This is the problem with the Democrats position on gas prices

[TheFarseer]

It's hard to put into words. What is it? In one sentence, what is it? And no two Democrats agree, which is of course our standard problem on any issue. The Republican strategy is easy: drill more, gas tax holiday. It saves you 18 cents right away and promises to drive down oil prices. The Democratic solution boils down to more research (who knows when that will show results) and conservation which no one wants to do. I absolutely believe the Dems solution is the correct long term solution and the Repubs is a quick fix that will actually help very little and only for a year or two. I think we need to say something or a couple things that can be done on day one of an Obama administration. Only problem is, what exactly could Obama say that would be an attention grabber?

[ColbertWatcher]

1. The Dem's position on gas prices? In one sentence? NO MORE ENRONS. n/t

[Earth_First]

2. In one word? Moratorium. n/t

[The Straight Story]

3. To perpetuate the myth that we are low on supplies.

There is a lot of oil out there, but the speculators won't make any money of people believe otherwise and the price does not rise.

If anyone thinks we are short on oil, I invite them to invest all they own in oil companies and but gas on the open market now as they will reap the rewards any day now.

It went from the dot com boom to bust, to the housing boom and bust, and now oil is the new thing until it goes bust.

It's a scam and we are all paying for it - and the wealthy are still making money from us hand over fist. Now they are starting companies that will 'save' us from this crisis and we will give them money for that as well.

The only way to win the game is to stop playing it :)

[Andy823]

4. I agree with you.

It is a scam, and the democrats are "playing" their game! They always have a "scam" going and I would be willing to bet they already have a new on in line when oil busts.
If the democrats had any guts, they would go after the speculators, end the "Enron loophole", and regulate more in the commodities market so that some rich jerks can't manipulate the price of food and energy, but we all know they don't have the guts, or they are in the pockets of the same bunch that owns the republicans! Take your pick, either one is bad for the people, but good for the jerks who are causing all the problems!

Standing up to them would show the public that the democrats really do care, even if they don't get the votes, they can use that to show how the republicans are voting against bills that would "really" drop prices now, not years down the road. Taking on speculators will help us now, and then they can work on the long term issues of new sources of energy. I won't hold my breath on this, but Obama needs to take the lead on this. If he does it will knock McCain on his butt big time. The high prices of gas will be big issue, and if the democrats don't take control of this issue, and do something now, McCains buddies will come up with some kind of "cut" in gas prices right before the election and give McCain credit for it. Obama needs to take the lead on this and keep it up front with some "real" solutions.

[TheFarseer]

5. so you don't believe in Peak Oil?

the fact is demand has almost caught up with supply and demand is only growing while supply cannot hope to keep up in the coming years. We might be in a price spike, but oil is going to trend up in the coming years. I agree there are other factors in play. If the dollar had kept it's value from when bush got in office oil would be just over $100 instead of $145 (per rough calculations I just did) and speculation is harder to quantify but but it's also pushing the price up artificially. I keep waiting for Repubs to say if we wring out the speculation, your 401Ks will tank. ugh!

[The Straight Story]

7. Peak oil - eventaully maybe, but not right now by any means

I think it is being used by some to justify higher prices, and the oil companies are counting on folks to believe in it.

[Super Soaker Sniper]

6. One big mistake that Democrats are making

is assuming that Americans will be satified with the Oil Companies being punished even if gas prices do not come down. If they won't bring down prices, Americans are not going to be satisfied with a "Woo Hoo! Oil Companies are being hosed!" *fist pump*. Where is the savings going to be for consumers? A rebate on their taxes next year? Good luck getting Americans to believe that, because not even I buy that one. Americans want to see something done that is going to lower their gas prices. If they can be convinced that the oil compaines being punished is going to do it, it will be because it was explained to them.

Harry Reid explaining last week how "we are already seeing a savings because this is curtailing global warming" and other such nonsense not only made no sense, I found it insulting that he thought me that stupid.

[TheFarseer]

8. totally agree with that

Penalizing the oil companies won't do anything and in fact may make the problem worse. You can say it will go for alternative energy research, but that's plain nonsense. We all know it will go into a general fund so tax money generated from windfall profits is totally unrelated to alternative energy research. Trying to emphasize global warming is also a mistake. There are plenty of reasons to conserve oil and find alternatives besides global warming which most people - I'm sorry - don't care about.

[Super Soaker Sniper]

9. But they do care about their wallets.

They could care less if the oil companies were swimming in money, as long as they are not getting hosed. Being complacent is now way to keep a majority. This gas issue could turn the tide the Republican's way and quickly. Remember the Assault Weapons Ban. It took scant weeks for that to gather momentum and win the Republicans the House.

[MedleyMisty]

15. See, this is why I'm such a misanthrope.

"Durr, I don't care if the only planet we have to live on goes all to hell and life sucks for almost all living beings."

Humans are the most evil mf'ers I've ever seen.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

10. I think it's going to take a complex policy to deal with a complex issue

Maybe more drilling can be considered in places where new technology allows for less destruction to the environment. This would require a lot of study by Congress and the Obama administration. We're going to need oil for many more years until alternative solutions are gradually phased in.

The war in Iraq is increasing demand on oil and ending that war and the money pit it represents would be a good start. And the Iraq war is increasing government borrowing which affects the dollar.

A policy to bring the dollar back from the cellar might also have some effect on oil prices, although it might involve some difficult times for awhile if we have to decrease government borrowing and increase interest rates.

Laws that increase regulation on speculation and require higher margins for commodities speculation might help somewhat.

Laws that impose taxes on gas guzzling vehicles and provide tax breaks for small, efficient cars might help.

A 55 mph speed limit nationwide might help too.

Increased public transportation has to be looked at.

Encouraging businesses to go to a four-day work week might help a little bit, and this would take a real leader to make his case to the American business community.

And greater investment in alternative technology research might take several years to start paying off, but we've got to start some time and there's no time like the present. And research to make internal combustion engines more fuel efficient should also be studied.

I don't think there's one answer and no easy answers. I know there are a lot of entrenched opinions as to how to deal with this problem. I hope the Obama administration has an open mind and considers absolutely everything. In fact, an international summit aimed at understanding and acting on the energy future of our planet at which top leaders attend should be an Obama priority. When Gordon Brown of the U.K. recently asked Bush to attend an oil summit with major world leaders, he brushed off the idea and indicated he didn't want to attend. Whether any one conference solves the problem or not, it's important for the next President to take a position of leadership on this issue and get intimately involved.

[ColbertWatcher]

11. Early morning kick. n/t

[nytemare]

12. The "Enron Loophole" needs to be closed by congress.

KO did a big story on this. Could lower gas prices by almost half.

[Smith_3]

13. The democrats strategy for everything:

Shut the hell up and let the Republicans have it their way.

[tkmorris]

14. No more unregulated trade in energy markets

A "Manhattan Project" style program to aggressively pursue alternative energy solutions. A guarantee of government assistance in the interim, to assure that any who need heating oil can get it, and a public call for businesses to explore such possibilities as a 4 day workweek or work-at-home initiatives. Construct wind farms on select government owned lands. Provide substantive and universal "rebates" for consumers and homeowners employing "green" energy solutions, such as solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling, and wind generated power.

It aint hard. It just takes the courage to do it.