First Iran know Saudi Arabia?

Interesting, amusing, conflicting, and perhaps a bit disturbing are the words that first come to mind when attempting to articulate the current stance Saudi Arabia has taken in demonstrating its unwillingness to increase oil production, even for its “friend” and “ally” the United States.

In his second visit this year to the Saudi Monarchy, US President George Bush pressed for an increase in oil production as a means of lessening the unyielding costs American drivers are frequently incurring. While the demand clearly exists, many high ranking Saudi officials see no need for such an increase, claiming that until customer demand exemplifies such a need, amplification of the current production system will remain idle.

“Supply and demand are in balance today” said Saudi oil minister Ali al-Naimi. As if to suggest to the international consumer that the rising price of gasoline has no direct link to the desert kingdoms lack luster desire for additional distribution. Even though at the present rate of 9.45 million barrels a day, the Saudi Kingdom continues to fall short roughly 2 million barrels of production capacity every day.

Despite the obvious need and overwhelming desire expressed by countries like the United States, China, and India, Saudi Arabia and other resource rich countries continue to turn a blind eye. Not only does this demonstrate their true colors - that of exploitation and unregulated greed - toward both friend and foe alike, but at the same time serves to highlight the unfortunate reality we are now required to deal with. You see, we've already sold ourselves short. Rather than enforcing the need to internally build upon the assets and natural wealth this country already possesses, we’ve instead chosen to play cards with the black-jack dealers of: Iran, Iraq, and Venezuela. Where once we held the keys to levy the terms and conditions by which the international game would be dealt, we know find ourselves playing with anything but house money. Leaving us not only indebted to the demands and un-American interests of foreign based havens of totalitarian control and terrorist intent, but we now too must meet head-on the many challenging aspects of a historically overdue road, sure to be plagued by complicated decision making, the risk of economic recessional downturn, and an environment that has already proven to be anything but conducive to the needs of a struggling superpower.

In a world whereby friends can overnight morph into enemies, it becomes hard to argue the relevancy of realist theory. But for those whose hope isn’t built upon constant chaos and self-interest I ask you this…..what world are you living on?

Iranian Dependance?

“Oil prices shot to a new record near $127 a barrel Tuesday on concerns that Iran may consider cutting crude oil production”.

I’m not sure what is worse. The American people paying on average $3.73 a gallon for gasoline or the fact that this recent upsurge in gas driven energy cost is due in large part to the whimsical antics of Iran.

According to the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude oil set to ship in June increased to a record high, reaching as much as $126.98 a barrel, before eventually settling late Tuesday afternoon to an abysmal $125.80. On average, this recent increase in regular gasoline, amounted to only a 1.4 cent increase according to a recent AAA and Oil Price Information Service recent report.

While a 1.4 cent increase may not from the onset appear to be all that daunting, some analysts have suggested that with Memorial Day just around the corner, the worst is yet to come. Which leaves many, like myself, concerned about not only the financial ramifications often associated with increased energy demand, but also, how will those already consumed by a slumping economy and the dwindling dollar stay psychologically firm when confronted by the paralyzing grasp of every day necessity?

With gas quickly approaching $4 a gallon in some parts of the country, many like myself are growing deeply concerned about the what the future will hold, given the fact that its successful longevity has already be auctioned off to the the highest bidder....Iran!

While some energy pundits like James Cordier, president of Liberty Trading Group and OptionSellers.com, expressed rampant attention to the prospects of an Iranian “reduction” in oil production, Cordier, in recognizing the current state of Iranian economic hardship suggests that even the most minimal of reductions would greatly impact Iran’s economic dependence to the “petrodollar”.

So lets see if I've got this right. Currently the world's lone super power, the United States of America, is experiencing both a drastic increase financially and psychologically, all because some codependent – petrodollar – seeking nation-state, Iran, has allegedly embarked on the future prospects of reducing the only source of legitimate capital flooding into that inhospitable terrorist safe haven. Am I really to believe that my country, along with its many gas dependant technologies, has fallen hostage to those in position of a single earthly compound? Have we truly reached a point in our nations history, whereby the need to satisfy our graving for the pump, has superseded our foreign policy outlook of not exchanging with or growing dependant on, those of whom threaten our country, way of life, and tangible existence?

The time has come to reject this gas based savagery! No longer should the people of the United States be subjected to the demands of an unstable country lead by an even more dysfunctional dictator. If America and her global stance on terrorism and diplomatic relations is ever to be taken seriously as an international democratic trend setter, we need to begin to exhibit a more profound willingness to rid ourselves from ruthless tyrants and totalitarian regimes, even if that comes at the expense of economic dilapidation and incremental stagnation!

In other less startling news, the United States Senate voted on Tuesday 97-1 in favor of impeding the daily shipment of 70,000 barrels of oil to the Unites States strategic petroleum reserve. While this recent attack by the legislature has been viewed by the Bush Administration as nothing more than political pandering, some legislatures apparently believe that in reducing America’s tactical energy objectives, they will serve to assist in alleviating American consumer pressure at the pump. As if to suggest that the only way of altering American dependence on foreign oil is to simply legislatively reduce the amount of emergency fuel storage our country should be allowed to have.

A Must Read!!

My thanks to Reasononline and author Gene Healy for both their efforts and opinions on the current dilapidated state of America’s once honored Executive Branch. This brilliant outlook on the demise of Presidential leadership demonstrates how the motives of both “Imperial President’s” and the “Progressive Movement” helped guide a once modest position of constitutional restraint to that of a hemorrhaging - multifaceted public guardian!

With that being said I encourage each of my readers to devote a few moments of their time so as to better understand your unique role within The Cult of the Presidency.

A More Perfected Preamble!!

Recently I was introduced to the following remarks. I hope you learn to appreciate and enjoy them as much as I have.

“What is interesting is that American history has also begun to repeat itself. The problem is that we are nearing the point of Bacon's Rebellion, which means that we still have another hundred years before any real change will begin to take place. Yes, I'm sorry, Mr. Obama. You will not bring the type of change that this country needs. Higher taxes, more welfare, anti-gun laws, and a host of other socialist, totalitarian initiatives are not what the people want, regardless of what you tell them.

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

has been supplanted by

We the Oligarchs & Politicians of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Oligarchical Plutocracy, promote greed and injustice, insure domestic unrest, provide for our own defense from the people, promote favoritism and socialist welfare, and delete the blessings of liberty for those not of our class and their posterity, do ordain to destroy the Constitution of the United States of America.”

Honestly, could this have been stated any better? Cooper, your outlook upon the crumbling nature of our modern political system is spot on! While I still hold out hope for my Country and its Constitution, I too feel as though a spirit of sweeping rejuvenation is necessary, if this country is ever going to reaffirm itself as the championing voice of honest self government, proper democratic representation, and constitutional clarity.

Is Kobe Really an MVP?

In a world whereby sports and other less meaningful sources of overpriced entertainment reign supreme, the NBA officially stooped to a new all-time low! Instead of honoring one of its better, more suitable representatives with the distinguished honor of – player of the year- the NBA chose instead to promote and further uplift perhaps it’s most misleading example of true class and dedication. Leading many like myself to wonder if the MVP, which at one point meant Most Valuable Player, had now been reinvented to mean something more along the lines of Most Villainous Persona!!

Yes, Kobe Bryant has in many ways had a wonderful statistical season, and by that account has been found worthy of dawning the NBA’s most prestigious award, it’s MVP. But should achieving high levels of categorical success really be all that matters when looking to determine MVP status? Or should we as fans and members of the media take into account other less numerically inclined factors when attempting to decide on who best exemplifies a league and its given fan base?

It is my belief that all too often we, as a sports enthused culture, fail to accurately address these and other pressing issues because of our own disillusioned logic. Somewhere down the line we seem to have bought into this ridiculous notion that just because someone is more athletically inclined or has exhibited the ability to run faster, jump higher, or react quicker, he or she is somehow excluded from the bounds of normalcy. And in achieving such, they have been granted an unlimited pass when it comes to civil responsibility and social dignity. And such is the case with Kobe Bryant.

Stemming from his adulterous behavior in Eagle Colorado and continuing through to this past summer’s list of personal demands, Kobe Bryant has exhibited domineering characteristics alright, but not ones often depicted on the backs of collectable trading cards or Sports Center highlight reels. Instead Mr. Bryant has routinely subjected his team, teammates, front office, and devoted fan base, to a list of demands the likes of which include: (1) insisting to be traded numerous times, (2) calling out Lakers’ General Manager Mitch Kupchak for failing to adequately surround him with championship like talent, (3) openly criticized upper management and Lakers’ owner Jerry Bust, and (4) eagerly ripped into current teammate Andrew Bynum, for not living up to expected levels of professional performance.

Funny isn’t it, all this from a “man” who had just recently verified his willingness to compromise his own legacy and that of the entire Lakers’ organization, largely at the expense of one lonely night in Colorado. It’s just a shame that in today’s world, what one does off the court, is in large part overshadowed by what one’s honest talent will allow him to do on it!

While magnificent talent and a flair for the dynamic can prove financially worthwhile, it does fall short of one’s own ability to be known on and off the court as a worthy - Most Valuable Player. Granted, Kobe Bryant along with his illustrious career will go down in the history books as being one of the games greatest legends, but in a world where pure athleticism has shown the ability to downplay real-life tragedy as a means of achieving real-world accolades, will any of us really care?