About those gas prices ...
Who gets political credit for the extraordinary drop in gasoline prices?
No one ought to, of course. Politicians don't control the global oil market.
But back during the recent campaigns, when gas prices soared to record highs, there was no doubt who was catching the blame: incumbent Republicans.
In her run against GOP Sen. Elizabeth Dole, for example, Democrat Kay Hagan made gas prices a big issue. Remember her many visits to gas stations where she shared the pain with unhappy consumers?
Here's a press release her campain put out on July 10. It noted: "A gallon of gas is currently $4.11 per gallon nationwide. When Elizabeth Dole took office in 2003, the average price of gas was $1.52 per gallon."
Well, today the average price of gas is $1.71, according to AAA. And it's still heading down.
By the time Hagan replaces Dole in the Senate four weeks from now, the average price might be right around where it was when Dole took office six years ago. I haven't heard anyone thanking her for bringing them back down the way she was linked to their rise.
Any bets on where the price will go during Hagan's six-year term? Yeah, I'd say nowhere but up. So, in 2014 some challenger is likely to pin it on her when motorists are paying $5, $6 or even more for a gallon of gas.
Maybe that won't be such a huge concern by then if the country makes a lot of progress in developing alternative fuel sources. But there's no way we'll have completely kicked our oil addiction by then, so prices probably will carry some political implications.
There were good reasons why Hagan should have been elected to replace Dole in the Senate. Dole didn't live up to voters' expectations during her one and only term. But it wasn't her fault that gas prices spiked in the summer of 2008. U.S. senators don't have anything to do with the price of oil, as I'm sure Sen. Hagan will argue in 2014.
Comments (5)
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Gas prices are low now, because the Puppettmasters who pull the strings want them low, (most likely because in this economy, if gas was still $4+, the lid would blow and you'd have armed people in the streets and not just doing convienience stores ). It's manipulation, just like the high prices were.
Anybody who thinks otherwise is a fool.
Posted on December 8, 2008 11:05 AM
The manipulators ought to go after medical costs next.
Posted on December 8, 2008 11:09 AM
The rest of the world figured out that if Americans are spending all their money on gas, they aren't going to any money to buy ANYbody's products, so the whole world's econ, except for the oil countries will go down the crapper, ultimately even affecting oil sales.
Posted on December 8, 2008 11:16 AM
The manipulators already do set the prices in the medical field. No question.
Not quite the same as oil. Oil sits in the ground. Medical science is a step-wise work in progress with each step up the ladder more costly, it seems.
Posted on December 8, 2008 11:35 AM
But it wasn't her fault that gas prices spiked in the summer of 2008. U.S. senators don't have anything to do with the price of oil, as I'm sure Sen. Hagan will argue in 2014.* Doug
No problem! Senator Hagan has agreed that the bailout is not her fault......it happen on Liddy term and she should pay for it.........since she voted for the massive budget increases under the Republican leadership.............
By the way Doug! Do you think that Senator Hagan is a conspiracy theorist believer since gas prices increase only on Dole Watch?
Posted on December 8, 2008 9:02 PM