When President Bush took office on January 20, 2001, the national average gas price was $1.46 per gallon. Six and a half years later, on August 27, 2007, the national average gas price had jumped to $2.76, roughly 89% higher. Compounded annually, this represents about a 10% jump each year Bush has been in office.

Now, let’s compare the numbers over the same time period for President Clinton.

When Clinton took office on January 20, 1993, the national average gas price was $1.06 per gallon. six and a half years later, the national average gas price had jumped to $1.22, roughly 15% higher. Compounded annually, this represents about a 2% jump each year.

Even when you compare all of Clinton’s term (38% jump overall) against the first six and a half years of Bush’s term, the overall jump in gas prices between the two presidents isn’t even close. In order to meet Clinton’s “numbers” gas prices would have to fall to $2.02 per gallon - or roughly 36%.

The octane number of gasoline is a measure of its resistance to detonation. Detonation occurs when the octane number is too low for the engine and its operating conditions. When the spark plug fires, the flame moves through the air-fuel mixture, burning it very rapidly. Predetonation occurs if a portion of the unburned air-fuel mixture rises to a temperature and pressure it cannot tolerate and ignites before the flame front gets to it. Predetonation causes maximum pressure in the combustion chamber to be reached before the piston gets to top dead center, thus it pushes down on the piston before it has peaked at the top of its travel. Much of the engine's energy is wasted in trying to move up the piston while the high-pressure exploding gasses are trying to push it down. The extreme temperature and pressure developed can cause broken rings, rod-bearing damage, piston overheating and erosion of the aluminum block. Pistons can even end up with holes in their top, flat surfaces from the high temperatures and high pressures.