Obama plays politics on oil
In demonizing oil companies and Senate Republicans for saying no to ending oil subsidies, President Obama is engaging in cheap populist pandering to a public hurting from high gas prices.
Obama's feigned push to end tax breaks for oil companies, and investing in cart-before-the-horse electric cars -- despite the failure of the Chevy Volt -- is yet another indication that he has no concern for high gas prices. Indeed, the oil companies would pass on the tax increase to consumers just as any business would, raising gas prices higher.
In addition, summer blend requirements will add to gas prices, likely pushing them above $5.00 per gallon, and will probably continue after summer because of increased demand by China and India, and instability in the Middle East.
The president could dispense with stupid summer blends and ethanol. Of course, there's not much he could do to prevent Californians from being pushed over the economic cliff by hysterical environmentalists and cost of living-busting climate change laws.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley
(Original letter)
Political campaign ploys by the president demonizing oil companies and Senate Republicans for saying no to ending oil subsidies is little more than cheap populist pandering to public injury from high gas prices.
Indeed, President Obama's feigned push to end tax breaks for oil companies, and invest in cart-before-the-horse electric cars -- regardless of the failure of the Chevy Volt -- is yet another indication that he has no concern for high gas prices. Indeed, the oil companies would pass on the tax increase to consumers just as any business would, raising gas prices even further.
Plus, summer blend requirements will increase gas prices 40 cents or more higher, which will likely push the cost over $5.00 per gallon, and which will probably continue after summer because of increased demand by China and India, and instability in the Middle East.
If the president is honestly concerned about what the people pay at the pump, and the commensurate increased cost of delivering goods and services, he could easily dispense with the stupid summer blends and ethanol. Of course, there's not much he could do to prevent Californians from being pushed over the economic cliff by hysterical environmentalists and cost of living-busting climate change laws.
Surely, people must be a bit confused as to why foreign oil costs $125 per barrel, about $18 more than U.S. crude because of China and India demand. The easy answer is our government creating perpetual oil, gas, and refinery chaos. Indeed, someone ought to tell President Obama and enviro-maniacs that we can't run electric cars or much of anything else without coal and natural gas power plants making electricity.
San Bernardino Sun
April 8, 2012
Transforming America
President Obama's unemployment con job, coupled with costly health and financial reforms, his Occupy storm trooper's class warfare, and his intentional energy crisis define his attempts to transform America.
Indeed, throwing $200 billion down the green sink hole, pushing the failed Chevy Volt, and approving the tail end of the Keystone Pipeline are meaningless. Particularly, while stifling coal energy and domestic oil resources.
Still, the president insists on wagging the public dog with high gas prices, government growth and insurmountable debt, which will surely damage the dollar, weaken the nation, and stoke the fires of inflation.
Transform America? Yes. Out of the clutches of progressive aggression. If we are to survive, his re-election is not an option.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley
The Washington Examiner
March 30, 2012
Re: A second term: Obama unleashed
by Cal Thomas
What's the worst that could happen in the 2012 presidential elections. A re-elected President Obama, unleased.
Indeed, as if high gas prices aren't bad enough, President Obama is in the process of killing the coal-power industry as promised, which will cause electricity prices to escalate and affect those who can least afford it.
The energy and fuel crisis, job losses and cost of living increases are being caused by environmental zealots' litigation, EPA over-regulation, plus President Obama stifling domestic oil production, natural gas and coal energy in his arrogant pursuit of costly, unreliable green energy at any price.
In a nut shell, our national mess was started by the unmitigated misfeasance of former presidents Carter, Clinton and congressional Democrats, which caused the housing crash, financial crisis and a deepening recession set in motion by over-reaching government's irresponsible push for affordable housing.
Worse, the public miseducation system is a deeply flawed and failed money-pit of liberal arts and socialist indoctrination under the selfish interests of the education establishment, tenure and teacher unions robbing students of their future.
And President Obama is in the process of putting our national security at risk by disarming our nuclear defense weapons capabilities in collusion with Russia, and inviting terrorist attacks from Iran and other hostiles.
Fortunately, President Obama's massive health care law is being challenged by 26 states and a national small business organization in the Supreme Court, which will hopefully be declared unconstitutional by the Court.
Sadly, the out-of-control size, scope and power of our government is transforming America away from the founding principles of our unique constitutional democratic republic of limited government that made us the greatest nation of liberty and freedom the World has ever known.
