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T R E 4 5 O N

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You are here: Home / Economics / C.R.E.A.M. / Keystone: Credit Where Due

Keystone: Credit Where Due

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President Obama does the right thing, per Bloomberg:

President Barack Obama issued his third veto Tuesday to reject legislation that would allow construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, escalating a battle over the project with Republicans in Congress.

Notice of the long-expected veto was released without fanfare via a message to the Senate just hours after the bill formally arrived at the White House. The Senate has agreed to hold a vote on overriding the veto no later than March 3.

Obama has repeatedly said a State Department review of the TransCanada Corp. project — which would carry crude oil produced in Alberta, Canada, south through the U.S. — should proceed before a decision is made on whether to allow construction of the $8 billion pipeline…

Mr. Charles P. Pierce, who has been on this story, remains cynical:

… This is what happens when you have a Congress in which a rodeo clown like Jim Inhofe has power. This is said to have opened a new “era” in the current presidency. One hopes so. But, seriously, this doesn’t come anywhere close to killing the death-funnel. It just makes clear that the ongoing approval process will keep on keepin’ on, both at the State Department and in the state courts of Nebraska. It also reminds the Republicans in Congress that neither the world nor our form of government changed in November of 2014. Now we will also get to see how many, if any, Democratic congresscritters go over the side. Gut check time, boys and girls…

Reader Interactions

88Comments

  1. 1.

    Arm The Homeless

    So how long before KXL is put into a must pass bill and we are treated to weeks of disingenuous whining about who is really obstructionist?

  4. 4.

    Arm The Homeless

    I heard that Oblammy was going to trade Social Security “reforms” for magic beans. He’s gunna sell us out!

  5. 5.

    Another Holocene Human

    @ranchandsyrup: No kidding. Once more this is a validation of Obama’s approach. He slowrolled it until it was a political loser (for the other side) and gave time for the environmental movement to hit the streets (which they DID unlike some other pressure groups I could mention). If Obama did anything wrong it was staying mum about the issue all summer because that hurt the party at the polls because of left-leaners who were convinced Obama was in the bag with corporate interests … but of course he did that at the urging of stupid-behind Senate Democrats. Oh, sure, what Democratic-leaning group has gotten a million people to pile in DC lately…? Oh, that’s right, nobody. Now go out there and kiss some polluter azz.

    I should change my ID to Another Holocene Obot. Obot and loving it!

  6. 6.

    Arm The Homeless

    @Baud: What would you trade for it? What leverage would Dems have that the Base could at the very least stomach? KXL can self-copulate, laterally, with an oxidized farm implement.

  13. 13.

    Another Holocene Human

    @Baud: I think if Obama in July had been December Obama that a lot more Dem GOTV activists would have been fired up and ready to go.

    I did phonecalls. It was brutal. Dems felt bad about their party and bad about their pols in 2014.

    eta: that immigration issue alone was a killer. it broke trust with the young activist community and depressed turnout in states where Dem latin@ vote is crucial, like CO, what an own-goal for the Democratic Party

  16. 16.

    Another Holocene Human

    To be fair, 2014 summer was all xenophobia all the time. FOX and friends dial that up to 11 before midterm elections. I was disgusted and dejected. Rather than present an inspiring message and showing our party could kick ass, Dems ran as weak corporatist lite and sent endless emails asking for MONEY when we all know the problem is TURNOUT. WTF the g-d consultants got paid. FUCK them.

  18. 18.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @Baud:

    My view is that of the GOP wants Keystone, they need to give up something for it. No freebies.

    Their lives.

    That’s the only exchange possible.

    Once they’re dead, of course, we change the deal and not allow the stupid fucking thing in the first place. It will only benefit a handful of people who already have more money than they know what to do with, since they ship it off to grifters like Kkkarl Rove.

  19. 19.

    Arm The Homeless

    @Baud: Eh, too many coal and corn interests ATM, IMHO.

    You can’t expect anywhere close to even half a loaf, because the problem is sticky and pervasive enough to touch almost every facet of our economy. Plus I don’t think the national GOP cares all that much about the pipe. They only care because it’s seen as a shibboleth in the environmental community.

  22. 22.

    Howard Beale IV

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    Their lives.

    That’s the only exchange possible.

    They want the pipeline? The exec’s and the politicians who want this must move to the path where it’s being built and must stay there for it’s entire operational lifetime.

  23. 23.

