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Getbig Main Boards => Politics and Political Issues Board => Topic started by: tu_holmes on May 03, 2012, 10:58:27 AM
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Gas prices continue to head south
A sign for a gas station in Wheat Ridge, CO. At $3.72, the price is 10 cents cheaper than the national average. (Source: Paul Swansen/Flickr)
(RNN) - Gas prices are continuing their slow descent downward this week. Tuesday marked the eighth consecutive day that the national average price of gas was lower than it was a year ago, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
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Some states don't get to celebrate
Unfortunately, even though the national average price of gas is falling, that doesn't mean the prices have fallen everywhere.
As of April 30, ten states had higher gas prices than they had the year before. The states most hard-hit include Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming.
Average prices recorded Wednesday on the AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report showed Alaska had the highest rate of difference, with prices 13 cents higher than they were last year. Arizona had a 9 cent per gallon rise while Oregon saw prices go up by 7 cents.
Hawaii recorded the highest average at $4.58 per gallon. The price is 1 cent more than the average a year ago.
The last time consumers saw that milestone was on Oct. 26, 2009.
"Since the start of the year, 2012 broke daily, weekly and monthly records for the highest price averages at the pump, but now the tables have turned and prices are below last year's level," Jessica Brady, a spokesperson for AAA said.
Before April 24, it had been more than 900 days since prices had been lower than the year before.
The week was also the fourth in a row to see a drop in prices. The price at the pump actually fell for 23 out of the 30 days in April, a notable reversal from February and March, when prices rose on all but four days.
The costs went from a national average of $3.46 on Feb. 1 to $3.93 on March 31.
According to AAA, lower fuel costs are most likely due to a lower demand for oil and the easing of tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
In the United States, more people appear to be opting to save money,according to the Commerce Department. The department's Bureau of Economic Analysis found that despite a .1 percent growth in personal income and a .2 percent rise in disposable income, spending only rose by .3 percent in March. In February, spending rose by .9 percent.
In addition, the recession in Spain has no doubt lowered the demand for crude oil in the country.
However, with the infamous summer driving months just around the corner, it's likely that drivers will see prices tick back up again. The official kick-off to the annual summer travel season, Memorial Day, is May 28.
"While there's always the possibility prices will climb back up, in the short term, gas prices are expected to decrease further as we enter May," Brady said. "If gas prices do continue to fall throughout the month of May, we could definitely see an increase in the number of Americans traveling for the Memorial Day holiday weekend."
Drivers aren't the only ones affected by staggering gas prices. On April 30, Delta Air Lines announced that it's buying a refinery in an effort to stymie its annual $300 million gas bill.
http://www.nbc12.com/story/18012849/gas-prices-continue-to-head-south
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Obama's fault
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I am seriously just glad it's cheaper... I think we can all agree that this is a good thing.
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Paid 4.13 this am in NYC.
Cheaper my fucking ass.
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It is cheaper... Sure, NY and CA are expensive, but fuck man... They have the worst gas taxes in the country.
Prices are on 8 straight days of being lower. - Fact.
Prices are lower today than 1 year ago. - Fact.
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333386 doesn't deal in facts :o
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It is cheaper... Sure, NY and CA are expensive, but fuck man... They have the worst gas taxes in the country.
Prices are on 8 straight days of being lower. - Fact.
Prices are lower today than 1 year ago. - Fact.
Prices are still almost double than since obama took office.
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Prices are still almost double than since obama took office.
That's not true at all.
In January 2, 2008, the average gas price was $3.05 per gallon.
Today it is $3.80.
So the difference is.... 19% actually.
That's a damn site different than 100%
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That's not true at all.
In January 2, 2008, the average gas price was $3.05 per gallon.
Today it is $3.80.
So the difference is.... 19% actually.
That's a damn site different than 100%
He took office in 2009 chief
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He took office in 2009 chief
You're right... so my point is, how is it OBAMA'S fault when gas prices were ridiculous fucking high the year before.