If we are to survive these challenges, we must make our voices heard and our votes count in the 2012 elections. Without a strong and free America, we and the free world will collapse under the unbearable weight of tyranny. President Obama unleased on America with a second term is not an option.
The Washington Examiner
March 29, 2012
Re: Obama seeks end to subsidies for oil companies; Congress says no
by Brian Hughes
Political campaign ploys by the president demonizing oil companies and Senate Republicans for saying no to ending oil subsidies is little more than cheap populist pandering to public injury from high gas prices.
Indeed, President Obama's feigned push to end tax breaks for oil companies, and invest in cart-before-the-horse electric cars -- regardless of the failure of the Chevy Volt -- is yet another indication that he has no concern for high gas prices. Indeed, the oil companies would pass on the tax increase to consumers just as any business would, raising gas prices even further.
Plus, summer blend requirements will increase gas prices 40 cents or more higher, which will likely push the cost over $5.00 per gallon, and which will probably continue after summer because of increased demand by China and India, and instability in the Middle East.
If the president is honestly concerned about what the people pay at the pump, and the commensurate increased cost of delivering goods and services, he could easily dispense with the stupid summer blends and ethanol. Of course, there's not much he could do to prevent Californians from being pushed over the economic cliff by hysterical environmentalists and cost of living-busting climate change laws.
Surely, people must be a bit confused as to why foreign oil costs $125 per barrel, about $18 more than U.S. crude because of China and India demand. The easy answer is our government creating perpetual oil, gas, and refinery chaos. Indeed, someone ought to tell President Obama and enviro-maniacs that we can't run electric cars or much of anything else without coal and natural gas power plants making electricity.
Los Angeles Times
March 25, 2012
Re: Health law's fate tied to mandate
by Noam N. Levey
LA Times Business
If states and citizen rights are to be protected from over-reaching federal government, the Supreme Court must surely strike down President Obama's unconstitutional health care insurance mandates.
Transforming America costs a social, political, economic and constitutional bundle. But that's not half of the damage already inflicted by the president's transformation plans.
President Obama's unemployment con job, coupled with costly health and financial reforms, his Occupy storm trooper's class warfare, and his intentional energy crisis define his attempts to transform America.
Indeed, throwing $200 billion down the green sink hole, pushing the failed Chevy Volt, and approving the tail end of the Keystone Pipeline are meaningless. Particularly, while stifling coal energy and domestic oil resources
Still, the president insists on wagging the public dog with high gas prices, government growth and insurmountable debt, which will surely damage the dollar, weaken the nation, and stoke the fires of inflation.
Transform America? Yes. Out of the clutches of progressive aggression. If we are to survive, his re-election is not an option.
The Washington Examiner
March 22, 2012
Re: Who's ignorant about energy?
by Conn Carroll
President Obama's unemployment con job, coupled with his Occupy storm trooper's class warfare, and his intentional energy crisis define his attack on America.
Indeed, throwing $200 billion down the green sink hole, and approving the tail end of the Keystone Pipeline is meaningless without the dog to complete it.
Still, the president insists on wagging the public dog with high gas prices, government growth and insurmountable debt, which will surely damage the dollar and stoke the fires of inflation. If we are to survive, his re-election is not an option.
Wall Street Journal
March 16, 2012
Re: What's behind rising gas prices?
by Daniel Yergin
Though Daniel Yergin's analysis of the cause of rising gas prices was enlightening, he failed to emphasize the causes of limited oil production in the United States. Indeed, if it were not for incessant anti-oil environmental left and President Obama's complicit limitations on domestic oil production and delivery, we would not be having this debate or these problems.
Surely, the extreme instability in Middle East oil producing countries casts a giant cloud over the dependability world oil supplies, which are adversely affecting gas prices and threaten our economy and national security. Alas, contrary to shallow minds and pumped-up popular belief, oil companies and speculators are not responsible for rising gas prices.
Clearly, it's political turmoil and over-reaching government clogging the pipes to our recovery. Indeed, the time for taking care of our own business is quickly running thin, which is no time for ideological stupidity or economic suicide.
USA TODAY
'Green' energy won't lift economy
If President Obama thinks he can paint “green” energy and fuel over an economy drowning in red ink, he’s in for a surprise.
Indeed, Obama has said there’s “no silver bullet that will bring down gas prices or reduce our dependence on foreign oil.” That mantra coupled with regulations for fuel-efficient cars, and empty gestures dabbling with increased oil and gas production will not avert another recession.
Surely, when the U.S. oil and natural gas industry supports more than 9 million jobs — and it could easily add many new ones — releasing oil reserves or encouraging a Chevy Volt for every garage won’t put food on the table.
