Tentative deal on payroll tax rate includes provision pushing President Obama

[sasha031]

to make a decision on Keystone XL oil pipeline
Senate leaders struck a tentative deal Friday night to extend the payroll tax rate and jobless benefits through the end of February, electing to punt tough economic decisions into the new year. But Republicans won a major concession: The deal includes a provision pushing President Obama to make a decision on the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline, which has divided labor groups from environmental activists in the Democratic ranks.
http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/2011/12/16/breaking-tentative-deal-on-payroll-tax-rate-includes-provision-pushing-president-obama-to-make-a-decision-on-keystone-xl-oil-pipeline/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=P2Blogs

I've been afraid this would happen..

[Donnachaidh]

1. "pushing president Obama"

[sasha031]

2. yes, see your point

[MH1]

3. Wait, I'm stupid. Please explain

If Obama wants the Keystone pipeline, why hasn't he already approved it?

If you're laughing about something else, please explain to this idiot.

If we hadn't elected so many republicans in 2010 this might not be an issue. Unless of course Obama actually wants the pipeline. Then back to my question above ...

[Autumn]

5. Obama wanted to put the decision off till after the election

He knows when he approves it, it's going to piss off a LOT of Democratic voters.

[teddy51]

6. Here we go again, another let down. n/t

[Autumn]

8. Sounds like a chess move.

he will no longer have the luxury of waiting to give his decision on it when it will have no bearing on his campaign. After the election, he can approve it and that's just tough, before the election he's going to take some heat on it. These guys are assholes.

[gateley]

11. Seriously, teddy51, let's see how it shakes out, okay? nt

[teddy51]

12. Yeah, I'll give ya that. n/t

[gateley]

16. Especially on this -- I really don't know what Obama's ultimate plans are. You may be right, but

one step at a time. He said he'd veto it if it contained the pipeline provision, so the pipeline provision came out. Step in the right direction. With this Congress and this political climate, I'm grateful for any forward motion.

[Yupster]

9. Now he can blame the Repubs

for making him approve it.

[Autumn]

10. He approves it, he owns it

[MH1]

13. It will piss off some, make some happy.

I agree it's not a good thing politically to do it before the election.

I don't know if I agree that Obama wants to approve it. The problem is if he nixes it, he pisses of the people who might've gotten jobs out of it, including some unions.

The reason the republicans want the decision now, is that it's a wedge issue between democrats.

Meanwhile, most of those of us who care about the environment, also care about other things where we know we are TOTALLY screwed with a republican president.

So my reaction at this point is, whatever. 2010 was a hugely important election and a lot of idiot democrats stayed home. Now PA for one has gerrymandered their districts so it will be hopeless to get more than a handful of dem reps for the next 10 years. Anything happening now in Congress is only going to get worse, and is a consequence of the 2010 abdication of the polls by democrats. Not all Obama's fault as some here like to play it.

[Luminous Animal]

15. Those jobs are a fantasy...

http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/12/16/391272/myth-that-keystone-xl-creates-jobs-perpetuated-by-oil-lobby-parroted-by-congresss-oil-recipients/

[Autumn]

17. Thank you, I was looking at old DU for that link.

That pipeline is not worth it.

[MannyGoldstein]

14. He wants to be hostaged over it

So when he totally caves, the Probamans won't blame him.

[quinnox]

4. Huh?

Through FEb only for jobless benefits, and in return Obama has to say yes or no on Keystone?

This is a good example of how broken our system has become.

[NorthCarolina]

7. That pipeline is such a done deal already anyway. nt