I'm just curious.. i saw a HUGE drop in gas prices lately in my area. These weren't just little by little drops.. it went from about $2.99 to less than $2.20 in about a week.

With the upcoming elections.. do you think maybe its a ploy by the republicans to try to get votes?

There always IS the tie there with Halliburton.. while noone can actually PROVE that it is used.. one can come up with their own theories based on that fact.

I just noticed that and wondered if anyone else was curious also...

There is a coincidence, but it has nothing to do with Republicans or Democrats. Or space aliens. Or illegal immigrants. Or Tipper Gore's pert and perky breasts. (Sorry. I have learned that if you want to go on a lengthy tear, you need a teaser of a sexual nature. My apologies to Tipper's breasts.)

It's like this; the oil companies have milked every possible nickel out of the American taxpayers during the summer vacation season (when folks are most apt to travel with their families), and now the cash cow has gone dry.

Now that the kids are back to school, (and the rest of us are full-on back to work), the oil companies have magnanimously agreed to throw us a bone, and give us a respite from the grief at the gas pump.

But just wait until the Thanksgiving/Christmas travel season.
:rolleyes:

437. Manipulate oil price (9/20/2006)

After Bush took the presidency, he created a huge budget deficit, and a huge trade deficit as well. The deficit will cause a big inflation. So Federal Reserve has to raise the interest rate to deal with it. In June 2006, the overnight interest rate was raised to 5.25%. The Federal 10 years treasury bill was 5.25% too. The 30 years fix mortgage rate reached its recent high: 6.93%. Although this rate is still low viewed from history, it touches off a down turn of the real estate market. Because the price of house is stretched too tight that a tiny increase of the mortgage rate will cause a big change.

Feds hold a large quantity of houses in my case, they tried their best to keep the property value. What we saw are: Federal Reserve stops its step to raise the interest rate. Oil price declined. The rate of bonds goes down. So does the mortgage rate. From June to September, the bench mark rate of Federal funds stays at 5.25%. The rate of 10 year treasury bill drops to 4.73% from 5.25%. The 30 years mortgage rate is 6.44% now.

Today you only pay 4.73% interest rate for a ten years long term loan but have to pay 5.25% rate for an overnight loan. Does that mean there will be no inflation within ten years? Or even mean there is a deflation? With common sense you know it's impossible as long as the oil price doubled in one year. All these were done by Feds to protect their property value so you saw these strange phenomenon.

1. Oil price.
The result of a big trade deficit is that foreign countries hold a large amount of US dollar. When US has not enough goods or assets to exchange these dollars back, it has to think of a way to make these countries to keep the dollar instead of dumping it. One way is to push up the oil price.

A country which consumes one million barrel of oil a year has to keep 30 million dollars in bank (when oil price is at 30 dollars/ barrel) Then how much should it reserve if the oil price jumped from 30/barrel to 60/barrel? It has to double its dollar reserve to 60 millions. So large amount of dollars were locked up in bank as oil payment (Dollar is the appointed currency in oil trading.)

Now you know why the oil price jumped so high. It is used to solve the deficit problem of US. To delay the US financial crisis. Who benefit from it?
(1) Oil export country.(Though much of them are Islamic countries which US dislike. There is no choice.)
(2) Speculator (mostly oil groups). They bought in large quantity of future contracts in a short period. Say, from 30/bar to 60/bar, the average price paid was 45/bar. Then when the market was steady at 60/bar to 75/bar, they sold it at average of 67.5/bar. Their profit is 22.5/bar.
(3) Federal Reserve and US economy. Federal Reserve can avoid to pay a high interest rate in order to lure the dollar in. US can avoid a financial crises.

The loser is always the average people. They have to take the final cost - a higher gas price.

But it's a double side sword. High oil price will also cause inflation to force the rising of interest rate. When it endangers real estate market, then we saw a dramatic decline of oil price. (from 75/bar/Aug 3 to 60/bar/Sept 19, a 20% decline in 6 weeks.) After all, the interest of Feds, is above everything else.

To keep in mind that when the oil price went up this year, it's not that oil supply was in shortage. And when the oil price drops recently, it's not that there is less demand. It's not a market economy any more. It's an artificial manipulating market.

