Obviously, but it’s a step in the right direction and it gives Republicans credibility for trying to move it forward, which is bound to be noted by the thousands seeking work.
With AGW crashing around their ears, environmentalist credibility has to be low among the independents, most of whom are already as environmentally-friendly as can afford to be anyhow and have no time for fanatics.
Furthermore quite a few more people can read headlines and can see that the situation in the Middle East has gotten so screwy that nobody can even guess what will happen next year. Those people also know we still import too much oil from the Mideast, and that working towards energy security can never be a bad thing.
There will be some lame a$$ excuse by the administration as to why the pipeline can't be started now and the press will applaud Obama for making the courageous decision. Will Canada wait for the next Republican president? I doubt it.