See! perception isn't always reality-42% see gas price fix

[underpants]

http://www.newshounds.us/2006/09/28/usa_todaygallup_poll_42_of_americans_believe_bush_administration_manipulating_gas_prices_to_help_gop.php#more

USA Today/Gallup Poll: 42% of Americans Believe Bush Administration Manipulating Gas Prices to Help GOP

A USA Today/Gallup poll conducted September 15-17 reveals that an astounding 42% of Americans believe that the current drop in prices at the pump are the direct result of manipulation by the Bush administration. Naturally FOX News could not let such a disturbing result go unchallenged. Consequently, on yesterday morning's FOX & Friends they invited Bloomberg News columnist Amity Shlaes to rebut the poll results.

SHLAES: "Well, perception is not always reality even though we wish it were and we learn that from marketing people. The reality is that it is a market and the market is very large and controlled by things from Alaska to the discovery of oil reserves to the mood in the Middle East. But there's a second aspect to this, which is interesting, which is that people do believe it. And I think that's important because Americans don't just have cars, they are their cars, so if you wake up in the morning and you feel good and you can go and the price is lower than it was before, that makes you feel good about the President. That part is real."



SHLAES: "... And OPEC has some control. The administration has some control. The oil companies have some control. But there's a lot of hypocrisy in here, too. For example, last summer the Democrats wanted this windfall profits tax really bad. They wanted it to help the consumer, to punish the oil companies. Well, now something has happened that does help the consumer, this lower oil price, less at the pump, and the Democrats are saying the Republicans are bad and they caused it. So you want to look out who's saying what (sic). There's a lot of manipulation going on in the language here."

GRETCHEN CARLSON: "It's amazing to me how gas prices can be almost the single indicator of likeability of a President."

SHLAES: "It's a tribute to the President, 'cause he has less power than people think he does. Any executive has less power, so - but, but that has more, again, to do with our feeling that we are cars and our nation goes with cars so cars are important so we feel good about everything globally in our life, including the Executive."

[Double T]

1. The energy companies know with the GOP in control.........

of ALL branches of government that they will be able to continue energy cost price gouging based on BS events. ALL of the previous 'reasons' for higher gas prices still exist or have become worse. So why are gas prices getting lower??? For the same reason the fed has 'paused' their interest rate hikes. ALL is well in the world with the GOP in control...........UNTIL after the elections.

[underpants]

3. OOPS I forgot the actual "perception" quote

Notice the spin at the end

SHLAES: "Well, perception is not always reality even though we wish it were and we learn that from marketing people. The reality is that it is a market and the market is very large and controlled by things from Alaska to the discovery of oil reserves to the mood in the Middle East. But there's a second aspect to this, which is interesting, which is that people do believe it. And I think that's important because Americans don't just have cars, they are their cars, so if you wake up in the morning and you feel good and you can go and the price is lower than it was before, that makes you feel good about the President. That part is real."

[rkc3]

2. I'm not a big tin foil hat person, but you have to think something

is screwy.

Oil is up about $4 a barrel in the past week and gas prices are still dropping. Plus, the oil companies claimed their record profits were due to the high price of oil - which to me is like saying the reason I have so much money is that my medical bills are through the roof.

Just something to think about as you're working on your hat.

[lumberjack_jeff]

4. Here in my safely Democratic state, gas is $2.89. Still. n/t