In March of 2000, gas prices had spiked to an unheard-of $1.27. Here’s what Governor Bush had to say about it:
“What I think the president ought to do [when gas prices spike] is he ought to get on the phone with the OPEC cartel and say we expect you to open your spigots…And the president of the United States must jawbone OPEC members to lower the price.” [January 26, New Hampshire GOP Debate]
Rep. Terry Everett: “The Clinton Administration has failed in its duty to develop a policy to deal with our national energy supply and is therefore directly accountable for the higher prices Americans are now paying at the gas pumps.”
Rep. Wally Herger: “Congressman Wally Herger recently denounced the Clinton-Gore Administration’s complacency during the current gas price crisis. ‘Northern Californians are being held hostage at the gas pump,’ Herger said. ‘The Clinton-Gore Administration has demonstrated a complete and total lack of leadership in preventing this problem. It is a clear failure of domestic and foreign policy.’”
Larry Kudlow: “The Clinton-Gore administration’s hapless and incoherent management of foreign policy is nowhere as evident as in their bungling on OPEC’s oil-price hike. … While crude oil prices could drop to $25 per barrel, they will stay well above the average $20 real price of oil registered over the past ten years. And way above the $10 worldwide average marginal cost of producing new oil. Meanwhile gas prices at the pump are likely to be upwards of $2 per gallon well into the summer.”
Clinton’s energy plan was “threatening the economy,” “crazy.” Media outlets picked up on the Republican talking points, repeatedly blasting the administration as the direct cause of oil prices.
So, naturally, if Bush (who makes low gas prices one of his campaign promises and has unprecedented ties to the oil industry) presides over prices more than double the 2000 level, Americans and the media will be all over him, right?
Right?
Well, I guess we’re still working on weaning ourselves off foreign oil.
In four (FOUR) State Of The Union addresses in a row now, Bush has claimed a move towards “less dependence on foreign energy.” So why has our dependence on it jumped 12% during this period?
Today: Exxon Mobil recorded the highest quarterly profit ever for a publicly traded U.S. company, raking in $10.71 billion in the fourth quarter of 2005.
Summary: Americans get high prices, oil execs get huge bonuses, and the President still gets to go up there, claim that we’re working towards independence, and receive thunderous applause. Fantastic.
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gawd bless america. those links on al-jazeera to work permits in spain look nice about now.
Ooooh, I hadn’t seen those. Now I’m going to get all wistful.
COMMMMEENNNTTT
NOT GOOD ENOUGH
thanks for backin’ me up tonight, man!
“It’s his job” indeeeed.
President Urges U.S. to Curb Its Reliance on Foreign Oil
“In a complex and challenging time, the road of isolationism and protectionism may seem broad and inviting, yet it ends in danger and decline,” Mr. Bush said. “The only way to protect our people, the only way to secure the peace, the only way to control our destiny is by our leadership, so the United States of America will continue to lead.”
We should start a pool of which country gets invaded first. My money’s on Iran.
I wish CNN/anyone had the foresight necessary to put together all four “dependency” clips, because it would’ve been super-effective to watch. Meh.
I honestly feel like there won’t be a “next country” in this war. 130,000 soldiers are in VA hospitals, recruitment numbers are down, and Afghanistan is actually spinning out of control (and Iraq isn’t improving). There’s no way he could squeeze enough approval out of congress for another war….the current one is too unpopular, and Congress cares too much about its constituents.
But we shall seeeeeeee.