Greenspan knew it. But he could only say what he was allowed to say.
Quote, "The former Fed chief also detailed how investors, rather than users of oil, have come to set the price of oil through purchasing futures contracts."

I love how Bush and Cheney are so tied to the oil comapnies yet people think what is going on with the oil companies has "nothing to do with Bush and his cronies" ROFL

Don't ya wish there was an election every month?

To keep in mind that when the oil price went up this year, it's not that oil supply was in shortage. And when the oil price drops recently, it's not that there is less demand. It's not a market economy any more. It's an artificial manipulating market.

The war between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as unrest in one of those African countries we get our oil from and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez making anti-American noise, all this caused a very jittery market and rampant speculation as to whether or not oil supplies would be cut off, this caused the oil spike we witnessed over the summer. It also didn't help that our offshore oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico hadn't recovered from various hurricanes last year. Also, switiching gasoline additives from MTBE to ethanol didn't help. THAT, and the fact the U.S. doesn't have very many oil refineries and a good deal of those were damaged during last year's hurricanes. So, there were good reasons to why the price of oil went up. Other than artificial market manipulation, that is.

I'm not sure why oil prices went down, but I doubt Bush and Cheney are at the bottom of the falling oil prices, dammit.

The fact that people can even contemplate that GWB has somehow caused oil prices to lower shows just how little some people know about international markets. I am not at all surprised by Overdose's blaming Bush but how can Decka honestly ask that question?

Oil prices rose because demand rose, China, India and other nations beside those in The West have been demanding more oil. This coupled with static production, a lack of refinery capacity and the summer driving spike caused oil prices to rise. Corporations took advantage of the spike in prices to make a profit and the cost of oil rose past what it could feasibly hold. As often happens when prices rise past their set point, once demand softened the prices fell.

It has nothing to do with George W. Bush and everything to do with supply and demand.

Gas prices drop... coincidense?Is it a coincidence how you misspelt 'coincidence'? I don't think so.

A lack of refining capacity can drive up the price of gas but has nothing to do with the price of crude oil except perhaps to place an artificial cap on demand. Speaking of demand, has that fallen so dramatically these past few months? Have China and India suddenly stopped burning oil? Again, I don't think so. Fear and speculation are what drive up the price of oil, not the actual supply/demand equation. On occasion reality forces the market to realize that the sky has not fallen and an adjustment takes place. Then we get to do it all over again.

Now that the kids are back to school, (and the rest of us are full-on back to work), the oil companies have magnanimously agreed to throw us a bone, and give us a respite from the grief at the gas pump.

True....but hey!!, it's all just a big 'ol co-inky-dinky!!

One 'o them odd coincidences that seem to come along with SUCH amazing regularity under our wonderful Mental Retardate-in-Chief from Crawford, Tecksuuss.

Gosh he's just so lucky!!

Think about it: two oil-men steal the election in 2000 (documented in "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy" by Greg Palast), and THEN, coincidentally, we're surprised <wink wink> by an attack by Muslim terrorists!....and THEN, coincidentally, next thing you know we’re invading the Middle East (iow, invading Iraq, which most people know had nothing to do with 9/11 whatsoever)....and THEN, coincidentally, Big Oil happens to have their biggest year of profits ever! Gee whiz!!...what a lucky set of coincidences for Mr Bush and his pals in Big Oil!!

But just wait until the Thanksgiving/Christmas travel season.

Yep.

IOW............"Wait until the elections are over".

Dear Geniuses,
Last month there was a story about members of OPEC panicking about the price of oil dropping. The circumstances that determine the price-per-barrel are even out of THEIR hands.
Now please explain to me how Dick Cheney had anything to do with this.

Last month there was a story about members of OPEC panicking about the price of oil dropping. The circumstances that determine the price-per-barrel are even out of THEIR hands.

Gosh.......i simply cannot tell you how comforting it is to find out that OPEC has absolutely no way to control the price of oil.

The war between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as unrest in one of those African countries we get our oil from and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez making anti-American noise, all this caused a very jittery market and rampant speculation as to whether or not oil supplies would be cut off, this caused the oil spike we witnessed over the summer. It also didn't help that our offshore oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico hadn't recovered from various hurricanes last year. Also, switiching gasoline additives from MTBE to ethanol didn't help. THAT, and the fact the U.S. doesn't have very many oil refineries and a good deal of those were damaged during last year's hurricanes. So, there were good reasons to why the price of oil went up. Other than artificial market manipulation, that is.


