HERE WE GO, HOLD ON TO YOUR ASS

This is from the Anchorage Daily News

Bush pardon for Stevens isn’t out of the question

UNCLEAR: But so far, the senator hasn’t asked for presidential clemency.

By ERIKA BOLSTAD
ebolstad@adn.com

Published: November 26th, 2008 10:44 PM
Last Modified: November 26th, 2008 10:58 PM

WASHINGTON — With President George W. Bush issuing a round of pardons this week and presumed to grant as many as two more rounds before he leaves office, it raises the question: Will Sen. Ted Stevens ask for one?
The 85-year-old Republican senator was convicted Oct. 27 by a federal jury on seven counts of lying on his financial disclosure forms. After a cliffhanger of an election that took two weeks to count, Stevens last week lost the Senate seat he had held for 40 years. With his sentencing looming sometime early in 2009, Stevens faces as much as five years in prison on each corruption count.

But it’s unclear whether Stevens even intends to ask for a pardon — and the prospect of Bush circumventing his customary clemency procedures to pardon Stevens is unlikely. It’s even less likely under a Democratic president.

However, Stevens has pressed forward with an appeal of his conviction. During his farewell speech on the Senate floor last week, Stevens made it clear he intends to continue his appeal, saying he can “still see the day when I can remove the cloud that currently surrounds me.” And just last week his lawyers continued their attack on the conduct of prosecutors in the case by asking for a hearing, scheduled for Monday, to examine a claim by one of the witnesses against Stevens that he was lying on the stand about an immunity deal.

Stevens also told a pack of news media, “No, no, no,” when asked the day he lost the election whether he would seek a pardon, but his spokesman, Aaron Saunders, said he wasn’t saying “no” to the idea. The outgoing Alaska senator was simply declining to answer the question, Saunders said.

Later that same day, when asked by the Daily News to clarify his remarks, Stevens didn’t rule out seeking a pardon. “That’s something that’s beyond me,” he said, waving his hands as though to push the question aside. “That’s beyond me.”

Wev Shea, the U.S. attorney for Alaska between 1990 and 1993 and a Stevens supporter, said he hasn’t spoken to him about a pardon. But he encourages Stevens to seek one — and also urges him to continue to appeal his conviction.

“Should he? He absolutely should seek a pardon,” Shea said. “If I were counsel to him, I would encourage him. I strongly believe President Bush should pardon Senator Stevens.”

If Stevens were to seek a pardon, it would not be through the traditional path, which can take years. Stevens “hasn’t submitted an application for any sort of clemency” to the Justice Department’s Office of the Pardon Attorney, said Laura Sweeney, a spokeswoman for the Justice Department. Typically, any applicants start with the Justice Department, although its pardon office doesn’t even look at requests from those who have been convicted but not yet sentenced.

However, the president has broad constitutional authority to issue pardons and could act outside the scope of the process if he so chooses.

Bush circumvented the Office of the Pardon Attorney last year when he commuted the sentence of Lewis “Scooter” Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney’s former chief of staff. Libby had faced a 2½-year sentence for lying and obstructing justice in the CIA leak case, and by having his sentence commuted, he avoided serving prison time. Bush did not issue Libby a full pardon, though at the time he would not rule out doing so at a later date.

But as an elected official whose conviction and eventual sentencing on corruption charges could be seen as a cautionary tale to other officeholders, Stevens might be out of luck. So far, Bush has been a reluctant pardoner, and lawyers who have been watching the process say that he’s unlikely to change his practices in the final days of his presidency. Few of his pardons, with the notable exception of Libby, have been of high-profile people.

The White House wouldn’t comment.

“We never comment on pardons,” said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino. “People who are eligible to apply for a pardon can do so through the pardon attorney at the Department of Justice. And we don’t comment on the deliberations that are under way.”

Monday, Bush granted 14 pardons and commuted two sentences. Including the most recent, he has pardoned just 171 people and commuted eight sentences since taking office.

That’s fewer than half the pardons granted by former president Bill Clinton, who drew criticism for an undisciplined end-of-term pardon spree that led to congressional investigations. Overall, Clinton pardoned 396 people and commuted 61 sentences.

Of those, Clinton’s pardon of former Arizona governor Fife Symington bears comparison with Stevens, said clemency expert Daniel Kobil, a law professor at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.

Symington resigned after a jury found him guilty in 1997 of having defrauded lenders in his previous career as real estate developer. His conviction was overturned on appeal and Clinton pardoned him in the final days of his administration in 2001.

Kobil said it would be unsurprising for Stevens to pursue multiple avenues to clear his name, including a traditional appeal of his conviction and an attempt to seek a pardon. Forty years as a senator gives him access to decision-makers that ordinary people don’t have, Kobil said.

           Bush has as long as he needs to play this out, and can set it in motion then leave and it will happen after he is out of office. By the way just what makes you think you are going to get the whole truth from our oil soaked congress and congress controlled Media. Read the last 2 Blogs and you will see that it is all coming to surface.

