It means that no matter who they are for in the election, they have to tell the American public the truth. Humm-kind of makes one wonder why Hillary can’t do the same,

Get ready America if she is elected–she will tell you anything to get your vote knowing it won’t come to pass. Give me truth every time!

It means that what Obama says is in fact true. Its a gimmick to get votes, but in the end of no real value to the problem it pretends to address.

How about a really novel idea? Promote conservation until alternative fuels and higher fuel requirements of the auto industry take place?

It means they will say ANYTHING to get your vote. Plain and simple.

It means that Obama isn’t willing to pander to voters the way McCain and Clinton are. It means Obama is willing to risk honesty in the face of possibly losing his bid for the White House. And it means that Americans have a clear example of what these candidates are about and must now take responsibility for America’s destiny with their vote.

Well, sir, that depends.

In Clintonland, it means Hillary is correct and she’s facing a vast economics wing conspiracy.

In this reality, it means that it’s an incredibly dumb idea that has no chance of passing and would lay off thousands of road construction workers who, in all probability, would prefer to stay employed and feed their families.

But don’t worry about it, Jack. In a month she’ll just say she misspoke.

Greg
Oak Park, IL

Jack,
Your questions lately are so loaded… why don’t you just tell us what you think and save us all the trouble of writing to you.

Sonoma, CA

It means that the people who make decisions about money doesn’t have any idea what a little relief would mean to people who are seeing everything doubling in price. Who says that you can’t offer a gas tax relief, and also work on the problem of high gas price , and oil consumption, and outr dependence on oil all at the same time that a lot of Amerricans are getting a break, even though it is a small one, it would be appreciated. What is Obama’s plan? .I’ve been waiting for days to see if he can come up with anything better, and haven’t heard a word yet so if this is your way of taking a swipe at Hillary, it didn’t work !!

Those over 200 economists must still be employed. They can afford to speculate on ideas and concepts and if they are wrong so what? They were wrong no blood no foul. I will take any help I can get and even if it is only .18 cents a gallon I will take it. Only a fool would deny .18 cents off at the pumps and I am willing to bet those same 200 economists will not refuse the discount when they pay for their gasoline either. If a person uses a lot of gasoline and you add up .18 cents per gallon it does make a difference. I have to laugh when I hear Obama say it will only save people 30 dollars a month. How the hell could he possibly know how much gasoline I use? In diesel this year on my farm I will use close to 5000 gallons. Do the math. That is 5000 times .18 cents. That equals 900 dollars. That is a lot of money to me Jack.

It means that McCain and Clinton are showing us they have the ability con some of the people some of the time.

The US needs sound judgement and intelligent leadership. The US needs Obama.

I think I would stick with what the economists are saying Jack. Also didn’t they do something like this in Illinois when Obama was in the legislature there? He supported it but it did not work if I recall. Maybe this guy learns from his mistakes so as not to repeat them. I don’t think that is a ad quality in a President.

Jenny Rome Ga

It only mean “Politics as usual”. No different than most of the other rhetoric that has spewed from most candidates over the years. Have never been able to figure out why we as a people never hold these folks accountable. But I am truly dismayed in this case where the thought seems to be “they’re too dumb to figure it out, will get me some votes.”

You don’t need to be a Nobel Prize winner to do that simple math….BUT I (and I’m sure any othere, even YOU jack) will often drive out of our way to save 1 or 2 cents a gallon….something is better than the nothing Obama suggests, and $70 will put a big dent in my electric bill.

Hillary and Mccain will say anything that sounds good to get elected . We cant even control the rising cost of gas , why do we think that we can control 18 cents gas tax break from these blood gulping oil companies? All these companies have to do is just send a text message across reading “oil prices up twenty buck” and gain nineteen dollars seventeen two cents. Thx for a miserable eighteen cents save.

It means that Hillary and McCain will say anything to get your vote. The gas tax is there to provide funds to maintain the roadways so you can safely drive on them. Unfortunately,the politicians keep stealing the money for other favored pork projects. The economists have the right idea. Stop making promises that you can’t keep!

It means that it is a bad idea.

people criticize obama for dropping support for this but they also forget that the bill in IL failed, so why would he put his name on a similar bill now that will fail and that is basically as was said a political gimmick, i mean give me a break Obama is pushing for a 1000$ tax credit for families thats a lot more than the 30-60$ that the gas holiday will save people… Whats funny is they are using this gas holiday as if its going to stop the gas prices from moving

If you pay 3.50 gallon and they do the gas holiday, whats to say gas prices tommarrow won’t be 3.68 just to compensate … considering prices are continuing to rise.

The week end or summer tax free gas proposals are only minor help; I want a candidate to come forward and say (1) we are too dependent on foreign countries, and their prices (2) we need more off-shore drilling off US coasts, and (3) what about starting immediately more oil refineries and implementing wind mill powered energy. We had enough “temp./quick fixes” out of bush…a little tax break check now and then….and that has not helped or cured the future needs”.

Jack
This gas tax holiday is a bad idea, lets not get spoiled this is reality I dont see the gas price going back down any time soon. The price of crude looks like it will remain at $ 100.00 plus a barrel. Thanks George you have done a real good job for two terms.

Well it means, assuming that the 200 economists are being objective, that the Clinton-Mccain proposal is what Obama says it is-a political ploy to prey on the hopes of those paying record prices. In other words, a trick.

Hillary claims to be so smart….her gas tax ploy proves smart doesn’t mean you aren’t a trickster. She lost my vote.
Dave,
Escondido, CA

I wonder how hard it would be to find 200 who thought it was a good idea. I don’t think it is a good idea but there doesn’t seem to be any better ideas out there.
I wish there was a little enthusiasm for anti trust hearings,that would be a better idea, but the petroeum companies have the upper hand.
Obama has not a clue. So nothing will change.