Ah, the voice of reason. You forgot the multitude of different summer blend gasolines that are required for different regions of the country that drive up costs as well.

i hope chavez and iran make oil so cheap that the market on it crashes and the capitalist pigs on wallstreet lose a bundle on it.

Happens every year, next will be an increase in home heating costs when it gets cold.

Happens every year, next will be an increase in home heating costs when it gets cold.
Exactly...here in Canada we are between seasons... no air conditioning on and not yet into heat. We are currently at about 82 cents a litre which is a drop of over 20 cents.

Now please explain to me how Dick Cheney had anything to do with this.
There is only one country which can influence the world market price of oil: Saudi Arabia. And we all know Bush would never do anything to appease the Saudis, right Brooks?

There is only one country which can influence the world market price of oil: Saudi Arabia. And we all know Bush would never do anything to appease the Saudis, right Brooks?Yeah, pretty clever of them to lose billions in order to make Cheney happy. They won't shut down the Madrases to appease us, but they'll give up several billion a day cause Uncle Dick asks nicely.

Just cause you're a Jersey Democrat don't assume the rest of the world is as corrupt as your guys.

People who think we will never again see high gas prices are fools.

Wait until after the Nov election.

People who think we will never again see high gas prices are fools.

Wait until after the Nov election.
Wait until it snows... :D

Wait until it snows... :D

Good point -- forgot about that white stuff.

well i just asked the question.. its interesting to see the different responses.. we have people who gave new theories.. and then people who took my "suspicion" as fact... id like to see ya actually PROVE it.

I will go down on you and make you extremely happy. But only long enough to make you think it is going to get better. Then I will come back up and screw you like no other!!




Sincerely yours,
Gas Prices

I will go down on you and make you extremely happy. But only long enough to make you think it is going to get better. Then I will come back up and screw you like no other!!




Sincerely yours,
Gas Priceswow, that was graphically, accurately beautiful!:eek:

The fact that people can even contemplate that GWB has somehow caused oil prices to lower shows just how little some people know about international markets. I am not at all surprised by Overdose's blaming Bush but how can Decka honestly ask that question?

Oil prices rose because demand rose, China, India and other nations beside those in The West have been demanding more oil. This coupled with static production, a lack of refinery capacity and the summer driving spike caused oil prices to rise. Corporations took advantage of the spike in prices to make a profit and the cost of oil rose past what it could feasibly hold. As often happens when prices rise past their set point, once demand softened the prices fell.

It has nothing to do with George W. Bush and everything to do with supply and demand.

Hear hear!

Good post

How can the US President or Vice President make gas prices fall?
Please answer. Someone.

Brooks,

Bush and Cheney are part of the Vast Rightwing Conspiracy, hence they are capable of ANYTHING.

On a more serious note, I KNOW you're trying to raise a serious question here. It's one of those ploys that are by various people on the Democrat side of the aisle trying to dismiss good news. The same thing happened during the '04 Presidential elections when there was a rumour floating around that Bush & Co had captured Bin Laden and were waiting till the eve of the election to unviel that Bin Laden had been captured. Voila, Bush wins in a landslide, dammit.

If only that rumour were true, dammit.

How can the US President or Vice President make gas prices fall?


Firstly, as men deeply involved in the oil business, it would probably never enter Bush or Cheney's mind to "make gas prices fall"

But I can think of several ways they could make them rise.

If they refrained from doing those things, or if they began to undo their actions (not that they're about to do that) that cause such fear and anxiety in the oil markets --that cause prices to rise-- wouldn't it would have the opposite effect?

My brother works for a local gas delivery company. He works at the entry point for all gasoline delivered to Long Island. All summer he was working six and a half days a week and could have worked double shifts any time he wanted. The different gas companies were filling trucks to deliver fuel to their stations as quickly as they could. Now that demand has softened he is working five days a week and no one is getting overtime. This has nothing to do with Bush and Cheney unless Bush and Cheney can somehow cause drivers to drive less and use less gas.


This happens every year, not just in years when gasoline is expensive. Gas prices historically drop right after Labor Day only to rise again on Memorial Day.