Yes, they dropped a lot over that year, but apparently the price of gas has nothing to do with who is in office???
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Paid 4.13 this am in NYC.
Cheaper my fucking ass.
I paid $3.62 in Florida yesterday.
prices are higher in NYC because local shopkeepers keep getting robbed. Seems the locals allow it.
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I paid $3.62 in Florida yesterday.
prices are higher in NYC because local shopkeepers keep getting robbed. Seems the locals allow it.
come on that's funny :D
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Still over $4.00. Obama is doing such a good job. I love the guy. Instead of an entire year of gas over $4.00 we get 8 months. FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS!
::)
Oh, and LOL at applauding gas at $3.85 or whatever the average is.
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3.83 is the current national avg for unleaded.
http://fuelgaugereport.aaa.com/?redirectto=http://fuelgaugereport.opisnet.com/index.asp
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3.83 is the current national avg for unleaded.
http://fuelgaugereport.aaa.com/?redirectto=http://fuelgaugereport.opisnet.com/index.asp
When it hit over $3 obama, reid, pelosi trashed bush remember?
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When it hit over $3 obama, reid, pelosi trashed bush remember?
Nah man, we should be ecstatic that it's $3.83. Like the Obama campaign slogan, "It could always be worse". ::)
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Gas IS going down.
Get over it.
We all know it's still too expensive ::)
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Prices are still almost double than since obama took office.
how many times have we been over this now
gas prices crashed as the global economy crashed
Less Demand = Lower Prices
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You're right... so my point is, how is it OBAMA'S fault when gas prices were ridiculous fucking high the year before. Yes, they dropped a lot over that year, but apparently the price of gas has nothing to do with who is in office???
this has been pointed out to 333 many times but since it's doesnt' fit his belief that Obama is responsible for everything that's bad he just ignores it
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Well....
Demand could be down because the ranks of the jobless grow, economic growth is non-existent and, well, you get the point.
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If gas is $3.50 they'll raise it to $4. Now every one is pissed. Then drop it down to $3.75. Now every one is happy again, yet they just increased 15 cents.
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I read an analysis yesterday by a "famous economic forecaster" that predicted oil would drop back down to $40 / barrel.
I don't think I believe him at all. :-\
I'm more inclined to believe an apocalyptic preacher who claims the elite are attempting to get it to upwards of $250 / barrel.
It's just too bad that gasoline is not one of those things you can buy on the dips and stock up for.
We had a guy in Oshawa who tried that in preparation for the millenium bug. The outcome was not pretty! :'(
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I read an analysis yesterday by a "famous economic forecaster" that predicted oil would drop back down to $40 / barrel.
I don't think I believe him at all. :-\
I'm more inclined to believe an apocalyptic preacher who claims the elite are attempting to get it to upwards of $250 / barrel.
It's just too bad that gasoline is not one of those things you can buy on the dips and stock up for.
We had a guy in Oshawa who tried that in preparation for the millenium bug. The outcome was not pretty! :'(
Take a couple of gas pills before you go to bed. ;)
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Well....
Demand could be down because the ranks of the jobless grow, economic growth is non-existent and, well, you get the point.
Or people just saying: screw it, i won't use as much gas as i normally do because its too expensive. So i won't go to the lake this weekend, or shopping, or visit my...etc.
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this has been pointed out to 333 many times but since it's doesnt' fit his belief that Obama is responsible for everything that's bad he just ignores it
tool is, tool does. :D
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tool is, tool does. :D
Lol. Just holding messiah to the same standard he held bush in 2008.
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how many times have we been over this now
gas prices crashed as the global economy crashed
Less Demand = Lower Prices
According to you the global economy has been in the shitter so what's with the high gas prices? Can't have anything to do with Obama strong-arming Bernankicide into QE'ing to infinity in an attempt to saving the housing market, thus shouldering us with a massive influx of funny money that caused inflation in oil (which is priced in dollars), can it?
