(01-06-2026 08:11 AM)ballantyneapp Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 08:08 AM)GeminiCoog Wrote:  From the article ballgargle posted, trying to be a gotcha man: Big oil firms will either "get reimbursed by us or through revenue," Trump told NBC News in an exclusive interview. Heck, even the headline says "may" and not "will" as ballgargle alleges.

If you're gonna post something, at least know what it's actually saying and get it right in your summary. Otherwise, just don't post it at all.

Sure GC. Wanna take a bet on how it turns out?

Think it will be worse than Minnesota? You should be thankful that the Venezuela raid is taking attention away from that cesspool of corruption.

(01-06-2026 08:22 AM)TigerBlue4Ever Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 08:00 AM)stinkfist Wrote:  

Quote:2026 is shaping up to be a watershed moment for exposing entrenched corruption.
Hugo Carvajal's explosive letter from December 2025, penned from a U.S. federal prison, pulls back the curtain on Maduro's regime as a deliberate "narco-terrorist organization" weaponizing drugs against America, flooding our streets with fentanyl and cocaine while embedding operatives amid border chaos.

As Venezuela's former intelligence chief, Carvajal witnessed firsthand how Chavez and Maduro turned PDVSA oil funds into slush money for influencing foreign leaders and undermining U.S. security allegations that echo longstanding concerns about Venezuelan espionage and potential meddling in democratic processes.

With Maduro now captured and facing narco terrorism charges in a New York courtroom pleading not guilty while defiantly claiming he's "still president" the floodgates could open.

His indictment details two decades of collaboration with cartels like the Cartel of the Suns, and Carvajal's cooperation, post his June 2025 guilty plea, hints at deeper revelations about regime ties to U.S. figures.

Remember Smartmatic's Venezuelan origins fueled credible questions about election integrity in 2020, with software vulnerabilities and regime links that Powell and others rightly spotlighted.

Recent DOJ probes into those claims, amid Smartmatic executives' indictments for overseas bribes, suggest the Kraken isn't just myth it's surfacing.

If Carvajal's assertions about regime payoffs to unnamed U.S. officials hold water, we're looking at a betrayal that has cost hundreds of thousands of American lives through overdoses and weakened our sovereignty.
Trump's decisive action in ousting Maduro normalizes accountability for foreign adversaries, paving the way for full transparency.

This isn't just about one regime it's about reclaiming America's future from shadow influences. Justice is coming.

I hope I'm around to see it. Hell, I wish I could participate in it. If I were 40 years younger with the same mindset I have now, I'd enlist today. I hope it doesn't get to the point where we are forcing 70 year olds into action, but set me down somewhere, and I can still shoot!

Hell, I will be 80 next year, and I can still shoot, too. Without glasses, even.

Ruben Gallegos being on that list should come as no surprise. He was literally the first person to come out all butthurt over the raid.

His dad is a convicted drug trafficker.

(01-05-2026 09:28 PM)TripleA Wrote:  

(01-05-2026 09:18 PM)hburg Wrote:  Apparently Venezuela government used anti-aircraft missiles to target drones. Also, the government there is arresting anti-Maduro protesters and journalists.

Yep, I saw that, too. They better cut that out and abandon their old ways. Like, ricky tick.

So apprently DJT doesn't have control of her?

(01-06-2026 09:31 AM)mlb Wrote:  

(01-05-2026 09:28 PM)TripleA Wrote:  

(01-05-2026 09:18 PM)hburg Wrote:  Apparently Venezuela government used anti-aircraft missiles to target drones. Also, the government there is arresting anti-Maduro protesters and journalists.

Yep, I saw that, too. They better cut that out and abandon their old ways. Like, ricky tick.

So apprently DJT doesn't have control of her?

What does one have to do with the other?

(01-06-2026 09:33 AM)BartlettTigerFan Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 09:31 AM)mlb Wrote:  

(01-05-2026 09:28 PM)TripleA Wrote:  

(01-05-2026 09:18 PM)hburg Wrote:  Apparently Venezuela government used anti-aircraft missiles to target drones. Also, the government there is arresting anti-Maduro protesters and journalists.

Yep, I saw that, too. They better cut that out and abandon their old ways. Like, ricky tick.

So apprently DJT doesn't have control of her?

What does one have to do with the other?

I asked who had claws into her and was controling what she does. I was told Donald J. Trump. Her actions don't appear to necessarily be in the United States' best interest. I'm being open minded here and watching, I'm just not sold this is the genius idea that some people here believe.

(01-06-2026 09:36 AM)mlb Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 09:33 AM)BartlettTigerFan Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 09:31 AM)mlb Wrote:  

(01-05-2026 09:28 PM)TripleA Wrote:  

(01-05-2026 09:18 PM)hburg Wrote:  Apparently Venezuela government used anti-aircraft missiles to target drones. Also, the government there is arresting anti-Maduro protesters and journalists.

Yep, I saw that, too. They better cut that out and abandon their old ways. Like, ricky tick.

So apprently DJT doesn't have control of her?

What does one have to do with the other?

