It can fairly be said that the most precarious jobs in the world are those of a golf ball collector at a driving range, a mascot at a Chuck E. Cheese, and a Trump Administration lawyer.
That was evident at the press conference yesterday as President Donald Trump blew apart the carefully constructed narrative presented earlier for the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Some of us had written that Trump had a winning legal argument by focusing on the operation as the seizure of two indicted individuals in reliance on past judicial rulings, including the decisions in the case of former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and General Dan Caine stayed on script and reinforced this narrative. Both repeatedly noted that this was an operation intended to bring two individuals to justice and that law enforcement personnel were part of the extraction team to place them into legal custody. Rubio was, again, particularly effective in emphasizing that Maduro was not the head of state but a criminal dictator who took control after losing democratic elections.
However, while noting the purpose of the capture, President Trump proceeded to declare that the United States would engage in nation-building to achieve lasting regime change. He stated that they would be running Venezuela to ensure a friendly government and the repayment of seized U.S. property dating back to the government of Hugo Chávez.
This city is full of self-proclaimed Trump whisperers who rarely score above random selection in their predictions. However, there are certain pronounced elements in Trump’s approach to such matters. First, he is the most transparent president in my lifetime with prolonged (at times excruciatingly long) press conferences and a brutal frankness about his motivations. Second, he is unabashedly and undeniably transactional in most of his dealings. He is not ashamed to state what he wants the country to get out of the deal.
In Venezuela, he wants a stable partner, and he wants oil.
Chávez and Maduro had implemented moronic socialist policies that reduced one of the most prosperous nations to an economic basket case. They brought in Cuban security thugs to help keep the population under repressive conditions, as a third fled to the United States and other countries.
After an extraordinary operation to capture Maduro, Trump was faced with socialist Maduro allies on every level of the government. He is not willing to allow those same regressive elements to reassert themselves.
The problem is that, if the purpose was regime change, this attack was an act of war, which is why Rubio struggled to bring the presser back to the law enforcement purpose. I have long criticized the erosion of the war declaration powers of Congress, including my representation of members of Congress in opposition to Obama’s Libyan war effort.
The fact, however, is that we lost that case. Trump knows that. Courts have routinely dismissed challenges to undeclared military offensives against other nations. In fairness to Trump, most Democrats were as quiet as church mice when Obama and Hillary Clinton attacked Libya’s capital and military sites to achieve regime change without any authorization from Congress. They were also silent when Obama vaporized an American under this “kill list” policy without even a criminal charge. So please spare me the outrage now.
My strong preferences for congressional authorization and consultation are immaterial. The question I am asked as a legal analyst is whether this operation would be viewed as lawful. The answer remains yes.
The courts have previously upheld the authority of presidents to seize individuals abroad, including the purported heads of state. This case is actually stronger in many respects than the one involving Noriega. Maduro will now make the same failed arguments that Noriega raised. He should lose those challenges under existing precedent. If courts apply the same standards to Trump (which is often an uncertain proposition), Trump will win on the right to seize Maduro and bring him to justice.
But then, how about the other rationales rattled off at Mar-A-Lago? In my view, it will not matter. Here is why.
The immediate purpose and result of the operation was to capture Maduro and to bring him to face his indictment in New York. That is Noriega 2.0. The Administration put him into custody at the time of extraction with law enforcement personnel and handed him over to the Justice Department for prosecution.
The Trump Administration can then argue that it had to deal with the aftermath of that operation and would not simply leave the country without a leader or stable government. Trump emphasized that “We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition.”
I still do not like the import of those statements. Venezuelans must be in charge of their own country and our role, if any, must be to help them establish a democratic and stable government. Trump added that “We can’t take a chance that somebody else takes over Venezuela that doesn’t have the good of the Venezuelan people in mind.”
The devil is in the details. Venezuelans must decide who has their best interests in mind, not the United States.
However, returning to the legal elements, I do not see how a court could free Maduro simply because it disapproves of nation-building. Presidents have engaged in such policies for years. The aftermath of the operation is distinct from its immediate purpose. Trump can argue that, absent countervailing action from Congress, he has the authority under Article II of the Constitution to lay the foundation for a constitutional and economic revival in Venezuela.
