Guest “Bring it on Brandon!” by David Middleton
Published June 15
Biden threatens oil companies with ’emergency powers’ if they don’t boost supply amid inflation spike
Biden says oil companies are earning ‘historically high’ profitsBiden’s statement blames oil companies for running “historically high profit margins” even as Americans experience surging gas prices. Biden has recently faced criticism for a lack of executive action aimed at curbing inflation.
“There is no question that Vladimir Putin is principally responsible for the intense financial pain the American people and their families are bearing,” Biden wrote. “But amid a war that has raised gasoline prices more than $1.70 per gallon, historically high refinery profit margins are worsening that pain.”
“Your companies and others have an opportunity to take immediate actions to increase the supply of gasoline, diesel and other refined product you are producing,” he continued. “My administration is prepared to use all reasonable and appropriate Federal Government tools and emergency authorities to increase refinery capacity and output in the near term, and to ensure that every region of this country is appropriately supplied.”
[…]
Fox News
Everything this idiot has done since occupying the White House has made it more difficult for oil companies to explore for oil & gas, lease acreage, drill wells and produce, transport and refine petroleum products. And he has the temerity to demand an increase in production?
Rather than writing flatulent letters, maybe he could have checked with the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
JUNE 10, 2022
EIA expects high refinery margins to contribute to increasing fuel production this summerIn our June 2022 Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we forecast that U.S. refinery utilization will be relatively high this summer in response to strong wholesale prices for petroleum products, such as diesel and gasoline, which have increased more than the price of the crude oil used to make them.
The price difference between the price of crude oil and the wholesale price of a refined petroleum product reflects the value of refining crude oil. This difference, known as the crack spread, can indicate refining margins and profitability. Crack spreads for both diesel and gasoline increased in the first several months of 2022.
Gasoline and diesel prices and crack spreads are well above historical averages in response to several factors including:
•Low inventories for both petroleum products in the United States and globally
•Fuel demand increases to near pre-pandemic levels
•Relatively low refinery production of both fuels compared with pre-pandemic levels
•Reduced petroleum product exports from Russia
In response to these high prices, we expect that refinery utilization will reach a monthly average level of 96% twice this summer, near the upper limits of what refiners can consistently maintain. We expect refinery utilization to average 96% in June, 94% in July, and 96% in August.
We estimate U.S. refinery inputs will average 16.7 million b/d during the second and third quarters of 2022. This average is lower than the 2019 refinery inputs average of 17.3 million b/d despite high utilization rates because of reductions in refinery capacity since early 2020. U.S. refinery capacity has fallen by almost 1.0 million b/d since early 2020 because several refineries were closed or converted.
We expect wholesale prices for gasoline and diesel will begin decreasing in the third quarter of 2022, as refinery production increases. Despite our forecast price decline, we expect that wholesale fuel prices will remain well above previous years through the summer, based on higher crude oil prices as well as the ongoing impact of low global inventories. Low international inventories are likely to face additional tightness in response to the recently announced European ban on Russia’s energy imports.
Principal contributors: Kevin Hack
EIA
Back during the Shamdemic, the demand for oil and refined products collapsed. This caused prices to collapse, which caused a deep reduction in production. It also lead to the closure of 6 refineries.
The number of operable refineries in the United States (excluding U.S. territories), which includes both idle and operating refineries was 129 at the beginning of 2021, down from 135 at the beginning of 2020.
In 2019, the 335,000 b/cd Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) refinery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, experienced a major refinery incident that led to the refinery’s closure. Because the decision to permanently close the facility was still pending as of January 1, 2020, the facility was listed as idle in the 2020 Refinery Capacity Report. As of January 1, 2021, the refinery is considered closed and is not included in the 2021 report.
The additional refinery closures in the 2021 Refinery Capacity Report largely reflect the impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. refining sector (Figure 2). In 2020, the pandemic contributed to a substantial decrease in demand for motor fuels and refined petroleum products, which put downward pressure on refinery margins and made market conditions more challenging for refinery operators. Challenging market conditions, increasing market interest in renewable diesel production, and pre-existing plans to scale down or reconfigure petroleum refineries all contributed to the closing of a handful of refineries in 2020. We removed the following refineries from total U.S. operable capacity following their announced closures:
•The Western Refining refinery in Gallup, New Mexico: 27,000 b/cd
•The Tesoro (Marathon) refinery in Martinez, California: 161,000 b/cd
•The Dakota Prairie refinery in Dickinson, North Dakota: 19,000 b/cd
•The HollyFrontier refinery in Cheyenne, Wyoming: 48,000 b/cd
•The Shell refinery in Convent, Louisiana: 211,146 b/cd
EIA
Several refineries were also converted to “renewable” diesel production:
Renewable diesel has been increasingly used to meet California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program (CFP), and EPA’s RFS. Blender tax credits and government subsidies related to California’s LCFS and, to a lesser degree, Oregon’s CFP have encouraged several former petroleum refineries—such as Marathon’s Martinez, California refinery and Phillips 66’s Rodeo Renewed project in San Francisco, California—to convert their refineries into renewable diesel facilities. These projects, in addition to several others, would nearly triple the current 77,000 barrels per day (b/d) capacity of renewable diesel production by the end of 2023. According to data collected from various trade press sources, the United States will have 67,000 b/d of new renewable diesel capacity online by the end of 2022 and another 72,000 by the end of 2023. These estimates are based on projects that are currently under construction. Construction has not yet begun on some projects that also could come online during this time period, although we assume for our forecasts that these projects will not come online before 2024.
