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Saturday Morning Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 07:17:08 AM EST
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Enjoy the weekend. This is an Open Thread.

Here is the President's weekly address:

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    Saturday Morning Open Thread | 31 comments (31 topical)

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    Obama's Gas Problem (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Gary P on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 08:25:35 AM EST
    Now let's look at what President Obama has done for us in regards to the oil industry. When he took office in January gas in my neighborhood was $1.83 now 4 months later it is at $2.70. Up .83 in 4 months doesn't seem like a lot and since then crude prices have  started creeping back up. Why the increase?  Well Obama has stopped our future exploration of fossil fuels. We saw the way oil went down when we said we were taking off some of the restraints placed on the oil industry. $4.56 down to &1.83 in a few months. Obama is content to watch as his reversal of this policy brings the price back up. Hey what does he care, he gets free gas.  

    President Obama has been dreaming about the day that he could implement some of the plans to nationalize industry, it is evident with the way he slams Ford fact that he thinks they can't compete.I think he is mad at Ford for not getting in bed with him.That coming from a guy who works in positions that do not require any warranty on his work or no truth in advertising. Go figure.

    Really? (5.00 / 2) (#14)
    by Steve M on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 10:51:36 AM EST
    Somehow, I think the sentence "Obama has stopped our future exploration of fossil fuels" might be a little bit truthy.

    In any event, having worked in the oil industry myself, the notion that a decline in exploration would be reflected this quickly and this dramatically in prices at the pump is virtually insane.  This argument is the equivalent of stubbing your toe and cursing Barack Obama.

    Parent

    you mean my toe wasn't hia fault? (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by jeffinalabama on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 11:06:27 AM EST
    geez...

    Parent
    Duh (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by FreakyBeaky on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 03:32:21 PM EST
    Gas prices were high because the world's refineries and oil fields, refining and pumping flat out, could not keep up with demand.  Gas prices dropped because the worldwide economic slump reduced demand to the point where oil and gas producers were forced to cut production.  So gasoline prices are creeping back up again?  Hey, maybe those "green shoots" and "signs of hope" we keep hearing about are for real!

    Or maybe it's just summer.

    Get a clue.

    Parent

    Gas is way too cheap in America (none / 0) (#3)
    by andgarden on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 08:54:14 AM EST
    No reason it should be any less than $4/gallon.

    Parent
    true, but... (5.00 / 0) (#4)
    by Dadler on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 09:01:13 AM EST
    ...with wages immorally stagnant for decades, fuel prices are going to literally kill those further down the economic ladder.  We are a country addicted to consuming and wasting.  We are a country spread out and virtually designed to waste fuel as we drive forever to work and back, with public transport largely a joke.  The entire paradigm of our economic existence is held hostage by our inability to think out of the box and our inexplicable reluctance to throw everything we have into innovation in this area.

    We are pissing into the wind, then saying to ourselves "why the hell are my eyes burning so much?"

    Parent

    Rome 2.0 (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by SOS on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 09:24:18 AM EST
    The entire paradigm of our economic existence is held hostage by our inability to think out of the box and our inexplicable reluctance to throw everything we have into innovation in this area.

    And the creators of greed, caste, money and status no doubt want to keep it that way.

    Parent

    Solve that burning eye problem (none / 0) (#6)
    by CoralGables on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 09:18:51 AM EST
    Although grossly overpriced perhaps a pair of Oakley Flak Jackets to solve that problem of piss in your eyes.

    Oakley Hydrophobic is a permanent lens coating that prevents water from leaving streaks and sheens that can compromise vision. Whether it's rain, sweat or splashing piss in the wind, H2O can't get a foothold.

    Okay it's true I altered their ad slightly.

    Parent

    Except (none / 0) (#30)
    by jbindc on Sun Jun 07, 2009 at 07:14:53 AM EST
    This is a bit of a naive comment.  We can't all live within a close distance of a metro area.  MOST people in this country don't - it's a big country, as you point out, and having "public transportation" reach everywhere people have to drive is not a feasible economic plan. For example, the metro Detroit commuting area takes up about 1/4 of the whole state of Michigan (from Lansing, to Saginaw/Flint, to Toledo, to Jackson, and back to Lansing) - with people commuting all over that area.  You want to build a transportation network that will cover most (if not all) places people have to commute to and from work?  You have an extra trillion dollars or so?  And that's just one metro area - you ever drive around Dallas-Forth Worth Metroplex?  The LBJ Freeway alone would be a nightmare to start with!

    Do we need to improve public transportation around cities?  Yes.  Do we need to alternative sources to petroleum-based fuel?  Yes.  But those that say all we need to do is "jack up the price of gas to $4 or $5 and everyone will use public transportation or bicycles" don't really understand the problem and live in a bubble world where trains and buses are feasible options for most of the commuting population.

    Parent

    We need 50 Cents a gallon (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by SOS on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 09:32:31 AM EST
    gas to get out of the jam we are in.

    Parent
    Jam? (none / 0) (#22)
    by Fabian on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 02:49:21 PM EST
    Imagine the traffic jams at $0.50 a gallon!

    Saw a bicycle at Whole Foods last week - promoting cycling.  Woulda been a whole lot more convincing if they had put a rack, or panniers or baskets on the bicycle.

