"Drill, baby, drill" -- again

Newt promises $2.50 gasoline prices.  If only we will entrust him with the reins of power.

Romney, more cautious, says the near-$4.00 prices at the pump are "at least in part" the fault of Obama.  If only we'd allow more drilling . . . and cut the regulations . . . and . . . what?

Santurum will probably find some way to include pump price as part of Obama's "war on religion."   What does the Vatican say about the price of oil?  I keep forgetting, Rick;  you'll need to remind me.

Pander on.   Create more bumper sticker slogans.

Obama responded:  "We can't just drill our way to lower gas prices – not when we consume 20 percent of the world's oil."    It was the Republicans who insisted on an immediate decision on the Keystone XL pipeline;  so, without sufficient time to study the environmental effects, the State Department (who had the final say because it is an international project), said No.  If we have to decide right now, the answer is No.

Here's the kicker.    Economists say there is not much a president of either party can do about gasoline prices.    Prices are much more influenced by things like fear of war with Iran (and who is it beating those drums?) and by rising demand in the U.S., China, and India.

And who stands in the way of improving fuel efficiency in cars and trucks?   And who stands in the way of more stimulus for development of alternative energy sources?

The Republicans, of course !!    The very people who are blaming Obama for high gasoline prices.

Ralph

PS:   Why am I not surprised?