    Arm The Homeless

    @Villago Delenda Est: yup, it’s sad, but predictable.

    This is why dumpster fires, such as Gamergate, won’t be going anywhere gor the foreseeable future. The entirety of modern conservatism is simply a spite-filled tantrum, egged on by trolls and charlatans. SSDD

  24. 24.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @Howard Beale IV: Given TransCanda’s track record on pipeline safety, and the fact that they want to build this thing over the Ogallala Aquifer, AND climate change is making droughts more likely…well, the number of unintended consequences to this thing keep multiplying.

  26. 26.

    SatanicPanic

    Pierce is an ass. The pipeline was dead months ago when gas prices started falling and will be more dead as climate denial fades. I don’t know why Pierce is such a hater, I assume it has something to do with Obama being younger than him

  28. 28.

    Arm The Homeless

    @Baud: I am going to make an ‘out of ass’ prediction that Paul the Lesser will be the go-to VP pick for everyone except JEB! He has the reputation of bringing young Randians and assorted brogressives with him. It’s an overplayed meme, but not without a kernel of truth. I honestly believe ole Aqua Buddha has more deep seeded daddy issues than W.

  29. 29.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @lamh36: So, he’s letting his Stormfront Flag fly in all its National Socialist glory? No more denials about his fucking newsletters?

  30. 30.

    jl

    @lamh36:

    ” Ron Paul: Black Caucus Only Against War Because They Want That Money For Food Stamps ”

    At least some obscure anonymous contributor did not sneak it past a sadly distracted Ron Paul into his newsletter.
    Rand could use that line.

    Maybe Ron figures Rand will sink himself with his nutso conspiracy theories, so no point in pretending anymore.
    Probably only Rand trying to pay his campaign bills with Ameros would sink him with the true believers, but they are not that many, except for small state primary primary caucuses.

  32. 32.

    Tree With Water

    I don’t understand why Oboma kept the rank and file on tenterhooks about this veto for so damn long. It was (and remains, as Pierce notes) a fight worth fighting, a slam dunk winner of a fight that people would rally to wage if called upon by this POTUS. And yet, he announced his decision with a whisper. Come to think of it, it’s very similar to his behavior during-and-after BP’s criminally negligent catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico a few years ago. He could, and should, have raised all kinds of hell at BP’s expense, and by extension at the expense of the entire industry. His famous “no drama” jazz comprises more than a few such missed opportunities to make righteous political hay, and it’s a most regrettable political trait for a leader of the democratic party.

  33. 33.

    Jeremy

    @Another Holocene Human: Well they should blame the southern democrats that told the President to hold of on any executive actions because of the elections. Also I find it ridiculous that some on the left continue to run down the President when he has accomplished more for the left than any democratic president since LBJ (and that’s a fact). I think these constantly “disappointed” people will be singing a different tune once Obama leaves office no matter if his successor is a democrat or republican.

  35. 35.

    Arm The Homeless

    @Baud: Im convinced that he believes Paul the Elder is an impediment to him winning outright, but that he could easily slip into the POTUS chair with a term or two as the delegated bucket of warm spit. Worked for Bush the Elder

  40. 40.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Jeremy:
    Forget it. Obama getting credit for what he’s done is an unrealizable goal. I blame the crumbling of news media more than progressives-who-don’t-want-to-listen. When I hear people demand that Obama give a speech about what he just gave a speech about, I know it’s because CNN played a clip of the 30 most conservative seconds they could find.

  44. 44.

    Arm The Homeless

    @Baud: I use CNN the same way I use Memeorandum, as a barometer of how conservative framing is being used in ostensibly “mainstream” media. That is to say, I like to point and larff

  46. 46.

    JPL

    @Iowa Old Lady: It probably depends on how msm reports it. Earlier I mentioned that Jeb’s wife was forgiven for buying expensive jewelry and not declaring 19,000 of purchases when arriving from France, cuz everyone does. (thank you whoopi goldberg) Also she raised well grounded children.
    I know the View is not the news but I assume they still have a hefty viewership.

  47. 47.

    Jeremy

    @Frankensteinbeck: That’s true that the media doesn’t really cover the issues. I think many liberals are going to be singing a different tune after he leaves office, because I guarantee that the next president won’t achieve even half of what he has accomplished. The President is not perfect but when you look at the entire record it’s pretty impressive.

