is some kind of economic genius.

The idea of postponing the effects of systemic ecomonic pressures is exactly what this country needs. I propose a vacation from any number of lame economic realities.

How about a foreclosure holiday? Anyone currently in foreclosure proceedings will be given a 2-week trip to a local summer camp, or failing that, an 8oz tube of airplane glue and an unlimited supply of small brown paper bags with which to take a 'holiday of the mind.'

Perhaps, too, we can ask the central banks of all the nations the U.S. ownes money to if we can take a break and just hang out at the beach or something. I don't know, I just think that would be cool.

I mean, I don't think there's much point dwelling on all this depressing shite, when it is summertime, the sun is out and IT IS TIME TO TAKE A FREAKIN' HOLIDAY!

Does anybody else wish we could get a really long GAS holiday? Like, from all the foul hot air coming from the right? Amen!

Someone was commenting on the fact Obama won't say much about this, although he has said it's a worthless idea.

In order for there to be debate there has to be reasons and explanations, and here's the key, that are listened to.

He can say and back it up with perfect logic any thinking person could follow but all McCain has to say is "we need this tax holiday" and that's enough for his followers. You can't have meaningful debate with Gerbils.

If Obama asked McCain directly why he thinks this tax holiday would do anything for the american people he wouldn't get an answer except to emphasize that the american people are hurting and they need it.

To get a faith follower to listen to any logic behind any issue would be like getting them to listen to opposing views on genesis. There is simply nobody at the wheel when it comes to thinking about an issue logically.

Reading many of these responses it is clear that there are a lot of people who's brains are not making connections with reality.

You'll see where they acknowledge the expert economist's position is that this won't be something the consumer will see, McCain says this won't make any difference and adds that we need this tax holiday. They are talking about the fact that oil companies will not pass the tax savings on, they just pocket it without even saying thank you very much.

There is no benefit to this tax holiday for anyone but the oil companies who don't have to pay the tax to a government that needs the money very much.

You have to know that there are lobbyists and senators meeting in country clubs laughing and telling jokes about how stupid the american people are to support giving huge money to oil companies in ways that they admit upfront won't help the consumer.

What part of catching on to an administration that operates on the premise that people are gullible to hype when they are faced with crisis is so hard to wise up to? Why don't people realize that the government has the power and authority to regulate gas prices? You want to talk about what we need it's rolled back prices which can happen tomorrow if a state of economic emergency is declared. We can roll back prices to negate excessive profits.

This is what's frustrating, McCain said a tax holiday wouldn't mean anything to the consumer. Translated this means the price of gas will not go down.

He says "we need this tax holiday" Who needs it? Oil companies.

He adds some gratuitous fluff about lower income families being hit the hardest and needing this tax break. this simply does nothing for lower income families, it doesn't give truckers a break, it does nothing but give tax revenue that the government does in fact desperately need to oil companies who are making more money than they ever have.

How can people read into this a good message that means anything? How about voters getting smart enough to ask specifics on what this will do for the consumer and insist on an answer? I can't help but think that the same people who buy into meaningless rhetoric would be so pissed off if anyone actually got through to them with how stupid this administration knows they are and how easily they trust and are duped into silly policies like drill for more oil.

". . .but the fact is we need a gas tax holiday. We need it, we need it, we need it very badly. The Americans that are hurt the most are low income Americans that are driving the oldest automobiles."

A gas tax holiday is like Brownie putting his finger in the broken levees in New Orleans following Katrina. It is an exercise in futility.

Yes, I am a low- and fixed-income American driving an eighteen-year-old car. I have my trips down to two a week, combining errands. Next step? Selling my car.

What we need is a long-term solution to the greed and politics of high oil/gas prices. Three months won't help that much, and we all know the Government will get the loss from taxpayers somehow. Yes, a hiatus is better than nothing, but I would like to know who pays for the gasoline for the candidates (as well as the President and other gov't. officials) to fly all over the world. Seems we could save a "whole lotta" fuel by eliminating those flights.

He's thinking of a number ... let's all close our eyes and concentrate and guess what would be an optimal date until which it could be extended for maximum utility (pardon the pun). Yes, ... yes, ... that's it! November 4. Wow, what a coincidence? Isn't that election day?

Seriously, isn't the Republican mantra that you should tax the things you don't want people to do? It would be ok with me if he was extending the gas tax holiday if he also were willing to utter the words "I'm not serious about the Climate Change problem." But he's trying to pretend he is serious about that. And, much though there is disagreement about strategy in addressing Climate Change, I don't think it's a stretch for most of us to say that a gas tax holiday is not the answer.

The market is right now seeking the maximum price people will pay for gas. When that is reached, and demand starts to go down, it will stop rising. If we eliminate the tax, the price will still rise until the same price is reached and demand lessens--the only difference will be that some of the price reached in that scenario will not be going to US taxes to help our deficit. Instead, it will be all going to the oil companies as windfall profit because they're generating the same oil at the same cost as before no matter who they're selling to in this bidding war.