Exert pressure on OPEC? That’s the solution? And how pray-tell would JF-ingKerry expect to do so - stage troops in Mecca? And if I remember correctly, we stopped replenishing strategic reserves a couple of weeks ago - very original JF-ingK!

Geez, I could really use those drugs dumbecrats are feeding JF-ingK. It looks like JF-ingK brought home quite an addiction from Vietnam that only the best in LSD can quell. Please tell me general public ain’t buying these hallucinogen-induced immaterial, nonsensical rantings…

Posted by: v at March 30, 2004 11:06 AM

Oh, there’s a plan - ‘I will force private companies to do what I tell them to do’…

Now, who besides me thinks it raises a red flag, when a candidate starts promising the use government to coerce private individuals?

And does anybody really think such tactics would work with OPEC? They can always choose not to sell to the US, and instead increase to Russia and/or China.

Btw, there IS a quick and reasonable fix to gas prices - drill in ANWAR. We KNOW it’s easy, it’s also ecological, compared to what’s done in most of the world now, and it will immediately drop prices.

Ahhhhh, yes, it would make Bush look good. can’t have that!

Posted by: GDubya at March 30, 2004 11:23 AM

He’ll ‘exert pressure’ by withdrawing from Iraq. OPEC knows that higher prices at the pump increases the chances for J ‘Flipper’ K and Bin Laden.

Posted by: w at March 30, 2004 11:28 AM

He’s going to arm-twist OPEC? That’s like a crack addict “arm-twisting” her dealer. What a b.s. artist! The pathetic thing is, people are falling for it.

I especially liked this one: “‘Americans are paying 12 percent more for gas since former oil industry executives Bush and (Vice President Dick) Cheney took office on the pledge that their ties to the oil industry would lead to lower gas prices,’ the Kerry campaign said.”

Does anybody remember such a pledge being made? I sure don’t. I do remember a pledge to propose and fight for a more sound energy policy, a pledge I believe which is being kept in the fight over the energy bill. Maybe Mr. Kerry should explain how the Ethanol mandate he voted for, and the increased environmental restrictions targeted at refineries and power plants that the Clinton administration prosposed and Kerry voted for are helping lower the price of gasoline?

Posted by: TL at March 30, 2004 11:53 AM

Arm twist? That smacks of the cowboy unilateralism Kerry is known for. Such arrogance is sure to create more terrorism. The cycle of violence continues.

Posted by: mark buehner at March 30, 2004 12:24 PM

There is more than one way to run a terrorism campaign. And there are numerous ways to influence an election. The Saudis can, and are exerting significant economic pressure on oil prices, in the hopes of influencing US elections.

http://americanthinker.com/articles.php?article_id=3410

Posted by: skeeter at March 30, 2004 12:28 PM

I did a search for ‘Drilling for Oil in Anwar Alaska’ and came up empty.

The Union Guys should be all over this Reuters article, pissed off and angered that John Kerry sent them ‘LIES’ about drilling for Oil in order to get their support.

$2,000 says the union leaders who were lied to won’t even bat an eyelash and continue supporting John, ‘Free Lunches for Everyone,’ Kerry.

Posted by: Jeff MacMillan at March 30, 2004 03:22 PM

You have to understand he’s being true to his party. You can either get off you duff and get something your self (drill in ANWAR) or make other people do it for you? except…. didn’t Kerry used to be for REDUCING dependence on foreign oil?…. My head hurts

Posted by: billhedrick at March 30, 2004 05:37 PM

OT, but here’s a revealing quote from the guy who accuses Bush of doing a bad job
(Source: http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=37802):

On Sept. 11, 2001, Sen. Kerry appeared on the “Larry King Show.” Kerry’s honest admission to King bears scrutiny:

LARRY KING: Senator Kerry did your — did you committee on international opertions and terrorism ever actually fear something like this?

SEN. JOHN KERRY ®, MASSACHUSETTS:
“…We have always known this could happen. We’ve warned about it. We’ve talked about it. I regret to say, as — I served on the Intelligence Committee up until last year. I can remember after the bombings of the embassies, after TWA 800, we went through this flurry of activity, talking about it, but not really doing hard work of responding.”

…And if anyone doubts the authenticity of this quote, here’s CNN’s own archives for the day and the transcript (scoll down about 40% for the Kerry quote): http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0109/11/lkl.00.html

Posted by: USF at March 31, 2004 09:04 PM

“Kerry would pressure oil-producing nations to increase production” = “Jimmy Carter Gas Lines”

Bwahahahaa… There’s only one country in the world that is not producing oil at 100%. It’s the Saudi’s. Pressuring “oil-producing nations” is to lean on Saudi. When thinking of Saudi, there’s only one thing to lean on… The Button.

J F‘ing Kerry says, “I can remember after the bombings of the embassies, after TWA 800…”

Oh, I thought TWA 800 came down cuz of some frayed wires inside of fuel tanks (eyes rolling). Aren’t we supposed to ignore all those eye witnesses that saw the streak of light go up and hit the plane? Did I just read that Kerry admitted back then that it was actually a terrorist hit?

Posted by: Max Darkside at April 1, 2004 12:06 AM

Max D… Re:TWA800, I suppose the question that comes to my mind now would be - What did Kerry know and when did he know it? :o)

Posted by: USF at April 1, 2004 11:06 AM

Murkowski is making an end run around everyone - hope its not an April fools joke piece.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/04/01/oil.drilling.ap/index.html

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Gov. Frank Murkowski said he will open lease sales in state waters offshore of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

Citing frustration with what he calls “America’s extreme environmental community,” Murkowski said Wednesday he will do what he can as governor to spur Arctic oil development.

“While the U.S. House and Senate remain gridlocked over opening ANWR for oil development, I am not burdened by that process,” said Murkowski, who spent 22 years in the U.S. Senate before becoming governor in 2002.

Posted by: Headzero at April 1, 2004 01:21 PM

The answer is to send a bunch of Demonrats packing in Novemeber. There are enough seats up for grabs in the Senate to lower the Donks to less then 40 in the Senate. That is well into filabuster proof range. It is not instant gratification, but as long as that is explained to the soccer moms it will be ok. What is not ok is ecplaining to her that she will have to trade in the SUV for a Yugo. She will respond by trading in the politican that tells her that for one that has a better solution. That is how things are supposed to work. The French and the Germans are finding out about lies and lying liers now. The problem with gaining office by promising the voters the moon is when it becomes time to deliver.

Posted by: ableiter at April 1, 2004 09:09 PM

How can OPEC exert any pressure on oil prices? After all, say the liberal nitwits (redundancy used for emphasis), we’re stealing Iraq’s oil. Except for the cut going to Dick Cheney, oil should be practically free by now!

Posted by: jorginho at April 1, 2004 11:04 PM

Oil prices are peaking. Opec has anounced a further round of supply cuts. Gee could it be that all the foreign governments we’ve pissed off with Bush’s ‘your either with us or against us’ b.s. are striking back?

The Republicans have given the rich a nice big tax cut and have given businesses a tax incentive to buy SUV’s and have fought for any progress on CAFE (corporate average fuel economy) And in case the supply isnt tight enough, we continue to push up the price by buying for the strategic petroleum reserve. But apparently its all the democrats fault for doing… I dont know what.

Two things the president should be doing: stop buying oil for the SPR to cut down on demand. 2) Calling all the OPEC countries including Saudi Arabia where I hear on good sources, the Bush family has deep personal connections to the royal family.
Has Bush stoped buying for the SPR? No.
Has Bush been arm twisting Opec members to open up supply? Sadly no! reports this from WH press secratary Scott McClelan:

Q When he was running for President, the President said that President Clinton should get on the phone with the OPEC cartel and say, we expect you to open up your spigots. But it doesn’t appear that he’s doing that —

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I think that’s wrong. No, this — go ahead.

Q Well, excuse me, I was just going to ask, could you tell us what calls the President has made?

MR. McCLELLAN: This administration remains actively engaged with our friends in OPEC, as well as non-OPEC producers from around the world. Secretary Abraham, Secretary Powell, the White House, we are in constant discussions with producers from around the world. Condi Rice has certainly been in touch with individuals in OPEC, and we will continue working for America’s consumers to make our views known to our friends in OPEC, as well as other producers around the world.

Q But he’s not making calls, himself?

MR. McCLELLAN: I’m sorry?

Q He’s not making calls, himself?
—————————————————————————

as for the allegation above that this is all the democrats fault for blocking Bush’s energy plan- lets again go to Scott and the press gaggle:

Q You just said, we would not be in this situation if Senate Democrats had not blocked the energy policy in May, 2001. Prove that.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Senate Democrats are the ones that had been holding up, through their procedural moves, holding up the Senate moving forward. The House moved forward, and they moved forward quickly —

Q But how would that —

MR. McCLELLAN: [repeats complaint about Senate Democrats]

Q But how would passing the President’s energy bill in May of 2001, have changed OPEC’s mind in March of 2004?

MR. McCLELLAN: It would of — what it would have done, it would have helped reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy; it would have increased domestic exploration and production; it would have expanded conservation; it would have increased energy efficiency. We need to take all those steps. That’s why I said, we need a comprehensive plan. It would have also provided us a modern electric grid, as well, to address the electricity crisis that we faced last year.

Q You said earlier that market conditions set the price. Does that still hold? And is OPEC abiding by market conditions?

MR. McCLELLAN: That’s very much our view, and that’s very much what we continue to emphasize to our friends in OPEC, as well as other non-OPEC producers.

Q Scott, just to follow up on what Terry was saying. Given the fact that these discussions, quiet diplomacies, as it’s been called, is not working, and it’s different from — you trying to approach this in a different way than, for example, you said the Clinton administration approached it, what else can you do? I mean, is it your message that’s not getting across? Is it the tactics that aren’t working? Why do think —

MR. McCLELLAN: [repeats complaint about Senate Democrats]

Q I‘m talking about the way you’re dealing with OPEC.

