Charlie Crist Is A Big Fat Liar

"It is important for the people of Florida to know that our state currently has an adequate fuel supply."

The above is a quote from Florida Governor Charlie Crist published in the Saturday edition of the Pensacola News Journal. The quote is in a story about how Hurricane Ike is affecting gasoline prices nationwide. In a press conference on Friday afternoon, Florida's Commisioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Charles Bronson said, "There is no fuel shortage in Florida."

Bullshit.

In the town of Brewton, Alabama, which is about forty miles north of Pensacola and just over the state line, gas stations were out of gas by Saturday midday. This afternoon, we flew up to Tuscaloosa to see the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team play (the boss is a big fan). It was spooky to see how few cars were on the highways.

We didn't stay for the whole game, and I landed back in Brewton around 10:00 pm. Driving home to Pensacola with my gas gauge more down towards "E" than I like, most gas stations in Florida were out. The very few that were still open only had premium for sale. I suspect they'll be out by morning. It's a Saturday night and the roads were deserted.

Hey, Charlie and Charles, what was that nonsense about adequate fuel supply?

Politicians are lying bastards. We know this, of course, but it's always nice to have it reaffirmed in such an obvious manner.