EIA
No amount of Brandon-blathering will bring those closed refineries back on line. There hasn’t been a new crude oil refinery built in the US since 1977. However, the EIA forecasts that the high crack spread will cause refinery utilization rate to climb from the current ~91% to ~96% by this summer, resulting in the crack spread dropping back to roughly where it was before the Shamdemic.
Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), June 2022
Unfortunately for Brandon, this will probably not happen before November.
This just in… ExxonMobil fires back (H/T CTM)
ExxonMobil statement regarding President Biden Letter to Oil Industry
June 15, 2022 02:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time
IRVING, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–ExxonMobil today released the following statement in response to a letter from President Biden.
We have been in regular contact with the administration to update the President and his staff on how ExxonMobil has been investing more than any other company to develop U.S. oil and gas supplies. This includes investments in the U.S. of more than $50 billion over the past five years, resulting in an almost 50% increase in our U.S. production of oil during this period.
Globally, we’ve invested double what we’ve earned over the past five years — $118 billion on new oil and gas supplies compared to net income of $55 billion. This is a reflection of the company’s long-term growth strategy, and our commitment to continuously invest to meet society’s demand for our products.
Specific to refining capacity in the U.S., we’ve been investing through the downturn to increase refining capacity to process U.S. light crude by about 250,000 barrels per day – the equivalent of adding a new medium-sized refinery. We kept investing even during the pandemic, when we lost more than $20 billion and had to borrow more than $30 billion to maintain investment to increase capacity to be ready for post-pandemic demand.
In the short term, the U.S. government could enact measures often used in emergencies following hurricanes or other supply disruptions — such as waivers of Jones Act provisions and some fuel specifications to increase supplies. Longer term, government can promote investment through clear and consistent policy that supports U.S. resource development, such as regular and predictable lease sales, as well as streamlined regulatory approval and support for infrastructure such as pipelines.
About ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil, one of the largest publicly traded international energy and petrochemical companies, creates solutions that improve quality of life and meet society’s evolving needs.
The corporation’s primary businesses – Upstream, Product Solutions and Low Carbon Solutions – provide products that enable modern life, including energy, chemicals, lubricants, and lower-emissions technologies. ExxonMobil holds an industry-leading portfolio of resources, and is one of the largest integrated fuels, lubricants and chemical companies in the world. To learn more, visit exxonmobil.com and the Energy Factor.
Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Contacts
Media Relations
Businesswire
972-940-6007
Good report, David. I would like to be optimistic about the near-term future, but the Loony Tunes Left has put their saddle on the CAGW trick pony and they are going to ride him until he falls over. Their Net Zero war includes all government agencies as well as the Military, and one has to wonder who/what the Military is going to bomb in this CAGW war.
If I recall correctly, there was a WUWT story a little more than a year ago pointing out that there was insufficient investment in exploration. The predicted consequences were what we see now.
The “insufficient” investment is not. The “explorers” – then and now – looked at the diminishing returns from new wells, frac hits, and the certainty of service cost skyrockets if activity got anywhere near pre-pandemic levels, and exerted “capital discipline. The stockholders have greatly benefitted from this rational Harvest Mode – as they should have.
The rest is predictable BDS. Yes, Biden can’t jawbone production up, ether here or from our “Partner In Peace” Ginzu Steak Knife MbS. Jennifer can’t talk the refiners into spending tens of billions of CAPEX when their guesses on feedstock availability for the next 2 decades are even more in doubt than usual. And COTUS needs to STFU w.r.t. a WFT. But these are just harm free sillinesses, with a WFT tax a guaranteed non starter.
Fuel is high for:
Lease sale delays are for acreage even more goat pasturey than that not being drilled now., Pipeline refusals were for legitimate reasons. And to our point, none of these activities has anything to do with the current whines about fuel cost.
I summer on the Cal central coast, and loath paying $7+ for diesel. But there’s just as many roaring 3/4 and 1 ton oil burners towing 40′ toy haulers and generally tearing up Oceano dunes on weekends (most with Cal plates) as ever….
FJB, blob.
&FBOB!
Bob is rich. “Let them eat cake.”
In what way did Trump “embolden” Putin? And if it’s true, why did Putin wait until Trump was out of office?
Can’t expect Bob to do rational logic.
Big oily boob doesn’t need a rational explanation to spout Demonrat agitprop.
Like the rest of the Democrats and sociaists, Bob finds it impossible to believe that either he, or the people he follows (worships) can be wrong. Therefore is something goes wrong, they have to invent ever more fanciful reasons somebody else is at fault.
Even at the end of his second term, Obama was still blaming Bush.
Word salad Bob is in the house.
Kinda says it all. And all the obfuscation and BS you leftists pump out is not preventing the American people from seeing it and feeling it.
Excellent graphic.
Tony Heller has it on his site.
Now that’s a hockey stick!
+10!
Looks like the big drop was during Obama’s term. Flatlined under T****, with his Ben Dover ES&H enforcement, and with the heyday of OPM being wasted on unprofitable shale development. Then Biden, the worst of the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and the shale OPM’ers finally wising up.
You know you can actually add more than one annotation to a graph…
You’re an idiot, blob, but keep on yappin’, it is entertainment.
Mr. bigoilbrandon: “Looks like the big drop was during Obama’s term.” I wonder why dems don’t take credit for that?