       Rich

     richmartinphotographer@yahoo.com

WHAT A TRAVISTY OF INTEGRETY

Alaska Sen. Stevens concedes in re-election race

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD, Associated Press Writer Michael R. Blood, Associated Press Writer – Wed Nov 19,
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens conceded defeat Wednesday in a re-election bid shadowed by his federal felony conviction, a bitter end to a four-decade career in which he held a commanding place in state politics and on some of the most influential congressional committees in Washington.
In an eight-sentence statement, the longest serving Republican in Senate history said not enough ballots remain uncounted for him to catch Democrat Mark Begich, who holds a 3,724-vote lead out of about 315,000 ballots cast.
Stevens never directly mentioned his Washington trial on charges that he failed to properly disclose a sauna and other gifts from an oil services company, but thanked “the thousands of Alaskans who stood by us.”
“I am proud of the campaign we ran and regret that the outcome was not what we had hoped for,” Stevens said. “I am deeply grateful to Alaskans for allowing me to serve them for 40 years in the U.S. Senate. It has been the greatest honor of my life.”
The votes that gave Begich a winning margin were tallied on Tuesday, Stevens’ 85th birthday.
The senator’s statement was released just minutes after Begich, 46, the two-term Anchorage mayor, met with reporters and said he had not heard from Stevens. Begich said he had received congratulations from other leading Republicans, including Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
A smiling Begich described his election as a fundamental shift in the Alaska political landscape long dominated by Republicans. But he also made clear he was not a conventional Washington Democrat, citing his support for gun rights and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in the state’s northern reaches.
“Anybody who knows me knows that I’m a different Democrat — I’m from Alaska,” he said. Along with firearm rights and drilling, “Alaskans are very libertarian in issues where the government shouldn’t interfere in their personal lives.”
He said he was “definitely different than a New York Democrat.”
Stevens’ loss also moved Senate Democrats within two seats of a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority and gives President-elect Barack Obama a stronger hand when he assumes office on Jan. 20. Democrats now hold 58 Senate seats, with two independents who align with Democrats. Senate races in Minnesota and Georgia remain unresolved.
Stevens’ pursuit of a seventh term was damaged by his conviction in federal court — just days before the election — for lying on Senate disclosure forms to conceal more than $250,000 in gifts and home renovations from an oil field services company.
He was trying to become the first convicted felon to win election to the Senate. Still, he said he will not ask President George W. Bush to give him a pardon for his seven felony convictions.
Tuesday’s tally of just over 24,000 absentee and other ballots gave Begich 150,728, or 47.76 percent, to 147,004, or 46.58 percent, for Stevens. There are about 2,500 overseas ballots yet to be counted.

I love this statement, just set’s the tone to how much they believe you are going to buy it.

“He was trying to become the first convicted felon to win election to the Senate. Still, he said he will not ask President George W. Bush to give him a pardon for his seven felony convictions.”
So which blatant idiot is going to buy into this? What a dog and pony show you are getting, don’t relax as they have 59 more days to go and believe me they will cover there ass’s on the way out the best they can. Ergo Senator Stevens as one example.
It has taken me a few day’s to write this, had a conversation with a brain dead platform voter that thought that this was a great thing. Just goes to show you that mush can exist between two ears as long as you stuff the ear canals with shit.
Rich
richmartinphotographer@yahoo.com
 

NOT A SURPRISE, NOT AT ALL!

     So which one of you were surprised, I hope not one of you! But that would be asking to much! Now it takes a fool to think that they would put an 84 year old man behind bars, come on are you that dense to think that was going to happen!  As I said before, he is the sacrificial fool to try and take the focus off of the Bush/Cheney and Oil soaked Congress. Also the hopes that if you have bought into it, that you won’t raise the awareness bar up to where it should be, back on them!. Hey they are out of the spotlight, or so they think!

Democrat takes lead in Alaska Senate race

By GENE JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Just as Sen. Ted Stevens appeared set to return to Congress, felony conviction and all, his re-election bid has faltered. If he loses, it also closes a possible door into the Senate anytime soon for Gov. Sarah Palin.
As counting of early and absentee ballots continued in Stevens’ race against Democrat Mark Begich, the contest for Alaska’s only House seat was settled Wednesday, with the re-election of Republican incumbent Don Young for his 19th term.
In the Stevens race, Begich jumped to an 814-vote lead, after trailing by 3,200 when the day began. The tally late Wednesday was 132,196 to 131,382, with an estimated 30,000 ballots remaining to be counted, some on Friday and some next week.
“After watching the votes today, I remain cautiously optimistic,” Begich, a two-term Anchorage mayor, said in a news release. “We ran an aggressive campaign, especially when it came to early voting and absentee.”
Stevens’ campaign did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Last month, a federal jury in Washington convicted Stevens of lying on Senate disclosure forms to conceal more than $250,000 in gifts and home renovations from an oil field services company.
That might have spelled quick political doom for a lesser figure, but Stevens is revered here for his decades of public service — and especially for scoring the state enormous sums of federal money.
Begich would be the first Democrat to win a Senate race in Alaska since the mid-1970s, and a victory would put his party one step closer to a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority in the Senate. Democrats are also trying to unseat Republicans in unresolved contests in Georgia and Minnesota.
Fellow senators have called on Stevens to resign if he wins, and he could face expulsion if he declines to step down. In either case a special election would be held to determine his replacement. Palin, fresh from her failed run at the vice presidency, said Wednesday she’d be interested in serving in the Senate.
“My life is in God’s hands,” Palin said. “If he’s got doors open for me, that I believe are in our state’s best interest, the nation’s best interest, I’m going to go through those doors.”
In the House race, The Associated Press declared Young the winner with 50 percent of the vote compared with Democrat Ethan Berkowitz’s 45 percent.
Berkowitz campaign spokesman David Shurtleff said the Democrat was not ready to concede, although he acknowledged dim prospects.
Election officials Wednesday counted 57,000 of the estimated 90,000 outstanding ballots, which include absentee, early, questioned and provisional ballots.
Should the Senate results remain close a recount is possible. In Alaska, the losing candidate or a collection of 10 voters has three days to petition for a recount unless the vote was a tie, in which case it would be automatic.
If the difference between the candidates is within 0.5 percent of the total votes cast, the state pays for the recount, to be started within three days of the recount petition. The state Elections Division has 10 days to complete the recount.
If Stevens holds onto his seat, he might remain in the Senate for some time. As a practical matter, Stevens can’t be expelled by the full Senate until after an Ethics Committee investigation and a majority vote of that panel. That won’t happen until next year at the earliest.
Stevens also plans to appeal his conviction after he’s sentenced, in February at the earliest. The appeal could take months or years.
President George W. Bush could also pardon him.
___

   Did any of you catch the “get out of jail free” phrase at the end of this article,

