"Even among pundits who readily admit that the President has very little influence on the price of gas, there is an unwillingness to grapple with the root cause of rising energy costs. Instead, pundits find it easier to parrot the trite story that oil prices are simply a victim of chaos overseas. While uncertainty in the middle east does impact the market, it is not the reason Americans find themselves spending more of their income at the gas station. "What, then, is the primary driver of rising fuel costs? The answer, while difficult to capitalize on politically, is straightforward: since 1998, the major contributor to the price of gas has been an aging Chicago White Sox ball club."