#rick scott

Dean Obeidallah at The Dean's Report:

There was a time when U.S. Presidents showed sincere concern when Americans were struggling financially. For example, President Obama—after the Great Recession when the economy was still spotty—vowed to not rest until “we’ve finally got an economy that works for all Americans.” And perhaps the most famous example was Bill Clinton in 1992 when a voter at a presidential debate town hall raised concerns about their economic struggles. Clinton famously responded by sharing how he had seen first-hand such challenges, saying, “I feel your pain.” But with Donald Trump and his GOP, we get none of that as gas prices hit their highest levels in years with no sign of relief in sight. Instead, we get Trump telling us in essence it’s an act of patriotism to pay these higher prices for his war of choice. In reality, it would be an act of patriotism to impeach and remove Trump from office!

The economic pain people are feeling is not based on vibes. It’s grounded in real facts given the gas price increase is very real. Before Trump’s war—as AAA documented—gas prices were $2.80 on average. (Trump even claimed gas was $1.99 per gallon in some places.)

Where is it as of Tuesday morning? AAA tells us that the average gasoline per gallon has now climbed $4.43—the highest yet in this war. This past week alone has seen an average of a 30 cents jump per gallon, with states like Nevada and Michigan now facing prices over $5.00 per gallon gas.

And diesel is near an all-time record. Per AAA, diesel is now up 50% since the war began to $5.65 per gallon—just 15 cents below the highest ever on record! We all get this type of huge increase will translate into higher prices on everything that is transported by trucks and trains—meaning an inflation tsunami is coming. [...] Yet what has Team Trump’s continued response been to this Trump war tax? A combination of BS appeals to patriotism to outright lies telling you that the higher prices you are seeing are not real—both equally despicable and insulting. Trump’s responses have been both of those. For example, Trump has said recently that gas prices are “not very high” and that people should in essence be grateful because he expected the gas prices would be much higher. He also claimed on Friday that while gas is up, “Other prices are way down.” That’s a lie. Trump’s own regime told us last week that inflation in March was up to 3.5% on an annualized basis—the highest rate in almost three years.

When pressed last Friday on the gas prices, Trump literally pivoted to what really matters to him which is his ballroom. That is when he told reporters, “Very importantly, right over there,” he said, pointing across the White House lawn, “you’re gonna have the greatest ballroom ever built.”

[...] And here is the insult to injury. Not only are American consumers bearing the price of Trump’s war, his big fossil fuel donors stand to make a ton of money as The Guardian recently detailed. The Guardian reported recently that oil and gas supplies will take months to return to pre-war levels and the companies will make $234bn by the end of the year if the oil price continues to average $100 a barrel. For example, Exxon which is a big Trump donor, is expected to rake in more than $11 billion in windfall profit from Trump’s war. Patriotism is not paying Trump’s gas tax to make his donors more profits. Patriotism is removing this criminal from office. And we can’t stop pushing for his impeachment and removal because that is what is demanded!