Posted on 03/27/2012 3:20:29 AM PDT by Kaslin
To hear the White House tell it, Barack Obama might be the most pipeline-friendly president ever to occupy the Oval Office.
In advance of Obama's March 22 visit to Cushing, Okla, the White House released a fact sheet detailing the president's support for oil pipeline projects. "The need for pipeline infrastructure is urgent, because rising American oil production is outpacing the capacity of pipelines to deliver oil to refineries," the White House wrote. "It is critical that we make pipeline infrastructure a top priority."
When the president appeared in Cushing, White House image-makers positioned him in front of huge stockpiles of pipe -- tons and tons of pipe. Message: Obama loves pipelines. "Under my administration," the president said, "we've added enough new oil and gas pipeline to encircle the Earth and then some."
But Obama wasn't in Cushing because he has approved so much new pipeline. He was there because he is facing bipartisan opposition, in Congress and across the country, for blocking the proposed Keystone XL pipeline that would bring about 700,000 barrels of oil from Canada to refineries in Texas every day, creating thousands of new jobs in the process. The opposition appears to be growing, and there's good reason to believe Obama will be forced to reverse himself in the next few months.
A new Gallup poll shows that 57 percent of Americans say the government should approve building Keystone. That number includes 81 percent of Republicans, 51 percent of independents and 44 percent (a plurality) of Democrats. The only good news for the White House is that most Americans aren't following the issue very closely, at least not yet.
In Cushing, the president announced he will expedite approval of the relatively short southern portion of the Keystone project, known as the Cushing pipeline, which will take oil that is already in Oklahoma down to the Texas refineries. "I'm directing my administration to cut through the red tape, break through the bureaucratic hurdles and make this project a priority," Obama said.
But Republicans quickly pointed out that a) presidential approval wasn't necessary for that portion of the pipeline, since it is all domestic, and b) it was Obama's agencies that were responsible for the red tape and bureaucratic hurdles in the first place. "He's out in Oklahoma trying to take credit for a part of the pipeline that doesn't even require his approval," said House Speaker John Boehner.
The GOP has also pointed out that there are many, many pipelines already crisscrossing the United States, including some that cross the Canadian border. In fact, Republicans say, Obama is the first president to deny a permit for a cross-border pipeline.
In addition, GOP lawmakers cite maps showing there are already pipelines over the Ogallala Aquifer, the giant underground water table that stretches below Nebraska and several other heartland states and is the reason environmentalists cite for opposing the Keystone project. "America either should install Keystone XL, with all of its benefits, or -- if such pipelines really are as dangerous as Democrats argue -- yank out all these pipelines that could destroy Ogallala," writes conservative commentator Deroy Murdock, who has argued strongly in favor of the pipeline.
Recently, Senate Republicans forced a vote on a proposal to approve Keystone. The final vote was 56 - 42, with 11 Democrats breaking with the president to vote in favor of the pipeline. The only reason it didn't pass was that the Democratic leadership filibustered the measure, requiring 60 votes for passage. (Liberal critics of the filibuster, so angry when Republicans used it to block Democratic measures, were uncharacteristically silent after the vote.)
If Obama has already lost 11 Democratic votes, with the election still several months away, it's likely he is going to lose more in the future. "Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said after the last vote that the issue would not be going away," says a Senate GOP source. "There is strong bipartisan support, and we'll have more shots at this."
In coming months, Republicans can likely count on the support of more and more Americans who are more and more angry about rising gas prices. As the general election campaign begins, Obama will face determined arguments from Republicans that in his desire to promote green energy -- Obama will hear the word "Solyndra" many, many times this fall -- he is standing in the way of making America more self-sufficient in oil and gas. It won't matter how many photo-ops he stages in front of piles of pipes. In the end, he'll have to say yes to Keystone.
That seems to be a pretty common pattern.
....the Keystone pipeline will go through, and become seen as another example of how Obama “won” and defeated the obstructionist Republicans
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But, don’t you think the American people are smart enough to see through that? Some aren’t, of course, but in general, don’t you think?
Bingo to Clearcase_guy, and no, I no longer think that people in general are smart enough to see through it anymore.
At least not in any kind of dynamic that would make an electoral difference. The Obama administration has discovered that lying propaganda works, and there are no ramifications for engaging in it.
There is no downside.
Every Republican running for office and every Repub who appears on TV needs to call on the President to “reverse this decision” on Keystone. Harp on it night and day so that if/when he does reverse his decision - they can take credit for it.
As to the intelligence of the voters in any early 21st century democracy, you tell me. The evidence has not been very positive so far.
Re post 6: yup.
Obqama will reverse himself in the next few months? Buhahahahahahaha!. Few know of the fact that we have a genuine nationalist socialist as president. He will never reverse himself.
Read:
http://www.faithfreedom.org/obama.html
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/barack_obama_the_quintessentia_1.html
It is up to us to reverse Obama and his whole administration.
Thats the only way we will ever get a Keystone Pipeline.The rest is all Obama rope - a -dope.
Obama will reverse himself in the next few months? Buhahahahahahaha!. Few know of the fact that we have a genuine nationalist socialist as president. He will never reverse himself.
Read:
http://www.faithfreedom.org/obama.html
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/05/barack_obama_the_quintessentia_1.html
It is up to us to reverse Obama and his whole administration.
Thats the only way we will ever get a Keystone Pipeline.The rest is all Obama rope - a -dope.
They won’t - they’re idiots and don’t realize how much the media freezes them off of the airwaves when it comes to something like this - they need to take advantage of every opportunity they have, every single time.
Well, I’ll just have to agree with you again on that.
Why would you expect any Alaska oil to come this route?
I believe Governor Palin negotiated a gas pipeline along this route. There has been talk in Canada for years of building an energy corridor along the Mackenzie to tap the gas and oil in the delta. It is a natural, just like the Keystone.
Actually, several Natural Gas pipeline routes had been proposed over the decades including the one chosen for Palin's $500 million dollar subsidy to preliminary engineer. There wasn't negotiation for this route by Palin.
But that line will not be built, due to the surplus of Natural Gas due to the lower 48 Shale Gas. It was never intended to carry oil and if built, would not benefit the Keystone XL line.
-—tons and tons of pipe-——
The writer is as is common among the journo types technically challenged.
A correct expression would be “miles and miles of pipe”
...he'll fight it and fight it until the GOP forces him to accept and then he'll take credit.
How did Republicans win the House in a historic way in 2010 if the majority of voters are so stupid and believe everything Obama tells them?
“In a few months”, Barry the Imposter won’t still be Pres—ent.
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