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?
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Dec '10
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
First, if pressed on it, she could argue that she meant the pre-tax price and could never control taxes. With federal and state taxes being at about 40 cents per gallon, she's aiming at a pump price of $2.40. If she cuts back the EPA and announces drilling and a lifting of regulations, that doesn't sound ridiculous.
I think it's a bit irresponsible to set a target, but it isn't stupid.
May '10
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
I hope she made this promise after giving the issue the same consideration as Dr. Savage. I repeat: I hope. On the other hand, I don't necessarily have much confidence that hope is reality. Bachmann has been a bit of a mixed bag in her swing through South Carolina. Let's remember that this vow came on the heels of her wishing Elvis Presley a happy birthday just about a mile from my office at the landmark Beacon restaurant in Spartanburg. Just one problem: it wasn't The King's birthday, it was the anniversary of his death.
I like Michele. A lot. But I'm getting more and more worried that her prescriptions are two parts enthusiasm and one part hyperbole, garnished with just a dash of policy.
Edited on August 18, 2011 at 7:08pmJan '11
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
It's too bad T-Paw dropped out; he could have promised even cheaper gas prices.
May '10
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
I agree with Pilgrim and George.
Much can be done to bring oil prices down in the long term, on both the federal and state levels, and executive powers are the key. Protect the dollar. Open up areas for drilling. Authorize the construction of new refineries. End the pointless regulations which prevent the same blend of gasoline from being sold across the country.
Presidents often demonstrate ample leverage over state legislatures and governors (ex: highway funds) for liberal causes. For once, let's see a Republican President pressure states to deregulate.
But the effects are mostly long-term, and assume relative peace in the Middle East. Bachmann should make lower oil prices a goal, not a promise. Her promise should be deregulation.
May '10
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
Matthew Gilley:
I like Michele. A lot. But I'm getting more and more worried that her prescriptions are two parts enthusiasm and one part hyperbole, garnished with just a dash of policy.
Agreed. I'm leaning toward Perry at this point.
Dec '10
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
Actually, the yogurt covered moon speech on the floor of the house was hyperbole. It was, however, effective use of hyperbole to make a point.
Jan '11
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
It's always hard to pick "the stupidest" thing said by politicians (oh such a wonderful variety of things to pick from) - but with this, any objective person would have to realize that it's time to say "Goodbye Michelle, and thanks for stopping by". She's finished.
Mar '11
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
I don't know. When we have to explain, ending with, "....that's probably her point" and "That's her point," then she hasn't made the point. Michele, unfortunately, reminds me of PTA types: brassy enough to get up and speak, but saying nothing that withstands thoughtful analysis in the quiet after the meeting.
Edited on August 19, 2011 at 12:06amApr '11
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
Promises like that are pretty stupid. Probably not as stupid as John Edwards promising that paraplegics (Christopher Reeves in particular) will walk if he and John Kerry are elected, though.
Jul '10
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
Aaron Miller: I agree with Pilgrim and George.
Much can be done to bring oil prices down in the long term, on both the federal and state levels, and executive powers are the key. Protect the dollar. Open up areas for drilling. Authorize the construction of new refineries. End the pointless regulations which prevent the same blend of gasoline from being sold across the country.
Presidents often demonstrate ample leverage over state legislatures and governors (ex: highway funds) for liberal causes. For once, let's see a Republican President pressure states to deregulate.
But the effects are mostly long-term, and assume relative peace in the Middle East. Bachmann should make lower oil prices a goal, not a promise. Her promise should be deregulation. · Aug 18 at 10:09am
I was wondering when someone would mention refineries. Even if we drill and get cheaper oil, aren't we lacking refinery capacity to process it? $2.00 is an awfully specific promise with so many variables involved. A promise to deregulate and promote production would have the effect of also lowering gas prices without being held to a magic number that may not be realistic in a given time frame.
Edited on August 18, 2011 at 7:25pmAug '11
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
George Savage: . Bachmann's $2 per gallon:
Can be achieved. Let me count a couple ways:
1) A stronger dollar.
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. · Aug 18 at 9:49am
Edited on Aug 18 at 09:55 am
I agree that a stronger dollar and more exploration/drilling will bring down gas costs.
But so far Bachmann hasn't offered any specific policy proposals on this or any other issue. Matt Continetti highlighted this in his Weekly Standard profile: she chose to go on television and sell her message rather than roll up her sleeves and craft legislation.
Like Sarah Palin (and Barack Obama for that matter) she talks in sound bites and won't put her plan on paper.
Perhaps that's good politics, but that's not what the country needs in a chief executive.
As the CBO director famously said: "we don't score speeches." Or sound bites. Or talking points. Or television interviews.