Your comments indicate that you’d love to give Obama credit, but you have NO CLUE why oil price dropped back then (it’s OK, Obama had no clue either, and he went to Hahvahd). You’ve proven your abiding ignorance on the subject here many times. As in, every time you comment. Think of the upside- when you don’t comment, we don’t know that you are ignorant. Hint.
What you’re saying is that Biden can’t even do as well as Obama.
Trump hurt your feel’s Bob?
The meteoric rise is during Brandon’s and despite Brandon and his minions and the “press” lies, finger pointing etc,,,,, the American people know it’s not Putin, or “Big Oil” or anyone’s fault but the democrats and their policies.
Bob, much like Nick, specializes in changing the subject when behind.
Here some evidence that the American people know who is putting the screws to them:
“Pipeline refusals were for legitimate reasons.” BOB, please list them for us ignorant peons.
Folks, I let published experts take the easy ones.
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/what-keystone-pipeline
Now, I predict NO disputation of the facts. Just “Bbbbbuttt, t’s the NRDC!!”
If blob quotes it, it must be a watermelon-inspired lie.
About the expected level of data based documentation. I.e., the cloud yelling equivalent of the middle school “Hey, **** YOU man!!”
And once again, sorry about the lunch money. My dad found out and wupped me for it.
Hey blob, I remember when President Trump refused to cooperate with the incoming Biden Crime Family Syndicate, so they started trotting Dementia-Man out in that phony “Office of the President Elect” TV set.
It’s been all downhill since.
In little Bob’s world, only perfect projects are allowed to proceed.
bigoilbrandon: I’m sure your dad is a fair man and has let you back in the basement by now.
I tried to read it. What a load of far left wing propaganda and lies.
No wonder BugOilBoob goes for it.
About the only real complaint was that there might be leaks.
Well that is true for all pipelines, and pretty much everything else.
On the other hand we know for a fact that all other forms of oil transportation leak a lot more than pipelines do, so the claim that we have to kill this pipeline was never about leaks. It was always about killing oil.
Yes, everyone knows that transporting bulk fluids on fossil fueled wheeled transports is much safer and environmentally friendly than pumping them through a static pipeline! Right Bob?
“ this generation’s most monumental environmental victories.”
Killed it indeed 😉
That’s not an expert publication. That’s PR.
Bbbbbuttt, t’s the NRDC!!
First ever correct prediction for bigoilbrandon, thought I would make his day.
Well, not entirely correct, there are disputations of fact above. Oh, why spoil it!
“Well, not entirely correct, there are disputations of fact above. Oh, why spoil it!”
Spoil it. Please….
bigoilbrandon: Hey, your dad gave your internet privilege back, too? How nice for you.
The fact that pipelines are safer and environmentally better ways to transport oil are two facts listed above.
We are all grateful that you came back for more abuse.
“The fact that pipelines are safer and environmentally better ways to transport oil are two facts listed above.”
Not over territory owned by those who don’t want it.
Not with leaky pipes under lakes (Michigan).
But yes, if you must transport the dirtiest liquid fossil fuels in the world, I agree. Fortunately, we don’t have to enable this.
bigoilbrandon: So you agree that your NRDC article was rubbish! Wow, it only took two facts to bust you this time. I gave you a chance to leave before you were utterly taken down, but you just had to come back.
“So you agree that your NRDC article was rubbish!”
Where?
“Wow, it only took two facts to bust you this time.“
Which 2?
“I gave you a chance to leave before you were utterly taken down.“
Care to expand on how you “took me down”?
RUOK? Not rhetorical…
bigoilbrandon: I am fine, though being in your head is not really very rewarding. “But yes, if you must transport the dirtiest liquid fossil fuels in the world, I agree.” We must transport it, that is a fact. You agreed that pipeline is 1) safest; and 2) environmentally better. Is that what your friends at the NRDC said in the article you cited? No, they didn’t, did they. That is where you admitted it’s rubbish, while in the same stroke admitting the two facts. Expanding on your takedown unnecessary, which is good, ’cause I don’t waste words.
“A T**** emboldened klepto-dictator who started a full bodied European war.”
You’re talking about NATO and their puppet Zelensky, right ?
You’re not even trying to be subtle about your Putinic puppetry, are you? You should take lessons from the others who do it more cleverly.
bigoilbrandon: Is Putin’s oil worth more now, under your friend Biden’s regime, than it was under Trump?
The price of oil under Trump had Putin bent over an oil barrel, while Biden’s energy policies directly replenished Putin’s treasury. You think you know oil, but you are a chump.
“Is Putin’s oil worth more now, under your friend Biden’s regime, than it was under Trump?”
Yes. And per an earlier comment, when you have a T**** exacerbated pandemic and a T**** supported and emboldened klepto demagogue starting wars, it’s an unavoidable truth. Thank the Imaginary Guy In The Sky that Germany was as far along on renewables, or the situation would have been twice as bad.
“You think you know oil, but you are a chump.”
If I’m a “chump”, it’s from time that could have been spent better than with pig fighting here. But at least I can counter your antiknowledge of petroleum engineering/economics….
You can counter it? Because your knowledge of petroleum engineering/economics expressed here is “T**** exacerbated pandemic” “T**** supported” blah blah blah. Instead of showing any knowledge at all, you spout dem talking points (the most simple-minded talking points, I will add) when your superior knowledge should have cooked my goose, like, three comments ago. Counter away, chump.
A case of TDS so severe that the inflicted person (i.e. blob) cannot bring himself to type the letters T R U M P.
Seek professional help PDQ.
