Grr...Gas Lines...Grr.

[WussGawd]

Lost in all this hyperbole about the power outage in the Northeast (not that this wasn't horrific enough) is the brouhaha here at the gas pumps in Phoenix.

I just spent about 2 hours looking for gas in the Phoenix area.

This all began when on July 31 one of a few gas pipelines, this one running from West Texas, ruptured north of Tucson, between there and Phoenix...effectively taking 1/3 of Phoenix's gas supply out of the picture.

The pipeline is still out of repair, the state response to the issue has been tardy, and the federal response? Well, so far, about all that's happened out of it is that Joe Leiberman canceled a campaign stop today.

Roughly half of the gas stations here are out of gas, the others are low. The station I filled at will probably be out of gas in the next hour, by all appearances.

Let's take a recent inventory of brouhaha:

*Administration making a massive, not too subtle end run around the Constitution and Bill of Rights...check.

*Massive layoffs and severe economic downturn...check.

*Administration getting involved in a foreign war based on faulty intelligence if not outright lies...check.

*Power outage in the Northeast...check.

*Major city or state government in a state of near financial ruin...check.

*Long gas lines...check.

*Mediocre actor running for governor of California...check.

Hmm. By my calculations, all we need is for somebody to conjure up the BeeGees, bellbottoms, and double digit inflation, and I'll officially be trapped in some sort of retro-mid 70's hell.

[tucker342]

hehehe

You know having to pay for my own gas now, I would just like to say that gas is really expensive....

$14 for 9 gallons is way to much money....

[WussGawd]

Gas prices here have shot up about 30 cents a gallon in 10 days. The scary thing is Arizona was already higher than hell before this happened.

[Blade6119]

yah...im down in scottsdale...luckily i have a station with gas 2 minutes from my house...its insane..last week it was like 1.59, now its like 2.39...im drving to school and home..thats it...its insane..

[WussGawd]

Originally posted by Blade6119
yah...im down in scottsdale...luckily i have a station with gas 2 minutes from my house...its insane..last week it was like 1.59, now its like 2.39...im drving to school and home..thats it...its insane..

I travelled to the Midwest in mid July. Unleaded (the 87 Octane stuff) was as low as a buck-thirty about anywhere I went as soon as I crossed the Arizona border into New Mexico. It was a $1.60 here at the station around the same time where I regularly fill up at here in Phoenix. The price today at that station? $1.99.

I saw a Texaco not far from where I work (Central PHX) that was charging $2.15 a gallon for Unleaded...and it had a line that ran literally through two major intersections for a couple of miles.

[Buccaneer]

WussGawd, maybe if you would voice your support for increasing oil supplies in the West and energy plants in the East, some of those things on your list wouldn't be there. Oh that's right, you want it both ways, as long as it fits your political whinings. Isn't it the goal of your political extremists is to make gas/oil so costly that it forces conservation? Since we are paying less per gallon than we were in the 70s (adjusted for inflation), what's the problem?

[mckerney]

Originally posted by WussGawd
Lost in all this hyperbole about the power outage in the Northeast (not that this wasn't horrific enough) is the brouhaha here at the gas pumps in Phoenix.

You think this is gonna get any notice? All news directors are going to say is, "Phoenix? That's not in New York or LA is it? Doesn't sound like a story to me..."

[IMetTrentGreen]

pheonix is the la of arizona

[WussGawd]

Originally posted by mckerney
You think this is gonna get any notice? All news directors are going to say is, "Phoenix? That's not in New York or LA is it? Doesn't sound like a story to me..."

Sixth largest metropolitan area in the country...bigger than Cleveland, bigger than Detroit, both of which we heard about enough to choke a horse over the weekend.

FWIW, CNN did give it a little play over the weekend.

[mrskippy]

*Administration making a massive, not too subtle end run around the Constitution and Bill of Rights...check.

Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

*Massive layoffs and severe economic downturn...check.

That started under a former President.

*Administration getting involved in a foreign war based on faulty intelligence if not outright lies...check.

We could have ignored the "faulty" intelligence. Oh wait, we did that already. 3,000 people died. One of America's landmarks lost forever.

*Power outage in the Northeast...check.

And it appears this thing was the fault of some energy company in Ohio, not Texas. And it appears that some people didn't do what they were supposed to. I don't think you can blame Bush for this one.

*Major city or state government in a state of near financial ruin...check.

Orange County, California went bankrupt several years back. Governments in ruin is nothing new.

*Long gas lines...check.

Happened in the 70s, happened in Gulf War I, happens in California all the friggin time.

*Mediocre actor running for governor of California...check.

Yup, Gary Coleman is a mediocre actor. He lists himself as an actor on campaign sheets. What was his last role? What is his current job?

[Radii]

I will paypal $5 to everyone that votes for Larry Flynt. It's the least I can do, since I can't(and wouldn't) move to that hellhole of a state, even for the chance to vote for him.

Keeping my voter registration in North Carolina as long as possible during college for the pleasure of voting against Jesse Helms was the best I can do, folks.

