Republicans Blame Democrats for 'A Nation of $4 Gasoline'

[GaryC 7]

Republicans Blame Democrats for 'A Nation of $4 Gasoline'

By Susan Jones

CNSNews.com Senior Editor

June 09, 2008

(CNSNews.com) - As expected, gasoline prices keep rising, and Republicans are placing the blame squarely on the Democrat-led Congress. Republicans apparently see "pain at the pump" as a key election issue.

As of Monday, the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline stood at a record $4.00. The price has zoomed above $4.00 in a number of states.

"As a result of this dubious milestone, motorists will pay on average $1.67 more per gallon than they were when the 110th Congress began. This represents a 71 percent increase during Nancy Pelosi's speakership," said Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Republican Conference.

Putnam said on the Democrats' watch, "America has become a nation of $4 gasoline. This expensive milestone arrives two years removed from an endless stream of assurances by Democrat leaders that they had their hands on a 'commonsense plan' to lower gas prices," Putnam said Sunday in a news release.

Drill for U.S. oil

Putnam accused Democrat leaders of making "empty promises."

The American people, he added, want "real solutions that will invest in American resources, create American jobs, and lower prices for American consumers." That means tapping U.S. oil reserves.

House Republican leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) called it "insane" that the Democrat-led Congress is still refusing to allow increased production of American energy.

"Today marks another dubious day for this Do-Nothing Democratic Congress. On their watch, gas prices have soared to new heights, and by refusing to schedule a vote on a plan to increase American-made energy to help lower gas prices, congressional Democrats are complicit in this unprecedented surge in fuel costs," Boehner said on Sunday.

He called it "inexcusable" that Democrats won't take "meaningful action" to reduce gasoline prices, something that would help the entire economy, he said.

In April 2006, Democrats promised the American people a "commonsense plan" to bring down gas prices. But the plan does not include drilling for U.S. oil reserves. (See earlier story)

For the record, Republican presidential candidate John McCain has said he opposes oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: ''ANWR is one of the pristine places in the world,'' McCain said in South Carolina last December. ''I wouldn't drill in the Grand Canyon either, and I wouldn't drill in the Everglades.''

As Cybercast News Service has reported, huge basins of untapped oil can be found on federal lands throughout the United States, according to the federal government.

But much of that domestic oil supply cannot -- and may never be -- recovered, because it lies under national parks and national monuments, or it is subject to environmental laws and restrictions that make drilling prohibitive. The report, which was produced at the request of Congress by the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management, said there are 279 million acres under federal management where oil and gas potentially could be extracted. (See earlier story)

Republicans insist that the solution lies in boosting the U.S. oil supply -- by drilling right here.

"House Republicans have put forth a comprehensive plan to help lower gas prices by harnessing new technologies and unlocking America's natural energy resources in an environmentally responsible way," Boehner said.

"Every American has a right to ask: What will it take for the Democrat-controlled Congress to finally take action and help ease the pain of the Pelosi Premium on behalf of struggling families and small businesses? Speaker Pelosi has the power to schedule a vote on our plan to begin breaking America's costly dependence on foreign sources of energy. She should not wait another day to do so."

Republicans are reminding the American people average gas prices under the Democrat-controlled Congress have risen from $2.33 a gallon on January 4, 2007 -- the first day of the Democratic Majority -- to the current $4.00 a gallon.

(But Pelosi, on her official Web site, notes that gasoline prices have "more than doubled since President Bush took office.")

Republicans say they are committed to boosting supplies of all forms of energy "right here at home" to reduce America's dependence on foreign sources of oil. They insist oil drilling in the U.S. can be done without damage to the environment.

Republicans also are promoting "advanced" nuclear power and next-generation coal as well as renewable energy from wind and hydroelectric power.

They want to roll back burdensome regulations that limit the construction of new oil refineries.

And they would encourage greater energy efficiency by offering conservation tax incentives to Americans who make their home, car, and business more energy efficient.

The Democrats' plan says nothing about drilling for new sources of oil.

