May 03, 2013 12:34 PM UTC

Damn You and Your Cheap Gasoline!

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• by: Colorado Pols

Republicans and their pals in the oil and gas industry have a bit of a problem: How do you blame President Obama for driving up energy prices in America when it's not actually happening?

From Politico:

The threat of $4-a-gallon gasoline is a fast-fading memory, forcing House Republicans to shift tactics as they continue to blame President Barack Obama’s policies for driving up Americans’ energy prices. Republicans' broad agenda is largely unchanged, anchored by the Keystone XL pipeline, expanded offshore drilling, a rollback of EPA regulations and other steps they say would offer relief for consumers. But unlike the past two years, the price at the pump isn’t cooperating this time.

Instead, spring gasoline prices are at their lowest point since 2010. And all signs point to the price continuing to drop to as low as $3.20 a gallon during the summer driving season — what used to be prime time for the GOP to pound its “drill, baby drill” theme on the House floor while Democrats fretted about the possible impact at the polls.

No President, Democrat or Republican, has the ability to alter gas prices one way or the other, and the industry (and perhaps even some Republicans) are well aware of this fact. Maybe it's time for some "Don't drill for awhile, baby," chants to begin.