For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"A top speculative idea for 2008 is Calgary-based Penn West Energy Trust (NYSE: PWE)," says Jack Adamo, editor of Insiders Plus. "We would consider this stock a 'smart money' buy.

"Commodities guru Jim Rogers said four years ago that energy prices would go a lot higher and stay there longer than anyone supposed. We believed him, and loaded up on energy, with spectacular results. We're up 45% this year alone.

"The thesis still stands. Within five years Mexico, our second largest oil supplier, will be a net importer of oil. Prices will remain high.

"Penn West Energy Trust is out of favor because Canadian tax laws change in 2009, and it faces corporate taxes. But with the units currently yielding 15%, even a few quarters of lower payouts in a recession, and a 30% tax bite in 2009, the units will still yield near 10%.

"With its long-lived reserves, the company has good growth prospects to boot. Great for current income or long-term total return. Buy up to $33.50."

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who is just a little miffed at the way that Fed chairman Ben Bernanke and his elite staff have chosen to handle our economy. My feelings fall pretty much in line with those of investment genius Jim Rogers. I listened to a short interview with him today on public radio. He pretty much confirmed my belief that the dollar could be going the way of the dinosaurs. For crying out loud, the Fed dumped about four tons of greenbacks on the financial system Thursday. Bank leaders such as Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) aren't generating enough profit to meet the demands of operation and to please the shareholders at the same time! What's the Fed going to do about the 80% profit decline at Wachovia Corp. (NYSE: WB)? A lower basis point for bank borrowing won't even scratch the surface of the cash shortfall. In fact, the lower the basis point the more it injures the bank's ability to make a profit on the loans that we need right now to salvage some home ownership scenarios from the mortgage debacle. How much more evidence do you need to realize we are living in a time of disastrous fiscal policy? We're lining up to make 1929 look like a cake walk.

Jim Rogers is pretty much the man, and anyone who followed the advice in his book Hot Commodities has already made a bunch of money. But his latest comments on state of the financial world are not so encouraging.

Rogers said the fallout from the subprime mess has "got a long way to go'' in an interview with Bloomberg News. According to the piece:

"This was one of the biggest bubbles we've ever had in credit,'' Rogers, chairman of New York-based Beeland Interests Inc., said in an interview from Hong Kong. "I have been and am still short the investment bankers in America. I'm also short homebuilders.''

Uh oh. Jim Rogers is one of a handful of experts who really is worth listening to when he opines on macroeconomic issues, even if you don't like what he has to say.

The business world is anxiously waiting to hear what Ben Bernanke has to say, but Rogers' wisdom may be even more important for individual investors to heed.

Also on CNBC this morning, Jim Rogers said he did not support a Fed bailout of the stock market and said that while Bernanke is "not very smart," he hopes he won't make that mistake.

Back in the 1970s, Jim Rogers made a fortune on commodities investing. At the time, he was a part of the pioneering hedge fund, Quantum.

Well, once again, he's very bullish on commodities -- including oil.

But, isn't oil collapsing? According to a story in Bloomberg.com, this is just a correction.

In fact, Rogers foresees oil at $150 a barrel or more. Basically, he thinks it's inevitable.

His analysis is fairly straightforward. First, the demand for oil will continue to increase (especially with the emergence of India and China). And, there has not been a major new oil discovery in over 30 years.

Yes, it's a matter of global supply-and-demand.

But, you may not want to rush to buy. According to Rogers, a correction could easily last a couple years.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including the Complete M&A Handbook and the EDGAR-Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements.