Barack Obama must have felt like the wishbone from a turkey over the Keystone XL pipeline. Key groups of Democratic supporters are split, labor for and environmentalists against. At one point he had an environmental impact statement saying that it was environmentally safe, but then he learned that the statement had been rigged, and was nothing more than a claim from the pipeline company. So he correctly put the project on hold until an honest environmental impact statement could be prepared. It’s my guess that Republicans knew that an honest impact statement would kill the pipeline, because in return for a two month payroll tax cut extension, they demanded a decision on Keystone XL by next month, before an honest impact statement could be prepared in the hopes of bullying an approval from him. Their tactic did not work and Obama did the right thing.
The Obama administration on Wednesday denied a permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada, touching off a torrent of criticism from Republicans – whom the White House blamed for forcing a decision.
President Barack Obama, who was under a 60-day deadline imposed by congressional Republicans, left open the door to approve the 1,661-mile pipeline in the future. He also suggested the possibility of an alternative pipeline that could get Canadian oil sands crude to refineries and ports in Texas.
The company that wants to build Keystone XL, TransCanada Corp., said Wednesday it would apply for a new permit that, if approved, would allow the pipeline to be built by late 2014.
The decision was fraught with political complications for Obama over issues of energy security, jobs and the environment. Environmentalists had made the project a test case on whether the administration was serious about fighting climate change. And though Obama didn’t rule out future pipelines, they declared victory.
Business groups, congressional Republicans and the GOP’s presidential candidates hammered Obama for rejecting the project, which they said would create jobs.
In a statement, Obama said he was siding with his State Department and denying the permit because of a "rushed and arbitrary deadline" that congressional Republicans attached to a payroll tax-cut extension in December… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Kansas City Star>
What the article does not make clear is that Obama has to leave the door open, because the law allows any company to apply for such a permit at any time. It is my belief that they cannot meet required environmental standards. Otherwise, they would not have faked the original study.
Ed Schultz discusses the decision with Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY).
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BY the way, the Republican claim of thousands of jobs is a lie. The project would have created about 600 permanent jobs, and about 60 of them would have been in the US.
17 Responses to “Obama Rejects Keystone XL Pipeline”
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The Rushpubliscums are already pissing in their Vitter-sized diapers. Naturally.
Of course. They always do when unable to deliver for corporate criminals.
This is also a hot potato in Canada, where the environmentalists there are pretty disgusted with their PM Harper, who is very conservative and aggressively pursuing drilling and hydrofracking in the country, which inevitably will have great influence on Obama’s decisions in these insane ideas! This morning even Mika Brzenski (am I spelling that name right? – no -oh well) even she was defending Joe’s pro-pipe stance – not all dems are against this – just like not all dems are against SOPA and PIPA (sound like dances – “let’s do the sopa”) – I was truly upset when I discovered Schumer and Gillibrand were both pro — that’s off point – this dirty oil is dangerous – and full of lies! Don’t forget the clean air/water acts that the twig and vader passed in 2005 – specifically to exempt oil corps from drilling and fracking! So it’s questionable just how true any impact statement can be with their patents and exemptions! I’ve said it before – I think I’d rather be handed out a cyanide tab (which would be much faster, and environmentally safer for the planet) than to endure these corps killing us off by destroying infr-structure, air, water and animals! Besides, if they decided to hand out cyanide – it would be less expensive, solve some unemployment issues, bring down fossil fuel usage as well as being the better choice for the planet – why hasn’t this been suggested? Jobs – is a red herring issue – there aren’t any that are offered in this pipe – you’re absolutely right! But, and it’s a big BUT, this is an election year, and O has proven time and again that he’ll prostitute himself for votes and not come up with the goods when push comes to shove – so he gained more time – while still being less than definitive!
But weren’t you insisting that he would approve it?
Not at all! You must be mixing me up with someone else! I’m glad he took this step!
Cool. Sorry!
WELL DONE, OBAMA!
Amen, Pope Jack!
I applaud his decision on the pipeline. Bonehead was already grand-standing about the loss of thousands of jobs because of Pres. Obama’s decision.
And he is crying because be put beau-coup bucks into companies involved in it.
Hate to tell you this TC, but beaucoup is not a hyphenated word.
Than works quite well.
Good for our President!!! He deserves praise for this decision . I echo Jack ; WELL DONE MR. PRESIDENT!!
As do I.
From the article — “In a statement, Obama said he was siding with his State Department and denying the permit because of a “rushed and arbitrary deadline” that congressional Republicans attached to a payroll tax-cut extension in December… “
Some may say that Mr Obama is playing politics here, but it was the Republican/Teabaggers that set that scenario in motion when they attached the Keystone XL authorisation to a totally unrelated payroll tax-cut extension for the working and middle class. So really, who is playing politics?! Mr Obama was forced into making what seems like a political decision, but it also serves the environmental side.
And yes, it does still leave the door open for the future. As TC says, “Obama has to leave the door open, because the law allows any company to apply for such a permit at any time.” However that does not mean that any subsequent permit application will not be evaluated carefully along EPA guidelines. It is important to ensure that EPA guidelines are strong and that there is no undue influence over future reports.
TomCat — It is my belief that they cannot meet required environmental standards. Otherwise, they would not have faked the original study.
What we know is that TransCanada had the environmental impact statement falsified, as per their own roundabout admission. We know also, again by their own admission, that the US employment figures were grossly overstated. I have maintained that the employment implications would favour Canada, and certainly the current information tends to support that — 10% US, 90% Canada.
So now, Boehner, Cantor et al are crying their collective eyes out and claiming that President Obama doesn’t care about American workers. Horse puckey! Boehner, Cantor et al have blocked any and all job creation proposals put forth by Mr Obama in hopes of making him a one term president, a long stated Republican/Teabagger goal. They don’t give a rat’s ass about American workers except as a currency for their own political and power related aspirations. They care about their billionaire Koch brothers, puppet masters to whose refineries the dirty oil will go. And from previous news stories, Koch oil goes to the international market, not the US market. The Koch brothers only pledge allegiance to power and the almighty dollar.
Do I think that Mr Obama did the right thing? Yes! And not only that, many environmentalists have called this a success.
From the article — ” Environmentalists had made the project a test case on whether the administration was serious about fighting climate change. And though Obama didn’t rule out future pipelines, they declared victory.”
Lynn, that’s excellent analysis. I appreciate the added perspective from your side of the border.