Regardless of the posturing and rhetoric about gas prices and the phony "drilling" 'solution' there isn't a single democrat in the House or the Senate in danger of losing their seat save for MAYBE Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA).  But there ARE 20-30 House republicans and 5-7 Senate republicans who WILL LOSE THEIRS not matter WHAT THEY DO about seeking a short term solution to high prices at the pump.  But that's a whole other can of worms.

Am I the ONLY ONE HERE who watches all the cable networks and C-SPAN who has heard NOT A SINGLE ECONOMIST of any national repute claim that drilling is the answer?  OTOH EVERY ONE of these pointy heads has said in their congressional testimony and on cable interviews that the closest thing to a short term solution is increased regulation of speculation in the crude futures market.  THAT would reduce crude prices almost overnight by anywhere from 20-50% depending on whose numbers you believe.  Let's split the diff and say about 35%.  And THAT HAIRCUT would reduce the pump price substantially though I've heard no firm numbers on that one.

Indeed all the folks I've heard on the topic say that at BEST additional drilling would reduce pump price by at most $0.10/gallon FIVE to TEN YEARS ON!  Obviously drilling is NO SOLUTION.

Now here's where Flakey gets BIPARTISAN in parceling out blame for this charade.  Because the POTUS and his boss are oilmen and the republicans are the party in power you'll never get congressional republicans to spring for stricter regulation of any futures market least of all crude.  And the gutless democrats hide behind the excuse which is true that even if they got a bill through congress Bush would veto it anyway which he probably would.  Now HERE is where the situation becomes a REAL CATCH-22.  If the democrats held both congress and the WH then THEY would wind up in the pay of BIG OIL 'cause that's WHAT THEY DO!  Money follows power or maybe y'all are forgettin' that.

So the logic is fairly simple even if the solution is damn nigh impossible: rid congress of the corruption of corporate lobbyists' money and strictly regulate the crude futures market.  Then you'd see lower pump prices.  And meantime a sane strategy of developing a long term energy policy leading to emission free, renewable power generation might not be such a bad idea either.

JMHO.

Peace and love,

Flakey