I asked who had claws into her and was controling what she does. I was told Donald J. Trump. Her actions don't appear to necessarily be in the United States' best interest. I'm being open minded here and watching, I'm just not sold this is the genius idea that some people here believe.

Sure, open mind. Was your mind open when you warned us about the transportation sector shutting down last year?

Just a reminder that we are closing in on Dow $50K and S&P $7000. Not sure why you are trying to hedge against DJT. Hell, at this point, I would say Greenland is all but ours.

(01-06-2026 09:40 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  Sure, open mind. Was your mind open when you warned us about the transportation sector shutting down last year?

Just a reminder that we are closing in on Dow $50K and S&P $7000.

Yes. And again, since you like to misquote me, I said long haul trucking companies had begun to shut down because the ports on the west coast were empty... I said within a couple weeks you'd see major layoffs *IF* we didn't fix the China tariff situation. Trump reversed course a couple days later and dropped the tariffs for 90 days. He has continually delayed the tariffs with China over the last 9 months because he saw the disaster ready to unfold. But you be you.

And yes, my 401K is loving the market at the moment.

Since we know now this is ONLY about the oil, I'll leave this right here. For when someone claims VZ has the highest crude oil reserves of any country on Earth.

https://x.com/RARohde/status/2007738396639465774

And before you ask, yes, Maduro took power in April of 2013. What a "shocking" coincidence.

(01-06-2026 09:43 AM)mlb Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 09:40 AM)UofMstateU Wrote:  Sure, open mind. Was your mind open when you warned us about the transportation sector shutting down last year?

Just a reminder that we are closing in on Dow $50K and S&P $7000.

Yes. And again, since you like to misquote me, I said long haul trucking companies had begun to shut down because the ports on the west coast were empty... I said within a couple weeks you'd see major layoffs *IF* we didn't fix the China tariff situation. Trump reversed course a couple days later and dropped the tariffs for 90 days. He has continually delayed the tariffs with China over the last 9 months because he saw the disaster ready to unfold. But you be you.

And yes, my 401K is loving the market at the moment.

Shh, you can’t use logic to fight stupidity.

And some more information from that guy nobody knows....

Quote:Following the decision by the United States to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, who has governed the country for the past decade, U.S. President donald trump is now urging American oil companies to return to Venezuela’s productive oilfields.

However, American oil executives may be reluctant to comply. The oil and gas industry today is vastly different from how it was during Venezuela’s peak production years in decades past. Approximately 30 years ago, this region was a leading force in global oil and gas production, yielding 3.5 million barrels per day of heavy sour crude from the Orinoco Oil Belt, home to the largest heavy oil reserves in the world.

Currently, capital discipline is paramount. Financial decisions are now primarily driven by Wall Street rather than private investors and independent oilmen, fundamentally altering the industry’s dynamics. And those risk-averse stakeholders are wary of investing in operations where security may be uncertain and political instability seems likely for months, if not years, to come.

Exxon CEO Darren Woods released a public statement that Exxon would look at opportunities in Venezuela, but would be cautious due to assets being expropriated in the past. Likewise, a spokesperson for Conoco Phillips, Dennis Nuss, took a different approach, releasing a press statement that it would be premature to speculate on any future business activities or investments.

Over time, as production decreased, the infrastructure supporting the oilfields similarly deteriorated. The corrosive properties of heavy sour oil undermined the structural integrity of surface equipment. Much of it eventually became nonfunctional. During this period, international oil companies identified a viable alternative: the Canadian oil sands. Elevated oil prices in 2003 initiated substantial capital investments in Canada’s heavy oil projects, a trend that persisted for more than a decade. Within a relatively short span, Canada emerged as the primary global producer of heavy oil, while Venezuela’s role in the sector diminished considerably.

The principal investors in Canada’s oil sands were companies that withdrew from Venezuela, including Exxon, Conoco Phillips, Petro-Canada, BP, and Shell. The proposition that these firms, having exited Venezuela after incurring substantial losses in an unstable environment, would re-enter the Latin American region to compete with their Canadian operations is not plausible.

Why Big Oil Is Unlikely To Run Back To Venezuela

We know. "The sky is falling!". And Lesley Stahl had better intelligence regarding the Hunter Laptop than the POTUS to say, "There is no evidence the laptop is real". Over 10 years and still haven't figured out your "News" is just propaganda. Five years ago the Democrats were screaming from the rooftops that Trump was weak because he hadn't removed Maduro and now the complete opposite.

(01-05-2026 12:06 PM)mlb Wrote:  Late to the game here, but I have no issues with removing that despicable man. I do, however, worry that we've just created a power vacuum in that country that will allow another tyrant to take over. The VP is illegimate but now in power, but who has their claws into her?

So in your wise thinking you would still have Maduro as prexy as long as the status quo remained? It seems to me that your idea is to just let the Venezuelans suffer more so that there aren't any more Maduros.

As for the present president Delcy she will remain UNTIL her replacement is elected or sworn in because there was already an election and Maduro lost thus making his next in line null and void. ALL the people who were in their positions should be fired in the coming months, not immediately, just let them think they're secure in their jobs and when an alternative is positioned then that person can fire him because at that point the new guy/gal will hold the reins of the people under him/her, but not until then. The military for instance will hold allegiance to the new leader and not before he/she is installed. It's a delicate procedure and has to be thought of well.

(01-06-2026 10:44 AM)olliebaba Wrote:  

(01-05-2026 12:06 PM)mlb Wrote:  Late to the game here, but I have no issues with removing that despicable man. I do, however, worry that we've just created a power vacuum in that country that will allow another tyrant to take over. The VP is illegimate but now in power, but who has their claws into her?

So in your wise thinking you would still have Maduro as prexy as long as the status quo remained? It seems to me that your idea is to just let the Venezuelans suffer more so that there aren't any more Maduros.

As for the present president Delcy she will remain UNTIL her replacement is elected or sworn in because there was already an election and Maduro lost thus making his next in line null and void. ALL the people who were in their positions should be fired in the coming months, not immediately, just let them think they're secure in their jobs and when an alternative is positioned then that person can fire him because at that point the new guy/gal will hold the reins of the people under him/her, but not until then. The military for instance will hold allegiance to the new leader and not before he/she is installed. It's a delicate procedure and has to be thought of well.

There are countries all over the world where their citizens suffer. Are you now advocating for the US to play global policeman for them all?

Or just the ones close to us...who may have some oil or other resources we can pilfer along the way?

(01-06-2026 10:44 AM)olliebaba Wrote:  

(01-05-2026 12:06 PM)mlb Wrote:  Late to the game here, but I have no issues with removing that despicable man. I do, however, worry that we've just created a power vacuum in that country that will allow another tyrant to take over. The VP is illegimate but now in power, but who has their claws into her?

So in your wise thinking you would still have Maduro as prexy as long as the status quo remained? It seems to me that your idea is to just let the Venezuelans suffer more so that there aren't any more Maduros.

As for the present president Delcy she will remain UNTIL her replacement is elected or sworn in because there was already an election and Maduro lost thus making his next in line null and void. ALL the people who were in their positions should be fired in the coming months, not immediately, just let them think they're secure in their jobs and when an alternative is positioned then that person can fire him because at that point the new guy/gal will hold the reins of the people under him/her, but not until then. The military for instance will hold allegiance to the new leader and not before he/she is installed. It's a delicate procedure and has to be thought of well.

The military WAS bought and paid for by the Maduro regime and officers etc. in the military HAD their fingers in both the oil and narco businesses. That gravy train is over. The money has stopped. Nobody is going to get paid anymore. Things will change very quickly once the checks start bouncing.

(01-05-2026 05:34 PM)TripleA Wrote:  Dang it, I miss the narco-boat strikes.

Trump just saved a bunch of sailors lives by ousting Maduro, they should thank Trump.

(01-06-2026 10:24 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  Since we know now this is ONLY about the oil, I'll leave this right here. For when someone claims VZ has the highest crude oil reserves of any country on Earth.

https://x.com/RARohde/status/2007738396639465774

And before you ask, yes, Maduro took power in April of 2013. What a "shocking" coincidence.

This claim has been repeated a number of times within the past 10+ years. NOW people will finally push back against this? Not a good look for the guys who are trying to make the claim that Venezuela overstated their reserves when they were allowed to get away with it for a decade at a minimum...

(01-06-2026 10:53 AM)miko33 Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 10:24 AM)Redwingtom Wrote:  Since we know now this is ONLY about the oil, I'll leave this right here. For when someone claims VZ has the highest crude oil reserves of any country on Earth.

https://x.com/RARohde/status/2007738396639465774

And before you ask, yes, Maduro took power in April of 2013. What a "shocking" coincidence.

This claim has been repeated a number of times within the past 10+ years. NOW people will finally push back against this? Not a good look for the guys who are trying to make the claim that Venezuela overstated their reserves when they were allowed to get away with it for a decade at a minimum...

He doesn't care, miko. To him and every other leftist, it's all about making Trump look bad.

(01-06-2026 10:44 AM)olliebaba Wrote:  So in your wise thinking you would still have Maduro as prexy as long as the status quo remained? It seems to me that your idea is to just let the Venezuelans suffer more so that there aren't any more Maduros.

As for the present president Delcy she will remain UNTIL her replacement is elected or sworn in because there was already an election and Maduro lost thus making his next in line null and void. ALL the people who were in their positions should be fired in the coming months, not immediately, just let them think they're secure in their jobs and when an alternative is positioned then that person can fire him because at that point the new guy/gal will hold the reins of the people under him/her, but not until then. The military for instance will hold allegiance to the new leader and not before he/she is installed. It's a delicate procedure and has to be thought of well.

Uhh... no. If I were to would go in and remove the head of state, I'd actually run the country. I would not put in a "proxy" that was aligned to the previous head of state hours before. Have our military actually run the elections, then I'd get out after the new president took over and had firm control of the government and the military.

We clearly didn't want to do that, nor did we want to destroy their military. I'm just not positive that removing a head of state, legitimate or not, and allowing a power vacuum is a wise decision. We already know that the cartels have power down there, and I'm afraid we're going to create a war between them that causes even more misery for the people of that country.

Commie Toms parents must have paid his wifi bill.

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