4.14.06

GAS PAINS

Gas prices are officially out of control...again. With crude oil hovering around $70 per barrel, gas at your local station will be heading beyond 3 bucks a gallon in the very near future. Its currently $2.76 a gallon at my local station. No issue in America, besides illegal immigration, gets me more pissed than paying this much to fill up my tank. Prices are close to what they were post-Hurricane Katrina, we all knew the reasoning for the price hikes then, but why now? Some say that speculation about Iran's nuclear ambitions play a role, but the US does not even import any oil from Iran. Interesting? There is no real reason for these prices, there is no shortage or supply shocks being reported anywhere. The fact that the major oil companies had record profits last quarter is no coincidence.

American consumers are demanding congressional action to slow down skyrocketing gasoline prices, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Friday.
"Oil companies are living in the fast land and consumers are being left on the side of the road," he said in a release in which he cited cases of extraordinary profits. He urged action on his proposal that he says would east the problem.
Durbin's Windfall Profits Tax bill would impose an excise tax on integrated oil and gas companies equal to 5o percent of their profits over a baseline price of $40 per barrel of oil.

I am not sure what his proposal actually means, but I know is that I actually agree with Dick Turbin! Ill agree with anyone as long as they are willing to do something to stop this robbery being conducted by the big oil companies. It is just a shame that it is Americans doing this to Americans, rather than other countries jacking up the price of oil. All those oil execs should be arrested for gouging the American public in a time of war. Prepare for prices to oil rise throughout the summer driving season. $4.00/gallon by August? I wouldnt doubt it. [source upi]



Speaking of out of control, Irans president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today that Israel is "heading toward annihilation." This comes only days after he held a press conference to gloat about the fact Iran has successfully inriched uranium to create a nuclear bomb. This is obviously alarming.

"Like it or not, the Zionist regime is heading toward annihilation," Ahmadinejad said at the opening of a conference in support of the Palestinians. "The Zionist regime is a rotten, dried tree that will be eliminated by one storm."

This man is a lunatic. Some people, and especially the mainstream media, are giving the Bush Administration a hard time for publically saying a military option against Iran is on the bargaining table. Wouldnt it be irresponsible of Bush not to be at least planning some sort of military strike against a guy who wants to 'annihilate' Israel? The U.N. is once again pretending to care about a serious threat to world stabliltiy, but we all know how that always turns out. And the Democrats in this country are also proving again why they are weak on national security. Recently Sen. Barbara Boxer said that she thinks we should sanction the Iranians. Sanctions are the most famous piece of worthless diplomacy in the history of the world. All the Dems ever want to do is sanction people, but in a post 9/11 world, sanctions dont work. I think president Ahmadinejad is biting off more than he can chew by taunting the United States of America, because if he wants a fight, I can guarentee you he wont be around to see its conclusion. [source breitbart]



Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld is under fire from retired generals who want him to resign his post.
Six retired generals, including three who commanded troops in Iraq under Rumsfeld's leadership, have publicly stated their criticism of Rumsfeld's leadership and called for his resignation.
President Bush continues to be extremely supportive of Rumfeld, saying again recently how good of a job he is doing as the Secretary of Defense.

"Earlier today I spoke with Don Rumsfeld about ongoing military operations in the Global War on Terror," Bush said in a written statement released by the White House. "I reiterated my strong support for his leadership during this historic and challenging time for our Nation."

Its safe to say that Bush's optimism doesnt exactly reflect the mood of many people in this country, including many Republicans. I personally wouldnt mind seeing Rumsfeld go. I do believe there are people that would do a better job in his position, for example I think John McCain would be an amazing Secretary of Defense. However, I must say I think that Rumsfeld is a good person and he has served his country admirably. It does not appear that we should expect a change in the Pentagon anytime soon, but with the way things are today politically, God only knows. [source cnn]

Other Stories:
Bush made $735,180 in '05, paid $187,768 in taxes [source]
Dick Cheney gets $1.9 million tax return [source]
North Korea now threatens to strengthen nukes [source]
Pope Benedict holds 'Good Friday' ceremonies [source]
Poll: Illegal immigrants are considered a burden [source]

-Brad