Sound bite politics. That does sound reasonable, there, my friend. However, in addition to, also:

First, Bush is pumping oil into the Strategic Reserve. Saving it. In effect buying it from someone:

Why? (Keep it off the market and prices are driven up.)

Who? (You can bet it's not Heinz! The SR has been used forever for cronys.)

For how much? (The oil itself is "free". However, people are paid for pumping it and processing it, and transporting it. We will never know how much they get. Sorta like blood from the Red Cross being "free". The costs are in the processing, which can be quite large.)

While at the same time he wants to pump ANWR.

Now, does that make sense? Couldn't ANWR be a form of "strategic reserve". Plenty of time until the others reach a critical level to develop it. And generate revenue from the oil being stored. As well has have it on an open market. (Hint - GWB is not afraid of high gas prices.)

So, you didn't think of it for a better reason than you thought you had.

Oh, yeah. Increasing the price of gas would be the very, very best way to lead this country to sanity in it's vehicles. If it has to be taxed to do that, it would be a good idea. Will never "fly", but it's the only responsible thing to do.

Arf