Never mind, I doubt you have any idea whatsoever as to what I'm talking about. Carry on, drone.
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Lol. Just holding messiah to the same standard he held bush in 2008.
That would mean you are lowering yourself. ;)
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That would mean you are lowering yourself. ;)
I is what it is. Obama deserves to be held the very same standard he held everyone else in his quest to be be potus.
Same goes for the debt, for the wars, the economy, etc.
Sadly, Obama drones couldn't give a shit about his hypocrisy and their own double standards in judging his presidency the way they did bush.
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dropping gas prices the same week romney take the nomination. smells like a CT to me.
They know its gotta be $4 a gallon for 4 months of the year. So do it early, and once romney is seeking a bithcing point, remove it.
Notice obama also removed afghanistan COMPLETELY from the discussion this week.
Giving romney a smaller target, removing the points that he'd cry about, that the average voter would relate to. I mean, romney CAN scream about GDP, but joe lunchbox isn't following. But gas prices and that damn war...
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dropping gas prices the same week romney take the nomination. smells like a CT to me.
They know its gotta be $4 a gallon for 4 months of the year. So do it early, and once romney is seeking a bithcing point, remove it.
Notice obama also removed afghanistan COMPLETELY from the discussion this week.
Giving romney a smaller target, removing the points that he'd cry about, that the average voter would relate to. I mean, romney CAN scream about GDP, but joe lunchbox isn't following. But gas prices and that damn war...
Yeah, 10 more years of war ! WTF is wrong w you!
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I is what it is. Obama deserves to be held the very same standard he held everyone else in his quest to be be potus.
Same goes for the debt, for the wars, the economy, etc.
Sadly, Obama drones couldn't give a shit about his hypocrisy and their own double standards in judging his presidency the way they did bush.
No different than any other president campaigning, or politician for that matter, so your argument is kind of nothing.
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Yeah, 10 more years of war ! WTF is wrong w you!
how in the F can any republican bitch about it? Obama is fulfilling the neocon's dream - permanent presence in the region.
Oh, I know, "it's not about resources" and "there are not permanent bases!"- Obama quotes from 2 days ago.
But in another few years, president chelsea or one of the bushs' or whoever will extend it another 10 years, then another 10.
There's logically no reason to have us there, and all those bases, another 12 years from TODAY.
Unless you buy into the CTers. They said we'd have the bases there in 20 or 30 years, and you cntflap morons said they were wrong, that we jsut had to win that war.
Now we see it's hundreds of small military bases in afghanistan.
It's a sad day when the CTers were right. Where are the cuckhold neocon getbiggerss who said we weren't there on a permanent basis? I take it they're just acceping a 24-year occupation with no binding exit after that as "temporary"?
haha oh brother
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No different than any other president campaigning, or politician for that matter, so your argument is kind of nothing.
Whatever, go vote for Obama again moron. You are beyond help. Obama blamed 3 dollar gas on bush, yet Obama drones and lemmings don't want anyone to hold him accountable for 4 dollar gas.
Typical leftist double standards.
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Whatever, go vote for Obama again moron. You are beyond help. Obama blamed 3 dollar gas on bush, yet Obama drones and lemmings don't want anyone to hold him accountable for 4 dollar gas.
Typical leftist double standards.
Sad, isn't it? Especially given the fact that Obama's strong-arming of Bernanke into QE'ing twice is the direct cause for the current gas prices via energy inflation as oil is priced in dollars. :-\
Then again, we're talking to retards who haven't the faintest grasp of economics so what I just said is foreign to them.
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The fact that gas is at 3.83 is still crushing tot the economy.
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The fact that gas is at 3.83 is still crushing tot the economy.
I agree with this completely.
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Whatever, go vote for Obama again moron. You are beyond help. Obama blamed 3 dollar gas on bush, yet Obama drones and lemmings don't want anyone to hold him accountable for 4 dollar gas.
Typical leftist double standards.
