UNBELIEVABLE CYNICISM – AT 8:46 A.M. ET:  We have this piece "flagged," as we do all election pieces, because that's exactly what it is.  The cynicism here is staggering.  From The Hill:

President Obama will consider releasing oil from the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve if increased sanctions on Iran cause costs to rise, according to a report on Friday.

Officials have a plan ready if gasoline prices do not fall after Sept. 3, according to Reuters. Historically, gas prices drop after the Labor Day holiday.

Obama signed into law a broad range of new sanctions against Iran's energy, shipping and insurance sectors last week. The new sanctions are intended to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear program.

Over the past month, national gas prices have gone up nearly 30 cents, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report, to $3.71. Prices a year ago averaged $3.58, according to the report.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) last month asked Obama to signal his willingness to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as a fail-safe against Iran's ability to manipulate oil prices.

Are we serious here?   How long have oil prices been going up, with a few dips here and there?  They've been going up since Obama took office.  And when would he release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to try to stabilize prices?  Why, right before the next presidential election.

You don't think there's anything political in this, do you?  Nah.  Why, our Barack?  Political.  The man is saintly, and come to save us.

Republicans, who support a stronger response to Iran, responded critically to Obama's last release of oil reserves, blasting him for draining emergency oil reserves rather than supporting long-term projects to tap the U.S. oil supply.

That would offend the "let's-fly-to-Aspen" environmental crowd.  Must not do that.

COMMENT:  What's so galling here, and so hypocritical, is that the suggestion to release oil comes from two-faced Dem congressman, and rising Dem star, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland.  My Iranian freedom-activist friend, Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzi, points out that Van Hollen is no great opponent of the Iranian mullahs:

The National Iranian American Council (NIAC), the notorious pro-Tehran lobby in Washington was set up with the explicit goal to bend U.S. Policy in Tehran’s direction by eliminating sanctions, increasing diplomatic contacts, and ultimately resuming trade relations with Iran. They have also been sponsored on Capitol Hill by Maryland Democratic Congressman Chris van Hollen 8th District, as well as several other clueless members of Congress like Sheila Jackson Lee, Mike Honda, etc.

Nice, huh?  What a bunch of phonies.

August 17,  2012