Can’t tell if you’re just a typical socialicommimarxifascist propagandist or just clueless. Seeing as they’re both pretty much the same I’ll leave it to you to choose 1.
Shell couldn’t find anyone dumb enough in the world to buy their long neglected Convent, La refinery (after a generation of selling dirty fuels to the east and southeastern U.S. by pipeline). It’s a tossup on which European oil major has been worse in the U.S.: BP, Shell, or Total.
Shell to close Louisiana oil refinery that employs hundreds – ABC News (go.com)
Shell plans to hang on to Louisiana refinery (hydrocarbonprocessing.com)
Beyond that, you have hostile actions in Washington state against any refineries or owners.
I don’t know. The Biden Administration is considering a ban on exporting US oil. Evidently they have no idea why we would be exporting it when we are a net importer (two reasons, not all oil is equal, and shipping costs). That would drive prices higher, topping the stupidity of ordering production increases that cannot be done.
Yep… The Dems are just as stupid regarding LNG exports.
A scientist is studying a flea.
He yells, “JUMP!
The flea jumps and the scientist measures and records the distance. 6 inches.
He pulls of a leg and again yells, “JUMP!” 5 inches.
One more leg, 4 inches.
Etc.
Pulls off the last leg, 0 inches.
The scientist concludes, “No legs left. Flea can’t hear.”
Obama’s “War on Coal” and Brandon’s “War on Fossil Fuels” has crippled the industry resulting in high gas prices and energy cost “skyrocketing”. (As Obama promised.)
And Joe says there’s something wrong with “the flea”.
Mr. Din: Great story, but we must keep quiet about it here in the US, or President Brandon will push through $40B for flea hearing aids.
Mr Din and Mr Courtney.
Great story and great rejoinder.
I’ll use that one…..
Joe is studying a flea.
He yells, “JUMP!
The flea jumps and Joe measures and records the distance. 6 inches.
He pulls of a leg and again yells, “JUMP!” 5 inches.
One more leg, 4 inches.
Etc.
Pulls off the last leg, 0 inches.
Then Joe concludes, “No legs left. Flea can’t hear.”
Obama’s “War on Coal” and Brandon’s “War on Fossil Fuels” has crippled the industry resulting in high gas prices and energy cost “skyrocketing”. (As Obama promised.)
And Joe says there’s something wrong with “the flea”!?!
Sorry for the almost double post.
I had moved on to the next post, came back and didn’t see it.
I thought I had made a mistake putting up the first one.
I made a few edits and put it up again.
I’ve read that parts of Japan are closer to Valdez, Alaska than are some California ports.
They may be thinking that by creating a short-lived glut in the domestic markets supplied out of the Gulf, they can suppress prices long enough to skate past the mid-term elections. However, doing so will commensurately increase prices in foreign markets, thereby increasing the pain for Northeast and West Coast consumers. Ironic that they would screw over their own voter base like this, but hey, maintaining political power is paramount.
Seeing how OPEC failed to meet it’s projected output the first quarter that isn’t looking too likely even if the Arabs wanted to help out. Which they don’t. Brandon has alienated them by allowing Iran to continue to develop nuclear weapons. Many of the Arab states are just as concerned about their fellow OPEC member, Iran, as Isriel is.
Yes, I don’t see any members of OPEC falling over themselves to rescue Brandon. As for Iran and the pursuit of nukes, they’re just following a well trodden path to inoculate themselves against being f’ed with by our Neo-Cons. Unfortunately, the latter group is not only running Brandon’s foreign policy, but is attempting to overthrow the government of a country that has a huge number of deliverable nukes.
Here is the more likely sort of way that the democrats will try to buy votes in November:
White House Solution to Gas Prices, Send Taxpayer Funded Gas Cards to Taxpayers Who Cannot Afford Gas – The Last Refuge (theconservativetreehouse.com)
But you see, for the most part, those too lazy to work, are too lazy to vote generally. And with the democrats huge losses in the Hispanic and Black demographics, I don’t see any way this is going to work for them.
There is always Dominion 😉
Yes. The question is have the Republicans set up to monitor it and the mules. Never mind, CA, WA, OR, etc. They are gone, done, toast! It’s the swing states where the efforts to make sure the fix cannot be set must concentrate and that makes it easier to allocate the assets to do so.
I’m sure they’ll attempt to make it ‘revenue neutral’ by invoking a windfall profits tax on the producers / refiners. This (and other) socialist nonsense will end either sooner when people come to their senses, as you mention above, or later following a complete economic collapse.
Stay safe.
What makes you think WUWT readers don’t think anything could get dumber? We have a nominal President who does not understand the limits of the Executive Branch.
I for one am convinced that not only will they inevitably get dumber, but they are actively trying to prove that they are insane.
And proud of it.
That’s why The Babylon Bee parody news site started Not The Bee, for real news that’s more insane than anything they could make up.
Being innumerate is a requirement to be either a green or a socialist.
True. They would be horror struck if anyone thought they were illiterate. On the other hand, being innumerate seems to be a badge of honor.
link
Yep. I know folks with four year degrees that can’t tell you what a linear equation is or what machine oil is. It’s remarkable that they are the same people who feel superior to those who do know, in great detail, what those things are.
Hey folks, if you have a four year degree in grievance studies, you’re probably also illiterate.
Illiterate, innumerate and quite probably completely ignorant to boot.
It’s a safe bet that at least half of what do they know, simply is not true.
Not Mark Twain.
Reagan said something similar.
Again: And proud of it.
