May 16, 2008 8:08 AM
Saudis turn deaf pump to Bush's plea for more production
Saudi Arabia has turned a deaf pump to President Bush's plea for increased oil production in the wake of soaring U.S. pump prices.
Saudi Arabian leaders made clear they see no reason to increase oil production until their customers demand it, apparently rebuffing President Bush.During Bush's second personal appeal this year to King Abdullah, Saudi officials stuck to their position that they are already meeting demand, the president's national security adviser told reporters.
"What they're saying to us is ... Saudi Arabia does not have customers that are making requests for oil that they are not able to satisfy," Stephen Hadley said on a day when oil prices topped $127 a barrel, a record high.
The Saudi government indicated that it is willing to put on the market whatever oil is necessary to meet the demand of its customers, Hadley said.
But even then, he said, Saudi leaders say increased production would not dramatically reduce pump prices in the United States.
The Saudis are investing in ways to increase oil production over time. Officials told Bush they are doing "everything they can do" for now to address a complicated market.
May 16, 2008
8:48 AM
SASQUATCH writes:
Yep, a deaf ear. The Saudis will blame our energy problems on the weak dollar, our occassional lack of refining capacity, our driving habits, our unwillingness to drill in oiur own back yard, etc. Some pretty valid points.
But there's nothing like asking. And if the Dems think that its just fine to sit down with terrorists and chat, then why not chat with these guys? They qualify. And besides, Bush will only have to get in line behind Pelosi and Carter anyway.
May 16, 2008
10:14 AM
SASQUATCH writes:
I was right...Abdullah says NO, his 2nd rejection in just 5 months.
Well, maybe we need to start drilling right here. Or will it take $250 crude and $10 at the pump? Goldman Sachs just hiked their target prices this A.M.--again! The eco-hysterical enviro-phobes need to get shoved aside.
May 16, 2008
10:14 AM
Anonymous writes:
The problem with drilling our own oil is the the Democrats would want to raise their so high to pay for illegals and others to go to School that it becomes a mute issue to lower the prices at the pump.
May 16, 2008
11:29 AM
Big_D writes:
What do they have to do for Bush to realize they are at war with us and have been since 15 of their nationals flew planes into our buildings?
May 16, 2008
11:35 AM
Big_D writes:
SACKSQUAT,
You are ALREADY blaming this on the democrats that are not in power yet? How about Bush having the buck stop with him? No chance of the GOP taking responsibility for their president and the actions of his CURRENT administration. They should ask Abdullah how he feels about dealing with Iran alone.
May 16, 2008
11:37 AM
SASQUATCH writes:
"What do they have to do for Bush to realize they are at war with us and have been since 15 of their nationals flew planes into our buildings?"
They just remind him that America can't work with $100 at the pump.
May 16, 2008
11:40 AM
Big_D writes:
Look how cute they are still holding hands!
May 16, 2008
11:50 AM
screwd American writes:
Yep, The saudis are telling us NO. But yet when these people come to America they are catered to and can come and go as they please. This is what old Bush is telling us. With a man who is at 19% in popularity, I wouldnt believe a word he says anymore. Keep in mind how the Bush family makes their money. Yep we are the fools here and they have us believing we have a shortage. Lets see how much of a shortage we have when this very unpopular man is out of office.
May 16, 2008
12:51 PM
Alford Barnstein writes:
Screwd America
The dem's are already in control. They took the house and the senate. I live near, and work in the gulf of mexico. I know the oil industry. We cannot keep up with supply. You guys assume that everything wrong with the country is because of this president. How about some personal accountability. If your congress would allow us to drill in Anwar, we would be paying less than two bucks a gallon. If your congress wouldn't block the production of new refineries, we wouldn't even be talking about this.
Read a book!
May 16, 2008
12:53 PM
Alford Barnstein writes:
Screwd America
The dem's are already in control. They took the house and the senate. I live near, and work in the gulf of mexico. I know the oil industry. We cannot keep up with supply. You guys assume that everything wrong with the country is because of this president. How about some personal accountability. If your congress would allow us to drill in Anwar, we would be paying less than two bucks a gallon. If your congress wouldn't block the production of new refineries, we wouldn't even be talking about this.
