9-17-19 Excellent Guests for Your Show

1. Joseph P. Duggan: Terror Attacks on Saudi Oil Operations Expose the Folly of Rubio and Graham’s Moralism
2. James Hirsen: The Impending Flow of Vape Related Lawsuits
3. Lowell Ponte: Democrats Target Your Gun Rights
4. Karen Kataline: Julian Castro’s Real Attack was on the Language
5. Crista Huff: This Weekend's Attack on Saudi Refineries Adds One More Variable to Bolster Prices


Terror Attacks on Saudi Oil Operations Expose the Folly of Rubio and Graham’s Moralism
By Joseph P. Duggan

Tanker ships and the strategic pipeline of Aramco, the world’s largest oil company, suffered terrorist attacks last week. Aramco has the monopoly on all Saudi Arabian oil production and is wholly owned by the Saudi government, the United States’ most powerful ally in the Middle East. The attacks at sea and in the heart of Saudi Arabia coincide with the upcoming public release of President Trump’s Arab-Israeli peace plan, for which Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates already are signaling support. Iran or its allies are suspected of responsibility for the attacks. As the crisis intensifies, the U.S. Senate’s Dynamic Duo of bellicosity, Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), are calling for harsh new economic sanctions. Are they to be imposed against Iran? [more...]


The Impending Flow of Vape Related Lawsuits
By James Hirsen

In the 1980s a host of lawsuits emerged, which alleged cigarette manufacturers knew their products were addictive and caused lung cancer but failed to warn consumers about the inherent dangers. History may be in the process of repeating itself, this time amid a controversy that surrounds a modernized smoking-related device. Several plaintiffs have already filed lawsuits against the largest e-cigarette corporate target, alleging that the company’s products create medical problems for consumers and additionally create addiction issues, particularly for teen users. [more...]


Democrats Target Your Gun Rights
By Lowell Ponte

Democrats in last week's debate have at last admitted that they aim to confiscate nearly 300 million firearms from the 43 percent of law-abiding Americans who own guns. Democrats plan to begin with "assault rifles," a term they try to avoid defining. But the most "moderate" of their presidential candidates - former Vice President Joe Biden - says he would banish any gun that has "more than one bullet in its magazine." Democrats apparently therefore want to "confiscate every semi-automatic rifle or handgun, and even any revolver or weapon with a clip capable of carrying more than one bullet." Biden, in other words, "would outlaw the vast majority of all firearms owned by Americans." [more...]


Julian Castro’s Real Attack was on the Language
By Karen Kataline

Among the most discussed moments of the recent Democrat debate was Julian Castro’s attack on Joe Biden’s mental acuity.  In comparing Biden’s health care proposals to his own, Castro had obviously planned this attack on the plagiarizing former Vice President: "You just said two minutes ago that they would have to buy in ... Are you forgetting what you said two minutes ago?" Audible gasps were heard from the audience which led to lecturing and preening from other candidates like Amy Klobuchar who compared Castro’s comments to a Trump tweet. [more...]


This Weekend's Attack on Saudi Refineries Adds One More Variable to Bolster Prices
By Crista Huff

Total S.A. (TOT – yield 5.9%) is a French multinational integrated energy company that produces and markets fuels, natural gas and low-carbon electricity, operating in over 130 countries. Total is the second largest private global liquified natural gas (LNG) player, with a worldwide market share of 10%. Last week, a final investment decision (FID) was approved for Arctic LNG 2 in Russia. Total owns a 21.6% economic interest in the project. Total’s newly won $13 billion LNG export project in Papua New Guinea hit a snag in August when a new government regime decided to reevaluate whether they would honor the project, which had been approved in April by the former government regime. Last week, the new government gave the go-ahead on the project. Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Oil Search Ltd. are Total’s partners in the venture. [more...]