The whole scenario smells like an agreement between Obama and the Saudis. If so, he’s not so dumb. He achieves:
1) an indirect attack against the frackers, many of whom will go out of business;
2) damaging Russia;
3) damaging Iran;
4) lowering prices at the pump, good for his image;
5) making alternatives look better, even though they largely defy the second law of thermodynamics.
You believe that Obama convinced the Saudi’s to not cut production and lower their revenues, for his image?
And how does lower gasoline prices make alternatives look better?