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/viewstory.asp?...L20080609a.html

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

"As a result of this dubious milestone, motorists will pay on average $1.67 more per gallon than they were when the 110th Congress began. This represents a 71 percent increase during Nancy Pelosi's speakership," said Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Republican Conference.

yet i don't hear howls of outrage about that on vj

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Republicans Blame Democrats for 'A Nation of $4 Gasoline'

Well "they" would wouldn't they.

[Dan J 277]

Republicans Blame Democrats for 'A Nation of $4 Gasoline'

Well "they" would wouldn't they.

Well, "they" are not exactly known for taking credit when "they" #### up.

[Ggreen 12]

That was just a blame, just a blame

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Once again, the preachers of personal responsibility are good at talking the talk but fall short when it comes to walking the walk. Gas was $1.40 or so when Bush took office in 2001. We has a Republican President and a Republican Congress for 6 years and they did squat about the rising gas prices. Squat. Now they're pointing fingers? That's laughable.

[kerewin21 2]

What could they have done in 2001 that would have seriously impacted the prices we're seeing today? They could have mandated that cars and other energy users be more efficient, and invested more in public transportation, but a big component of these elevated prices is increased demand from developing countries. The country should have started investing seriously in public transportation and technology to decrease our dependence on oil decades ago.

I don't see what the president or congress could have done in the last 7 years to have much of an effect on these prices.

[dalegg 143]

Hmm...tension with Iran, nauseating prices at the pump, and the possibility of a Democrat coming into office. Do we have any historical reference to make a comparison as to what the next 4 years might be like if that happens?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

What could they have done in 2001 that would have seriously impacted the prices we're seeing today? They could have mandated that cars and other energy users be more efficient, and invested more in public transportation, but a big component of these elevated prices is increased demand from developing countries. The country should have started investing seriously in public transportation and technology to decrease our dependence on oil decades ago.

I don't see what the president or congress could have done in the last 7 years to have much of an effect on these prices.

Remember 2000?

THE 2000 CAMPAIGN: THE TEXAS GOVERNOR; Bush Would Use Power of Persuasion to Raise Oil Supply

Gov. George W. Bush of Texas said today that if he was president, he would bring down gasoline prices through sheer force of personality, by creating enough political good will with oil-producing nations that they would increase their supply of crude.

Remember 2008?

Saudis rebuff Bush's request to pump more oil

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (CNN) -- Saudi Arabia Friday rebuffed President Bush's request to immediately pump more oil to lower record prices, saying it does not see enough demand to increase production.

The Saudis said they would increase production if customers demanded it, Steven Hadley, Bush's national security adviser, said.

Ali al-Naimi, the Saudi oil minister, on Friday said the country had increased its production by 300,000 barrels a day on May 10 in response to customer requests.

[PlatyPius 5]

IF Republicans really believe this, then they are morons.

Here are the reasons for gas being $4.00/gallon:

1. 9/11 and the wars that followed.

2. Corporate Greed

3. Increased demand from China and India - China went from being almost totally bicycle traffic to suddenly people having the money to buy cars. Why? All of our manufacturing jobs went there.

4. Corporate Greed

5. Oil Speculators/Investors

6. OPEC limiting the amount of oil pumped.

7. Dollar isn't worth sh!t.

8. Oil drilling disruptions after Katrina. Price went up when the pipeline was offline, and then never went back down. (See #7)

9. Georgie decided to fill up the national reserve.

10. Corporate Greed - Oil companies recording record profits.

How can any of that be attributed to the Democrats? How, in fact, can any of that except #9 and maybe #7 be attributed to the Republicans? We're a "global economy" now (much to my chagrin) and things just aren't under our own control as much as they used to be.

[Dan J 277]

What could they have done in 2001 that would have seriously impacted the prices we're seeing today? They could have mandated that cars and other energy users be more efficient, and invested more in public transportation, but a big component of these elevated prices is increased demand from developing countries. The country should have started investing seriously in public transportation and technology to decrease our dependence on oil decades ago.

