Isn't it time now to forget party lines and get this under control already? The lack of vocal action and definite inaction from the current administration blows my mind....
This is a tractor forum first, so I'm not looking to start another debate. There should be a common bond of questions from all of us like "WTF is this?" why is this happening?"
This article came from Reuters - as neutral as i can find for now
but I'm sure someone will think its a leftist agenda regardless
Duc
White House Expresses Displeasure with OPEC
By Adam Entous
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Wednesday President Bush (news - web sites) was disappointed by OPEC (news - web sites)'s decision to cut oil production and that officials were reaching out to non-OPEC nations for help after Democratic challenger John Kerry (news - web sites) accused Bush of ignoring high prices at the pump.
While initially raising no public objections to OPEC's decision, the White House reversed course and said Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites), national security adviser Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) and others were actively pressing OPEC and non-OPEC nations to address U.S. concerns about record-high prices.
Kerry has seized on record gas prices as a new thrust in his campaign, accusing Bush -- a former Texas oilman -- of "inaction" and of breaking a 2000 pledge to step up pressure on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to keep prices low.
"The president is disappointed in today's decision," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. "Producers should not take steps that harm American consumers and our economy."
He said the administration was in contact with certain allies within OPEC in the run-up to the announcement from Vienna on Wednesday, but declined to identify them.
While his senior advisers worked the phones, Bush did not personally press member states to lift export restrictions to help control U.S. pump prices, officials said.
McClellan said Bush was concerned about the prices paid by U.S. consumers, but he initially declined to criticize OPEC's decision to cut crude oil production by 1 million barrels per day in April, a move that will tighten global supplies even more and may drive prices higher.
McClellan expressed disappointment with OPEC at a televised news briefing just hours after other White House officials insisted the administration, as a policy, does not comment publicly on specific OPEC decisions.
Asked if OPEC was ignoring Washington's concerns, McClellan told reporters, "We stay in close discussion with non-OPEC nations as well and we will continue to do so." These include Mexico, Norway and Canada.
An administration official said the talks with non-OPEC members were likely to focus on increasing production to make up for any cuts.
A senior Energy Department official said the administration also was looking at possible short-term measures, though he offered no specifics. Retail gasoline prices have soared to a record $1.76 per gallon.
McClellan said the administration was working with state and local officials "to look at possible regional spikes in gas prices and consider other ways that we can address these issues."
Kerry blamed Bush for "old thinking" on solutions to energy problems, saying he "sent a message to OPEC that his administration will continue to be complacent about our dependency on foreign oil."
"George Bush ran for president pledging to pressure OPEC to relieve high prices, but on his watch the problems have gotten worse and the solution has been surrender," he said.
Kerry has pledged to drive down fuel costs by suspending replenishment of the nation's crude oil stockpile, the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
The White House, for now, opposes such a move. McClellan cited "independent analysts" as saying it would have a "negligible impact" on prices, and possibly compromise national security.
"You have to keep in mind that there are national security concerns involved when you're talking about that issue, particularly in light of September 11," McClellan said.
He put the blame on Democrats in the U.S. Congress for failing to pass the Republican president's energy plan and said oil prices should be set by market forces.
CAMPAIGN PLEDGE?
In the 2000 presidential campaign, Bush said it was the president's job to "jawbone" OPEC producers by getting "on the phone with the OPEC cartel and say we expect you to open your spigots."
Democrats jumped on Bush for not following through.
"If the Bush administration went after OPEC as hard as it went after Richard Clarke, our gas prices might not be so high," said Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, referring to the White House attack on its former counterterrorism official who criticized Bush's actions before Sept. 11, 2001. (Additional reporting by Patricia Wilson and Chris Baltimore)
This is a tractor forum first, so I'm not looking to start another debate. There should be a common bond of questions from all of us like "WTF is this?" why is this happening?"
This article came from Reuters - as neutral as i can find for now
but I'm sure someone will think its a leftist agenda regardless
Duc
White House Expresses Displeasure with OPEC
By Adam Entous
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Wednesday President Bush (news - web sites) was disappointed by OPEC (news - web sites)'s decision to cut oil production and that officials were reaching out to non-OPEC nations for help after Democratic challenger John Kerry (news - web sites) accused Bush of ignoring high prices at the pump.
While initially raising no public objections to OPEC's decision, the White House reversed course and said Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites), national security adviser Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) and others were actively pressing OPEC and non-OPEC nations to address U.S. concerns about record-high prices.
Kerry has seized on record gas prices as a new thrust in his campaign, accusing Bush -- a former Texas oilman -- of "inaction" and of breaking a 2000 pledge to step up pressure on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to keep prices low.
"The president is disappointed in today's decision," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. "Producers should not take steps that harm American consumers and our economy."
He said the administration was in contact with certain allies within OPEC in the run-up to the announcement from Vienna on Wednesday, but declined to identify them.
While his senior advisers worked the phones, Bush did not personally press member states to lift export restrictions to help control U.S. pump prices, officials said.
McClellan said Bush was concerned about the prices paid by U.S. consumers, but he initially declined to criticize OPEC's decision to cut crude oil production by 1 million barrels per day in April, a move that will tighten global supplies even more and may drive prices higher.
McClellan expressed disappointment with OPEC at a televised news briefing just hours after other White House officials insisted the administration, as a policy, does not comment publicly on specific OPEC decisions.
Asked if OPEC was ignoring Washington's concerns, McClellan told reporters, "We stay in close discussion with non-OPEC nations as well and we will continue to do so." These include Mexico, Norway and Canada.
An administration official said the talks with non-OPEC members were likely to focus on increasing production to make up for any cuts.
A senior Energy Department official said the administration also was looking at possible short-term measures, though he offered no specifics. Retail gasoline prices have soared to a record $1.76 per gallon.
McClellan said the administration was working with state and local officials "to look at possible regional spikes in gas prices and consider other ways that we can address these issues."
Kerry blamed Bush for "old thinking" on solutions to energy problems, saying he "sent a message to OPEC that his administration will continue to be complacent about our dependency on foreign oil."
"George Bush ran for president pledging to pressure OPEC to relieve high prices, but on his watch the problems have gotten worse and the solution has been surrender," he said.
Kerry has pledged to drive down fuel costs by suspending replenishment of the nation's crude oil stockpile, the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
The White House, for now, opposes such a move. McClellan cited "independent analysts" as saying it would have a "negligible impact" on prices, and possibly compromise national security.
"You have to keep in mind that there are national security concerns involved when you're talking about that issue, particularly in light of September 11," McClellan said.
He put the blame on Democrats in the U.S. Congress for failing to pass the Republican president's energy plan and said oil prices should be set by market forces.
CAMPAIGN PLEDGE?
In the 2000 presidential campaign, Bush said it was the president's job to "jawbone" OPEC producers by getting "on the phone with the OPEC cartel and say we expect you to open your spigots."
Democrats jumped on Bush for not following through.
"If the Bush administration went after OPEC as hard as it went after Richard Clarke, our gas prices might not be so high," said Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, referring to the White House attack on its former counterterrorism official who criticized Bush's actions before Sept. 11, 2001. (Additional reporting by Patricia Wilson and Chris Baltimore)
