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**Written by Doug Powers

Unless President Obama opens Thursday’s gas prices address by announcing he’s going to put a Master Lock on the door of the EPA’s offices (better chance Team Biden will win a geographic spelling bee in Road Island), I’ll be skeptical about any other suggested solutions:

President Barack Obama plans to step into the political debate over rising gasoline prices on Thursday, when he kicks off the first of a series of events focused on his energy plans, senior administration officials said.

During an event at the University of Miami, Mr. Obama will discuss the steps the country can take to tackle what the White House sees as an annual cycle of spikes in gas prices, the officials said. At the same time, these officials, who briefed reporters Tuesday on the president’s plans, acknowledged that there is almost nothing the president can do in the near term to lower gas prices.

But rising gas prices are a threat to the president as he runs for re-election this year. It’s one of the issues of chief concern to Mr. Obama’s political advisers and has become the subject of criticism of Mr. Obama on the campaign trail.

Mr. Obama’s speech Thursday will call for a diverse energy plan and lay out his efforts to boost domestic production of oil and gas.

To save you some time, here’s Obama’s gas price speech in about 50 words: “Payroll tax cut to help families cover the rising fuel cost that’s a sign of economic recovery. Increase domestic energy output tempered by environmental sensitivity. No quick fixes. Buy Chevy Volts. Republicans playing politics. Remember global warming. More clean energy initiatives. Trade in your gas guzzler. Trouble with Iran.”

**Written by Doug Powers

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