What would President Kerry be doing about gas prices?

[Island Blue]

This is getting ridiculous. Today at noon I drove past the place where I normally by gas (one of the cheapest places in my county) and it was $1.42/gallon for regular. This evening at 6:00 I went there to get gas for my lawn mower and it was $1.57/gallon for regular. WTF?? What happened in those six hours to cause a 15 cent per gallon price jump? It's crazy.

Which brings me to my question(s). If John Kerry had been elected last November, would we be still be seeing these kind of prices at the pump? Is there ANYTHING a president can do to help control gas prices? Since JK doesn't have lots of rich oil buddies who are getting even richer off of everyone else's misery, I assume he would be doing everything in his power to help ease the burden. At the very least, I think he would be speaking to the American people and explaining what's happening and why.


I'm sorry for this little rant. I know people in other parts of the country have probably been paying way more than $1.57/gallon for a while now. This just kind of caught me by surprise this afternoon and it made me wonder what Preseident Kerry (sigh) would be doing about the situation.

[fedupinBushcountry]

1. President Kerry

would be addressing the problem. He talked about it during the campaign, I know that one of his solutions was to use some of our reserve.I know he had other thoughts but can't remember them right now.

Where do you live ? I got gas on Friday at $2.35 a gallon and my son got gas yesterday and paid $2.50, I have not seen prices at $1.57 since early last year. Maybe we should all move to Venezuela its only .12 cents a gallon.

[Island Blue]

4. I don't know what I was thinking when I posted what I did

I meant to say that gas was $2.57 per gallon this evening, not $1.57. See, my brain can't even wrap itself around that concept. I think I'm overly tired. I've been working 7 days a week since May. (Yeah, that's my excuse :blush: )

[Noisy Democrat]

2. Where do you live?

Up here in Michigan it's about $2.50 a gallon for regular. Nearly $3 for premium.

[ginnyinWI]

3. Gas prices here and in Illinois

I might be the expert today about prices--we drove back here from the St. Louis area (an eight hour trip) and watched gas prices ranging from $2.54 to $2.75!!! We drove our full-sized sedan pulling our pop-up camper, and had to fill the tank up twice, for a total of $85. And this is with a small camper; I can only imagine what people with those huge rigs are paying. This is going to impact the economy soon--bet on it.

One thing a president might do, if he were so inclined is to urge states to lower their gas taxes temporarily. There also might be things like rebates for buying hybrid cars. Our reputation in the world is so damaged now--but a new president might be able to do something with the oil-producing companies that the present one cannot or will not! Certainly Kerry wouldn't be sitting on his hands like the present one seems to be doing. :grr:

[TayTay]

5. A President Kerry would have calmed some of the market fears

about supply and about the future of war in the Middle East that is causing some of the problem. He would also be dealing honestly with the idea that China and India are growing economic powers who have fuel needs of their own and are willing and able to pay for oil from the Middle East. (Simple supply and demand. The more people who want gas, the more it costs to get it.)

Kerry stated over and over during the campaign that we can't drill our way out of this fuel crisis. We have to invent our way out of it. He's right. We have to invest in renewables and in conservation measures and in innovation.

(Hmmm, now, Senator, about that Cape Cod Wind Mill farm? Are you in or out? It's been like, two years, so yes or no? It's renewable, but it might hurt the fishing industry, the tourism industry and the view. But this is a damn fascinating in-state energy thingee, so what's your position on it?) Sigh, it's not that easy, you know.

Oh, and it's $2.57 for me, as of this monring. It's $3.20 on the Vineyard and $3.40 or so on Nantucket, or so I heard.

[Island Blue]

6. I corrected myself above ...

It jumped from $2.42 this a.m. to $2.57 this evening. I don't know WTF I was thinking. Yikes, $3.40! I'm surprised our prices haven't jumped that high since I live in a tourist area.

[TayTay]

7. Ah, it's the Vineyard and Nantucket

Everything cost more over on the Islands. It all has to be ferried in or flown in.)
I thought you meant $257. I figured it was just a typo.

[Island Blue]

8. How do citizens in Mass feel about the wind farm possibility?

Are most for or against?

[TayTay]

9. Neither. Both.

It depends on where you live and how much it affects you. Most really, really, really like the political theater of it (the heartless bastards.)

In all honesty, this is a real difficult one to decide on. We need renewables and a Wind Farm would generate a lot of power. But it would be in an environmentally sensitive area, would impede boating (or might impede boating) and fishing and some people think it would mess up the view of Nantucket Sound from either the Cape (like at Hyannisport) or from the Vineyard/Nantucket.

There are a few heartless Massholes (present company excepted cuz we are saintly and never, ever stoop to mere political theater watching, of course) who just want to see which way certain famous Bay State political personages come down on the issue. (Cuz, it's a humdinger and they hve homes in the affected areas.) So far, Uncle Ted hates the idea and is firmly agin it. The other Sen from MA has not said what he thinks yet. (And there are sound arguments, very sound arguments on both sides. That's why it's a humdinger.)

[Island Blue]

10. I'm surprised the idea of a wind farm

hasn't been brought up for the area I live in. It's like Cape Cod in the way that it's coastal with almost constant wind. (And it's environmentally sensitive.) The difference is (I guess) that we are a long from any large scale areas of civilization that might could use the power such a project would generate.

