It's a good question...

Jambo and I talked about this last night on the phone, and we both agreed that the rise in oil prices may have been inevitable. That being the case, then Bush shouldn't be vilified for his role in de-regulating the speculation market.

However, if the rise wasn't inevitable, and the spikes we have experienced since 9-11-01 aren't entirely driven by a global commodities market (and let's face it... the actual amount of crude oil in the supply chain hasn't fluctuated that much since 2000, only the politics of the oil producing regions have changed dramatically).

Less Federal control of market-driven commodities is a good thing, no one argues that. However, leaving the single most vital commodity to our society to the whims of a free-market speculation and futures system is simply too much "risk", in my eyes. We can't remove the influence of the global market, but if we could ensure a "smoother", less volitile price range for the life-blood of our economy and our way of life, then all the better.

Bush's conviction that the Strategic Oil Reserve would provide the stop-gap to a free-market pricing system has proven to NOT be the case. Not when every little blip and blurb of bad news from central Africa or the Arabian Pennisula can cause a spike in oil prices that equate to (literally) hundreds of dollars difference in the average John Q. Public's transportation and supply costs every month.

As I said to Jambo last night... I do not question the President's conviction and determination to stand by what he believes to be "right". I DO question his judgement, however, when he refuses to see that policies and agendas that are showing OBVIOUS signs of failure are left in place. We are not talking about compromising principals here... we are talking about fixing what isn't working, or at least trying other options to see if a better solution can be found. This is as true in Iraq as it is in our own domestic energy policy. Take what works and run with it... but if something isn't working, find a better answer before it too late.