Typical usual ignorant tactic from you: When exposed for what you are, a complete dishonest dumb ass tool, you go to your good old standard of: You voted for Obama blah blah blah ::)
Don't you have a Sheriff Joe rally to attend?
You are like a retarded zealot freak. lol
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Typical usual ignorant tactic from you: When exposed for what you are, a complete dishonest dumb ass tool, you go to your good old standard of: You voted for Obama blah blah blah ::)
Don't you have a Sheriff Joe rally to attend?
You are like a retarded zealot freak. lol
Did Obama and pelosi and boxer et al blame bush in 2008 for 3 dollar gas yes or no?
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Did Obama and pelosi and boxer et al blame bush in 2008 for 3 dollar gas yes or no?
They did and it worked for them... It will work for Romney too.
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These relative discussions are hilarious.
"GAS PRICES HEADED SOUTH!!!" to.................$3.85
In 2016 everyone will be cheering for gas prices "PLUMMETING" to $4.85.
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HAHAHAHAH!!
These obamadrones have been reduced to daily tracking of gas prices.
I wonder if they will be around when gas hits over $4.00 on average for the summer.
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Well, with todays jobs numbers I guess we can expect gasoline demand to continue its decline, right?
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Well, with todays jobs numbers I guess we can expect gasoline demand to continue its decline, right?
What are you talking about? UE3 fell to 8.1%. Obama saved America!
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What are you talking about? UE3 fell to 8.1%. Obama saved America!
most voters aren't going to understand GDP and entrants/exits from job market, etc.
But when obama says "I took UE from 10 to 7 percent", Romney will have to say "Yes, agreed, the economy is improving, but..."
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Sad, isn't it? Especially given the fact that Obama's strong-arming of Bernanke into QE'ing twice is the direct cause for the current gas prices via energy inflation as oil is priced in dollars. :-\
Then again, we're talking to retards who haven't the faintest grasp of economics so what I just said is foreign to them.
classic right wing CT as if supply and demand aren't the driving factors (or artificial manipulation of supply and demand via the markets) and "world events" effect on S&D
Let's ignore the fact that the price of gas was higher in the summer of 2008 than it is now and that was before any QE
It's all Obama and Bernake - somehow they control it all
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classic right wing CT as if supply and demand aren't the driving factors (or artificial manipulation of supply and demand via the markets) and "world events" effect on S&D
Let's ignore the fact that the price of gas was higher in the summer of 2008 than it is now and that was before any QE
It's all Obama and Bernake - somehow they control it all
Actually, the WSJ has reported that as being exactly the case.
You're not big on reading, are you? And your grasp of economics is downright embarrassing. Here's a little hint, though: when you pump trillions of dollars of funny money into the global marketplace, the purchasing power of that money decreases. And as oil is valued in dollars, every dollar buys less and less oil, hence the out of control gas prices despite the contradictions in your theory about demand and whatever else you're rambling about. Two days ago you were arguing that the global economy has been slowing down for months and now you're arguing that global S&D is why oil is still high (despite falling demand in China, even). You are a moron.
I suggest you hop in that 15-year-old Nissan and head on down to the bookstore to buy a book on economics.
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classic right wing CT as if supply and demand aren't the driving factors (or artificial manipulation of supply and demand via the markets) and "world events" effect on S&D
Let's ignore the fact that the price of gas was higher in the summer of 2008 than it is now and that was before any QE
It's all Obama and Bernake - somehow they control it all
Those summer prices had plenty to do with, again, the Fed, govt. coordinating a huge cash infusion to the banks/financial institutions....they "hoped" the banks would lend it.
They didn't, they went into the one place they knew they could get an ACTUAL return and that was commodities. And with the Fed having doing ZIRP, who could really blame them?
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Actually, the WSJ has reported that as being exactly the case.
