Who do you think is manipulating the gas market now?

[napi21]

Last week, gas prices here were $1.98 a gal. Today, they've dropped to $1.75. I know the price of crude has dropped a few dollars a barrel, but that was on Friday, and couldn't possible affect the prices at the pump this soon.

I think Cheney put the word out that these ficticiously high prices were gurting Shrubs campaign and they better come down NOW!

What do you think?

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

1. re: Prince Bandar (sp?) as per Bob Woodward's book "Plan of Attack."

[napi21]

2. Too soon for that! This is only June.

Bandar can manipulate the price of crude but it takes several months for it to be refined and affect the price at the pump.

[Demobrat]

3. I have said for months that prices will come down

for a little while during the runup to the election. Bush's supporters and friends the Saudis are getting their payback for their campaign contributions now, so that they can lower prices towards the end of the summer. That way everybody's got a few bucks in the pockets and feels like they're doing just peachy under Bush when the time comes to vote.

[Jackpine Radical]

4. I read a story a few weeks ago that said the oil companies

drove up the prices using pure speculation as their excuse--"Oh, Oh, something bad may happen to the supply--we gotta raise the prices--" and all the extra money simply went into profit for them. So if the prices are comind down a little now (only about $.08 a gal down here), iot's them that are doing it, presumably to help Bush.

[Demobrat]

5. They'll come down more.

People will be driving to the polls on the cheapest gas in years.