of the human cost of the war in Iraq, we're rapidly worsening several elements of our energy crisis. And we're also adding to the overwhelming amount of money we have to borrow to fund this fiasco.

[Excerpt]

US military guzzling 340,000 barrels of oil daily

The skyrocketing price of oil isn't just a burden for American drivers at the gas pump -- it's also a potentially crippling problem for the US military, the nation's number one energy consumer.

The combined branches of the American military burn through a whopping 340,000 barrels of oil a day, reports CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr. "If you think it's expensive to fill your gas tank," Starr told Situation Room host Wolf Blitzer, "just consider what the military is going through right now."

Read on at: Raw Story