As McCain was winning over voters by pretending that opening offshore oil to drilling would reduce oil prices significantly within the next few years, Obama had to do something louder than encouraging people to drive more efficient vehicles. Unfortunately, due to Bush’s catastrophic lack of fiscal responsibility, the Presidential candidates can only do things that cost nothing or completely pay for themselves. So, Obama’s new support for a release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) comes as little surprise. But now is a good time to debate the merits of such a plan… (more…)