OK, so let’s get just put one thing out on the table. Generally, I am a pretty conservative guy with a few socially liberal views tossed in. That being said after reading a recent article from CNS & the subsequent digging that ensued- I have a bone to pick with CNS, the author & their somewhat loose editing techniques (no offense). Especially for what is supposed to be such a well regarded site in the conservative blogosphere. Matt Cover we need to have a little chat down by the fireside.

I’ll keep this one relatively nice & concise. So after looking into the source CNS cited and downloading the excel file (which can still be found) entitled “Full History” of Retail gas prices I first found what they were exactly referencing to the best of my knowledge. I figured…”Data Set 3- Regular All Areas, All Formulations”…scroll down a bit and voila. Indeed, what they are saying is true. January 19, 2009 retail prices for conventional gas were in fact hovering around the $1.84 mark and same goes for the latter figure.

So now, turn the dial further back to January 24, 2005. Here, things start to get a little bumpy. Oddly enough, when Bush Jr. was inaugurated for his second term gas was as well hovering around the same $1.84 price. Fast forward back again to September 2008 folks around the same date (are we having a little  Back to the Future moment right now?) and we see something vaguely familiar with the same red flag trying to be thrown now. Retail gas was at $3.84. So, how does that old saying go? “He who lives in a glass house shouldn’t throw stones”?

That being said, is it exactly forthcoming to imply that gas prices are a direct result solely based on the policies of one man? No. Besides, gas prices have always known to sometimes fluctuate rapidly over the short-term. On the other hand, does this article perhaps slightly over-exaggerate this familiar finding? Yes.

Until we meet again. Cheers.