Thoughts on Nancy Pelosi

If you go to the Department of Energy website, you can download US Government data on gas price averages. Just looking at the data every year from Bush's first inauguration to today (ignoring intermittent ups and downs), you will see the following:

22 Jan 2001 $1.51
21 Jan 2002 $1.15
20 Jan 2003 $1.50
19 Jan 2004 $1.64
24 Jan 2005 $1.90
23 Jan 2006 $2.38
22 Jan 2007 $2.22
21 Jan 2008 $3.07
14 Jul 2008 $4.08

So, what does this show? It shows that during the first 6 years of Bush's presidency, gas prices rose only $0.71 total, or an average of about $0.12 per year. Since January 2007 when the Democrat led 110th Congress took over with Nancy Pelosi as Speaker, gas prices have risen $1.86 in 1-1/2 years, or an average of 1.24 per year...10 times Bush's 6 year average and over 2.5 times Bush's worst yearly average of $0.48 (2005-06).

Similarly, unemployment took a precipitous rise following Ms. Pelosi assuming the leadership of the House. This after President Bush and the three previous congresses had fought the number back down following 9/11. Additionally, although the Consumer Price Index has experienced discrete ups and downs every 4-6 months over the last 16 years, there was no discernable trend other than increasing magnitude of fluctuations. However, since June 2007, the graph shows a definite increasing trend.

Prices and indicators fluctuate and things could change dramatically for the better in the next 6 months, but the data doesn't trend that way. Are these the result of Bush's bad policies finally taking effect or is the fact that they happened immediately or shortly after Ms. Pelosi became Speaker an indication of a national lack of confidence with congress - as is indicated by the lowest ever approval rating?

I think before Ms. Pelosi calls the President a total failure, she should see to her own record of leadership. If President Bush is a total failure as the leader of our republic, then the data shows that Ms. Pelosi is an utter abomination as the leader of our democracy.