He will leave it to his lawyers to make that case. It is not the case that some of us preferred, but it is the case that he wants to be made. He is not someone who can be scripted. It is his script and he is still likely to prevail in holding Maduro and his wife for trial.
N.B.: This column appeared on Fox.com
While I completely agree with the take-down of the Maduro criminal dictatorship–I WISH Trump would STAY on message and stop winging foreign policy with his careless language. I agree with 90% of Trump’s domestic and foreign policies–his rhetoric needs to be more focused.
Cant wait to see if computers and related documents were taken too. The implications to Cuba & like commie actors could be bad indeed !.
Trumps blockade was being called by two Chinese supertankers that were going to run it …. I think Trump faced two choices; first stop the Chinese ships which would be a bigger international incident or end the reason they were coming, remove Maduro …. however, as we see Maduro’s government remains in control as Trump has now threatened them to play ball or else.
Every time Netanyahu shows up at the White House the Declining Empire does something else to drain the treasury and steal more of my tax money. I notice more and more of trumps sycophants are abandoning him. Professor Turley is trying hard to remain the steadfast foot soldier but it’s getting harder to stay the course. Trump was always a conman, remains a conman and will always be a conman. Even Steve bannon is waking up.
A Constantly Changing Story
In this column Turley contents himself with the basic legal argument. And that’s fine to cover the capture of Maduro.
But, as Turley notes, ‘Trump went off-script’. Trump kept yacking about oil like that was all that mattered. Making it clear to every cynic that the U.S. intends to sieze Venezuela’s oil.
This oil plunder perception reinforces every critic of Iraq. Like Trump is determined to relive Iraq.
However the U.S. doesn’t control any section of Venezuela yet. Nor its oil industry. And Maduro’s government still holds power. So how are we going to control Venezuela without a total invasion?
Everything with Trump is a constantly changing story full of contradictions. Only a sap would think it’s still about drugs.
Trump just pardoned the former president of Honduras who was convicted of drug trafficking in the same court Maduro will face. If Trump cares about drugs, that pardon sent a very confusing message.
Trump is confused if he honestly thinks the American people want another Iraq closer to home. Hopefully the Senate pumps the brakes on this.
Next up: Greenland. Stay tuned.
Rubio explained today that what they mean by “running Venezuela” is using the leverage they have from the oil quarantine to get the Venezuelan government to adopt the policies the US wants. That’s a far cry from taking over its government.
DannyBoy: Surely you jest.
Venezuela has 18.7% of the world’s oil and a population of 30 million.
Saudi Arabia has 16.15% of the world’s oil and a population of 35 million.
The United States has 2.13% of the world’s oil and a population of 340 million.
What in the —- have the leaders of Venezuela been doing for the past 100 years?
All of the World’s Oil Reserves by Country, in One Visualization
Oil remains one of the most strategically important resources in the global economy. It powers transportation systems, underpins industrial activity, and continues to shape geopolitics and trade flows. While renewable energy is growing, oil still plays a dominant role in meeting global energy needs.
By: Bruno Venditti Graphics/Design: Sam Parker December 30, 2025
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/all-of-the-worlds-oil-reserves-by-country-in-one-visualization/
also
https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/visualizing-all-worlds-oil-reserves-country
Related:
Charted: Global Grid Investment by Country (2020–2027F)
Modern electricity grids sit at the center of the energy transition. As renewable generation expands and electricity demand rises, countries must invest heavily to modernize aging infrastructure, improve reliability, and handle more variable power sources.
This chart shows how grid investment is evolving across major countries and regions from 2020 through 2027, highlighting where capital is flowing and which markets are scaling up the fastest.
By Bruno Venditti Graphics/Design: Joyce Ma ~ December 26, 2025
[Link] visualcapitalist.com/charted-global-grid-investment-by-country-2020-2027f/
OT:
Thinking about Minnesota daycare fraud, people supposedly left their children in daycare and that was paid by State and federal money? If the parent went to work at minimum wage and daycare work is minimum wage paying the parent to care for their children is a break even? Is that the rationale? We’re paying parents to care for their children?
As to Venezuela, the Venezuelans are most likely looking forward to returning home. Every country south of the US border is either a narco-state government or cartel-state government. It’s tyranny. It’s bled into the US. Those are actual forms of government.
