Son of Oil Patch Does Sudden Flip-Flop

04/26/2006

By THOMAS M. DeFRANK
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF

WASHINGTON - Like his predecessors at moments of political urgency, President Bush can turn on a dime without losing any sleep. Even so, yesterday’s flip-flop was especially breathtaking for a son of the Oil Patch.

Time and again, Bush has spurned demands from critics he do precisely what he did yesterday.

“I’m here to talk to you about the need for this country to get off our dependency of oil,” he said in Washington, surely prompting some gasps around the Petroleum Club in Midland, Tex., where Bush learned the oil business.

So why the sudden petroleum populism?

Simple: A President already in huge political trouble recognizes surging gasoline prices are a grievous threat to Republicans in midterm elections less than seven months away - and to his withering public support.

“He has got to be seen as a President who won’t put up with oil companies screwing the public,” a close Bush confidant told the Daily News.

“This is not surprising to me,” the source added. “He has good political antenna. He knows this is an issue that’s potentially a big [pain] for him.”

That’s some understatement. Gas prices have nearly doubled on Bush’s watch, yet what he called a national addiction in January has escalated despite sticker shock at the pump.

For years, Bush has told friends a primary reason for his father’s 1992 reelection defeat was the notion Bush 41 was oblivious to an economic downturn. At the very least, this Bush understands he must inoculate himself against the perception he and Vice President Cheney are giving a pass to their oil pals.

“It always helps if you convince people you’re aware of the problem,” said a Bush campaign veteran. “This may be a supply-and-demand problem, but the average person doesn’t buy that. “

Industry experts predict, however, that gas prices won’t ease anytime soon. If so, a GOP political adviser glumly said, “it will just add to the discontent” - and a President whose poll numbers are mired in the 30s can ill afford more voter anger over a classic pocketbook issue.

Originally published on April 26, 2006