You're not big on reading, are you? And your grasp of economics is downright embarrassing. Here's a little hint, though: when you pump trillions of dollars of funny money into the global marketplace, the purchasing power of that money decreases. And as oil is valued in dollars, every dollar buys less and less oil, hence the out of control gas prices despite the contradictions in your theory about demand and whatever else you're rambling about. Two days ago you were arguing that the global economy has been slowing down for months and now you're arguing that global S&D is why oil is still high (despite falling demand in China, even). You are a moron.
I suggest you hop in that 15-year-old Nissan and head on down to the bookstore to buy a book on economics.
speaking of reading comprehension
how about you post a link so we can all read exactly what the article said rather than just the part you think you remember
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Those summer prices had plenty to do with, again, the Fed, govt. coordinating a huge cash infusion to the banks/financial institutions....they "hoped" the banks would lend it.
They didn't, they went into the one place they knew they could get an ACTUAL return and that was commodities. And with the Fed having doing ZIRP, who could really blame them?
you're saying there was a huge cash infusion to the banks in the summer of 2008 and even prior to that when gas was higher than it is now?
The original TARP plan was October of 2008 and the price of gas had already peaked at that point and QE didn't start until November when the Fed annouced they would start buying MBS
the domestic price of gas and the global price of oil are not perfectly related
there is no doubt that cheap dollars mean higher prices for oil
my only point is that QE is not the primary driver (by any means) of the domestic price of gas
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speaking of reading comprehension
how about you post a link so we can all read exactly what the article said rather than just the part you think you remember
Nah.
www.google.com
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Nah.
www.google.com
as I expected
if you're going to site a reference then provide it or don't use it
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as I expected
if you're going to site a reference then provide it or don't use it
Nah.
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Nah.
anything you refer to that you can't source I immediately discount to zero
end of story
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as I expected
if you're going to site a reference then provide it or don't use it
Bernake has been an easy money Fed Chairman since he got there.
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anything you refer to that you can't source I immediately discount to zero
end of story
Again, you seem to have trouble processing the fact that I couldn't care less about your opinion.
I consider you to be a complete moron. Hope this helps.
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Again, you seem to have trouble processing the fact that I couldn't care less about your opinion.
I consider you to be a complete moron. Hope this helps.
and you seem to be just as oblivious that I feel the same way
I always post sources and everyone is free to read them and draw their own conclusion
you never (or almost never) post sources and just expect everyone to trust your memory and reading comprehension
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and you seem to be just as oblivious that I feel the same way
I always post sources and everyone is free to read them and draw their own conclusion
you never (or almost never) post sources and just expect everyone to trust your memory and reading comprehension
I source pretty much everything I post. I'm sorry that you're incapable of using Google and can only build your arguments around nit-picking pointless tidbits of information.
You're not a good debater and again, everything you do leads me to believe that you're a moron. Hope this helps.
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I source pretty much everything I post. I'm sorry that you're incapable of using Google and can only build your arguments around nit-picking pointless tidbits of information.
You're not a good debater and again, everything you do leads me to believe that you're a moron. Hope this helps.
everytime you make an unsourced claim (meaning you say "x" says) and I ask you to post a link you always whine like a little bitch
maybe someday you'll actually grow up and act and interact like an adult
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everytime you make an unsourced claim (meaning you say "x" says) and I ask you to post a link you always whine like a little bitch
maybe someday you'll actually grow up and act and interact like an adult
Straw - why do YOU think prices are going down?
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everytime you make an unsourced claim (meaning you say "x" says) and I ask you to post a link you always whine like a little bitch
maybe someday you'll actually grow up and act and interact like an adult
Why? I can't think of the last time you actually argued a point with sources or facts. Your opinion (read: opinion as that's all you post) isn't important to me. I treat you like the moron I consider you to be.
Can't think of the last time you actually posted in a worthwhile thread like one about the economy or jobs. Carry on with showing us how little you know about economics and your crying about Trayvon.
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Why? I can't think of the last time you actually argued a point with sources or facts. Your opinion (read: opinion as that's all you post) isn't important to me. I treat you like the moron I consider you to be.