Happy new year
^^^ The oil confiscation? Of course, DJT never gives away anything of American resources. The oil paid for it, reimbursed the US arrest of Maduro. DJT must have fumed over the military equipment in Afghanistan.
Prof. Turley – though I agree with you,
The FACT is that as with most things in the world there are MULTIPLE reasons for doing something – as well as multiple reasons for NOT doing something.
Trump and you and many left wing nuts here note venezuelan oil as a motive for this.
absolutely – one of many.
There are inumerable potential benefits to this operation.
Oil is one of those.
This action also send a message to The Drug Cartels as well as the governments that are in league with them.
It sends a message to China and the world about US military capabilities that is a strong deterant to bad acts those nations might be considering.
And there are many risks
How important is the arrest of Maduro ?
It is absolutely critical.
Why ?
Because despite all the tother motivations it is highly unlikely that Trump would have done this otherwise.
Almost certaintly he would have WANTED to do it.
But Trump and americans WANT myriads of things – things we are capable of doing.
We do not do things simply because we want to or because we will benefit
You note that Maduro/Chavez took a prosperous Venezuellan nation and turned it into a $hithole.
Everyone – especially the Venezualans will benefit from ending that.
I would note that even if Venezuala was not sitting on massive oil reserves – that would still be true.
Socialist countries impoverish their own people AND contribute less to the world. A low standard of living is a direct measure of a countries contribution to the rest of the world.
John Say, whitewash much? Trump has no idea what he is doing more than half the time. He has to be told what his executive orders do, meaning someone else writes them for him. He’s not running the show.
It was never about the drug cartels. The majority of Venezuelan drugs went to Europe, not the US. It was always about the oil. OUR reserves are at or near maturity meaning they won’t be able to produce significant amounts profitably in the near future. Trump is attacking renewables and lowering our ability to produce energy more economically. China is doing the opposite and investing heavily in renewables and more independence from oil imports.
This won’t turn out to be what the Trump administration claims. This has always been the case with every Republican presidency. Adventures with regime change involving oil.
X –
I love your bot account. It is so disconnected from reality as to reach parody.
Please keep posting! It makes even the most boring JT article worth reading the comments.
Today already Trump is again saying that we need Greenland. At some point hopefully some Republicans will speak out. He obviously only tolerates “yes” men in the White House.
You are not paying attention obviously
“‘John Say, whitewash much? ”
Not at all. What did I say that was incorrect ?
“Trump has no idea what he is doing more than half the time.”
And yet he is successful.
“He has to be told what his executive orders do, meaning someone else writes them for him.”
Of course someone else – armies of lawyers write the EO’s why does that suprise you – I doubt even Washington did not have lawyers assisting with EO’s. What kind of argument is that ?
Pretty much all of Trump’s EOs reflect one or another element of his platform – Agenda 47.
All the EO’s are is a constitutionally and legally crafted restatement of his platform.
Have you ever negotiated a contract ? You and the other party – sometimes with lawyers sometime without, come to an agreement in principle, then lawyers write the text of the contract to impliment that agreement.
That is normal.
“He’s not running the show.”
And yet EVERYTHING that is being done is exactly what he promised during the election.
Who is it you think is running the show – his ghost ?
“It was never about the drug cartels. The majority of Venezuelan drugs went to Europe, not the US. ”
First get your facts straight – Venzeuala is the source for 25% of Global Coacaine. It is the souce for 33% of US Cocaine.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_drug_trade_in_Venezuela
Was this about Drugs ? Of Course not – it was about the involvment of the Govenrment and specifically Maduro in international drug trafficking and international terrorism.
How can we tell ? Because the US has not issued warrants for the arrest of Scheinbaum, or the leaders of other countries sourcing Drugs.
Trump captured Maduro not because his country was involved in these things – but Because HE was essentially the president AND Cartel leader for Venezuelan drug operations.
I would note that not only Was Maduro and his wife taken – but 5 others were taken on US warrents for Drug Traficking and terrorism.
Absolutely Mexico is a bigger Drug Problem for the US. Further there is ample evidence that the Mexican govenrment is extremely tolerant of the Drug Cartels – there is with certainty significant bribery as well as death threats.
But the Cartels are still independent of the government – Mexico’s govenrment is corrupted by Cartels, it is turning a blind eye to them.
It is not Running them.
Trump has asked – Begged Scheinbaum to give the US permission to take out Mexican Cartels.