President George W. Bush could also pardon him.
Why would I want the Oil Soaked President to pardon some one who just did what He gave him free reign to do, and what he and Cheney and the rest of the Oil Soaked Congress were doing as well? The crime is against us the people of the United States, so why would he have any thing to do with it. Oh I’m sorry I forgot, He’s just as dirty, only in a super size me way! And if you think I’m crazy, then why is Cheney trying to shred the documents that can prove it, and that a Federal judge ordered him to make available. Hey Dick you still covering up and doing damage control for George Sr. and Jr. So when do you think you will know the truth or should I say the whole truth? Never, yeah Never, you will only get to know part of the truth, not all of it! Why? Well the Oil Soaking is on both side of the fence. OMG!!!!!! Yeah Democrats as well as Republicans and all the other smaller parties as well. Oil Royalty Monies? Where are they? And how many Billions are owed in back collections that the Bush/Cheney Oil Soaked Congress would not allow the Dept of Interior to collect. Hey we are the land owners, I say give them a 3 day pay or quit notice, and have Federal Marshalls ready to take the sites over, and close the Alaskan Pipeline, so they not only can not pump it thru, but stop the wells as well. Bet we would have our money then Huh. Can’t do that you say! Wrong we are the property owners, our Government, they are the Management company, and a pretty Oil Soaked one at best. And who stopped the department of the Interior from collecting these back monies, well good ole Bush/Cheney and the rest of the Oil Soaked Congress.

                Don’t just sit there on your dead and dying, start doing something. I have given you all the ammunition you’ll need to get every thing started in my blogs go back and read them, form a group and start doing something. If enough of you do this then they have no choice but to comply or get out.

Rich

richmartinphotographer@yahoo.com

SO WHAT PART OF BULL SHIT DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND!

Exxon Mobil posts biggest US quarterly profit ever

By JOHN PORRETTO, AP Business Writer
HOUSTON – Exxon Mobil Corp., the world’s largest publicly traded oil company, reported income Thursday that shattered its own record for the biggest profit from operations by a U.S. corporation, earning $14.83 billion in the third quarter.
The Irving, Texas-based company has reported unprecedented back-to-back quarters, the end of the most recent coinciding with a rapid plunge in crude prices. Benchmark oil prices fell another $2.21 to $65.29 Thursday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, about 56 percent off record highs in July.
Exxon said net income jumped nearly 58 percent to $2.86 a share in the July-September period. That compares with $9.41 billion, or $1.70 a share, a year ago.
The previous record for U.S. corporate profit was set in the last quarter, when Exxon Mobil earned $11.68 billion.
Revenue rose 35 percent to $137.7 billion.
On average, analysts expected the company to earn $2.39 per share in the latest quarter on revenue of $131.4 billion.
Company shares fell 90 cents to $73.75 at the open of trade.
Exxon Mobil’s results got a boost of $1.62 billion in the most-recent quarter from the sale of a natural gas transportation business in Germany. It also took a special, after-tax charge of $170 million related to a punitive damages award related to the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.
Excluding those items, third-quarter earnings amounted to $13.38 billion — nearly 15 percent above its previous profit record from the second quarter.
As expected, Exxon Mobil posted massive earnings at its exploration and production, or upstream, arm, where net income rose 48 percent to $9.35 billion. Higher oil and natural gas prices propelled results, even though production was down from the third quarter a year ago.
Oil producers are coming off a quarter during which crude prices reached an all-time high of $147.27 — and their profits have reflected it. Crude prices, however, have quickly fallen 50 percent from the summer’s highs, and the global economic malaise has raised questions about energy demand at least into 2009.
Some companies, especially smaller producers, are scaling back spending on new exploration and production projects because of the uncertainty, though analysts say that its less likely to happen at the well-heeled giants like Exxon Mobil.
=====================================================================OMG you have to be kidding!!
            So would you rather be called Stupid or just Coward, and when you pull your head out of that deep dark, warm and smelly place you have so  happily put it. So where is all the oil from T.A.P.S. or other wise known as the Alaskan Pipeline that was to relieve our dependency on foreign oil going to?
            So when is enough going to be enough, when your dead? This is what happens when you let an oil family in the White House. If you can’t figure that one out then go to another country. How many more lies are you going to swallow, and when are you going to start demanding answers? Hey it’s you government at work for you, oh I’m sorry I mean for themselves and the other pay check they get from the Oil Companies. Demand your money back, as they have not done a thing they were getting paid for! And tell them to get out of office and go to work for the Oil Company of choice as a lobbyist. I’m sorry, that would put the other parasites out of work.
Rich
richmartinphotographer@yahoo.com
   

TOLD YA SO, DO I HATE TO SAY IT, NOOO!