Can't think of the last time you actually posted in a worthwhile thread like one about the economy or jobs. Carry on with showing us how little you know about economics and your crying about Trayvon.
that goes right back to my point about your shitty memory
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Did Obama and pelosi and boxer et al blame bush in 2008 for 3 dollar gas yes or no?
::). Do politicians blame each other for crap all through history?
Grow up.
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::). Do politicians blame each other for crap all through history?
Grow up.
No - just holding the messiah to the same standard everyone else held Bush when gas hit $3.00. Sorry if you dont like it, but it is what it is,
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No - just holding the messiah to the same standard everyone else held Bush when gas hit $3.00. Sorry if you dont like it, but it is what it is,
Gas hit 4.50 under Bush (prior to any QE or asset purchases by the Fed)
From April 29, 2008
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Gas hit 4.50 under Bush (prior to any QE or asset purchases by the Fed)
From April 29, 2008
Helicopter ben started his bs long before 2008
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Helicopter ben started his bs long before 2008
no QE or asset purchases at that time
just a continuation, for the most part, of the same monetary policy as Greenspan
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you're saying there was a huge cash infusion to the banks in the summer of 2008 and even prior to that when gas was higher than it is now?
The original TARP plan was October of 2008 and the price of gas had already peaked at that point and QE didn't start until November when the Fed annouced they would start buying MBS
the domestic price of gas and the global price of oil are not perfectly related
there is no doubt that cheap dollars mean higher prices for oil
my only point is that QE is not the primary driver (by any means) of the domestic price of gas
TARP wasn't the only thing shoving cash down the banks throats.
Either way, I believe when the barrel of oil peaked at around 160 or so, the U.S. dollar was getting slaughtered by the Euro via exchange rates as well.
Either way, this discussion almost meaningless in the long term. Production is flat, new sources are more expensive to extract and demand (globally) will continue to rise as seen with the planet passing 7 billion people.
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TARP wasn't the only thing shoving cash down the banks throats.
Either way, I believe when the barrel of oil peaked at around 160 or so, the U.S. dollar was getting slaughtered by the Euro via exchange rates as well.
correct but it wasn't due to TARP, QE or buying mortgage backed securities. It was due to the US dollar being the currency used to trade oil
Either way, this discussion almost meaningless in the long term. Production is flat, new sources are more expensive to extract and demand (globally) will continue to rise as seen with the planet passing 7 billion people.
absolutely correct
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correct but it wasn't due to TARP, QE or buying mortgage backed securities. It was due to the US dollar being the currency used to trade oil
absolutely correct
Yes. And it was actively being debased...not just in the year but probably since the beginning of the decade and more. Add in a loose monetary policy and the Feds goal of inflation among a bunch of other things and you have that dollar being weakened substantially. Throw in financial institutions pumping those dollars in the futures market and the oil futures market itself being a cluster fuck and you have those sky high prices.
You can have a shitty and stagnant economy like the we and most of the world has now and still have rising demand.
But as I, yourself and others, have stated in the past....this is all a side-show (A really really big sideshow) that is obscuring what is actually going on. It's frustrating, this is near term stuff. Fixing the futures market, releasing oil from the SPE, price controls subsides and whatever other schemes that can be done simply can't hide the fact that production is flat and demand is rising.
A law or a regulation or a bill won't make more oil magically appear.
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No - just holding the messiah to the same standard everyone else held Bush when gas hit $3.00. Sorry if you dont like it, but it is what it is,
Incorrect, You are being a tool, nothing more.
I don't care either way. Just pointing it out. Same old story with you.
Tool is, tool does.
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Incorrect, You are being a tool, nothing more.
I don't care either way. Just pointing it out. Same old story with you.
Tool is, tool does.
LOL - yeah - when everyone swept this current piece of garbage into office in 2008 blaming Bush for $3.00 a gallon, pelosi and reid to take over the congress in 2006 on the same platform, yeah, its totally unfair to hold obama and the dems and their idiot supporters to the same standards they held everyone else from 2006-2008. ::) ::) ::)
Same for the economy, same for the wars, same for energy, same for corruption, same for police state bas, etc.
