(01-06-2026 03:00 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 02:30 PM)VA49er Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 12:40 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 12:38 PM)VA49er Wrote:  If this is "all about the oil" then why are millions of Venezuelans across the planet celebrating the removal of a dictator?

Go look up "not mutually exclusive."

Well, yeah, I thought that was a given. However, the left is only concentrating on orange man bad and completely ignoring the freedom that was just given to millions of Venezuelans. It's almost as if the left would have preferred the people of Venezuela continue to live under a ruthless dictator.

Exactly what have they been given freedom from? Who's currently running their government?

I would think you might want to wait a bit to spike the ball of "freedom" in a country with well over a decade of draconian rule.

Perhaps if anyone knew what the point of all this was...and what the detailed plan is for going forward...we could focus on that and debate that. Instead we're in chaos from an administration that can't message for ****.

Pay closer attention. Sub 80's arent going to get it

(01-06-2026 02:36 PM)TripleA Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 02:18 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 02:02 PM)TripleA Wrote:  As for US oil companies, Chevron is still there. Never left.

And do you know why?

From AI:

Quote:Chevron remains in Venezuela under a specific U.S. Treasury license, operating joint ventures with state oil company PDVSA to produce and export heavy crude, primarily to the U.S. Gulf Coast, allowing them to recoup debts owed by Venezuela while complying with sanctions by limiting cash flows to the government. They are currently managing oil exports, with plans for loading tankers, and are positioned to potentially expand production as the political situation evolves, focusing on asset integrity, employee safety, and supporting local communities.

They lost a ****-ton the first time around and remained to try and get back some of the money. They're basically just being paid back with oil.

Well no sh!t, Sherlock. Others can now likely do the same. Trump is reportedly meeting with them this week to discuss.

We're the ones who built up VZ's oil refining apparatus in the first place.

Do the same...go in...lose billions...and hang around hoping to be paid off in barrels of oil in a few decades.

And again, what is the rationale for your apparent insinuation that somehow Venezuela's oil resources are ours to do with as we please?

(01-06-2026 02:51 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 02:08 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 01:07 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 12:55 PM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  Keep in mind not all crude oil is the same.

From AI confirming my earlier understanding…

“Not all crude oil is the same, and Venezuela's oil is a prime example: it's heavy, dense, and sulfur-rich (sour), unlike lighter U.S. shale oil, making it difficult and expensive to process, requiring specialized refineries, but valuable for products like diesel and asphalt, with Gulf Coast refineries uniquely built for it. While Venezuela holds vast reserves, its heavy crude needs special handling, blending, or upgraders, and production has suffered from underinvestment, corruption, and sanctions, making it harder to extract and refine compared to lighter crudes. “

Key Differences in Venezuelan Crude:
Heavy & Viscous: It's thick like molasses, contrasting with lighter crudes that flow easily, as noted in this Yahoo Finance article.

High Sulfur (Sour): Contains high sulfur and metals, requiring more complex refining to meet environmental standards, says a Grist article.

Specialized Refining: Few refineries can process it efficiently; U.S. Gulf Coast facilities were designed for this type of heavy crude.

Why It Matters:
Production Challenges: Heavy crude requires more energy, diluents, and advanced tech to extract and transport.
Refinery Compatibility: Some U.S. refineries prefer it, while others struggle, making it a complex market, explains a Grist article.

Market Dynamics: Its unique properties make it less universally desirable than light sweet crude, affecting its price and demand, according to this Yahoo Finance article.

In essence, Venezuela's massive reserves are not "plug-and-play" oil; they are a specific, challenging type that requires tailored infrastructure and processes,

Heres an interesting fun fact. The US is not actually energy independent despite being an oil exporter. Why? Because most of US production is light sweet crude---and we actually NEED to mix that light sweet with some heavy crude in order to utilize much of our refinery base in order to produce the fuels used in inside the US. In other words---we cant produce all the fuels we need without using those gulf coast refineries that require heavier crude---and that requires the use of some imported heavier crude oil to mix with the lighter domestic crude.

Another fact, there's actually two definitions of "energy independent" Further, energy is NOT just oil.

But oil and gas is where it really counts. Oil and gas literally forms the basis of the entire economy---not just energy---but the byproducts from all the refining process---the petrochemicals, plastics precursors, and man made materials. As for green energy, every solar panel or windmill ever made required components that started life as crude oil or gas.

Perhaps, but when you calculate energy independence, you don't just count oil. The other sources account for probably around 20% or so.

I never said VZ's oil was ours, doofus. We were in there from the beginning building up their industry. We weren't stealing from them.

All I'm talking about is them returning to VZ to kick up its oil production, and obviously sharing the profits AS THEY GO with VZ. Profits VZ doesn't currently have b/c Chavez and Maduro literally ran the industry into the ground.

Initial estimates are they can have full production up and running in about 18 months.

And if they don't want to do it, BFD. VZ's new gov will just have to figure it out, and I'm sure they can learn with our help. We can get somebody in there to repair their infrastructure and start pumping a helluva lot more oil that they currently are, and share the profits. Maybe Chevron alone. Maybe Canadian oil companies if ours say no.

P.S. Did you have a bad weekend? If so, I'm sorry to hear that. You seem grumpier than normal today. :)

(01-06-2026 03:13 PM)TripleA Wrote:  I never said VZ's oil was ours, doofus. We were in there from the beginning building up their industry. We weren't stealing from them.

All I'm talking about is them returning to VZ to kick up its oil production, and obviously sharing the profits AS THEY GO with VZ. Profits VZ doesn't currently have b/c Chavez and Maduro literally ran the industry into the ground.

Initial estimates are they can have full production up and running in about 18 months.

And if they don't want to do it, BFD. VZ's new gov will just have to figure it out, and I'm sure they can learn with our help. We can get somebody in there to repair their infrastructure and start pumping a helluva lot more oil that they currently are, and share the profits. Maybe Chevron alone. Maybe Canadian oil companies if ours say no.

P.S. Did you have a bad weekend? If so, I'm sorry to hear that. You seem grumpier than normal today. :)

When is he ever not grumpy?

(01-06-2026 03:13 PM)TripleA Wrote:  I never said VZ's oil was ours, doofus. We were in there from the beginning building up their industry. We weren't stealing from them.

All I'm talking about is them returning to VZ to kick up its oil production, and obviously sharing the profits AS THEY GO with VZ. Profits VZ doesn't currently have b/c Chavez and Maduro literally ran the industry into the ground.

Initial estimates are they can have full production up and running in about 18 months.

And if they don't want to do it, BFD. VZ's new gov will just have to figure it out, and I'm sure they can learn with our help. We can get somebody in there to repair their infrastructure and start pumping a helluva lot more oil that they currently are, and share the profits. Maybe Chevron alone. Maybe Canadian oil companies if ours say no.

P.S. Did you have a bad weekend? If so, I'm sorry to hear that. You seem grumpier than normal today. :)

Don't you know? Trump did something Biden and Kamala only talked about doing. That really pisses him off.

Andy B.: When he thinks he's gotten one over us only for it to blow up in his face.

(01-06-2026 03:19 PM)GeminiCoog Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 03:13 PM)TripleA Wrote:  I never said VZ's oil was ours, doofus. We were in there from the beginning building up their industry. We weren't stealing from them.

All I'm talking about is them returning to VZ to kick up its oil production, and obviously sharing the profits AS THEY GO with VZ. Profits VZ doesn't currently have b/c Chavez and Maduro literally ran the industry into the ground.

Initial estimates are they can have full production up and running in about 18 months.

And if they don't want to do it, BFD. VZ's new gov will just have to figure it out, and I'm sure they can learn with our help. We can get somebody in there to repair their infrastructure and start pumping a helluva lot more oil that they currently are, and share the profits. Maybe Chevron alone. Maybe Canadian oil companies if ours say no.

P.S. Did you have a bad weekend? If so, I'm sorry to hear that. You seem grumpier than normal today. :)

Don't you know? Trump did something Biden and Kamala only talked about doing. That really pisses him off.

Andy B.: When he thinks he's gotten one over us only for it to blow up in his face.

He's always p***ed off, GC.

Very true, Andy B. Very true.

I haven't found a link to a video yet, but I just saw that according to CNN's polling analyst, 37% of Americans polled support the Maduro ouster by the fine men and women of our military where 38% are opposed to it. Support actually rose from 21%, which was the number they somehow had before the ouster this past Saturday.

(01-06-2026 03:25 PM)andybible1995 Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 03:19 PM)GeminiCoog Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 03:13 PM)TripleA Wrote:  I never said VZ's oil was ours, doofus. We were in there from the beginning building up their industry. We weren't stealing from them.

All I'm talking about is them returning to VZ to kick up its oil production, and obviously sharing the profits AS THEY GO with VZ. Profits VZ doesn't currently have b/c Chavez and Maduro literally ran the industry into the ground.

Initial estimates are they can have full production up and running in about 18 months.

And if they don't want to do it, BFD. VZ's new gov will just have to figure it out, and I'm sure they can learn with our help. We can get somebody in there to repair their infrastructure and start pumping a helluva lot more oil that they currently are, and share the profits. Maybe Chevron alone. Maybe Canadian oil companies if ours say no.

P.S. Did you have a bad weekend? If so, I'm sorry to hear that. You seem grumpier than normal today. :)

Don't you know? Trump did something Biden and Kamala only talked about doing. That really pisses him off.

Andy B.: When he thinks he's gotten one over us only for it to blow up in his face.

He's always p***ed off, GC.

Not during "buckle up" moments. That usually happens 48 hours later.

(01-06-2026 04:01 PM)Eagleaidaholic Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 03:25 PM)andybible1995 Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 03:19 PM)GeminiCoog Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 03:13 PM)TripleA Wrote:  I never said VZ's oil was ours, doofus. We were in there from the beginning building up their industry. We weren't stealing from them.

All I'm talking about is them returning to VZ to kick up its oil production, and obviously sharing the profits AS THEY GO with VZ. Profits VZ doesn't currently have b/c Chavez and Maduro literally ran the industry into the ground.

Initial estimates are they can have full production up and running in about 18 months.

And if they don't want to do it, BFD. VZ's new gov will just have to figure it out, and I'm sure they can learn with our help. We can get somebody in there to repair their infrastructure and start pumping a helluva lot more oil that they currently are, and share the profits. Maybe Chevron alone. Maybe Canadian oil companies if ours say no.

P.S. Did you have a bad weekend? If so, I'm sorry to hear that. You seem grumpier than normal today. :)

Don't you know? Trump did something Biden and Kamala only talked about doing. That really pisses him off.

Andy B.: When he thinks he's gotten one over us only for it to blow up in his face.

He's always p***ed off, GC.

Not during "buckle up" moments. That usually happens 48 hours later.

That's when he thinks he's gotten one over on us, only for it to blow up in his face later on.

Jon Stewart EXPOSES Mark Kelly’s BLATANT Hypocrisy — Urged Military to Defy Trump While Staying Silent on Obama’s Regime Killing American Citizens with Drone Strikes

Quote:Far-left comedian Jon Stewart openly confronted Democrat Senator Mark Kelly on The Daily Show, exposing the breathtaking hypocrisy at the core of today’s Democrat Party.

The controversy stems from a November 2025 video in which Kelly and five other Democratic lawmakers, all veterans or former intelligence officers, urged active-duty service members to refuse “illegal orders.”

The Pentagon, led by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and President Trump have characterized the video as “seditious.”

During the interview, Stewart pressed Kelly on whether recent U.S. military actions, including maritime strikes against drug-trafficking vessels, were actually illegal.

Kelly responded:

“It’s not complicated. If a reasonable person would think that this thing that they are asking me to do is illegal, you have an obligation. It’s not an option. You have an obligation not to follow those orders.”

But when Stewart asked the obvious follow-up, are these strikes actually illegal?, Kelly suddenly hedged.

Kelly admitted the government has a “complicated legal rationale,” reportedly spanning 40 pages, and conceded the legality is “questionable at best.”

He even acknowledged the ever-shifting justifications: fentanyl, cocaine, regime change, oil — whatever excuse fits the moment.

That is when Stewart delivered the devastating reality check.

Stewart reminded Kelly and the audience that under the Obama administration, the U.S. government carried out extrajudicial drone strikes that killed an American citizen, a fact that Democrats now desperately try to memory-hole.

Jon Stewart is highlighting the case of Anwar al-Awlaki (and his 16-year-old son, Abdulrahman al-Awlaki).

Stewart used this historical context to challenge the consistency of Senator Mark Kelly’s recent stance on military ethics and “illegal orders.”

Anwar al-Awlaki was an American-born Islamic cleric (born in New Mexico) who the Obama administration identified as a key recruiter for al-Qaeda.

In September 2011, President Obama authorized a drone strike in Yemen that killed Anwar al-Awlaki. This was the first time since the Civil War that the U.S. government intentionally targeted and killed an American citizen without a trial or formal charges.

Two weeks later, another drone strike killed his son, 16-year-old Abdulrahman al-Awlaki (also a U.S. citizen), while he was eating dinner at an outdoor restaurant. The administration later called his death a “mistake.”



Senator Kelly is currently urging the military to scrutinize and potentially defy “illegal orders” from the Trump administration (such as strikes on narcoterrorist boats or domestic deployments).

Stewart implied that when the Obama regime was setting the precedent for executing American citizens via “kill lists” without due process, there was no similar call for defiance or public outcry from the mainstream Democrat establishment.

One X user blasted the far-left and Kelly’s hypocrisy, stating, “When Obama vaporizes an American citizen without due process, they fabricate forty pages of bureaucratic cover to justify the execution. When Trump exercises lawful command, they incite mutiny. They do not defend the Constitution. They defend their monopoly on violence.”

Link

Wow. Jon Stewart did that?

I guess far-left comedians who host a fake (as in a parody of a) news show can also engage in random acts of journalism, too. Who knew?

(01-06-2026 04:21 PM)GeminiCoog Wrote:  Wow. Jon Stewart did that?

I guess far-left comedians who host a fake (as in a parody of a) news show can also engage in random acts of journalism, too. Who knew?

The reason I continue to come here to this forum is I find it entertaining. The reason I find it entertaining is to read all the dumb*** stuff the leftists say, and read their reasoning for it.

Sometimes, it's so bad that even the leftists call themselves out for it.

In Mark Kelly's case, whom I once admired for his service, I think he should be demoted.

(01-06-2026 03:06 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 02:51 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 02:08 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 01:07 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 12:55 PM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  Keep in mind not all crude oil is the same.

From AI confirming my earlier understanding…

“Not all crude oil is the same, and Venezuela's oil is a prime example: it's heavy, dense, and sulfur-rich (sour), unlike lighter U.S. shale oil, making it difficult and expensive to process, requiring specialized refineries, but valuable for products like diesel and asphalt, with Gulf Coast refineries uniquely built for it. While Venezuela holds vast reserves, its heavy crude needs special handling, blending, or upgraders, and production has suffered from underinvestment, corruption, and sanctions, making it harder to extract and refine compared to lighter crudes. “

Key Differences in Venezuelan Crude:
Heavy & Viscous: It's thick like molasses, contrasting with lighter crudes that flow easily, as noted in this Yahoo Finance article.

High Sulfur (Sour): Contains high sulfur and metals, requiring more complex refining to meet environmental standards, says a Grist article.

Specialized Refining: Few refineries can process it efficiently; U.S. Gulf Coast facilities were designed for this type of heavy crude.

Why It Matters:
Production Challenges: Heavy crude requires more energy, diluents, and advanced tech to extract and transport.
Refinery Compatibility: Some U.S. refineries prefer it, while others struggle, making it a complex market, explains a Grist article.

Market Dynamics: Its unique properties make it less universally desirable than light sweet crude, affecting its price and demand, according to this Yahoo Finance article.

In essence, Venezuela's massive reserves are not "plug-and-play" oil; they are a specific, challenging type that requires tailored infrastructure and processes,

Heres an interesting fun fact. The US is not actually energy independent despite being an oil exporter. Why? Because most of US production is light sweet crude---and we actually NEED to mix that light sweet with some heavy crude in order to utilize much of our refinery base in order to produce the fuels used in inside the US. In other words---we cant produce all the fuels we need without using those gulf coast refineries that require heavier crude---and that requires the use of some imported heavier crude oil to mix with the lighter domestic crude.

Another fact, there's actually two definitions of "energy independent" Further, energy is NOT just oil.

But oil and gas is where it really counts. Oil and gas literally forms the basis of the entire economy---not just energy---but the byproducts from all the refining process---the petrochemicals, plastics precursors, and man made materials. As for green energy, every solar panel or windmill ever made required components that started life as crude oil or gas.

Perhaps, but when you calculate energy independence, you don't just count oil. The other sources account for probably around 20% or so.

Prove it

(01-06-2026 04:32 PM)TripleA Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 04:21 PM)GeminiCoog Wrote:  Wow. Jon Stewart did that?

I guess far-left comedians who host a fake (as in a parody of a) news show can also engage in random acts of journalism, too. Who knew?

The reason I continue to come here to this forum is I find it entertaining. The reason I find it entertaining is to read all the dumb*** stuff the leftists say, and read their reasoning for it.

Sometimes, it's so bad that even the leftists call themselves out for it.

In Mark Kelly's case, whom I once admired for his service, I think he should be demoted.

I think he should be called back into action and dishonorably discharged, busting his rank down to petty officer.

(01-06-2026 03:13 PM)TripleA Wrote:  I never said VZ's oil was ours, doofus. We were in there from the beginning building up their industry. We weren't stealing from them.

All I'm talking about is them returning to VZ to kick up its oil production, and obviously sharing the profits AS THEY GO with VZ. Profits VZ doesn't currently have b/c Chavez and Maduro literally ran the industry into the ground.

Initial estimates are they can have full production up and running in about 18 months.

And if they don't want to do it, BFD. VZ's new gov will just have to figure it out, and I'm sure they can learn with our help. We can get somebody in there to repair their infrastructure and start pumping a helluva lot more oil that they currently are, and share the profits. Maybe Chevron alone. Maybe Canadian oil companies if ours say no.

You don't have the first ******* clue what you're talking about. For the love of God, STOP LISTENTING TO POLITICIANS ABOUT THE O&G INDUSTRY!!!

18 months...

The US oil industry is currently hemorrhaging jobs due to trumps incompetence. All their investments are tied up in Canada, which currently produces.

Where pray tell do you expect them to get the workers and money to achieve this 18 month Utopia...in a country with unstable infrastructure and a wildly uncertain government?

(01-06-2026 03:35 PM)CrimsonPhantom Wrote:  

Quoting for those who insist on ignoring the obvious.

(01-06-2026 05:31 PM)Redwingtom Wrote:  

(01-06-2026 03:13 PM)TripleA Wrote:  I never said VZ's oil was ours, doofus. We were in there from the beginning building up their industry. We weren't stealing from them.

All I'm talking about is them returning to VZ to kick up its oil production, and obviously sharing the profits AS THEY GO with VZ. Profits VZ doesn't currently have b/c Chavez and Maduro literally ran the industry into the ground.

Initial estimates are they can have full production up and running in about 18 months.

And if they don't want to do it, BFD. VZ's new gov will just have to figure it out, and I'm sure they can learn with our help. We can get somebody in there to repair their infrastructure and start pumping a helluva lot more oil that they currently are, and share the profits. Maybe Chevron alone. Maybe Canadian oil companies if ours say no.

You don't have the first ******* clue what you're talking about. For the love of God, STOP LISTENTING TO POLITICIANS ABOUT THE O&G INDUSTRY!!!

18 months...

And you obviously haven't learned a damn thing about me. I have no clue how long it will take (nor do you), and I didn't say I believed it. I simply reported exactly what they said, so we could discuss it.

You think you would remember that after I've said it about a dozen times. I disagree with Trump and the right every damn week on something. Hell, I'm not even a Republican.

I just sound like one for now, b/c your side has gone so far left they're over the cliff, and you willingly went with them.