Aug '11
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
The King Prawn
Actually, the yogurt covered moon speech on the floor of the house was hyperbole. It was, however, effective use of hyperbole to make a point. · Aug 18 at 10:11am
I had forgotten about that House speech. Right you are about the effective hyperbole.
I guess I meant that he's not using over-the-top language to denigrate the president, or the chairman of the Fed. That's become so common on cable news interviews or on the stump. We've heard it from Bachmann, Perry, and Gingrich specifically.
Attack the policies. Don't attack the individual or question his patriotism. That's bush league.
Reagan was a happy warrior. Kemp talked about an American renaissance. Those are qualities voters can rally around and attributes that appeal to independents.
May '10
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
Consumption of Crude Oil, (Transportation, Plastics, Pharma, Etc) will rise as the Indian, Chinese, and other larger population country increase their use of their products. This will continue as long as their economies expand, and we better hope they do, or else we will be all heading down the plughole.
It is not clear to me that even if USA was completely self-sufficient in crude oil, that this will reduce prices of locally consumed US Oil, as overall global consumption will increase and with it the global price.
If we are using Obama's rhetoric as the bar, then we better hope the GOP are good at limbo. We can, and must be better than this.
May '10
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
I don't often disagree with Mollie, but I will here.
First, we do know that the President can influence gasoline prices. George Bush proved that at least once in 2008 when his promise to open formerly restricted drilling areas played a major part in a price drop that took us from over $3.50/gallon gas to under $2. Conversely, Barack Obama's restrictive drilling policies and the "go slow" process by which his administration approves the permits that can be submitted (when they don't change their minds mid-process and close the areas in question) have driven prices steadily higher.
Second, what's wrong with a little overreaching optimism? So Bachmann promises $2/a gallon and we only get down to $2.50. Are we really going to crush her for failing to live up to a lofty goal or will we celebrate that our gasoline is a dollar less expensive than it was during Obama's reign?
I'm with Mr. Savage. I'd like to see more of the GOP candidates lead with their hearts. We could use some unbridled optimism nowadays.
Jun '10
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
RE: Diane #4
Gulf Oil: U.S. reliance on foreign oil production could be reduced by chemically mapping the subsurface streams of hydrocarbons, amounting to tens of billions of barrels, hidden well below the Gulf of Mexico, a Cornell geologist reports.
ANWAR: However, most geologists agree that the potential is on the order of billions of barrels of recoverable oil and trillions of cubic feet of recoverable gas and that these resources may rival or exceed the initial reserves at Prudhoe Bay. The validity of these estimates can be proved only by drilling exploratory wells. Authorization for exploration must be given by Congress and the President.
Oil Shale Estimated U.S. oil shale reserves total an astonishing 1.5 trillion barrels of oil – or more than five times the stated reserves of Saudi Arabia.
Oil sands may represent as much as two-thirds of the world's total "liquid" hydrocarbon resource, with at least 1.7 trillion barrels (270×10^9 m3) in the Canadian Athabasca Oil Sands . In the United States, oil sands resources are primarily concentrated in Eastern Utah. with a total of 32 billion barrels ^ of oil in eight major deposits
Mar '11
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
Aaron Miller
Agreed. I'm leaning toward Perry at this point.
Me too - unless Mr Ryan enters the race.
But, due to our learned friends at Ricochet, especially Pilgrim #35, Mrs Bachmann's pledge doesn't seem the stupidest (I still can't believe that's a word).
Aug '11
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
I don't think $2.00/gal gasoline is that unrealistic. Granted, our recovery would have to be speedy, but three years ago when my family drove from Wisconsin to Texas, gasoline was under $2.00. (Under $1.50 in some places along the way.) It made for a far cheaper trip than the one we had just a few years before that.
So . . . sub-$2.00 in two years? I think that can be achieved. But not under the current administration.
Mar '11
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
May i say that Ms. Bachman's statement is much "non-stupider" than Romney's statements about global warning or Ryan's votes for bailouts. We can nitpick every candidate, I suppose.
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
No, HF, Michele hasn't crafted detailed legislation sure to be dead before arrival in the House. She has set a specific, quantitative target--one to which she can be held accountable. More importantly, her appointees at Treasury and Energy and EPA--the subject-matter experts--will be aware of the target, will likewise be held accountable and will understand how to make the marginal decision: Will this make achieving $2.00 gas more or less likely?
If only President Obama's appointees were similarly considering each and every decision's impact on achieving, say, a 5 percent unemployment rate.
Jun '10
Re: Is This The Stupidest Campaign Pledge Ever?
America is rolling in energy, the cleanest being natural gas. Our problem is not lack of natural resources. It's our limited access--self-imposed limits--and limited processing capacity. Those two problems can be fixed.