He has also threatened to do so without permission.
He has NOT Threatened to arrest Scheinbaum.
I would note that Mexico is an extremely large Oil producer too – while there reserves are smaller there production is far higher than Venezuela.
US military operations against Mexico would be far easier than Venezuela
This was obviously NOT about either Drugs or Oil – though without any doubt those are bonus factors.
I would note that Maduro SAID he was at war with the US.
Well he got what he asked for.
“It was always about the oil.”
Nope.
To be clear – Oil is actually as good a reason as any other.
The US has inarguably
gone to war over oil before.
Oil is absolutely a national security issue.
The issue is NOT is Oil a legitimate justification , it is WAS oil the determinative factor rather than a side benefit.
Drugs are ALSO not the driving factor – though still a factor.
The illigetimacy, criminality, and direct involvlment in terrorism were the determinative factors.
There are DOZENS of other Bonus factors – including drugs and oil.
” OUR reserves are at or near maturity meaning they won’t be able to produce significant amounts profitably in the near future. ”
Nope – US production ROSE 10% in 2025. US reservers are larger today than in 2010.
Further the Tar Sands in Utah – which are about as significant as those in Canada and CAN be accessed with current technology,
and the Oil Shale in the Dakotas which are as large as the ENTIRE global proven oil reserves today but not economically viable YET.
Your claim has been Debunked REPEATEDLY. First in the late 20th century – Fracking became economically viable and US resrerves shot up by a factor of 3. Next with each year the recovery rate for Fracked wells increases – just last year new materials have increased Fracking results by over 100% – these are currently ONLY being used on a small fraction of new wells – but they are apllicable to ALL Fracked wells.
That is just current Technology. We have not touched the Utah Tar sands – they are not part of the US proven resevers even though they are as large as Alberta’s tar sands. We are unlikely to tap them for decades – because like Canada’s tar sands they are much more expensive to produce than Fracked oil. Canada produces from Tar Sands because they do not have Other sources of oil. They engage in an expensive process because there is no cheap process available to them.
Eventually the US will be able to economically tap the Dakotas oil Shale That too will likely be more expensive than Tar Sands.
But that does not matter – when other sources of oil run out – the MASSIVE US oil shale will be viable.
And like Fracking – it will be very expensive to start and eventually it will prove to be cheap.
Today the US does NOT engage in very large amounts of resource extraction – not because we do not have the resources,
But because it is very expensiv to extract Resources int he US – labor costs are high, and we have some of the most expensive regulatory regimes.
But that does not mean we do not have substantial natural resources – only that we CHOSE not to extract them.
Coal can be easily converted to natural gas – we do not do so – because we have massive reserves of natural gas.
With greater difficulty Coal can be converted to Gasoline – the Germans did so in WWII
The US has massive coal reserves – but we are mining less and less coal all the time. Because we do not need to.
Should the time ever come that it is worthwhile for the US to do so we will tap the Utah tar sands the dakotas oil shale and turn our massive coal reserves into oil.
Your “mature” argument is garbage that was debunked 50 years ago.
US oil production is larger than it has ever been and proven reserves are greater than they have ever been
and the reserves that merely require technology or prices to make them viable are many orders of magnitude larger.
The US does not NEED any foreign oil. The US EXPORTS more oil than it imports.
That has had a RADICAL impact on US national security and foreign policy.
BUT increasing production in OTHER countries will have an even greater impact.
Oil is in EVERY nations national security interests.
Abundant and cheap oil REDUCES the national security threat and disempowers the use of Oil as a tool global threat.
Virtually no nation on earth would give a $hit about most of the mideast and north Africa but for oil.
We would all be perfectly happy to allow Arab nations to pi$$ all over each other – as we did prior to the discovery of oil in the mideast.
Venzeulla’s oil returning to production disempowers Russia, Disempowers Iran, and disempowers the mideast.
That is good for the world.
It has a small but good impact on the US – it actually has a very large positive impact in Europe.
I have said over and over – that the Ukraine war is in Europes national security interest – NOT the US.
Energy is one of the major reasons for that.
There are two massive global economies that are not self sufficient in energy that need highly competive and abundant global oil – that is Europe and China – NOT the US today.
We have legitimately acted on the basis of oil in the past.
We do NOT do so today.
