This is another huckster deal in which Trump will put up no money of his own and somehow glean a lot money before the money-losing project falls into bankruptcy, having produced very little oil for the global market.
From Ron Filipkowski:
NYT: “Any meaningful new production from Venezuela will take years to materialize. As a result, the effort will have little immediate impact on global commodity prices, which in turn determine what US consumers pay at the pump.”
Trump posted this claim [Sunday] today: “One of the things I am going to do with the Venezuelan Oil is fill up the Strategic National Reserves which, because of Sleepy Joe Biden, has been virtually emptied. The ‘topping out’ process will begin very shortly, and is a Gift from Venezuela to the People of the US.”
Oil and Gas expert Matt Randolph: “Venezuela no longer has the upgrading capacity to make their oil compatible for the SPR. So, yes you can put Venezuelan oil in but it MUST be upgraded. They can’t do that right now. For them to build a new upgrader you are conservatively looking at 10-12 Billion dollars and 5-7 years.”
Ronald Reagan’s former budget director David Stockman posted: “Trumpy scores another own goal. The all-in economic cost of Venezuelan heavy crude is $70 per barrel compared to the 56 year constant dollar average price of global crude at $71/barrel, less 15% discount for low quality Venezuelan crude or $60 per barrel. That is to say, a $10/barrel loss on 65 billion barrels of crude under the Donald’s latest deal. The Art of the Deal strikes again!!!”
The Heritage Foundation strikes again, and it appears their "values" have expanded, over time, to include rape and pillage. Our “shining city on a hill” has become a den of thieves; plunderers, murderers, kidnappers, and rapists. We, as a civilized society, would do well to eliminate that influence (Russel Vought, Victoria Coates, Marco Rubio, Heritage Foundation, et al.) from our democracy—what’s left of it. Just a bizarre opinion from a tired old man, slightly north of half a brain.
Please forgive my imposition.
Found an interesting account here, [minute 07:15] to supplement yours. You be the judge:
UNFTR Media: The Real Story Behind the 'Great' Venezuela Oil Deal
Charles Pinckney, during the Federal Convention, in 1787, pointed out that “Conquest or superiority among other powers is not or ought not ever to be the object of republican systems.” [Notes Of The Debates In The Federal Convention Of 1787, pg. 185].
His point was not argued and conquest as an object of our American republican system was shunned. Pinckney, delegate from South Carolina, signed the Constitution that formed the United States of America, a government of the people, by the people, for the people. Under the influence of Heritage Foundation hacks we have come full circle, back to a mad king, with a white Christian nationalist worldview; a king who seeks to conquer and plunder. How far we have fallen.
Rather than become the “world’s gas station” I would prefer to see universal health care for our posterity—who don’t really have access to affordable healthcare while we plunder our neighbors. But that’s just me. I was taught that stealing from your neighbors, was, you know, a sin; a crime, so, I taught my sons not to steal. I always seem to be wrong in this new version of America where everything I thought was right—is wrong. Everything I think is wrong—is right. I have not seen a bigger threat to the Constitution that James Madison and Charles Pinckney signed than SCOTUS, the Heritage Foundation, and Project 2025. [My personal opinion].
Russell Vought, Management and Budget (OMB) Director, is a civil officer, and can be impeached. A good reason to vote. Let’s go back to a government of the people, by the people, for the people, and see if we can get it right.
Thanks for the opportunity to express my unsolicited thoughts.
Thanks, Mark. This whole thing with Venezuela has made me positively ill. I want some country to come here, kidnap Trump because he's a murderer, and claim all the oil in Texas as their own. Why would it be any different? Would the NYT say it was a win for that country's leader?
Trump is also famously hands-off on matters involving money, oil, and the chance to immiserate people who are poor, don't speak English, and are less white than the skin under his toupees.
These media outlets should be able to discern that "negotiating" with a gun to your head is not really negotiating. Perhaps after the midterms there will be congressional oversight of these crimes. If anybody wants to make that happen, knock on doors or make phone call. Districts will not flip themselves!
A historical phrase for "might is right" is one that should have leapt into the mind of every legitimate news editor: "gunboat diplomacy." Our past colonial venturism in Central America and the Caribbean has reared it ugly head under Trump.
As I said a couple of days ago, there is nothing to celebrate. Now in the USA, the end justifies the means. Shooting sailors in the Caribbean? What the US has done in Cuba? Venezuela? A time to hang your head in shame. We don’t have to wonder how the death marches in Nazi Germany were viewed by Germans? We don’t have to speculate on the killing of 7 million Ukrainians who were starved to death by the Russians? All we have to do is pay attention to what is now not only the new normal in the USA but is celebrated as a win by the NYT.
You are not winning and you will be judged! You are a part of the historical record.
When Americans call ICE to deport the Mexican workers on a home improvement project so they don’t have to pay their wages? You will be judged. When you zip tie a 4 year old in the middle of a night raid, you will be judged. When you shoot your own citizens in the streets, you will be judged.
When you see evil, and you hear evil, how do you react? That is the historical record.
Do you have the courage to bring justice to those that so richly deserve it? As Steve Smith has recounted, the first Americans to witness Dachua were reviled at the utter immorality of what man is capable of. Are you? Vote like your life depends on it, fight to be a part of the historical record and bring those responsible to justice. Remember, I did as I was told is not a defense.
This is another huckster deal in which Trump will put up no money of his own and somehow glean a lot money before the money-losing project falls into bankruptcy, having produced very little oil for the global market.
From Ron Filipkowski:
NYT: “Any meaningful new production from Venezuela will take years to materialize. As a result, the effort will have little immediate impact on global commodity prices, which in turn determine what US consumers pay at the pump.”
