NBC nightly news: "$4.00/gallon gasoline a real possibility"

[Bluebear]

Oil futures have eclipsed even Hurricane Katrina levels, as the industry is pre-occupied with what will come of the Iran situation.

[joemurphy]

1. That happens and the Repubbies are out for sure.

I'd see us getting the trifecta: The House, The Senate, and the Presidency by 2008

[acmavm]

4. I agree. Hit Joe Repuke in his wallet and take away his gasoline,

he will be one unhappy puppy.

[cliss]

10. ...and the timing

is critical. We're moving closer to the driving season, when gas prices typically spike anyway.

As we approach the elections, the average Republican is going to think about gas prices.....his eyes will narrow as he thinks about Bush the Oil man....and he's going to vote.....

[atfqn]

62. I don't think so.

I think they are just preparing the sheeple for the future when prices do go above and beyond the $4.00 mark. We will have been forewarned and there will be continued grumbling but little to no rioting.

[lastliberalintexas]

63. Not the ones I know

As long as the republicans play the religion card, promise to keep the homosexual agenda in check and at least pretend to make attempts to criminlize abortion, they'll still have enough votes to keep many of the gerrymandered seats of the House.

[BeyondGeography]

2. Another one of Junior's great gifts to America

Tear up Kyoto, invade Iraq and forget about developing any sort of responsible energy policy.

And let's remember Cheney's pre-9/11 quote about conservation being an interesting "lifestyle choice" while we're at it.

[dogday]

3. That picture speaks volumes, does it not?

Freak you and the horse you rode in on Sir!!!!! He could not care less about us....

[Zech Marquis]

5. it's not even May yet

but the gas prices are skyrocketing AGAIN...something's definitely up my friends :-(

[Warpy]

6. I haven't owned anything with more than 4 cylinders since 1969

but I have a great deal of sympathy for folks who do, especially folks with big car loans and a negative tradein value plus a long commute to work.

Forewarned is forearmed, and anyone who didn't heed the warnings we started getting in the 1970s when the degree of our dependence on foreing oil became obvious to us all is going to be hurt quite badly.

[tridim]

7. I've already set my vacation travel cutoff at $3.00

Looks like I won't be able to visit the parents this summer. Thank you Mr. oil-man president.

$4.00 gas will devastate the US economy. Not that Bush or his oil buddies give a shit. It's all bank to them.

[EVDebs]

8. Zinc Air Fuel Cells are the way to go...

eVionyx.com and other researchers like Arotech's bus are a better way than platinum-based PEM hydrogen fuel cells. Of course BushCo is steering everything into hydrogen since it stretches out the fossil fuel/Middle Eastern oil "jones" longer than necessary.

Biodiesel for trucks etc. and we've got a rational conservation program. Why bother with Iran ? In another thirty or so years they'll wish they hadn't picked nuclear power.

[Coastie for Truth]

9. At four dollars a gallon - a new logo atop Detroit's Ren Cen (GM HQ)

<>

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

11. Can you smell insider trading?

They decide when to make menacing noises and when to sound peaceful. In short, thay can raise and lower the price of oil on a whim.

They have monied friends in position to profit from knowing such things in advance.

Mmmmmmm.

[Bluebear]

16. Oh without a doubt. nt

[WI_DEM]

12. $4/ gallon gas will probably mean both houses of congress

switching to Dems and $3/gallon probably means at least one house of congress with big gains in the other.

[-..__...]

58. $4.00 + per gallon.

Would have a devastating effect on the repugs control of Congress.
A lot of voters might dismiss Iraq, Abramoff, immigration, homeland security and the constitution, etc.

Fuck with their ability to travel and/or drive, and they will let their displeasure be known.

[Deja Q]

64. When the 1994 baseball strike occurred, guess how long it took?

For people to return to the benches as if nothing at all ever happened...

Sorry to be cynical. But people will pay for what they want. Even if they don't realize it's a need.

Maybe if the government took neighboring businesses and reclassified them as residential... rather than the other way around as they are doing... we could resolve a big chunk of our energy usage there and then.

:dunce:

[chaumont58]

13. $4.00/gallon before the end of the month

It's going to happen.

[mcscajun]

14. When gas prices hit $4.00, the summer tourist industry is going to Yell

bloody murder, as people stay very close to home this year.

Meanwhile, watch for price spikes in nearly everything else, as just about everything we buy is shipped by truck.

[KAZ]

19. 2 weeks before Memorial Day.

It will fall off after that, then rise again (slightly) throughout the summer.

