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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsEsquire: If Obama and Kerry put kibosh on pipeline there'll be mother of all hissyfits
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/The_Latest_On_The_Pipeline>>>>
It appears that a Great Sad has descended on some of the supporters in Washington of our old friend, the Keystone XL pipeline. From their lips, of course, to god's ears.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said Friday that he is not holding out much hope that President Obama will approve the Keystone XL pipeline. "Though normally a pretty good optimist, I am not overly optimist that the president will allow the Keystone XL to move forward despite Nebraska's reroute of the pipeline thru their state," Upton said in a live Web chat on Michigan news website Mlive.com
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What will happen if the president and Secretary Kerry put the kibosh on the pipeline is going to be the mother of all hissy fits. The pipeline is an article of faith on the Republican right, not because it will necessarily improve this country's energy policy, but because refusing to build it would be a triumph for almost everyone the Republican right hates, and that hate is what propels conservative politics.
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Me:
We can only hope this comes to be, but, both Hillary and Bill Clinton were squarely behind Keystone deal, and I expect a deal was already made long ago, there was just no way she would allow herself to be seen politically as the one signing the deal.
TheKentuckian
(25,026 posts)Who gives a shit?
Vincardog
(20,234 posts)octoberlib
(14,971 posts)some Canadians to discuss it this week.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)How do you feel about the "Facking in NC."
I'm against it...trying to figure out what to do about it. How do you feel about it?
PM me........if you don't want to answer here.
blm
(113,065 posts)McCrory and GOP are set to destroy two of the best things about this state - NC's land and water, and its toprate universities.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)Just hoping something can be done...and I got some signs in my Garage...but, need new ones for this thing...
McCrory is getting "some" push back ...here and there.....but, it's going to take more going on down the line.
glad we are on same page on this one...
limpyhobbler
(8,244 posts)I see what you are saying. But in my opinion all of the guessing games about who decides and when sort of distracts away from the fact that Obama is the decider. It's his responsibility to decide. If he wants he can choose to delegate the decision to someone else. But I can not imagine that any person can force the President to do something he doesn't want to do in regard to this pipeline.
Obama is 100% responsible for this decision.
blm
(113,065 posts)Neither do I. I DO know that past deals that were made covertly didn't work out too well for Democrats or the country in the long run.
Any claim that the 'decision' hasn't been made is pure political CYA - it was always a State Dept. decision and there is no way Hillary spent the last 4 years studying the review process and could not reach a decision. She and Bill were always for it and they'll remind Obama how much the WH is perceived to owe them.
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But the rumor is that Clintons State Department is nonetheless about to recommend approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline, which the top climate scientists in the nation have unanimously called a terrible idea. As far as I know, though, Clintons subordinates havent reached out to ask them why. For more than a year now, its been one of Washingtons worst-kept secrets that Clinton wants the pipeline approved. And why not? Its builder, TransCanada, hired her old deputy campaign manager as its chief lobbyist and gave lobbying contracts to several of her big bundlers. Leaked emails show embassy officials rooting on the project; its classic D.C. insiderism. (And, weirdly, her rumored successor is just as involvedSusan Rice has millions in stock in TransCanada and other Canadian energy companies.)
And in one sense it doesnt make much difference. Everyone in the capitals also known that the Keystone decision, in the end, will come down to President Obama, who will weigh States findings and then rule whether the pipeline is in the national interest. When that happens, well find out if hes a more modern politician than Hillary, or if hes still fighting yesterdays wars too.
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http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/09/hilary-clinton-and-obama-s-dismal-record-on-the-environment.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/09/hillary-clinton-keystone_n_2268536.html
http://dailycaller.com/2012/02/29/bill-clinton-we-should-embrace-keystone-pipeline-video/
limpyhobbler
(8,244 posts)You are probably right about about everything you said. Hillary wanted it, and maybe promised it to Trans-Canada's agents or whatever. I'm not arguing with you or anything like that. At the same time Obama still has the power to stop it right now. He clearly has that authority.
This right here-
Obama went to Washington promising to change the way Washington worked and to usher in a new era of transparency and good government. Here's a chance. He's not under any obligation to honor corrupt secret deals.
He is responsible for approving or denying it. If a now-retired government official made a scandalous secret deal with the oil companies or their agents in a foreign government, then that is even more reason for him to reject such a deal. On top of the actual policy reasons.
blm
(113,065 posts)They get TONS of advertising money from those invested in this deal being made.
limpyhobbler
(8,244 posts)woo me with science
(32,139 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)Last edited Fri Feb 8, 2013, 11:12 PM - Edit history (1)
if Obama didn't yield. He didn't.This may be their last chance to bluster on the budget and threaten the solvency of the nation over this boondoggle. Perry has likely signed on to this on his end of the stinker and various parties along the line could lose millions gambled on it. Obama deflected them and I hope Kerry negotiates something to satisfy these interests in Canada. Since the oil was allegedly destined for China and the Canadian companies made a threat to send it straight west and not run it down to the Gulf. Sure, the oil giants want this, but they have lost some of their power. It's going to be hard for those, big and small, who were counting on this, but it was never a true job creator. More progressives in office will put the energy companies' role in perspective.
politicasista
(14,128 posts)Hoping for the best.
randome
(34,845 posts)For they are promulgated by imbeciles.
raouldukelives
(5,178 posts)Junkdrawer
(27,993 posts)Tough call.
JaneyVee
(19,877 posts)will be barreled and sold on the world market. Never mind the environmental impact.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)timdog44
(1,388 posts)From what I understand, and I wish I could find the link, the Koch brothers own the refineries in Louisiana where this sludge is suppose to go. The refineries there are fine tuned to refine this dirty oil. And then it goes over seas and does not benefit America at all. If the Canadians want to provide this sludge, maybe they should build their own refinery up there. I have seen some specials on TV about how they pull this out of the ground and it is disgusting.
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)I just don't.
blm
(113,065 posts)I hope like hell I am wrong.
Berlum
(7,044 posts)No American bothers with their whining. Republicans always have their diapers in a twist about something stoopid and wrong. It is so feeble, tiresome, and childish.