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Quote: gamerfreak

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I also think there is a possibility the DA might lose his job over this.

He is not the DA but he's running to be the DA, which is pretty ironic cuz he's such a putz. This was going to be his big show trial, another OJ trial with him on TV and in the headlines. Oh well

Quote: Evenbob

He is not the DA but he's running to be the DA, which is pretty ironic cuz he's such a putz. This was going to be his big show trial, another OJ trial with him on TV and in the headlines. Oh well

Whoever he is, I don’t think it could have gone any worse for him.

https://www.npr.org/2021/11/14/1055068583/gasoline-prices-gas-energy-inflation-biden
It's that time of year when we have to explain to the complainers that President's really can't do Jack about gas prices

Quote: terapined

https://www.npr.org/2021/11/14/1055068583/gasoline-prices-gas-energy-inflation-biden
It's that time of year when we have to explain to the complainers that President's really can't do Jack about gas prices

Similarly, had Trump been reelected, then basically the same thing would have happened to gas prices.

What would be different?

NPR publishing an article discussing why POTUS is very limited in what he can do about gas prices.

Begrudging credit for everything in that article, as far as I can tell, being fundamentally correct.

Quote: Mission146

Similarly, had Trump been reelected, then basically the same thing would have happened to gas prices.

What would be different?

Trump would not be closing pipelines.

Trump would not be hostile to the oil and gas industry.

Quote: AZDuffman

Trump would not be closing pipelines.

Trump would not be hostile to the oil and gas industry.

Do you think that their primary reason for raising prices is whether or not the POTUS likes them?

If, in addition to the environmental argument, an argument can be advanced that the country is too dependent on fossil fuels that has any merit at all, then higher prices are obviously not going to make such an argument weaker. If not to make prices as low as possible, then the industry at least has an incentive to keep prices at levels (if they can) that are considered reasonable. If not, then you get to the point that you can point to renewable energy as not only being superior environmentally, but also, potentially cheaper.

As with anything else, the main thing that is going to come into play is supply and demand.

Here is an interesting page for you:

https://www.eia.gov/petroleum/weekly/gasoline.php

In addition to the uptick and demand (and, consequently, prices) what you will find is that finished gasoline production (by four-week period) is up substantially compared to last year. Obviously, that makes sense, because the producers are making a ton of money on it, so there is incentive to produce. In fact, were this not the case, Americans would be going to the gas pumps and be pumping air...we'd be out of gas!

We're also importing more gas to a roughly similar percentage as compared to a year ago.

So, as the NPR article (gag) correctly maintained, perhaps different Oval Office policies could do a little bit to slow down the price increases...or even reduce prices on a very temporary basis, it wouldn't have as much of an impact as either demand going down or the OPEC cartel not controlling how much is produced to artificially create a supply/demand imbalance. Even if we wanted to do something about OPEC, it would take Congressional action (even if it had a chance of succeeding) and couldn't be done only by way of executive action---otherwise, I'd think Trump would have done it when he was in there.

Also, the one thing that I will give NPR is that they do tend to do fairly well when not discussing matters of opinion.

Quote: Mission146

Do you think that their primary reason for raising prices is whether or not the POTUS likes them?

Yes. When a hostile POTUS comes to office drilling and pipeline projects get slowed or canceled.

Quote:

If, in addition to the environmental argument, an argument can be advanced that the country is too dependent on fossil fuels that has any merit at all, then higher prices are obviously not going to make such an argument weaker. If not to make prices as low as possible, then the industry at least has an incentive to keep prices at levels (if they can) that are considered reasonable. If not, then you get to the point that you can point to renewable energy as not only being superior environmentally, but also, potentially cheaper.

We are not "too dependent on fossil fuels." We were oil independent under Trump for the first time since 1969. Biden comes in and talks about banning fracking and canceling oil leases. IOW, Biden seems to think gas comes from the gas station. So yes, I am blaming Biden for gas prices.

Quote: AZDuffman

Yes. When a hostile POTUS comes to office drilling and pipeline projects get slowed or canceled.

What does that have to do with demand? Even if you were correct, it wouldn't do anything to thew substantial uptick in demand.

Quote:

We are not "too dependent on fossil fuels." We were oil independent under Trump for the first time since 1969. Biden comes in and talks about banning fracking and canceling oil leases. IOW, Biden seems to think gas comes from the gas station. So yes, I am blaming Biden for gas prices.

We were oil independent under Trump; I'll give you that. What I won't give you is why we were oil independent under Trump, or, I'll give very partial credit.

We were oil independent for the primary reason of there being virtually no demand as compared to previous years, much of such decline in demand coming about by way of the very Covid-19 related shutdowns that both you and I lamented and disagreed with. People had nowhere to go, and in some states, all but essential businesses were closed...so both consumer and distribution demand for fuel dropped precipitously.

Due to a combination of this lack of demand, uncertainty in the market AND Russia and Iran basically getting into an oil war with each other where they would continue to produce...at a huge loss...to hurt the other, oil prices (on paper) actually went negative for a very short time.

That doesn't mean we stopped importing, because we didn't. Where Trump does get credit is that he took it as an opportunity to fill up the strategic oil reserves, which is what made us technically energy independent. Were we independent in the sense that we stopped importing---no---but we were independent in the sense that we had more available to us than we were actually using.

So, I grant your point that Trump is better than Biden as relates to energy policy and what that policy will do to energy prices---I just think that such policies (particularly in the relative short-term) matter a lot less than you do...particularly when you have a huge surge in demand.

Quote: terapined

I didn't see any riot damage

The damage was primarily downtown near the courthouses, justice center and immediate environs.

In truth I've not been downtown for many months, as the damage done by antifa and the limp-wristed response by local gov't seriously pissed me off, and I've no reason to go downtown any more.

As antifa has done nothing for awhile the building owners may have taken down the plywood sheets over their windows and fixed it up somewhat.

I recall what I saw at the time the mayhem was going on: inexcusable and unforgivable.

You can google "photos riot damage Portland" to get images.