Read a book!
May 16, 2008
12:54 PM
Alford Barnstein writes:
Screwd America
The dem's are already in control. They took the house and the senate. I live near, and work in the gulf of mexico. I know the oil industry. We cannot keep up with supply. You guys assume that everything wrong with the country is because of this president. How about some personal accountability. If your congress would allow us to drill in Anwar, we would be paying less than two bucks a gallon. If your congress wouldn't block the production of new refineries, we wouldn't even be talking about this.
Read a book!
May 16, 2008
1:45 PM
just sayin' writes:
He's losing all of his friends.And oh yeah, lets blame Democrats for all of his failures the last 7 years. They finally get control of Congress 2 years ago but not enough of a majority to get any legislation slipped by the schmuck in the WH but oh yeah perfectly reasonable to blame the Democrats. Did you forget the GOP controlled everything and made a mess of it?
May 16, 2008
2:14 PM
DR writes:
My oh my, how the mighty have fallen. Our illustrious, educated, articulate, wise (choke, cough, wheeze) President - in Saudi, crawling and groveling before the mighty King Abdullah.
It's like this folks, our leaders don't know how to lead - but they know how to beg for the oil taps to be turned up. It's up to us - you and me. So, use less and need less. Combine trips. Stay home and do family things. Call friends and family you haven't talked with for a long time. Play chess, Yahtzee, or Monopoly. Have a picnic in the park down the street. Get the neighborhood together for a block party. Start a walking group or jogging club. I could list hundreds of things here and you could too.
Choosing not to get into the vehicle and drive somewhere on a whim is easy. Plan trips carefully. You'll either put the money in your home and retirement account, or you'll put it in your gas tank. Your choice.
May 16, 2008
3:00 PM
Love & Darkness & my Sidearm writes:
Just an other illustration of why it's important for America to have a President that actually commands respect from other nations.
Any one of the three candidates will be a HUGE step forward, compared to the Dubya the Laughingstock.
May 16, 2008
3:19 PM
Big_D writes:
Sure Alford Barnstein we believe you and your an expert we can tell by the way you post. So how many of the 911 attackers were from Iraq and how many were Saudi? So you still think Saudi is our buddy and Democrats are to blame for the last seven years of Bush? No wonder you guys can't win a war, you don't even understand who you are fighting. Thank God we have less than a year left with the GOP morons running the show! I bet Abdullah could send a letter with an outlined attack plan and a clear declaration of war and Bush would think it was a love letter. Abdullah needs a clear message sent to him that either we get more oil or he won’t be shipping ANY OIL! They have already attacked us we need to respond, clearly. Also why is the RMN not posting this significant story front page? It is like if on December 8, 1942 Pearl Harbor was buried on the back page, this is war.
May 16, 2008
3:21 PM
Big_D writes:
Sure Alford Barnstein we believe you and your an expert we can tell by the way you post. So how many of the 911 attackers were from Iraq and how many were Saudi? So you still think Saudi is our buddy and Democrats are to blame for the last seven years of Bush? No wonder you guys can't win a war, you don't even understand who you are fighting. Thank God we have less than a year left with the GOP morons running the show! I bet Abdullah could send a letter with an outlined attack plan and a clear declaration of war and Bush would think it was a love letter. Abdullah needs a clear message sent to him that either we get more oil or he won’t be shipping ANY OIL! They have already attacked us we need to respond, clearly. Also why is the RMN not posting this significant story front page? It is like if on December 8, 1941 Pearl Harbor was buried on the back page, this is war.
May 16, 2008
3:23 PM
Big_D writes:
I don’t know what I’m thinking except I’m furious we are propping up a totalitarian regime that hates us.
May 16, 2008
3:30 PM
Big_D writes:
Here I’ll go for three, annoying isn’t it?
