San Diego Housing Bubble News and Analysis

First, this is not the place for these comments! Secondly do you really think boycotting BP/Arco or other British products will make any difference? You should also remember which country has been by US's side during these terror filled years. And remember where the plane came down...Lockerbee Scotland which took the lives of many Britsh people as well.....idiot!

wow, londoner, you just joined, you can't make decisions about what is appropriate here, but I can.

While I don't like your choice of words, I do agree that alienating our strongest ally is not a good plan and the lockerbee case is a dog with a lot of fleas, read into it, there is a decent chance they got the wrong guys.

Britain and the U.S. pretty much have only each other, it cost Blair his job but he didn't leave us, and we won't leave them, we are too idealogically and politically connected to ever part ways, sure we argue like siblings, but when things get bad, we count on each other. Can't you just get mad at france like everyone else?

I hope you know that the big oil companies own 80-90% of the refineries in America. After oil get refined, it goes to distribution centers. At that point, it get shipped to all different gas station. Only at the station do they add some additives to differentiate their gas. So, if you don't pour at BP/Arco, you might be punishing Chevron/Shell/etc refineries/distribution center. If you pour at a Shell, you might be supporting BP's refineries/distribution centers.

Okay, Londoner, based on your handle, I'm going to assume you're British. However, you don't know how to spell Lockerbie (not Lockerbee) and claim that Pan Am Flight 103 "took the lives of many British people as well" when it came down in SCOTLAND.

Uh, no, it didn't. It killed 11 SCOTTISH people on the ground. Before you start referring to anyone as an idiot, get your facts and your nationalities straight.

That's like saying the violence in Northern Ireland is claiming BRITISH lives. Save the British Army casualties (and they're in Northern Ireland illegally anyway and deserve what they get), the people involved are IRISH.

Up the Provos!

Personal sidebar here - read or skip as necessary.

I've always had a love/hate relationship with the brits. My ancestors came from England, but being from the USA, other forebears were involved in the Revolution. So from an early age I learned how the new American way was 'superior'.

Then life happened. I traveled to great britain a couple of times which opened my eyes a little about GB. But what really made the difference was when I traveled all over mainland China for 3 months - and then went to Hong Kong. The thought I was left with was this, "OMG, you can love or hate the brits, but you have to respect them for being able to tame the chinese in their own land and build this capitalist dreamworld (Hong Kong) at the same time."

So my recommendation would be to buy BP stock if it will make you rich. Leave the political idealism for MSNBC.

Londoner could just be a poseur, judging from how long he/she has been a member. Since Scotland did it, why not boycott double malt whisky. We definitely need all the friends we can get.

Scotland has jurisdiction over the case. Their legal system took its course so we should just accept it.

It's the same as some states in Union having the death penalty and some do not.

I personality think that releasing Abdel Basset al-Megrahi on humanitarian grounds is only good for business but also good at repairing relations with the Arab world.

The Scots and Brits did the right thing.

Sometimes you have to grit your teeth for the greater good. Kinda like the bailout of the financial industry, and not prosecuting the perpetrators of torture.

"Bail us out to save your economy". Some of us don't believe that, brian. Some of us think the bailouts are designed instead to let existing wealthy homeowners and bankers hold onto their unearned gains, and pass the cost of doing that onto a future generation of taxpayers.

Londoner is a troll

And, apparently, something of a coward. By Jove!

I'd be curious to know how many people wanting to picket BP
were quite happy to have Bush invade Iraq to steal their oil?

I hate to say it. But when it comes to morals or obtaining oil, oil wins out everytime. Hands down, no questions asked. What fantasy world do you live in?

Uh, no, it didn't. It killed 11 SCOTTISH people on the ground. Before you start referring to anyone as an idiot, get your facts and your nationalities straight.

That's like saying the violence in Northern Ireland is claiming BRITISH lives. Save the British Army casualties (and they're in Northern Ireland illegally anyway and deserve what they get), the people involved are IRISH.

Wow, did someone hijack Allan's handle? He is usually very well-informed on political and geographical matters, but not this time. Actually Scots are British subjects. Scottish people are not English, but they are British. Great Britain comprises England, Wales and Scotland; the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland adds Northern Ireland as well. UK citizens can properly be called "British" as well as "English", "Scottish", "Welsh", or "Irish", depending on their heritage. This is similar to how a Texan is also an American.

Also, there are a lot of people of English, Welsh, and Scottish heritage living in Northern Ireland. While it may be unfair that they are there, they have been there for a long time and they're unlikely to leave anytime soon. Northern Ireland is special in that most citizens can have British and Irish citizenship if they wish.

Great Britain

Northern Ireland

CONCHO: Nah. I was just trying to draw a response from "Londoner" by being combative.

Apparently it didn't work.

Yes, I am aware of what you pointed out, but it didn't really help my position, so I conveniently ignored the actual facts. They (the facts) can get in the way sometimes, huh?

Yes, I am aware of what you pointed out, but it didn't really help my position, so I conveniently ignored the actual facts. They (the facts) can get in the way sometimes, huh?

Darn those pesky facts! Always popping up when they're the least welcome ha ha ha...

One of my attorney buddies always says, "Never let the facts get in the way of a good story".

So we're stealing Iraqi oil? Really?

Can patb or anyone else enlighten me as to how much we've stolen?

It's my understanding that while we've spent about $0.7T to change the regime in Iraq, we have not taken ANY of their oil, tempting and easy as that might have been.

Am I wrong?

