Well, that machine that Bush and Rove have in the White House is a marvelous contraption. Spin a dial here and prices go up and down. Flip this lever and the economy tanks; flip it the other way and the economy hums.
Back in 2000, O'Bannon suspended Indiana's gas tax as a political gimmick. Gas was close to $2 a gallon, and people were screaming. He won the election, of course--and bankrupted the state even more that he already had.
I can see the NY TImes Headline in October:
"Oil Company Profits Plunge"
Business at worst in years.