Can someone tell me in detail why they think Bush is responsible for high gas prices?
359449
I don't understand why people think that Bush (or any other president at any other time) is responsible for the price of oil or gas.  Things like wars, production, supply, and demand dictate the price of gas.  Not any given world leader.  \n\nTo blame one man or administration from ANY country for high gas prices is silly.  Believe it or not, our presidents have our best interests in minds (mostly) - the last thing they want to do is piss us off.
337915
First of all, we don't "have control" over Iraq's oil production.  We have a decent relationship with Iraq, but we do not control their natural resources.\n\nAlso, one of the main oil producing nation is IRAN, not Iraq.  And right now Bush is "evaluating" possible threats from Iran.  They are not our allies.  So everyone is scared of what might happen, so they jack up the prices just in case.\n\nThere is a supply and demand issue, which is why gas prices tend to go up on the weekends and over holidays, during the summer, etc.  Another problem is that the oil companies have learned that the market will support the high prices, so there is nothing to stop them.  I mean, how can they blame the increase on their costs rising when they made record profits last quarter??  Its not all a rise in cost, the oil companies are making KILLER profits.\n\nWhat can we do?  Short if walking, I don't know...
423907
It was for the oil... But, it's also Bush's fault that gas prices are so high.  President Bush is an evil genius but, he's also a complete moron.\n\nscience_rebel: Oil is only one word....
309909
If we do, it will be chump change aimed at getting us off his back. \n\nFact remains - Bush has ties to the Oil Industry. He isnt going to bite the hand that has fed him. He will talk a big game, but in the end, there will be no change.\n\nAlthough I am upset with the prices, I also must add that we do live in a capitalist society. The companies can charge whatever they want to charge us for gas, and the govt shouldnt be allowed to tell them to charge otherwise. This infringes on the rights of the companies under the free law of capitalism. IT IS OUR FIGHT TO FIGHT! We dont need to by gas from them if they are going to charge ridiculous prices. I understand that not everybody can take Pub Trans, but we can do our part to conserve gas and boycott companies. As a group (consumers) we need to organize and protest/boycott the companies that are raping our wallets. We cant expect the Govt to do a damn thing about it - they are in on it! Dont think for a moment that your (cuz he aint mine! I didnt vote for him!) President isnt getting rich from the price of oil right now too.....
1147879
Basically it comes down to supply and demand.  There is increasing demand for oil (mostly from developing countries like China and India, but demand in the US is increasing also).  OPEC is already producing near its capacity, coupled with no relatively new oil refineries having been built, this causes the an increasing demand against a slower (negligible) increase in supply of the refined oil used for gasoline.   Hurricane Katrina knocked out some production capacity which is still not completely up and running.  Also there are other less significant reasons such as the changing of fuel additives from mtbe to ethanol (this has been done for environmental reasons).  To put a few non-truths to bed...  The oil companies were NOT found to be doing any price gouging (illegally increasing prices beyond unreasonable economic fundamentals).  Second, everyone wants to blame President Bush for increasing prices when in fact he no longer has any personal investments in oil companies(he did this specifically to discredit these accusation most likely); in fact President Bush has probably more to lose from high oil prices than any other single individual alive.  He wants a strong economy, with little inflation and needs that help for party elections this fall.  If you want a specific group of people to blame, you should look at commodity traders themselves, they are the ones who control the international price changes from day to day and are the ones who fear supply disruptions (such as the one that occured in Africa, threats from Iran and Venezuela recently) and terrorists act which affect the flow of oil (the so called terror premium).
652235
Gas prices have nothing to do with a president.  Check the prices in the rest of the world.  You would blame who ever is in office.
341644
His behavior cannot be justified as it is based in greed. Not much is made of the memo here in the states by the so called liberal press. He was looking to go to war with Iraq any way he could but his decision is immersed in the oil fields not the people. He don't care about our people, why would he care about them.
361163
It bugs me too, Bush has screwed up Iraq, Gave tax breaks to the WEALTHY and is giving money to major companies whose CEO's make Millions a year. So what about the CEO of a huge company going into retirement comfortably, while the average Joe struggles? Gas prices are hard on me, Gas isn't cheap, and I'm drive alot, which in turn, burns gas. $3.00 a gallon isn't great at all, infact, IT SUCKS. If they keep going, my paycheck will mostly go to gas. Thats not fair. \n\nBush may of wanted to drill in Alaska, but he would ruin the envrionment, and alls the republicans care about it MONEY $$$$$, they don't give a crap about the envrionment. \n\nAll in all, This sucks, I say, don't let those CEO's get tax breaks, make them spend money, and make those will all the cash, help fix up the envrionment instead of spending it on a fancy boat, or an estate.
