Posted on 05/19/2004 10:05:41 AM PDT by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - Draining the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in the hopes of bringing down oil and gas prices "would put America in a dangerous position in the war on terror" -- and that's why President Bush won't do it, he said on Wednesday.
"We will not play politics with the Strategic Petroleum Reserve," the president told reporters at the White House. "That petroleum reserve is in place in case of major disruptions of energy supplies in the United States."
President Bush said the American people "face a determined enemy," and he said that draining the petroleum reserve would put the U.S. "in a worse position" in the war.
Asked what short-term steps he can take to alleviate the high energy costs, President Bush said things could be different -- if Congress had given him what he wanted:
"If people had acted on my energy bill when I submitted it three years ago, we would be in a much better situation today," President Bush said. He said he anticipated an oil price spike three years ago, when he sent Congress a plan that would make the United States less dependent on foreign oil. But Congress did nothing, he said -- and now some lawmakers "want to have it both ways."
"On the one hand, they decry the price at the pump," Bush said; "and on the other hand, they won't do anything about it...Congress needs to pass the energy plan."
President Bush said if Congress hadn't vetoed his plan to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, it might have had a "positive impact for today's consumers."
Contrary to what Democrats are saying, President Bush said he is concerned about high gasoline prices -- "I fully understand how that affects American consumers and how it crimps the budgets of moms and dads who are trying to provide for their families -- how it affects the truck driver -- how it affects the small business owner."
Democrats, including Sen. John F. Kerry, have made record-high gasoline prices a campaign issue this week, blaming President Bush's policies for high prices at the pump.
Some Democrats want the Bush administration to tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to boost the domestic supply of oil. Sen. Kerry has suggested that the U.S. stop filling the reserve at current high prices.
Clinton tried this during one of the 'energy crises' during his administration, releasing somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 million barrels. A drop in the bucket and to no effect.
This is just the normal liberal 'feel good' cry. And another attempt to garner ammo to sling at GW.
The price at the pump in the U. S. is still about half of what it has been worldwide since 1972. Don't like it? Sell your 'family's SUV'.
The correct decision has been made. This spike in pump prices is not an emergency.
Bush should have his minions compute what would be saved by people just combining two local driving errands into one, and suggest that is a better way to address short term fuel price fluctuations than tapping into our EMERGENCY RESERVES!
-saw him live with his comments, he spoke clearly and with leadership.
How 'bout some of these do-gooder dim senators and congressmen suggest that they lower the friggin' federal taxes on gas??? umm? Nooooooooo, they won't do that. That would have an immediate effect at the pump and they could look good at the same time......
FYI under the "pigs fly" category, the NY Times had an editorial today FULLY supporting Bush's position, and saying that Kerry's comments "cheapened" his campaign..
The funny thing is that it is the media and leftist politicians complaining. I remember when I paid $1 for a gallon on gas, back in 1986! Almost 20 years ago. Assuming a 3% inflation is gas, I would expect to be paying $2 buck per gallon. As a percentage of income, Americans pay less today for gas than we did 20 years ago.
I am keeping my SUV and my economy car. I plan my driving to drive based on MPG/per occupant. The congress should do some planning a start drilling for oil!
Wasn't one of the points in Al Gore's book that he wanted to see gas prices of $3 per gallon or more??? None of the 'rats were against that idea then were they???
We have 2 cars: one gets about 20 mpg and the other gets 35 mpg in the city...I do more driving to work, so I own the smaller, economical car with the 35 mpg...Plus, walking once in awhile or waiting to drive somewhere until you have another reason to do so helps as well...
And a whole lot more(bandwidth constraints) I won't get into.
FMCDH
Reduce the federal tax and put it to a vote. Make the RATS and Kerry vote on it.
If he votes with the reduction of the tax then he can be hammered about his comments. If he votes against it he isn't for Americans lowering the gas price.
Probably the best thing to do would be to get the local & federal gov'ts to reduce or suspend the fuel taxes temporaily. I keep hoping GWB has a ace up is sleeve to b***h slap OPEC with. With todays technology, drilling ANWR would have been the way to go, oil companies have the ability to minimize environmental impact. Drilling ANWR would have driven the prices down. Also, forming alliances with Mexico and other SA oil producing countries like Argentina would help squeeze OPEC.
The dims are such hypocrits. Wasn't it just four years ago that Algore was hoping that gas prices would go up!
Um...
A gas shortage, on the other hand, causing the infamous "even and odd" days...that would be more of a problem...perhaps even an "emergency".
For the record, who was the President at that time? Mr. Neville Chamberlain "pass the malaise" Carter...
Oh, dear, I see your malice has gone to your head causing irreversible brain damage.
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