November Gas Attack
Just below, Dave Carter gives us some reasons to be optimistic about November. Although it's contrary to my nature, I thought I'd add a few.
Of course, our side is in a tricky position. Let's face it: we are hoping that the economic news stays challenging for Obama. The damage he's done to the near-term economy is nothing compared to the havoc he's wreaked on the far-term, debt-laden, American future.
So, although I'm not wishing ill on anyone, this seems like an interesting metric to follow:
Here's what the price of gas looks like, according to an excellent blog, Early Warning:
And that doesn't look good, if you're running for re-election. From the NYTimes:
Rising gasoline prices, trumpeted in foot-tall numbers on street corners across the country, are causing concern among advisers to President Obama that a budding sense of economic optimism could be undermined just as he heads into the general election.
White House officials are preparing for Republicans to use consumer angst about the cost of oil and gas to condemn his energy programs and buttress their argument that his economic policies are not working.
In a closed-door meeting last week, Speaker John A. Boehner instructed fellow Republicans to embrace the gas-pump anger they find among their constituents when they return to their districts for the Presidents’ Day recess.
“This debate is a debate we want to have,” Mr. Boehner told his conference on Wednesday, according to a Republican aide who was present. “It was reported this week that we’ll soon see $4-a-gallon gas prices. Maybe higher. Certainly, this summer will see the highest gas prices in years. Your constituents saw those reports, and they’ll be talking about it.”
Finally! A debate "we want to have."So let's have it. Gas is more expensive, even though America is getting more and more energy efficient. From Early Warning, again:
Prior to the late 1970s, the US economy used oil very inefficiently (because it had been very cheap for a long time). After the oil shocks of 1973 and particularly 1979, oil efficiency began to rise rapidly in the early 1980s. Then it slowed down after the price pressure was off, but continued to rise at a steady moderate pace from the late 1980s through the mid 2000s. In the later stages of the 2005-2008 oil shock, it rose sharply, but then appeared to be set back by the great recession. Then in 2010-2011 it has again been rising very sharply, presumably under the influence of fairly high prices.
So that's good news. We're a lot more energy efficient. But for some reason, Obama's Gas Crisis continues.
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Re: November Gas Attack
It couldn't happen to a nicer man.
May '10
Re: November Gas Attack
Unfortunately, this is a weak line of attack. Democrats will inevitably blame rising gas prices on the "greed" of oil companies. And greed is easier to understand that a complicated web of specific pressures in legislation, regulation and international markets.
If you believe swing voters won't buy the claim that it's the fault of Big Oil, then your estimation of swing voters is more complimentary than mine.
Dec '10
Re: November Gas Attack
Gallup's employment survey suggests that the U3 unemployment rate for February 2012 will show an uptick, from 8.3 percent in January to as much as 9.0 percent in February. If that comes to pass, it will throw a lot of sand in the gears of the Obama re-election machine. It will take the unemployment rate farther from the 8.0 percent "ceiling" that Obama's economic team promised the Porkulus would put in place.
Of course, high gas prices tend to slow down economic activity as people have to devote more of their resources to fuel costs and away from other purchases, so the two news items dovetail neatly to form a big bump in the road to re-election for President Obama.
Edited on February 27, 2012 at 10:41pmJul '11
Re: November Gas Attack
Sure this is a big issue and one that should dominate our nation's energy policy. Becoming independent is one of the keys to our survival economically.
Nonetheless I will repeat myself about this election. It is a win for Obama unless most of the country views him as grossly incompetent or as a criminal.
If the end of October comes and Obama's idiocy is not household information and Eric Holder is unchallenged the election will go for Obama. It may be close but i doubt it.
This will be the most expensive and dirtiest election in history. There are no rules anymore for those we are fighting. Expect anything and everything.
Re: November Gas Attack
From biggovernment.com, we are reminded that Obama's Energy Secretary went on record saying, “Somehow we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe.” Commenting on the rapid rise in energy costs that year, candidate Obama said that he would have, "…preferred a gradual adjustment." He went on the record predicting that, “Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.” This is part of his "fundamental transformation," and he owns it. Our job is to spotlight his accomplishment.
Nov '11
Re: November Gas Attack
C'mon. Why talk about gasoline when we can talk about [insert social-issue-of-the-week here]?
May '10
Re: November Gas Attack
Condoms are delivered by trucks. Trucks run on petroleum products. Obama has given us a condoms crisis.
See? Anybody can play!
May '10
Re: November Gas Attack
If Republicans do that job, and do it well, then perhaps the Big Oil accusation will fail.
I'm struggling the recall any time Obama's words came back to bite him, though.
Re: November Gas Attack
Aaron Miller
If Republicans do that job, and do it well, then perhaps the Big Oil accusation will fail.
I'm struggling the recall any time Obama's words came back to bite him, though. · 9 minutes ago
Well, I intend to throw them back at him at every conceivable opportunity,...and I trust I won't be the only one.
Feb '11
Re: November Gas Attack
Speaking of the long term damage Obama has done, one of the best advertisements the GOP could do would be to show how much debt Obama has accumulated and then interview people asking "What have you gotten for all that debt?" People understand debt and are don't find it abhorrent, per se. They just want to know whether they've gotten a new car or a new house for all that debt and whether they can afford to make payments. (A couple of old car companies, yeah. But not a new car.)
As for gas prices, Obama can spin this into a positive. It's a sign of economic growth around the world. And then there's the cloud overhead, Iran. With sanctions, all those getting petroleum from Iran have to switch to another supplier and that puts upward price pressure on petroleum and eventually gas prices at the pump.
The other thing Obama has done is unnecessarily restrained supply increases inside the US. He's been a good friend to OPEC by restricting development and future supply.
Mar '11
Re: November Gas Attack
It's unfortunate that you don't appear to recognize that, to Obama and his followers, gasoline is a "social issue."
Jul '11
Re: November Gas Attack
Gas should be priced by means testing and freely given to the 50% of the country that freeloads.
Wait til that is promised.
Dec '10
Re: November Gas Attack
DocJay: Gas should be priced by means testing and freely given to the 50% of the country that freeloads.
Wait til that is promised. · 1 minute ago
Don't be absurd. The Government won't give away free gas.
They'll just hand out discount coupons to the 50% that "need" them. Discounts of, say, 100% of the pump price. And they'll require the oil companies to honor the coupons under penalty of law. After all, they can make insurance companies give away free contraceptives.
Oct '10
Re: November Gas Attack
Neil Cavuto had a segment on his show this afternoon where he put the blame for high gas prices squarely on inflation. He basically said all this about increased world demand, potential problems in Iran, the evil oil companies and speculators is a side show. Stimulus, and out of control spending leading to inflation is the problem. I have seen this in our own small retail business where inventory ordered from overseas is up over 30%, and have you tried to buy tires lately? Obama and the Dems are clearly vulnerable on this issue.
Re: November Gas Attack
Aaron Miller: Unfortunately, this is a weak line of attack. Democrats will inevitably blame rising gas prices on the "greed" of oil companies. And greed is easier to understand that a complicated web of specific pressures in legislation, regulation and international markets.
If you believe swing voters won't buy the claim that it's the fault of Big Oil, then your estimation of swing voters is more complimentary than mine. · 3 hours ago
You don't think there's an argument to be made to the Swings that the Keystone pipeline delay -- if , in fact, Obama approves it eventually -- is a sign that he needs to be fired?
Re: November Gas Attack
Stuart Creque
DocJay: Gas should be priced by means testing and freely given to the 50% of the country that freeloads.
Wait til that is promised. · 1 minute ago
Don't be absurd. The Government won't give away free gas.
They'll just hand out discount coupons to the 50% that "need" them. Discounts of, say, 100% of the pump price. And they'll require the oil companies to honor the coupons under penalty of law. After all, they can make insurance companies give away free contraceptives. · 22 minutes ago
Stop it at once! You're giving them ideas!
Dec '10
Re: November Gas Attack
Rob Long
Stuart Creque
DocJay: Gas should be priced by means testing and freely given to the 50% of the country that freeloads.
Wait til that is promised. · 1 minute ago
Don't be absurd. The Government won't give away free gas.
They'll just hand out discount coupons to the 50% that "need" them. Discounts of, say, 100% of the pump price. And they'll require the oil companies to honor the coupons under penalty of law. After all, they can make insurance companies give away free contraceptives. · 22 minutes ago
Stop it at once! You're giving them ideas! · 10 minutes ago
You can always hire me as a staff writer on your sitcom, Rob. Then all my ideas will belong to you, and you can keep them out of nefarious hands.
May '10
Re: November Gas Attack
Rob Long
You don't think there's an argument to be made to the Swings that the Keystone pipeline delay -- if , in fact, Obama approves it eventually -- is a sign that he needs to be fired?
Don't forget that oil companies hate Mother Nature. Even swing voters who understand that the pipeline would create jobs might still be suckered by the ecological devastation Democrats say accompanies any business involving oil. And why should they care about jobs for other people?
I'm not saying Republicans should avoid pointing out the truth. I just think hatred of oil companies is as common these days as hatred of big corporations. It's not limited to Democrats and liberals. Republicans shouldn't make it a focus.
It's rational to believe both political parties have screwed us. It's not rational to believe there's so little difference between them that, "Gee, I don't know which I should vote for!" Reasonable people can be suckered into voting for a phenomenon like Obama from time to time. Habitual swing voters, on the other hand, are either careless or dumb.
Truth matters to the base, but not to swing voters.
Nov '11
Re: November Gas Attack
Of course, our side is in a tricky position. Let's face it: we are hoping that the economic news stays challenging for Obama.
I don't quite buy that "tricky position" argument. Since the President will not do the right thing, the economy will not recover. What we have to hope for is rather that conservative voices are successful in getting the word out against the efforts of the msm to suppress the facts. Just a different route to your hope that "the economic news stays challenging for Obama."
May '10
Re: November Gas Attack
One observation...while I like the graph, one event that it doesn't point out is what happened at the very top of the price spike in 2008. On July 14, 2008, President Bush lifted the executive ban on offshore drilling. The next day Oil fell $9 off of its $145/barrel high. It didn't stop falling until just after President Obama was elected.
Coincidences both? The left wants you to believe they are...