Aa
Obama headed for defeat in the pipeline saga
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.
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.
I don't think it is fair to say that just because someone doesn't agree with a particular political view that they don't care about America.
And truth seems to be relevent. Just because something is printed in an article does not make it truth. Some articles come out of biased places.
But honestly, on this subject------------ it seems like it is something being discussed to just argue. Republicans wanted the pipeline. Obama agreed to go further with it which is what he was criticized by them for a couple of months ago. And now that is wrong too. Very difficult to even want to discuss something with an attitude like that.
I think politics on both sides are conducted in such a way to defeat themselves and if one loves America, they'll put politics aside once in a while and see that is is ONE America, not just this group verses that group.
I have mixed feelings on the pipeline but overall see it as good.
And truth seems to be relevent. Just because something is printed in an article does not make it truth. Some articles come out of biased places.
But honestly, on this subject------------ it seems like it is something being discussed to just argue. Republicans wanted the pipeline. Obama agreed to go further with it which is what he was criticized by them for a couple of months ago. And now that is wrong too. Very difficult to even want to discuss something with an attitude like that.
I think politics on both sides are conducted in such a way to defeat themselves and if one loves America, they'll put politics aside once in a while and see that is is ONE America, not just this group verses that group.
I have mixed feelings on the pipeline but overall see it as good.
LOL this for anyone comes here and wants to read the truth .....and cares about America ....
The fact of the matter is that the betrayal of the American people, by this White House, cannot be ignored, and the damage done to our economy isn't just a valid object of Congressional investigation, it's a moral imperative!
Attempts to obstruct this investigation should be handled quite aggressively, IMHO. A great reason to begin de-funding Obama Regime departments that are going to be cut anyway in 2013.
Here's the story from the Washington Times, followed by The Heritage Foundation's 'The Foundry' Blog's coverage:
--------
House Subpoenas Obama Administration On Gulf Oil Drilling
By Stephen Dinan | Tuesday, April 3, 2012
A House committee issued subpoenas Tuesday demanding that the Obama administration turn over documents Republicans say will show the backroom negotiations that led to President Obama’s Gulf of Mexico drilling moratorium in 2010.
Interior Secretary Kenneth L. Salazar, whose department is the target of the subpoenas, rejected them as “a distraction in the name of politics” — and Republicans fired back that Mr. Salazar was showing little compassion over the jobs lost during the moratorium.
The subpoenas come as Mr. Obama is fighting to show he’s been proactive in leasing federal lands for energy development. Also on Tuesday, Mr. Salazar announced a new program to streamline the computer system that tracks energy-exploration permits, which officials said could reduce wait times by as much as two-thirds.
Republicans dismiss it as a computer fix, not a decision that will bring more energy online.
They urged Mr. Salazar to comply with their subpoenas, saying they need to learn more about the negotiations that led to the six-month drilling moratorium that followed the BP oil spill and about the editing of a report that accompanied the drilling ban.
That report seemed to imply that a panel of engineers the administration had consulted had agreed with the drilling ban — though the engineers actually opposed the moratorium.
“The report falsely stated the professional views of independent engineers and the moratorium directly caused thousands of lost jobs, economic pain throughout the Gulf region, and a decline in American energy production,” said Rep. Doc Hastings, Washington Republican and Natural Resources Committee chairman. “It’s important to clearly understand exactly how this happened.”
Adam Fetcher, a spokesman for the Interior Department, said it has made efforts to comply with the committee but said some of the requests would impinge on the executive branch’s ability to deliberate and make decisions.
Mr. Fetcher also said the committee should be focusing on what went right in the aftermath of the spill from Mr. Salazar’s demands for stricter safety standards to the fact that there are more rigs drilling in the Gulf now than at any time since just after the spill.
“This investigation continues to spend taxpayer resources to re-litigate an issue that was resolved two years ago, and that has thoroughly been reviewed by the department’s Inspector General,” Mr. Fetcher said. “The American people would be best served by passage of the legislative changes we’ve recommended to further enhance offshore oil and gas enforcement and safety.”
The House committee voted 23-17 last week to give Mr. Hastings authority to issue the subpoenas, despite Democrats’ objections that the move was political.
Rep. Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said Mr. Hastings didn’t give the panel’s Democrats a chance to look over the subpoenas beforehand [-] despite Mr. Hastings’ indication at the committee meeting last week that he would try to do so.
Mr. Markey also accused Mr. Hastings of withholding other investigative documents from Democrats in violation of House rules.
The oil moratorium has dogged the Obama administration.
After the engineers spoke out in the wake of the report’s release, Mr. Salazar apologized and had the report corrected.
The White House at the time acknowledged it had disregarded their scientific conclusions in favor of a “policy” decision, a move that the administration has the authority to do but which Republicans say Mr. Obama vowed during the 2008 campaign not to do.
The latest oil-production numbers from 2011 showed a drop on federal lands, which analysts said was attributable chiefly to the drilling moratorium.