KSM: Nope, you're not. But that "Blood for Oil" trope dies very hard, especially amongst those propagandized to believe it, or those too ignorant or unwilling to actually find out the truth.

[quote=CONCHO]

Actually Scots are British subjects. Scottish people are not English, but they are British. Great Britain comprises England, Wales and Scotland; the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland adds Northern Ireland as well. UK citizens can properly be called "British" as well as "English", "Scottish", "Welsh", or "Irish", depending on their heritage. This is similar to how a Texan is also an American.

Great Britain

Northern Ireland[/quote

Thanks Concho- I learned something new today. I knew Scots and others were not "English" but I didn't realize or just never thought about that they are united as British, hence the British Isles. Thanks!

CONCHO-Somebody did hijack Allan's handle. The Allan I know, knows there is overwhelming, were talking volumes and volumes of evidence linking Iraq to oil. He know's this because he has read a my posts over the past few years.

The Allan I know, would not resort to partisan knee jerk respones.

The funny thing is, Bushco completely failed at their conspiracy. The "Blood for oil" empire is breaking up.

Obama resides over it's dissolution.

Arraya: You're as big a killjoy as CONCHO is! I'm trying to get something going here, and resorting to partisan saber rattling is usually the best route, so... C'mon, let me have my fun!

On another note, I just re-read Eric Hoffer's "The True Believer". It seemed topical, given the present climate. I would have to believe, Arraya, knowing you, that this tome is on your bedside table, but, if it isn't, it's worth another read.

Also, check out the movie "Gonzo" about Hunter S. Thompson. I saw it this weekend and I think you'd enjoy it.

Okay, back to trying to get the trolls out from under the bridge.

That would explain all those american multi-nationals in Iraq
signing oil contracts.

Pat: Read this: http://www.upi.com/Energy_Resources/2009...

It's a recent article regarding the letting of Iraqi oil contracts and it cites only BP (British Petroleum, which is, uh, British) and China National Petroleum (which is Chinese) as moving forward on this round of contracts.

Yes, I realize this is an on-going process, with multiple rounds of contracts, but it gives lie to your "American multi-nationals signing oil contracts" statement.

How's about you throw some facts out there, instead of relying on tired old canards, huh? You have Dutch (Royal Dutch Shell), French (Total (fmrly Elf/Aquitaine)), Italian (Eni), Chinese, British and Russian oil companies all competing with ExxonMobil, Chevron, et al, for these oil contracts. NPR article on same: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story...

Halliburton. Who was managing the oil fields from 2003 to 2008.

http://professorsmartass.blogspot.com/20...

In March 2001, the National Energy Policy Development Group (better known as Vice President Dick Cheney’s energy task force), which included executives of America’s largest energy companies, recommended that the United States government support initiatives by Middle Eastern countries “to open up areas of their energy sectors to foreign investment.” One invasion and a great deal of political engineering by the Bush administration later, this is exactly what the proposed Iraq oil law would achieve. It does so to the benefit of the companies, but to the great detriment of Iraq’s economy, democracy and sovereignty.

Pat: Okay, color me confused. I'm not sure what Halliburton has to do with this, given that they're an oil and gas services company, which is separate and distinct from oil companies like BP, Chevron or ExxonMobil, but you seem to think that Halliburton's presence indicates that the US has some special angle that companies like China Petro or BP don't.

Also, the linked article you presented doesn't seem to have anything to do with supporting your argument. It makes some far-reaching accusations, but, ultimately, offers no proof.

I'd ask that you come up with some sort of proof that US oil companies are not only enjoying a significant advantage over their foreign competitors, but show how much in terms of dollars and contracts.

I'd be willing to ascribe some of this to your obvious ignorance regarding the oil business, especially given your inability to differentiate what makes Halliburton (or Schlumberger, or TIC for instance) different from Elf or Valero or Unocal.

Hey Allan,

What do you think about medical marijuana? I think it explains a lot of mental confusion. What do you think?

I hate to insert myself into a debate, but did not Mr. Greenspan write something to the effect of war in Iraq being affected by oil under the sand?

I find the oil theory more believable than incompetence of US intelligence, family vendetta or freedom fighting.

Zeit: Dave's not here. Sorry, just a little Cheech & Chong humor.

Not to sound completely bereft, but I think I missed your point entirely. If you're addressing that to me, I would agree completely: Smoking all that weed at a younger age really bunged my neuronal plasticity. Not that I regret it, mind you.

If you're addressing it to some of the other posters, I might argue some other pharmacological products are at work, most likely Thorazine or Lithium.

Captcha: And it's entirely possible you're correct. Now the question becomes: Where's the money? If we indeed did get involved for the oil, why don't the big US nationals like ExxonMobil or ConocoPhillips or Chevron control the Iraqi national oil contracts?

Pat's offering up Halliburton is a joke. Oil services companies like Halliburton are going to make pennies compared to the colossal sums that controlling those contracts will bring their holders.

So, where are the contracts and which companies are controlling them? And I mean controlling them in reality, not as part of some shoddily researched and hastily penned conspiracy hatchet job like Pat offered from the NYT.

Allan,

Not aimed at you. It was a back handed remark to a previous poster, who does not grasp geopolitics and always wants to go back to the default stuff about Bush et al. I just saw something about San Diego looking into all the medical marijuana outlets springing up lately, almost like .99 stores. I thought there might be a relationship. I know not everyone likes beer and wine. You are far too sharp to be a pot head. Some of the night time arguments wander off the res.