Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
The Hill reports that Rep. Michele Bachmann vowed that gas prices would fall to under $2 a gallon if she became president:
Bachmann, speaking to a town-hall meeting in South Carolina, said she would pursue energy policies that send pump prices down to levels not seen since early 2009, at the thick of the U.S. recession.
“Under President Bachmann you will see gasoline come down below $2 per gallon again,” she said in Greenville. “That will happen.”
Over at The Corner, Dan Foster wonders why a conservative candidate would pretend the presidency has such power as well as just how in the world this would happen. Getting rid of the entire federal fuel surcharge would only cut 18.4 cents per gallon, he notes. He offers the only three ideas he can think of that would achieve this campaign pledge:
1) The seizure by force and nationalized exploitation of a large proportion of the world’s oil supply.
2) The massive federal subsidization of fuel costs.
3) The fomenting of a second global recession as bad as or worse than the last one, complete with negative global GDP growth.
I understand that politicians make unattainable pledges all the time. But this one seems fantastical, no?
- Comment (65)
- · Quote
- · UnfollowFollow (3)
Comments :
May '10
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
It doesn't come close in stupidity to Obama's promise to halt the rise of the oceans and heal the planet.
Edited on Aug 18, 2011 at 8:55amJun '10
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
Dan Foster omits 4) "Drill, baby, Drill."
I haven't seen an analysis but permitting ANWAR, the Gulf (including the eastern Gulf, the Atlantic shelf, oil shale, oil sands, and fracking the heck out of natural gas supplies would put us awash in energy. The numbers might work out to something close to $2.00 per gallon.
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
I agree with Pilgram. Supply and demand. We increase our own supply, and demand less form overseas, then the prices will drop like a 12 to 6 curve ball.
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
Here's one take: "Drill Baby Drill Won't Lower Gas Prices"
Mar '11
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
I believe she is saying gasoline would be much cheaper if we removed drilling and pipeline limitations on our land and in our waters. Whether prices would consistently be below $2 per gallon within four years of removing the roadblocks is questionable but I don't think it is stupid at all to expect much cheaper gas if the government would let it.
By the way- why is everyone so hyper-critical of Republican candidates? Reminds me of 1980. Reagan the right-wing, crazy nut was going to be the ruin of the Republican party, and Michelle Malkin would have been on the airwaves criticizing his past actions as governor of California.
Aug '11
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
This is Bachmann the populist. She's trying to keep up her brand (and poll numbers) now that Rick Perry has entered the race. Unfortunately she put her foot in her mouth with this quip.
I think Jennifer Rubin' assertion in her recent podcast is spot on: Michele Bachmann might have peaked at the Ames Straw Poll. She can no longer jump in the polls by not looking crazy. She must look serious and substantive. With her penchant to jump in front of the nearest microphone, I don't think she'll manage that for long.
Jun '10
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
How does she intend to handle state gasoline taxes? I assume that under the Tenth Amendment she will make no claim that the federal government can alter them. The combination of state and federal taxes averages a little less than 50 cents a gallon (lower in the South and Mountain states).
So she will bring the real price of gasoline to $1.50 or lower?
It's one thing to promise to drill, but to promise a specific price point is really, really, really dumb.
***
On the other hand, I agree with katievs that this isn't even "close in stupidity to Obama's promise to halt the rise of the oceans and heal the planet."
Edited on Aug 18, 2011 at 8:46amJun '10
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
Crude oil is in competition with other sources of energy, like coal, or natural gas (which auto engines can be converted to.) If we were allowed to retrieve our own oil, coal, and natural gas, then energy prices of all types would come down dramatically. It's not the first barrel of oil that costs a lot. It's that last barrel of oil that you absolutely have to have, and the seller knows you have to have it. That's the expensive barrel. We don't have to buy that last barrel of oil from overseas. That's her point.
Apr '11
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
Tennessee Patriot
"By the way- why is everyone so hyper-critical of Republican candidates? Reminds me of 1980. Reagan the right-wing, crazy nut was going to be the ruin of the Republican party, and Michelle Malkin would have been on the airwaves criticizing his past actions as governor of California."
People can be hyper-critical because of venues like this one, 24 hour news, radio and our own willingness to bend an ear I suppose not that I think any of it is the problem just an explanation.
I also believe if elected officials were as interested in displaying true moral character and us as the electorate were as interested in demanding it we wouldn't hear nor fall for such ridiculous promises as $2.00 gas or stopping the rise of the oceans.
Sep '10
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
I think there was a convergence of the space time continuum amongst Jennifer Rubin and Mike Murphy.