The fact of the matter is that the betrayal of the American people, by this White House, cannot be ignored, and the damage done to our economy isn't just a valid object of Congressional investigation, it's a moral imperative!
Attempts to obstruct this investigation should be handled quite aggressively, IMHO. A great reason to begin de-funding Obama Regime departments that are going to be cut anyway in 2013.
Here's the story from the Washington Times, followed by The Heritage Foundation's 'The Foundry' Blog's coverage:
--------
House Subpoenas Obama Administration On Gulf Oil Drilling
By Stephen Dinan | Tuesday, April 3, 2012
A House committee issued subpoenas Tuesday demanding that the Obama administration turn over documents Republicans say will show the backroom negotiations that led to President Obama’s Gulf of Mexico drilling moratorium in 2010.
Interior Secretary Kenneth L. Salazar, whose department is the target of the subpoenas, rejected them as “a distraction in the name of politics” — and Republicans fired back that Mr. Salazar was showing little compassion over the jobs lost during the moratorium.
The subpoenas come as Mr. Obama is fighting to show he’s been proactive in leasing federal lands for energy development. Also on Tuesday, Mr. Salazar announced a new program to streamline the computer system that tracks energy-exploration permits, which officials said could reduce wait times by as much as two-thirds.
Republicans dismiss it as a computer fix, not a decision that will bring more energy online.
They urged Mr. Salazar to comply with their subpoenas, saying they need to learn more about the negotiations that led to the six-month drilling moratorium that followed the BP oil spill and about the editing of a report that accompanied the drilling ban.
That report seemed to imply that a panel of engineers the administration had consulted had agreed with the drilling ban — though the engineers actually opposed the moratorium.
“The report falsely stated the professional views of independent engineers and the moratorium directly caused thousands of lost jobs, economic pain throughout the Gulf region, and a decline in American energy production,” said Rep. Doc Hastings, Washington Republican and Natural Resources Committee chairman. “It’s important to clearly understand exactly how this happened.”
Adam Fetcher, a spokesman for the Interior Department, said it has made efforts to comply with the committee but said some of the requests would impinge on the executive branch’s ability to deliberate and make decisions.
Mr. Fetcher also said the committee should be focusing on what went right in the aftermath of the spill from Mr. Salazar’s demands for stricter safety standards to the fact that there are more rigs drilling in the Gulf now than at any time since just after the spill.
“This investigation continues to spend taxpayer resources to re-litigate an issue that was resolved two years ago, and that has thoroughly been reviewed by the department’s Inspector General,” Mr. Fetcher said. “The American people would be best served by passage of the legislative changes we’ve recommended to further enhance offshore oil and gas enforcement and safety.”
The House committee voted 23-17 last week to give Mr. Hastings authority to issue the subpoenas, despite Democrats’ objections that the move was political.
Rep. Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said Mr. Hastings didn’t give the panel’s Democrats a chance to look over the subpoenas beforehand [-] despite Mr. Hastings’ indication at the committee meeting last week that he would try to do so.
Mr. Markey also accused Mr. Hastings of withholding other investigative documents from Democrats in violation of House rules.
The oil moratorium has dogged the Obama administration.
After the engineers spoke out in the wake of the report’s release, Mr. Salazar apologized and had the report corrected.
The White House at the time acknowledged it had disregarded their scientific conclusions in favor of a “policy” decision, a move that the administration has the authority to do but which Republicans say Mr. Obama vowed during the 2008 campaign not to do.
The latest oil-production numbers from 2011 showed a drop on federal lands, which analysts said was attributable chiefly to the drilling moratorium.
Pushed by Barack Obama’s naked attempts to destroy our economy, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made up his mind: he will look west to China when he is ready to sell his nation’s crude oil. Barack Obama has won this round to destroy America’s economy, and we have lost.
Anyone who thought that this dangerous game of “chicken” would end in our closest neighbor and one of our strongest allies knuckling under (and waiting until Obama was finished using our lives to squeeze more campaign funds from the far Left) has been proven wrong. This is really going to happen. The Democratic cheerleaders in the media won’t write about this catastrophe Obama has purposefully brought about, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Foreign media, fortunately, feel no obligation to lie for Obama.
As reported by Sun News of Canada, PM Harper recently expressed his frustration and simultaneous resolve on this matter in a public conversation with former Democratic congresswoman Jane Harman. Harper said that he will not change his mind to help Obama fool Americans into believing he has worthy intentions regarding the matter of approving the Keystone pipeline, which would have delivered Canadian oil to Texas for refinement.
In front of a group of business representatives, energy experts, and reporters, Harper said “Look, the very fact that a ‘no’ could even be said underscores to our country that we must diversify our energy export markets. We cannot be, as a country, in a situation where our one and, in many cases, only energy partner could say no to our energy products. We just cannot be in that position.”
So there we have it. After three plus years of acting as a wrecking ball smashing through our economy, Obama has scored a double hit. He has choked off a major supply of oil and has insulted another ally.