Sen. Ted Stevens found guilty in corruption case
By MATT APUZZO and JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated Press Writers
WASHINGTON – Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens was convicted of seven corruption charges Monday in a trial that threatened to end the 40-year career of Alaska’s political patriarch in disgrace. The verdict, coming barely a week before Election Day, increased Stevens’ difficulty in winning what already was a difficult race against Democratic challenger Mark Begich. Democrats hope to seize the once reliably Republican seat as part of their bid for a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.
Stevens, 84, was convicted of all the felony charges he faced of lying about free home renovations and other gifts from a wealthy oil contractor. Jurors began deliberating last week.
Visibly shaken after the verdicts were read — the jury foreman declaring “guilty” seven times — Stevens tried to intertwine his fingers but quickly put his hands down to his side after noticing they were trembling. As he left the courtroom, Stevens got a quick kiss on the cheek from his wife, Catherine, who testified on his behalf during the trial. He declined to talk to reporters waiting outside.
Stevens faces up to five years in prison on each count when he is sentenced, but under federal guidelines he is likely to receive much less prison time, if any. The judge originally scheduled sentencing for Jan. 26 but then changed his mind and did not immediately set a date.
The monthlong trial revealed that employees for VECO Corp., an oil services company, transformed Stevens’ modest mountain cabin into a modern, two-story home with wraparound porches, a sauna and a wine cellar.
The Senate’s longest-serving Republican, Stevens said he had no idea he was getting freebies. He said he paid $160,000 for the project and believed that covered everything.
He had asked for an unusually speedy trial, hoping he’d be exonerated in time to return to Alaska and win re-election. He kept his campaign going and gave no indication that he had a contingency plan in case of conviction.
Despite being a convicted felon, he is not required to drop out of the race or resign from the Senate. If he wins re-election, he can continue to hold his seat because there is no rule barring felons from serving in Congress. The Senate could vote to expel him on a two-thirds vote.
“Put this down: That will never happen — ever, OK?” Stevens said in the weeks leading up to his trial. “I am not stepping down. I’m going to run through, and I’m going to win this election.”
Democrats have invested heavily in the race, running television advertisements starring fictional FBI agents and featuring excerpts from wiretaps.
Stevens’ conviction hinged on the testimony of Bill Allen, the senator’s longtime drinking and fishing buddy. Allen, the founder of VECO, testified that he never billed his friend for the work on the house and that Stevens knew he was getting a special deal.
Stevens spent three days on the witness stand, vehemently denying that allegation. He said his wife, Catherine, paid every bill they received.
Living in Washington, thousands of miles away, made it impossible to monitor the project every day, he said. Stevens relied on Allen to oversee the renovations, he said, and his friend deceived him by not forwarding all the bills.
Prosecutors used a barrage of witnesses to question how Stevens could have been in the dark about VECO’s work on the project. VECO employees testified to seeing Stevens at the house. One left him a company business card. Stevens sent thank you notes to others.
Stevens’ conviction is the highlight of a lengthy FBI investigation into Alaska corruption, but prosecutors noted that it is not the end. Stevens’ longtime Republican colleague, Rep. Don Young, remains under investigation for his ties to VECO. Stevens’ son, Ben, a former Alaska lawmaker, is also under investigation.
Stevens is a legendary figure in Alaska, where he has wielded political influence since before statehood. His knack for steering billions of dollars in federal money to his home state has drawn praise from his constituents and consternation from budget hawks.
There was no immediate word on Stevens’ campaign plans. His spokesman, Aaron Saunders, did not immediately return a message seeking comment on whether Stevens would stay in the race.
In Alaska, the Democratic Party issued a statement calling for Stevens to resign immediately. “He knew what he was doing was wrong,” the party said. “But he did it anyway and lied to Alaskans about it.”
Stevens is the sixth senator convicted of criminal charges. The last previous one was Republican David Durenberger of Minnesota, who was indicted in 1993 on charges of conspiring to make fraudulent claims for Senate reimbursement of $3,825 in lodging expenses. He later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges and was sentenced to one year of probation and a $1,000 fine.
The jurors left the court without comment.
Said U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan: “The jurors have unanimously told me that no one has any desire to speak to any member of the media. They have asked to go home and they are en route home.”

        What to look forward to after being so loyal to the party for so long, and help hiding all the B.S. about the Alaskan Pipe Line or other  wise known as T.A.P.S., God what thing greed and Image make people do. Can’t get caught or people will know the truth about me and the party.
 “If you can’t handle the crime, don’t take the dime”
and
 “If you do take the dime, do your own time”
Run long and scared and watch your back, this is a to little to late. Bad choice…
Richard
richmartinphotographer@yahoo.com
 

DOES THIS TELL YOU ANY THING?

 It should, but I fear that most will not get it, they still have there proverbial head stuck up there ass. Well pull it out and wipe your eyes off. So after posting the latest profits for the last few quarters, sort of looks as though the oil companies are still profiting.. Hummmm wonder what this could mean, possibly that they were having a grand old time raping the American Public, whom by the way own the land they are pumping the oil out of, that they are selling back to us at OPEC pricing as well as they speculators. Do not forget that we are a Oil Producing Country as well. Remember this little chart.

I’m going to use the same one again then put an add on.
Now just think of what you read and how it effect’s you and makes you feel! Just replace OPEC with the White House and the American 7 Sisters oil Companies, NOW HOW DO YOU FEEL!!!!! Just remember what other oil producing countries populations are paying for gas, 
 

       
 
 
 Go FIGURE HUH WITH OUR 7 SISTERS???????????
 

AP
Oil prices fall as investors eye weak demand
Monday October 27, 11:57 am ET
By John Porretto, AP Business Writer

