More ideas from Bush

[Aristophanes]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Calling the oil issue a matter of national security, President Bush outlined a plan Tuesday to cut gasoline costs and temporarily stopped deposits to the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Bush is delaying this summer's deposits to the reserve -- an emergency stockpile of government-owned crude oil -- as he faces political pressure from campaigning members of Congress and anger from consumers about high gas prices.

Bush on energy prices

What the ****? I can't take this guy seriously. Americans use more than twice as much energy per capita as Europeans. [Economist] I wonder, maybe the sensible thing MIGHT be to consider CONSERVATION rather than a pseudo-solution to momentarily dodge the bullet. This is Bushite populism at its worst, other notable examples being 'No Child Left Behind' and his expansion of Medicaid and Senior's Drug Plan.

Actually, Canadians are pretty bad about this too.

I'm glad the price of oil keeps going up. Hell, it might force some people to reconsider their wasteful and exorbitant lifestyles.

[IamthePope]

What the ****? I can't take this guy seriously. Americans use more than twice as much energy per capita as Europeans. [Economist] I wonder, maybe the sensible thing MIGHT be to consider CONSERVATION rather than a pseudo-solution to momentarily dodge the bullet

You should take him seriously, he's an awesome guy with awesome amounts of power.

While its true that American use more than twice the energy per capita as europeans, the American landscape necessitates this seemingly exhorbadant expenditure of fossil fuels. American can no more give up their SUV's in masse than the europeans could build a parking lot in front of every shop. What's required from america in the long term is certainly cultural change, but trying to legislate cultural and physical change on the american landscape constitutes political suicide for a politician if the wil is not there to begin with.

Dubya's a smart guy and he knows this. So hes attempting to mitigate the current effects of the rise of gasoline on the consumers and develop long term energy technology that will eventually allow for renewable sources of fuel at cheaper prices.

[internationalist]

You should take him seriously, he's an awesome guy with awesome amounts of power.

While its true that American use more than twice the energy per capita as europeans, the American landscape necessitates this seemingly exhorbadant expenditure of fossil fuels. American can no more give up their SUV's in masse than the europeans could build a parking lot in front of every shop. What's required from america in the long term is certainly cultural change, but trying to legislate cultural and physical change on the american landscape constitutes political suicide for a politician if the wil is not there to begin with.

Dubya's a smart guy and he knows this. So hes attempting to mitigate the current effects of the rise of gasoline on the consumers and develop long term energy technology that will eventually allow for renewable sources of fuel at cheaper prices.

No. The destruction of mass-transit systems in many parts of the U.S. by car companies, a la what happened to San Francisco's public transit system, which was bought out, necesitates using massive amounts of fossil fuels. Also, SUV's are completely impractical for probably 90% of the people who buy them, waste gas, pollute, and do not good. They are worthless vehicles and stem from the cosntant American myth that our resources will never run out.

[Sétanta]

No. The destruction of mass-transit systems in many parts of the U.S. by car companies, a la what happened to San Francisco's public transit system, which was bought out, necesitates using massive amounts of fossil fuels. Also, SUV's are completely impractical for probably 90% of the people who buy them, waste gas, pollute, and do not good. They are worthless vehicles and stem from the cosntant American myth that our resources will never run out.

and that is Bush's fault too? Jeez what'll you people come up with next.

Now its that the San Francisco public transportation system problems are caused by him, next time it'll be the weather too...oh wait, you already did blame that on him

[internationalist]

and that is Bush's fault too? Jeez what'll you people come up with next.

Now its that the San Francisco public transportation system problems are caused by him, next time it'll be the weather too...oh wait, you already did blame that on him

Ooh wow a little defensive! No, I was not blaming that on Bush-I'm hardly a crazy liberal who blames everything on the opposition. However, Bush could do well to improve the current transportation system in the U.S. by funding mass transit options for cities, providing tax incentives (real tax incentives) for hybrid cars, and setting stern regulations on the amount of gas mileage that cars can have.

[Red Harvest]

You should take him seriously, he's an awesome guy

Only if one is in complete agreement with him.

with awesome amounts of power.

Some of it is even constitutional... Power is not much of a measure of a leader--many despots have had a lot of power.

While its true that American use more than twice the energy per capita as europeans, the American landscape necessitates this seemingly exhorbadant expenditure of fossil fuels.

No, it does not. It is mostly an example of wasteful excess and short term thinking. I am one of many Americans who find it irresponsible.

American can no more give up their SUV's in masse

We can, and we will. It takes time, leadership and planning to move the herd. Hopefully we've got some time to work with, because the other two aren't going to reappear until at least 2008/2009.

What's required from america in the long term is certainly cultural change, but trying to legislate cultural and physical change on the american landscape constitutes political suicide for a politician if the wil is not there to begin with.

The difference is good leadership versus simple politics. We heard the same about the budget deficit, but Ross changed the mindset (He might be a kook, but he was a useful one.)

Dubya's a smart guy and he knows this.

