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Mike said:Oldtimer said:Steve said:so what I said is true then... he is misleading the greenie weenies and being a heartless bastard towards struggling families wanting hope of jobs..
again.. what kind of worthless piece of ---- would be so heartless to hold out hope for one groups vote and destroy the hope of another.. ?
So you would rather Obama violate the law- and authorize something that has not even yet been submitted, studyied, or gone thru the public comment period-- which would leave the enviros a green light into the courts and possibly years of the pipeline being held up by litigation....
Nope- I believe in obeying the laws (even if some are dumber than hell) and doing it right- and reducing/removing much of the litigation issues..
If you are going to do something- do it right...
Obama's reason for rejection was: "Not In The National Interest". :roll:
January 29, 2012 2:00 am • Tribune
(57) Comments
The Keystone XL pipeline was sent to the White House for President Barack Obama's signature because enough Republicans and Democrats voted to pass it. One might call that bipartisan.
And because the president had already said he did not want to approve or disapprove the permit for the pipeline before the November presidential election, they forced his hand with a 60-day deadline. He could stop it if he ruled that was in the national interest.
Obama rejected Keystone XL. Actually, he delayed action on the pipeline until after Nov. 6.
He did not do so because of environmental concerns. That's a flimsy argument, given the record.
He did not do so because a new route had to be found across Nebraska. TransCanada and Nebraska have already agreed where the pipeline cannot go, and have agreed to choose an alternative route. The construction of the pipeline can begin from the north and south, leaving central segment through Nebraska for last. It's a matter of whether you "want" to build the pipeline or not.
No, Obama said, "The announcement is not a judgment on the merits of the pipeline, but the arbitrary nature of a deadline that prevented the State Department from gathering the information necessary to approve the project and protect the American people."
That's smoke.
A majority in Congress were convinced that the 1,700-mile pipeline to be built by TransCanada, with private money, linking the coal tar sands of northern Alberta with refineries on the Gulf Coast, would be good for America. Supporters of the proposed Keystone pipeline saw jobs, a better strategic position in pursuing oil independence - at least from the Middle East - and a positive boost for the nation's energy economy. The pipeline already had three years of study behind it.
But people with environmental questions about the Keystone XL pipeline put heavy pressure on Obama at a key time. The president will be running for re-election in 2012. Conventional wisdom is that votes for Obama from the environmental community wanted Keystone locked out of the U.S.
Smoke and mirrors.
The Keystone XL pipeline will benefit the nation. It will benefit North Dakota.
The intention is to build a pipeline from southwestern North Dakota to the Keystone XL pipeline in eastern Montana, thereby reducing the discounted price on Bakken crude and reducing the number of rail and truck miles involved in getting North Dakota oil to market. It's safer.
In response to an inquiry by Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., the Congressional Research Service has said that Congress has the authority to permit the project under the Commerce Clause.
This is a means, now that the House and Senate are back in session, for Congress to again endorse the Keystone XL pipeline and, again, sent it to Obama.
The president could veto such a move, but doing so could be much harder for him than delaying the pipeline. Maybe by then he would get it.
Truth be told, it's in the national interest to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. Congress should send it back to Obama.
In January I don't think XL had even submitted their new plan... Cutting corners on normal procedure is what will get you bad court rulings-- and bad law..
I have no doubt that the Nebraska Repubs unknowingly gave Obama a gift -- a reason to postpone approval til after the election- but I still think he did right by postponing it til the normal procedure of approving such an issue ( new plan is submitted, the plan is reviewed, and the public comment period is held) is completed....This removes much of the ammunition of those that will be trying to file court appeals to stop it... I think the XL folks understand this too- as they have not been very vocal about complaining..