Oil prices pull back as investors eye falling demand, ignore OPEC move

HOUSTON (AP) — Oil prices fell to their lowest level in more than a year Monday before rebounding to just above $63 a barrel as growing evidence of a global economic slowdown had investors betting on a further drop in energy demand.
Traders undeterred by OPEC’s sizable production cut late last week also appeared to be taking their cues from world stock markets, which slumped again Monday with the Nikkei index in Japan closing at its lowest in 26 years, down 6.4 percent. Hong Kong and European markets followed suit, closing or trading substantially lower.
Wall Street was wavering in morning trading, with the Dow Jones industrials down about 22 points, or 0.27 percent, at the 8,355 level after having fallen more than 100 earlier.
“The market ignored OPEC’s attempt to shore up prices as there are larger, long-term problems plaguing the market that a short-term production cut cannot overshadow, including softening demand, institutional unwinding and the credit crunch,” Raymond James & Associates analyst Darren Horowitz said in a note to clients Monday. Institutional unwinding referred to selling by funds, including those that need to raise money to pay off margin loans, or money borrowed to buy stocks and other investments
Light, sweet crude for December delivery declined 93 cents to $63.24 a barrel in trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
On Friday — even after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries announced a 1.5 million barrel-a-day cut — oil fell $3.69 to settle at $64.15. Prices have plunged 57 percent from a record $147.27 on July 11.
“The mood is fairly negative reflecting worry about the international economic outlook,” said David Moore, a commodity strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney. “If there is further weak economic data in the U.S. or Europe, prices could come under more downward pressure.”
Iran’s OPEC governor Mohammad Ali Khatibi said Sunday a reduction in production “will be considered” at the group’s next meeting in Algiers in December — a meeting that might even be held early if necessary.
“I thought the OPEC cut was a fairly decisive act, but concerns of recession in the major economies remain dominant,” Moore said. “OPEC’s cut does take a step toward tightening the market.”
Vienna’s JBC Energy said prices were out of OPEC’s control — for now.
“Oil is currently being driven by the present financial crisis and not by OPEC cuts,” said its research report. “As oil prices are being pressured by the credit squeeze and a lack of liquidity, they may stay largely detached from supply factors for several weeks to come. As a result, OPEC is currently struggling with factors beyond its control.”
Investors have been paying close attention to signs that a slowing economy and higher gasoline prices earlier this year have hurt crude demand in the U.S., the world’s largest oil consumer.
The Department of Transportation said Friday that Americans drove 5.6 percent less, or 15 billion fewer miles, in August compared with same month a year ago — the biggest single monthly decline since the data was first collected regularly in 1942.
A gallon of regular gas fell 3 cents overnight to a new national average of $2.668, according to auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express. That’s roughly a dollar less than what was paid just a month ago and 18 cents below gas prices one year ago on Oct. 27.
In other Nymex trading, gasoline futures fell 1.41 cents to $1.438 a gallon, while heating oil slipped 1.63 cents to $1.9538 a gallon. Natural gas for November delivery fell 17.5 cents to $6.572 per 1,000 cubic feet.
In London, November Brent crude was down $1.75 to $60.30 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

           Also have you noticed the lack of reporting of the profit reports from the 7 sisters of oil, I think they should also include the profit reports of the White House and Congress and Lobbyist as well. Hey they are not working for us, so  they should be made to publish there profit reports also, don’t cha think? Have the White House and Congress release these reports, then try to find a news source here in the USA to report it with out outside influences shaping the wording and truth.

Rich

richmartinphotographer@yahoo.com

They Are Not Innocent!!!

Oil nears 14-month low on weak US economic data
By GEORGE JAHN, Associated Press Writer 5 minutes ago
VIENNA, Austria - Oil prices fell to a nearly 14-month low Thursday as bad U.S. economic news stoked fears that a significant global economic slowdown will undermine demand for crude.
Concerns over the economy overrode growing expectations that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries could opt to cut back production in an effort to shore up prices.
By afternoon in Europe, light, sweet crude for November delivery was down 92 cents to $73.62 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Earlier in the session, prices fell as low as $71.21, crude’s lowest trading level since Aug. 28, 2007.
The contract fell $4.09 to settle Wednesday at $74.54, the lowest settlement price since Aug. 31, 2007.
Oil prices are now half of the peak they reached in mid-July.
“The market is just very worried about a severe international economic downturn,” said David Moore, commodity strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney. “They’re thinking that oil consumption will be weaker than expected.”
Investors were discouraged Wednesday by a U.S. Commerce Department report that showed retail sales dropped in September by 1.2 percent, a sign that turmoil in the credit markets has begun to slow consumer spending. Later in the day, the Beige Book, the assessment of business conditions from the Federal Reserve, said that the economy continued to slow in the early fall.
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average was down nearly 10 percent Thursday while the Dow Jones industrials plummeted 733 points Wednesday, or 7.9 percent, it’s second-largest point loss ever.
“If we’re in the grips of a severe downturn, it’s very hard to pick where things will bottom,” Moore said. “There’s the potential that bad economic news will continue to rattle markets.”
Trader and analyst Stephen Schork linked Wednesday’s downward turn to macroeconomic trends.
“The Dow tanked and the dollar rallied,” he said in his Schork Report.
Investors are beginning to anticipate an output cut by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries at its next meeting in November in a bid to boost prices, Moore said.
OPEC said in a report Wednesday that oil consumption dropped in developed countries by more than 1 million barrels a day in September compared to the same period a year earlier. Demand growth from developing countries increased by a daily 1.2 million barrels over the same time, OPEC said.
“OPEC may try to take some action,” Moore said. “It’s quite likely they will adjust lower their production targets.”
In other Nymex trading, heating oil futures fell 0.53 cent to $2.1852 a gallon, while gasoline prices decreased by nearly 4 cents to $1.7450 a gallon. Natural gas for November delivery rose by 3 cents to $6.62 per 1,000 cubic feet.
In London, November Brent crude fell $1.05 to $69.75 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.
___

Reuters
Oil falls 3 percent on demand, recession concerns
Tuesday October 14, 5:19 pm ET

By Matthew Robinson
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil fell more than 3 percent on Tuesday as concerns the global economy could slip into recession and drag down demand outweighed optimism over the bank bailout plans.
.S. crude settled down $2.56 at $78.63 a barrel after hitting $84.83 earlier. London Brent crude settled down $2.93 at $74.53 a barrel.
Slumping demand in the United States and other big consuming nations and the mounting financial crisis have dragged crude off record peaks over $147 a barrel hit in July. Further pressure has come as investors sell oil for safer haven investments.
The United States announced plans to take equity stakes worth up to $250 billion in financial institutions after European powers agreed to recapitalize their banks on Monday.
The Dow Jones industrial average (DJI:^DJI - News) fell as fears the actions would not prevent the global economy from slipping into recession, after registering its biggest one-day point gain on Monday.
“People are worried about the economy right now, they are worried that demand is going to be down,” said Mark Waggoner, president of Excel Futures.
“But I think we are still going to bounce back and two weeks from now, we may see (crude) prices off to the races again. For one thing, demand in China still continues to rise.”
No. 2 oil consumer China saw September crude imports rise 10 percent from a year earlier, clocking a second month of double-digit growth, as the country’s majors made a limited restock amid signs of weakening demand.
Producer group OPEC has called an emergency meeting for November 18 to discuss the crisis and its effects on oil markets, with some members calling for production levels to be reduced.
Analysts say the prospect of a global recession could force OPEC members to be more tolerant of cheaper oil, although the threat of swelling stocks could force an output cut by early next year.
Some support for prices came on news OPEC seaborne oil exports, excluding Angola and Ecuador, fell 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) in September, Lloyd’s Marine Intelligence Unit (LMIU) said on Tuesday.
Oil traders also awaiting weekly U.S. inventory data on Thursday, with analysts forecasting a 1.9 million barrel build in crude stocks, a 600,000 barrel build in distillates, and a 2.9 million barrel rise in gasoline inventories.
(Reporting by Matthew Robinson in New York and Joe Brock in London; Editing by Marguerita Choy)

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     So has anyone bothered to see what is really being written about here, if you are one of those who are not aware of what is being written here, you should go seek help from some one who is not afraid of the government.

