Rudolph the Hard-Nosed In-Your-Ear

Well, I tried for a play off the familiar Christmas tune. My apologies to reindeer everywhere.

Rudolph Giuliani's tack as a Republican candidate is impressive in my opinion. And may be the right strategy to become the only viable candidate for his party next year. No apologies for Bush (but don't be caught dead campaigning with him), no kinder-gentler PC extended to anyone, full speed ahead in the War on Terror and a reminder to voters that the soft Democrats (read Edwards, Obama, Clinton et al) will be mincemeat for Al Qaeda. Not bad, not bad. The Republicans are in such bad shape for '08 that a liberal mayor from NYC, reminding everyone that a war is going on and/or otherwise scaring the pants off a sleepy electorate might just be the ticket. Look for issues like pro-choice to be overlooked by the GOP as the only way to avoid annihilation at the polls.

After all, if Rudy could bust the Mob in The Apple and live to tell about it, who's afraid of Barack or Hillary?

See www.thegambitsite.com.

Announcing "The Gambit"

My political thriller novel, "The Gambit" has now been published and is available on Amazon and at my website www.thegambitsite.com . The novel depicts an audacious conspiracy to spike global oil prices via "engineering" terrorist events, coveniently during an American presidential election where the incumbent is coopted by the effort underway and unable to effectively respond. Nonetheless, the awful truth about the President and the conspiracy is dumped upon an unsuspecting electorate just prior to Election Day. Please see the website for more details.

What began as an experiment, i.e. writing just a few chapters, later turned into a 400-plus page novel as thoughts about a plot and characters finally emerged. "The Gambit" represents a novel I had always wanted to write (but didn't quite know how) about the oil business, foreign intrigues and Houston. After living almost 30 years in Houston, I believe the book captures a worthy flavor of the city (there are, however, a few references to the Enron fiasco-what novel about the oil business, scheming and Houston could not?). A number of my own experiences as an oil trader in Houston and overseas are factored surreptitiously into the novel.

The book is dedicated to my wife, Beverly, and two sons, Chad and Ryan (see Ryan's own website at www.larc.ttu.edu/rnunnally. )

It is a great feeling to have this project completed. Now, on to the next novel (only kidding for the moment).

Iran Be Gone?

There is an interesting study by Roger Stern of Johns Hopkins University indicating that Iran's "oil weapon" is in serious decline. At present rates of Iranian oil production (slightly less than 4 million barrels per day), little reinvestment into aging oil fields, a U.S. campaign threatening financing of Iranian oil projects by international banks, and surging domestic demand within the country at very subsidized prices, the amount of oil left for export is declining by 10-15% per year. If that rate were to continue, by 2015 Iran would have no oil left for export, seriously diminishing its cash receipts and its role as a Persian Gulf threat and financier of global terrorism. The fresh thinking attributable to the study suggests that the Iranians are perhaps inflicting more harm on themselves (at least $20-30 billion annually is given away in the form of internal domestic subsidies just to keep restive elements placated) than the U.S. could ever do in a military campaign. A simple waiting action by the U.S. could inflict "paper tiger" status on Tehran.

In my book "The Gambit", the need for higher oil revenues by Tehran is depicted by their collaboration within a conspiracy to spike global oil prices via orchestrated terrorist events.

See: http://www.thegambitsite.com [Read the "Iran and Oil" theme page]

The Real Price of Oil

The price of oil coming out of the ground is not approximately $65 per barrel (as of this writing). Rather, it is over 3000 dead in Iraq, melting polar ice caps and rampant global warming in general, diminished species, illicitly funded terrorist organizations courtesy of petro-dollars and empowered and brazen leadership in Iran, Venezuela and Russia on top of the monetary costs. Even at that, the monetary costs aren't accurately stated; when one adds in the many billions spent in military budgets, environmental cleanups and related health care effects, the real economic costs related to oil are in the hundreds of dollars per barrel price range.

Time for a massive paradigm shift. Why not develop the ultimate weapon within our vast military budget? An automobile averaging over 100 miles per gallon.

See http://www.thegambitsite.com for additional views on the price of oil and how it may be manipulated.

Frequent Liar Program

The Clinton/Obama pairoff has acquired a new grittiness, thanks to the televised interview by David Geffin, Hollywood producer and former Clinton supporter, now throwing his financing to Obama. Geffen alleged that both Bill and Hillary have been known to offer non-truths. "All politicians lie of course," stated Geffin, but the Clintons were characterized as perhaps exceeding their quota. The Clinton campaign asked Obama to repudiate Geffin which he artfully declined to do. I don't think Obama will really last that long in the primaries, now being the media's flavor of the month, but he probably has already caused Hillary more trouble than she needs, with prospects for more in the offing. Their catfight has at least produced one result: he absolutely will not be her running mate.

ObamaRama

The ObamaRama has started officially today. Nice touch in Springfield. Lincoln. State capitol in Illinois where he started his political career, etc. etc. Now the real fun begins. The media has treated him with kid gloves so far; wait until he runs into the Clinton machine. His novelty might carry him reasonably well in Iowa or New Hampshire. How about South Carolina?

Obama is an obviously intelligent, articulate man with a fresh, if often superficial, message. He looks good and speaks well but is not currently qualified for the presidency of the U.S. Nor was George W. Bush qualified, for that matter, and look where that has gotten us.

Hari-Kerry

What in the world is wrong with John Kerry? Not so long ago, he almost would have been the next American president if Ohio's vote had gone the other way. And to think I voted for him, even though in Texas, thinking anyone was better than Bush. Well, "anyone" has its limits.

Now look at him. He insults our armed forces in Iraq, thinking they are ignorant, drafted grunts, not the professional, volunteer force which has performed heroically in Iraq in spite of Washington. Next, he sponsors the most pathetic resolutions in the Senate on Iraq, left of even his fellow senator, Ted Kennedy. Then, he bashes his own country at Davos, in front of the European wimps, lamenting that the U.S. is an 'international pariah" [Note to John: for "pariah" status, think of repressive regimes/countries such as Iran, North Korea, Somalia, Myanmar, Cuba and, soon, Venezuela. The Taliban?]. Come on Kerry, you've got to have more steel in your gut than that.

All of this cost him any further consideration for the 2008 race, from which he has mercifully withdrawn. He couldn't have done a better job of ripping himself up than had he been given a ceremonial sword, complete with disembowelment instructions, Japanese-style.