Hopefully, the president won’t try to ensure his re-election by prematurely starting something with Iran, which would also affect oil prices. It’s bad enough that the world is teetering on terrorism. Provoking Iran’s Hezbollah would certainly start the world on fire, with America as the target.
Daniel B. Jeffs
March 6, 2012
Apple Valley, Calif.
Re: Today's debate: Pain at the pump
Energy and fuel crisis can't be painted green
If President Obama thinks he can paint green energy and fuel over an economy drowning in red ink, he's got another think coming.
Indeed, President Obama's "no easy answers and no silver bullet" solution to high fuel prices mantra, coupled with fuel-efficient cars regulations, green energy and empty gestures dabbling with increased oil and gas production will not avert a second recession far worse than the first. Plus inflation caused by extreme public debt and severely weakened currency, raising the cost of living for all.
Indeed, President Obama's lack of action on gas prices fits his campaign left-base, while he escalates class warfare against the health care industry, coal energy, big business, big oil and the wealthy. Surely, when the oil and natural gas industry employs over 9 million people -- and they could easily add a million new jobs -- releasing oil reserves or promising a Chevy Volt for every garage won't put food on the table
Meanwhile, he will undoubtedly continue being the political candyman, handing out a $billion here and there for votes, until his Hollywood pat-on-the-back movie on killing bin Laden comes out in October as his last campaign boost.
Hopefully, the president won't try to ensure his re-election by prematurely starting something with Iran. It's bad enough that the world is teetering on terrorism. Unleashing Iran's Hezbollah, the Muslim Brotherhood, and their new best friend, al Qaeda, would certainly start the world on fire, with America as the target.
The Washington Examiner
February 28, 2012
Obama's energy policies are dragging us down
Re: "Tell America the truth about gas prices, Mr, President"
Editorial Feb. 27
President Obama's superficial talk about no easy answers to lowering gas prices is an abdication of leadership. Since the rise in oil production under the Bush administration, our offshore oil production is down 30 percent. Federal land oil lease sales are down 70 percent. And he stopped the Keystone oil pipeline to U.S. refineries from Canada.
Indeed, when the President says, "We know there's no silver bullet that will bring down gas prices or reduce our dependence on foreign oil overnight… but what we can do is get our priorities straight and make a substantial, serious effort to tackle this problem," Mr. Obama's leadership is the problem.
Surely, President Obama is leading the wrong way by decreasing our national security, decreasing the value of the dollar, decreasing our income -- while inflating the size, scope and power of government, inflating the national debt, inflating the cost of energy, gasoline and the cost of nearly everything except housing. Clinton, Frank and Dodd have already been there and done that.
During his campaign for the presidency, Senator Obama said that he would 'fundamentally transform America,' by representing himself as the Lone Ranger loaded with silver bullets of 'change we could believe in.' However, the silver bullets turned out to be lead balloons, dragging America down.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.
The Sacramento Bee
September 25, 2011
Solyndra highlights energy folly
Re "Solyndra isn't reason to kill clean energy" (Editorials, Sept. 18): The $535 million Solyndra solar panel company scandal showcases what President Barack Obama showcased in dumping $25 billion into renewable energy firms, promising about 650,000 jobs. Instead, only about 3,500 jobs were created. California got in the act by giving Solyndra $24 million in tax breaks after which the company shed about 1,100 jobs in its bankruptcy, leaving all taxpayers on the hook for Solyndra's loan.
Adding insult to injury, AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, was and is a very bad idea that will surely sink California's economy. Indeed, as if California wasn't crashing enough, the energy and cost-of-living explosion with the implementation of AB 32 could not have come at a worse time in what will be a protracted nationally depressed economy.
Surely, the federal and state malfeasance over energy is tantamount to punching the American and California economies in the face.
Daniel B. Jeffs,
Apple Valley
Read more: Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/25/3933852/letters-to-the-editor.html#ixzz1ZH00l0XV
Federal and state malfeasance over renewable energy
The $535 million Solyndra solar panel company scandal showcases what President Obama showcased in dumping $25 billion into renewable energy firms, promising about 650,000 jobs. Instead, only about 3,500 jobs were created at a taxpayer cost of about $5 million per job. California got in the act by giving Solyndra $27 million in tax breaks, after which the company shed about 1,100 jobs in its bankruptcy, leaving all taxpayers on the hook for Solyndra's loan.