Rich

richmartinphotographer@yahoo.com

DO I SHED A TEAR!!!!! NOT

        So the oil companies and are taking it in the shorts for a change, Boo Hoo who cares. Do you think for one minuet that they cared for the average Joe that could not afford extras for his family because of the price of a gallon of gas or that he could barley afford food? Don’t kid yourself they felt nothing except happiness all the way to the bank. Has any one set aside some of there grey matter and ask a few simple questions? Do you buy food, gas, oil, clothing, plants, hardware and paint almost everything you use in daily life, and do you go to restaurants and movies, and have the prices gone up drastically on all these things? How much 25%, 40% and maybe even 50%? So what have all these things have in common????

             Hello they are delivered by truck or train and when fuel cost go up so do cartage cost to the buyer, who warehouses it then breaks it down and ships it out to their stores, then to the consumer (You). So next time some one tries to blame this stock market blow out on anything but oil and the oil soaked White House Yea Bush /Cheney and the rest of the oil soaked congress, and you can’t blame it all on the foreclosures, don’t forget the contractors crews and materials they use to build these homes are delivered by truck, we could barley handle one of these rapes of greed but two was just one to many.

    Greed, so what happened to our watch dogs who keep an eye on this financial market, they could have stepped in and said. “There is only room for one screwing at a time! And till this term of office is done, you can’t rear your greedy lil heads up” A term we used in the service was FUBAR, please correct me if I’m wrong, but I think that the Billions of Oil Royalty monies owed could have reduced the blow if they had been collected, which our Pres and VP did not allow, to our financial market and we would not be here today!

Oil plunges to 13-month low on global slowdown
By STEVENSON JACOBS, AP Business Writer 1 hour, 59 minutes ago
NEW YORK - The stunning collapse in oil markets accelerated Friday, sending a barrel of crude plunging below $78 as investors grow more pessimistic about resolving a mushrooming global economic crisis.
Oil hasn’t been this cheap in 13 months — a rare silver lining for consumers amid a rapidly imploding financial landscape.
Crude prices have almost been cut in half since surging to a record near $150 barrel over the summer.
Energy experts believe prices could go even lower.
Friday’s steep losses came as Wall Street capped its worst weekly drop ever with another wild session. The Dow Jones industrial average fell as much as 700 points earlier in the day before gyrating in and out of positive territory and later finishing the day down 128 points.
The frenzied trading weighed heavily on oil markets, sending prices plummeting more than $9 a barrel at one point.
“There’s so much fear out there and that’s really gripping the oil market. People are just afraid to hold a position so they’re closing out and selling off,” said Michael Lynch, president of Strategic Energy & Economic Research in Winchester, Massachusetts.
Light, sweet crude for November delivery ended the day $8.89 lower at $77.70 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was the lowest settlement price for a front-month crude contract since Sept. 10, 2007.
“As long as this financial crisis continues, we could see prices go down into the $60 range,” Lynch said.
Oil has now lost 47 percent of its value since hitting a record $147.27 on July 11 as a deepening credit crisis sparked by the subprime mortgage fiasco wreaks havoc around the globe and drives down energy demand.
Investors have shrugged off an array of market-stabilizing efforts by world governments, including a $700 billion U.S. financial rescue plan, several bank bailouts and a coordinated interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve and central banks around the globe.
Underscoring Americans’ waning appetite for fuel, a gallon of regular gasoline dropped 5.3 cents overnight to a new national average of $3.35 a gallon, according to auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express.
Prices dipped below $3 a gallon on average in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. If crude keeps falling, the rest of country should see sub-$3 gasoline in the next few weeks if not sooner, experts say.
Oil market traders got more proof that energy demand is falling away across the globe.
The International Energy Agency on Friday cut its global oil demand forecasts for this year and 2009, pointing to the worsening economic conditions and the tight credit supply.
The Paris-based energy watchdog cut its forecast for oil demand this year by 240,000 barrels per day, and slashed its 2009 forecast by 440,000 barrels per day. The IEA now expects global oil demand to total 86.5 million barrels per day this year and 87.2 million barrels per day next year.
“The fundamental game for oil has changed. In the last decade, oil went up because of strong global economic growth. That story for the near term is over, so everybody has to re-evaluate,” said Phil Flynn, energy analyst at Alaron Trading Corp. in Chicago.
OPEC signaled it may tighten output to put a floor under falling prices, but it didn’t seem to matter.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said Thursday it will hold a special meeting Nov. 18 to discuss how the economic crisis is affecting oil prices. The head of Libya’s national oil company, Shukri Ghanem, called on oil producing nations to cut output.
Many doubt that an OPEC cut would reverse the extreme downward momentum on oil. OPEC’s decision last month to cut production by 520,000 barrels a day did little to stop the losses.
Flynn said another output cut “may actually accelerate the slide.”
“What’s driving this market right now is fear of demand destruction and lack of credit,” he said. “If you can’t borrow money to buy crude, then demand falls more and so do prices.”
In other Nymex trading, heating oil futures lost 20.86 cents to settle at $2.21 a gallon, while gasoline futures fell 22.03 cents to settle at $1.807 a gallon. Natural gas futures fell 29 cents to settle at $6.535 per 1,000 cubic feet.