Trump posted this claim [Sunday] today: “One of the things I am going to do with the Venezuelan Oil is fill up the Strategic National Reserves which, because of Sleepy Joe Biden, has been virtually emptied. The ‘topping out’ process will begin very shortly, and is a Gift from Venezuela to the People of the US.”
Oil and Gas expert Matt Randolph: “Venezuela no longer has the upgrading capacity to make their oil compatible for the SPR. So, yes you can put Venezuelan oil in but it MUST be upgraded. They can’t do that right now. For them to build a new upgrader you are conservatively looking at 10-12 Billion dollars and 5-7 years.”
Ronald Reagan’s former budget director David Stockman posted: “Trumpy scores another own goal. The all-in economic cost of Venezuelan heavy crude is $70 per barrel compared to the 56 year constant dollar average price of global crude at $71/barrel, less 15% discount for low quality Venezuelan crude or $60 per barrel. That is to say, a $10/barrel loss on 65 billion barrels of crude under the Donald’s latest deal. The Art of the Deal strikes again!!!”
You’re right, it’s theft.
And murder
Bravo Mr. Jacob.
The Heritage Foundation strikes again, and it appears their "values" have expanded, over time, to include rape and pillage. Our “shining city on a hill” has become a den of thieves; plunderers, murderers, kidnappers, and rapists. We, as a civilized society, would do well to eliminate that influence (Russel Vought, Victoria Coates, Marco Rubio, Heritage Foundation, et al.) from our democracy—what’s left of it. Just a bizarre opinion from a tired old man, slightly north of half a brain.
Please forgive my imposition.
Found an interesting account here, [minute 07:15] to supplement yours. You be the judge:
UNFTR Media: The Real Story Behind the 'Great' Venezuela Oil Deal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMpeIh0ZT_0
Charles Pinckney, during the Federal Convention, in 1787, pointed out that “Conquest or superiority among other powers is not or ought not ever to be the object of republican systems.” [Notes Of The Debates In The Federal Convention Of 1787, pg. 185].
His point was not argued and conquest as an object of our American republican system was shunned. Pinckney, delegate from South Carolina, signed the Constitution that formed the United States of America, a government of the people, by the people, for the people. Under the influence of Heritage Foundation hacks we have come full circle, back to a mad king, with a white Christian nationalist worldview; a king who seeks to conquer and plunder. How far we have fallen.
Rather than become the “world’s gas station” I would prefer to see universal health care for our posterity—who don’t really have access to affordable healthcare while we plunder our neighbors. But that’s just me. I was taught that stealing from your neighbors, was, you know, a sin; a crime, so, I taught my sons not to steal. I always seem to be wrong in this new version of America where everything I thought was right—is wrong. Everything I think is wrong—is right. I have not seen a bigger threat to the Constitution that James Madison and Charles Pinckney signed than SCOTUS, the Heritage Foundation, and Project 2025. [My personal opinion].
Russell Vought, Management and Budget (OMB) Director, is a civil officer, and can be impeached. A good reason to vote. Let’s go back to a government of the people, by the people, for the people, and see if we can get it right.
Thanks for the opportunity to express my unsolicited thoughts.
Peace Out.
Thanks, Mark. This whole thing with Venezuela has made me positively ill. I want some country to come here, kidnap Trump because he's a murderer, and claim all the oil in Texas as their own. Why would it be any different? Would the NYT say it was a win for that country's leader?
Trump is also famously hands-off on matters involving money, oil, and the chance to immiserate people who are poor, don't speak English, and are less white than the skin under his toupees.
BRILLIANT ARTICLE MARK
Mark, on point as always …
These media outlets should be able to discern that "negotiating" with a gun to your head is not really negotiating. Perhaps after the midterms there will be congressional oversight of these crimes. If anybody wants to make that happen, knock on doors or make phone call. Districts will not flip themselves!
A historical phrase for "might is right" is one that should have leapt into the mind of every legitimate news editor: "gunboat diplomacy." Our past colonial venturism in Central America and the Caribbean has reared it ugly head under Trump.
All of this in broad daylight. So we all just shrug our shoulders now? Nice Bonnie and Clyde reference by the way.
Great photo
And thanks for adding your voice highlighting yet another atrocity!!!
So darn frustrating he gets away with everything!
Thank you for the article, Mark. It seems there is a lot of theft going on.
Reciprocity would be welcome
As I said a couple of days ago, there is nothing to celebrate. Now in the USA, the end justifies the means. Shooting sailors in the Caribbean? What the US has done in Cuba? Venezuela? A time to hang your head in shame. We don’t have to wonder how the death marches in Nazi Germany were viewed by Germans? We don’t have to speculate on the killing of 7 million Ukrainians who were starved to death by the Russians? All we have to do is pay attention to what is now not only the new normal in the USA but is celebrated as a win by the NYT.
You are not winning and you will be judged! You are a part of the historical record.
When Americans call ICE to deport the Mexican workers on a home improvement project so they don’t have to pay their wages? You will be judged. When you zip tie a 4 year old in the middle of a night raid, you will be judged. When you shoot your own citizens in the streets, you will be judged.
When you see evil, and you hear evil, how do you react? That is the historical record.
Do you have the courage to bring justice to those that so richly deserve it? As Steve Smith has recounted, the first Americans to witness Dachua were reviled at the utter immorality of what man is capable of. Are you? Vote like your life depends on it, fight to be a part of the historical record and bring those responsible to justice. Remember, I did as I was told is not a defense.
You’re so right. Are we heading toward the cheerleading of 125 years ago, prior to the Spanish-American War? Fox is already there.