‘Hey folks, if you have a four year degree in grievance studies, you’re probably also illiterate.’
Yes, but you can have a very rewarding career in government, academia, media, every NGO and the ‘human resource’ department of most major corporations.
“Longer term, government can promote investment through clear and consistent policy that supports U.S. resource development, such as regular and predictable lease sales, as well as streamlined regulatory approval and support for infrastructure such as pipelines.”
Ouch.
Yep. You can build all the refineries you want, but if there is no oil to refine, there is no need for refineries.
Problem solved!
Can’t you just imagine the pos potus whispering the punch line in his creepy creepster voice?
If the refineries are running practically full out now then don’t expect them to give their customers a break. If say just another 10 to 15% capacity was added on then there would be a bit of a price war.
Obviously by ‘running practically full out now’ they ARE trying to give their customers a break. What you should be worrying about are potential shut-downs due to deferred maintenance, and, of course, a heavy hurricane season in the Gulf.
What? You’re suggesting politicians and bureaucrats acknowledge basic, old style economics? By God, you don’t understand the post-modern world of government-designated omniscient experts in every field of endeavor. If government decrees it, it will happen as planned.
Those oil wells are powered by electricity, are they not? Well then just flip a switch and get them pumping again. Oh, the wind isn’t blowing today? Sorry. Maybe tomorrow.
Forget windmills.
Create a bunch of “Green new jobs” by hiring people to shine flashlights on the solar panels at night!
I seriously don’t know if there is a bottom for Biden’s cognitive problems and intellectual shortcomings. We may never find out if there is.
I still say there is no way he is actually running the country. Others behind the scenes are doing most or all of the decision-making.
That seems accurate. FJB in interviews or other live formats doesn’t seem capable of articulating a consistent and coherent position, which would be more aligned with the idea that he repeats something he’s been told or signs what he’s told to sign. Trump was at least consistent on things enough that you could tell it was either his idea or at least he remembered it.
Yes, but those mean Tweets…
/s
Well they hurt Big Oil and Simon’s feelings…so yes those are mean tweets.
Say what you will about his personality, at least President Trump had the intellect and stamina to shape his own policies and drive them through.
CD: “I still say there is no way he is actually running the country.”
So say you, and so say all of us.
Biden is also the perfect fall guy for all of the intentionally destructive policies that the puppet masters are ramming through. Their hands are clean. “It was Brandon wot dunnit, not us.” Suuuuure…
Absolutely correct. Brandon is disposable. They are getting rid of him, and with him, all the blame. That has always been the plan.
Look at all the talk amongst prominent Democrats about Biden’s various mental infirmities. They are finally starting to notice. (At least that’s their public position)
Shortly after January 2023 they will find a reason/excuse to show Biden the door, and the next puppet will take over.
Mr. L.: I let my mind wander every now and again. Imagine Hillary won in ’16, or by some device, she gets to replace Joe brandon today- Do you think these underlings who are running the show now would get away with it on her watch? and- here’s the zinger- you think they could get rid of her?
Midterms are coming up.
The elected Dems that supported him in all of this are distancing themselves from him.
It’s time to dispose of him and his Depends. They have a Kamal in the wings.
“This man cannot remain in power”
“This man cannot remain in power”
Where have I heard that before?
Maybe Putin and Biden can retire together to some remote location, where they can reminisce about how they almost managed to rule the world.
The Whitehouse is now a memory care unit.
Reality is surpassing virtue signaling.
Brandon must think the oil executives are as dumb as he is. Why would they invest in more
production now only to get shut down 5-10 yrs down the road?
https://www.climatedepot.com/2022/06/16/chevron-ceo-says-there-may-never-be-another-oil-refinery-built-in-the-us-the-stated-policy-of-u-s-govt-is-to-reduce-demand/
“we live in a world where the policy, the stated policy of the U.S. government is to reduce demand for the products that refiners produce”
“Why would they invest in more production now only to get shut down 5-10 yrs down the road?”
Very good question.
If the fossil fuel companies plan ahead and look 5-10 years down the road from now, they have very little incentive to invest more in fossil fuel production when they know the Democrats and the environmentalists plan to shut them down eventually. To invest more would make little sense.
But then, I am seeing quite a bit that makes little or no sense from the Biden admin on the climate change and energy fronts. If the voters keep the faith in the Democrats in the years and decades ahead, the fossil fuel industry might as well start winding things down now. Watch the fun really begin if and when they do because wind and solar aren’t going to cut it.
Ignorance is one of the prerequisites for self-destruction.
A hallmark of socialist linear thinking is a lack of appreciation for the iron rule of unintended consequences. In their grand march to Net Zippy the Leftists didn’t consider that investors and industries would react in such ways that would ruin the physical practicality and economics of “The Plan.”
Let’s Go Brandon is in the position of begging then threatening the very industries critical to functioning industrial and service economies. He and his handlers are delusional in thinking that the world will bend to their will. They (and sadly the rest of us) are going to suffer for their feckless Leftist political posturing.
Also at CD in Wisconsin.
What is this biz about 5-10 years. Brandon shut down all of:
1) all oil exploration on federal lands
2 all oil production on federal lands
3) all natural gas fracking on federal lands.
This was on Day 1 of his new administration.
Then he went further, issuing an executive order to all regulatory agencies to use “regulatory powers” to limit all other energy production.
Now he calls for greater output from the oil companies without having reversed any of his prior actions. Just a publicity stunt, and not a very good one.