 Don’t forget the Alaskan Pipeline and what it was suppose to do, also where has the oil gone that we were promised from it to elevate the demand on foreign oil? Why are we still shutting down refineries, so you can keep use under thumb by saying, we don’t have enough refineries to refine the oil for our own nation! Wonder Why, we had them before , why not now? To many unanswered questions, not enough truth.

STOP BUYING INTO THE BULL SHIT>

 Rich

 richmartinphotographer@yahoo.com

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AP
Oil prices fall as financial turmoil goes global
Monday October 6, 1:06 pm ET
By Stevenson Jacobs, AP Business Writer

Oil falls below $90 per barrel on fear that financial turmoil will curb global crude demand
NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices sunk below $90 a barrel Monday for the first time in eight months, a key price support level, on expectations that a widening financial maelstrom will drastically reduce global demand for energy.
 

Crude’s decline accelerated for a fourth day as investors appeared to give up hope that the government’s $700 billion rescue plan would provide a quick fix for the stumbling U.S. economy.
Light, sweet crude for November delivery fell $4.81 to $89.07 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, after earlier dipping to $88.57, the lowest level since Feb. 8. On Friday, the November contract lost 9 cents to close at $93.88 a barrel.
A significantly stronger dollar also weighed on prices. Oil prices have tumbled nearly 40 percent since peaking at $147.27 a barrel on July 11.
The drop came as world stock markets plunged amid growing investor anxiety that the U.S. bad debt crisis is enveloping Europe. Germany announced Sunday a bailout package totaling $69 billion for Hypo Real Estate, the country’s second-biggest commercial property lender, part of a scramble by European governments to save failing banks. As anxiety deepened, the Dow Jones industrial average fell below 10,000 for the first time in four years.
“The market is finally acknowledging that this credit crisis is a global phenomenon and that will equate to lower world oil demand in the future,” said Phil Flynn, analyst at Alaron Trading Corp. in Chicago. “People thought the crisis would be contained to the U.S. and we’d see oil demand in China and India continue to grow. Now that just doesn’t seem possible.”
The widening scope of the crisis has forced consumers and businesses everywhere to cut back on fuel consumption. In India, domestic oil product sales totaled 2.41 million barrels per day in August, the lowest level this year, while Japan’s oil demand fell by 8.4 percent in the same month, according to Barclays Capital research. In the same month.
In the U.S., the drop in crude prices continued to drag down pump prices. A gallon of regular shed 2 cents to a new national average of $3.504, according to auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express.
In other signs the meltdown is spreading, Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme said Sunday that France’s BNP Paribas SA had committed to taking a 75 percent stake in Fortis NV.
British treasury chief Alistair Darling said he was ready to take “pretty big steps that we wouldn’t take in ordinary times” to help the country weather the credit crunch.
Oil market traders are now watching to see if oil prices will sink to the next key technical level of $85 a barrel, the price for a barrel of crude when it began its historic run-up late last year.
“If we take out that area, we could see a major washout of this market,” Flynn said. “We could be talking $50 or $60 oil.”
If that happens, analysts say the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries may to cut production and keep prices from falling further.
Iranian Oil Minister Gholam Hossien Nozari on Saturday called on fellow OPEC members not to pump too much oil.
Traders were also watching currency movements as investors tend to buy commodities like oil to defend against dollar weakness and a hedge against inflation, but sell crude as the U.S. currency strengthens.
“With Europe starting to be in panic mode, the dollar is gaining by default of the euro weakening and this continues to be a negative factor for commodities,” said Olivier Jakob of Petromatrix in Switzerland.
The 15-nation euro fell to $1.3478 in Monday trading from $1.3774 late Friday.
In other Nymex trading, heating oil futures fell 13.7 cents to $2.525 a gallon, while gasoline prices dropped 12.33 cents to $2.105 a gallon. Natural gas for November delivery fell 35.9 cents to $6.999 per 1,000 cubic feet.
In London, November Brent crude fell $4.72 to $85.53 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

   So between the 7 Sisters, Bush/Cheney, the rest of the corrupt elected officials and the stock market speculators (other wise known as piranha’s) I think after the Elections, we can expect a bumpy road. Greed can not stand back to long and let the green run away from them. They have a highway to the bank paved in the blood and sweat of the American Public. As long as they are fat and sassy with gas cards they never have to pay the balance on, and deposits being made to the off shore accounts . They can afford to have there life sound proofed, so as not to hear the voices of the families they are screwing.

           Dam must be great no to have a conscience. Must be a blessing for them to be brain dead to your needs> But what is this!!! Oh a stupid thought! We are paying them to do this to us!!!!!!!!!!! Wake up or Shut Up, your good at the second part I know that from the lack of response..

Richard

richmartinphotographer@yahoo.com

A STORY THAT IS OH SO COMMON IN OUR GOVERNMENT!