The fact that people can even contemplate that GWB has somehow caused oil prices to lower shows just how little some people know about international markets. I am not at all surprised by Overdose's blaming Bush but how can Decka honestly ask that question?

Oil prices rose because demand rose, China, India and other nations beside those in The West have been demanding more oil. This coupled with static production, a lack of refinery capacity and the summer driving spike caused oil prices to rise. Corporations took advantage of the spike in prices to make a profit and the cost of oil rose past what it could feasibly hold. As often happens when prices rise past their set point, once demand softened the prices fell.

It has nothing to do with George W. Bush and everything to do with supply and demand.

I don't think it has to do with Bush. But, can you show me where you're getting your info that demand dropped dramatically?

With the upcoming elections.. do you think maybe its a ploy by the republicans to try to get votes?Thats exactly what this is....And after the elections and the idiots are secure in thier seats again,the prices will probably sky rocket again!! (People are so stupid they forget what a bunch of losers we have in our country (Bush,etc...) and give in when the prices drop (Which is what they count on!))

:mad:

Don't ya wish there was an election every month?

...

TOP

Please go on.

Yes that would be nice!!!!!!

How can the US President or Vice President make gas prices fall?
Please answer. Someone.I'll explain it again: C-U-T A D-E-A-L with the S-A-U-D-I-S. They come down until November, they come up with a vengence after that. So simple even a Jersey Democrat can figure it out. After all, we know all about cutting deals....

1. I'll explain it again: C-U-T A D-E-A-L with the S-A-U-D-I-S. They come down until November, they come up with a vengence after that.
2. So simple even a Jersey Democrat can figure it out. After all, we know all about cutting deals....1. Was it artificially high over the Summer, or artificially low now.
2. You're a good sport (I was referring to the politicians, not the constituents. I think you're fair and consistent)

If you want to see how the propaganda of the corporate media works go to the newsweek site right now:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com:80/id/3037881/site/newsweek/

Look at the international covers.

Europe: "Losing Afghanistan"
Asia: "Losing Afghanistan"
Latin America: "Losing Afghanistan"
US: "My Life In Pictures"

If you want to see how the propaganda of the corporate media works go to the newsweek site right now:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com:80/id/3037881/site/newsweek/

Look at the international covers.

Europe: "Losing Afghanistan"
Asia: "Losing Afghanistan"
Latin America: "Losing Afghanistan"
US: "My Life In Pictures"

What does THAT have to do with anything?

People put stories on covers because it sells.. blame today's american society for that. Americans dont care about world affairs, they care about celebs, materials, and themselves. This isn't some corporate control job.. there's no money in it. You are trying to tie political conspiracy to things that are just not that deep.. they are only about making money. And its the MAGAZINE that makes the money... its not George Bush telling newsweek what to put on their cover, like some of you "uninformed" people try to paint.

I would tend to agree that its all supply and demand.

BUT there is something interesting.. first we had the lefties blaming Bush for gas prices rising.. now he have them blaming Bush for gas prices lowering.. so its ALWAYS bush's fault? wow you guys live in a fucked up world LOL.

So simple even a Jersey Democrat can figure it out. After all, we know all about cutting deals....

New Joisey not only has crooked politicians it has dumb ones too. Jim, "I'm a gay American", McGreavy wrote so much about corruption in New Jersey government during his administration in his new book that he is in danger of being indicted. Talk about being an idiot.

People who think we will never again see high gas prices are fools.
Wait until after the Nov election.May of 2011 is an example of "after the Nov election". That's a fairly safe claim you are making.
When will it go up and by how much?

What does THAT have to do with anything?



It has to do with the fact our sons and daughters are fighting this mess and we do care.

Being a college student, I don't care if its a ploy by the government. It costs less to me, puts more money in my pocket (only to be taken by the university via tuition)...and ultimately doesn't really sway me in either direction.

To imagine for 1 second that gasoline prices are controlled by the Republican party is beyond stupid. It's really really stupid.

To imagine for 1 second that gasoline prices are controlled by the Republican party is beyond stupid. It's really really stupid.

I would not assert that they can *control* them, per se.

But I believe they can push for (among other things) foreign policy decisions regarding attacking other nations which would cause anxiety and fear among the markets that would cause prices to rise.

