The economy is better than it was at the very end of the Bush presidency but Bush was in office 8 years. The recession was very deep when Obama took office but this has been the weakest recovery in history and the economy actually shrank last quarter. Increasing taxes and implementing policies to make energy sharply more expensive is not a recipe for growth.

 

Mitch ... this country is in an energy boom. It is driving this economy forward. Energy is less expensive. Manufacturing jobs are returning because energy costs are lower. Some things you say are spot on and then some things are completely wrong. I say this often to the conservatives - pick your battles and focus on where the message can have impact on the entire electorate. Democrats are not what is wrong on every single thing in this country. When statements are made that are wrong, it causes people to doubt everything being said. For example, the whole birther movement hurt conservatives much more than it helped.

Mitch ... this country is in an energy boom. It is driving this economy forward. Energy is less expensive. Manufacturing jobs are returning because energy costs are lower. Some things you say are spot on and then some things are completely wrong. I say this often to the conservatives - pick your battles and focus on where the message can have impact on the entire electorate. Democrats are not what is wrong on every single thing in this country. When statements are made that are wrong, it causes people to doubt everything being said. For example, the whole birther movement hurt conservatives much more than it helped.

 

I just do not see how energy is lower in the last few years.

 

Gas is around $3.50. It was around $2 or $2.50 in 2008/2009. Utilities are certainly going up.

 

I agree Repubs have a messaging challenge in elelections, especially at the top office.

I just do not see how energy is lower in the last few years.

 

Gas is around $3.50. It was around $2 or $2.50 in 2008/2009. Utilities are certainly going up.

 

I agree Repubs have a messaging challenge in elelections, especially at the top office.

 

Don't know how accurate this chart is but according to it, it was that time frame that the peak of around 4.12 occurred.

 

http://charts.gasbuddy.com/ch.gaschart?Country=Canada&Crude=f&Period=132&Areas=USA Average,,&Unit=US $/G

You don't think the economy is better now than it was under Bush?

 

No. It's come off the bottom but that is all. My point was it does matter who was president, both after Carter (success) and after Bush (not so much success).

Mitch ... this country is in an energy boom. It is driving this economy forward. Energy is less expensive. Manufacturing jobs are returning because energy costs are lower. Some things you say are spot on and then some things are completely wrong. I say this often to the conservatives - pick your battles and focus on where the message can have impact on the entire electorate. Democrats are not what is wrong on every single thing in this country. When statements are made that are wrong, it causes people to doubt everything being said. For example, the whole birther movement hurt conservatives much more than it helped.

 

Compared to what? Gas is higher, natural gas is higher, electricity is higher, not sure about coal but my guess is that it's higher. What energy costs have come down and what time frame are you using?

Don't know how accurate this chart is but according to it, it was that time frame that the peak of around 4.12 occurred.

 

http://charts.gasbuddy.com/ch.gaschart?Country=Canada&Crude=f&Period=132&Areas=USA Average,,&Unit=US $/G

 

That early 2008 number when it was below $2.00 is what I was thinking of. No way it would stay down there. But it stabilized at around $2.50 for a while. As a family with 5 cars we are very sensitive to gas prices. $2.50 was good times. $3.50...not so much. We are much closer to the peak than the bottom right now.

 

Given the dramatic drop in miles driven domestically demand is not the driver for sure. It definitely seems that oil/gas market has some artificial influence - not necessarily via administration policy action. When a barrel of oil is traded around 17 times on the futures market its hard to believe the standard line that that sort of futures trading does not drive up the price.

Don't know how accurate this chart is but according to it, it was that time frame that the peak of around 4.12 occurred.

 

http://charts.gasbuddy.com/ch.gaschart?Country=Canada&Crude=f&Period=132&Areas=USA Average,,&Unit=US $/G

 

Not sure what the chart says as I can't open but average cost of gas per gallon when Obama took office was $1.80.

Not sure what the chart says as I can't open but average cost of gas per gallon when Obama took office was $1.80.

 

Sorry. Worked earlier but not now. Basically There was a great peak around 2007 at 4.12 and then a huge drop in the election year of 2008 to the price you quoted and then a steady rise. Basically up and down in the last few years.

Sorry. Worked earlier but not now. Basically There was a great peak around 2007 at 4.12 and then a huge drop in the election year of 2008 to the price you quoted and then a steady rise. Basically up and down in the last few years.

 

The price drop corresponded with the terrible economic times.