Same Question, Same Answer

I’m getting mail again, about how I ought to be writing about gas prices.

I’ve already done that.

-1-

About two years ago, I posted a list of causes of high gasoline prices. The situation, has not changed, except for the worse. The causes are the same as they were then. So, let’s revisit what I said two years ago:

What are the causes of-life crisis?

1: ‘Seasonal Blends’ It’s ‘Enviro friendly’ to create gasoline that burns at it’s best under certain driving conditions. Supposedly. Yet, it does cause supply restrictions, given point 2, which is a limited refining capacity. Re-tooling this limited capacity to create these blends every few months, costs the refineries millions every year. And they actually have to stop making gas while the production line is shifted to the new blending, thus making supply/demand even worse. Where do you think that cost difference goes? Thank you, un-American left for forcing this enviro-wacko nonsense on us. If the Democrats were really serious about lowering the costs of fuel, don’t you think we’d see them eliminate this enviro-wacko madness?

2: Limited refining capacity: We have not built one new refinery since 1976.Our current systems are running at around 95%, despite the gyrations of the different blends we’re forcing though every few months… see point 1. Worse, we’re losing some of the refineries we now have online because they can’t deal with the regulatory load placed on them in the name of the ‘environment’, and the outrageous taxation on the investors in those companies and the companies themselves, al of whom make such systems possible. Thank you, un-American left for forcing this enviro-wacko nonsense on us. If the Democrats were really serious about the cost of gas and heating oil, don’t you think they’d get serious about eliminating the mountain of red tape and impediments we’re up against in the task of increasing our refining capacity?

3: World demand: The third world, along with places like China, for example, are seeing their energy demands increase. It’s interesting to note that as such they’re not working under the same environmental regulations nightmare we are here in the states and thus their gas prices are far cheaper. Wonder why manufacturing jobs are moving to China, and what is responsible for such shifts? The cost of energy being lower there is a large chunk of the deal. Thank you, un-American left for forcing this enviro-wacko nonsense on us. If the Democrats were serious about the cost of fuel, don’t you think they’d call for our *adding* to the world supply? Which is a nice tie-in to;

4: Lack of domestic drilling: We have oil here in the US; lots of it, but the usual suspects won’t let us drill for it; ANWR, for example would be turning out about a million barrels a day. Think that’d help? Remember, Bill Clinton vetoed drilling there, and the Democrats in Congress blocked the idea when Mr. Bush re-proposed it more recently as a part of his energy bill. Thank you, un-American left for forcing this enviro-wacko nonsense on us. If the Democrats were serious on this topic, don’t you think they’d be willing to allow us to drill for our own oil?

5: Taxes: Not only are we dealing with tax levels amounting to as much as 70 cents per gallon in many states, particularly in the left-leaning north eastern states, but we’re also paying a very heavy tax burden when is placed on the oil companies, and everyone in the delivery process… all of which adds to the cost you and I pay at the pump…. Because they pass it along as a cost of doing business. If the Democrats were really serious about lowering the costs, don’t you think they’d lower the taxes both on the oil companies and direct taxation on the buyers at the pump.. Both of which come out of your wallet?

6: The growing world economy; More or less a good tie-in to point 3… As the World economy recovers from Clinton, we’re seeing increasing demands and somewhat shorter supply. This is normal in an economic growth pattern. But this wouldn’t be a problem, but rather a blessing, had the rest of the factors not been in place. And all the rest of the factors are directly attributable to the left.

Remember that when you go to the pump, gang. You’re paying for the snail darter. Doesn’t it feel good?

Now, notice, please, I said nothing whatsoever about lack of available crude oil to refine. There is no lack. Contrary to what many will tell you, there is no oil shortage per se’. OPEC is reporting record stockpiles, in fact. What we have is a refined product shortage. We do not have enough refining capacity, because of several factors, some listed here. All of the problem, however, lies with the left, who has traditionally resisted the building of any additional refining capacity through taxation , through legislation, and neglect, as well as support of NIMBY movements where attempts to add additional refining capacity have been made.

Here’s a story from today’s WaPo about the demagogue-o-rama triggered by the recent spike in gas prices. Now they’re lining up to blame “big oil” in spite of the fact that most gas stations are mom and pop operations. No matter, might as well hit “little oil” too, right?

