Oil at $116.69 barrel, gas at $5 gallon?

Even more reason for the three-month suspension of the federal gas tax that McCain proposed. Not as funny and mockworthy when it might actually help you and your daughter, Silva, eh? Or did you never agree with Frank James that the idea was worthy of mocking and derision in the first place?

That's a great story, Mark.

Average Americans, like your daughter, are suffering the consequences of Bush's so-called "booming economy", the very same booming economy that renowned "economic expert" John W McCain thinks is going great and the one he want's to stay the course with.

Since she still hasn't figured out that the president doesn't control the price of gas you may want to reconsider those college expenses.

Mark Silva WOULD raise a daughter to believe that a president, any president, can wave a magic wand and cut gas prices.

In fact the one thing the government can do, short term, to cut gas prices is to do what Senator McCain advises: cut or eliminate the federal gas tax.

Maybe we'll need a little more than the dog and pony show McBush offered for relief on the gas prices.

"EXXON/MOBILE, UNICAL, TEXACO, EL PASO GAS SPEAKS"

THINK IMMUNTY
THINK HANNITY
THINK RUSH LIMBAUGH
THINK OPERATION CHAOS
THINK CROSSOVER
THINK REPUBLICAN
THINK "NATURAL BORN"
THINK "FOX NEWS"
THINK "FOX PUNDITS"
THINK "RNC TALKING POINTS
THINK FILLIBUSTER
THINK VETO
THINK "DISTRACTIONS"
THINK "JOHN MCCAIN"
THINK "FOREIGN EQUITY"
THINK "NO AMERICAN TAXES
THINK "405,000 ONLY
THINK"NO EARMARKS"
THINK "DEFENSE" ONLY
THINK "DEFENSE" ONLY
THINK HALLIBURTON
THINK KBR
THINK BLACKWATER
THINK "BORDER FENCE"
THINK "IMMINENT DOMAIN"

JUST DON'T THINK ABOUT GOING ANYWHERE, BECAUSE IF GEORGE BUSH, AT&T VERIZON WIRELESS, MICHAEL CHERTOFF, DICK CHENEY,
CONDI RICE, DAVID ADDINGTON, FRED FIELDING
DON'T GET THEIR WAY, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO "LOBBY" WITH MORE THAN 20,000 ON THIS FLIGHT OR THAT FLIGHT
FOR MORE "PAIN" AT THE PUMP.
FOR MORE "PAIN" AT THE GROCERY TABLE
FOR MORE "PAIN" FOR YOUR SOLDIER FIGHTING IN IRAQ
FOR MORE "STOP-LOSS"
FOR MORE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

ALL IN THE NAME OF "GREED" FOX NEWS
RATINGS, HALLIBURTON, KBR, BLACKWATER, AND "MARSHALL LAW IMMIGRATION" FOR PRIVATE SOCIAL SECURITY EQUITY ACCOUNTS!

Even more reason for the three-month suspension of the federal gas tax that McCain proposed. Not as funny and mockworthy when it might actually help you and your daughter, Silva, eh? Or did you never agree with Frank James that the idea was worthy of mocking and derision in the first place?

Posted by: Jeff | April 18, 2008 4:03 PM

When's McCain going to introduce the legislation Jeff? He is still a Senator after all, isn't he? He can go to the Senate and spoend his time pushing this through for the American people if he really believes in it.

Yeah great idea Jeff McCain!
We can remove the 20 odd cents the feds collect from gas, lower the price from $3.60 to $3.40 and party in the streets! Oh and where we supposed to spend those tax receipts? Oh who cares, just throw it in the deficit, its so frickin big nobody will notice another few billion, not while they're running to Wal-Mart to spend the 20 cents a gallon they saved!

Great idea, almost as smart as tapping the strategic reserve. Any Americans wishing we had politicians who could deal with the root of the problem, namely supply and demand and our addiction to that sweet, sexy crude? Anyone want to guess on quartely profits this time around for Exxon? Anyone think Iran is rolling in laughter as they collect $116 a barrel from the very Americans they hate?

Great idea Jeff. And I just have to ask, what do you do all day that you can almost always be the first republican to post on every topic here at th Swamp?
Its almost uncanny...

Our president, vice president and secretary of state are all oil executives - what did you expect?

Without having a promise from Harry Reid that he'll allow it to have a floor vote and a no-veto promise from Bush there's no reason for McCain to even introduce it. Plus the House could demand changes to allow people who don't work to get free gas or something like they did with the stimulus package. I am, sure, however that McCain is working on something. If there's a path to passage he'll find it.

In fact the one thing the government can do, short term, to cut gas prices is to do what Senator McCain advises: cut or eliminate the federal gas tax.

Posted by: Bruce | April 18, 2008 4:49 PM

Yeah, that's the ticket, Brucie, let's do what a guy (McCain) who knows absolutely NOTHING about the economy says and then watch our crumbling infastracture crumble even more...

I would pay good money to watch a game of Jeopardy betwen Bush Jr and McCain, the score at the start and at the end of the game would be the same as their collective IQ, ZERO!

Without having a promise from Harry Reid that he'll allow it to have a floor vote and a no-veto promise from Bush there's no reason for McCain to even introduce it. Plus the House could demand changes to allow people who don't work to get free gas or something like they did with the stimulus package. I am, sure, however that McCain is working on something. If there's a path to passage he'll find it.