  52. 52.

    catclub

    I give no particular credit for this veto because he promised it purely on the process issue.

    When the State department report comes back he will THEN get credit if he says no.

  53. 53.

    David Koch

    In practical terms, I don’t think you can stop the pipeline. The President will rightfully deny the permit to build the pipeline. But unfortunately, one day, maybe ten years from now, a wingturd will become president and the first he’ll do is approve a permit.

    I’ve talked to environmentalists about this and asked them what is their long term plan to stop the pipeline and they say they hope oil/tar sands will become obsolete by 2025 by some revolutionary technological breakthrough. Have to say, that doesn’t sound realistic.

  56. 56.

    David Koch

    I love how the so called liberal Obama haters (with their ODS) are gritting their teeth about this development. The silver lining is their bitter bile will result in their early demise.

  58. 58.

    JPL

    There is no way that I want a pipe line to go over an aquifer or prime farm land, but the oil is now traveling by rail and trucks. Is that better and safer?

  60. 60.

    Arm The Homeless

    @catclub: yeah, no.

    As I said earlier: national GOP doesn’t care about the pipe, it’s just an easy club to bash Dems. It’s really just an extension of the ‘jerb killin’ regulations that Obummer is known for; at least in wingnut circles.

    We could trade top marginal tax rates of 0.5 percent, maybe, but that might still be a bridge too far if offered from the Swarthy One.

  62. 62.

    Tree With Water

    @David Koch: There is such a thing as honest criticism of Obama that does not spring from a hateful heart. You people are worse whiners than republicans.

  64. 64.

    SatanicPanic

    @efgoldman: The oil might not go to the US but it’s pretty hard to push for something that’s going to damage the environment like this when gas is so cheap. Voters aren’t going to see the point.

  65. 65.

    magurakurin

    @Ben Cisco (onboard the Defiant):

    If he didn’t veto it while poetry slamming Gil Scot-Heron style, in a dashiki, with a black power salute in one upraised fist and banging his d*ck on the podium with the other, it doesn’t count. Clearly.

    but you gotta admit, it would be pretty awesome if he had done that.

  67. 67.

    burnspbesq

    @Tree With Water:

    What in Heaven’s name are you talking about? It’s been common knowledge for at least six months that any Republican attempt to bypass the established review process was going to get vetoed. “I did what I have repeatedly said I was going to do” doesn’t win the news cycle.

  69. 69.

    ruemara

    @lamh36: I’m not sure we’re allowed to take offense. It seems we must look at the deeper meanings – wait, he’s not on our team? Oh, ok. Now we can be pissed an obviously stupid statement.

    @Tree With Water: he said this for a long time. What did you want a parade with fireworks?

  70. 70.

    burnspbesq

    The True Progressives moved on from Keystone months ago. The Obama Sellout du Jour has been the Trans-Pacific Partnership for at least the last 120 jours. Never mind that nobody on earth can either (a) say what’s going to be in it or (b) provide a plausible theory of where 67 votes to ratify it are going to come from, it’s The Worst Thing Ever and Obama Is To Blame. Just ask Loomis.

  71. 71.

    Luthe

    @catclub: Dude, take your victories where you find them. Otherwise you slide into “No True Scotsman conservative liberal” territory and the circular firing squad doesn’t need another gun.

  77. 77.

    No One of Consequence

    To whom it may concern:

    I register this complaint here, because I cannot register it there, but Esquire’s comment requirement for a FuckedBook account is a pity. Doubtless the powers-that-be at that shebeen are sparing themselves no end of comment spam, but some of us would like to participate in the discussion without benefitting Fuckerberg or any of those louts, even though that blog’s Oklahoman firstposter seems to be first-chair viola, and many times additional comment would not lend anything of merit to the scribbles.

    That said, Esquire if you read this: Fuck You. Charles Pierce if you read this: thank you dearly for what you do. I thoroughly enjoy your stuff. The rest of the Juicers, if you read this far: John loves you and wants you to be happy.

    I’m now going outside to yell at kid-shaped clouds in the airspace over my lawn…

    – NOoC

  80. 80.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym

    @efgoldman:

    First of all, the pipeline is strictly for exporting the tar sands oil. None of it will be used in the US.

    There are lots of good reasons to be opposed to the pipeline but this just isn’t one of them. It doesn’t matter where the oil is going to be sold because oil is traded on a global market. If every single drop of the oil is sent to China, it’s that many drops of oil that the Chinese won’t be buying from someone else. All of that oil becomes available for anyone else, including Americans, to buy at a consequently lower price.