I don't see what the president or congress could have done in the last 7 years to have much of an effect on these prices.

Two things, run a balanced budget, and not got into Iraq. This is what cause the dollar to get weak, and what has contributed to speculation on oil prices.

Supply and demand accounts for some increase in oil prices, but does not account for the rise in prices we have seen.

Edited June 11, 2008 by Dan + Gemvita

[Scott & Lai 12]

Hmm...tension with Iran, nauseating prices at the pump, and the possibility of a Democrat coming into office. Do we have any historical reference to make a comparison as to what the next 4 years might be like if that happens?

None that I can think of.... *cough*Carter*cough*

[GaryC 7]

IF Republicans really believe this, then they are morons.

Here are the reasons for gas being $4.00/gallon:

1. 9/11 and the wars that followed.

2. Corporate Greed

3. Increased demand from China and India - China went from being almost totally bicycle traffic to suddenly people having the money to buy cars. Why? All of our manufacturing jobs went there.

4. Corporate Greed

5. Oil Speculators/Investors

6. OPEC limiting the amount of oil pumped.

7. Dollar isn't worth sh!t.

8. Oil drilling disruptions after Katrina. Price went up when the pipeline was offline, and then never went back down. (See #7)

9. Georgie decided to fill up the national reserve.

10. Corporate Greed - Oil companies recording record profits.

How can any of that be attributed to the Democrats? How, in fact, can any of that except #9 and maybe #7 be attributed to the Republicans? We're a "global economy" now (much to my chagrin) and things just aren't under our own control as much as they used to be.

You forgot to add a few things.

1. No drilling for our own oil

2. No building of new refineries

3. No building of new nuclear power plants.

4. Restrictions on coal.

Those things can be laid right at the feet of the dems. Every time the reps tried to bring these things up the dems and their buddies the environmentalists shot it down. We only get about 25% of our oil from outside the western hemisphere. That could be zero if we did these things years ago.

Edited June 11, 2008 by GaryC

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

IF Republicans really believe this, then they are morons.

Here are the reasons for gas being $4.00/gallon:

1. 9/11 and the wars that followed.

2. Corporate Greed

3. Increased demand from China and India - China went from being almost totally bicycle traffic to suddenly people having the money to buy cars. Why? All of our manufacturing jobs went there.

4. Corporate Greed

5. Oil Speculators/Investors

6. OPEC limiting the amount of oil pumped.

7. Dollar isn't worth sh!t.

8. Oil drilling disruptions after Katrina. Price went up when the pipeline was offline, and then never went back down. (See #7)

9. Georgie decided to fill up the national reserve.

10. Corporate Greed - Oil companies recording record profits.

How can any of that be attributed to the Democrats? How, in fact, can any of that except #9 and maybe #7 be attributed to the Republicans? We're a "global economy" now (much to my chagrin) and things just aren't under our own control as much as they used to be.

Well you got all the answers! why havent you fixed it yet? Oooooh, waitin for Obama.

[mawilson 2,133]

IF Republicans really believe this, then they are morons.

Here are the reasons for gas being $4.00/gallon:

1. 9/11 and the wars that followed.

2. Corporate Greed

3. Increased demand from China and India - China went from being almost totally bicycle traffic to suddenly people having the money to buy cars. Why? All of our manufacturing jobs went there.

4. Corporate Greed

5. Oil Speculators/Investors

6. OPEC limiting the amount of oil pumped.

7. Dollar isn't worth sh!t.

8. Oil drilling disruptions after Katrina. Price went up when the pipeline was offline, and then never went back down. (See #7)

9. Georgie decided to fill up the national reserve.

10. Corporate Greed - Oil companies recording record profits.

How can any of that be attributed to the Democrats? How, in fact, can any of that except #9 and maybe #7 be attributed to the Republicans? We're a "global economy" now (much to my chagrin) and things just aren't under our own control as much as they used to be.

Well you got all the answers! why havent you fixed it yet? Oooooh, waitin for Obama.

I think he forgot corporate greed. LOL