Biden's war on US energy

 Colin Reed:

If President Joe Biden was looking for a gift for former President Jimmy Carter’s 98th birthday, his mishandling of the OPEC situation sure fits the bill. For all the current administration’s shortcomings and failures, they have been remarkably effective at waging war on America’s energy producers. Everyone in America is paying the price – literally – and suddenly the Carter years are looking better in retrospect.

The Biden administration may have expressed anger at the announcement from OPEC – a rogue’s gallery of 15 oil-producing countries that includes Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela – that it was slashing oil production by 2 million barrels a day in November. But this was not an isolated incident. It was a long time in the making and exacerbated by Biden and his adherence to the green movement every step of the way.

As a candidate, Biden stated, "I guarantee you we’re going to end fossil fuels." As president, he has made good on that promise, cancelling pipelines, leasing fewer acres of federal land for oil and gas drilling since World War II and showing nothing but disdain and outright hostility toward America’s domestic energy producers. Even before Hurricane Ian made landfall, Biden was wagging his finger at the private sector, issuing ominous warnings, "do not use this as an excuse to raise gasoline prices or gouge the American people."

MSNBC'S 'MORNING JOE' ON POLITICAL IMPACT OF OPEC+ ANNOUNCEMENT: 'SPIT IN BIDEN'S FACE,' 'NOT GREAT' FOR DEMS

With domestic supply shrinking and demand accelerating post-pandemic, prices shot up and Biden’s approval numbers tanked. A gallon of gas, which averaged $2.39 on his inauguration, rose steadily, topping out at a nightmarish $5 per gallon over the summer. Today, the national average sits at $3.89 – more than a 60% increase from where it started.

As confidence in his presidency plummeted, Biden turned to foreign actors to bail him out. He traveled to Saudi Arabia in a futile effort to convince the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, a man he once referred to as a "pariah," to loosen supply. He eased restrictions on Venezuela, led by the brutal dictator Nicolas Maduro. His administration opened the door to buying oil from Iran. All the while, he continued vilifying American producers.

When none of those options panned out, Biden turned to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Much like "supply chain," the SPR is not a familiar term to most Americans, and for good reason. As the word "reserve" indicates, the stockpile is an emergency supply. It was never intended for everyday use, but don’t tell the administration.

Starting last fall, Biden began flooding the market with oil. In the spring, the release accelerated to 1 million barrels per day over a six-month period, a period scheduled to last through the end of October. After OPEC’s announcement, Biden authorized the release of another 10 million barrels. Soaring gas prices is not a banner any politician wants to carry to the ballot box.
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Biden's energy policies are idiotic and they are a direct threat to US national security.  It is another reason why Biden should be impeached.  It is also another reason why US voters should vote against every Democrat on the ballot until they come to their senses about energy and reject the Big Green agenda.

See, also:

MSNBC Guest Says Biden’s Own Energy Policies Backed Him Into A Corner