U.S. Consumers Wince as Gas Prices Hit Record

[True_Blue]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - These days, every time Isaac Maiselman fills the gas tank of his Ford Explorer, he wishes he had enough money to buy a more fuel-efficient car.

"It's a pain, but you know, there is absolutely nothing you can do about it," Maiselman said as he pumped $35.50 worth of regular gasoline -- at $2.19 a gallon -- into his large sport utility vehicle in downtown Washington.

Though he's only been driving for three years, Maiselman, 19, can remember when it only cost half as much to fill up his truck. And he is painfully aware of what higher gas prices mean when you drive an SUV.

"I get 13 miles a gallon," he says simply.

more....
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=reutersEdge&storyID=2005-03-17T192309Z_01_N17150053_RTRIDST_0_PICKS-ECONOMY-GASOLINE-DC.XML

[karlrschneider]

1. Where's that itty bitty violin....

Ah, yeah...


:nopity:

;-)

[Benhurst]

6. Bye, bye, Miss American Pie!

:nopity:

[Newsjock]

2. Send that snot-nosed 19yo off to Iraq

What business does that little snot have driving an Explorer anyway? You can always sell the thing on eBay if Mommy Buffy and Daddy Biff aren't giving you enough allowance money to keep it full of gas.

It's people like this who sometimes make we wonder why I should even bother trying to save this nation.

Yes, I'm angry.

[bilgewaterbill]

3. I drive 1000 miles per week.

Even at 35 mpg, these prices are KILLING me.

[AG78]

4. Unless he absolutely needs that vehicle

couldn't he get rid of it, and get something more efficient? Or maybe not. I've given up trying to understand human reality. It makes me tired and depressed trying to figure it out.

[SaveAmerica]

10. That's my question too

He lives in DC - I say get rid of it and take the metro. If I'm not mistaken you can get around easily on it.

[leesa]

5. Good. I hope they keep going up and up. Americans deserve the pain.

[LynnTheDem]

7. Dear US Consumers; You're not DYING for the oil, so just

STFU.

Thanks.

[Erika]

8. Our standard of living is reduced and our income redistributed

to Bush's big oil friends. Yes, these SUV vehicles are contributing to our fight for oil, oh I mean our war on terror. I forgot Bushspeak for a minute.

[LynnTheDem]

11. Ain't it a hoot how the rightwingnuttery thought they'd be special

in bushWorld. Oops nope, only bush's base, the Haves and Have-Mores get special love from bush. The rest of the great American unwashed masses get shat on, Dem, Indy and rethug alike.

SURPRISE, bushbots!

[CAG]

9. The SUV crowd always seems to whine the most

ITS THEIR OWN D**N FRIGGIN FAULT!!!!!!!!
DON'T THEY GET IT?????

Such stupidity.
They of course want ANWR drilling, which even at the best estimates will bring down the price per gallon about TWO CENTS A GALLON FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS, TEN YEARS FROM NOW!!! Friggin idiots.. We deserve Bush so much....

I feel better now.

[Lorien]

15. ANWR oil cost US $11 billion taxpayer dollars

that will mostly go to Halliburtan for infrastructure. The oil will in all likelihood be sold to Asia. ANWR COSTS this dumb f*ck; neither he nor the rest of us will profit one red cent from it.

[Skittles]

12. proof that these arrogant assholes only care if it affects THEM

f***ing ASSHOLES

[porkrind]

13. reap the whirlwind,

all you * voters. Be careful what you ask for, you might get it.

[moondust]

14. George will take care of it.

You can count on him. It's hard work. It just takes time. Years, maybe decades...

Bush Would Use Power of Persuasion to Raise Oil Supply
By KATHARINE Q. SEELYE

WAYNE, Mich., June 27, 2000 -- Gov. George W. Bush of Texas said today that if he was president, he would bring down gasoline prices through sheer force of personality, by creating enough political good will with oil-producing nations that they would increase their supply of crude.

"I would work with our friends in OPEC to convince them to open up the spigot, to increase the supply," Mr. Bush, the presumptive Republican candidate for president, told reporters here today. "Use the capital that my administration will earn, with the Kuwaitis or the Saudis, and convince them to open up the spigot."

Implicit in his comments was a criticism of the Clinton administration as failing to take advantage of the good will that the United States built with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia during the Persian Gulf war in 1991. Also implicit was that as the son of the president who built the coalition that drove the Iraqis out of Kuwait, Mr. Bush would be able to establish ties on a personal level that would persuade oil-producing nations that they owed the United States something in return.

http://www.nytimes.com/library/politics/camp/062800wh-bush.html

[salin]

16. Excellent recall and newsclip.

Oh how I wish the press would do this - let him eat his own words...

[KayLaw]

17. It's nothing

Pump prices lag behind price per barrel.

[Junkdrawer]

18. Gas prices came down as oil prices went up BEFORE THE ELECTION...

And I thought "God, are we going to get hammered after they steal this one"...

[Nay]

20. Yeah, I told my hubby the same thing. "Just wait til * is back in --

gas prices will go through the roof!" There were wingnuts at work prancing around, so proud of Bush for making gas prices go down -- it was a scream.

[ausiedownunderground]

19. Capitalism in America, seems to be Cheap Mortgages, SUV's

America's version of Capitalism is actually becoming more and more closer to "Soddam & Gamorrah" (OK Red stater"s i spelt it wrong -Sorry). Around the world we have become "Jealous" of American's and their life and the "toys" they keep telling us they play with first. But recently, there is a feeling around the rest of the world vibe of hope! Maybe we are "Better" than American's both economically and morally. If we don't like government's we put up protest. America appears to accept what they get - not unlike OZ i must say! OZ is the US government's greatest friend! But i'm a world citizen!! and so are a large number of OZZies. In OZ we talk about the world more than most around the "Water cooler". We have to, as we are very geographically isolated from the world, execpt for New Zealand. You American's should visit New Zealand!! This country has the most incredible "change of what you expect, within 30 Kilometers" in the world. You'll have to trust me on this. I have been to Chile, and its change of view was at least 200 kilometers.

[Toots]

21. "It's a pain, but you know there is absolutely nothing you can do about it

If you used your brain before you voted it would not be a problem so yes there is a whole lot you can do about it. Want lower gas prices vote Democratic. They get along with the rest of the world and have influence. Republicans have lost any influence that is not had at the barrel of a gun....Republicans are directly responsible by their arrogance and paranoia and the rising cost will only escalate from here on out as long as they are in office.

[ausiedownunderground]

22. Vote "Toots"! How did you come to this conclusion?????