Any good craft man knows you use a combo wrench and not a monkey wrench! 
He ain't no craft man!
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.
It is pretty obvious he was going to approve it after the election anyhow (the same diplomatic backchatter to the Canadians that he gave after telling Ohio voters that he’d kill NAFTA).
What amazes me is that his envirowhack supporters are actually stupid enough to fall for this.
Any good craft man knows you use a combo wrench and not a monkey wrench!
He ain't no craft man!
You’re right, and to depict Obama with a monkey wrench is RACIST!
What Barry forgot to mention was the reason the pipe is stored there. There was no indication that the whole Keystone concept would not be approved & TransCanada bought the pipe so that installation could begin immediately. When Obama put the kibosh on the idea, the Corps of Engineers stopped work on the necessary approvals on the whole line. TransCanada quickly reapplied for the Cushing/Gulf part and my understanding is that the process was well underway before Obama and his minders got involved.
www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/03/22/bloomberg_articlesM191XQ6K50YE01-M1ASN.DTL
According to this article as of Feb 17, 2012, only about 10% of pipeline materials/equipment had been purchased.
It appears they have purchase agreements in place for the balance of pipe, but not yet executed.
If you told most Americans/voters that the pipeline could be used to transport solar and wind generated electricity, they woudl believe it. 2008 was a tipping point for the country in terms of voter stupidity.
GOP should be prepared if Obama—in late October—approves the entire project and dons the mantle of the “energy president. “
jveritas, I know how you feel about this as I have read your occasional posts on this viewpoint.
And I respect that point of view.
I just find myself unable to believe that electoral victory, even in the face of historical terms as it was in 2010 is going to slow down the one-way ratchet of liberalism.
I think liberals have succeeded in bypassing the constitution with no repercussions (further encouraging them) and have also vacated the sticky problem (for them) of state’s rights.
We have a bloated, all powerful federal government, and the power of congress and the judiciary is being overwhelmed by the executive branch, witness the czars and executive orders that pass unabated without muster.
I confess I am pessimistic.
Cheer up, it is bad but we can certainly make it better, much better… We are still the greatest nation in history of mankind despite all the lunacy of the Left… And we are going to remain the greatest nation for a very long time to go, there is no one else on this planet who is better than us, none…
Thank you. Sometimes when the spirits are low, it is nice to get bucked up by a FRiend...:)
I needed that.
You are welcome :)
I'm glad I wore my waders to this thread!
The Clintons did some groundbreaking work in this area. The truth is whatever you want it to be.
Ask houeto. I don’t even own waders.
True, that. Who would have ever thought the President of The United States would parse the meaning of the word “is”.
Reply 36 is to you houeto.
Why are you glad you wore your waders? Are you walking in waist deep water?
No. It is a humorous way to question someones sincerity implying that the 'stuff' is getting deep in here. You posted Obama carrying a monkey wrench then told another poster that you didn't notice what you had done. I LMAO and thought, "Yeah right!"
Good post BTW.
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