Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Republicans want to make it harder to vote and easier for them to cheat.

You cannot shame the shameless.

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

Cancel the cowardly Times and Post and set up an equivalent monthly donation to ProPublica.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

Every one of the “Roberts Six” lied to get on the court.

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

This must be what justice looks like, not vengeful, just peaceful exuberance.

Hell hath no fury like a farmer bankrupted.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

It’s pointless to bring up problems that can only be solved with a time machine.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the gop

… gradually, and then suddenly.

Celebrate the fucking wins.

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

“The defense has a certain level of trust in defendant that the government does not.”

If you don’t believe freedom is for everybody, then the thing you love isn’t freedom, it is privilege.

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

T R E 4 5 O N

“Can i answer the question? No you can not!”

The “burn-it-down” people are good with that until they become part of the kindling.

Just because you believe it, that does not make it true.

’Where will you hide, Roberts, the laws all being flat?’

You are here: Home / No One Could Have Predicted- Keystone Pipeline Edition

No One Could Have Predicted- Keystone Pipeline Edition

by | 137 Comments

This post is in: 

It never ends:

The Keystone pipeline running from Canada across the Great Plains leaked Thursday morning, spilling about 5,000 barrels of oil — or 210,000 gallons — southeast of the small town of Amherst in northeast South Dakota.

The spill comes just days before a crucial decision next Monday by the Public Service Commission in Nebraska over whether to grant a permit for a new, long-delayed sister pipeline called Keystone XL, which has been mired in controversy for several years. Both are owned by Calgary-based TransCanada.

Over and over and over again, experts warn us that something is a bad idea, we ignore them, then shit blow up. And we never learn and nothing ever changes.

Reader Interactions

137Comments

  1. 1.

    mai naem mobile

    Like Rand Paul said shit happens. So sad if it happens to you and you don’t have the money and resources to go after the corporation who screwed yoi.

  5. 5.

    TenguPhule

    Over and over and over again, experts warn us that something is a bad idea, we ignore them, then shit blow up. And we never learn and nothing ever changes.

    Reagan. Bush. Bush II. Trump.

    Coincidence? I think not.

  9. 9.

    Steve in the ATL

    @schrodingers_cat: thankfully I was in bargaining and all day and missed it, but the posts I scrolled through were largely ridiculous. And it’s just great when posters we have never before show up just to trash Democrats who are accused of doing something far less bad than our president and a number of other republicans.

  13. 13.

    cmorenc

    But the 210k gallons only leaked a few ounces at a time and would have had no effect if the ounces hadntbeen in such a darn hurry

  14. 14.

    BLG

    I hope like hell that it wasn’t sabotage. That’s the quickest way to TOTALLY undermine any hope of convincing the general public about the risks involved in these things.

  17. 17.

    ? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?

    @TenguPhule:
    A storage tank’s leaking
    It’s about to explode
    Why evacuate
    When you can watch the fun

    Nothing happens here
    Get out the lawn chairs
    We’ll drink pink lemonade
    And watch Martinez burn

    Cesspools
    In Eden
    Oozing away
    Cesspools in Eden
    Leak by the day

  18. 18.

    Patricia Kayden

    I feel frustrated for the Native Americans who fought so hard at Standing Rock against that pipeline. They were right and this pipeline should never have been built in the first place. Clean water is not an unlimited resource.

  23. 23.

    Davebo

    On the bright side, Jose Altuve named AL MVP showing that I should have practiced baseball more even though I’m only 5’8″.

  25. 25.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    also in other news, too, also, it sounds like Jared is going to have to ask his dad for an advance on his inheritance to pay for more lawyers

    Kyle Cheney‏Verified account @ kyledcheney
    NEW: Senate investigators say KUSHNER was copied on Sept. 2016 emails about Wikileaks and one about a “Russian backdoor overture and dinner invite.”

    Ronald Klain‏Verified account @ RonaldKlain
    Jared. It has always been Jared. It is always Jared. Worked with Cambridge Analytica, At the Trump Tower mtg. Pushed Flynn in. Pushed Comey out. Jared, Jared, Jared.

  26. 26.

    Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.)

    You know, it’s just too damned bad that people who thought something like this might happen never bothered to speak up about it before this got built, right? I mean, shit, how could anybody have known this might happen if the people who could have warned us never said anything about it? You know? They could have done something like, oh, I don’t know, maybe held a months long protest wherein they told us about the risks. Too bad none of that ever happened.

  29. 29.

    ruemara

    This may seem premature, but I think we did something that might have pissed off the Powers That Be.

  33. 33.

    TenguPhule

    @ruemara:

    This may seem premature, but I think we did something that might have pissed off the Powers That Be.

    I think it was because we were starting to feel hopeful and happy yesterday.