That does NOT mean we are not very happy to see much higher oil production.
It just means oil is a significantly reduced national security issue for the US.
“Trump is attacking renewables”
No he is just eliminating stupid subsides.
I have zero problems with Renewables. Put up solar panels on your roof. or whatever else you wish.
But I am radically opposed to Government subsidizing ANYTHING – including Energy.
“lowering our ability to produce energy more economically.”
Eliminating subsidies drives efforts to cut production costs.
Oil and “renewables” – BTW ALL energy is renewable – Except for Geothermal and Nuclear all other energy comes from the Sun,
The only question is When was that energy caputured and stored for use.
“China is doing the opposite and investing heavily in renewables and more independence from oil imports.”
China is doing many things – it is also the worlds largest producer and consumer of coal.
China produces more renewable energy proxducts – solar pannels and wind turbines – but it EXPORTS those – it uses very little domestically.
China is one of the worlds least consumers of renewable energy.
“This won’t turn out to be what the Trump administration claims.”
Almost certainly not – things never work as expected.
That does NOT mean all doom and gloom predictions come true – Few do.
Venezuella can go completely to h311 and if it does – Trump will be blamed.
One of the key questions is how quickly does Venezualla return to legitimate govenrment chosen by the venezuellan people.
It has been a decade since Venezuella had an honest election.
Afghanistan and Iraq and much of the Mideast have absolutely no reason – beyond oil to expect they can self govern prosperously.
Venezuala has been a robust and proserous country in the past – it can easily be in the future.
There is no certainty that happens. But there is a good possibility.
” This has always been the case with every Republican presidency. Adventures with regime change involving oil”
And democrats.
I oppose nation building. I do not support much of what Trump is saying at the moment.
But that does not mean I am frothing mad about it.
I have zero problems with removing Maduro as an illegitimate leader who was actively using Government power to threaten US national securtity. I would have prefered to left the blckade and intradictions work and let him seek asylum.
But that is not what we did.
Now I would prefer that The US require that the current government hold elections Quickly – they were not legitimately put into power.
Venezuella MUST have legitimate govenrment.
If they chooe socialism again – we must live with that.
But if they continue to threaten our national security we can and will take them out – socialist or not.
We Will choose to leave the current regime in place – until there are elections – we do not want anarchy.
There must be sufficient time for those expatriats that wish to return to Venezuella to do so before elections
1/3 of Venezuallan people were forced out of Venezeualla during the maduro regime.
Likely atleast half want to return.
THEN there can be free and fair elections.
I expect that is what Trump will do.
No one wants the US military in Venezualla.
There are currently no indications that we are going to occupy Venezuela as we did Iraq or Afghanistan.
John
The end game of the circle is to benefit Venezuela and benefit the United States. What’s missing here is why would a prosperous country as pre socialist Venezuela was allow itself to become consumed by a bunch of Socialists? The answer is always the same, it’s the proportion of haves versus have nots. Greed and corruption destroyed Venezuela last time, because with all that money generated they did nothing for a vast number of their people. It is always about reinvesting in your own country and apparently the Rico’s did not. Perhaps this time around, the people with the money will assure that a majority of the people benefit and are rewarded for the betterment of themselves and their country.
One final thought before I shut down here.
(1) The country of CHILE pulled the same thing way back when with its nationalization of COPPER mining and the copper industry, to the detriment of several foreign investors and American interests (1970s?). While it never reaped the lucrative benefits that Chile had hoped for (several foreign investors opted out, boycotted, a/o sold their interests) I believe it remains nationalized. I don’t think lawsuits against Chile were very successful but I could be wrong.
(2) I do not know how much longer we need to develop cost-effective alternative technology to replace dependency on fossil fuels, but I assume we have enough supply on our own to last us til we get there. With a projected limited future need for its once-heavily marketable resource, Venezuela may be more willing to listen to us. But Russia and China may fill that gap, which to me is the bigger concern because of geographic proximity as well as Chinese control of several Panama ports.
THANK YOU to Professor Turley for creating this forum for exchange of thoughts and opinions.
I do not know the specifics of Chile – but what you described has happened many times.
Socialist countries pretty much ALWAYS “expropriate” what belongs to others.
I can not say that in EVERY case they get away with it. But in most they do not in the long run.
