The fate of the Keystone pipeline looms large
It’s a decision President Barack Obama put off during the 2012 campaign, but now that he’s won a second term, his next move on a proposed oil pipeline between the U.S. and Canada may signal how he will deal with climate and energy issues in the four years ahead.
Obama is facing increasing pressure to determine the fate of the $7 billion Keystone XL project, with environmental activists and oil producers each holding out hope that the president, freed from the political constraints of re-election, will side with them on this and countless other related issues down the road.
On its surface, it’s a choice between the promise of jobs and economic growth and environmental concerns. But it’s also become a proxy for a broader fight over American energy consumption and climate change, amplified by Superstorm Sandy and the conclusion of an election that was all about the economy.
Blowback
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It’s really getting old the way that the media writes the same story pretending that Barack Obama really grappling with the ramifications of these important decisions, and the result could go either way, but definitely will be thoroughly considered.
He’s a shopping cart with a broken left wheel. In dilemmas, trilemmas, tetralemmas, or problems with any other number of discrete solutions, he has never picked any option except the farthest left possible, with the exception of dealing with terrorists.
HitNRun on December 1, 2012 at 4:34 PM
Yeah, if Superstorm Sandy didn’t convince you that global warming is real, nothing will.
Akzed on December 1, 2012 at 4:34 PM
So you reckon it’s safer to bring oil in on ships from halfway around the world, or in a pipeline from Canada?
forest on December 1, 2012 at 4:36 PM
We don’t need it. Oil requirements will be drastically reduced in the next major downturn of the ongoing Obama depression.
besser tot als rot on December 1, 2012 at 4:42 PM
I never thought the United States would be to the Left of Canada.
But here we are. Forward!
visions on December 1, 2012 at 4:44 PM
As an Albertan, let me reiterate that I would really rather we sell our oil to our friends than the ChiComs.
Alberta_Patriot on December 1, 2012 at 5:03 PM
It’s so frustrating that everything this schmuck does hurts the middle class and poor the hardest, but either we can’t articulate the problem well enough or people are too stupid to realize it. I used to think it’s a communication problem, but I think people are just too dumb to figure it out anymore.
The Count on December 1, 2012 at 5:18 PM
IMO, the only reason, the only one, bho would agree to this is because of the union thugs! They have wanted this and they gave gobs of money to bho for re-election! But, now bho has to deal with the green nuts, and it seems many here in TX are chapped they aren’t getting the money they want for right of way and they fear if this happens the feds will just take their land? But again, bho has an out, epa, salazar, and the other thugs can do their nasty thing to stop this? This should be interesting to see how it pans out! A great deal of the leg for this is through TX and bho/team hate the daylights out of us! I should add, the refineries in E TX are under the epa’s thumb also for violations for whatever they can think up?
L
letget on December 1, 2012 at 5:18 PM
Obamas america doesn’t need energy. no really… it doesnt
tom daschle concerned on December 1, 2012 at 5:29 PM
Thanks friend. We’d rather buy it from y’all than from anyone else.
Every time I see someone using Sandy to justify more hits to the economy I want to be sick. It’s unscientific to do that too. Hurricanes and tornadoes have not increased with rising CO2.
juliesa on December 1, 2012 at 6:04 PM