Posted by: Jeff | April 18, 2008 5:50 PM

So in other words, it's a bit of meaningless rhetoric that he has absolutely no intention of following through on. Got it.

Erick, it's for three months man, it's not permanent. The roads will survive three months without hammering the american taxpayer for 20 cents a gallon at every fill-up. And no one ever said it's a permanent solution. It's to help the economy in what's shaping up to be a difficult summer. McCain has argued for a long-time that we need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. No one's been listening to him for a long time. The not so easy answer we're looking for involves less driving, more sensible public transit like light rail service and more alternative cars like hybrids. Unfortunately the government can't force Detroit to do its part. We as consumers have to stop buying the SUVs and demanding better clean fuel technology.
Better manufacturing technology that uses less plastics and other petrochemical process would help, too.

If there's a path to passage he'll find it.

Posted by: Jeff | April 18, 2008 5:50 PM

Did McCain tell you that himself or is that just another talking point that you wrote out for him today?

A temporary suspension of the gas tax
as suggested by McCain is a political decision, much like the $600.00 tax rebates. It feels good momentarily, but it won't be appreciated when the road and highway repairs that are funded by the tax aren't completed and one has to drive across pot-holed roads next summer.
Until the dollars decline is abated, there isn't much that can be done about the high price of gasoline.

The President can't control the price of gas, but he sure can help control the value of the US dollar.

The bankrupt fiscal policy of the current administration has caused the value of the US dollar to drop in relation to foreign currencies.

Because the price of oil is quoted in US dollars, it therefore takes more (weak) dollars to buy a barrel of oil.

Anyone who has taken a vacation in Europe lately can vouch for the effect of a weak dollar on the price paid for their overseas purchases.

We'll all be doing a lot more walking, Mr. Silva, gas tax vacation or no. One problem I have with Senator McCain's suggestion is that will serve to increase consumption. Not much, I'm sure, but that will be one result. I'd sooner see Tom Friedman's plan of a 50 cent per gallon tax. That'll help us pay the bill for Iraq, and may even pay down the debt a bit. The federal government is spending money like a drunken sailor. It can't go on forever. We've tried the "tax cut to stimulate the economy" approach and it just didn't work. We're $9 trillion in the hole. Reminds me of the old bit with Rocky and Bullwinkle - "Watch this tax cut stimulate the economy!" "But that trick never works!" "This time for sure!"

To paraphrase Ev Dirksen;
'$100 oil here, $100 oil there, pretty soon you're talkin' real money for oil.'

I can see MArk's daughter gets her uunderstanding of how the economic world works.

Mr. Silva as you can see, you daughter thinks like John E. - better get her help soon.

John E - speaking of the President's IQ - I believe it was higher than the two previous democratic presidential canidates.

John E - speaking of the President's IQ - I believe it was higher than the two previous democratic presidential canidates.

Posted by: Terry | April 18, 2008 8:59 PM

TrickleDown Terri,

Are there really people out there, other than the Bushie Republicans, who consider a nut like you a "financial expert"?

Just think Terri, if you would have succeeded in life you could have been one of the geniuses behind that Bear Stearns operation.

It is a myth that the President can't do nothing about the price of oil. Where do you people live? On Ozz? No wonder why you people deserve to pay high gas price.

Any simple minded person know that if you stop the war, the cost of the oil and gas will drop like a rock. Release a little bit of the oil reserve like our Fed release money to our banks, and it will stabilize. But nobody wants you to know that. They just want you to feel helpless like "oh, the President, can't do nothing!" Bolony!! This is not Egypt, 3,000 BC. Release the grain from the temple to feed the slaves, please!

I believe McBushs' gas plan is nothing more than a placebo aimed at votes. We already "don't" have the money for infrastructure repair due to his war, so where is the money going to come from. Don't kid yourselves...3 mths is a lot of money that won't go into these projects. Why is McBush quick to say speculators in the housing crisis are a problem yet doesn't mention speculators in the oil markets? Who is he for? Big business?

I believe McBushs' vacation on gas tax is nothing more than a placebo for votes. With the money going to the Iraq war which he says he will continue for as long as it takes, there is no money for our own infrastructure. 3 months of tax is a lot of money for infrastructure and jobs that we can't afford to give away just to make people feel good for 3 months. How about we just not have to pay income tax for 3 months and see how that would fly with the powers to be.

The Lefty Loons are running rampant here.
As noted by those with a clue, the president does not control the price of goods.
Second, oil companies make about 10 cents profit from every gallon of gas sold. That is LESS than what the federal government makes on a gallon of gas. That is LESS than what the state of Illinois makes on every gallon of gas. That is LESS than what Crooked County makes on every gallon of gas. That is LESS than what the city of Chicago makes on every gallon of gas.
If all those taxes vanished, gas prices in the Chicago area would fall about 70 to 75 cents a gallon.

We had this discussion about a year ago on this blog -- maybe you can dredge it up for posterity. Many of us said cynically that gas would be going up to $4 per gallon, and of course the conservatives here belittled that, talking about the "cycles" of oil and gas, as they talk about the "cycles" of the economy (except when it's a democrat -- then the cycles are suspended and we have "malaise"). So now we're inbetween $3-4, and going towards $5. I think it's time for more tax breaks for the oil barons and the jillionaires -- that'll solve everything.

"Our president, vice president and secretary of state are all oil executives - what did you expect?"

Mission accomplished.