Thanks obama and GM ...

[Mark]

Hear, hear! And I like the food!

[Treemn]

And heck where I live you could call it NEW Coral Springs everyone claims new york, new jersey as home If it is so great GO Home. I can say that I am a NATIVE Floridan

[YoYamma]

Good gosh I hope you guys didn't spend all day typing about politics.
I taught my daughter how to put a new set of spark plugs in one of the skis, then we spent several hours on the water and had a delicious fried fish sandwich at the restaurant on the lake.

Then I went bass fishing on my ski and managed to hang a few but the rascals got off. I fished until late in the day and then I came home washed off the skis and jumped in the pool and soaked until dark. I'm beat but I can honestly say THANK GOD FOR AMERICA, it was a nice day.

Treemn, I'm a native Floridian too, I love this place!!! Let's hope the cat 5 hurricanes don't show up this year.

P.S. - Obama blows!

[@JC]

P.S. - Obama blows!

Ain't that the truth And for all of you Californians out there that voted for him, take a look at those gas prices this weekend, you reap what you sow. The cause is not, as the liberals will try to con you, the big bad mean oil companies. The problem is that environmental regulations require CA to use a certain boutique blend that only CA uses thus it can't import gas from surrounding regions when there is an issue with it's refineries like there is right now. Pres. Obama could, with a wave of his pen, suspend those regulations during the refinery crisis to allow imports of other blends from surrounding states however he needs the leftist enviro-wacko vote and they WANT high gas prices so unfortunately you CA guys are going to pay the price for it. Remember that on Nov 6th.

[Mr. GP1800]

Isn't that the fault of CARB, who sets unusually high standards for everything in California????

[rlovebk]

Ain't that the truth And for all of you Californians out there that voted for him, take a look at those gas prices this weekend, you reap what you sow. The cause is not, as the liberals will try to con you, the big bad mean oil companies. The problem is that environmental regulations require CA to use a certain boutique blend that only CA uses thus it can't import gas from surrounding regions when there is an issue with it's refineries like there is right now. Pres. Obama could, with a wave of his pen, suspend those regulations during the refinery crisis to allow imports of other blends from surrounding states however he needs the leftist enviro-wacko vote and they WANT high gas prices so unfortunately you CA guys are going to pay the price for it. Remember that on Nov 6th.

Yep. Felt the exact same way when I voted for Bush and the prices were this high.

I agree the left wants a higher price and the Oil Co's, which seem to be supportive of this also are more than willing to oblige.
One time I was in Laughlin. I saw a fuel truck in Cali on the way at a "Courtesy" stop for the wife and daughter. Prices were sky high. Talked to the truck driver gent for a couple of minutes and off we went. Then when we were in Laughlin, I go to a gas station. Here's the same guy, same truck, filling tanks in Az. Price was almost 1.00 a gallon less.
California has somewhere around 30 million + people living here. It has some of the most unbelievable shoreline, Yosemite, just a host of great spots. There is a Dodge Ram commercial. Shows folks snow skiing, and surfing, and some other activity I don't recall, saying where else can you do all this in one day? And it is true. You can do that, right here in winter in L.A.
When I first began coming here in the 60's and 70's from Az, the smog was UNBELIEVABLE. And it was also quite bad in the 80's. And a fair amount was from factories and auto's. I'm telling you it was really bad. They have done a great job. The air is immeasurably cleaner than it was. It is the il Co's that put the screws to us.
Obama talked about oil subsidies in the debate. Then the next week it skyrockets. Almost smells of an "October Surprise".
The bottom line is they literally have us over a barrel. I don't believe they would lower the price to change production methods. And we need the changes that have been made to the process. Our air is the proof. And if they can sell the same fuel elsewhere, as that stuff was refined in Ca. I was buying in Az, then it's all about raking it in.
One thing I can agree with Obama on: Stop subsidizing big oil. Period.
One of the reasons fuel cost what it does is refining capacity is at it's limits. When a couple of refineries go down for equipment failure, accident, whatever, it causes a small shortage in supply. Our economic system is designed to take immediate advantage of this and the prices literally go up over night. The reason the oil co's do not build more capacity to refine is economics. They have just enough refining capacity to be efficient and with no excess ability they keep the margins right on the border. In other words it would not pay to build more refineries. It would cost them.
But I am not sure what regulations could be imposed on oil co's that would make sense, maybe windfall profits, which they have been making for some time.
I do not like regulation, but in many instances we need it. The air out here is much better than it was. Thats not a lefty/righty issue. It's a fact.

