[kabar]

You did however insinuate that the jawboning comment was never made. And in the context of it, he was suggesting that the president at time didn't have the contacts or the gravitas in place to move oil prices and a simple phone call from the most powerful man in the world would make a difference.

I was responding to your comment, "Then candidate Bush said he would call his friends the Saudi's to turn the taps on." and asked for the source. I also said that Bush has jawboned the Saudis and OPEC. The operative word is "jawboned." Our options are limited even for "the most powerful man in the world."

And while after the meetin in Texas, the drop in prices was short lived.

Yes, market forces have a way of doing that. The price of oil will go down again from its present high. The more expensive it becomes, the less people will use. As demand goes down, so will the price. When demand increases because of the cheaper price, the price will go up again. It is part of the market cycle. Unfortunately, world demand is increasing from new requirements originating from the growing economies and affluence of China and India. Supply is having a hard time keeping up with this new demand.

[joesbucks]

Our options are limited even for "the most powerful man in the world."

Then why even make the comment in 2000? My guess was two things: Inferring the current President was too weak and didn't have the contacts to have enough muscle to make things happen and when President he could make something happen.

Now we're left with the old saw of options are limited for the most powerful man in the world. I knew that back in 2000. Didn't the man who made the comment realize that or was it simply a sound bite?

AGain, in 2000 it was market forces. Candidate Bush suggested market forces could be influenced by him contacting OPEC folks to produce more supply.