Adding insult to injury, the AB-32 Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 was and is a very bad idea that will surely sink California's economy. Indeed, as if California wasn't crashing enough -- with over-reaching government, out of control entitlements, and money-pit miseducation -- the energy and cost of living explosion with the implementation of AB-32 could not have come at a worse time in what will be a protracted nationally depressed economy.
Blindly requiring 33 percent of our electricity to come from renewable energy -- wind and solar -- will double or triple electricity costs, not to mention the unreliability of renewables. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent over the next 9 years is little more that holding business hostage with cap and tax beginning in 2012 -- all on the basis of global warming alarmists and the proliferation of a massive hoax.
Surely, the federal and state malfeasance over energy is tantamount to punching the American and California economies in the face.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Founder, DDC
September 17, 2011
No plausible denial for government malfeasance
Solyndra and other American solar panel manufacturers can't compete with Chinese manufacturers, who turn them out cheaper and faster to the United States and the world market. The Department of Energy and President Obama had to have known that. Yet, Obama recklessly showcased the taxpayers' $535 million stimulus loan for green jobs at the now bankrupt Solyndra. That kind of fraud cannot be ignored, particularly when President Obama is trying to push through a tax-hiking, shell game jobs bill that would hurt business, workers and the already weakened economy.
Indeed, there is no plausible denial for government malfeasance.
Wasting tax dollars backing costly/unreliable green energy, while stepping on reliable energy resources, increases the cost of electricity and fuel, thus the cost of living. Stepping up reliable energy and domestic fuel resources will increase jobs and reduce the cost of nearly everything. Dumping the corn ethanol program would also decrease many food prices and the cost of fuel. President Obama should be backing the reduction of all business-inhibiting regulations, which would create jobs and elevate the overall economy--at little or no cost to taxpayers.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Founder, DDC
September 15, 2011
President Obama continues to play the tax, spend and waste shell game
President Obama is indeed proposing to play tax and spend shell games by taking from big business, and giving temporary tax incentives to small businesses and workers. Creating temporary jobs and saving others will end, however, higher taxes and government empire-building will continue.
Furthermore, wasting tax dollars backing costly/unreliable green energy, while stepping on reliable energy resources, increases the cost of electricity and fuel, thus the cost of living. Stepping up reliable energy and domestic fuel resources will increase jobs and reduce the cost of nearly everything. Dumping the corn ethanol program would also decrease food prices and the cost of fuel.
President Obama should be laying off taxes and reducing all business-inhibiting regulations, which would lower costs, create jobs, and elevate the overall economy -- including tax revenues. However, his record says he won't.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Founder, DDC
September 14, 2011
San Bernardino Sun
July 9, 2011
Political motivation
Petroleum products are absolutely vital to our economy. According to records, the United States consumes about 20 million barrels of oil per day.
Thanks to environmental zealots and government over-regulation, our current domestic oil production is limited to about 6 million barrels per day.
President Obama's politically motivated release of 30 million barrels of oil from our 727 million-barrel national oil reserves will reduce our national security, provide a Band-Aid of less than two days of oil, and won't help our long-term economy. Permitting production of 30 million barrels per month from Alaska's outer continental shelf, and opening up our oil and gas resources would.
The economy will suffer even more if President Obama continues his costly, government-controlled nation-building at home, as he confirmed in his speech on removing troops from Afghanistan.
Lest we forget, insanity is doing the same stupid things over and over, expecting different results.
DANIEL B. JEFFS
Apple Valley
Who works for who in our constitutional republic?
May 13, 2011
The Democrat-controlled Senate inquisition panel is conducting business as usual by dragging oil executives before them to answer for high gas prices in the nation. Contrary to popular indoctrinated belief, the oil companies are not the bad guys here. Intrusive, over-regulating, intimidating, restrictive and unreasonable government-controlled energy policies are.
Indeed, if it were not for our government's abuse of power, we would not have suffered the housing crash and economic collapse, the cost of government and the cost living would be significantly lower, and we would not be encumbered by insurmountable debt.
And contrary to government's dependency-driven view of America -- even though we are being ruled by the power of taxation, massive government and tyrannical regulation -- we do not work for government. Government is bound and limited by the Constitution to work for us. Our power of the vote is in the process of reversing those roles. It's a matter of survival.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Founder, DDC
Los VV Daily Press
Press Dispatch
April 3, 2011
False Exercise
President Obama's March 29, 2011 vow to cut oil imports by a third by 2025 is simply another intentional false exercise in political futility. Particularly, when his administration has stifled oil exploration with worthless leases, over-regulation and reduced gulf oil production -- exacerbated by spreading turmoil in the Middle East.