On another note Yoyamma your day yesterday sounds outstanding. I injured myself pretty good a week ago so I am a keyboard jockey for a couple of more days or I would have been at the World Finals enjoying the races and riding my ski. Instead I am enjoying some home time and been reading and doing lots of hanging out with my youngest daughter. Got kids ranging from 32 to 9 years. Life is good.

[mjh3ides]

One thing I can agree with Obama on: Stop subsidizing big oil. Period.

Big oil doesn't receive gov't subsidies. Period. They do receive a deduction from amortizing depletion of a well, just like any other business is allowed to expense depreciation on buildings & equipment. If your local gov't raises your property taxes, do you shrug you shoulders & say they're just subsidizing me less? Probably not. This is how the left thinks though. They consider 100% of income as theirs to tax, & anything they allow you to keep is a subsidy. Also, as Romney pointed out in the debate, the vast majority of oil producers who take advantage of that tax write-off are small producers. Small producers rely on people like me who invest in drilling limited partnerships. They are high risk investments, so if you take away that deduction you'll have fewer people willing to put up capital. Bottom line is taking away those tax incentives aint gonna hurt "big oil", but it damn sure could hurt consumers who are already burdened enough with energy prices.

[@JC]

The other problem with your statement somehow speciously linking gas prices to the Bush administration O_O (fyi gas was $1.78 when Obama took office) is that Bush did the things that are available to the President to mitigate gas prices when they jumped up due to external factors. He released oil from the strategic reserve to combat high pricing during the war due to supply disruptions and OPEC gouging and he also waived the boutique gas restrictions during the refinery and well disruptions from Katrina, Obama could do either or both of these to relieve price pressures but he refuses to do it. The other point that there is a refinery capacity issue is valid but again you're pointing at the wrong villian. Enviro-wackos (hereafter known as EW) won't allow any new refineries to be built (the last new refinery opened in the US in 1977 though there have been 2 "new" reopenings of previously closed or outdated facilities since) by overloading the companies with regulations and lawsuits to the point where it would take a decade and billions of $$ to even get a permit approved if they even could. Not only that but the EWs are even trying to make it cost prohibitive to upgrade existing facilities. The oil companies WANT to sell gas and oil and if they can pump it and refine it then they can sell it, the problem is they aren't being allowed to produce enough to meet demand, thus higher and higher prices.

[rlovebk]

When Bush was Pesident the prices went up up up. Then they went down. All I was pointing out was that fact with that part of my statement.

I also did AGREE to the fact that the left, or Obama as you will, do like the higher prices, or did no one read that. And contrary to @JC opinion, I do not for a minute believe they do not enjoy the profits they are currently making. And like I said, they don't want to refine more. There was a refinery approved long ago that was never built. There's a reason for that.

Mjh3ides then what you ae saying is it is a risky gamble for tax payer money, and again, stop the subsidies. And from what I understand they (big oil) do get some of that $$. If people want to pool rescources and take on a risk and make a return, thats the way it is supposed to be. You win, you win. You lose...
The subsides for green energy should go away just the same.
If I recall correctly at one time Obama did release some oil from the strategic reserve. He also filled it back up from the Bush years. And releasing that oil would have no effect on the current issue which has to do (supposedly) with the refining of said oil, not oil itself.
Obama was wrong to subsidise the green energy as he did. If there is a market for it, it will stand. It did create alot of jobs though so did help some there. I think that was a fair part of it.(the why, and politcal payback)
I think we are doing a rope-a-dope on oil. We encourage and buy alot of oil from others while steadfastly making it difficult to get our own. When we deplete their oil, we will drop our straw. Maybe. Just wondering...