  38. 38.

    jl

    Rick Perry, current Secty of Energy, would say pray to God, and we can only hope it doesn’t happen again.
    So, there you go. Problem solved. You are welcome.

  40. 40.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Roger Moore: “You find the biggest, toughest, meanest-looking sonofabitch in the yard, and you ask him if his mother would like a nice house and a Mercedes. Maybe throw in an above-ground pool. But if he asks for in-ground, find the next two toughest looking sons of bitches, one ranch house and a Buick each. No more fucking pools.

    And NO TOUCHING!”

    I wonder if we could crowd fund Jessica Walters to play Mother Kushner during the trial. I bet CNN would fall for it for at least a week. Trump for two.

  42. 42.

    khead

    I agree with the person on Twitter who said Cole should quit watching HGTV. Before he has a rage stroke over some dumbass couple and their master bathroom..

  50. 50.

    Gin & Tonic

    @Roger Moore: Jared will never see the inside of a prison cell. Take that to the bank.

    He’s so obviously careless with his filings because he knows there will be no consequences – if shit really does hit the fan, he gets a pardon.

  58. 58.

    Roger Moore

    @Gin & Tonic:

    Jared will never see the inside of a prison cell. Take that to the bank.

    He’s so obviously careless with his filings because he knows there will be no consequences – if shit really does hit the fan, he gets a pardon.

    Maybe not a federal prison, but I bet NY AG Schneiderman has a whole list of indictable offenses under state law lined up for if/when he gets pardoned. I’d also want to see what the statute of limitations is on the fraud charged he bought his way out of with Cy Vance.

  62. 62.

    ruemara

    @Gin & Tonic: I rarely do this, but I don’t think they’ll live long and happily with what they’ve stolen. There’s a level of criminal that the world will accept and then there’s this. Eventually, you have to pay the piper.

  70. 70.

    TenguPhule

    Speaking of Nobody could have predicted:

    The accusations of sexual harassment against Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) have led to an official ethics investigation, to colleagues returning his generous campaign donations, and to calls for his resignation from once-supportive progressives.

    And it has all happened at the start of a tax-cut fight that Franken was supposed to help lead.

    The Democrats’ multilevel campaign to stop Republican-backed tax cuts, which has included ad buys, news conferences and activist pressure, was dealt a blow by Franken essentially being forced to take the bench. The senator had taken an increased, unique role in Democratic messaging this year, with a best-selling memoir, frequent use of social media and a new openness to national interviews.

    “You have to be able to hit back hard, quickly and in a way that works, and he’s uniquely skilled at doing that,” said one Senate Democratic aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to be candid.

    “Circular firing squad, FIRE, READY, AIM!!!”

  72. 72.

    ? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?

    @Gin & Tonic:
    They will when the Revolution finally comes (and it will. No country is immune to it) or will end up dead.

  74. 74.

    Gin & Tonic

    @ruemara:

    There’s a level of criminal that the world will accept and then there’s this.

    Imelda Marcos is 88 years old and living comfortably in the Philippines, which she and her husband looted for 20 years.

  78. 78.

    ? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?

    @Gin & Tonic:
    No one has probably wanted them dead badly enough. The Trump clan has many enemies who wish them dead. No one has (seriously) tried because at the moment we’re too afraid of what would come afterwards and they still have de jure legitimacy. If things get bad enough, even that wouldn’t be enough to protect them, norms and rules be damned, because Trump and the GOP have destroyed so many already.

  89. 89.

    WaterGirl

    @raven: I knew she was going to, but I didn’t know she was back already. I assume her partner moved back, too? Hoping that relationship has stayed intact through this nightmare.

    I have heard that stats say a marriage/relationship has a 50% chance of ending the year a parent dies. I can only imagine the pressures for this situation are 100x worse.

  93. 93.

    TenguPhule

    “Remember, Democratic Senators are like cogs, easily replaced and nothing to distinguish one from the other!”

    “But what about leadership, charisma and quick wits?”

    “What about them?”

  96. 96.

    JMG

    You know, ANY Democratic Senator could “lead,” whatever the hell that means, the tax cut fight. Francine’s one of 48. He’s not indispensable. If he resigned, another Democrat would get the job. The idea his problem has any effect on the tax cut fight is insane. Whether or not ir passes depends on the principles/political calculations/raw personal animosities among 52 Republican Senators. All any of us can affect is number two. Does anyone actually think Senators listen to each other? That’s sweet.

  97. 97.

    WaterGirl

    @Yarrow: I will never again hear the name Sergei without thinking about Sergei Magnitsky. Preet’s podcast: The Death of Sergei Magnitsky really had an impact on me and the way I view the russian links with Trump.

