Did Bush blow it on the oil prices?

[RaleighNCDUer]

I've been predicting for months that an October surprise could be the price of gas dropping back to $1.40 - $1.30/gal in the last weeks before the election. Others say he can't have that much control over the industry.

I think he's proved he does, but not as much as he thinks. He (meaning the evil cabal he fronts) is already holding down prices. Evidence? When crude went to $36/bbl gas prices went up to $1.80+/gal. Now, at close to $50/bbl gas prices are holding at $1.80+/gal. Shouldn't that price be more like $2.20?

They just didn't expect the price per barrel to be this bad. If priced dropped back to app. $35/bbl, they could push down (at least temporarily) the pump price back to $1.30, which is what joe sixpack pays attention to.

Or am I just full of shit?

[Catch22Dem]

1. I don't think you're full of shit (n/t)

[gold_bug]

2. he'd probably like to

but US production got hit by hurricanes, Russia's Yukos got hit by Putin, Iraq production has been getting hit by guerrillas, and Saudi production may be getting hit by the "peak" phenom.

[gumby]

3. Maybe 'they' invaded Iraq

for some reason that has to do with oil production?

Then they didn't realize that those barrels of Iraqi oil wouldn't be so hard to procure?

I've never been too much into the oil conspiracies, but something is surely afoot.

[Dogmudgeon]

4. "They" may want to be rid of him

If the Powers That Be have decided that George Bush is a train wreck in an ill-fitting suit, they may have quietly decided to "go with the flow" and let Bush lose. It wouldn't surprise me -- Bush has become ineffective due to his juvenile arrogance. No matter how loyal a team player he is, the oligarchs need someone who can wheel, deal, crack the whip, call the tune, and get things done.

Bush has been reduced to a sputtering martinet.

Who knows what we might see under Kerry? Kerry is only marginally more effective in dealing with energy policy than Bush. But, if she shows leadership, he might be able to straighten things out.

I do like and admire Kerry, but I'm a realist. The primary engine of politics for the next 50 years is going to be petroleum and its disappearance. Kerry will be as helpless to change the laws of thermodynamics as Bush.

--bkl

[GregD]

5. Bay Area, Northern Calif

$2.27 per gallon for lowest grade of gas. Premium is around $2.45.

GregD

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. Ouch! $1.87 in my neck of the woods.