We’ve had eight years of an administration that has ignored logic, science and the opinions of experts, and look at the mess we’re in.
Now we have two candidates, Clinton and McCain, who ignore the logical conclusions of experts in order to trick voters into voting for them. Bush promised everyone a check for either $300 or $600 if they voted for him in 2000 and it worked. Apparently Clinton and McCain think they can win with the same hat trick for just a few cents per gallon. The scary part is that a huge block of voters will fall for this tactic every time a politician dangles that carrot under their nose.

Remember, Hillary is never wrong! Hopefully, the voters in North Carolina and Indiana know pandering and ;desperation when they see it!

What does it mean? It means that McCain and Hillary think they can buy my vote for about $50. Either that, or they think I am too stupid or lazy to do the calculation. - John, Rocky River, Ohio

It sounds more and more like the double speak of the current president, look where that got us!!!

gas tax break ? what ? em 18 cents? big deal!! ha ha ha ha.
jack , you know they cant fool all of us all the time.

It means that McCain and Clinton and the old school politicians that play by the old campaign guidelines.

Promise, promise, promise then don’t deliver. Find an issue that resonates (no matter how absurd - gas tax) and use it to to define yourself as the savior and the opponent as Satan himself.

Most of us know that the $30 we’d save over the summer is nonsense. The storyline that the oil companies will incur that cost is nonsense.

If any of the candidates REALLY wanted to get my attention they say something like the following”

“As of today we will no longer ship all of our Alaskan Crude to Korea. It is this Nation’s natural resource. We will find a way to survive on our own resources and, also effective immediately, we are absorbing all American oil companies into the Department of Energy. Within one year, the price of gas will be under $1 per gallon. Also, all oil company windfalls will be taken by our Government and applied to alternative fuel research programs. And finally, beginning in 2009 American automobile makers can not produce a passenger vehicle that gets under 35 miles per gallon. No imports will be allowed for passenger vehicles receiving under 40 mpg.”

Anything else is just smoke and mirrors. Unfortunately we dont have a candidate with the cojones to stand up like this. (no matter what the CLinton camp would have you believe)

Jack, you answered your own question. What is MEANS is that votes can be bought with empty promises and sadly, many voters will be wafted away by the scent of financial succor, floating on their memories of the halcyon days of the Clinton administration until they slam into the ground of reality when the oil company just charges the consumer the difference to protect their profits.

Jack,

Mostly it means that Clinton and McCain agree on something and want it to happen in spite of the good advice provided by those wiser about such things. Gee, I can’t imagine a situation when a President has done exactly the opposite of what anyone with a brain would have done can you? Oh that’s right, sending troops into a country looking for weapons that don’t exist and the President was told don’t exist by UN inspectors.

On the bright side, Clinton and McCain agreeing makes Obama look pretty smart right now. Just as an aside, it is also interesting that the two “old pros” from Washington, think that this is a good plan (how sleeping in the White House makes one an expert politician is still beyond me). Shockingly the pundits are saying both McCain and Clinton will need to buy votes to be successful in their respective campaigns.

Hi Jack:

It is a bad idea firstly, the oil companies will charge more for the fuel. Secondly, people tend to be like heards of cattle. If it is less expensive, they will drive more, there by driving up the cost.

The reason we have the housing peoblem is because people did not entertain the consequences of signing those mortgage papers when they bought their homes. Now allot of them are are losing their homes. The American people need to think about what they are doing before they do it. Instead they react, and we have allot of these problems.

Ron K. San Diego

When that many economists agree on something it must be correct. Fifteen years ago I wanted to raise the federal gasoline tax one dollar to promote conservation and to bolster the highway infrastructure. Fifteen years later we still have politicians pandering to the greed of the population and the country continues to suffer for it.

LMAO! In a month she’ll just say she misspoke… no it’s never a lie or a gimmick to grab votes, it’s just that she misspeaks so often… what are we up to now 4-5 lies… opps i mean misspoken statements

It’s Bushonomics 10: Cutting taxes is the answer to everything.
Unfortunately there is no Bushonomics 102 to say what to do when
there are no more taxes to cut. By the way Jack, I’m sure that eating
an Exxon station won’t solve the problem either, it’ll give you terrible
gas and that would be very taxing on your coworkers.

It means exactly what anyone with a modicum of financial sense knew right from the get-go: a gas tax holiday is an asinine attempt to lower rapidly soaring gas prices. It means that the “untested” junior senator has the best economic sense - or at least advisers. But beyond the political ramifications, the long-term economic effects are clear: Americans are going to have to adjust to higher gas prices, traveling in our own personal pollution mobiles less, and truly funding alternative fuels. Other post-industrial nations around the world already pay more than $10 a gallon; it shouldn’t surprise us that we’re headed that way. And no gas tax holiday is going to stop this climb.

My 18 mile commute from my Long Island suburb home into NYC takes over 40 minutes a day so Jack here’s my proposal: Why not put the country on a four day work week for the summer months to save gas and relieve road congestion. Also consider cars in traffic running the air conditioning as well as the air pollution factor in the summer. With productivity enhancements most American workers can easily do the 5th day of work at home if they had to. It also gives parents greater flexibility to be with their children (family values anyone?) It’s obvious that any common sense solution which does not allow for the already high gas consumption rate to continue flies in the face of corporate interests that love the high fuel consumption and high profit scenario which we are in. Common sense? Corporations? Politicians?..now that would be something!

Too bad Americans did not listen to some of us who said “don’t buy the Suburbans, SUVS, etc., go w/high mileage cars”. Americans get what we deserve as we are selfish folks.
We are becoming a backward nation concerned about Celebrity be it in Hollywood or Politics. 9.3 Trillion Dollars in debt and still have earmarks for ridiculous stupid matters that only help the politician/& or his/her family pocketbook. Ben Frankllin would of called it “thieves of the American taxpayers”.
Jack J
Portland Oregon

It means that even if Obama is out of touch with the middle class, Clinton is clearly out of touch with reality. We trust economists because they’ve dedicated their entire lives to studying the economy. If we can expect anyone to predict the effectiveness of an economic program, it’d be them.

