Candidate GWB "I would work with our friends in OPEC"

[LincolnMcGrath]

“I would work with our friends in OPEC to convince them to open up the spigot, to increase the supply. Use the capital that my administration will earn, with the Kuwaitis or the Saudis, and convince them to open up the spigot.”

Source: Katherine Q. Seelye, NY Times Jun 28, 2000

Q: The Energy Secretary said he would not tap US strategic petroleum reserves in order to drive down prices saying those reserves are for emergencies. But given the shortages that exist, do you consider this an appropriate time to tap those reserves?

A: No, I don’t. I agree with the energy secretary that the strategic petroleum reserve is meant for a national wartime emergency. What I think the president ought to do is get on the phone with the OPEC cartel and say we expect you to open your spigots. One reason why the price is so high is because the price of crude oil has been driven up. OPEC has gotten its supply act together and it’s driving the price, like it did in the past. And the president must jawbone OPEC members to lower the price. And if in fact there is collusion amongst big oil, he ought to intercede there as well.

Source: GOP Debate in Manchester NH Jan 26, 2000


BTW The so-called-liberal-media seemed to miss the fact that * FLIP FLOPPED on whether a president should tap into the SPR before an election. :eyes:

Bush assailed Gore’s suggestion as “bad public policy,” and accused the vice president of trying to manipulate a national strategic asset for political purposes. The reserves are “an insurance policy meant for sudden disruptions of the oil supply. It should not be used for political gain at the expense of national security.”

Source: CNN.com Sep 21, 2000

In the midst of a tight Presidential race and with oil prices around $50 per barrel, the Energy Dept. releases crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Source: businessweek.com OCTOBER 11, 2004


WHY OH WHY DOES IT TAKE A SINGLE FATHER OF 3 TO DO THE JOB OF THE So Called Liberal Media?

[RobertSeattle]

1. Don't forget the "Jawbone" comment from 2000

Speaking to more than 2,000 people at the University of Houston, Kerry said Bush broke a 2000 campaign pledge to put pressure on oil-producing nations to increase production and to "jawbone" OPEC nations to that end.

Yep, that jawbone is working real well!

(There are better links - I didn't have the time)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-04-22-kerry-saudi_x.htm

[LincolnMcGrath]

3. Thanks RobertSeattle

The Bush-Bandar relationship is personal as well as political!

The Saudi ambassador attended the unveiling of former President George H.W. Bush's official portrait when he returned to the White House in 1995. He was among the guests at a surprise 75th birthday party in 2000 for former first lady Barbara Bush, and the former president has vacationed at Bandar's home in Aspen, Colo.

Bandar has been a guest at the Bush ranch in Crawford, Texas. Just last year he presented the first family with a C.M. Russell painting, a gift worth $1 million that will be stored in the National Archives, along with other presents from well-wishers destined for a Bush presidential library.

Source: USAToday 4/22/2004

[MisterP]

8. he didn't mean "talking" by "jawboning"

[LincolnMcGrath]

9. Why won't the media do their job on this?

Since they are so liberal and always attacking *!

[wli]

2. because there's no liberal media, just reich wing propaganda fronts n/t

[LincolnMcGrath]

4. $2.87 dollar a gallon Kick

[Carla in Ca]

5. That's funny...He would work with his 'friends'

of OPEC? Iran is the second-largest supplier to OPEC, at 3.5 million barrels a day. I guess we can count on that lie/promise as much as his assurances of cooperation with Mexico because he was (was being the key word here) such great friends with Vincente Fox!

[LincolnMcGrath]

6. This IMHO is the 'aisle crossing' issue.

I think it should be pushed to the hilt. Maybe even an action alert media blast. Everyone is feeling it in the wallet.

If anyone has * quotes relating to his bashing of Clinton's energy policy I would be much appreciative! :hug:

[Carla in Ca]

11. Yes, pushed to the hilt, but R's will remain silent

From an article by Public Citizen, March 2004:

Because of the oil company mergers, it created just a handful of oil monopolies that control significant chunks of the market. That has created price-gouging. The lack of investigation may be explained by the more than $67 million the industry has contributed to politicians since 1999-with 79% going to republicans. They also spend $50 million lobbying Congress and the WH each year.
Gasoline prices are rising because of uncompetitive actions, not environmental regulations, as the WH likes to argue.
So, the industry is consolidating and since 2001, * has been moving more than 100,000 barrels of oil a day from the market to stock the SPR pushing it to 90% capacity.

Would it be worth pursuing oil company contributions to R's, showing them as complicit? Allowing the mergers, not investigating price-gouging?
All Dem candidates should hit hard on this.

[LincolnMcGrath]

12. The right wing spin machine can run with a half truth, or even an outright

lie, totally unchecked by the MSM. Why do our media representatives ( I won't name S Estrich or P Begala here because that would be wrong) of the last 5-6 years seem as inert as a eunuch at an orgie?


And do not even get me started on A From! :mad:

[Carla in Ca]

14. I know, I know

but that is why it should be a big part of each Dem campaign in '06...every one of them. And every debate as well.

[LincolnMcGrath]

7. Black Gold Texas Tea - Kick

[Mr Rabble]

10. Thanks Lincoln! nt

[LincolnMcGrath]

13. Late night Kick

[oasis]

15. Giant spigot kick.