Thanks to Obama, the damage from this bit of sabotage will take effect immediately; now that oil that has already been purchased from Canadian suppliers can’t be delivered, those contracts are dissolved. To honor them, the Canadians would have to incur extra expense to deliver oil at a price which, because of its previously agreed upon price, is now falling below its true market value by the day. That is not going to happen in the world where Obama and his EPA thugs have no control and his media can’t vilify capitalism. The Canadians don’t give a damn what Barack Obama wants – they are in business to make a profit. Socialism is for Americans.
Anyone who thought that this dangerous game of “chicken” would end in our closest neighbor and one of our strongest allies knuckling under (and waiting until Obama was finished using our lives to squeeze more campaign funds from the far Left) has been proven wrong. This is really going to happen. The Democratic cheerleaders in the media won’t write about this catastrophe Obama has purposefully brought about, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Foreign media, fortunately, feel no obligation to lie for Obama.
As reported by Sun News of Canada, PM Harper recently expressed his frustration and simultaneous resolve on this matter in a public conversation with former Democratic congresswoman Jane Harman. Harper said that he will not change his mind to help Obama fool Americans into believing he has worthy intentions regarding the matter of approving the Keystone pipeline, which would have delivered Canadian oil to Texas for refinement.
In front of a group of business representatives, energy experts, and reporters, Harper said “Look, the very fact that a ‘no’ could even be said underscores to our country that we must diversify our energy export markets. We cannot be, as a country, in a situation where our one and, in many cases, only energy partner could say no to our energy products. We just cannot be in that position.”
So there we have it. After three plus years of acting as a wrecking ball smashing through our economy, Obama has scored a double hit. He has choked off a major supply of oil and has insulted another ally.
Thanks to Obama, the damage from this bit of sabotage will take effect immediately; now that oil that has already been purchased from Canadian suppliers can’t be delivered, those contracts are dissolved. To honor them, the Canadians would have to incur extra expense to deliver oil at a price which, because of its previously agreed upon price, is now falling below its true market value by the day. That is not going to happen in the world where Obama and his EPA thugs have no control and his media can’t vilify capitalism. The Canadians don’t give a damn what Barack Obama wants – they are in business to make a profit. Socialism is for Americans.
On the stump, Senate Dem candidates split with Obama over Keystone pipeline
By Andrew Restuccia - 04/05/12 05:00 AM ET
President Obama has steered clear of taking a firm stance on the Keystone pipeline, but many Democrats running for Senate don’t have the same luxury.
Eight of the 18 non-incumbent Democrats running for Senate surveyed by The Hill either steadfastly support the pipeline or oppose it outright, breaking with Obama’s decision to reserve judgment on the project until federal regulators conduct a full review.
Republican Senate hopefuls have made the pipeline — which would carry oil sands crude from Alberta, Canada, to refineries on the Gulf Coast — a top campaign issue. The emphasis on the pipeline has forced many Democratic candidates to stake out a clear position on the project, whether they like it or not.
TransCanada Corp.'s Keystone XL pipeline has ignited a firestorm in Washington.
The president denied a cross-border permit for the pipeline in January, infuriating Republicans and launching a thorny political debate in Congress that has forced vulnerable Senate Democrats to weigh in on the project. But Obama has said his decision to reject the pipeline was based not on its merits, but on a 60-day, GOP-backed deadline included in legislation to extend the payroll tax cut.
As gas prices near a national average of $4 per gallon, the Keystone fight on Capitol Hill has spread to the campaign trail, even in states that are nowhere near the pipeline route.
By Andrew Restuccia - 04/05/12 05:00 AM ET
President Obama has steered clear of taking a firm stance on the Keystone pipeline, but many Democrats running for Senate don’t have the same luxury.
Eight of the 18 non-incumbent Democrats running for Senate surveyed by The Hill either steadfastly support the pipeline or oppose it outright, breaking with Obama’s decision to reserve judgment on the project until federal regulators conduct a full review.
Republican Senate hopefuls have made the pipeline — which would carry oil sands crude from Alberta, Canada, to refineries on the Gulf Coast — a top campaign issue. The emphasis on the pipeline has forced many Democratic candidates to stake out a clear position on the project, whether they like it or not.
TransCanada Corp.'s Keystone XL pipeline has ignited a firestorm in Washington.
The president denied a cross-border permit for the pipeline in January, infuriating Republicans and launching a thorny political debate in Congress that has forced vulnerable Senate Democrats to weigh in on the project. But Obama has said his decision to reject the pipeline was based not on its merits, but on a 60-day, GOP-backed deadline included in legislation to extend the payroll tax cut.
As gas prices near a national average of $4 per gallon, the Keystone fight on Capitol Hill has spread to the campaign trail, even in states that are nowhere near the pipeline route.
well we need that oil ..and I think they will over rule him ..
So he is against it, they scream. He changes his mind, and they scream louder. Yep, desperation to gain political advantages rearing its head again.
You must join this user group in order to participate in this discussion.
You are reading content posted in the News from the past to the future to share and discuss Group
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
