Why Higher Oil Flows Through The Strait Of Hormuz Simply Don't Matter Anymore

[ss12]

Why Higher Oil Flows Through The Strait Of Hormuz Simply Don't Matter Anymore

[lurker]

You are sooooooo uneducated.

[lurker]

"Just a reminder folks those same Democrats that said "The president doesn't control gas prices, No president does!" When gas prices got out of control on their watch, is the same Democrats blaming president Trump for high gas prices! Make it make sense?"

[lurker]

"I have to laugh a little watching people lose their minds over gas prices right now.

When Donald Trump left office, the national average was roughly $2.38 a gallon. During Joe Biden's presidency, Michigan hit a record average of about $5.22 a gallon.

But here's what I don't understand: if you're going to blame the president sitting in the White House for gas prices today, were you applying that same standard when gas was over $5 under Biden?

And if you didn't blame Biden because you understood that presidents don't completely control gas prices, then shouldn't that same logic apply today?

I'm not saying a president's policies have zero effect. I'm saying pick a standard and stick with it.

You can't give one administration an explanation and the other administration all the blame simply because you like one and dislike the other.

That's not consistency. That's partisanship".

[lurker]

Where were you when the Pipeline was shut down under the Democrats?

[lurker]

"With drivers feeling the pain at the pump, conservative commentator Mark Levin is pushing back hard on attempts to pin the increase on President Donald Trump and the war with Iran.

Levin says Democrats deserve much more of the blame.

“They want you to blame Trump, and they want you to blame the Iran war. The gasoline prices, the prices for everything when it comes to energy are higher due to what we call Democrats.”

That's Levin’s political argument.

But gas prices rarely have one culprit.

The price you see at the pump is affected by crude oil, refinery capacity and margins, available supply, taxes, distribution costs and events happening thousands of miles away.

And right now, global disruptions matter.

The Iran conflict and instability affecting Middle Eastern oil flows have contributed to pressure on crude markets. Tight supplies of refined fuels have also helped push prices higher.

At the same time, Democrats and Republicans have spent years fighting over drilling, pipelines, environmental regulations, taxes, and the larger direction of U.S. energy policy.

So when gas gets expensive, everybody in Washington seems ready to point at somebody else.

Democrats blame Trump and the war.

Levin blames Democrats.

Trump defends his energy record.

Meanwhile, drivers still have to pay whatever number is on the pump."

[lurker]

"Thirty oil refineries have SHUT DOWN since 2008. Thirty. And somehow the Left wants to blame Donald Trump for gas prices at the pump.

Let's be clear: you can't refine oil you don't have capacity to process. It's not complicated. When Democrats spend years blocking new refineries, k*lling drilling permits, and choking American energy independence, prices go UP. That's basic economics.

But sure, keep blaming Trump while ignoring the actual policies that decimated our refining infrastructure. The American people aren't stupid — they know who's really responsible for what they pay at the gas station. And it's not the guy who was energy independent."

[lurker]

"Those who are deceived or ignorant are blaming President Donald J. Trump for the gas prices. Careful analysis of the facts, i.e. Governor Newsom shutting down four refineries in California, and the greedy oil companies increased profits, should be sufficient to understand why gas prices are high.

President Trump publicly criticized oil majors—including Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, and BP—and instructed the Justice Department to investigate companies for keeping pump prices high even as wholesale oil costs fell following conflicts in the Middle East.

Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent asserted that large energy corporations and retailers were making excessive profits and demanded they pass savings on to consumers, targeting a drop toward $2.50 a gallon.

It is my personal opinion that those who are actually responsible for the high gas and diesel prices are doing it to make President Donald J. Trump look bad."

[lurker]

"Don’t blame Trump for high gas prices, out of the last five presidents crude oil prices are lower the majority of the time and have been below $100 a barrel many less times on his watch as compared to Obama and others. Also fact check that most liberal states with the highest gasoline prices are also the ones who have driven out or shut down almost 30 refineries in the last 20 years. Liberal politics have driven up gas prices, along with taxes more than the war in Iran ever thought of doing, so blame the right people for your suffering at the gas pump".

[lurker]

"So much talk about gas prices. We paid this price for multiple years under Biden… over $5 for a period of time under the last administration, and we paid more than this under Obama, 15 years ago! He had oil approaching $150/barrel cause he bombed the Mideast 5,000 times… literally. Thing is oil is trading at $89 a barrel right now. It got up to $125/ barrel recently. It was well over that for long periods during Bidens and Obamas presidency. While it was that high recently, we were at $4.09 at $125/barrel. Now we’re at $89/barrel. We should be around $3.39-$3.59 easily. It’s been below $100 for weeks. Weeks. And the price we pay has only gone up. Know why? It’s election season… and the left is sabotaging trumps term and oil companies are majorly gouging. If you want diesel to drop, all you Ukraine folks tell Zelensky to stop bombing Russia’s diesel refineries. They lead the world in diesel production. Ukraine is responsible for the global diesel market skyrocketing. Trump has told them to stop bombing Russia’s diesel refineries and they won’t listen.

Bottom line… yall libs refused to blame Biden or Obama for high gas prices…. The selective outrage is crazy. I’ve complained several times of our current gas prices on here, while also realizing that the gouging and sabotaging during an election season is quite apparent. And if you think high gas is cause for me or any sane human to vote for socialism, communism, or sharia law … you done bumped your head. Trump has done better with keeping global oil prices low considering. What we are experiencing is mostly gouging by oil companies and leftist sabotage at our expense regarding gas prices. And to yall that think voting for the party that controls all states with the highest gas prices, highest cost of living, highest taxes, highest energy costs… will lower prices for you, you got a special way of thinking… lol! Do you actually think the party closing refineries, shutting down pipelines, pushing against combustible engines, and against fracking will do anything to lower gas prices? I mean this is truly fascinating.

Another point. Under Youngkin, our gas prices were well below national averages locally. If you’re a Virginian who voted for Scamburglar, you’re a big part of reason our local gas is so high. We will not be well below national average anymore. Until we get a conservative governor again. I have family and bass fishing buds in red states that are paying between $3.39 and $3.99 right now. So … Point that blame finger right back at yourself if you voted for that witch."

[Morgs153]

As someone who drives a big diesel truck everyday, I'm watching those prices. Especially the diesel prices which are around $6.49/gallon up here.

But yes, refinery capacity is a big part of the problem right now. Look into what is called the "Crack Rate". The crack rate has to do with the price to refine from crude to gasoline and diesel. There is something they refer to as the 3,2,1 factor. Something like 3 barrels of crude net something like 2 barrels of gas and 1 barrel of diesel (more or less if I understand it correctly).

The shutting down of refineries is a big part of the problem. The existing refineries are running at about 96% capacity which is really - full capacity at that number. Refineries in California like Valero and Conoco Phillips basically got tired of being sued and fined by the State of California and they shut down. In other areas of the nation they also got tired of the regulatory mess and closed up. This is a problem.

I think I remember a guy, what was his name? Oh yeah, Obama. Yeah I remember Obama saying something about making energy prices "necessarily triple" in order to move us more to green energy.

Things I think the government could, and should do to give some relief would be things like fewer boutique fuels and regional blends. Simplify the refining process for a period of time and make it easier on the supply end. Now for certain things (especially diesel) you do need "winter blend" but gasoline in many areas of the country has different blends because of certain states and areas requiring because of their air quality requirements. Give that a break for a while.