I don’t know what voters in Indiana and North Carolina will decide, but if 200 meteorologysts tell me to wear a warm coat today, I would probably wear two.

It means that McCain has no clue and Clinton is banking on the fact that the majority of voters in the upcoming contests are uneducated about the implications of the gas tax gimmick. Clinton has shown time and time again that she is an expert at preying on the fears and frustrations of Americans in order to gain a few more votes.

Obama is right the big oil companies will just jack up the prices to make up the 18 cents and when the holiday is over leave it and make us pay even more, Clinton and McCain’s plan just don’t wash ,just like if they were president their plans won’t work,except keep Bush’s plan of destruction alive.

Hi Jack:

No it is not a good idea. It will only get more expensive by doing that. The American people need to start boycotting gasoline two or three days a week. And just buy what you need so you don’t do allot of extra driving. Don’t fill your tank.

The only way to send a clear message to the oil companies is to not buy the gas. Let them choke on it. Then they will bring down the price.

Ron K. San Diego

when one goes to college, i think it’s to apply the principles learned in the four walls of the classrooms theoritically . I guess that doesnt apply in the White House (WH). Maybe, there is a WH university that we don’t know about , because, many that move in there or even aspire to live there do not think like the rest of us anymore. Epidemic …they call it.Hillary already had the virus , and now its almost past remision.

Why is it that educated, intelligent and talented people who listen to other educated, intelligent and talented people are bad? Where was I when that happened?

Regardless, neither McCain, Clinton or Obama will be President this summer, so this whole ‘gas tax holiday’ argument is just ludicrous. Even if they could wave a magic wand and make gas cheaper by 18 cents a gallon without jeopardizing our infrastructure, Americans need more meaningful financial relief than just $50 or so over three months. I could save more than that by buying generic soda pop for three months. When they can save us, say, $1.50 a gallon, then we can talk about real relief at the pump.

P.S. Why isn’t anyone talking about how it was Hillary’s husband who raised the gas tax by almost a nickel in the 90’s? Heck, why doesn’t she go all out and say how she was against it from the start but didn’t say anything to anyone until it was politically advantageous to do so?

It means that the McCain/Clinton machine is operating in the dark again as usual. If the laws could be passed in time (and nothing happens that fast in congress) and the cost of the tax passed on to the oil companies, they would increase the price of gas by the same amount to cover the cost and we would gain nothing. This is not even a good gimmick. Anyone with a half functioning brain can see that it is a scam!

Don’t you know, Jack? Those Nobel laureates are the most elitist of them all! In fact, anyone who knows more than I do about a subject and has the audacity to bring it up is being elitist. Why, just the other day my wife accused me of not cooking the pasta thoroughly enough. I scolded her for her elitist comments and was absolutely shocked when I briefly consulted my cookbooks to find more of the same elitist attitude. It seems like everyone is out of touch with the difficulty I experience with cooking pasta.

It says that there exist people who vote with their emotions instead of logic. Even Hillary Clinton herself admits that she isn’t listening to economists. And people vote for her to fix the economy!

We need to stop rewarding politicians for telling us what we want to hear, and only reward them for telling us what we NEED to hear! In this case, Obama is the only candidate who’s right.

However, to be fair about it, Obama was guilty of this when he supported driver licenses for illegal aliens. So my message to the American people is: Let’s get this one right, and vote for the candidate who is the most honest.

After all, didn’t the GAO catch the Bush Administration in over 900 false statements (lies)? And didn’t Bill Clinton himself get impeached for lying? Unfortunately, if we refused to vote for a candidate who lies, then we’d have no president. So let’s vote for the most honest candidate!

Jack this is a waste of time. I make under 30K a year and can care less about a bogus tax cut that will save me $70. I can’t believe I haven’t heard anyone talking about a government regulated gas price. It’s not the price per barrel!! The oil company profits are the highest in history! Just cut all the profits! Monopolize the industry like the electrical or natural gas companies. It would be a huge overhall but it needs to happen if the oil industry is going to cause world war. When WWIII happens over oil I want the owners of the oil companies on the front line along with the politians that have not thought of this. When are you going to start the Cafferty/Dobbs campaign!? Obama 08!!-Martin from Chicago!!

I means that economists are elitist, unless of course they agree with McCain and Hillary and then they are “regular folks”.

It also means that pandering is a political Olympic-equivalent sport and THE WINNER IS .. It’s a tie!!!!

Wendy
San Rafael, CA

Jack,
Hillary is never for what is right or good for American people; she is just for her own ambition, nothing more. She said she doesn’t care what the economists say; she is just concerned with pandering that will get her elected any how. It is only left for America to choose to be fooled by her deceitful antics.

Jack

Most of us don’t need an economist to figure this one out. It’s 100% pure pandering for votes. It’s a desperation move by a desperate candidate.

How many times is Hillary going to spend that tax she intends to impose on oil companies profits anyway?

Jack, it validates McCain’s self-evalutaion as an economics dummy and Hillary’s public perception as a candidate who will say anything to get elected, and it raises serious concerns that Obama may be an honest politician - and therefore unelectable.

First of all, in the real world, it isn’t going to happen and they know it. Second, McCain doesn’t know squat about economics anyway but Hillary does, so he’s just being dumb but she’s actually lying again. Why do people even listen to these two is beyond me? Use the brain God gave you for a change folks.

It tells me that McCain and Clinton can’t buy enough votes with their own money so they are now going to use our money. It must be nice to reach into someone else’s wallet whenever you want/need to buy something (or someone).

Goes to show you that Hillary Clinton will do whatever it takes to get elected. The sad part about the whole situation is that the American people seem to fall for this type of politics every election. In 2004 George W. Bush scared us to death and in 2008 Hillary Clinton will try and bribe us. Wake up and smell the political coffee America.

It means they didn’t do a research to see if this had been tried in America before putting a crazy idea into the American people. It means you have 2 of the three candidates who are only thinking of themselves and their biggest goal is the “White House” and not “my house.”

