Washington (CNN) - When gas prices started spiking again this month, President Barack Obama turned to a move that worked in the past: Make noise and talk tough about price gouging, then direct his attorney general to launch an investigation.

Immediately.

If that sounds familiar, it is. It's part of the rhetorical playbook politicians have used for years when gas prices go up - that is until prices fall and what felt like urgent ideas go back on the shelf.