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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Jun '10
Re: November Gas Attack
The question is how the Republican nominee will confront Obama in debate. It would be refreshing to hear, for example: "Mr. Obama, exactly how many oil refineries will be built in the next year? How many off shore platforms will get the green light? When will a pipeline from ANWR begin to flow? How many millions of dollars of taxpayers' hard-earned money have you wasted on Green energy boondoggles that have been directed at those who support you politically and why haven't you fully cooperated with House investigators to turn over all the documents and information that they've requested on Solyndra and other failed companies that you supported? Who in your White House team, sir, altered documents from a scientific panel to make it appear as though they recommended an offshore drilling moratorium when this was clearly not what the panel expressed?"
Just saying that a more effective debate strategy may be to ignore whatever the "in-the-tank" MSM moderator asks and go right for the metaphoric jugular and confront Obama on his comprehensive remedy to make us energy independent and all the corruption that his administration is knee-deep in.
Jun '11
Re: November Gas Attack
Consider this: the biggest driver of higher crude and gasoline prices (in dollars) has little to do with the commodities themselves but rather is a clear indicator of dollar weakness. Just about the only way for the dollar to strengthen is for the federal reserve to tighten and make dollars more dear. But Chairman Ben has publicly stated that they won't do anything of the sort until 2014. So, President Obama will definitely be seeing higher fuel prices between now and November and, to make it worse for him, the federal reserve will be unable to rescue him without raising interest rates which would cause worse trouble. (Today's housing data shows how fragile this "recovery" is.)
Traders are counting on certain things and one of those, for the time being, is easy money.
Feb '12
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. · 18 hours ago
Good point. Even Bill O'Rielly (though not truly a conservative, none the less influential among conservatives and independents alike) swallows this hook, line and sinker. He blames Obama for not "making" the Big Bad Oil companies fix the problem.
That line of thinking will have a certain traction. But, still, our Omnipotent Overlord of Oceania won't be able to paper over his opposition to drilling and keystone, boneheaded statements about inflating your tires and just switching to an algae-powered economy.
He is vulnerable on this stuff if we're smart enough to press it.