Just go to show you Hillary will do anything to get elected and this is a true and current occurrence going on right now here in North Carolina.
Hillary Clinton’s campaign in Fayetteville, NC payed people 60 dollars a piece to put her name up on streets…..they all were African American people that didnt have much money and needed to make the cash. I cant believe she would sink that low. If someone was not a supporter of me I wouldn not pay them to stand out and hold a sign. That’s dirty if you ask me….She figure she sway African American voters by doing what she is doing I cant believe this…shame on her.

Does the phrase “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” ring a bell?

Jack,

What really bothers me most about this “holiday” is that Clinton and McCain act as though it could happen right now if not for Obama being opposed. It is such political nonsense. If Congress is against it and Bush is against it, then who really cares what Clinton and McCain say because they can’t DO ANYTHING about it anyway. This is just typical dangle the carrot politics to secure votes and then we’ll never hear about it again. Senator Clinton, I’ll tell you what. Take my $10 a month savings and put it towards our national debt. At least I know I’ll be doing something constructive for our nation.

It’s about time you reported on the moronic gas tax holiday. But you decided to wait until after the NC/Indiana primaries so you can keep Billary’s chances alive. You wasted lots of coverage on Rev. Wrong instead of covering the real issues like the gas tax holiday and obliterating Iran. Y’all use to be biased for Obama, but you are now way too biased in favor of Hillary.

It means that I’m not crazy! I did the math. I unfortunately have to commute to work everyday in my car. I fill up twice a week. .18 cents off would give me a savings of $5.76 per week (based on a 16 gallon fill-up), which will be a savings of $23.04 a month. Now, I would like to ask the $109 million dollar woman and the man who married a billionaire…what the heck am I supposed to do with a whopping $23 dollars! I’ll take it, but expect way more than!

It tells me this Jack,

As with all of the major problems facing this nation, our elected officials are not interested in real solutions. Hard solutions to problems do not translate into votes at the poles. Give me a tax break to purchase a high efficiency vehicle and give my employer an incentive to allow me to work from home. Now we are talking about real money Jack.

Well, it could temporarily save drivers money that they then could spend on other products, which is what we need in a recession. But until the US nationalizes the oil companies, like PEMEX in Mexico, we are in for outrageous prices and profit taking by these corporate thugs.

But what this is about is just more Hillary bashing, isn’t it? If Obama were for it that would be quite different, right?

Clinton wants the votes counted in Michigan and Florida , I think that if Michigan and Florida had followed the rules their votes would have been counted, and if Hillary had followed the rules she would have never been on the ballots since they knew that the votes would not count. Now she wants those votes, wrong you should not get any because you broke the rules.

It’s because Hillary and McCain are not telling the American people “the catch” to their holiday tax break. Well at least McCain is smart enough not to try to depend on the oil company to pay for the fuel taxes. Not bad for a guy who admits not knowing anything about the economy. But for Hillary to stand firm in the ideal that the oil company paying the fuel tax without them raising the gas prices to make up the difference is naive.

I believe that most Americans are savvy enough to figure out the math on this issue, Jack. That is why the economists feel that the plan is a bad ideal. It’s a band-aid fix to make them feel like they are making a change, but in the “long term” it does nothing. We don’t need $30 more to travel further on a summer vacation. We need gas prices to go down so that we can get to work every day.

This just shows you how out of touch Hillary and McCain are with the American people, and how “elitist” they are because they want to just give us a patch job without solving the bigger issues…

Thank you Barack Obama for being honest with the American people even when its not politically correct.

Obama 08

Politicians using bad policy to buy votes? Please Jack, stick to the real issues, like Rev. Wright.

It means there isn’t any relief to be had with this idea. People keep saying Obama doesn’t understand the pinch they are feeling. I think he does understand, and that’s his point. This would never happen, and if it did it would have either no effect on the average person or perhaps even a negative effect.

Jack it means that Hillary doesn’t listen to the Economists on the gas tax issue and she didn’t read and listen to the expert reports on going into Irag either. So she voted with McCain to go to WAR and now she voted with McCain to stop the GAS TAXES for three months.
The Clinton’s never do learn do they always WRONG !
Wake up Indiana and vote to get rid of her - she is an idiot !!!!!!!!

It means what a lot of folks have already been saying — Hillary and McCain are out of touch with reality. Ignoring world renowned experts has to be the epitome of “elitist” snobbery. The temporary gas-tax repeal is just another electioneering, vote-getting trick. It is reminiscent of the old “the-more-you-spend-the more-you-save” mind-set, which plays right into Hillary’s “Goldi-nomics” philosophy: “ignore the experts because I know whats best.” If Hillary so easily dimisses expert advice over a gallon of gasline, how do we know that she (and McCain) won’t ignore the experts with regard to other critical military/foreign/domestic affairs???

Jack, it simply means that the truth is being told. Saying what is appropriate just win an election, is only taking us two steps backward. The American people not only deserve to hear the truth about our problems, but we need to hear the truth about our solutions to our problems.

It means the Clinton/’McCain proposals of dumping the gas tax is pandering of the highest order. First, it has to pass The
Senate and the House… It won’t. Second, another bill must be passed to tax excess profits. That won’t happen either. MJust put together a real proposal in the first place, one that the House and Senate can embrace…such as the one Sen Obama has proposed. In our area, work is underway on our major bridgeas for the first time in decades. When Hillary gets here to campaign, she better keep her mouth shut about taking roads and bridges money in order to get a 5% discount on gas.

It simply means Jack that the few dollars that is being offered cannot buy ;Jack ; to feed any family, and it totally is a means to get the voters attention OH MONEY BACK just to deceive them into voting for her , that is so selfish and transparent please voters DO NOT FALL FOR THIS, we need a long term solution and Sen Obama offers this and more.