    Interesting concept, failed execution.  

    Parent

    Right on! However.. (5.00 / 2) (#21)
    by Radiowalla on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 02:00:56 PM EST
    The $4.00 should primarily represent a U.S. federal tax in support of alternative energy, infrastructure needs, etc.

    It should not be going directly into the coffers of the oil industry and repressive Middle Eastern governments.  

    I wouldn't mind paying more at the pump if I thought it was going to serve a greater good than Big Oil.

    Parent

    Yet... (none / 0) (#27)
    by kdog on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 04:43:52 PM EST
    every extra dollar you take at the pump from a working person is a dollar coming off somebody elses plate...the grocer, the deli owner, the reefer man, what have you.

    I seriously have to question the sanity of anybody who says "lets give the govt. more money to invest for us", I've seen quite enough of the govt. version of "investment"...it must have a new meaning in the 10th edition newspeak dictionary or something.  

    Parent

    Stats can ruin the best of arguments (none / 0) (#2)
    by CoralGables on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 08:46:19 AM EST
    It's always good to compare apples to apples.

    Average nationwide price for a gallon of regular gasoline in June 2008 was $4.08

    Average nationwide price for a gallon of regular gasoline June 1, 2009 was $2.50

    Because gas prices (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 09:12:13 AM EST
    were atrociously high last year, that means they aren't too high now?

    Parent
    I said nothing about being (none / 0) (#7)
    by CoralGables on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 09:24:01 AM EST
    high or not high. I just suggested comparing apples to apples. Now I'm off to work and need to fill up so yes I will be grumbling. I believe Venezuela is still running at about 12 cents a gallon.

    Parent
    But the implication (none / 0) (#10)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 09:27:53 AM EST
    of the comparison you made was that the price is much lower.

    Gas prices have increased 30% in 4 months.  That is a terrible increase.

    Parent

    Prices (5.00 / 0) (#11)
    by CoralGables on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 09:30:50 AM EST
    always increase just prior to Memorial Day. That's why you can't compare June to January.

    Parent
    correction (5.00 / 0) (#17)
    by Dadler on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 11:22:15 AM EST
    GOUGING always occurs during Memorial Day.  The oil companies can stick it to us ANYTIME they want to, that is the simple truth, and they choose to do so often.  And we just take it like fools.  

    Parent
    Yup. (none / 0) (#23)
    by Fabian on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 02:53:05 PM EST
    That's why my eight year old car gets 33 mpg - because I foolishly let the oil companies stick it me.  Even back then, fuel efficient cars were available for those who cared.

    It's more like "We let our greedy, selfish consumerist habits stick it to us.".  

    Parent

    Whats up with this? (none / 0) (#9)
    by SOS on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 09:25:54 AM EST
    http://tinyurl.com/qp5wqa

    Natural gas is in oversupply. (none / 0) (#13)
    by steviez314 on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 10:21:05 AM EST
    US gas storage is well over the 5 year average.  Since it is mostly for domestic consumption, fluctuations in the dollar do not affect it as much as crude oil (likewise, international "tensions" don't matter).  So, it's subject to much less speculation in the markets.

    If we had brains, we'd have GM make loads of Nat Gas powered cars--90% cleaner, 60% less fuel costs.

    Check out the Honda Civic GX.

    Parent

    Balkinization (none / 0) (#16)
    by lobary on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 11:15:13 AM EST
    Have comments been disabled? If so, when did this change happen and what was the reason?

    obviously not 'cause you've successfully (none / 0) (#18)
    by DFLer on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 11:25:01 AM EST
    commented.

    If the reply button doesn't show, you are probably not logged in. I find that every once in awhile, I have to log in "manually"

    Parent

    Heh. (none / 0) (#20)
    by lobary on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 12:17:10 PM EST
    I was referring to Jack Balkin's website, not TL.

    Parent
    oops (none / 0) (#31)
    by DFLer on Mon Jun 08, 2009 at 03:49:49 PM EST
    what do I know anyway!

    Parent
    House curbs 'virtual strip searches' at airports (none / 0) (#19)
    by Spamlet on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 12:13:42 PM EST
    Story here.

    Sample from the comments: "If people refuse to submit to these scans, they should not be allowed to board the plane."

    Now let's see if the Senate, er, strips out the bill's privacy provisions.

    This is getting out of hand (none / 0) (#25)
    by ruffian on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 04:08:55 PM EST
    D-Day at Obama Beach

    Getting? Did you see the plaque (5.00 / 0) (#26)
    by Cream City on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 04:17:47 PM EST
    to be purchased there that called him the king of the world?  Poor Prince Charlie, overshadowed all of his life by enough royalty at home, and now a king crosses the ocean to put him to shame again.

    Parent
    I am guessing (none / 0) (#28)
    by JThomas on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 05:59:42 PM EST
    that Brown has not spent much time in Omaha,Nebraska so he made a slipup. Of course, I suppose there is always a chance that it is just another Obama conspiracy...mind control,right?

    Parent
    Ha. Maybe it will be renamed (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by Cream City on Sat Jun 06, 2009 at 10:06:19 PM EST
    Obamahaha.

    Parent
    Saturday Morning Open Thread | 31 comments (31 topical)

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