In 2008, average gasoline prices had hit inflation-adjusted records nationally by the summer, but they didn’t climb above $3.50 a gallon across the U.S. that year until April 21, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. It happened again last year, but not until March 6.
But $3.50 a gallon gasoline is already here in 2012, weeks before refineries typically shut down for springtime maintenance, and weeks before the states switch from their less expensive winter blends of gasoline to more complicated and pricier summer blends.
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It is obvious to anyone paying attention that President Obama has chosen “green” energy over fossil fuels. What do we have to show for the president’s meddling in the market? A sluggish economy, billions wasted on bankrupt solar companies and persistently high gasoline prices. These are not separate issues. They are all tied together by a common thread…the Obama Policies.
By the summer, a sluggish economy and sky-high gasoline will spell doom for his re-election bid.
What a difference eight years can make. USA Today paper has a big headline that says “Romney’s returns show he’s elite 1%”. These were not issues when John Kerry was running. It’s almost like they are being driven by the White House’s political narrative. At the very least, it shows that reporters are not driving the news…which begs the question. Who is?
Liberals questioning Republicans
Start with Herman Cain who wants to simplify taxes and bring down debt
Rick Perry touting bipartisan support to balance budgets in Texas. He is talking about jobs in the energy sector.
Romney says he can lead, unlike Obama.
Perry’s plan: back to domestic energy. Reduce regulation. Says Romney has been running for 6 years.
Michelle Bachman: asked about Wall Street executives not going to jail. As she tries to explain that the problem is Washington, she was interrupt by the liberal questioner.
The question is transferred to Newt Gingrich who agrees with Michelle Bachman. Newt then goes after the media.
Ron Paul is then asked about the Fed. He says the artificial booms are the problem.
Rick Santorum’s turn: says manufacturing jobs if the business climate is changed. Zero percent tax on manufacture and get rid of regulations. Then agrees with Perry about domestic energy jobs. He says his plan is the only one that has a chance to pass.
Huntsman talks of innovation and free markets.
(more…)
My bumper sticker taken from Romney’s new talking point
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in
Election on July 6th, 2011
Tim Pawlenty is not flashy, but he has the guts to tell the Iowa voters that he would reduce ethanol subsidies.
Take note that Pawlenty is a Midwesterner and many of the talking heads think he must do well in Iowa to have a chance. That logic is probably right, but he didn’t play politics. He stuck to his convictions and said what needed to be said.
We don’t need flash. We have flash. What we need is an adult who can assess a situation and find a workable solution. After the narcissism of an Hawaiian Ivy Leaguer, Midwestern temperament is the change I am hoping for.
I like the other candidates, but my support is leaning toward Pawlenty.
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in
Election on June 16th, 2011
RomneyCare…ObamaCare…there’s not much of a difference. Let’s just call it OmneyCare.
So if you want a preview of what we are all in for, read how RomneyCare has effected Massachusetts.
A new survey released yesterday by the Massachusetts Medical Society reveals that fewer than half of the state’s primary care practices are accepting new patients, down from 70% in 2007, before former Governor Mitt Romney’s health-care plan came online. The average wait time for a routine checkup with an internist is 48 days. It takes 43 days to secure an appointment with a gastroenterologist for chronic heartburn, up from 36 last year, and 41 days to see an OB/GYN, up from 34 last year…read more
These are not short term effects. These plans will effect decisions of our brightest students just entering college. This will effect medical students selecting a specialty. This will effect older doctors who are near retirement.
Mitt’s time was 2008 and he lost. It is my opinion that his campaign is over before it even starts.
H.T. Betsy’s Page
David Wecht is running for Superior Judge in Pennsylvania and he recently said this at a fund raiser:
Pull away the varnish and gloss of the Republican leadership and all it comes down to is one simple word – greed
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If you were a Republican or a business owner, you could bet that justice is not blind while Wecht sits on the bench.
Other speakers in at the event complained about balance because the Republicans swept the last election. Strange how we didn’t hear about “balance” from these guys when the Democrats were in power.
Maybe your dopey supporters buy your bull, but the rest of the state just got done throwing you out on your ass.
I like Paul Ryan. He is smart. He is articulate. He has a lot of the traits I am looking for in a president, but I don’t want him to run…yet.
Paul Ryan needs to focus on his plan to cut spending and reform entitlements. The nation needs him to be successful. There are many aspects of running for president that will endanger the success of they Ryan mission.There will be distractions about his personal life. There will be non-stop fund raising and traveling.
It will be real evidence of leadership if Paul Ryan can get the majority of his plan through. If he can reform entitlements, he will be the first person from the House to have earned my support for President. So my adivce to Representative Ryan: Stay in Washington and “get her done”.
Interesting…How Donor Disclosure Hurts Democracy
Instead of full disclosure…no disclosure. If politicians don’t know where the money came from, they can’t pay back favors or punish opponents.
I like it, but how do you make it work here in the real world.
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in
Election on April 12th, 2011
Republicans were soundly defeated in 2006. The voters spoke loudly and said they expect Republicans to be fiscally conservative. Republicans replied,
” We were wrong and lost our way. We will do better.”
Democrats were soundly defeated in 2010 (that didn’t take long). The voters spoke and said they expect Democrats to be fiscally conservative. They replied,
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in
Election on March 14th, 2011
I have heard too many times that their is no difference between the Republicans and the Democrats. What a joke.
Look a Madison Wisconsin where the Republicans finally are in control of the government. They are standing up to the unions. The Democrats wouldn’t do that.
It’s the same story in Ohio. The new Republican majority is also standing up to the unions.
Chris Christie in New Jersey has been at it with the teacher’s union for over a year.
No difference? It took tax and spend Democrats in those bankrupt states to wake the voters up. Now elected Republican leaders are willing to stand tall and Democrats are running away.
There is a huge difference between Republicans and Democrats.
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in
Election on February 22nd, 2011
In the comment section at Amazon about the book, “The Myth of the Rational Voter”
Voting is not like shopping – it is more like making use of a commons, because the costs of a “bad” vote are borne by the public at large, and the chance of an individual casting the deciding vote is tiny…by Nicole
I haven’t read the book, but that is an interesting theory.
The tragedy of the commons is a theory that was first described in 1832 by William Forster Lloyd who wondered why the cows that grazed in common areas were so “puny and stunted” and the meadows so barren (read more). The simple answer: Self-interest (a human condition). When an areas is unowned, individuals use up the resources and everyone is hurt.
Applied to voters…voters know that their contribution (their vote) is of little consequence to the outcome of the election. They don’t “own” the results so they vote for what makes them feel good (their self interest). There is little worry about what is good public policy. Little or no effort to make a could voting decision is made by a huge majority of the voters. They are unaware that there feel-good vote is like the cows that overgraze leaving all puny and stunted.
Sadly, “Get Out The Vote” efforts only amplify this problem.
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in
Election on February 17th, 2011
After the 2000 election, a map became popular with conservatives. It was labeled “Bush Country” and it showed that most of the land area was filled with Bush voters. The Democrats live in the populated urban areas on the coast.
8 years later, the country voted for hope and change. Where are we now? The animated map below shows that we haven’t changed much since 2000.
Posted by: The Elephant Owner in
Election on December 3rd, 2010
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