What does it mean when Obama camp is now sending out mailers to Kentucky voters promising them clean coal plants–plants that will take at least a decade to build–and then the Obama camp files the mailer under “Obama’s own pander”. Looks like even the Obama camp recognizes Obama is the same old kind of politician! RB in PA

Jack,
When 200 economists say that this McCain/Clinton gas tax cut holiday political gimmck is a really stupid idea meant only to help the two elitist panderers then the masses should pay attention. Don’t we already have a president who is too arrogant and ignorant to listen to the experts? Can we really afford another?

To me it means several things; like they are out of touch with reality and will tell people anything they want to hear to get votes. It means that the people who believed this and voted for Clinton or McCain are not too sharp about wanting to hear the truth because they either are afraid to vote for a black man and can use this as an excuse to vote for Clinton or they are more gulliable than they realize.

It means that Clinton and McCain are two peas out of the same pod, that being the pod of idiots. The idea of saving $28 over a few months and creating more demand on foreign oil, thus driving up the price even further makes no sense at all. Rest assured, Jack, you won’t have to worry about eating an Exxon station.
Wenatchee, WA

Jack,
It means a gas tax holiday would do nothing to solve the long term problem. Clinton and McCain are are stuck on short term solutions and even their own advisors admit the holiday would do nothing to fix the problem. How can these two be taken seriously when their not looking to the future. Let me put it like this, being unemployed I could effectivly rob a liquor store to give me some immediate relief but in the long term I would be doing more harm to myself than good. So where’s the solution? If McCain and Clinton are unwilling to listen to their own advisors and willing to completely disregard economist nation wide, on this economical issue, why should American’s like me take them seriously when it comes to promises they make for a better future.

It shows that Clinton and McCain are exactly like Bush in that they will do anything they think will get them votes. They both, like Bush don’t care to listen to highly respected people if truth gets in the way of the two of them getting what the want. It also shows they are banking on the voters to be easily hoodwinked.. Please voters wake up and see that this kind of thinking got us into a terrible war that seems without end.

Instead of a gas-tax ‘holiday’, why don’t McHillary let some HOT AIR out from their gas-bags; it is time these two ‘experienced’[a.k.a 'seasoned liars'] politicians learn to tell the truth from the ‘junior’ senator!

It means that we can reject science and reason and go with Hillary’s “gut”, or we can take a rational approach to the huge challenges we’re facing as Americans. Maybe it’s finally time to grow up.

Hey Jack

I am surprised by the people who wrote in to say they want 18 cents off their gas.

they don’t care about how many people will be laid off and can’t provide for their families.

Well that’s the American way (some Americans) all me me me me me!

Cinti, Ohio Indite Rumsfield

Jack, gas in my area went up to $3.75 a gallon today. Should the next president be (heaven forbid) McBush, or McClinton, gas will be .50 higher than it is right now. It will have no bearing on this summer, as Hillary say to the people “you deserve a break, this summer”. The oil president Bush) will still be in office this summer. She really is saying anything to get a vote.

hillary and john will have 4 years to take a few courses in basic math and economics.

The gas tax holiday is in keeping with the tax rebates now being issued to taxpayers. The problem with the gas tax holiday is the same as with the tax rebates. They are nearly the equivalent of just printing more dollar bills; sometimes called deficit financing. The big question is how would we pull out of Iraq without having an economic recession? The obvious answer is invade another country.

Bruce Brunton
Vancouver, Canada

jack didn’t bill clinton do something like this during his administration and did not work then and it is not going to work in the long run. i can’t take hillary seriously at this point. it is sad that people are in need and look to her for assistance and she is giving them nothing but meaning less words,

This only proves what many have known all along: they’re idiots, Clinton and McCain. Just goes to show that “experience” will make them do anything for my vote. Memo to McClinton: We’re not idiots. Stop patronizing us.

Senator Clinton is trying to do something to help all the suffering people with these high gas prices.
Obama has absolutely no plan to help with the gas or anything else. He just talks, talks, talks but no one really knows what his stand is on this or any other issue.
I think he’ll be great for this country…no nothing, no experience president. Just what we need at a critical time.
M. Brown, Dallas, Tx.

Jack, economics is a cross between alchemy and palm reading. If economists were all that good at predicting the future wouldn’t we be in much better shape now? The fact that 200 economists can agree on anything is a miracle in itself, and means that they have it wrong for sure.

Jack
Why doesn’t someone ask a independant truck driver who spends about a grand to fill their rig about the gas tax holiday. I’m sure you get a different answer from them. Who knows it may even bring down the price of arugala.

It means that people who actually know what they are talking about are speaking up. Politicians just blather about things that sound good.

Anne
Texas

…and while we’re on the subject….do they really expect us to believe that oil companies are going to pay the .18 cent tax. Do the math…if you take savings $70 that Clinton claims and multiply that by 3 million drivers per state - that’s $210 million that an oil company will magically pay. Multiply that by 50 states and that’s $10.5 billion!!! Are we really supposed to believe than any oil company is going to part with $10.5 billion without passing on the cost to the consumer. I would like to know what Clinton’s accountant is smoking…we all need some!

Jack-simply means the cost for a vote is getting cheaper-much like the income of most middle class America-as the oil companies like to say “Show me the love” and sure enough Clinton and McCain are more than eager to accomodate-I thought prostitution was illegal but perhaps I’m wrong. Truth is you can screw some of the people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time. Somebody smart once said that.

That they work for the oil industry????

The McCain-Clinton gas tax holiday won’t work because George Bush is still President until January 2009 and there’s nothing in Dubbya’s past petrolium policies to indicate that he’ll be giving any such compassionately conservative gasoline price reduction to drivers this Summer season. Next year’s proposed gas tax holiday is still a long way off in political promises.

It means that Hillary wins in Indiana–nothing more. We know that half of the voters don’t pay attention to facts.

Boise

It means it is a bad idea, the oil companies will just increase prices.

It means they are unable to admit they are wrong.

It means they are unable to listen to experts who devote their lives to an industry and its history and make sound decisions.

It means they are both just like… wait for it… Bush!

If it works, I’ll eat an Exxon station along with you.