[mrskippy]

Originally posted by Radii
I will paypal $5 to everyone that votes for Larry Flynt. It's the least I can do, since I can't(and wouldn't) move to that hellhole of a state, even for the chance to vote for him.

You don't have to give me $5. He's high on my list of those I'd vote for.

I'm a little pissed they don't consider him a serious candidate or are inviting him to debate.

It's a tough choice picking between Ah-nold, Coleman, Gallagher, and Flynt.

[ctmason]

Yeah, I was headed toward I-10 today and saw a line about a mile long (literally) to get some premium fuel.

Strangely, I fueled up Saturday morning, and noticed there was only regular at the pump. But, I didn't see any long lines then.

Roommate says there's simply no gas to be had at all in Mesa.

[sabotai]

You know what's sad? I'm only 25 and even I can remember when gas prices were under a buck a gallon. (At least in New Jersey). Fuck you oil companies and a big FUCK YOU to "sin" taxes.

[mrskippy]

Just remember in California, we know what it's like to pay more than $2 a gallon. Heck some stations were ordering 3s awhile back. Though we haven't started using them yet.

Gas prices are on the up and up here too. But given that its a Kinder-Morgan pipeline that burst and that the Kinder-Morgan comes into NorCal, higher prices are to be expected.

[mrskippy]

Dola ...

S.D. Union Tribune and others are reporting:

The price spikes are being blamed on pipeline problems in Arizona, where gas lines have returned to local stations and there is a shortage of the special summer blend fuel that motorists need, as well as multiple refining problems in California.

According to AAA, it's already hit $2 in San Francisco. And in San Diego its up 27 cents already.

And it's going up in other parts of the country. Here we go again!!!

[Swaggs]

Originally posted by Radii

Keeping my voter registration in North Carolina as long as possible during college for the pleasure of voting against Jesse Helms was the best I can do, folks.

Radii, the longer I know you, the higher my opinion of you continues to go.

[Butter]

Originally posted by tucker342
$14 for 9 gallons is way to much money....

I'll be the first a-hole to mention that gas in Europe is way more expensive ($4+ per gallon), and we should be happy it's so cheap as it is, etc. etc. and maybe if it were that expensive we wouldn't keep buying these gas-guzzling pieces of crap that Detroit/Japan/Deutschland keep producing... *yawn*

It's all tired. But worth repeating, I guess.

[WussGawd]

Originally posted by Butter_of_69
I'll be the first a-hole to mention that gas in Europe is way more expensive ($4+ per gallon), and we should be happy it's so cheap as it is, etc. etc. and maybe if it were that expensive we wouldn't keep buying these gas-guzzling pieces of crap that Detroit/Japan/Deutschland keep producing... *yawn*

It's all tired. But worth repeating, I guess.

But it's correct.

[WussGawd]

Originally posted by Buccaneer
WussGawd, maybe if you would voice your support for increasing oil supplies in the West and energy plants in the East, some of those things on your list wouldn't be there. Oh that's right, you want it both ways, as long as it fits your political whinings. Isn't it the goal of your political extremists is to make gas/oil so costly that it forces conservation? Since we are paying less per gallon than we were in the 70s (adjusted for inflation), what's the problem?

Who's whining now?

[Blade6119]

Originally posted by Butter_of_69
I'll be the first a-hole to mention that gas in Europe is way more expensive ($4+ per gallon), and we should be happy it's so cheap as it is, etc. etc. and maybe if it were that expensive we wouldn't keep buying these gas-guzzling pieces of crap that Detroit/Japan/Deutschland keep producing... *yawn*

It's all tired. But worth repeating, I guess.

But theres the problem...at least they have the gas....we dont have any...95% of our stations are shutdown...the ones that are open have lines that take at least an hour or two...

[Butter]

Yeah, well, I didn't profess to actually address the issue in Arizona.

It's pretty much the same here... or something...

*hides $1.39 gas sign up the street*

[Blade6119]

Originally posted by mckerney
You think this is gonna get any notice? All news directors are going to say is, "Phoenix? That's not in New York or LA is it? Doesn't sound like a story to me..."

If phoenix were a city in the east it woud be massive...just likt no one realizes that Arizona State is the third largest university in the nation...were massive out here, but all i hear about some small mining town in PA lost power for twenty minutes

[cuervo72]

Originally posted by Blade6119
If phoenix were a city in the east it woud be massive...just likt no one realizes that Arizona State is the third largest university in the nation...were massive out here, but all i hear about some small mining town in PA lost power for twenty minutes

Arizona has massive upside potential.

[Blade6119]

Originally posted by cuervo72
Arizona has massive upside potential.

Was that sarcastic?...cause if you had ever been out here you would realize that its great...ask anyone. Beofre you make remarks that make you sound like a jackass make sure you know your info...we also have one of the higher growth margins if im not mistaken...and whats your city done recently?

[Butter]

Hey, Blade.... it's a dry humor.

[Alan T]

I thought his comment was a Sports guy reference... humor...

[cuervo72]

Originally posted by Blade6119
Was that sarcastic?...cause if you had ever been out here you would realize that its great...ask anyone. Beofre you make remarks that make you sound like a jackass make sure you know your info...we also have one of the higher growth margins if im not mistaken...and whats your city done recently?

