Due to disengagement from the Middle East once he is gone, or do you think our President is involved in a conspiracy to keep oil prices high? ;-)
I think oil prices are how W measures the strength of the economy. I think he takes care of his political friends, and his enemies are more than willing to help drive down the dollar and drive up the prices of commodities.
I remember how oil prices used to be partly blamed on hurricanes in the Gulf. No hurricanes the last two years and prices still went up.