Finally, a president that understands.
From Steve Kroft's interview with Obama last night:
Kroft: When the price of oil was at $147 a barrel, there were a lot of spirited and profitable discussions that were held on energy independence. Now you've got the price of oil under $60.
Mr. Obama: Right.
Kroft: Does doing something about energy is it less important now than...
<Mr. Obama: It's more important. It may be a little harder politically, but it's more important.</p>
Kroft: Why?
Mr. Obama: Well, because this has been our pattern. We go from shock to trance. You know, oil prices go up, gas prices at the pump go up, everybody goes into a flurry of activity. And then the prices go back down and suddenly we act like it's not important, and we start, you know filling up our SUVs again.
And, as a consequence, we never make any progress. It’s part of the addiction, all right. That has to be broken. Now is the time to break it.
I had been watching the interview for awhile, and was impressed with how he handled the questions, and he seemed very presidential, and then it hit this segment.
"We go from shock to trance." It's something many of us realize, and understand, but it's something I don't think many presidents would mention. This is just the beginning of an actually intelligent president. For years we have realized this issue, and presidential candidates have said this and that about it, but they don't often mention this pattern. We all panic when the prices go up, and when they go down, everyone calms down.
I've witnessed it here in college. People are shocked at the $1.79 gas in Columbia, Missouri. And now I hear "we have plenty of oil," and "it's not that important." Obviously, "everything is ok now."
Of course it isn't.
Bush's last day can't come any faster.