Energy Independence Watch...
Remarkable progress we've been making:
In their public speeches officials from President Bush down present an optimistic view of the US economy. By contrast, in his current visit to the Middle East, Vice-President Cheney is delivering a much bleaker assessment. White House officials have told us that in his discussions with Saudi Arabia, Cheney will report that the US faces extremely serious economic problems, with the falling dollar and high oil prices at the core of the Administration’s concerns. Cheney will seek assurances from the Saudis of increased oil production and an undertaking to maintain the Riyal peg to the dollar. Administration officials are not confident that the Saudis will respond positively on the oil issue. The expectation is that oil prices will continue to rise. As a Treasury official explained to us: "A fundamental problem for us is that we have generally bad relations with so many of the oil producers – Russia, Iran, Venezuela, Nigeria." |
posted by The Cunning Realist at Monday, March 17, 2008
6 Comments:
Cheney can seek all the reassurance he wants. The fact is that we have no political leverage with the Saudis. Their money buys all the domestic political support they need.
I like Obama's philosophy... a lot. "I’m willing to sit down with any dictator, and I don’t believe I have to check my principles at the door when I do."
Be at table with all. %-0 What a novel idea. Good principles all around. It doesn't mean you agree, but you can't accomplish anything if you aren't there, and worse, you can be used as the excuse why things aren't changing. The secrecy, blind arrogance, and contempt for dialog of this administration, and thus the Republicans, is the main reason we have so many messes today, and being backed into a corner with the only options being all out war on all fronts.
I know next to nothing about economics, but I've been hearing this name bandied about as if I'm supposed to know who it is. This is one scary dude, I know that much.
http://www.rgemonitor.com/blog/roubini/249924
If there's going to be a serious problem, as looks certain, I'm glad that the chickens are coming home to roost with Bush still in office, so that we don't have to hear the spin about how the Democrats are killing the economy.
Tillman Fan
I'm very sorry, Tillman Fan, but I'm already hearing that spin. I think it was Hannity a few weeks ago, expounding how the stock market drop was the result of the increasing likelihood of a Democratic President.
See, that's why we Leftists have to pressure Democrats and [independents/3rd Parties] to make reforms, such as economic reforms, starting the minute they get into office, and throughout their term. Any Democrat who hasn't produced serious results by the time election season rolls around needs to be voted out of office, because by then it's too late for promises. The Republicans' entire election strategy revolves around blaming the Democrats for everything, and the only thing Republicans can't blame Democrats for is success. But somehow in this country, the Left has forgotten the idea that we send politicians to Washington in order to _actually take risks and try new strategies_ rather than posture and pontificate and preserve their cushy seat.
One moment our congress is passing a bill insisting the Saudis denounce Hamas...the next day we are begging them for oil. We have to be the stupidest imperial power of all time. I don't know why the Saudi Royalty puts up with us.
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