It is not so much the courts that force them to return what they have stolen,
it is that the nation does not get access to foreign investment and loans until it promises to do so.
People tend not to invest or to demand exhorbitant returns where there is a high risk of losing their investment.
Next – do not get sucked in by malthusian stupidity.
There is not a single malthusian end of the world prediction that has EVER come true.
As Julian Simon correctly notes in “The Ultimate Resource II”
Which is an excellent resource for statistics on the ultimate stupidity of ALL malthusian claims.
There is no natural resource that is actually limited.
ALL natural resources are infinite if we are willing to pay the cost to get them.
One of the major successes of the free market is that it ALWAYS turns scarcity into abundance.
This is why it succeeds and socialism and big govenrment does not.
Almost all government programs work by subsidizing something that people can not afford.
But it is littlerally the fact that people want something that they can not afford that is why the free market will make that affordable.
The free market works by finding those things people want much more of than they can afford and figuring out how to provide them such that they can be afforded.
One of the problems most people have with free markets is that they assume costs are fixed – or that they are ever increasing.
And that therefore prices are fixed or ever increasing and that the value of something is fixed.
all of that appears to be true, but none of it is actually true.
Costs are fixed until someone finds are creative way to reduce them.
And someone will ALWAYS find a creative way to reduce the cost of something that people want more of than they can afford.
Because that is ALWAYS the way to profit.
What government does whenever people want something they can not afford is EXACTLY the wrong thing to make that affordable.
This is one of the more important reasons that socialism ALWAYS fails – because it undercuts the very forces that raise standard of living.
Socialism does NOT make thngs more affordable – it just hides how you are paying for them.
And if you pay more for something than you would have chosen if you KNEW you were paying the full price,
then you are getting less of what you would have had you chosen NOT to buy what you can not afford.
It is specificallyt he fact that you want something and can not afford it that drives the free markets.
So what does all this mean ?
It means that so long as govenrment stays out of it – and ultimately with more pain and more slowly even if government steps in,
We will NEVER run out of energy.
Further it is highly unlikely we will ever run out of oil.
If it ever comes to that – so long as we want oil, if there is none available – we will make it.
We already make synthetic oil for lubrication. Today it costs SOMEWHAT more than oil from a well.
The Germans made gasoline during WWII from coal – and the world has 3 times as much coal as it has oil and coal is cheaper than oil.
We will eventurlly cease to use oil for energy – but we will do so because something else works Better for us.
MAYBE Better means cheaper – but not always.
Wood is still a cheaper source of energy than coal, which is still cheaper than oil.
We use oil to heat our homes rather than coal – not because it is cheaper – it isn’t, but because we like it more.
Increasingly we are moving to gas and electric heat – electric heat is the least efficient way to heat.
But we like it better so we pay for it.
Correct, and kudos for citing Simon. He’s too often overlooked.
(2) Correct. Hydrogen is a Fuel that is waiting in the wings.
Large Oil and Gas Companies have little to no incentive to produce Hydrogen simply because Hydrogen is a decentralization threat to their Oligopoly (Industrial Monopoly as a whole). Wherefore the majors are not going to develop a Market for Hydrogen when left to their own interest.
(Why would Oil companies want to? When they can make profits with the existing infrastructure at a lower cost and higher profit margins).
Tesla’s Super Charging electrical stations were able to utilize an existing and larger distribution system – The Grid. Hydrogen has no Grid, albeit the Gas is distributed at minimal volumes (micro) when compared to Petroleum Product distribution or Electrical Distribution via BEV power points.
This presents a significant barrier to entry for Hydrogen adaptation. Toyota & Honda has known this for decades as R&D projects in California have proven. Unless a large scale adaptation to Hydrogen (propulsion) at the Consumer Scale (Gas-Station Retail Level) happens, there will be no ‘market’ for Hydrogen. (e.g.: because “The Money Is In The Retail ! “)
Getting Automobile Manufactures to migrate to Battery Electric Vehicles was achievable because the Infrastructure was established and co-opted by Companies (Tesla) to sell electricity easily as a consumer commodity. [Tesla, merely manufactures the ‘Shovel & Picks’ for Consumers to Mine the Grid.]
Getting Automobile Manufactures to migrate to Hydrogen requires similar circumstances. they would gladly manufacture Automobiles to Mine the Hydrogen Grid IF ONE EXISTED.
