Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: jmhollen who wrote (567645)	4/22/2004 4:06:50 PM
From: tejek	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 769670

Kerry to Bush: Talk OPEC Into Lower Oil Prices Now Thu Apr 22, 2004 03:21 PM ET (Page 1 of 2) By Patricia Wilson HOUSTON (Reuters) - Democratic White House hopeful John Kerry on Thursday challenged President Bush to prove he had not cut a deal with Saudi Arabia by pressuring OPEC oil-producing countries to lower prices now. Despite assurances from the Saudi ambassador that his country made no agreement to hold down oil prices just before the Nov. 2. election to boost Bush's chances, Kerry said "the simple truth" was that Americans were getting a bad deal. "Mr. President, I'm here today to say if there was no deal, no agreement ... then stand up today and jawbone OPEC to lower the price now," Kerry told a rally at the University of Houston to mark Earth Day. Prince Bandar bin Sultan assured Kerry on Wednesday that there was no deal. The Saudi envoy was responding to allegations by Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward, author of a new book on Bush's preparations for the Iraq war -- "Plan of Attack." He denied the assertion that the Saudis would try to fine-tune oil prices to prime the U.S. economy for the November election, something they understood would favor Bush. He told reporters there was no "political quid pro quo." The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has criticized Bush for not taking a tougher stand against the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and Saudi Arabia in particular, after the cartel decided to cut its oil production quota earlier this month. "I think we have a right to ask OPEC why they're waiting," Kerry said during a campaign swing through Bush's home state of Texas. "What are they waiting for? If they want to help us, this is the time that we need it ... they could up their production tomorrow and we deserve to have them answer us why they won't do that." U.S. crude oil prices soared more than $1 a barrel to $36.80 a barrel on Thursday, after the Environmental Protection Agency announced the U.S. government would not change its anti-pollution rule limiting sulfur content in gasoline. The move means that U.S. gasoline supplies are likely to remain tight because refiners cannot import gasoline with high sulfur content on a temporary basis. Americans already are paying record high prices at the pump. Kerry pledged openness in his dealings, blasting Bush, a former Texas oilman, and Vice President Dick Cheney, who ran Halliburton, the Texas-based oil services giant, for writing an energy policy in "secret deals ... secret meetings." "I pledge to you when I am president no deal will be cut and no legislation will be written by polluters in exchange for campaign contributions and support," he said. Continued ... reuters.com