Brandon doesn’t think or have anything to do with it, but the puppetmasters think that the public is dumb enough to fall for it. Sadly, they may be right.
I weep for my country. It is being run by a gang of idiots, incompetents, and ideologues.
As a huge fan of the Dude, I can’t believe that I just recently figured out the Walter Sobchak handle.
I can relate to Walter. My youngest daughter bought me a Covid mask. Its rectangular, OD green with black lettering saying: FRONT TOWARD ENEMY
😎
That is taken directly off the Claymore mine. A much more effective item for doing what it is designed to do than most masks.
Though advertised as “command detonated” All one needs is a 9V battery and a booby trap set up where by the electrical circuit can be completed by the targets own actions to make it remotely detonated.
Though quite effective standing alone it works even better if you place it so it is backed up by a sandbag or some other stout object like a tree or rock or even hard soil.
Relatively light, easy to use, and almost idiot proof.
Almost. I’ve used them and watched others misuse them. Always keep the clacker with you.
And some fools strapped a couple to 2X12s added on the side of the bed of a duce and a half. After one detonation and the write-off of a duce and a half they dropped the idea.
Oh! I forgot the mention that with det cord one can set them up in series to hit an area target such as a file formation of troops passing by.
Det cord is also useful in cutting down trees, with the number of wraps determined by the size of the tree trunk. Good times: “The mud, the blood and the beer.”
MY kids responded to one of my rants by quoting the movie:
I liked it. it stuck.
When accused of toxic masculinity I respond: No, I just have testy cals.
I prefer incompetence to this being part of a nasty, evil plan!
And I prefer incompetence to incontinence. FJB.
Who was it said, “Never ascribe to malice that which can be easily explained as incompetence”? A US sage, I believe…
Having suffered through the latter issue, I would agree with you Michael.
Why can’t it be both??
This is embarrassing.
Consider the three portraits in the picture at the head of this post.
I easily recognize the two internationally known people on the left and right ends.
So who is Mr. “Vacant Stare” in the middle? Does the name “Brandon” have anything to do with this?
Putin’s Price Hike — Nahhh – Putin out-smarts Brandon’s anti Frack twits. A comprehensive thrashing continues….
Yep! You wanna find well stocked shelves and reasonable prices at the Grocery store? Go to Russia! The even have plenty of Baby formula.
A REAL Russian Supermarket Tour! WITH PRICE CONVERSION – USD/EUR/GBP/CAD – Inside Russia Report – YouTube
Any chance that Joe will ask for oil from Canada?
Perhaps a pipeline from there to the US could fix the shortfall
/sarc
Haha
Biden’s just blaming the oil companies for his own policy failures.
Reminds me of stories about Hitler complaining about how the German people have let him down, while hiding in his Berlin bunker.
Exactly!
Didn’t old Joe make this a public policy point, during one of his his very few campaign tours? Responding to a young person who had concerns about the ‘future of the planet’ he went full public reveal.
“Look into my eyes, no more oil and gas, period”
Well, on day one he set about his promise. Blocking oil and gas exploration on federal lands and waters. He cancelled the approval of the under construction pipeline from Canada to the USA that would have increased crude supply by roughly one million barrels/day. He also made it clear he wanted to encourage more importation of oil, rather than allow domestic supply. He favoured oil supply from his political kindred totalitarian friends. Those being Venezuela, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia refused to engage. Instead, they produced a scathing cartoon of old Joe, believing it to be the only effective means they could use, to communicate with Joe at his cognitive level .
In a little more than four months, the nightmare Democrat politics destroying democratic authority in the USA will be over. Until then there is little more people can do but wait it out, The midterms will close the Biden lid. The voters have the power to stop this nonsense even if Biden doesn’t.
“This man cannot remain in power”
If he is removed, KamelToe Harris takes over.
Out of the frying pan, into the fire.
That is the only thing that makes Brandon marginally bearable.
At this point, which policy could Kamalama-dingdong pursue that is worse than what Brandon is already doing? Is there anything whatsoever on the communist agenda that Dementia Zhou isn’t all in on?
It might not be as dumb as one thinks. It’s an open secret that the left would like to have state control over the energy sector, as well as everywhere else by the way .. Emergency powers would make this possible while putting all the blame on the energy companies for the mistakes the Government made.
Bit like lowering the speed limit on major highways then blaming all the drivers for the bottlenecks .
Get upto speed Biden .
#exxonknows
And meanwhile:
Russian Oil Revenue Returns to Pre Sanction Levels in May
……the International Energy Agency (IEA) is reporting that despite the western sanctions against Russia, the Russian energy sector is having no trouble finding customers for its oil sales. With global oil prices at their highest rates in years, in part driven by the energy policy of the same western leaders who triggered the sanctions, Russia is getting just as much economic benefit as it was before the sanctions regime was triggered……….
Russian Oil Revenue Returns to Pre Sanction Levels in May – The Last Refuge (theconservativetreehouse.com)
About everybody but Brandon and his minions are talking recession. But as of yet, this truck driver has not seen its effects on the road or at the consignors and consignees.
Truck traffic and traffic in general is just as heavy as it has ever been. We are still short of drivers.
The shipments I haul on the various milk runs (A “milk run” is a regular run delivering and picking up at the same customers) have as much freight as usual.
On Tuesday this week I had a backhaul of dry car batteries out of Saint Joseph, MO that was 44,808 lb. which is the heaviest load I have pulled in quite some time.