Clinton wants the votes and again she is lying when is she going to stop all the lyes,I guess NEVER she is worst than Bush

Where have the economists beennnnn on extended vacation all of a sudden they want to possible say something about what we should’nt have been doing like going into debt taxing people giving their money away you ask what does it mean .
I like Mr. Carvilles answer If you want to be an economists be an economist if you want to be an american be an american.

Gene , Tampa Fl.

if it sounds good i don’t mind hearing it . That don’t mean i believe it. That is what they should be talking about in the first place, rather than waste-spend my donation money on adverts attacking each other.

apparently,it means john and hillary can’t afford an economic advisor.

It means they are not big business lobbyists pumping money and support into Clinton or McCain for future considerations.

In my opinion it seems as if Senator Hillary Clinton is going for the Big Lie again even if it means going with Senator John McCain. Obama still thinks that its moral to tell the truth, and the truth may just lose him the nomination.

Jack,

In any corrective action process, you must determine a short-term, intermediate, and long-term solution to the problem before you. The short-term solution in this case should be capping oil company profits and investigate price-gouging by the major oil companies in the mean time to ensure they are not in cahoots with each other to drill the money out of our pockets. If it is discovered that they ripped the American citizenry off, then they should be fined to the nth degree. As an intermediate solution, Obama’s plan of tax credits is a great way to give some help to the citizenry. A long-term solution would be reducing the use of foreign oil and produce the energy right here in the USA. A tax holiday does nothing but leads us further down the road to disaster. Funds for highway repairs are already in jeopardy. Giving us a “holiday” for a mere pittance does not make fiscal or practical sense…ask the people of Minnesota the cost of not fixing the roads.

It means Clinton & Cain are tricksters and they’re full of gas. You won’t have to eat the Exxon station Jack.

Hillary and John appear to be forming a coalition. Now, that would be an interesting dream-team(more like a nightmare-pair)

Jack, let me have a shot at this! Does it mean that McCain and Clinton are just pandering to us? Or does it mean they have Oil stocks in their portfolios and would like to see some more outrageous profits? Of course Hillary said she would have the oil companies pay for the tax, do you think that might get passed along to us? I think what the economist actually mean is for America to elect a President that doesn’t pander!

It means someone is operating with a brain. The “gas tax holiday,” so called, amounts to about 30 cents a day. As I went about my business on Monday, I tried to find items I could buy for 30 cents. After having no luck buying a postage stamp, a local newspaper, pre-packaged noodles, generic cat food or a single roll of toilet paper, I was about to give up when I discovered I could get 36 minutes of time at a parking meter outside the thrift store where I look for clothes. We need a long term fix, not a feel good, campaign crumb.

It means that it’s a bad idea. On the other hand I could find 200 scientists who say the Earth is 6000 years old, and probably thousands who say that global warming is a hoax. I doubt that this is a similar situation, but I like to play devil’s advocate. Oh, and I completely agree with the economists, this is one of the worst ideas since ethanol fuel, which was the worst idea since hydrogen fuel. Now if only Congress would support alternative fuels that don’t pretend to be eco-friendly while destroying the environment and crippling economies and food supplies behind the curtain. I guess that would be too much to ask of politicians.

It just means Clinton will do anything to impress the voters. This is a sham idea anyway. What killed me was John McCain said Americans could use the extra $30 to maybe take a little vacation. This would hardly cover a cheap breakfast and lunch on the road. These rich folks McCain and Clinton have not the slightest understanding of the struggles of ordinary people. Obama does because he has experienced poverty in his lifetime.

It means Hillary is insulting the intelligence of the “middle class” . This is one more factor the Super Delegates need to take into consideration when they name their support.

It means it is a bad idea. It also means that two of the candidates are not listening. In addition it means that more than 50% of America is not listening and can be bought for a pittance.

How many of these economists are responsible for the mess we’re in today? I haven’t been too impressed with economists. They were nothing more than bobble heads for Bush.

You should have eaten most of the exxon stations by now if you keep your words, jack. You are so hopeless.

Latest News on the Election - Mexico and Canada will conduct primaries and WILL COUNT. The number of delegates needed for the nomination has now reached 2,800,000. In a press conference, the Clintons argued that Mexico and Canada are part of the AMerican continent and MUST count. As you are already aware, the Clinton have an advantage with hispanic and with middle class. The primaries has been scheduled for Dec. 25, 2008.

Nobody has had the courage to let the Clintons know that the Primaries have been over for a while…..

Well, Jack. It seems Delta Airlines doesn’t seem to mind passing on fuel costs to sappy consumer like me….I just paid $28 just to check my two bags - lucky me. I don’t care what the economists say; if that gas tax holiday covers even the littlest thing - like the 28 bucks I’m out for deciding to bring 2 suitcases - well I’ll take it! Besides, where were these damn bookworms and number crunchers when we really needed - before the economy went south! I can’t even believe we’re fighting about this.

Anyone on here who’s saying “wait a minute, 18 cents a gallon is still money saved” does not understand the problem, and that’s the media’s fault. Reporters keep saying “economists are against this,” but don’t take the time to explain WHY. Here’s what they’re saying: Remove the tax, and within 1-3 WEEKS, more people will buy gas, which means demand will go up. Demand goes up, and prices go up as well, perhaps to a higher TOTAL RATE than what consumers were paying with the gas tax. Now, you have a situation where the oil companies are getting all of the increased profit, and those tax monies do not exist to pay for road and bridge maintence.

The reason NO ONE stands behind this proposal is because it’s indefensable. Within a few weeks, no one will benefit from this proposal except the oil companies.

If anyone actually thinks that they’re going to save a dime on a “tax holiday”, then they’re not looking at the facts.

The gasoline vendors already know that Americans can (and will) pay the current amount. If the tax gets repealed, they’re going to charge more.