Friend turns on Sen. Stevens in gift-giving trial
         By MATT APUZZO and TOM HAYS, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 19 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - A longtime friend of Sen. Ted Stevens has taken the stand as the star witness in the Alaska Republican’s corruption trial. Wealthy oil contractor Bill Allen once was a trusted confidant of the senator. Now he’s working with the Justice Department. The former friends barely looked at each other as Allen took the stand Tuesday in federal court in Washington.
Allen is expected to testify that his company, VECO Corp., performed more than $250,000 in free renovations on Stevens’ home in Alaska. Stevens allegedly concealed that on Senate documents.
The trial has weakened one of the Senate’s storied figures. Stevens faces a tough Democratic challenge to a seat he’s held for 40 years.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
WASHINGTON (AP) — With the star witness against Sen. Ted Stevens due to testify Tuesday, prosecutors denied allegations they secretly shuttled another key witness back to Alaska so he wouldn’t hurt their corruption case against the lawmaker.
The government claims in newly filed court papers that Robert Williams — manager of a makeover of Stevens’ cabin that’s central to the case — needed to go home before the trial started last week to get medical help.
When prosecutors met with the 58-year-old Williams to discuss his possible testimony at Stevens’ trial, he “appeared jaundiced, his face was gaunt, he had substantially aged, he had chronic coughing spells and he was frequently short of breath,” the papers said.
Stevens’ attorneys have accused prosecutors of trying to hide Williams after realizing he had information that could help the defense. On Monday, the judge demanded an explanation of why they didn’t tell anyone that the witness, who was subpoenaed by both sides, was gone.
Prosecutors, in their papers, said that Williams left messages with the defense team before leaving Washington, and still might return if cleared by doctors.
“The government was primarily concerned with Mr. William’s health,” the papers said.
Stevens, 84, is charged with lying on Senate financial disclosure forms about more than $250,000 in work done on his hillside cabin and other gifts he received from VECO Corp., a powerful Alaska oil pipeline contractor.
Among the first witnesses Tuesday was a reporter with a small Alaska newspaper chain, Heather Resz, who told the jury about receiving a tip in 2004 that free work had been done at the cabin. Then-press secretary Courtney Boone “assured me the senator was an ethical man,” and would come up with a statement, she said.
Boone testified that when she went to her boss with the inquiry, his response “was the same as mine — ‘What?’ Shock.”
The senator “said I would have to talk to Mrs. Stevens about it because she handled the work on the house,” Boone said, adding that the spouse showed her home-improvement receipts.
Though Boone also learned VECO owner Bill Allen was involved in project, she decided not to disclose that because she didn’t consider it “essential information.” A statement was issued by the couple insisting they had paid for “the modernization of their chalet.”
Allen is scheduled to take the witness stand later Tuesday in what will likely be the highlight of the trial of the Senate’s longest-serving Republican. He is expected to testify that he lavished Stevens with the free house renovations — a balcony, a new roof, a custom steel staircase with handmade railings — and other gifts.
Stevens didn’t report any of it on his Senate financial disclosure forms, an omission that has landed him in a Washington courtroom while his Democratic opponent, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, is campaigning against him in Alaska.
Just as Allen’s testimony is key to the government’s case, discrediting him is essential for Stevens. The senator insists he never asked Allen for any free work and thought his friend was sending him every bill for the job. Stevens and his wife say they paid $160,000 for the project and assumed that covered everything.
Stevens says that if freebies were tacked on to the job, Allen did so without telling him. Because the senator’s wife handled all the finances, he says there’s no way he could have known Allen was adding on work.

NEXT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
        Now as you read this please bear in mind that these two issues are relevant whether you know it or not, And yes they Mentioned the White House on down, Yep the Bush/Cheney tag team in the lead. Read heed and learn, “ WE THE PEOPLE “ Stop being so Stupid.
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The Bailout Defeat: A Political Credibility Crisis
By MICHAEL SCHERER / WASHINGTON Tue Sep 30, 1:35 PM ET
There was a lack of trust, a loss of confidence, a popular revolt.
Nearly every major political leader in the U.S. supported the $700 billion financial-bailout bill. The President. The Vice President. The Treasury Secretary. The Chairman of the Federal Reserve. The Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Democratic and Republican nominees for President. The Democratic and Republican leadership of the House and Senate. All of them said the same thing: vote yes.
But a majority of those politicians anointed by the Constitution to reflect the will of the people voted no. This is a remarkable event, the culmination of a historic sense of betrayal that Americans have long felt for their representatives in Washington. The nation’s credit crisis on Monday exposed a much deeper and more fundamental problem: a crisis of political credibility that now threatens to harm our nation further, should the markets freeze up and more companies begin to fail, as many experts predict.
The problem has been growing for years. Roughly 28% of Americans approve of President Bush. Roughly 18% of Americans approve of Congress. Now those low numbers and majority of bad feelings have manifested themselves in the starkest of terms.
Asked to take a leap of faith regarding a dizzyingly complex problem, a critical mass of voters refused to trust their leaders, turning down the medicine that was offered. And so the politicians who are most exposed to popular whims have run for cover. With an election on the horizon, 95 House Democrats and 133 House Republicans opposed the bill. Some portion voted no for clearly ideological reasons. But many more were simply doing what politicians do - responding to the will of the people.
An analysis by statistician Nate Silver, who runs FiveThirtyEight.com, made this clear. Of the 38 incumbent members of Congress from both parties who are considered vulnerable in the coming election, 30 voted against the bill (eight supported it). By contrast, members of Congress from relatively safe districts were evenly divided - 197 for it to 198 against it.
“What this showed more than anything else was that not even members of Congress can ignore a switchboard system of Capitol Hill that is so totally jammed,” said Peter Sepp, a conservative opponent of the bill with the National Taxpayers Alliance.
If the experts are right, the nation now risks great financial hardship, because there was no one to stand up and explain the situation. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 778 points on the news. Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson warned Monday afternoon that car loans and student loans were likely to tighten. Other economists have warned of the possibility of widespread corporate failures and unemployment, if the short-term credit markets freeze up. Bank failures, or mergers, are likely to continue. The taxpayer costs of federal insurance on deposits could increase.
In a worst-case scenario, economic historians may find that all of Paulson’s predictions come true, leaving the cost to the Federal Government far greater than the risky $700 billion investment in the private sector. If this comes to pass, the historians will find many people to blame: Paulson and President Bush for failing to explain the plan better. The House leadership for failing to whip enough votes. Even the presidential candidates for failing to use their bully pulpit to force the issue.
But those historians should not forget that roots of the failure predate the vote on Monday, and even the mistakes of Wall Street. Years ago, the trust between the people and their politicians was broken. Credibility was lost. The reserve of goodwill went bankrupt. And when they needed it most, our nation’s leaders found that they had squandered their ability to exert influence over the people who chose them to lead.

     So where are our Leaders when they have to stand and deliver, no where, just waiting for there pay checks, (plural) .

Rich

richmartinphotographer@yahoo.com