MR. McCLELLAN: [repeats complaints about Senate Democrats, adds in Bush/Dick campaign karaoke] If some had their way, the gas prices would be much higher right now.

Q How about my question about OPEC?

MR. McCLELLAN: I’m sorry?

Q How about my question about OPEC?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we remain in close discussion with our friends in OPEC and others around the world, and we will continue to stay in close contact with them. We have been in contact with some of our friends in OPEC as recently as today.

Q From the White House perspective, why haven’t — I mean, in assessing the situation, why haven’t your discussions been productive?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we are going to continue to [repeats earlier soundbite]

Q … But over the short-term, how much control does any White House, does any administration have over the price of gasoline?

MR. McCLELLAN: [repeats complaint about Senate Democrats]

Q Do you mean because the supply —

MR. McCLELLAN: [repeats complaint about Senate Democrats]

Q … but as you’ve acknowledged, the prices are set by the market, and unless you were able to overwhelm the supply reduction by OPEC, it wouldn’t have any impact on the price of gasoline.

MR. McCLELLAN: You’re right, we need adequate and affordable supplies of energy, and that’s why we need to act at home to reduce our dependency.

Q But over the short-term, I’m asking you how much control does any administration have over the price of gasoline?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, there are steps we can take to address this issue. I just mentioned several of them —

Q Two or three years down the road.

MR. McCLELLAN: [repeats complaint about Senate Democrats, Bush/Dick campaign karoke] And there are some that would advocate even higher gas taxes. The President will remain firmly opposed to that.

Q I think we’ve all gotten that message.

MR. McCLELLAN: The President makes his views known on a regular basis to leaders, and this administration remains actively engaged in discussions — over the last few days, today, we remain actively engaged in discussions with our friends in OPEC, as well as others.

Q Scott, our friends in OPEC don’t seem to be paying any attention. It seems as if the President has been unpersuasive with our friends in OPEC. Is it fair to conclude that —

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I disagree with your characterization.

Q Well, they’re jacking the price on us. Is it fair to conclude that he’s not — what he’s doing isn’t working?

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/03/20040331-4.html#1

Posted by: typhonus at April 2, 2004 01:42 AM

(sigh)

Arabs can jack around with oil production all they want, it has limits, and also it causes them economic hardship in the long run.
What it does do is open up higher cost wells, Canada, Venezuela, etc. They can more than meet demand, and it cuts oil sales from the Saudis, thus their National revenue, which hurts them. They depend on it.
It doesn’t hurt to pay a little more for oil, if you want to teach them a little lesson, and notgive them the market share back when they “feel” like opening the spigots again.
We can’t allow them to play games like that. If they do, just don’t buy from them. Period.
Plus, it helps us economically in the ethanol industry, making blended fuels cost effective.
Also, as Iraqi oil increases, they loose even more market share, and iraq oil isn’t part of the opec group.

Kerry is an idiot. Must something wrong with his head. Brain damage from his post Nam LSD days.

Posted by: Fat Guy at April 2, 2004 11:18 AM

Steve Schmidt blasted Kerry’s record of supporting gas tax hike and urged consumers to “check the prices at your neighborhood gas stations and add 50 cents.”
“That’s what John Kerry said he supported,” said Schmidt.

Also, tax revenue is way up with high prices, so why in the world would kerry want increased taxes on top of that?
What would be better, is that as oil prices climb, and that gas taxes be scaled back to compensate.
It’s not really the base oil price that kills us when it goes up, it’s the taxes colected at higher prices = more tax that kills us.

Posted by: Fat Guy at April 2, 2004 11:38 AM

Hah! A liberal Democrat doing something about high gas prices! This is a joke, right? Liberal Democrats like high gas prices - they consider it behavioral modification to get all of the rest of us into public transportation - unless of course it costs them more at the pump tp fill up their SUVs.

Posted by: kh at April 2, 2004 01:14 PM

Gas Taxes at various levels exceed 50 cents of each gallon.

Posted by: leaddog2 at April 2, 2004 07:27 PM

I believe the Saudis are keeping up the price of oil to defeat Bush in the election.

Posted by: Walter at April 4, 2004 01:15 PM

Once again the donks are going to take it in the ass. ANWR would have made up for the Saudi shortfall. Do the Math. ANWR is not producing now because the Demonrats won’t support drilling there. the Bushies neeed to make sure the connection is firmlt established in the voters minds between the Demonrats senseless protection of 50 or so funny looking critters and the price at the pumps. Maybe the voters can arrange for the extinction of two species with one vote. The 21st century version of 2 birds with one stone.
Bwhaaaa!

Posted by: ableiter at April 4, 2004 11:25 PM

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/06/politics/06CHEN.html

I’m not sayin anything else

Posted by: mythmongr at April 6, 2004 12:17 PM

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/06/politics/06CHEN.html

I’m not sayin anything else

Posted by: mythmongr at April 6, 2004 12:17 PM

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/06/politics/06CHEN.html

I’m not sayin anything else

Posted by: mythmongr at April 6, 2004 12:17 PM