Indeed, at the rate of oil and gas price increases, even if domestic resources were fully opened, it would be 2025 before most production could be realized, and oil imports would have to be substantially increased. Meanwhile, our cost of living will continue to rise.
Adding insult to economic public injury, President Obama wants to increase subsidized ethanol production -- which raises the cost of fuel and food prices -- and he is pushing subsidized renewable energy -- wind and solar -- which greatly increases the cost of unreliable electricity on demand.
Coupled with the administration's preposterous plan to have us dependent on 80 percent "clean energy" by 2035, deceptively includes "clean coal" and nuclear, which means neither. That kind of irresponsible governing will certainly result in economic ruin long before then -- especially without a regime change in Washington in 2012.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley
Angeles Times
April 4, 2011
Re “U.S. to trim oil imports by a third, Obama says,” March 31
President Obama's vow to cut oil imports by a third by 2025 is another exercise in political futility. His administration has stifled oil exploration with worthless leases, too much regulation and reduced gulf oil production, exacerbated by spreading turmoil in the Middle East.
Adding insult to injury, Obama wants to increase subsidized ethanol production — which raises the cost of fuel and food prices — and he is pushing subsidized renewable energy, which greatly increases the cost of electricity.
This is coupled with the administration's preposterous plan to have us dependent on 80% “clean energy,” which deceptively includes “clean coal” and nuclear, by 2035. This kind of irresponsible governing will result in economic ruin long before then, especially without a regime change in Washington in 2012.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.
New York Post
March 26, 2011
O's family vacation: America pays the price
The news media should stop the chatter over Libya and focus on US interests and concerns in the Middle East: oil, Israel and Iran.
Obama doesn't care about any of it. That's why the Middle East is boiling over.
Meanwhile, he has put the clamps on our domestic oil and energy resources, increased oil deals with Brazil to offset the decline in Venezuelan imports and used rising fuel and energy costs to push his green agenda.
Unless we go full speed ahead with domestic oil, natural gas and coal energy, the whole thing is going to result in a fuel and energy meltdown and economic catastrophe.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif.
Robert Bryce - authour/journalist
Los Angeles Times
Opinion LA
March 12, 2011
Lack of oil, gas and energy is not funny
Paul Whitefield's 'President Obama's news conference: All in a President's day' is humorous, but hardly appropriate journalism considering the gravity of our current circumstances -- particularly regarding oil, gas and energy.
President Obama's remarks at his March 11, 2011 news conference touting the increase in oil production under his watch is what "… doesn't match up with reality." The president is simply attempting to take credit for what the Bush administration managed to accomplish against decades of reduced production because of unreasonable restrictions from the environmental left.
Skirting the truth is bad enough. But playing politics as usual by making and breaking campaign promises in the face of instability among Middle East oil-producing nations, exacerbating our failing economy with rising oil and energy prices, is an unconscioable fraud against the American people -- who contrary to popular political belief, are not that naïve.
Indeed, President Obama's promises to boost domestic oil, gas and energy production is a deceptive reversal of what he is actually doing, which is delaying existing production, prohibiting new production, and pushing green energy. I'll believe the president is sincere about ensuring our national security and helping the economy, when he takes a shovel and personally breaks ground for a new coal mine, drilling in ANWR, and opens all of our resources.
Dan Jeffs
Apple Valley, CA
The Washington Examiner
February 24, 2011
Stop freezing domestic oil production
Re: "Oil, gold soar as Mideast tensions mount," Feb. 22
The price of oil went up more than $5 today surpassing $91 per barrel because of revolution in the Middle East, which means it is likely that our recession will deepen with inflation. Obviously, when the price of gas is headed for $4 or even $5 per gallon, the price of nearly everything goes up.
Oil companies and speculators are not to blame for raising prices when imported oil is at risk. Blame environmental zealots and government for freezing and reducing domestic oil exploration and production. That's why our dependence on imported oil is so high, and our national security is more at risk.
The push for costly and unreliable green energy only exacerbates the forthcoming energy crisis, which could have been ameliorated by increasing coal energy and opening up our substantial oil resources 10 years ago. Indeed, it takes five or 10 years to bring new on- and off-shore wells and more refineries into full production. Failure to start now will be tantamount to economic suicide.
Daniel B. Jeffs
Apple Valley, Calif
Read more at the Washington Examiner:
http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/letters-editor/2011/02/letters-editor-february-24-2011#ixzz1EtQLoz1D