I can only surmise that some of the usual proponents are embarassed and unhappy.

In the quadrennial presidential selection process, the USofA Democratic party is split right down the middle between a tiresome pseudo-populist female, and a rather interesting silver-tongued atypical man of 50% Kenyan blood.

Meanwhile, a Sunni(Iraq) religioous/militia leader is hanging out in IraN, after agreeing to a truce with Iraq government forces, and it appears that the impression of a "disaster", 3 weeks back, for the Iraq government, by media in general is actually viewable *now* as some kind of progress in the "right" direction. In one wry sense, it's not entirely bad news for oil to be at $120/barrel, since Iraq needs money for reconstruction and infrastructure. (-.

Meanwhile, oil production from huge tar sands reserves in Canada (where David might get a job) has production costs well below the present market.

Former "special education" teachers are making six figures annually, driving giant trucks, probably a multiple of her former salary..

I am wondering myself if the oil futures speculators are actually milking too much profit from the game. It would serve them right if the strategic petroleum reserve in the US Gulf of Mexico area were to be temporarily tapped to punish those speculators. Naturally, the custodians of the oil could be betting on the idea that oil prices have gotten unnaturally high, and can taper off.