[Mark]

If we survive...
In the meantime, I guess you are happy with the less-pollution part of the equation. The rest meet your approval? Crushed economy, massive illegal takeover, lack of services and reputation? I have been working a bit with two smart, good looking, hard working young men Who will "never go back to that shithole" - they are from Ventura. When I drove through there, it had the feel of abandonment, desperation. Signs on the nightstand at the hotels "DON'T ANSWER YOUR DOOR FOR ANYONE". Trash and dust blowing alongside the degraded highway, graffitti, cops' sirens blaring. ...Like out of a movie.
Meanwhile, I don't see any air pollution here, either. Funny how an economy with half as many trucks running helps! I suspect that the brown haze that used to be L.A. was largely diesel combustion bi-products and engines pollute less than they used to. Do you realize that on your path to near $20B budget shortfall that you bought new diesel engines for every working boat in Cali? Guys were going there from here to spend the required few months in California to get $150K worth of Iron and computors dropped on them!
My take is that it would force better decision-making to stay within budget and do things on the state level. Imagine how hard it would hit us if every state had enough retards to vote Brown in again.

[mjh3ides]

Mjh3ides then what you ae saying is it is a risky gamble for tax payer money, and again, stop the subsidies. And from what I understand they (big oil) do get some of that $$. If people want to pool rescources and take on a risk and make a return, thats the way it is supposed to be. You win, you win. You lose......

Huh???? Again, there are NO subsidies going for oil & gas exploration. There are no taxpayer dollars being "gambled" like they were with Obama's green energy boondoggles. The gov't is in no way sharing in the risk when investors put capital into drilling projects. The tax exemption on intangible drilling costs is not a subsidy, & as I explained earlier, every other American business is given the same type of exemption on intangible expenses.

[rlovebk]

Mark, yes very happy with the results. And crushed economy is NOT the result of this now 100% cleaner air.

Look your buddies from Ventura can say what they will. There are bad areas in just about any municipality. I occasionally go to Ventura to launch. We ride to Santa Barbara and have lunch. Then we go back to Ventura. I have vacationed in the Ventura/Oxnard area. It is a great place to visit. I take my family at times. It is actually in much better shape than it was 20-30 years ago. There is nothing that would keep me from going there when I want. And never been robbed, stabbed, beaten, bla bla bla.

Industry and business have shown in the past their response and responsibility they feel towards the environment and the economy. That is what has gotten us here. Sometimes regulation is our friend.

3ides watch the debate and see what is said about subsidies. And yes, it is a tax break. I am still for getting rid of it. Period.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505266_162-57406930/gop-blocks-obamas-bid-to-end-oil-subsidies/

[Pistonwash]

Romney is gonna blow out Obama...it will be a rout, you just watch and see. My neighbor who WAS a hardcore Obama voter/supporter says he is still a "progressive" but will vote for Romney. He said the economy cannot be fixed by Obama or his people...so he's gonna vote with his wallet.He's not gonna vote for Connie Mack, he's gonna vote for Nelson..blech and every other democrat on the ticket..but Nobama for him anymore.

[YoYamma]

Pistonwash; I hope you're right, I really do. I'll believe it when I see it.
I think the reality is, America has a growing number of the entitlement crowd in its population who love this clown, and at the end of the day it's going to come down to numbers. Personally, it's hard for me to believe anyone would actually be stupid enough vote for Blobama after the last 4 years...

Obama Increased Foreign Aid 80%;
Spent 76% More on Foreign Aid Than Border Security

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-increased-foreign-aid-80-spent-76-more-foreign-aid-border-security

Immigration Scores - Obama FAIL
Romney B-
Obama F-

https://www.numbersusa.com/content/action/2012-presidential-hopefuls-immigration-stances.html

[Mark]

Yo, that stat is a little decieving... Border security shouldn't cost very much. Some simple signs stating trespass gets the death penalty and a handful of rifled drones. After four or five die, word would get back and no more would pass. THink of the lives this would save.
Another tactic would be to make it law that a valid ID proving citizenship is necessary to vote or receive services beyond emergency healthcare. The Ds would have no further reason to abet illegal immigration.
The plus side: the poorest, least educated Mexicans are already here. The problem will never be as bad as it has been.