    Oh, it’s Thursday – a new podcast on Stay Tuned with Preet. Yay!

  100. 100.

    TenguPhule

    @JMG:

    If he resigned, another Democrat would get the job.

    And start from scratch trying to catch up. They’re not cogs.

  101. 101.

    khead

    @WaterGirl:

    We said “NO more!”…. but left room for two exceptions. My wife has always wanted a solid white kitteh or a calico. And those pics were, you know, REALLY cute.

  102. 102.

    Yarrow

    @WaterGirl: Thanks for the reminder about Preet’s podcast. I haven’t listened to it yet.

    I read about Magnitsky a few years ago and it’s really stuck with me as well. Horrible story.

  103. 103.

    Redshift

    @Yarrow:

    Did everyone call their Senators today about the tax bill?

    Yup. Though both of mine are all over social media about it, so I can’t do much more than tell them I’ve got their backs.

  105. 105.

    Roger Moore

    @chris:

    Republican appointee resigns from the DHS after past comments about blacks, Muslims come to light

    What, did he say something positive?

  108. 108.

    Roger Moore

    @chris:
    I’m just having a hard time imagining a Republican resigning because he had said something disparaging about a minority. Doesn’t that usually get them feted as truth-telling heroes?

  111. 111.

    eclare

    @Yarrow: Oh I know, going to hammer the $1.5T in debt, and that he said he would not vote for anything that increased the debt once upon a time.

  113. 113.

    Fair Economist

    @chopper:

    “and miraculously, the oil leaked for eight days”

    Even though there was only enough for one! One thousand years, that is.

  116. 116.

    ruemara

    @Gin & Tonic: they fucked over the Pinoy common man. The Trump’s et Al are fucking with nations & gangster cabals & the common man. This is like kissing cobras & believing since you didn’t die from the first, you won’t die at all.

  117. 117.

    Sab

    @Yarrow: I called my senator about the tax bill, and apparently they weren’t expecting it because I got a live intern. I told him I was a CPA who works mostly in tax and even the Senate bill would be terrible for my middle class clients, especially the ones with big families. He took my name and number without me even having to ask. Somewhat heartening, even though it was Rob Portman.

  118. 118.

    clay

    @chris: Head of community outreach?!??!

    It’s grimly hilarious how Trump literally finds the worst person for every single job.

  119. 119.

    lgerard

    Rev. Jamie Johnson was appointed in April by then-Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly to lead the Center for Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships at the department.

    Can we just get rid of these absurd “faith-based” positions?

  120. 120.

    Sab

    @LurkerNoLonger: Which Holiday? Advent (Christian New Year doesn’t start until December 1, and anyway that’s penitential.) Turkey Day is a three-off (Thanksgiving, Black Friday, small biz saturday.) Actual Christmas isn’t until Christmas Eve. So there’s weeks where only Hallmark recognizes a holiday.

  123. 123.

    HinTN

    @Yarrow: Technically, killing the mandate may provide the deficit reduction fig leaf he needs but we must at least pressure the bastard.

  127. 127.

    jl

    @Yarrow: ” Did everyone call their Senators today about the tax bill? ”

    I thought both chambers wanted to pass something before Thanksgiving. But I heard on the news that McConnell has scheduled a votarama for a few days after Thanksgiving. Is this piece of garbage legislation catching the ‘delays’ like the health care fiasco did? If so, that is a good sign, and should keep calling. I posted a tweet earlier today that said most Senators didn’t know that the bill would trigger $25 B in Medicare cuts (which is hard to believe, but I haven’t seen it contradicted). Let’s see if I can find it again.. OK..

    Steven Dennis
    @StevenTDennis
    Most Senators I talked to yesterday in both parties had no idea CBO said the tax bill would trigger ~$100B/year in automatic entitlement cuts, including $25B from Medicare, because of the Paygo law.
    https://twitter.com/StevenTDennis/status/931137457306918912

    Senators should be made aware that everyone will know if they pass this mess. If can’t stop them from passing something, can make Senate pass something that will cause problems in conference negotiations.

  129. 129.

    jl

    @lamh36: ” Where do his hands go in pictures 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 while she sleeps? ….. ”

    Trump should know where. Must be a rhetorical question.

  130. 130.

    TriassicSands

    Since Donald “The Dealmaker” is president the new pipeline will be built to the highest standards in the universe. A direct strike from a 10 megaton nuclear warhead won’t even dent it. Stop worrying, The Dealmaker is in charge.

  132. 132.

    lamh36

    Maybe the straw that broke the camel’s back?

    @CillizzaCNN
    13m13 minutes ago
    More Chris Cillizza Retweeted
    Reminders:

    1) More than a dozen women accused Trump of sexual harassment in the 2016 campaign. He called them all liars and said he would sue them.