Sure Alford Barnstein we believe you and your an expert we can tell by the way you post. So how many of the 911 attackers were from Iraq and how many were Saudi? So you still think Saudi is our buddy and Democrats are to blame for the last seven years of Bush? No wonder you guys can't win a war, you don't even understand who you are fighting. Thank God we have less than a year left with the GOP morons running the show! I bet Abdullah could send a letter with an outlined attack plan and a clear declaration of war and Bush would think it was a love letter. Abdullah needs a clear message sent to him that either we get more oil or he won’t be shipping ANY OIL! They have already attacked us we need to respond, clearly. Also why is the RMN not posting this significant story front page? It is like if on December 8, 1941 Pearl Harbor was buried on the back page, this is war.
May 16, 2008
3:32 PM
Big_D writes:
I wonder if a Navy blockade would change Abdullah’s mind. Maybe we should go after the country that attacked us on 911.
May 16, 2008
5:13 PM
jay writes:
why are the republicans running away from their track record? why are they trying the shift the credit for their track record to the democrats? is it that bad? why not take reponsibility for your actions and hold yourselves accountable?
May 16, 2008
5:50 PM
Anonymous writes:
Bush and the GOP just LOVE Saudi Arabia.
Just look at how they did NOT retaliate against trhe Saudis after 9/11. In fact, Bush is over there kissing up to them.
May 16, 2008
7:46 PM
nappyheadedho writes:
WHy is Bush over there? Silly me! I thought State Attorney General John Suthers was the GOP's resident Saudi Royal Family boot-licker.
May 16, 2008
9:32 PM
mommy, why are those two men holding hands? writes:
Here's a great photo op for gay marriage!
May 17, 2008
6:23 AM
Anonymous writes:
it's politics Jay, nothing more, nothing less ... and both parties have become expert finger pointers over the years .... because that's what irresponsible children do ... I think it's about time for the US to stop supplying the arab world with food .... let them eat sand ... or maybe a bushel of corn costs them $1000 and everything else is priced accordingly ... and while we're at it, we should kick their kids asses out of our colleges and withdraw diplomatic immunity ... getting tired of the whole damned mess
May 17, 2008
7:02 AM
Anonymous writes:
It means its time to buy lots of sugar cane from Brazil and turn Coors into Coors refineries.
Forget Beer. Think Gasohol
May 17, 2008
12:45 PM
Sharon b writes:
He said he was going to "jawbone with the Saudi`s". Remember jawbone of an ass, from the Bible?
May 17, 2008
3:36 PM
Dirty Sanchez writes:
The Saudis could care less about America. They have more customers than you can shake a camel at. What is needed is a National effort by Americans to stop being dependent of these people and start getting serious. It would have been better if we would have kept a "us against them" attitude instead of buying into the "World Economy" BS.
Eventually I'd like to see a very dependent US that has no fear about "mooning" the rest of the world. I am a bit tired of this country carrying the weight of other problems. The world is too crowded and needs a pruning occasionally.
May 17, 2008
10:17 PM
Tim Trainer writes:
Maybe it's time to nationalize our own oil companies and fix the price. It's hard to stomach the profits being reported by Exxon-Mobil, etc. while the national economy is falling apart. The government controlled the airline and phone industries for decades, let's control oil prices in the US.
May 18, 2008
12:55 AM
Tom T writes:
Tim has an interesting idea
Could it be that big oil is now a monopoly?
Back in the 20s didn't they break up such a monopoly before? Maybe the little pieces have started working together like a monopoly again.
May 18, 2008
10:39 AM
Dirty Sanchez writes:
Tim.....
There is a distinct possibility that previous corporations that became monopolies have re-consolidated themselves and are being ignored by government. Bsh/Cheney are oil man and have direct connections to companies working in Iraq.
Personally I'm tired of the mega greed exhibited in this country and excused by government as "capitalism" and "the market in action".
Time for government oversight in the next Presidency. The present one is lining his pockets.
May 19, 2008
12:05 PM
Holier Than Thou writes:
It might have something to do with the appeal being followed by a big smirk and wink.