Call that a "really really stupid" conjecture if you like.

People put stories on covers because it sells.. blame today's american society for that. Americans dont care about world affairs, they care about celebs, materials, and themselves. This isn't some corporate control job.. there's no money in it. You are trying to tie political conspiracy to things that are just not that deep.. they are only about making money. And its the MAGAZINE that makes the money... its not George Bush telling newsweek what to put on their cover, like some of you "uninformed" people try to paint.

I would tend to agree that its all supply and demand.
You're putting the cart before the mule. The media can and does create desire. Shit they created the "celebrity cult". They hype the latest consumer goods.

Are you suggesting that politicians do not take advantage of this situation?

Conspiracy? Have you not read about the FCC destroying studies on media owenership? That is fact, a conspiracy, carried out by the government, in favor of corporate media. It's called quid pro quo.

I never mentioned Bush once. You're just exposing your inane partisanship. Corporations benefit no matter which candidate gets into office. After all they can promote or kill anyones primary chances as demonstrated by Dean. They can keep out any meaningful opposition along with which ever party it benefits. Now granted they benefit in many ways with Bush in office. Deregulation, fat extraneous government contracts and the like. But there is a point in which these benefits are meaningless. That point is when the economy goes straight south. If people don't have money, they can't buy shit (of course credit takes care of this for a bit) the corporations lose money.

You're quite the coincidence theorist.

So tell me what costs less money. Keeping the same story and pictures run all around the world in the other versions, or replacing it with some fluff piece? I'm pretty sure more people know about Afghanistan and care what is happening to American troops there, then about Annie Leibovitz's personal life.

Your excuses jsut don't hold up.

Here' some historical perspective on the topic of middle east oil, in this case from the early 1970's.
It's a really good read, but I'd rather post the link instead of the entire piece, for fear of giving somebody eye-strain.

http://www.ccds.charlotte.nc.us/History/MidEast/04/horton/horton.htm

PS If you read carefully between the lines, I think you'll find that there's an undeniable link between the 1973 Oil crisis and George W. Bush's being AWOL from the Texas Air National Guard. It's kind of complicated, but I think that space aliens and the New Orleans mob were somehow involved.
:rolleyes:

You're quite the coincidence theorist.

So tell me what costs less money. Keeping the same story and pictures run all around the world in the other versions, or replacing it with some fluff piece? I'm pretty sure more people know about Afghanistan and care what is happening to American troops there, then about Annie Leibovitz's personal life.

Your excuses jsut don't hold up.

why don't YOU tell ME... do you KNOW that it "costs more money" to "replace" the cover??? or are you just ASSUMING... What if putting the "fluff piece" made MORE MONEY for the magazine than having aghganistan on there??? Do you KNOW that??? Do you EVEN KNOW IF IT COST MORE MONEY TO CHANGE THE COVER???? im guessing not.. all just assumptions... hey you can have your point of view.. but dont try to lecture me about stuff you don't know.

I would think more people care more about celeb life than real life... because that is what american culture has become.

I would not assert that they can *control* them, per se.

But I believe they can push for (among other things) foreign policy decisions regarding attacking other nations which would cause anxiety and fear among the markets that would cause prices to rise.

Call that a "really really stupid" conjecture if you like.

er...yes of course policy decisions can effect the price of oil, but that is hardly what is being claimed in this thread.

To imagine for 1 second that gasoline prices are controlled by the Republican party is beyond stupid. It's really really stupid.

Well half of the people disagree with you ...

http://www.baylor.edu/Lariat/news.php?action=story&story=42056

then again, half of the people obviously agree with you :D

I wonder if they are informed opinions or just "gut" feelings...

maybe we should ask if their knee's are bulging up and if its going to rain...

just a thought...

hey im the one who ASKED the question.. but its just that.. a question.

er...yes of course policy decisions can effect the price of oil, but that is hardly what is being claimed in this thread.

The claim that was made in this thread that I was responding to was that it was -- stupid to think that the Republican Party could control the price of gas-- (i.e., oil).

I then noted that they DO have the ability to make policy decisions that very well might drive up the price of oil.

I then noted that they DO have the ability to make policy decisions that very well might drive up the price of oil.That may well be, but are you claiming that they have?
And if you are, you must also know which decisions are responsible for this.