Typical leftist double standards. Liberals never like it when people hold them and their messiahs to the same standard they themselves hold everyone else to.
Eat shit O-bot
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Gas hit 4.50 under Bush (prior to any QE or asset purchases by the Fed)
From April 29, 2008
Average price of gas under Bush was under $3. Price of gas has stayed over $3 for most of Obama's presidency.
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Oh yeah, repubs/conservatives never have double standards ::)
Tool is, tool does.
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http://www.politicususa.com/obama-gas-prices-fall.html
Media Goes Silent as Gas Prices Fall After Obama Crack Down On Oil Speculation
By: Jason Easley May 4, 2012
The media and the Republicans were happy to blame President Obama for the high price of gasoline in March, but they are giving Obama none of the credit for the drop in gas prices today.
It seems like only yesterday that the GOP and their corporate media lackeys were telling us that gas prices would ruin Obama, but they have gone silent as gas prices have fallen since Obama announced his administration’s crackdown on oil speculation.
As recently as last month, Mitt Romney was still blaming President Obama for the price of gas, “He gets full credit or blame for what’s happened to this economy and what’s happened to gasoline prices under his watch and what’s happened to our schools and what’s happened to our military forces — all these things are his responsibility while he’s president.”
Speaker of the House John Boehner went as far as to claim that gas prices could cost Obama the election, “But if the economy doesn’t get better, I don’t think he’ll win. If people don’t feel better about government-run health care, I don’t think he’ll win. And if gas prices are $5 or $6, he certainly isn’t going to win.”
The media was happy to give the Republicans a free forum and plenty of airtime to use to blame Obama for gas prices, but on April 17 Obama called for a crackdown on oil speculation, “We can’t afford a situation where speculators artificially manipulate markets by buying up oil, creating the perception of a shortage, and driving prices higher, only to flip the oil for a quick profit. We can’t afford the situation where some speculators can reap millions (of dollars in profits), while millions of American families get the short end of the stick. That’s not the way the market should work.”
Since Obama announced his crackdown on oil speculation, gas prices have fallen twelve cents a gallon. The media response to this news has been total silence. (I guess if Republicans don’t have anything to say then there is nothing for the corporate media to report).
There are a couple of other factors at play that have also driven the price of gas down. Speculators had been running wild in February and March. They were betting that war with Iran was on horizon. When Israel or the international community did not take any military action against Iran, prices decreased. The other shoe to drop was that savvy U.S. drivers quickly decreased their consumption. When prices got too high, people started driving less. People have more fuel efficient vehicles that need less fuel. The hybrid has replaced the gas guzzling SUV as America’s car of choice. Better technology has made it easier for consumers to fight back against price gouging and speculation.
It is impossible to say whether President Obama’s announcement of a crackdown on speculators lowered gas prices on its own, or whether it was the president’s announcement and a combination of other factors, but if Obama was to blame for price increase, using the same logic, he also deserves credit for the price decrease.
Republicans try to blame President Obama for everything every day, but the media happily and unquestioningly acts a megaphone for the right’s talking points. The media amplified Republican blame of Obama for gas prices, but they have never given Obama credit since gas prices have fallen.
The media’s ability to skip the good along with their enthusiasm for reporting the bad when it comes to this president is one of the reasons why conservative media bias is so obvious to many Americans. There is a reason why Pew has consistently found that President Obama gets the most negative media coverage of any 2012 candidate.
Time and time again during the Obama presidency, we have seen the media behave in ways that debunk the liberal bias myth. Conservatives continue to tout their liberal bias cover story, all the while keeping the American people in the dark about who controls their media, and whose bias they really represent.
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This sounds like a democratic slant, but I do think that the writer makes some valid points.
Has Obama's crackdown on speculation actually caused prices to fall?
Is he really "cracking down"?
Has there been some bill put forth that I missed?