  82. 82.

    Groucho48

    @lamh36:

    “I think it does the opposite. So if you have the senators in Iran and then you put on sanctions, people by their very nature unify. If we were attacked by foreigners and you know, have a 9/11 you know, Republicans, Democrats come together because we see it as a foreign source. So you know, this undermines the dissonance in these countries. But the two areas — as a matter of fact the neocons claim the sanctions have done this wonderful good because that is what brought them to the table — but at the same time many neocons say we don’t even want to talk to them. But uh, I don’t believe that they do achieve anything.”

    Is he channeling Sarah Palin?

  83. 83.

    AxelFoley

    @Another Holocene Human:

    @ranchandsyrup: No kidding. Once more this is a validation of Obama’s approach. He slowrolled it until it was a political loser (for the other side) and gave time for the environmental movement to hit the streets (which they DID unlike some other pressure groups I could mention). If Obama did anything wrong it was staying mum about the issue all summer because that hurt the party at the polls because of left-leaners who were convinced Obama was in the bag with corporate interests … but of course he did that at the urging of stupid-behind Senate Democrats. Oh, sure, what Democratic-leaning group has gotten a million people to pile in DC lately…? Oh, that’s right, nobody. Now go out there and kiss some polluter azz.

    I should change my ID to Another Holocene Obot. Obot and loving it!

    Obot to the bone here!

    You would think by now that progs/libs/lefties would know how Obama operates.

  84. 84.

    AxelFoley

    @Jeremy:

    @Another Holocene Human: Well they should blame the southern democrats that told the President to hold of on any executive actions because of the elections. Also I find it ridiculous that some on the left continue to run down the President when he has accomplished more for the left than any democratic president since LBJ (and that’s a fact). I think these constantly “disappointed” people will be singing a different tune once Obama leaves office no matter if his successor is a democrat or republican.

    Exactly.

  85. 85.

    Robert Sneddon

    @Omnes Omnibus: Refinery capacity isn’t fungible though. That’s why Alberta sands oil will end up in underused Gulf refineries by rail, truck or carried in goatskin bags on the backs of undocumented immigrants. The XL pipeline is the best method for Alberta oil to get to those refineries in terms of safety, pollution control, energy efficiency and load on infrastructure but the rail and trucking companies won’t make money out of it hence the “Oglalla aquifer!” interpretive dance going on in environmental circles.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-31492659

  87. 87.

    boatboy_srq

    @efgoldman: Considering that “energy independence” to the Teahad means nothing more than producing freightoads of coal/oil/gas within the US just so they can keep their Hummers and their incandescent light bulbs, and anything less than that is Soshulist heresy, KXL is a core component of their push for more/better/now just because Scr3w You Treehugger. The fact that the US doesn’t get a drop of KXL oil for domestic use is feature-not-bug territory: “See, we built this thing, and all the oil is pouring down from Canada now straight to the tanker docks – so it wasn’t enough and we need MORE OIL NOW.”

    @Robert Sneddon: What about the underused refineries in California? Run the pipe over to Vancouver, then hard left down the foothills to Richmond. But naturally Canadians aren’t enamoured of that much pipeline in their back yards – far better to let their oil-infatuated Southern neighbors take the risks. KXL is a study in which population is the most stupid gullible optimistic.

  88. 88.

    Robert Sneddon

    @boatboy_srq: A lot of the pipeline system intended to transport Alberta crude to the Gulf already exists. It runs mostly north to south through the central US moving Dakota and Montana oil south to the Gulf and the refineries there. The proposed new pipeline construction ties Alberta into this network. A dedicated new pipeline to California is going to be longer, more expensive and not as flexible. It also delivers heavy crude to refineries that aren’t set up to handle heavy oil at the moment and would need retooling to cope. The Gulf port refineries can handle pretty much anything already.

    As for shipping Numurican oil abroad from the Gulf ports that rather chauvinistically assumes that Canadian oil is somehow Numurican to start with but no-one ever accused USians of having a great grasp of national boundaries (see Hawaii, Philippines, northern Mexico, Cuba and other examples passim). Once the oil is refined it’s up for sale to the highest bidders and if that’s not US consumers then Capitalism Rules! Free movement of goods FTW! Anything else would be Communism, after all.

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