[intheflow]

43. Well, if people can't get to the big tourist places,

say, like the national forests, then there will be fewer witnesses to the mass logging and other natural resource exploitation the administration plans. Vicious cycle. :grr:

[Cant_wait_for_2008]

50. Trucks, Jets and Locomotives all burn distillate fuels, so no matter

what transport is used, the costs are going to go, up, up and away !!

[mcscajun]

61. Precisely my point.

Many people are only thinking cars and people...I'm thinking goods and cargo.

[raccoon]

52. In states, cities, counties where tourism is a big industry,

not only will they be screaming bloody murder, but those states, etc., won't take in as much tax revenue.

Therefore, they'll have to cut their budgets. They'll cut services, and some government workers might have to be laid off.

Thanks, Bushco.

[LibDemAlways]

15. We're already well on the way.

I paid $3.35 in Southern CA this morning.

[Justice Is Comin]

17. Yowza

Imagine what could have been with Al Gore our president. We'd damn near be on totally alternative energy by now.

[stevedeshazer]

27. Jimmy Carter was way out in front

We'd have had a quarter century of lead time if not for Ronald Reagan.

[Bluebear]

21. Yikes!

[Earth_First]

18. I'm sick and tired of individuals "speculating" prices...

And causing futures frenzies.

[Bluebear]

20. I think the opposite was true in this report.

The commentator was explaining what pricing implication the current futures price portends.

[tjdee]

22. And people will suck it up and pay it.

Every day of last summer I saw people lined up at the gas pumps. After Katrina people went and waited for the gas. They need to get to work, they are doing their work, whatever.

And they grumble, and complain, and do nothing. It's ridiculous.

Americans have what they deserve, overall. I wish they'd get with it and wake up.

[Pirate Smile]

47. What are their options? Pay to move next to your work? Buy a new

hybrid? These options cost $$$.

What exactly do you want people to do? Many places in the country don't have mass transportation.

You can drop the extras but there are many places you have to drive to that just aren't optional right now.

[BiggJawn]

54. I'm awake.

What is your Bidding, my Master?
Yes, I need to get to work. Living out of the back of my vehicle in my job's parking garage is not an option.

And I grumble, and I complain, *AND* I vote for Democrats, and NOTHING changes. THAT is what's "ridiculous".

[YouthInAsia]

23. I paid $3.04 today in Philly. n/t

[screembloodymurder]

24. They started predicting $3.00+ gas about a month

before oil prices started back up. The price of gas is being manipulated.

[Jamison]

25. $4.00/gal. won't be the end of it.

I would not be shocked to see $8-$9/gal. by labor day.

[Delphinus]

28. Any particular reason why? n/t

[Jamison]

31. 2 words

WORLD UNREST

This is the excuse they're using now, and the oil companies will milk it for all it's worth.

[Bluebear]

33. And the oil-soaked First Fmaily will profit from unrest they contribute to

[raccoon]

53. That happens, and the economy goes ALL the way down the toilet. nt

[Media_Lies_Daily]

26. It's time for a general strike....

...if nothing moves, the oil companies don't get paid.

They need to be made to understand that they are the tail trying to wag the dog.

[Cant_wait_for_2008]

51. Never happen, no way!

4.00 a gallon is here to stay.:(

[RagAss]

29. hahahaaa....Freedom is on the March .....!

[Mr.Green93]

30. Nationalize the oil companies

NOW!

[misanthrope]

32. The GOP line will be...

..."Blame it all on locals and enviro-whackos. The tree-huggers scare the average citizen into prohibiting the development of new refineries. If we could increase our refining capacity, we could lower gas prices, but everyone has 'Not-In-My-Back-Yard' Syndrome.'"

Nowhere in the mainstream media will you hear it discussed that big corporations mostly get what they want. No one wants other industries in their backyard, but no one is slowing that down either. My Lord, if the average Joe can't stop Wal-Mart from settling in their neck of the woods (and believe me PLENTY have tried without much success), then they surely can't stop Exxon or British Petroleum. Wealthy corporations own government on every level. In almost every instance, they can get what they want and when they want it.

Besides, if an increase in refining capacity would make gas prices drop, then what incentive is there for oil companies to do so? So they can shrink profit margins? It can't be to make consumption increase because it's already going full bore. You won't hear little Brian Williams talk about that tidbit, though.

And if shipping costs increase, what will be their answer to keep prices down? You got it; more jobs head offshore to the cheapest sweatshops they can find.

The only way to possibly stave off what is heading our way is to dramatically reduce consumption on a widespread scale...and that just ain't gonna' happen by choice with American appetites the way they are presently.