It’s the Petro Lobby Stupid
It has nothing to do with Green House Gases, Climate Change, Strategic Resources … It never has. Trump’s ears have garnered the whispers of the Petro Giants, the UAW, and Auto Industry Execs. They are only concerned with Profits and Wall Street Market Share Prices and MAINTAINING A MONOPOLY.
He doesn’t get it. In order to Make this Country Great Again, you need to have MOTIVATION. Al Gore in his blind way (of the Climate Change narrative), triggered/sparked what this Country needed, Motivation for Innovation, hence this opened the opportunity for EVs to break the ice (The iron grip of Oil Companies).
EV’s take a cut out of the Automotive-Petro Fuel Complex monopoly and new Transportation Technology (Fuel Cell – H₂) takes a cut out of the Automotive-Petro Fuel Complex monopoly. There is no incentive for the Petro Fuel industrial giants to make changes that:
1. Cost them money that would otherwise be profits (invest in H₂ gas conversion infrastructure),
2. Cut into their Monopoly, by opening up another competitive Market (H₂ + EVs).
“The Money Is In the Retail”
Consumers don’t care what kind of Fuel Pump Nozzle fills the tank of their Car (Petro Nozzle, Electrical Nozzle, or H₂ Nozzle). They just want it at an affordable price, availability, and fuel that gets them 300+ miles from Point-A to Point-B. IF they cared so much about the CO₂ Greenhouse Gases coming out of their Auto tailpipes they would stop driving and ride a bike or walk. SO the argument is Moot, the Consumer is going to Drive an Automobile one way or another.
The Petro Giants could invest in H₂ Technology (at the cost of Profits), and yes the consumer conversion would take time (15 years) as Petro was phased out, and by doing so they would still hold on to their Monopoly all along the way, as the volume of H₂ to displace Petro is so large that only Large Oil Companies could supply the demand. Petro companies strip Natural Gas/LNG into H₂, the resultant Carbon is Sequester and the Circular Economy complete (zero-emmisions). This is not rocket science, it’s already there. Big Oil knows it.
What is needed is the ‘Motivation for Innovation’ that produces that paradigm shift that generates cottage industries and jobs for the American Economy. So we have to wait for the Petro Industry to make the first move to H₂ (Build it and they (Consumers) will come).
So the reason EV and H₂ are being forced out is the Greed of the Automotive-Petro Fuel Complex monopoly. Clinging to the old Petro-Profit Business Model is just killing the American spirit and further our losses in the World Competitive Markets (Negative GDP) in the name of profits.
We will not be able to “Make America Great Again” until we change the minds of the Automotive-Petro Fuel Complex.
Trump can’t see that, as he’s been blindsided by the; Petro Giants, the UAW, and Auto Industry Execs.
[Now take this Blessing (Narrative) and recapitulate it as your own – Just Do It]
Anon
You omitted the part about Hydrogen being an extremely flammable material. It’s gaseous form was used in the Hindenberg Air Ship. You may remember that disaster, hydrogen generators are possible however the electron gun component used in them in the wrong hands is a deadly serious weapon. A compressed hydrogen tank in a car would be disastrous bleve if ruptured or leaking.
We should all go back to horse and buggy…consumes hay and water, it reproduces itself and when it wears out you can eat it!
Gasoline is just as deadly when used improperly or as a weapon. Hydrogen in Automotive transportation has been in development for 5+ decades. Many of these concerns have been addressed. No one can prevent the intentional misuse of a potential-energy product.
(that’s the Gun-Control argument).
The reality/gravity of the situation is that Europe is sticking to the majority of it’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) mandates.
Thus Hydrogen as a ‘green’ technology is be integrated into their Transportation systems and ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) is being phased out.
China, Germany, Japan and South Korea have established hydrogen propulsion manufacturing plants. Honda, Toyota and BMW all have road ready vehicles available today. Trucks will see the first Hydrogen Station networks in the EU and Asia (think Pilot and Loves Stations when hydrogen hits the U.S.).
The sad part is the U.S. will be left behind once again (for the sake of greed), and Europe and Asia will take the lead in Transportation.