National Association of Manufactuers respond to Senator Chuckles latest photo-op.

I’ve noted in recent days, since the French election, that there is a serious set of parallels between Hillary Clitnon and Segolene Royal. Parallels, in fact, that would seem to indicate some serious trouble in front of Hillary Clinton.

Nice to see Dick Morris raising this comparison on The Hill this morning. Mind, I have some problems with some of his reasoning, here, but the trend is there… and that we’ve both noticed it, I think indicative.

?

What we know, in the wake of the Kansas hurricanes which killed ten thousand twelve people, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius issued a Katrina likes statement blaming the response on President George W. Bush and the war in Iraq.  The White House and the Pentagon challenged Sebelius statement and she quickly retracted them.   That part is clear.

What is unclear the part Democrat National Committee Chairman Howard Dean played getting Sebelius to issue her initial, and since retracted, statement.  Byran, Hot Air, has the story.

Note that while the War Room sources cited by Byran are not confirming the story, neither are they denying it.  This seems clear, there is nothing, asolutey nothing, which the democrats will not do for poltical ends.

(H/T Dean photo:  Blogman )

Comprohensive immigration reform is a euphanism for ammesty.  Americans do not support amnesty for illegal aliens.  Good news, Senate republicans have long last come to their senses and rejected amnesty.  Good show.

Dirty Harry Reid can not get an amnesty bill through the Senate without republican support, and he doesn’t have any.

Radley Balko, Reason Magazine, has a list of polictians who would rather enforce the law than obey the law:  Jon Corzine, Bill Richardson. Bill Janklow, Ed Rendell, and Adrian Fenty.  There simply is no excuse for driving at ninety miles per hour to get to a photo-op.

(H/T:  Jim Geraghty. NRO-Hillary Spot )

This is amazing…. but not a shocker by any means.

Anti-war activist Martin Gilbertson thought he’d found people of like minds, when he started working in the Muslim community of Beeston. He produced anti-western propaganda videos, and helped to secure websites and encrypted emails for Muslims at the Iqra Bookshop—and for 7/7 bombers Mohammad Sidique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer.

His multicultural anti-war fantasy had become a jihad nightmare, and he tried to alert the police—but he never heard back from them until after the London bombings.

(LGF has the vid) 

Sister Toldjah has a story which she calls “interesting.”, which is an understatement.   The story  is interesting in a couple ways.  The Sister posts a story about South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.  I thnk much more highly of the Sister as a blogger than I do of Graham as a Senator.

Yet the story is all Graham.  The Sister does barely more than post and link it.   Now Graham has some boots in which John Murtha(D-PA) has never walked.   Good job, Senator/Colonel.

To a person, each Democratic presidential candidate wants to undermine the global war against jihadist terrorism — wherever it may be and especially in Iraq. The Democrats see a civil war in Iraq, where the Republicans view a growing al Qaeda threat. And while Republicans talk about significantly increasing the defense budget and expanding American force levels for all the armed services, the Democrats are hoping for some sort of Iraqi peace dividend upon immediate withdrawal — one that can be re-channeled into higher domestic social spending.

To a person, each Democratic presidential candidate also wants to raise taxes on the rich and roll back President Bush’s tax cuts. The Republicans, however, understand that those tax cuts have propelled economic growth and contributed to a stock market boom. And they recognize that Bush’s Goldilocks bull-market economy — which I call the greatest story never told — relies on extending the investor tax cuts and perhaps even moving forward with a flat tax or national sales tax.

Finally, to a person, each Democratic presidential candidate also has it in for corporate America. The Democrats discuss various punishments for business — especially oil companies, but also drug, utility, and insurance firms. Not so for the Republicans, who talk about helping businesses and promoting entrepreneurship in our successful free-enterprise economy.

The differences between the two parties couldn’t be clearer, and next year the voting public will have a very stark choice. But with this election season only two debates old, that choice already favors the Republican position.

Think of it: The Democrats talk about ending “tax cuts for the rich,” all while bashing American corporations. But isn’t this is the same tired message that sunk Al Gore, Mike Dukakis, Walter Mondale, and Jimmy Carter? It’s never been a winner, and it’s going to help cripple whoever grabs the Democratic nomination next year.

