The Chink in Bush's Armor

[Jumbo Jet]

Guy Caruso, EIA administrator, said OPEC ministers are to blame for high prices and U.S. oil inventories that recently slid to the lowest level since the mid-1970s. "They played a role by restraining supply," he said of OPEC.

Still, the White House has refrained from criticizing OPEC. "We don't comment publicly on OPEC policy," is the typical administration response to the cartel's output decisions.

That stands in sharp contrast to Bush's remarks while a presidential candidate in January 2000.

"What I think the president ought to do is he ought to get on the phone with the OPEC cartel and say we expect you to open your spigots," Bush said at the time. "The president of the United States must jawbone OPEC members to lower the price."

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The Iraq war aside, I personally think the economy would've rebounded much faster if the price of oil was in the $19-20 per barrel range.

Maybe he is saving that card for later in the Spring or early summer.

Personally, I think the Mideast OPEC countries are manipulating prices as their response to US intervention in Iraq, Iran, etc. Now back when Iraq invaded Kuwait and threatened Saudi Arabia, they wanted our intervention. Come and go - just don't leave behind your political influence.

Things are different with terrorism and all.

You've got to remember, as much fighting as they have all done with each other over the years, they are still family and we are still enemies.