# $2.00 Gas Coming?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [August 30, 2006, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795 "2006-08-30T15:04:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 10
### Author:  [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2006, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/181 "2006-10-03T16:46:22Z")
I’m resurrecting this thread to simply address the oft-debated theory that the Bush Administration could manipulate gasoline prices to improve the Republicans’ election-year prospects (and the complimentary “the oil industry is too complex for that to work” counter-argument) to say: **They did it before.**
In a _Times of India_ article on [Bob Woodward’s _State of Denial:_](http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2070346.cms)
> [@](#):
>
> Drawing an intimate portrait of Bush and the Saudi monarchy, Woodward writes that Bush also personally thanked [Saudi Prince] Bandar in a Oval Office meeting for **flooding the world oil market and keeping prices down in the run-up to the 2004 general election.**
Can’t wait to see **John Mace, El\_Kabong,** _et al_ handwave this one…
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### Author:  [@Renob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renob)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2006, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/182 "2006-10-03T17:32:06Z")
**rjung** , as I previously posted, according to Dept. of Energy figures, the high price for gas in the U.S. in 2004 was $2.03 in May. In November the price was $2.00. You would think that if Bush was really manipulating prices he’d drop it much more than that.
Theories of price manipulation are patently absurd.
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### Author:  [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/183 "2006-10-03T17:42:33Z")
Based on what. Your super ability to know what manipulation is and wat hat level it occurs. Premise gas under 2 .Proven. Election time a delicious coincidence. To you.
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### Author:  [@Rachm\_Qoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachm_Qoch)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/184 "2006-10-03T17:46:06Z")
You just dont get it. It’s simply [supply and demand:](http://money.cnn.com/2006/10/03/markets/oil.reut/?postversion=2006100311)
> [@](#):
>
> Analysts expect U.S. stocks of distillates, already at a seven-year high, to rise 1.3 million barrels in the week to Sept. 29. The U.S. government’s latest supply report is due out on Wednesday.
It’s simply ludicrous to imagine the administration has a hand in it:
> [@](#):
>
> Further easing prices, the U.S. Energy Department told Reuters on Monday it would delay buying some 11 million barrels of crude for the nation’s emergency reserve through the winter to keep more supply on the market.
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### Author:  [@Renob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renob)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2006, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/185 "2006-10-03T18:01:55Z")
> [@gonzomax](#):
>
> Based on what. Your super ability to know what manipulation is and wat hat level it occurs. Premise gas under 2 .Proven. Election time a delicious coincidence. To you.
No, the premise of this piece was that manipulation would bring gas to under $2.00. That is certainly not proven. Since gas prices did not fall this much in previous elections during the Bush term, it seems unlikely this year would be different.
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### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2006, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/186 "2006-10-03T19:00:19Z")
> [@rjung](#):
>
> I’m resurrecting this thread to simply address the oft-debated theory that the Bush Administration could manipulate gasoline prices to improve the Republicans’ election-year prospects (and the complimentary “the oil industry is too complex for that to work” counter-argument) to say: **They did it before.**
>
> In a _Times of India_ article on [Bob Woodward’s _State of Denial:_](http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2070346.cms)
>
> Can’t wait to see **John Mace, El\_Kabong,** _et al_ handwave this one…
Sounds like Woodward just reworded his [last book](http://money.cnn.com/2004/04/19/news/international/election_saudi/). Thanks for resurrecting this thread based upon the strength of two year-old news. 😉
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### Author:  [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2006, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/187 "2006-10-03T19:36:29Z")
2 years ago was an election cycle. This of course is not true. Renob can explainiTime warp. maybe.
Renob can still type no. Hopefully he will learn to type as I see it. The evidence leads me here. I disagree.
You state 200 gas is not low enough to help the election. How,when,what do you mean. Would 180 work. Apparently you know. I thought dropping gas 1.30 wouls be substantial. It bis not part of the political discourse,so obviosly it is enough.
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### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/188 "2006-10-03T19:41:30Z")
Yes, and if you read **renob’s** post correctly, you’ll notice that two years ago the price of gas plummeted from $2.03 when the meeting occured to $2.00 when the election occured, a whopping 1.5% price reduction!