He believes he's a smart guy, "the decider." However, smart guys can at least add and subtract...

So hes attempting to mitigate the current effects of the rise of gasoline on the consumers and develop long term energy technology that will eventually allow for renewable sources of fuel at cheaper prices.

Nah, he's scrambling in reactive mode to the disaster his own policies have wrought. What has been suggested so far is nothing more than spitting against the wind. Much too little much too late. He's paying lip service to things out of political necessity.

I remember all too well when Dubya was talking about the original Cheney/Exxon energy policy and said "Conservation is not the answer." No smart man would have made such a ludicrous statement, but Dubya did.

[Sétanta]

And you call him biased?

[Last Roman]

For once, I don't blame Bush entirely for this. It is the oil companies who are artificially inflating prices. Bush has ordered an investigation by the FTC (federal trade commission) but that probably wont do much (and I'm sure he knows this).

[Aristophanes]

For once, I don't blame Bush entirely for this. It is the oil companies who are artificially inflating prices. Bush has ordered an investigation by the FTC (federal trade commission) but that probably wont do much (and I'm sure he knows this).

The price isn't being ARTIFICIALLY inflated. This is supply and demand.[scarcity pushes up prices] OIL IS RUNNING OUT, and it's going to cost us more and more as time goes by. Yes, the amounts they are charging more than cover production costs, but the alternative to this, which is artifically suppressing price only means that it will take longer for the necessary changes to be made to wasteful societies. Please, let's encourage thrift here people.

Cobra can call me sanctimonious, but I can only imagine he had some hand in electing mayors, city councillors, congressmen, senators, state reps, governors, presidents, etc... who have perpetuated this wasteful culture. You share some of the responsibility for the current state of affairs: road conditions and transit systems which discourage biking or mass transit; regulations and zoning rules which discourage density and needlessly encourage sprawl; and federal regulations and money which have encouraged this enormous concreted and ashphalted tangle.

Whatever. You reap what you sow. I'm just sorry that I have to be reaping the mistakes of others.

[Last Roman]

The price isn't being ARTIFICIALLY inflated. This is supply and demand.

nope. OPEC has continually said that the prices should not be this high. that leaves....the oil companies.

[Aristophanes]

nope. OPEC has continually said that the prices should not be this high. that leaves....the oil companies.

Considering OPEC's history in this matter, I hardly find their testimony to be credible.

BTW: demand is increasing daily in India, China, and the United States. With supply constant, and in some cases decreasing, it is unsurprising that prices have risen as they have. It is likely that market speculation is also responsible in part, and I believe that there will be some drop, in the fairly near future, in present oil prices and futures. Inevitably, the trend can only continue in one direction...UP

[Last Roman]

Considering OPEC's history in this matter, I hardly find their testimony to be credible.

fair enough, but the oil companies are hardly any more trust worthy

[Last Roman]

Considering OPEC's history in this matter, I hardly find their testimony to be credible.

fair enough,but teh oil companies are hardly any more trustworthy

[danzig]

nope. OPEC has continually said that the prices should not be this high. that leaves....the oil companies.

Yeah and we all know how credible OPEC nations are....come on OPEC and Oil company execs its like picking which to believe the con artist or the pick pocket.

[Cobra]

I'm glad the price of oil keeps going up. Hell, it might force some people to reconsider their wasteful and exorbitant lifestyles.

Oh cut the sanctimonious bull. Maybe you can try and make your voice heard to urge the government to shift it's policies and urge it to support alternative, but what can I do?
I'm a middle class guy, and I don't have the money to buy the newest most efficient hybrids as they come out, I don't have a farm to grow ethenol in. If I, and people like me, while although nothing close to rich, are basically powerless to shift, how can the poor and working class?
There is no manner or fashion in which I can ride a bicycle unless i both have a deathwish and want to be an *******. Etc.

[IamthePope]

I agree that Dubya probably doesnt expect the investigation to do anything and it's purely for political reasons. However, I dont think the oil companies are "artificially inflating prices". Why would they risk the potential liability especially when they know the public will suspect price manipulation when they could make a killing anyway.

[Last Roman]

However, I dont think the oil companies are "artificially inflating prices". Why would they risk the potential liability especially when they know the public will suspect price manipulation when they could make a killing anyway.

because they know they can get away with it. It's all about the profits

as for a source I dont have one, but my mass communications professor (who is a conservative btw) has presented some stuff to us.

[David Deas]

I agree that Dubya probably doesnt expect the investigation to do anything and it's purely for political reasons. However, I dont think the oil companies are "artificially inflating prices". Why would they risk the potential liability especially when they know the public will suspect price manipulation when they could make a killing anyway.

The entire world is *already* convinced that the oil companies are gouging. Its too late to avoid any of that speculation.

[Farnan]

Keep your comments on topic. Complaints about modding actions should be dealt with through the proper channels. For your information the modding done here was by Honor&Glory, though I support it.

[Richard the Lionheart]

I have changed the title of the thread to something more appropriate. :wink: