Month: June 2022

The Supreme Court announced two major decisions. One you already knew about last month. (When will they identify the law clerk who illegally leaked the draft?) The other decision allows a law-abiding citizen to carry a gun, even in New York, in accordance with the 2^nd Amendment.

(I had written a couple of lines here about Roe v. Wade which I thought were funny. But my editor made me abort ‘em.)

President Biden invited the CEOs of the big oil companies to the White House to discuss gasoline and diesel prices. When they showed up, he disappeared. He decided the best way to reduce the price of gas was to meet instead with the offshore wind turbine builders.

So, those folks from Exxon, Chevron, Phillips 66 and other oil companies were left with Energy Secretary Granholm. I hope she took notes. They told her the U.S. can refine 18 million barrels of oil per day, which is a million less than 3 years ago. If the Biden Administration would listen, those CEOs could explain where the best locations are for drilling and what pipelines need to be approved. Smaller companies need to borrow money to explore and drill, and the Biden Administration is discouraging banks from loaning to them. With more oil, prices could drop to around $70/barrel. That would reduce the gasoline price about $2.00/gallon. Not the measly 18 cents/gal Federal tax the President proposed to cancel for 3 months.

Do you remember when John Kerry was appointed “Energy Czar?” He took on the self-described task of eliminating all use of fossil fuel around the world. You may have assumed he had an office with a couple of assistants, plus an airplane and crew, and a budget of about $2 million. Well, hang onto your hat; he is requesting $16.5 million. Wow. He probably wants $10 million just for jet fuel.

If Kerry really wants to make an impact on global warming, he needs to park the jet, hitch-hike to Los Angeles, get on a container ship to China, and persuade the Communist leaders to give up fossil fuels. Then take a bus to India and convince those leaders to do the same. Now that would be an accomplishment we would all support. With luck, he might get back in time to vote in 2024.

Since we know Kerry won’t concentrate on China and India, a Texas Congressman wants to fire him and eliminate his entire staff. That may not affect the price of gasoline, but grounding his private jet would reduce global warming more than eliminating all the belching cows.

Historic quotes by Will Rogers:

  “I will tell you what is the matter with California: it’s modesty, too much modesty… Take the case of oil. You all know we struck oil here in southern California. But did you let anybody else know it?” WA #47, Nov. 4, 1923

The new boss at CNN asked his employees to stop referring to the “Big Lie.” While it used to refer to President Trump’s claim that the 2020 election was rigged, TV viewers now are confused.

Does the “Big Lie” refer to “Inflation is Transitory?” Or “Our border is closed?” Or “$5.00 gasoline is Putin’s fault?”

President Biden and Energy Secretary Granholm consider some information from the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Energy Information Agency as the biggest lie of all. This agency does independent statistics and analysis. It projects that by 2050 our consumption of oil and natural gas will INCREASE.

Yes, oil and natural gas will continue to be our two biggest sources of energy through at least 2050. Solar and wind production will increase rapidly to become a distant third ranked source. I’m guessing all of this extra solar and wind energy will be required for electric vehicles. I doubt many big farm tractors and combines that sometimes operate around the clock will switch to electric. Can you picture a big diesel-powered generator on a truck driving beside the equipment to “charge-on-the-go?”

As a candidate in 2019 and 2020, Joe Biden consistently promised to “end fossil fuels.” Somehow, Americans who voted for him missed that commitment or didn’t realize his policy decisions would lead to record prices for gasoline and diesel and everything that depends on those fuels.

Do you remember last September when Border Patrol agents on horseback were falsely accused by President Biden and Congress members of whipping Haitian immigrants? Within two days everyone knew they were doing their jobs: keeping people from illegally entering the US. Now these innocent men are being accused of “administrative violations.” What violations? Did they feed their horses more oats, sugar cubes, and apples than allowed by Federal nutrition standards? Or were they singing like Toby Keith* about evil forces while giving their horses Lone Star beer after-hours? Okay, that’s silly. If anyone should be accused (and convicted) of administrative violations it’s their boss, Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas. He is allowing 2,000,000 illegal immigrants per year, plus “got-aways” that definitely include drug dealers, sex traffickers and terrorists.

Inflation is the top concern today, running over 8%, with no end in sight. An ABC journalist said that except for inflation, the nation has moved forward under Biden. Gerry Baker of the Wall Street Journal at Large replied, “That’s like saying if it hadn’t been for the intervention of John Wilkes Booth, Mr. Lincoln’s visit to Ford Theater that night would have been a great success.”

So, how do you plan for Inflation? Do you load up on goods today because they will cost more next week? Maybe follow this investment advice from Will Rogers: (paraphrased) “Buy land, because they aren’t making any more of it.” But land prices have skyrocketed too. A friend had a tentative agreement to buy a farm for $10,000 per acre. But before he could finish writing the check, another person paid $13,000. This is a 23% jump. But it is not uncommon for top farmland to have increased 20% since last year.

On a lighter note, the Capitol suffered another illegal incursion. Seven people from the CBS Stephen Colbert Late Show were first denied entry. But they were later sneaked into the Longworth office building by a Democrat staff member and allowed to wander the halls. Much like the vast majority of those arrested for the January 6 incursion, they are armed only with cameras. Late at night they were knocking on doors of Congressmen, including Jim Jordan and Kevin McCarthy. You may know that a few Congressmen stay in their offices and sleep on a cot. If one of those Congressmen had opened the door in his pajamas, now that would be funny. Maybe funny enough to get me to watch Colbert on Monday night instead of Gutfeld!.

It’s Father’s Day. To all the children, I hope you were generous but spent no more on presents than your dad could afford. In a Mother’s Day tribute on radio in 1935, Will Rogers added this, “Father had a day, but you can’t find anybody who remembers when it was…  It’s been so confused with April the first.”

Historic quotes by Will Rogers:

“I see a committee that was investigating the high cost of living, turned in their report: We find the cost of living very high and we recommend more funds to carry on the investigation.” Notes, undated

“Last year we said: ‘Things can’t go on like this!’ and they didn’t. They got worse.” Jan. 11, 1930

Various investigations are dominating Washington and the news media. But the rest of the country has a different idea of what’s important: a solution to health insurance; changes to regulations and tax policy to improve the economy for working folks; and commitments to speed up construction and maintenance of highways, bridges, and pipelines.

Did you watch the “Show” on Thursday? If so, you probably got a fair idea of the main issues. Whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, the comments gave you something to feel good about, and probably some serious concerns. Watching commentators discuss the testimony on multiple news channels after that hearing reminds me of the descriptions by two blind men who approached an elephant from opposite ends.

These two paragraphs sound like I wrote them today. But I copied them from Weekly Comments written June 12, 2017. Yes, five years ago when FBI Director James Comey testifyed to a Congressional committee. He revealed that President Trump was not being investigated, and that former Attorney General Loretta Lynch ought to be.

The “Show” in June 2022 is the House Select Committee investigating the January 6, 2020, invasion of the Capitol, led by the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers. (Were there any other leaders?) They broke through the “bike rack barrier” while President Trump was still speaking at his rally and by about 3:00 p.m. they broke into the Senate and House.

Those riot leaders and about 2000 Trump followers were cleared out of the Capitol by 7:00 p.m., ending the purported threat to Democracy. Within a couple of hours both the Senate and House were back in session and certified the election of Joe Biden. Total damage was $1.5 million, as estimated by the Capitol Architect. None of the statues in the Rotunda was damaged, including the one of Will Rogers positioned at the main entrance to the House so he “could keep an eye on Congress.”

More than 20 million people watched Thursday night. Most of the other 300 million Americans are likely more concerned about paying $5 a gallon for gasoline and record prices at the grocery store. They may remember that the Senate had already investigated the January 6 riot and made several recommendations to upgrade security of the Capitol.

Meanwhile, a California man flew to Washington to murder Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Let’s be glad the FBI was there to protect him. This may be news to several folks because most media are ignoring it. And a radical group that named themselves after former Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg published addresses of the Justices and is protesting in front of Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s house. By the way, protesting at the home of a Supreme Court Justice is against Federal law.

Do you remember Senator Chuck Schumer’s tirade? He said, “Kavanaugh, you have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you.” Is that incitement?

Historic quotes by Will Rogers:

“All we got to do in this country to find out something is wrong is just to investigate it.” DT #1577, Aug. 12, 1931

“There is two places where what a person says should not be held against ‘em in a court of law. One is at a dinner, and the other is on the witness stand of a Washington investigation.” DT #2405, Apr. 18, 1934

“From the record of all our previous investigations it just looks like nobody can emerge with their nose entirely clean. I don’t care who you are, you just can’t reach middle life without having done and said a whole lot of foolish things.” DT #2620, Dec. 28, 1934

Excuse me for being a day or two late. You probably know England held a big celebration for Queen Elizabeth this weekend. While she was enjoying a Platinum Jubilee in London for serving 70 years, I was in Ireland.

This “Ireland” is in the middle of West Virginia and is a suburb of Wildcat, where I attended a wonderful family reunion on Sunday. It is held every year on the first Sunday in June and includes decorating graves in the cemetery on the family farm. This tradition probably started before Elizabeth became a Queen.

Family get-togethers for a picnic are a great idea. Or for weddings, or graduations. It’s much better than only doing it for funerals.

High gasoline prices may reduce the enthusiasm for family trips. Interestingly, I filled up at a Wal-Mart in West Virginia for $4.50 a gallon. Got back to Ohio and the price is $5.10.

The Biden Administration was asked what they are doing about high gasoline and diesel prices. The answer: “We eliminated the tariff on solar panels from China.” Also, President Biden will try to increase the supply of crude oil by going to Saudi Arabia. Wouldn’t it make more sense to go to Alaska or Texas?

Even if oil companies were encouraged to drill more wells here, how long would it take to get the pipelines installed to transport the oil to a refinery?

As you contemplate that answer, suppose you wanted to build a 24-inch petroleum pipeline from East Texas to New Jersey. And install a 20-inch pipeline parallel to it. The pipelines would cross the Mississippi River into southern Illinois then run east through Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania. How long would that take to construct? With all the red tape, maybe 20 years. Well, 80 years ago, during World War II, the “Big Inch” and “Little Big Inch” were finished and had oil and gasoline flowing in 20 months. (Google “Big Inch Pipeline” to learn the amazing details.)

Speaking of World War II, on D-Day, June 6, 1944, 156,000 Allied troops, including 73,000 Americans, landed on Normandy beaches. Today, it is hard to imagine organizing such a huge operation to attack an enemy.

Speaker Pelosi is presenting a televised extravaganza Thursday night about the January 6, 2020 five-hour incursion into the Capitol. This will replace all the network programs you enjoy watching. She is hoping this serves as a pilot for a series televised every Thursday until November. House committee members will ask questions, mainly of officials in the Trump Administration.

What they should do is pose the first question to Speaker Pelosi: “If you had called up the 20,000 National Guard troops offered by President Trump on January 4 to surround the Capitol Building, do you believe any protesters would have gotten into the Capitol on January 6?”

They won’t ask her because that would end the entire extravaganza in 5 minutes. All the TV commentators would have to fill the rest of the night talking about inflation, fuel prices, food costs, baby formula, crime in big cities, aid to Ukraine, and abortion… topics Americans are interested in today.

Historic quotes by Will Rogers:

“If you want to know when a war is coming just watch the United States and see when they start cutting down on their defense. It’s the surest barometer in the world.” DT #2116, May 16, 1933

“If we could just send the same bunch of men [and women] to Washington for the good of the nation, and not for political reasons, we could have the most perfect government in the world.” WA #78, June 8, 1924