Posted on 04/22/2006 10:06:52 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
US President George W. Bush has warned rising oil prices will mean a "tough summer" for US consumers as the high cost of gasoline (petrol) showed signs of becoming a big political issue.
But even as more Americans expressed discontent over the price of filling up their gas tanks, Bush suggested there was little his government could do in the short term about the problem.
"We're going to have a tough summer because people are beginning to drive now during tight supply," Bush said as he toured a California facility developing hydrogen-powered vehicles.
"The American people have got to understand what happens elsewhere in the world affects the price of gasoline you pay here."
Bush spoke after a week of unremitting rises in prices in global crude oil markets and at gasoline (petrol) pumps across the country. Crude topped a record 75 dollars per barrel in New York trading Friday, five dollars up from a week earlier.
At the same time, US retail pump prices were topping an average three dollars a gallon (3.8 liters) in many places in the country, up 60 cents -- 33 percent -- from a year ago.
The sharp rises on the eve of the US summer, during which millions of people fly or drive on holiday, showed signs of becoming a major political issue for the struggling Bush administration ahead of November mid-term elections.
But even as the president stressed Saturday that the government was making efforts to protect consumers from price-gouging, he said there was little he could do in the short term to alleviate the impact of higher oil prices.
"We've got a real problem when it comes to oil. We're addicted, and it's harmful for the economy, and it's harmful for our national security," he said.
"I understand the folks here, as well as other places in the country, are paying high gas prices.
"The American people have got to understand what happens elsewhere in the world affects the price of gasoline you pay here," he said, referring to skyrocketing oil demand in the booming economies of India and China.
Bush also blamed the higher prices on a shortage of refinery capacity in the United States, and also on an ongoing shift in fuel additives and mixes that has caused supply hiccups in certain areas.
"When that price of gasoline goes up, it hurts working people. It hurts our small businesses. And it's a serious problem we've got to do something about. The federal government has a responsibility, by the way, to make sure ... there is no price gouging," he added.
The political importance of gasoline prices before the summer break was clear as both opposition Democrat and Republican lawmakers spent the week taking the administration to task over the issue and asking if oil companies were exploiting the situation.
Senator Bill Nelson called Friday for "more dramatic steps" to lessen US dependence on foreign oil.
Dennis Hastert, the Republican head of the House of Representatives, and Senate Republican majority chief Bill Frist said they planned to write Bush a letter calling for an investigation into possibly price manipulation by oil companies.
While the oil companies deny any manipulation, public confidence was eroded at the recent report that exiting Exxon Mobil executive Lee Raymond was getting a 400 million dollar retirement package.
"I understand the folks here, as well as other places in the country, are paying high gas prices.
"The American people have got to understand what happens elsewhere in the world affects the price of gasoline you pay here," he said, referring to skyrocketing oil demand in the booming economies of India and China.
Bush also blamed the higher prices on a shortage of refinery capacity in the United States, and also on an ongoing shift in fuel additives and mixes that has caused supply hiccups in certain areas.
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No mention of all the NIMBYism in states with wealths of oil and energy reserves and those who stand in the way of developing those resources.
What a loser.
The fecklessness of the Bush administration, in not calling a spade a spade (the enviorwackos and Dems hamstringing our energy usage) on the energy issue is just disgusting.
It's hard to respect a President who pushes the blame on others, but won't accept responsibility for his own policy actions such as a weak dollar policy and its effeect on commodity prices.
Bush does not have the fire in his belly to fight and call the Dems/liberals to the carpet. This is why his poll numbers are low and the media attacks him nonstop. Conservatives are totally discouraged at Bush's inability to seize the issues and use the WH bully pulpit to fight for real change.
US President George W. Bush has warned rising oil prices will mean a "tough summer" for US consumers as the high cost of gasoline (petrol) showed signs of becoming a big political issue.
I'm sure MNJohnnie will be here shortly and call you a DNC troll for attacking his beloved President.
I want government to pave my roads, not subsidize my gasoline.
Nor tax it.
Nah, we don't need to drill in ANWAR.
A bigger supply will just mean that the price will go down and we can't have that...
Yeah, and no damned indication that he knows he has at least some influence through all of this in at least some ways.
I gotta tell ya, other than for the USSC nominations, and the Miers one was nearly another Souter disaster, or the WOT, I see very little difference between Bush Jr. and Sr. Both seemed to trust and defer to the Dims a little bit too much for my liking.
Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. I wonder whether he still has his nads. I hope they're waiting for him in a silk lined box so that when he finishes out his term he can put them back on.
He acts like an Irishman at an underground Black Panther meeting.
Bull Crap!
Get rid of or standardize all the various designer fuels used all over the country. Lighten up on evirowhacko regs that thwart new refining capacity and ifrastructure
This could be done by fiat.
More domestic exploration might be a little tougher.
Yeah, like his brother.
"Republicans get a clue"
You'd think with this reshuffling of the White House they'd get somebody with a clue.......... or buy one.
lol! I think your instincts are right, but, Read-my-Lips at least never signed CFR or Medicare Part D. I didn't think a Republican could be worse than GHWB, but this one is.
One thing's for sure, the WOT will almost exclusively be his legacy. Even with that, his own administration could be doing far better with the media on it. Instead, they just sit there with their thumbs up their arses and do little.
Just wait until July and there is a usual mass of clouds 15 or so miles off the west coast of Africa heading West; $$$$$$up.
It's "malaise" all over again...
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