[FerdieMurphy]

The time to have done something about the current "gouging" by OPEC nations has long passed.

Drilling in the "Pristine" Arctic Wilderness should have begun long ago. The same is true of the drilling in the Gulf and off the coast of California.

America's grievances would be appropriately laid at the feet of this repulsive congress which is full of those socialists who want the nation in tatters.

[texastoo]

I remember when ol man Bush (HW) said Americans should pay $4.50 to $5.00 a gallon just like the Europeans. His dream is now coming true.

[wolfcreek]

As much concern that exist over the price of gas, there is also apathy. One person recently interviewed on a local Austin,TX. station suggested, if you can't afford a few more dollars for gas, maybe you should think about finding a 'better' job. {:>{

[glockmeister40]

It appears that the president wants a democratic congress and senate in 2006. Saying there is little he can do just pisses people off. His comments show a callous disregard for common people.

Hydrogen? You gotta be kidding me. Bio-diesel and E-85.

[Bikers4Bush]

The more her speaks the more foolish he sounds. There's a lot that could be done, they just aren't willing to do it.

[hawkaw]

Drilling in the "Pristine" Arctic Wilderness should have begun long ago. The same is true of the drilling in the Gulf and off the coast of California.

I keep reading this over and over and over again. Screw that place. Start exploring and drilling like crazy off the shores of Florida, the South and of course California. That is where it's at. And tell all those who object to go stuff it.

Just my thoughts.

Up here in Canada, we went for it in off the shoreline in Newfoundland in the 1990s. The province now has two oil fields and the province is turning a corner. The province is trying for a third, heavy oil field, but negoiations are still going on since Newfoundland wants a better royality.

[kevkrom]

High oil prices are only part of the problem. We badly need more refinery capacity in this country. We import gasoline, not just oil, becuase we can't refine enough for our own use...

[from occupied ga]

President Bush on Friday acknowledged the pain but seemed resigned to being able to do little about it.

This is the correct answer. Bush isn't setting the prices, international demand is setting the prices. If you can't affort the gas drive and whine less. Give up beer, cigarettes, eating out, and lotto tickets if you don't want to drive less.

I saw some twits/losers being "interviewed" (read crying) about gas prices on the local news. Every single one of them had fairly new vehicles (Ie less than 5 years old) They could have saved a lot by driving older vehicles.

I may go for a lighter smaller vehicle myself (although not necessarily to save gas).

[satchmodog9]

Oil refineries on those bases would be a good start. We get lip service because they really don't want to do anything. Bush could end the politics on this issue right now if he spoke out. he is letting the RATs demagogue the issue. He needs to go to the people and explain that liberal policies always stop progress. If he doesn't, he stands to lose everything for his party. He needs to cut this off politically before it gets out of hand and the GOP gets hammered at the polls. Maybe that's what he wants?

[craig_eddy]

I heard that 75% of the sheeple are upset with Bush because he's not doing enough to curb gas prices. I guess they think our economy is modeled after France's or China's, where the government controls the markets.

Further proof of the utter failure of our government education.

[rhombus]

Did anyone actually read a quote from Bush that was similar to this headline?

[unixfox]

Nothing can be done:

No drilling in ANWR - check
No new refineries - check
No energy policy - check
No fuel tax relief - check
No border controls - check

[longtermmemmory]

This screams for using this to drill and anwar and approve new refineries.

[Alberta's Child]

OPEC hasn't had any serious ability to control oil prices in years -- especially here in the U.S. It's worth noting that Canada and Mexico -- neither of which is an OPEC country -- are two of our three largest foreign suppliers of oil. And Canada passed Saudi Arabia a few years ago as the largest.

What people don't seem to realize is that increasing our domestic oil production isn't going to help in the long run. Oil -- like just about every other product and service we use in this country -- will be more expensive to produce here in the U.S. than anywhere else in the world.

[HamiltonJay]

"if we find any price gouging it will be dealt with firmly."

BS!!! Absolute BS... Futures manipulation is the main thing contributing to high gas prices, and just like Bubba told the SEC don't you dare go after the manipulators in the stock market in the late 90s.... they are not going to be prosecuted by this administration either. End Futures Energy Trading immediately... the market is simply too corrupt.

[snowrip]

Bush said that lowering America's dependance on foreign oil imports will help reduce the country's vulnerability to global oil price fluctuations.

What a gutless, gutless bastard. The republicans have had all three brnches locked up for six years, and have done nothing.

When Bush was elected, I thought to myself "This is a chance to put our country back on course. This is a fighting chance for America's future." When I think of how far they could have taken this country back in the right direction... how much Clinton-era destruction they could have fixed, how many democrat, big-government policies they could have undone, how much liberal government weakness and malaise they could have cured, and how much healthier they could have made our country... When I consider how much power the good guys have, and how they have not only done nothing with it but have also turned into a bunch of gutless, whining, cringing children who are about to turn America back over to the democrats... It is utterly crushing.

[Vision]

This will surely send his approval ratings even higher

[MinuteGal]

What on earth is wrong with the President?

Even if there isn't a thing in the world a chief executive can do about gas prices, you grab the mike at the bully pulpit and pretend you can, for gosh sakes.

In Bush's shoes today, Klintoon would be all over the tube jawboning the fuel crisis to death to make it look like he was doing something.

The politically-tone deaf and detached Bush wouldn't "stoop" to do an iota of this......which is why the public will vote DemoRat in the mid-term election.

I feel like I'm going mad.

Leni

[Uncle Vlad]

And don't forget the reserves in Colorado and Utah that are themselves larger than the reserves in the entire Middle East. The Republicans have not led on this issue. They've kowtowed to the liberals and the environmental extremists, and will pay the ultimate price in November and beyond. And so will we.

[Prysson]

If there is anything that can truely damage the GOP's prospects in 06 I think rising energy costs is it. If people start paying 3$ plus at the pump regularlly they are going to start screaming and a do nothing congress isnt going to impress anyone..neither will hearing where self important boobs sit around and scold oil execs for "excessive profits".

[liberallarry]

Am I correct that oil was at $12/barrel in '98? If so can anyone explain how things have changed so fast? Are the basics - supply and demand - so difficult to gauge and predict?