Tragic for U.S. manufacturing and cottage industries (i.e.: American; Machine Shops, Engineering firms, etc…)
Hydrogen Aims to Go Big
As sales continue to ramp up for hybrid- and full-electric vehicles (albeit sporadically in the U.S.), another alternative power system also is slowly gaining traction: fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
By: Thom Cannell ~ Aug 26, 2024
https://www.advancedmanufacturing.org/industries/hydrogen-aims-to-go-big/article_6bee7698-63e2-11ef-9567-2f2904cb1b36.html
https://hydrogen-central.com/
Its the same old Detroit Thinking that the status quo is acceptable and well keep on delivering what we always have. And as the industry grows we will monopolize the field and take in all the profits, the Public will take what we give them (That’s the mentality).
It is not so different than that of the Socialist (USSR), We will make one Car and everybody will have the choice of that one type of Car.
Innovation creates new wealth, Competition stimulates innovation, and Consumer Demand* drives it.
(* The Money is in the Retail)
The new/next Generation needs to get on the ball and Motivate-the-Innovation – They are the ones driving the Demand.
Hydrogen is their Future
AI Overview
While hydrogen offers zero-emission use, many experts argue it’s not a viable mainstream fuel due to high production costs, significant energy loss during creation (especially ‘green’ hydrogen), challenges with storage/transport (low density, flammability), reliance on fossil fuels for most production, and safety issues like invisible, fast flames. It’s seen more as an energy carrier or for specific heavy-duty uses (aviation, shipping, industrial processes) rather than a direct replacement for gasoline or a universal energy solution, with battery-electric often being more efficient for lighter transport.
In Other News: “Politicians Organize and Appoint ‘US District Court of Baker Island’, Chartering It to Indict Trump, Reverse His Policies, and to Free Criminals and Terrorists”
~+~
In a surprising move, political leaders seeking a more reliable partner in the courts, crafted a new US District Court situated at Baker Island, 1,900 miles southwest of Honolulu. A disused lighthouse will serve as its claimed venue. All hearings will take place via remote video conferencing allegedly from the lighthouse, though it has been discovered that the internet traffic is somehow sharing the same internet address of the domain democrats.org.
When asked how some in government could legitimately justify the establishment of a US district court on a remote, uninhabited island thousands of miles from any US State a court official responded, “Well, Baker Island was first claimed by the US under the Guano Islands Act, and guano’s as good a foundation as any other bullsh–t used to justify politicians’ laws or actions.
Guano not “other bullsh-t”. Guano, bullsh-t mutually exclusive.
Re: “My strong preferences for congressional authorization and consultation are immaterial. The question I am asked as a legal analyst is whether this operation would be viewed as lawful. The answer remains yes.”
In the course of that military operation the U.S. War Machine preemptively slaughtered Venezuelan citizens inside of their own country. Just because it could.
I would like Professor Turley to attach a Just War rationalization to that.
Venezuelans who were drug cartels armed by Maduro and bringing boatloads of fentynyl into our country. Venezuelans are celebrating the arrest of a despot who ruled through oppression. Cry harder.
Just War theory is part of the Roman Catholic church’s moral teachings. It plays no part in any legal analysis.
The Radical Democrat Marxist wrote:In the course of that military operation the U.S. War Machine preemptively slaughtered Venezuelan citizens inside of their own country. Just because it could.
Cuban security for Maduro collapsed during U.S. operation: The network that protected him became his greatest vulnerability
“Reports are that most of the Cuban internal security operators that provided the protective bubble around Maduro were killed, other than the few who surrendered or were captured. The capture of Maduro exposes the vulnerability of the Cuban-Venezuelan security system. The U.S. operation reveals internal tensions and the erosion of Cuban control in Caracas.”
How’s that for Americans supposedly killing Venezuelans who were supposedly the ones oppressing and murdering other Venezuelans – rather than Russian trained Cuban secret police contractors that surrounded Maduro?
The Democrats badly failing Propaganda War Machine now wants to assure us that the Cuban internal security contractors that Castro put in Venezuela to both protect and control first Chavez, and then Maduro, were actually Vewnezuelans – not Cubans – helping Maduro both oppress and murder their fellow Venezuelans.
I would like to think any communist Democrat who cosplays as being Rational could justify the claim that these Cubans were actually “Venezuelan citizens”. Citizens who had made their living helping the communist dictator Maduro steal two elections – and murder thousands of their fellow Venezuelan citizens.
Your move…