Even scarier is how this is going to affect hurricane evacuations and preparation in a cycle of increasing storm intensity and frequency. We could have a situation that will make Katrina look like a walk in the park before the end of decade.

[lonestarnot]

34. Off subject, but I have about 6 or 8 of these pics glued to my window

panes... heehehehe... See how the bushitler neighbor likes his vote now.

[Mr_Spock]

35. Ouch! The only side benefit is that the Repukes look feeble

They are pouring millions of dollars a day into an oil producing nation with nothing to show for it. Really, really bad management.

[Bozita]

36. Onions, potatoes, heavy produce prices up - paid $2 for 3lb onions

Why am I thinking that fuel prices have something to do with it?

[paul_fromatlanta]

37. Gas always goes up in summer even without hurricanes or war with iran

[Bluebear]

38. Yes, yes it does. But never before to $4.00

Who can afford this?

[paul_fromatlanta]

39. That was my point - its already a high base and a time when gas always goe

goes up more. Throw in a bad hurricane or bombing in Iran and we may wish gas was only $4 a gallon.

[GuvWurld]

40. $3.13 today in Eureka, CA

[Stand and Fight]

41. I miss Eureka... That's where I enlisted in the Army in '99.

I've since gotten out, but I don't soon forget Eureka with the courageous actions that Arcata has taken. Especially in regards to this administration and its foreign and domestic policy. You're lucky to be there, but I do feel for the high price you're paying for gas. It's 2.80 here and this is in the heart of oil country... America will be hurting because of their boy king.

[GuvWurld]

66. $3.23 in Eureka, CA today (2 days later) - this is the cheap stuff too

n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

42. And when he nukes Iran, the price will skyrocket. The Bush/Cheney/

Rumsfeld cartel will smile. All according to plan...

[radfringe]

44. the higher the prices go

the lower the approval numbers for bush and GOPers

most of the people I work with are only peripherally aware of the political issues

However - when things like gas hit them in their pockets...they get angry.

I had mentioned last week, a few of them cornered me and asked why gas was so high and going up. They also asked about impeachment process.

around the lunch table - conversations are usually about football, basketball, hunting, fishing and Nascar. Now it's sprinkled with complaints about gas prices, the economy (i.e. when are we going to see the trickle?), Iraq-mess, bombing Iran and how bush/GOPers are screwing us.

if this isn't a sign that the tide has turned - I don't know what is

[Pirate Smile]

48. Right. This is one thing everyone notices and it pisses them off to no

end.

This will kill the Republicans in November but it will cause a lot of pain along the way.

[DarkTirade]

45. Well, it's a good thing that I'm weaning my way into my day job...

which can mostly be done from home at my computer. :)
That, and I drive a Honda Accord. And as soon as I can afford it, I'll probably upgrade to something even more fuel-efficient.

[megatherium]

46. Is demand exceeding refinery capacity currently?

Is world oil demand exceeding world oil production?

My impression is that US demand is about 20 million barrels a day, as is refinery capacity. My impression is that global demand and production capacity are now within 1 or 2 million barrels of each other, at about 85 million barrels per day.

The current price spike might be manipulation. But we might be entering an era where no conspiracy is necessary to drive prices sky-high.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

49. I saw Premium yesterday for $3.20 yesterday at a Mobil, Westchester Co. NY

[Cooley Hurd]

56. Up in Peru, NY (near Plattsburgh), it was the same price...

:grr:

[Zynx]

65. Be prepared to see higher than that.

[AzDar]

55. We went over 3.00 a gallon (inexplicably), here in Phoenix as of this A.M.

Bend over and grab the ankles....

[progressivebydesign]

57. They trot this out every summer.

it's the TRADERS that are causing this issue.. the cost of oil/gas is not going up in actuality, it's the TRADING and SPECUATION that is doing this. Cuz if it were actual costs, then the fatcat oil companies would not make a killing every time the prices go up. THEIR costs are NOT going up... only ours. We have a useless oil man in the white house who refuses to intervene with the robber baron oil companies. They are making multi BILLION dollar profits in each QUARTER that the prices have been jacked up.

[Supersedeas]

59. the Harken legacy....when an oil man becomes Presnit

[Orsino]

60. US4$/gal an INEVITABILITY.

Demand's increasing, and the supply's shrinking. Why are the media still feigning surprise?

Until the demand eases, prices can only go up.

[Imagevision]

67. Try $4.50! - Brooklyn gas station floors it...

oil prices soar above $72 per barrel. In other news, gas prices in Norway expected to soar to $8.80 per gallon this summer.
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/410113p-346997c...