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### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/189 "2006-10-03T19:46:33Z")
Crude oil and gas prices also declined in the fall of 2005 when there was no election.
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### Author:  [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2006, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/190 "2006-10-03T20:04:54Z")
Gas is now $1.97 by me, down from $3.09 three months ago. :eek:
I heard a report on NPR (I think it was Morning Edition, but it could have been a program on the local affiliate) on the drive in today suggesting that the oil companies could be manipulating prices to bolster the potential for the republicans to remain in control because if the democrats take over some sort of tax could be imposed on the the oil companies they’re trying to avoid.
Anyone else know/heard anything about this? I can’t locate the story on the main NPR site.
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### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2006, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/191 "2006-10-03T20:14:03Z")
Today’s close
Exxon/Mobil $65.41 down $1.59
Haliburton $26.57 down $1.29 and almost at a 52 week low
So, the oil companies will screw their shareholders for the sake of making sure that a Republican congress will be reelected?
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### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2006, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/192 "2006-10-03T20:21:11Z")
The price of gas was $23/barrel during the 1996 elections. Was that an attempt to help Clinton get re-elected? It was $12/barrel during the 1998 midterms - was that an attempt to bolster Democratic chances during the midterms?
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### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2006, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/193 "2006-10-03T20:27:53Z")
The above directed at **Onomatopoeia** , if there was any confusion.
Oh, and [Cite](http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/data/OILPRICE.txt)
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### Author:  [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2006, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/194 "2006-10-03T21:14:38Z")
> [@JohnT](#):
>
> Yes, and if you read **renob’s** post correctly, you’ll notice that two years ago the price of gas plummeted from $2.03 when the meeting occured to $2.00 when the election occured, a whopping 1.5% price reduction!
Went to 3.35 .did you miss that period.
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### Author:  [@Renob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renob)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/195 "2006-10-03T21:49:10Z")
The point that I made in this thread long ago was that in both 2002 and 2004 there was no reduction in prices before the elections, which, if the conspiracy theories were correct, we should have experienced so that the GOP would stay in power.
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### Author:  [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)
#### Post date: [October 4, 2006, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/196 "2006-10-04T00:33:41Z")
> [@JohnT](#):
>
> Sounds like Woodward just reworded his [last book](http://money.cnn.com/2004/04/19/news/international/election_saudi/). Thanks for resurrecting this thread based upon the strength of two year-old news. 😉
So you agree that the Bush Administration has no qualms about gettings its friends to manipulate pump prices for political gain, _n’est pas?_
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### Author:  [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)
#### Post date: [October 4, 2006, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/197 "2006-10-04T02:36:53Z")
It will be interesting to revisit this thread in January 2007. My bet is gas prices will be at $3 again, or well on their way there. Which will be explained as a natural coincidence. Again.
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### Author:  [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)
#### Post date: [October 4, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/198 "2006-10-04T02:49:53Z")
It’s pretty odd. I mean, I can see prices dropping for elections, yet I don’t know how much of an impact that the lowering of the prices would actually have on voters. Are we really THAT hung up on the price of gas to vote that way instead of the war, domestic policy, or international policy?
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### Author:  [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)
#### Post date: [October 4, 2006, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/199 "2006-10-04T04:30:15Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#):
>
> It will be interesting to revisit this thread in January 2007. My bet is gas prices will be at $3 again, or well on their way there. Which will be explained as a natural coincidence. Again.
I’ll take a stab and bet gas prices will begin to increase within 30 days after the election, no matter who ends up with control of the house or senate. I wonder if Las Vegas is taking any action on this 😃
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### Author:  [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)
#### Post date: [October 4, 2006, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2-00-gas-coming/370795/200 "2006-10-04T09:56:30Z")
> [@rjung](#):
>
> Can’t wait to see John Mace, El\_Kabong, et al handwave this one…
So, factual arguments you happen to disagree with are ‘handwaving’, eh? I don’t have any personal stake in this, except that I feel a bit bad about people making economic judgements based on unsupported superstitions. You want to believe that gasoline prices are being manipulated for the election, feel free to do so. I suppose the adminsitration is depressing the housing market for the same reason, right?
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