That’s Larry Kudow, who I think I’ve quoted once here in all the years this blog has been running.  But know what? He shows signs of fully understanding what the Dmeocrats will never understand.

“I’m not serving you.”

Jeff Ruby, Ruby’s Steakhouse, to O.J. Simpson.  Via Michelle Malkin.

Ruby’s act will not in of itself cleanse our culture.  It is a small step in the right direction.

* How is it that so many Democrats, who have been all over President Bush’s slips of the tounge, are so ready to defend Barrack Obama for his?

* Why is Kate Blanchett starving herself to death? Is this what passes for glamor, anymore?

*On that subject, why are these people still alive? Hang them out as an example to this kind of nonsense. Literally.
* if Rudy Giuliani doesn’t support abortion, why is he sending is money to what is essentially the world’s largest abortion mill?

* In Katie Couric, CBS now has a bigger embarrassment than Don Imus ever was. What proof? As it stands, Imus had more listeners, and Imus actually has a chance of winning the lawsuit, that resulted from his firing. Couric misses badly on both counts . Personally, I can’t imagine any kind of a lawsuit at all even being attempted on the part of Katie Couric when CBS finely drops the axe on this turkey. 1/3 of Americans now have a negative view of the woman. Granted, that the association with CBS news isn’t helping her image, but she’s got nobody to blame for both the association, and what she’s managed to do with it. How long is it going to be before CBS puts this one of our misery?

* On what basis is this law created? Whom does its enforcement serve?

* If Chuckles the Clown Schumer is really interested in bringing the price of gasoline down, why doesn’t he proposed putting a refund are eager to somewhere in new York state thereby increasing the gasoline supply bringing the price down and creating jobs, too? (BBCT to Billy Beck… this oughta set you off further, Billy… and note the date..)

* Why, except for wishful thinking, would the left be trying to spin Fred Thompson as a non player in the 08 presidential election? Seems to me , that all that massive effort on their part denotes serious worry, far as I can see.
* How can subprime lenders be accused of fraud, when they’re the ones that are going broke?

* At what point, does the sexual revolution, start showing us some of the advantages that we were sold on so long ago? What we’ve been successful in liberating, as far as I can tell , is men creating babies and leaving the woman to deal with the consequences. And of course, a boon for family court lawyers, divorce lawyers, and so on. At what point do we realize that the panacea that we painted for ourselves back in the day, never existed?

* I happened to pan across the local Pablum Broadcasting System (PBS) station today. Begging for dollars radio again. one of the idiots that they had shoved up behind the microphone, who was trying to stir up a passion for this station, enough to generate some dollars, was saying “who’s going to fight global warming?” leaving aside the long thought processes that got me there, I began to wonder what would happen if science had somehow come to the conclusion that the electromagnetic spectrum, and the misuse thereof for the purpose of transmitting radio waves, was what was responsible badly for what scientists are occasionally calling “global warming”. Would the fundraisers, I wonder, be so quick to jump on the global warming bandwagon, or would they defend their ability to transmit via high-power EM transmitters?

* So, what is the status of district attorney Mike Nifong? Why is he not serving IN JAIL AT THIS VERY MOMENT? And, why has the press fallen off the map on this one? Time was, we got 24 /7 coverage of every move each of the parties made, adnuseum. I suppose that’s the kind of press you get when the poor black stripper is put upon by rich white kids. Now that the Democrat has been proven the fraud, And it has been proven that exactly the opposite of the original charges is actually what happened, it neither gets space in the paper, nor air time. Doesn’t it kinda make you wonder why?

* Why is the New York Sun the only publication on the planet, seemingly, that is making note of the alliance between the American left and the Islamic right?

Addendum afterward because I forgot

* The Music: Tangerine Dream; Mota Atma

It’s a little hard to describe my fascination with such works. I guess the best description that I can give it, however, is that it’s the same fascination I find with the music of Bach.

Or perhaps the fascination of watching a fine tuned machine at work; a computer, a steam engine, a car, or back in the day of good reel to reel tape deck, and so on. There’s a certain mechanical precision that goes into works like this, be they good or bad. And the good ones tend to not only to hold that part of the mind which is fascinated with mechanical precision, but also hold the part of the mind fascinated in terms of musical expression.

