Once again, the Confused Old Man™ demonstrates that he doesn’t know jack shit about the economy:
To help people weather the downturn immediately, McCain was calling for Congress to institute a “gas-tax holiday” by suspending the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.4 cent diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day. He also renewed his call for the United States to stop adding to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and thus lessen to some extent the worldwide demand for oil.
Combined, he said, the two proposals would reduce gas prices, which would have a trickle-down effect and “help to spread relief across the American economy.”
Does McCain really think that the Exxon/Mobils of the world won’t just raise prices to pretty much where they were? Does McCain really think that retailers, already hurt by the economic crisis, won’t try to make some money?
And if it actually works? It encourages more driving and more consumption … and the price will go up! Way to go fuckwit.
‘Gas-Tax Holiday’ So basically he is calling for a halt to the hot air coming out of his mouth for one day...
Posted by: Frederick | April 15, 2008 at 09:19 AM
A significant number of Americans believed the WMD story (some still do), voted for "our dear leader"...twice, and live in a reality papered over by Faux News. They'll fall for this cheap stunt, big time.
Posted by: water | April 15, 2008 at 10:43 AM
They'll fall for this cheap stunt, big time.
Some will, some won't -- but pretty much all of us will grab at whatever coinage is thrown our way (like the "President's tax rebate" as a worker at H&R Block kept calling it until I gave her a funny look and it instantly became "the government's tax rebate.")
If the day ever comes when there is drilling in ANWAR and off both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, I want those oil reserves to be nationalized. If we're going to suck the reserves dry, at least let's get a really good price on the stuff.
Posted by: Grace Nearing | April 15, 2008 at 03:20 PM
McShame doesn't understand, we grab our ankles and the oil companies pump us dry. perhaps if he were serious, he would end tensions with Iran and end the war in Iraq, since instability in the ME has led to the rise of oil prices to over $100 a barrel.
Posted by: Lew Scannon | April 15, 2008 at 08:04 PM
McCain has sold his soul to the Republican machine for a shot at the presidency. Sadly, win or lose, the man's remarkable life is cheapened by this act. The "maverick" has become just another political whore, a medicated drone whose sole purpose is to read lullabies to the tax-paying masses as their pockets are picked.
Posted by: water | April 15, 2008 at 09:16 PM
Better idea, Senator.
Why not impose a mandatory windfall profits tax on the oil companies, so that they are forced to lower their prices?
Posted by: actor212 | April 16, 2008 at 11:41 AM