I and many more feel the hammer descending upon our heads but as yet it has not struck except in higher fuel and utility prices. When it does though there is no doubt it will be a hard hit.
It apparently is hitting others now though:
There it is, Samsung Signal Flare, Demand Side Contraction, Inventories Too High, Request Suppliers Stall Shipments – The Last Refuge (theconservativetreehouse.com)
Isn’t Hunter Biden supposed to be the energy expert?
Yea, Brandon is going after all the energy experts but Hunter.
If not, he is still the smartest man FJB knows. He is such a great artist that his paintings sell for about $500,000 each. Want access to the Let’s Go Brandon cabal? Just buy one or two.
Biden tells the world fossil fuels will be finished in 5 – 10 years time.
Meanwhile, he tells ‘Big Oil’ to invest billions now so gas prices are low in 5 – 10 years time, whilst also announcing the death of ICE transportation in favour of EV’s.
I also understand Natural Gas home furnaces are to be fitted with a $350 adaptor to make them more efficient, but why would anyone do that when Natural Gas is to be dispensed with in 5 – 10 years time?
My conclusion is that the old fool sincerely believes that Americans will pay any price to ‘save the planet’ and is hoping to virtue signal his way to the mid terms and the 2024 election.
His Black and Hispanic vote is collapsing and nothing the Democrats do to discredit Trump is even denting his popularity.
The Dem’s are panicking.
You can only expect lies from a leftist regime. Their ideology is built on lies and lies are all they have.
The stack of Executive Orders he signed right after giving his acceptance speech included new EPA regulations that caused four more Gasoline Refineries to shut down. One is permeant in that it costs more than it is worth, or would be if fixed, or make the required changes – Owner went bankrupt and NO one wants to buy it even at the high gas prices. Sure, it is only 5% of the Gasoline but that is enough to significantly impact the cost of gasoline. Think about what happens to rush hour traffic when a foot ball game ends at rush hour. Same effect. Yet Biden says he did not cause the increase in the cost of gasoline, or the resulting inflation.
FJB is a liar.
It’s not a lie if you don’t know that you are lying.
George Constanza
I thought George said “if you believe it’s true”?
Another one of Brandon’s finest (p)residential moments, will be recorded in the annals:
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/06/biden-ceo-jo-ann-stores-sympathies-family-cfo-dropped-dead-unexpectedly-video/
This has nothing to do with more oil production. This is a political gesture designed to enable Biden to blame big oil and their profits for Biden’s own disastrous actions. If he really wanted more production, he’d change his own policies. He promised to “end fossil fuels”, and thus is him doing it.
That picture, I’m sure I’ve seen that guy before (OK, I know it’s actually Maduro.) Is it
this guy? OMG, Saddam Hussein is alive and living in Venezuela.
He is like a drunk in the middle of the street blaming the drivers for the traffic jam. Then telling them to drive on. That wouldn’t be safe in Vegas.
No one should take anything that serial liar and plagiarist Biden says seriously. He lies all the time.
Late to comments here because of other obligations yesterday. Good post.
As much as the present situation hurts many, I think there is a silver lining to a very dark cloud.
The election was stolen for Biden because the left could not stomach Trump’s successes. Biden set out do do what he and left had promised:
The results were predictable and happened rapidly. Borders overwhelmed with drug trafficking up. Energy inflation. Food inflation. Markets down hurting retirement saving. Fed reaction to inflation causing a looming recession.
The silver lining is the resulting red wave coming in November 2022. I foresee a Dem wipeout greater than 2010. And likely carryover to 2024. Biden is incapable of running, but says will try. The Dems have nobody else—Kamala and Mayor Pete?!?
Ergo, somebody representing MAGA will sit in the Oval Jan 20, 2025 and this nightmare will end.
The fact that Biden was the only candidate the Democrats were able to dig up in order to stop Biden absolutely beggars belief.
Prominent Democrats are already making noises about how Biden can’t run again in 2024. If he doesn’t, who will replace him? The only prominent Democrat with experience running for President and with a substantial coalition behind him is Sanders. If the Democrats pull the rug out from under Sanders for the third time in a row, what are the odds that the far left jumps ship for a new party? Say the Green Party? Or maybe form a new party, something like Social Democrats? Or maybe openly own their philosophy, the Communist Party.
In order to stop Sanders, not Biden. More coffee before posting.
Rud, a few things:
1) I prefer boarders to border-jumpers.
2) I’m afraid the MAGA brand is tarnished with regular folks (although I like it).
3) An old white-bread Republican against a photogenic Democrat like Newsome is problematic in 2024. A viable stable of Democratic contenders will emerge.
4) I’m convinced that Kamala and Pete won’t make it past the early primaries.
5) About the only nationally recognized charismatic Republican on the horizon is DeSantis. The media is already trying to destroy him and it will only get worse as 2024 approaches.
6) The enduring widespread animosity towards Donald Trump and media bias would militate against his rerun.
In the end, though, I have no idea what the future holds for our Republic. Buy gold and ammunition is my cynical advice.
Already got the ammo and agree with you on gold or even silver.
Don’t see viable democrat presidential candidates that you apparently do. It is obvious that they want Abrams to win in GA to be a potential. Fat black woman that she is.
Don’t agree that Trump is done either. But if DeSantis ran I suspect he would it would be a toss up between him and Trump. As for others? Keep an eye on this guy: Mark Robinson | Lieutenant Governor (nc.gov)
Great speaker.