This one is actually a fairly recent work, having been recorded in late ’02 and released in ’03. It’s actually a soundtrack of a Japanese documentary by the same name, and that’s a little problematic for this writing, because I can’t seem to find anything on the subject of the movie, and what it’s about.
I’ve noticed over the years, that TD soundtracks and live performances tend to sound a little thin… possibly labeled as “minimalist”. I’ve always attributed this to sounds that can be imagined, but not produced in the smaller studios used for soundtrack purposes, or in live performance. I take as proof of this, that this trend, has not changed over all the personnel changes over the years. (They’ve been around since 1967, gang) This album sounds, as the other soundtrack stuff I have of theirs, fairly thin. Yet, perhaps it is better, so.

If you like electronica, this one’s recommended.

Ok Dennis Kucinich(D-OH) is a moonbat, and  David Obey(D-WI) is not exaclty noted having a civil tongue.  Yet I find it amusing the Kuchinich is more than Obey can handle.  Allahpundit, Hot Air, has the story, here:

“He[Obey] cursed at him,” said Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.). “I think Mr. Obey was unfairly harsh and disrespectful.” 

It is becoming increasingly harder for the democrat caucus to mask their divisions.

Good news, of sorts, Glenn Greenwald endorses the Patriot Act, kind of, sort of:

The Military Commissions Act of 2006 is, without question, the single worst law enacted during the Bush presidency, and is one of the most destructive laws passed in the last several decades. It is not merely a bad law. It vests in the President the power to detain people indefinitely with no meaningful opportunity to contest the government’s accusations. That is the very power the Founders sought first and foremost to prohibit.

It is interesting which law passed over the last six years Greenwald singles out for the most condemnation.  Most leftards would reserve the ultimate rage for the Patriot Act.   People who love the Constitution would be most offended by McCain-Feingold.

Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform, or the aforementioned McCan-Feingold trashes the First Amendment by granting the state the power to restrict political speech, the very speech the First Amendment was intended to protect.

Yet unlike Free Speech, habeas corpus is a neither granted by the Constitution nor explicitly protected by it.   The only mention of habeas corpus in the Constitution are the provisions giving Congress the power to suspend it, which is exactly what the Military Commissions Act of 2006 does.

Habeas corpus is concept rooted in English Common Law.  While habeas corpus is not trivial, it is not explicitly protected by the Constitution.  The exact nature of habeas corpus is beyond the scope of this article. 

Greenwald fundamentally mischaracterizes the MCA.   The act does not give the president power to detain people, as in ordinary citizens.   Rather the MCA reaffirms the power of the president to detain enemy combatants, a power the president, as commander-in-chief, has always had.   The MCA gives detainees the right to challenge their classification as enemy combatants    That is all the constitutional protection necessary.

Greenwald seeks to give constitutional protection to illegal alien enemy combatants not available to legal combatants.  In fact, Greenwald is more concerned about giving new rights to illegal enemy combatants than he is with protecting fundamental constitutional rights of American citizens.  Who’s side is Greenwald on?

(H/T photo:  Mother Jones )
 

The junior senator from Illinois must have the wettest feet in town because he keeps putting his feet in his mouth.

Don Surber.

Mark Malloch Brown spoke Monday to a crowded auditorium at the World Bank’s headquarters, warning that the bank’s mission was “hugely at risk” as long as Paul Wolfowitz remained its president. Only hours earlier, news leaked that a special committee investigating Mr. Wolfowitz had accused him of violating conflict-of-interest rules. A coincidence? We doubt it.

Mr. Malloch Brown, remember, was until last year Kofi Annan’s deputy at the United Nations. In that position, he distinguished himself by spinning away the $100 billion Oil for Food scandal as little more than a blip in the U.N.’s good work, and one that had little to do with Mr. Annan himself. Last week, Mr. Malloch Brown was named vice president of the Quantum Fund, the hedge fund run by his billionaire friend George Soros.

So reports the WSJ this morning.

One begins to wonder how big a hammer has to be used to wake people up to where the World Bank scandal is really coming from, here.