Politics and Oil

Despite the fact that President Bush has been in the Middle East for several days now, I have been holding off comments waiting to see what he planned on saying to the oil powers there. Remember those fellows in the long, flowing robes with 55% of the world's crude oil reserves? With the price of oil over $90 per barrel, they have seen profits rise a staggering 35% in the last two years. They have common interests in listening to what our lame duck chief executive had to say, even if it pains them to hear it. Iran is the common enemy to our quality of life and security. Only Iran is considerably closer to them than to us. What the President was essentially saying is without vigilance and work to overcome Iran's master plan of sponsoring terror across the world, we all face a bleak future. With 10% of the known oil reserves still in play in Iraq, it is vitally important that the message is received. The real question is what to do? Iran's strength is in its wholescale numbers of committed fanatics or religious zealots. The problem is that potentially there are hundreds of thousands of homicide bombers who believe in their cause so greatly that they could take out much of the region's infrastructure with a concerted effort and a lapse of security on our parts.
Don't forget to vote: Please take time to express your favorite presidential candidate selection (at right). We have several weeks to go, but with the Michigan and South Carolina primaries just ahead, the field may tighten in a bit.
Inauguration Day: Today is inauguration day in Baton Rouge. Bobby Jindal (R) is the first Indian American (as opposed to Native American) to be elected to a governorship. He lost four years ago in a tight race with then-Lt. Governor Kathleen Blanco, was elected to Congress and, following Hurricane Katrina, tossed his hat into the ring once again. He is the youngest governor in the country and may be entertaining national aspirations in the future. Hmmmm.....