318339
This girl is full of crap. Bush screwed everything up. Don't give me that crap about how hard it is to be president, FDR didn't have a problem with it. \n\nI hate all these Bush sympathizers, give me a break. \n\nDon't you think if you have the most important job in the world, you should expect at least some responsibility. \n\nGas prices are through the roof and please don't give me that inflation adjusted crap. Nominal gas prices have always been way below inflation adjusted until recent years. Plus the value of the dollar has gone to hell. \n\nWe keep losing important jobs and gaining menial jobs thus skewing the jobs numbers. \n\nBin Laden is still out there, there are more terrorists than ever. Iraq is a mess and gets bombed everyday. \n\nWe are in the biggest deficit ever. EVER. EVER!\n\nAsk America, 33% approve, and that include republicans who disapprove.
143856
Mni...PLEASE! Conspiracy my A$$!\n\nThe Bush family is an oil Empire. They are close friends with many Saudi VIP's. They ARE profiting from the Iraqi war, and when a no-bid contract is awarded, it ain't because someone is giving a great price...somebody is getting their pockets lined. Who might that be?\n\n\nThat ain't no F'ing conspiracy, buddy!
927848
Gas futures rose as a result of the Democrats taking office, knowing full well that they do not comprehend the importance of this resource!\n\nThanks so much for asking! I'm glad I could clear that up for you!
574413
It very well could... when Bush Sr. gas prices were sky high and then Clinton came in and prices fell... demand didn't fall though... it's because of all the instability Bush Sr. and Jr. cause in the middle east. If you destabilize area you get a product from, the prices are going to be destabilized, usually resulting in much higher prices... it's basic economics...\n\nIf a new president decided on a less "attack oriented" middle eastern strategy, it could go a long way into stabilizing the market in the minds of those on the market, dropping prices drastically\n\nIt's about supply and demand... but not just simple gallons to drivers, it's about how that supply COULD be changed and war in Iran clearly would change supply (if they US attacked they would probably destroy their oil fields, therfore the oil supply would go down overall) ... \n\nthe threat of war is more than enough to spike gas prices, the supply doesn't have to change, only be threatened...  I mean if you look at when the prices started going up the last time, it was when Bush started talking about invading Iran, it's far from a coincidence, it's common sense... the demand numbers haven't changed drastically
531627
I really dislike George W. as president but the fact is HE doesn't control the gas prices. It is a common misconception, the president is blamed for everything. Ever heard of a concept called "price gouging?" Price gouging occurs when companies quit compeating to undercut each other's prices and simply rise them. i.e., Lets say one oil company raises the price of oil per gallon, usally other companies would try to make a better deal and undercut them. But durring a price gouging conspricy the competition simply raises their prices to. Hence they all make massive amounts of money. Unfortunitly we cant do anything at all about it, considering 80 percent of america's oil comes from forengn contries.. and price gouging is only illegal in america
1125603
President Bush was put in a situation that no President has been in in a long time (Pearl Harbor)--when the United States was attacked on their own soil. We take for granted that we are surrounded by the ocean and idiots (Canada, Mexico, and Cuba, for example.) We had to send a message to the world that the United States will not sit around and be attacked. While the gas prices have jumped considerably since his Presidency started, it isn't entirely his fault. He has tried to drill in Alaska for oil but the Democrats will not let him. While he may have a big stake in the gas and oil industry, he certainly doesn't need the extra money from it. I would say that for all that he has had to deal with he has done a tremendous job.
957714
Bush,his father, and friends have been in the oil business for decades.  They are all in it for the money, and have a long history of stopping anything that is an alternative, the Rife Microscope for one.  If it is not oil, coal, natural gas etc., you can bet Bush will do anything in his power to oppose it.
550693
Because when it comes to energy, you get it from where ever you can as cheaply as you can.  This is why Bush invaded Iraq after all.  So he can have cheap oil for his Families Oil Companies, so they can sell the oil products to Americans at high prices and become even richer and more powerful than they already are!
386567
Let's take a look at a few facts.  First, the cost of crude oil for each gallon of gas sold in this country has gone up from about 35 cents per gallon in 1999 to $1.59 per gallon in 2006.   So ... crude oil prices go up by 454% over a period of seven years.  How much did gas prices go up during the same period?  Try 162%.  Looks to me like things could be worse.\n\nSo ... did George Bush set those crude oil prices?  Did the oil companies go out there and set the prices that high?  Helllloooo!  Do you think the oil producing countries like Saudi Arabia might have had anything to do with it?  Is it possible that the ever-increasing worldwide demand for crude oil was a factor?  How about the fact that oil exploration slowed several years ago when crude was selling for under $20 a barrel?  Now that the price is so much higher many more companies are getting into the exploration business ... but it takes somewhere around 5 years from discovery of an oil deposit to actual production.  The price of oil didn't start its uphill swing until about 2004.  Do the math.  You also have the fact that oil is a commodity that is traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange.  Traders have much to do about setting prices.  Do you suppose that George Bush is calling these traders in to coach them on just what those prices should be?  That's what the Democrats want you to believe.\n\nIn short, when supplies increase and demand decreases.