It’s not pretty, but it’s pretty basic in terms of economics. If you don’t believe me, look at what happened in Pittsburgh when parking taxes were forced down (hint: The parking garages earned a bigger margin)

If you have a bad tooth, you go to a dentist because he’s an expert professional on teeth. Likewise a barber/beautician for hair/makeup. Economists are expert professionals on the economy. This is what they do. If not even ONE economist has sided with the Clinton/McCain idea then this should say something to you. Last time I checked, these two are politicians. I would not take their advice over a doctor’s if I were sick. The point is: if every economist that has reviewed the plan says it is bad, and the only two people who feel it’s a great idea are the two who are looking for votes, then it only take a few brain cells to understand that this is a GIMMICK. I just refuse to believe that Clinton and McCain are better than ALL the other economist and politicians who have judged this plan as not being a good one.

PS: Not to mention, Hillary record on telling us the straight truth isn’t a good one.

Jack I can probably find you well over 200 economists who say that Obama and Clinton’s healthcare plans are disasterous. Will you eat a hospital if either of their plans get passed?

Any great leader knows that they must hear what the “experts” have to say but in the end they must make the right decision for the people they serve. Economists have largely attacked Sen. Clinton’s plan for immediate gas tax relief because it’s not permanent. In the meantime, they know full well it wasn’t meant to be and that she has, by far, the best long-term plan as well.
Under her immediate plan, there would be a wide-range of relief in dollars, depending on whether one driving to and from work a couple miles or fifty miles a day. And there are other driving needs as well. For example, my husband and I have had to cut out the driving to our grandchildren’s little league games because we live in a rural area and the driving costs for these games alone is about $80 - $100 a month. And we are by no means alone in having to live on a tight budget these days! Truckers, farmers, all those whose livelihood depends on fuel would be very grateful for the immediate gas tax relief.
Meanwhile, Sen. Obama sits idly by with his long-term (that is, years and years away) plan with absolutely no plan for immediate relief!

The gas tax will do absolutely nothing at the pump. I know it’s going to hurt our economy even worse in the long run–especially with this already existing Stimulas package. It’s sort of like taking a pain killer after your leg breaks, ya it’ll take the edge off, but the problem is still very much there!

This is all a cheap attempt to buy votes. The economics of it are all way out of whack.

My question to both Clinton and McCain would be: If immediate gas price relief is so important, why haven’t either of them even proposed the idea as concrete legislation? They are both senators last I checked…

Hmmm…Maybe John McCain should pick Hillary has his running mate.

What this means is that people have to stop thinking only of themselves and look at the bigger picture. Are people bold enough to do that? I see others on this blog whining about how every little bit helps…well, how about those construction workers who will be out of a job? How about the oil companies making even more money?? There is no guarantee that this savings will even be passed on to us!! They said that they will just increase the price of gas just to make up the difference. How could all these economists be wrong? Anyone who thinks this would be a good idea has NO idea how the economy works and I feel sorry for them. That’s all Jack.

Molly, Military wife stationed in Italy

Jack,
It means that neither McCain nor Clinton is prepared to listen to an economist. With an economy to rebuild, that is scary.

It also means that only one out of three candidates will shoot straight with the public.

I say This is the day to select Mr. Obama as the best hope for America, and to let the other two be swept away in the rivers of their own self-adoration.

At first, she said “tax holiday”…when it was pointed out that construction workers could lose their jobs, she came up with “we will have the oil companies pay the tax.” Why not just tax windfall profits now and invest toward a comprehensive energy strategy…Congress could do this now.
Well, as for McCain, he already said he does not know economics……

Jack,

It means Hillary and McCain pockets would jingle again!

I wonder, how much do Hillary and Mc Cain personally, spend for gas that comes out of their wallets?

Do you know what kind of car and miles they drive for personal business?

Make that “over 201 economists,” including me. If the Clinton-McCain pair really believe that dropping the gas tax until the election will help the economy, they are displaying their ignorance both of the effect on gas prices, and of the gullibility of the voters.

It means its a bad idea! And that some politicians will do and/or say anything for a vote. The sad thing is that we know that they are pandering to us and that 99% of waht they say will never come home, but we vote for them anyway. No surprise that we end up with leaders like George Bush.

This whole gas tax relief is just a sham to get votes and to have Hillary say that she doesn’t agree with the economists (those who make their living studing the economy) shows just what an arrogant elitist she is. Rather than taking the advice of experts, she disbelieves them - hmmm sounds striking familiar to Bush. The fact is, neither she nor Mcain can have the gas taxes eliminated until 2009 when one of them might become president. To promise that they will eliminate the summer gas taxes this year as presidental nominees is all smoke and mirrors; they can do nothing until they are elected president, and then it would be up to Congress, not them.
So all they are doing is trying to buy votes and fool the gullable American public.

Jack this is how I really feel.
(1.) Who’s paying the economists?
(2.) What does Mccain know that Bush might do?
(3.) And Hillary is a2nd term Senator and has a few more smarts than Obama.
My guess is many people in the US could use a few more dollars. Than… “the rich” and “the educated” that Obama is picking up. Some of the seniors, and the poor could use a couple of extra dollars.

Edith in Oregon

Regardless of the accuracy of economics as a whole, these 200 economists are experts in predicting the impact of market forces/events on the economy. Last I checked, neither McCain nor Clinton were expert economists. If you have the arrogance to ignore people smarter than you, then you should not be the leader of a country. Hopefully, the American people will listen to the people who have devoted their lives to the study of economics, and reflect such in their votes.

Being an Econ major and living in a city whose economy runs mainly from investment in oil sands from American companies, I can guarantee you that these companies are investing money in such an expensive procedure because they have these candidates in their pockets and therefore know that the price of oil is going no where but up.
American people need to understand that the world needs them against the rising threats from countries such as China and Russia and therefore need to choose a candidate that will lift the economy up and not be in the pockets of lobbyists.

Being an Econ major and living in a city whose economy runs mainly from investment in oil sands from American companies, I can guarantee you that these companies are investing money in such an expensive procedure because they have these candidates in their pockets and therefore know that the price of oil is going no where but up.
American people need to understand that the world needs them against the rising threats from countries such as China and Russia and therefore need to choose a candidate that will lift the economy up and not be in the pockets of lobbyists.