Aug '11
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
Stephen S.: Tennessee Patriot
I also believe if elected officials were as interested in displaying true moral character and us as the electorate were as interested in demanding it we wouldn't hear nor fall for such ridiculous promises as $2.00 gas or stopping the rise of the oceans. · Aug 18 at 8:53am
I couldn't agree more. That's what's so refreshing about Paul Ryan, and so discouraging about Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann. Ryan is always cool as a cucumber. You never hear him use hyperbolic language.
Mar '11
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
It does seem a little over-optimistic, but it's not in the same league of stupid as the promise to lower the oceans.
Drill-baby-drill, frack-baby-frack and nuclear power would definitely help - that's probably her point.
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
katievs: It doesn't come close in stupidity to Obama's promise to halt the rise of the oceans and heal the planet. · Aug 18 at 8:24am
Edited on Aug 18 at 08:55 am
At this point in the game, we're not judging Republican primary contenders against Obama. I presume it's a given that most of us would take a syphilitic camel before we took four more years of Obama. But during primary season, it does make sense to measure up our options against each other. Do you disagree?
Jun '10
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
Yes. She's throwing out a $2 price because that will gain much more attention than calmly explaining her energy policy. She's taking a gamble --- if she were to be nominated and ultimately win the presidency, the specific price promise could come back to bite her. Or she could be proven to be a brilliant soothsayer.
There is no doubt that gas prices would drop if all domestic energy exploration possibilites were opened up. But I'm curious to know how she arrived at the $2 figure.
Mar '11
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
Definitely not the stupidest campaign pledge ever. I'm pretty sure Mondale's whole platform gets that title (although, the Anti-Masonic party is up there.....hrm.....)
Nevertheless, the problem, and Dan Foster points this out, is that: even if Bachmann wins, and even if on Day 1 of holding office we grant thousands of waivers to drill, getting the infrastructure in place to acquire enough crude to refine to ship to sell to affect the international oil market and overcome OPEC is.....well.....a process that takes years.
Apr '11
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
StickerShock
But I'm curious to know how she arrived at the $2 figure. · Aug 18 at 9:15am
Gas was $1.89 when Obama took office.
Mar '11
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
Diane Ellis, Ed.
katievs: It doesn't come close in stupidity to Obama's promise to halt the rise of the oceans and heal the planet. · Aug 18 at 8:24am
Edited on Aug 18 at 08:55 am
At this point in the game, we're not judging Republican primary contenders against Obama. I presume it's a given that most of us would take a syphilitic camel before we took four more years of Obama. But during primary season, it does make sense to measure up our options against each other. Do you disagree?
Well, yes, but the title of the thread is "Is this the stupidist campaign pledge ever" - no, it isn't.
Btw, while I am in nitpicking mood, is "stupidist" a word? What's wrong with "most stupid"?
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
David Williamson
Diane Ellis, Ed.
katievs: It doesn't come close in stupidity to Obama's promise to halt the rise of the oceans and heal the planet. · Aug 18 at 8:24am
Edited on Aug 18 at 08:55 am
At this point in the game, we're not judging Republican primary contenders against Obama. I presume it's a given that most of us would take a syphilitic camel before we took four more years of Obama. But during primary season, it does make sense to measure up our options against each other. Do you disagree?
Well, yes, but the title of the thread is "Is this the stupidist campaign pledge ever" - no, it isn't.
Btw, while I am in nitpicking mood, is "stupidist" a word? What's wrong with "most stupid"? · Aug 18 at 9:21am
Touché.
And yes, 'stupidest' is indeed a word.
Jul '11
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
Bingo!
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
Mollie, I think Michele has made an absolutely stellar campaign promise. In business we set quantitative targets to guide decision-making and achieve the relatively few things we view as critical---you will search in vain for gauzy corporate targets concerning sales "saved or created," for example. We don't always achieve our targets, but the process motivates managers throughout the enterprise to row in the same direction. Bachmann's $2 per gallon target will focus her appointees throughout the federal government.
And the aim can be achieved. Let me count a couple ways:
1) A stronger dollar. Our rapidly depreciating, quantitatively-eased dollar is a big factor in oil price escalation. Right now, the world is betting that the US government will pay its unsustainable debt via a healthy dose of inflation. Cutting federal spending and strengthening the dollar will cut oil prices. Now.
2) Remove government barriers to conventional energy exploration, production and delivery. The demand curve for oil is inelastic in the short run. Right now, global markets factor declining future US production into today's price. Invert that expectation and future production 5 years downstream will lower prices today.
Edited on Aug 18, 2011 at 9:55am