Sounds like an interesting battle you've have brewing! It will be interesting to see which side your junior senator comes down on.

[Island Blue]

11. Self Delete - I hit the button once, and it posted twice

for some reason.

[TayTay]

12. It's kind of a no-win.

And heaven help me, that's why it's interesting. It's been two years and so far no decision from my Jr. Sen. (In all fairness, I think he's benn kind of busy lately.)

[LittleClarkie]

13. Don't you mean 2.42 and 2.57?

If not, then I'm moving down south!!

[Island Blue]

14. Yes, that's what I meant. I'm brain dead.

Don't tell Dr. Cat Killer Frist though, he still thinks I'm okay.

[beachmom]

15. Stop whining, you gas guzzling Americans -- $6/gallon in Germany

Of course, you have the option of taking the tram or bus (that always run ON TIME -- ahh, those efficient Germans) and small cars are the norm where the streets are so small, you have to park on the sidewalk. But when the Green party is in charge, it means you're going to pay $6/gallon for gas. And when you take a deep breath, as long as you're not in a Bier Garten with your chain smoking brother in-law, you're going to breathe fresher air than you have breathed in the States in years. It's ALWAYS a trade off. NOTHING is for free. I think the gas prices would be the same regardless of who's president. Only so much a president can do to control the market . . . (gosh, are those darn Schnitzel lovers turning me jaded or what?)

[Island Blue]

16. How many miles per gallon do cars in Germany average?

Aren't the cars in Europe required to get better gas mileage than comparable cars in the states get? Luckily I don't drive a huge gas guzzler, but I don't drive a Mini Cooper either. I wouldn't really care if gas cost $6/gallon if I thought my president was encouraging the development of alternative fuel sources rather than sitting around yucking it up with his oil & gas buddies.

Ok, on edit I probably would care if gas was $6/gallon but hey, this is Amurika - for the time being I can still complain if I want to! :)

[jillan]

18. $6 a gallon! Don't tell Bsh.

I have a feeling that somehow he is getting rich off of these prices.
And if he thought he could get away with $6....

[jillan]

17. LOL - that was reaalllly funny! n/t

[Vektor]

19. He'd be making sweet love to me.

THAT'S what he'd be doing. :evilgrin:

[beachmom]

20. Not sure on the gas mileage precisely

But I know that they sell a VW Passat with a smaller engine in Europe that is not available in the U.S. which has much better gas mileage. As far as the high gas price, oil prices are high worldwide, and then there are heavy taxes levied, and then there's the exchange rate between the Euro to the dollar, and as I said the Green Party insisted that gas taxes be raised to encourage people to conserve. But I'm telling you, in my husband's home town, which is smaller than Virginia Beach, they have the most amazing public transportation system. Every time I go back, there are new tram lines, new stations. They even are putting a tram line through the former U.S. Army Base (it was closed in 1996) which has incredibly wide avenues, which will now have a tram going through the middle of. My in-laws drive their cars, of course, but they also use public transportation on a regular basis. They also combine errands. But in America, unless you live in a major metropolitan area, you don't have access to alternatives to driving so we're completely trapped as far as gas prices go. In that sense, our $2.50/gallon and counting hits us with no relief in sight. THAT is Bush and our government's fault. And I suppose ours, too, for being so selfish, not wanting alternatives to driving because that would mean paying higher taxes.

[whometense]

22. Then he'd be

doing his bit to conserve, wouldn't he? :evilgrin:

[Klimmer]

21. I would like to believe JK would push the automakers & citizens to . . .

adopt the latest technology that is ready now! This isn't a dream induced by recreational drugs. This is happeneing now, with off the shelf technology . . . (posted from another discussion)

Use PHEV cars right now, until really good EV only cars or hydrogen fuel cells are good and ready. As many residents as possible should be going solar PV, or wind generators for net-metering or be completely off the grid as much as possible.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4391890#4392372
You crying? In SD, CA the gas is from $2.79 to $3++ (But good news!)

It cost me $46.00 to fill up my Toyota 4x4 (4 banger) pick-up. I'm pissed!!!

But I don't want to leave everyone crying and pissed. Here is the good news and this is off-the-shelf technology right now. Go get a Toyota Prius and do this conversion . . .

Toyota Prius converted to do PHEV can get 100mpg!!!

http://www.calcars.org/runningonempty-latimes.pdf
http://www.calcars.org /

And if you use solar panels on your home to recharge your 20 mile or so limit Prius in EV mode only, then you can get easily 500mpg or so. But you got to pay the bucks-up front to play with this kind of conservation. We should all be doing this like --- yesterday.

[fedupinBushcountry]

23. Halliburton ring a bell

I just found this video of JK when he was at a rally in San Diego, at the University of California SD, on 3/30/04. He discusses the gas prices and some of the things he would do.

Take a look, but I must warn you it will bring out the emotions. He is talking to the young and also deals with some Bushies with their flip-flops. Oh what this country is missing.:cry:

Scroll down to the 6th video.

PLAYSen. John Kerry (D-MA) San Diego Rally


http://c-span.org/Search/basic.asp?ResultStart=31&ResultCount=10&BasicQueryText=John+Kerry&