thatisright1 - I gotta disagree. Presidents can help somewhat by encouraging key players, making proactive statements and/or just showing public concern. But they control few real tools that would move gas prices enough for us to give them the credit for a price drop.

this isn't a black and white issue. the biggest problem is politics and wall street manipulation. if we can get past obama's reelection goals and wall street's ability to rape america for their own profit, we need a pipeline for long term financial and supply stability. we need to be free of opec control and use "green" methods to compliment oil usage. natural gas should also be part of the portfolio. obama could have gotten around his so called objections. don't you remember pelosi saying we should pass a certain large piece of legislation without reading it because she felt it was so important????? we need that pipeline !!!

Cheap energy, regardless of the source, is the bane of progressivism which relies on a critical mass of government-dependent voters. If, by some miraculous technological breakthrough, energy derived from solar and wind became inexpensive to produce, the progressives would immediately take steps to demonize it, tax it, and cut production of it. A citizenry that can take care of themselves does not bode well for their agenda.

I wonder if the White House has seen this piece? The BHO Regime indicates the Keystone pipeline is a bad idea because nobody wants this dirty crude from the tar sands.

hrearden57 Mar. 9, 12 9:26 AM "Increased supply lowers prices." Finally, a true statement from you and this is why they announced last week that they were considering building the Keystone pipeline section from Oklahoma to Texas. Of course, there's currently a glut of oil in Oklahoma keeping prices depressed by about $0.20 per gallon at the pump. By building that section of the pipeline to Texas they can sell the excess oil on the World Market for about $20 per barrel more, plus they can raise prices in the Midwest after the current glut of oil disappears. As you know, oil products were the number one export from the United States by dollar amount last year. Personally, I don't like your idea because that's only going to cost me considerably more money.

What the writer forgot to mention is the different blends required by California and some other states which requires even more expense for the refineries which is passed on. Try setting a national blend and let it go at that. As for the Minnesota price being lower, it may be lower than California but compared to North Dakota's price, it is higher. last weekend, instead of buying gasoline in Fargo, I decided to use a coupon which someone had given me for 8 cents off per gallon and go to Moorhead. Once there, I determined that with the coupon, I was still paying 2 cents more a gallon. I bought the gas in Moorhead because it would have cost me more than that to drive back to Fargo. Not again. I'll buy in ND when I can from now on.

re: thatisright1Mar. 9, 1210:42 AM ""Obama has a conspiracy to keep gas prices high?"" Since you can't read properly AirForceGuy, Obama is on the record in stating that high gas prices are inherently good; this is not a conspiracy, this is his platform....Under Bush gas prices increased to an average price of $4.28 per gallon. FACT, there is currently more oil being drilled for in this country than there was under Bush. FACT demand for gas in the US is down. FACT currently the number one export for the US is refined gasoline That's fact. Please tell us why Obama, during an election year, would want gas prices to increase knowing it would hurt his chances for reelection.

AIRFORCEGUY, Do the Air Force a favor and stop using that name. You're making the Air Force look bad. From someone who served in the Air Force.

re: elind56Mar. 9, 1210:53 AM Cheap energy, regardless of the source, is the bane of progressivism which relies on a critical mass of government-dependent voters..... there you go trying to create a boogeyman again.

AirForceGuy- one writer says a president can influence prices and create dwonward pressure, and your reply is to rail about price controls? Just how thick is the air you're breathing? As for your whine about needing an example, try 2008. all Bush really did was talk about expanding supply and the price dropped from $4 to $2. Bill G.