I think there is a case to be made against Robert Rubin. His "strong dollar" policy helped drive oil to record lows in the late 1990s, then helped drive the account deficit to record highs, which in turn led to the inevitable and massive crash of the dollar. Robert Reich says at least half of oil's rise since January can be attributed to the crash (and that doesn't include the current flood of speculation toward oil as traders run screaming away from the dollar).

In addition, the strong dollar put US auto makers at an even bigger disadvantage against imports and thus provided a big disincentive to develop small cars (which is one reason why Asian central banks were happy to oblige Rubin's request to prop up the dollar). Instead, the US companies turned toward their existing manufacturing, marketing and margin advantage: slapping big-ass passenger bodies onto truck chassis. And with cheap oil, consumers were willing to purchase those absurdities. A perfect clusterfuck.

All this is on top of Rubin's role in pushing through the repeal of Glass-Stegall (leaving two days after its passage to cash in on the up-to-then illegal merger between CitiBank and Traveller's Insurance) and the resulting carnage on Wall Street and the mortgage market.

And Clinton called him the "greatest treasury secretary since Alexander Hamilton." Sheesh.

That much is obvious.
Even some Republicans are saying this isn't about supply and demand but is the fault of oil speculators.
Blame the dems seems the familiar repub line, easily forgetting when Hastert, Delay and Frist ran Congress they sat on their hands and did nothing to prevent this..and yes Bushco was the President.
Anwar won't solve the problem, there isn't enough oil there, the oil companies sell oil from Alaska overseas, there aren't enough refineries,the Saudis rebuffed Bushco twice when , if you recall, he use to brag that he could use his connections to get them to ramp up production.Now they just blow him off.
The war in Iraq was about oil, it was suppose to be cheaper because Iraq has the world's largest known oil reserves and even former administration officials admit it.The war was also suppose to pay for itself with Iraqi oil if you remember.That didn't happen either.It was all Bushco propaganda.
So now who and what is at fault.

Jim Haslam II, founder of the Pilot Corp., will join Congressman Duncan at the event.

Duncan goes too far. He needs to find friends in the alternative energy business.