Blade...calm down . It was more a comment on you using the word "massive" twice in your post than anything (seemed like a Hubie Brown term). I actually like Arizona very much, I've been out there a few times on vacation. My wife attended NAU for four years, and would like VERY much to live out there someday.

And as an aside, housing prices in Frederick - not my original hometown) - are climbing fast (my next-door neighbors are selling their house for about $125k more than what they bought it for less than 3 years ago).

[albionmoonlight]

I don't think that Wuss was attacking George W. Bush by name. I think he was making a funny comparison between these times and the 70's.

[cuervo72]

Originally posted by Alan T
I thought his comment was a Sports guy reference... humor...

Exactly!

[Fritz]

Originally posted by albionmoonlight
I don't think that Wuss was attacking George W. Bush by name. I think he was making a funny comparison between these times and the 70's.

I didn't get the feeling he was trying to be funny.

[cthomer5000]

It's fortunate i'm way too impoverished to own a car.

[WussGawd]

Originally posted by Fritz
I didn't get the feeling he was trying to be funny.

Sarcastic, biting humor. It's my specialty. I spent the whole time in line last night going through flashbacks of my parents waiting in gas lines here in the 70's.

Maybe I should have included a couple of smileys, but after baking in 108 degree temps for a couple of hours, I was having a hard time mustering up one that was appropriate. If there was a smiley for wilted, it would have been most appropriate.

[WussGawd]

fyi...on the $4 per gallon gas comment...the state attorney general was saying that stations were charging as much as $4.95 a gallon here yesterday...turns out there's no price gouging statute in Arizona, so this guy could probably get away with charging that as long as he wasn't colluding with other station owners to fix prices.

[cuervo72]

Originally posted by WussGawd
If there was a smiley for wilted, it would have been most appropriate.

[JeeberD]

Originally posted by sabotai
You know what's sad? I'm only 25 and even I can remember when gas prices were under a buck a gallon. (At least in New Jersey). Fuck you oil companies and a big FUCK YOU to "sin" taxes.

Hell yeah! I remember about three or four years ago gas was down in eighties cents per gallon. I remember even seeing a gas station in the middle of nowhere Texas that was selling it for 79 cents/gallon.

Oh well, it could be worse than $1.39 right now...

[Castlerock]

Originally posted by Blade6119
If phoenix were a city in the east it woud be massive...just likt no one realizes that Arizona State is the third largest university in the nation...were massive out here, but all i hear about some small mining town in PA lost power for twenty minutes

Originally posted by Blade6119
Was that sarcastic?...cause if you had ever been out here you would realize that its great...ask anyone. Beofre you make remarks that make you sound like a jackass make sure you know your info...we also have one of the higher growth margins if im not mistaken...and whats your city done recently?

Take it easy.... This sounds like a of first grader's argument. "My city can beat up your city".

First of all, it is pretty big news. I'm from New England and it certainly does get air-time up here. Did the blackout get overplayed? Certainly. I am not defending the media's tendency to overplay issues.

But compare the size and scope of these 2 problems. I was not directly impacted by either event so this is impartial. The gasoline shortage (even assuming that it effects every person in the ENTIRE state of Arizona) impacts some 5.2 million people. The blackout impacted some 50 million people. That's 1/5 of the entire population of the US.

Originally posted by Butter_of_69
I'll be the first a-hole to mention that gas in Europe is way more expensive ($4+ per gallon), and we should be happy it's so cheap as it is, etc. etc. and maybe if it were that expensive we wouldn't keep buying these gas-guzzling pieces of crap that Detroit/Japan/Deutschland keep producing... *yawn*

It's all tired. But worth repeating, I guess.

Very true. Gasoline is not expensive. Adjusted for inflation, it's about the same as it was 20 years go. Don't believe me? See Gas Prices. And compared to the rest of the world, we pay FAR less.

Gas is expensive? Water is more expensive than gasoline. A gallon of bottled water costs about a buck. A gallon of brand name water (ex: Poland Spring) costs about $1.29.

[AZSpeechCoach]

I managed to get gas for $1.89, only waited 40 minutes. The AM/PM at Hardy and University. You probably won't get there in time, but I thought I'd brag.

[AZSpeechCoach]

dola

My wife says she saw nothing less than $3.50 today. And, the AZ legislature is suposedly going to meet this week to pass some quick anti-gouging legislation.

[mrskippy]

I was driving around town today. Even at the discounters it was $1.99-$2.09 for 87. $2.29 for Premium. It was well over $2 at the majors (Chevron, Shell, Exxon, etc).

About a week ago, I paid $1.70.

At least they're getting use out of those 3s they ordered a few years ago.

[tucker342]

In Iowa after 9/11, some gas stations were charging as much as $5.00 per gallon!

[sooner333]

I remember just five years ago here in Oklahoma when the gas was down to the 70 cent range when oil was hitting some lows. Hell, even as recently as late November, early December the prices were in the dollar range at the cheap places. Ahhhh, now that cheap place is up to $1.53.