The refineries have very little to do with the price of gas, except, no refineries, no gas.
The Bolshecrat play book is that higher energy costs will force the public to sign on to their alternative clean sources. We have seen the success ethanol is. Junior has express dismay at how fast gas has gone up, not that it is too high. He will experience higher prices in his first term and that would mean no congress or second term. This will force him in his first congressional term raise taxes to subsidize the cost of gasoline, so that people will think he is doing something to bring down the price. Rationing will not be out of the question, but, that puts his failure into a form that people can see and feel. If he wants a second, if not a first, term he will go along with drilling.
The biggest problem the Bolshies have is their slavery to the environmental lobby. Windmills are suppose to be one of their great hopes. But, like everything else they do, they let the environmentalists dictate where. And, that is nowhere. Fat Ted won’t let them put windmills off Cape Cod.
Whups! I was being sarcastic but thank you for your input! :)