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“…In the eyes of the political class and media know-nothings, those invested in Exxon Mobil should be making less on their investments. Such is the quality of our media and elected officials, who seemingly don't understand even the most basic rudiments of a free-market system.” Read the article.

For years, populist politicians have dragged oil industry executives to Capitol Hill and accused them of price manipulation…What evidence does congress use to back their price gouging claims? Try none. Read the article.

The problem isn't that Exxon Mobil's profit was too big, it was that it was too small…In Exxon Mobil's results lurks a disturbing message: Every three months, the noose of oil imports tightens a little more. That, not buybacks or taxes, is the overlooked story in Exxon Mobil's earnings. Read the article.

…In a long-term sense, it would serve the United States well to shift from too much of a reliance on a relationship with Musharraf specifically to a broader engagement with Pakistani society. Read the article.

In fact, the departure of Musharraf could have a salutary effect on the war. The civilian government has been distracted since its inception…with the question of Musharraf, keeping the army on edge and generally undermining any hope for a coordinated effort against extremists and terrorists. Read the article.

His alliance with George Bush in the clearly bogus war against clearly bogus terror has been an utter disaster — seen as treason by many Pakistanis and rightly so, in my opinion. Read the article.

With Musharraf's departure, the US is left dealing with a coalition united only by its determination to give Musharraf his comeuppance. Read the article.

This leaves the United States and its western allies like Britain in a difficult position. The US – as it has done so many times – put all its eggs in one basket in the military ruler Musharraf, and perceptions of the US have plummeted along with Musharraf's career. Read the article.

The West needs Pakistan to be on side if it is to stand any chance of winning the war on Islamist terror. But I have my doubts whether those that follow Mr Musharraf will have either the willingness or the commitment to be a true ally. Read the article.

In the murky world of Pakistani politics, things do not always follow a straight and narrow path…In that, the end of Musharraf's rule may signal the beginning of real political drama. Read the article.

Just because Musharraf is out doesn't mean things are going to get better. In fact, it's a mistake to view any country, but specifically Pakistan, as the product of a single strongman. Read the article.

The resignation of President Musharraf may make things easier on some levels but for many, this new situation without a President Musharraf raises even more questions than it answers. Read the article.

And like every other such exercise - be it the election of 2000 or the upcoming election of 2008 in the US - the outcome is up in the air…If we really want a secure ally in Pakistan, we would do our best to strengthen the people of Pakistan. Read the article.

Musharraf's rivals now need to be “for” something rather than just against him. Hopefully, the competing parties will continue to collaborate on taking on huge challenges facing the nation — but their record is not good. Read the article.

Whatever the outcome of the bitter struggle over Mr Musharraf's future, the move to impeach him will ensure that Pakistan's government is consumed by infighting. This power vacuum could scarcely be more dangerous. Read the article.

Mr Musharraf’s exit may thus herald even more instability. Yet it is something of a success for Pakistan’s ravaged democracy: raising hopes that, sooner or later, the country may have a representative government able to bring the army to heel. Read the article.

Of course this is not only a stunning and utter victory for the Taliban and Al Qaeda, but also quite a feather in the cap of their allies in our media and the Democrats.The rational among us will regret this day for a very long time. Read the article.

…Musharraf’s departure lays the groundwork for a more stable society. Things will certainly get worse in the days ahead because this is, after all, Pakistan. Yet now there is at least the possibility that the country can come together after weathering initial turmoil. Read the article.

…it was McCain’s night. Obama made no big mistakes. But his tendency to somewhat windy generalities meant he wasn’t particularly compelling. McCain, who went second, was crisp by contrast, and his anecdotes colorful. Read the article.

…the candidates were forced to call on everything they had — the things they have done and learned throughout their lives. And the fact is, John McCain has lived a much bigger life than Barack Obama…McCain was the clear winner of the night. Read the article.

Obama better be thankful for the timing of this; he seemed a little rusty and clearly has some work to do before he meets McCain face-to-face on Sept. 26, the night of the first presidential debate in Oxford, MS. Read the article.

I think Obama did very well… But this was McCain's best performance in memory. For the first time I can think of in '08, at least, he comes across as the kind of guy a lot of conservatives can want to vote for, rather than merely settle for. Read the article.

McCain talks about energy. He jokes about Sarkozy and Governor Arnold. He woos the crowd with his heroic story about his days as a prisoner of war. McCain tells his wonderful story about the Christian North Vietnamese guard…McCain is knocking it out of the park…He was brilliant. Read the article.

After Saturday night, even Republicans most skeptical of McCain must conclude: “Perhaps we aren't doomed after all.” Of such small hopes are large upsets made. Read the article.

If John McCain can perform during the three debates the way he is performing tonight…, he will win this election. The contrast between him and Barack Obama…has really been quite startling. In every case, McCain has answered substantively, directly, and with a surpassing command of detail. Read the article.

Most annoying to me, McSame refused to define what rich is and what middle class is. Warren asked this for a reason, and McSame weaseled it. Obama, who gave a very direct answer, looked like the straight-talker. Obama wins the night, by a big margin.  Read the article.

Conservatives like to talk about personal responsibility, but Attorney General Michael Mukasey does not seem to think it applies to the Bush administration…Mr. Mukasey’s cynical remarks shrugging off the whole scandal should prod Congress to pursue it even more vigorously. Read the article.

When nominated as the new AG, Mukasey was hailed by many as someone who would return integrity to the nation's top office of law enforcement. His announcement today suggests that faith was a case of misplaced hope. Read the article.

Understand: Mukasey has turned into a terrible shill for the Administration. But it has been clear for over a year that the Administration would escape criminal charges for having committed massive violations of the Hatch Act. Read the article.

Not every wrong, or even every violation of the law, is a crime. In this instance, the two joint reports found only violations of the civil service laws. Read the article.

Mr. Mukasey wasn't exercising prosecutorial discretion; he was simply reflecting the fact that the laws broken by the two are civil in nature and do not empower the Justice Department to press charges. It's not that Mr. Mukasey won't prosecute, it's that he can't. Read the article.

Critics of Atty. Gen. Michael B. Mukasey are complaining that he has minimized the gravity of the politicization of hiring in the Justice Department and wrongly refused to order a criminal investigation of the scandal. The first accusation is on target, but not the second. Read the article.

Someone needs to clean up this mess that the Justice Department created, and I don’t think what Mukasey is doing goes far enough. Read the article.

We are ruled by lunatics. I can think of no good reason for the United States to have a missile defense system in Poland, EXCEPT to provoke Russia. To ANNOUNCE such a deal NOW, given the situation in the Caucasus, is simply madness. Read the article.

Poland had been playing hardball with a lame duck Bush administration, but it looks if the Russians helped convince them to make the deal. I wonder if we're going to give up on the bother of arguing that the missile defense isn't aimed at the Russians… Read the article.

Poland has no allusions about Russia being a peaceful or trustworthy regional neighbor. And after finally gaining their freedom with the collapse of the USSR, they're not about to play games with it by pretending Russia won't gobble them up if an opportunity presented itself (like Georgia). Read the article.

Flag this story, because the left will surely be pointing back to it as a provocation that simply impelled Russia to act when Putin finally gets around to making his move on Ukraine or Latvia or whoever’s next on the list. Read the article.