The Pences and Haleys and other RINOS of this world are not going anywhere IMO. And that includes Nome btw. That is a great thing that MAGA has done that is not really recognized I think. Exposed the RINOS for who they are. I have based that judgement on the record of Trump endorsed candidates in the primaries so far.
One thing is for sure. It will be nice to not have a Cheney in office after this election.
Don’t see viable democrat presidential candidates that you apparently do.
I hear some loons floated Harris/Buttigeg last week – said they would “demolish” DeSantis
Who ever said I didn’t think Joe Brandon couldn’t get any dumber????
Eco-greenies terrorize Americans yet again.
Environmental groups sue Biden to block oil and gas drilling permits (cnbc.com)
I’m sure that the Biden administration actually supports this effort to block drilling permits.
The old sue-and-settle Leftist trick.
Almost 700 oil refineries as of January 2020, but as a result on continuous over regulations and permitting delays and the worldwide support of the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) to divest in fossil fuels, the right operating model and level of integration will be crucial for survival and sustained profitability of refineries. Consequently, one in five oil refineries are expected to cease operations over the next five years.
I wouldn’t bet on that. Reality will triumph over Leftist fantasies.
If Biden really wanted to ease inflationary pressure and fuel prices, he would close the border to illegals. There is a direct causative correlation between population growth and consumption. More people, more consumer demand.
Giggle @ crack spread …
So Biden says that Putin, the leader of a backwards second rate country mainly consisting of snow and drunks, can easily hurt the American people. Quite a roundabound way of resigning there Joe. ..
He really seems to believe that blaming others will save his skin. Politics doesn’t work that way: Voters think that the guy nominally in charge (even if he is blameless) is responsible for good or bad outcomes. Look at Covid and President Trump. What goes around comes around.
They have dusted off the guidebooks on Presidential jawboning from the Kennedy years.
I recall that when Jimmy Carter did it, there were Biblical references to “the jawbone of an ass”.
Seems to still fit the situation.
And now, as he was cutting out for more vacation time, “Joe Biden Says He is Unpopular Because Americans Are Mentally Unwell”:
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/06/joe-biden-says-unpopular-americans-mentally-unwell/
Calling Jimmy Carter. Send in the rapid rabbit or Billy Beer.
Brandon has the world’s largest “L” on his forehead.
The Demonrats need someone with youth and stamina. Time for Jimmy to finally make his comeback.
Almost like there’s a malaise out there, eh Brandon?
Biden is like the guy playing bridge who, with a full house of spades, bids ‘No Trumps’ – and can’t see where he went wrong.
This administration is acting like how North Korea does farming. Enforces rules and procedures that drastically reduce crop production, while demanding they increase production.
“We can’t plant rice that close together. It stunts the growth and less rice per paddy is produced.” “You WILL plant rice closer together! It’s the only way to grow more rice! How dumb can you be, stupid farmer.”
What’s worse is North Korea has been doing that same thing since the end of WW2. Those in charge firmly believe that their ideology and what they feel about things overcomes reality, despite 77 years of it being so obviously wrong.
Read “A River in Darkness: One Man’s Escape from North Korea” by Masaji Ishikawa. During and after WW2 many Japanese men had taken (often literally) Korean wives. They, their wives, and their children were treated badly by other Japanese. The North Korean communists came around, offering free housing, land, education etc in “Korea”. They didn’t bother to mention they were communists and the offer was a free boat ride to North Korea, the “free house” was usually a falling down shack and the “education” for their children was communist indoctrination. Masaji Ishikawa was a young boy then and was assigned to work on a rice plantation. when he began planting the rice the proper way he was told to place them closer together. When he said that was stupid, it would reduce production, every kid in Japan knows that, he was told to just follow orders and plant how he was told.
Eventually he was assigned a job driving a tractor. Finding his way from place to place was a problem because in NK all roads are military roads and everything military is Top Secret, so asking anyone “How do I get to this village?” might get one arrested for being a spy.
It took him 30 years to get out of North Korea, after having his first wife die (IIRC some of his children also died) and as of the time the book was written he didn’t know the fate of his second wife or any of his other family. The only reason China didn’t toss him right back across the Yalu River was because he was half Japanese and China was for some reason willing to send Japanese and half Japanese escapees from North Korea to Japan.
When the government takes 100% of the pitiful amount of rice their idiotic policies allow to be raised, and you’re forced to denuding the countryside of all grass and weeds to cook and eat, when you heard loud noises in the night from the shack next door, and the next morning the neighbors are gone and nobody acknowledges they were ever there, you’ll do anything it takes to get the heck out.
The jig is up stupid.
Calling all trolls to the barricades…..leave time is cancelled
Biden approval rating at 39% amid economic fears; 47% ‘strongly disapprove’: USA TODAY/Suffolk poll (yahoo.com)
The only thing I will disagree with in this post and with several posters here is that this is due to incompetence or stupidity.
Granted Brandon has never been the sharpest pencil in the box and on top of that is senile with his cognitive ability compromised considerably. But Brandon is the disposable puppet and the moves he makes are being controlled by others.
It is stupid, but it is planned and coordinated to achieve the results and ends the puppet masters desire.
Seems you could have a point-
‘Morally bankrupt’: Biden ‘humilitaed’ by Saudi Arabia and oil companies | The Weekly Times (weeklytimesnow.com.au)
Great post David, thanks.
Strikes me the gov’t is creating the fuel emergency and wants then to blame it on the fossil fuel producers in order to justify nationalizing them. If other gov’ts do the same multinational oil companies become the economic bedrock of the dream, the one-world-government.