Calgary, Canada

It means McCain and Clinton represent more of the same: “Elitist” politicians rejecting the advice of the experts to pursue their own political agenda. Isn’t this how we got into this mess in Iraq? If only Bush had listened to Colin Powell…

I’m ready for some honesty, even if its not convenient to my comfortable American life style. Thank you Mr. Obama for your honesty.

If Clinton or McCain want my vote how about an income Tax Holiday. This makes as much sense as what they are proposing. That would help me offset these outrageous gas & food prices.

Sameer

It means as long as they can buy gas, They will buy gas and complain till they get behind the wheel, and of they go But some day when they are hungry and no money for gas,beer, and smokes, Then (MAYBE) they will wake up But don’t count on it. We are too spoiled.

It means they are not electable. And their experience is worth 1 cent.

I just find it funny that Obama voted for this same kind of thing 3 times as an Illinois state senator, but now he’s “against” the whole idea and has since voted to keep giving tax breaks to the oil companies. But we are all supposed to believe he is just looking out for our best interests. Yeah right!

The 200 economist are more than likely Obama supporters. Also if any of you out there think that a president has anything to do to fix the gas problem you can think again because they CAN NOT do anything.
History says that every time the government gets involved with the economy they goon it up even worst. They are all pandering when they say they will fix gas prices or the economy. Clinton on the stump in California primary said Bush was pathetic for being in Saudia Arabia trying to get oil prices down and now she is saying the same thing, my memory is not that short.

It means that Hillary and McCain are hot-air populists who say anything to get their foot in the door so they can continue running our country into the ground. Lies and b ***t. If our educational system did its job, maybe people wouldn’t be so prone to believing that crap, and politicians like these two might have to start cleaning up their act.
Pam, San Francisco

It means that 200 economists are no smarter than Obama, how can we trust economists today? I think about the savings for Police cars, fire trucks, taxi cabs, truck drivers and a lot of people who have to travel 50 miles one way to work each day, I think that is sure going to save more than $28,00 for those people. We all know it is not long term but none of the candidates can do anything long term until they sit in the White House, so all these plans are just talk right now, wait until Congress gets hold of their ideas!!

Rose
AZ

Here is a novel idea. Let the government take over the fuel industry,
and regulate it like public utilities are regulated. The price of natural gas, electricity, or telephone service cannot go up without PUC approval. Fuel that drives the nation should be just as important and accessible.

It means it’s a terrible idea. Now, if she could promise a free scoop of ice cream with every fillup, I think that idea would have promise.

People should wake up! No one will see ANY savings this summer. McBush and Clinton do not have the power to do anything and are making promises they can’t keep. I would hope people would be smart enough to realize this, but I have my doubts.

it means that McCain and Clinton are dumb. The only thing that will spur change in this country with regard to oil consumption is high prices. If we lower them, people will forget, and the consumption will resume.

The sad part is americans no this is a gimmick and still wont listen. Remember President Bush got reelected with lies and gimmicks

What good is $70 going to do me when I have to spend $250 to fix the flat tire and $600 to fix my bent axle caused by running over the unfilled potholes in the street?

To MAP, who goes out of his way to save a penny or two per gallon:

For a 20 gallon fill, and 20mpg car, if you go more than a mile to save a penny, you’ve just spent more than you would if you just paid the extra penny.

It means North Carolina and Indiana better wake up today and vote for Obama.

The thought that two presidential canidates are trying to hoodwink poor Americans in favor of big oil should tell anyone with half a brain whom to vote for.
No taxes means no money to repair roads and bridges, leaving at the same time big oil to keep boosting their profits and I for one am not going to drive over a cliff that had once been a federal bridge.
What would be better is say the price of one gallon is a single dollar which stays at that price for a year, generating more taxes on fuel at that price. Big oil made their money now they can live with a sacrafise worth their profits. Forget McCain and Clinton they can sit on the unemployment line or work as a gas jockey.
Barstow, Ca

It is a “gimmick” they do this every so often here in Florida and all it really does is make people save a couple bucks and feel better about spending money because they didn’t have to pay taxes on something. I’d rather they keep my $28 to $70 and use the money to better fund the schools, better help our veteren once they return home IE fix the GI bills so it pays for school, or fix the VA problems, fix our roads and bridges.

I do not understand why Obama worshipers started to worship Big Oil over sudden. These are only businesses that can tolerate tax hike. Exxon/Mobil CEO Mr. Lee Raymond received a $400 million retirement package. Retirement package! These guys can afford even bigger tax hike.

Jack:
It means that Clinton-McCain think the American people are stupid. And judging by the 2004 election results, they may be right. That 30 cent-a-day gas tax “holiday” will lower my power bill this month from $190.75 to $190.45. Maybe I’ll buy some oil stocks with the savings.

I just had to comment on the farmer saying how a gas tax holiday would save him $900. Firstly, that was if he got the holiday for the whole year. What is worst, farmers get a gas tax rebate on their income tax, so that’s even a bigger untruth. He’ll get the tax back anyway. Tell the truth!

At a time when the Democrats are trying to differntiate themselves from Republicans, it is very funny to me that McCain and Hillary have such similar plans.

It is pretty simple…our gas demand has NOT gone down in correlation to gas prices rising. Americans are not driving less because of high gas prices, they are reducing spending in other areas. The money spent on the gas tax will be spent in other parts of the economy…not a bad thing.

The only risk here is with oil speculators. The tax holiday will give speculators the excuse to drive up oil prices using the delusion of higher demand.

Look at the numbers..our demand has NOT decreased because of high prices…our demand will NOT go up because of cheaper prices.

Even Hillary doesn’t believe it, otherwise she would have actually introduced legislation to make it happen. And what kind of idiot politician is going to seriously make a proposal that will gaurantee a jump in gas prices by 18 cents two months before an election. This once again shows the underbelly of the voters who are willing to take a handout fro