    2) An audio tape emerged in which he said that when you are famous you can “grab them by the p….”

    https://twitter.com/CillizzaCNN/status/931359978002309120

  133. 133.

    lamh36

    Maybe the straw that broke the camel’s back?

    @CillizzaCNN
    13m13 minutes ago
    More Chris Cillizza Retweeted
    Reminders:

    1) More than a dozen women accused Trump of sexual harassment in the 2016 campaign. He called them all liars and said he would sue them.

    2) An audio tape emerged in which he said that when you are famous you can “grab them by the p….”

    https://twitter.com/CillizzaCNN/status/931359978002309120

  134. 134.

    chris

    @lamh36: Related.

    One of the things Trump does is act as if nothing he has said or done in the past is at all relevant to his words and actions in the present. It’s beyond hypocrisy, it’s like malicious amnesia.— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) 17 November 2017

  135. 135.

    BBA

    @chris: He’s never experienced consequences for anything in his life. Living like that for seven decades warps the personality.

  137. 137.

    Another Scott

    @jl: The GOP thinks they can pass a waiver.

    MorningConsult:

    […]

    House passage of the Republican tax overhaul bill on Thursday creates a new problem for the GOP — preventing hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to federal spending under a 2010 law.

    The Pay-As-You-Go Act, enacted when Democrats were in the majority on Capitol Hill, requires automatic cuts if the total effect of legislation passed by Congress in one session adds to the federal deficit. This week the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said enacting legislation that adds $1.5 trillion to the deficit over 10 years would trigger automatic PAYGO cuts in fiscal year 2018 that could total $136 billion. That would include around $25 billion in cuts to Medicare providers.

    The House passed its tax reform measure, which is projected to add around $1.44 trillion to the deficit over a decade, on a 227-205 vote.

    Republicans say they’re confident the PAYGO cuts won’t go into effect, but they haven’t specified how they would pass a waiver for the law. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, said in a brief interview Tuesday that he’s “very confident” Republicans will be able to avoid a PAYGO sequester, but he did not say how Congress would go about getting a waiver passed.

    The PAYGO Act includes mandatory sequestration if the Office of Management and Budget’s tracking of the deficit effects shows that the legislation put the government in the red.

    In the past, when legislation has raised the possibility of PAYGO sequestration, lawmakers have added non-controversial waiver language instructing OMB not to count the bill’s deficit effects for the purposes of its “scorecard.” To pass tax reform in the Senate, however, Republicans are using a budget reconciliation process that precludes them from adding the waiver language, which would be considered non-germane and require 60 votes in a chamber where Republicans hold a 52-48 majority.

    A senior House GOP aide said lawmakers have until the end of the year to prevent PAYGO sequestration, and that they will act to do so before it’s triggered. A Senate GOP aide said Republicans could pass a waiver as a standalone measure after tax reform is enacted, or through must-pass legislation like a government funding bill.

    Using those methods could force some Senate Democrats to come on board to prevent cuts to programs like Medicare.

    House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) told reporters after Thursday’s tax reform vote that he plans to meet with Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, to discuss a possible PAYGO fix. Meadows said he doesn’t yet have a preferred legislative vehicle for a PAYGO waiver.

    “I’m not a big one on sequester cuts,” Meadows said. “I think we can be more prudent in our strategic cuts and do it in a more bipartisan way.”

    Rep. Ron Kind of Wisconsin, a Democratic member of the House Ways and Means Committee, said in an interview Thursday after the House vote that he thinks Republicans will try to “let some time pass” before pushing for a PAYGO waiver. He also said that he expects GOP members of the House Agriculture Committee will be “screaming bloody murder” because of mandatory farm aid cuts that would be required under the law.

    Rep. Tom Reed of New York, a Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, said Tuesday that the prospect of automatic spending cuts isn’t coming up as a significant concern on the House side.

    “Anybody who’s trying to argue that what we’re doing is some sort of backdoor spending reduction strategy — that is not being discussed,” Reed said.

    (Emphasis added.)

    Normally, one would expect that if the norms were followed, the OMB Sequester stuff would be a big impediment to what they’re trying to do. But we’ve seen over and over again that they don’t care about norms any more.

    There’s no telling what will happen if the Senate actually passes this tax bill (or something like it). The OMB could add some magic asterisks and say that there’s no problem. The Parliamentarian could say that McConnell and the Teabaggers can do what they want. They may try to quickly expel Franken from the Senate to give them more wiggle room and make their majority seem larger. Etc. I don’t actually expect those things to happen – at the moment I expect that they will fail, yet again, to do their Super Genius plan via Reconciliation. But I don’t know…

    :-/

    Cheers,
    Scott.

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