Keystone decision to be delayed

[proverbialwisdom]

Source: David Jackson, USA TODAY, 3:13 p.m. EDT April 18

The Obama administration on Friday extended the review period on the Keystone XL pipeline, perhaps pushing back a final decision on the disputed project until after the Nov. 4 congressional elections.

State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said in a tweet that officials are reviewing some 2.5 million public comments, and that agencies need to more time to assess the impact of a pending lawsuit in Nebraska over the pipeline route.

Republicans (and some Democrats) who support the pipeline denounced the delay -- placing the blame on President Obama -- while environmental groups hailed it as a sign that the project will not move forward.

In a statement, the department did not provide a specific date for the end of the review.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2014/04/18/obama-keystone-xl-pipeline-congress-canada/7874199/

[FiveGoodMen]

1. "some Democrats ... denounced the delay"

Example #4857 ... a D by your name is not enough.

[blkmusclmachine]

33. +1. Third Way sucks.

[Scuba]

2. Since announcing the decision before the election would only hurt Democratic candidates if ....

... he were to approve the pipeline, I don't hail this as good news.

If the President wanted to help Democratic candidates he would nix the project now.

If I'm missing something, please let me know what.

[joshdawg]

4. He should have nixed it at the get-go.

Chances are now, that he'll give it the go-ahead.
That will not be a good thing.

[proverbialwisdom]

6. Unsupported spin, sorry. Obviously, the converse is true, too.(nt)

[obxhead]

31. Obviously?

You have info that at least "suggests" strongley that POTUS will kill the pipeline?

[Autumn]

10. You are missing nothing.

This pipeline will be approved by Obama,that's the only reason to delay it until after the elections. I hope I'm wrong but I don't think so.

[rhett o rick]

12. We must have been typing at the same time. Agree, not good news. nm

[rhett o rick]

11. I agree with you. If he were to turn it down he could make a big deal about

climate change which would help Democrats. Postponing it means he is looking for a better time to approve it.

[Autumn]

13. That's what I think. The fact that he's waiting until after the election is a big

clue as to what he's going to do.

[jeff47]

16. Not necessarily. Denial would help on the left, but could hurt in the middle.

I haven't seen any polling to indicate which would be a greater effect. If we're assuming a 100% political motivation, then that polling would be the key to figuring out what, if anything, this means.

[Scuba]

19. What middle?

[jeff47]

46. The ~10% of the country that gets to decide who wins. (nt)

[Hoyt]

52. I agree.

[Skip Intro]

17. Just politics as usual. n/t

[karynnj]

21. Your assumption is wrong - a "no" decision would likely hurt Democrats running

The reason is that the pipeline is actually favored by more than half the people. The $$$ spent by Koch are effective. Democratic senators running in purple and red areas have mostly said this should be done.

After November, Obama has far more latitude to deny it. (Note that SoS Kerry voted against it while in the Senate. Not to mention, approving it is 100% at odds with his and Teresa's book. Even if you assume away all the global warming issues - as the team looking at it did by assuming that all the oil would still be extracted - which ignores that increasing the cost for distribution has to to change the threshold of how much of it is economically worth extracting for a given market price. It seems easy to argue that a leak in the pipeline will be a FAR FAR bigger ecological disaster for the land and water that it despoils than would happen without the pipeline -- and it seems almost certain to happen. ) If Obama decided before the election, he could lose the Senate. (I would add make the House worse - but that it very hard to see.)

[Scuba]

28. I hope you're correct.

[karynnj]

30. I hope I am not deluding myself

[karynnj]

47. Just saw Boxer's statement posted below - Kerry says health issues need to be considered

In "This time on Earth", the Kerrys spoke eloquently of how the health of many were destroyed by pollution that was often already illegal. T

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=783740

[cilla4progress]

43. I agree.

I think it signals he's going to nix it.

Here come his last 2 years...when he is free to do whatever he really pleases, within his power, as a lame duck.

[NickB79]

26. Playing politics with the future of the human race

Climate change has the very real potential to DESTROY human civilization by the end of the century. Yet here we are, still playing catch with a fucking bomb with the fuse lit.

Tossing it back and forth, back and forth, praying it doesn't explode when it's in OUR hands.

Kill the fucking thing as a moral stance and fuck the blowback. If we can't grow a god-damn spine to stop something that James Hansen, the most prominent NASA scientist on climate change, calls "game over for the climate" if built, then what the fuck are we even doing anymore?

[Bodhi BloodWave]

61. ok, question

Lets say he nixes it tomorrow, the blowback causes the republicans to get a number of seats in both the house and senate whereas the democrats lose some(aka the republican's gains both houses)

Would it still be worth the blowback if we consider how much more a republican president could get passed with such a congress, or conversely how much more the republicans could block if a democrat wins?

[JoePhilly]

36. He's going to cut Social Security after the 2014 election too.

[bvar22]

41. The AUDACITY of....

...we're going to kick this issue down the road past the election.

Whatever happened to DEMOCRATS who were unafraid to STAND on the Issues?
..to DO the Right Thing at the Right Time?
.
.
.
.

[tarheelsunc]

50. Keystone XL is widely popular among America at-large.

If Obama denied it before the election, it would become a much bigger campaign issue to be used against Democrats, and likely one that would resonate with independents given the support it enjoys. Putting this off until after the election is the best thing he could do for the sake of being able to get things done his last two years in office. Personally, I'd rather him be able to stand on every issue after the election instead of just this one before the election.

[postulater]

3. Hoo f**king ray!!!

I needed some good news!

The endless undermining by the oligarchs is wearing.

[proverbialwisdom]

9. +1

[Skittles]

5. LOL....when I read that headline I thought......

until after Nov 4

[alp227]

7. 2.5 million comments...the power of grassroots activism shows. nt

[davidpdx]

45. Exactly

And if they weren't taking the time to read them, people would bitch and complain that they just discarded all the responses. I know many of us on DU sent in comments (several great threads were posted with the links, kudos to those who did that) and those comments should be considered. I for one am glad they are putting more of an effort into reading them.

[OnyxCollie]

8. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Dopers_Greed]

14. Bad news

He's waiting til after the election so he doesn't give Dems more disincentive to vote

[karynnj]

22. In February, the Pew poll showed 61 percent in favor

An ABC poll was worse, it showed that 65% favored it even though 47% said it would be bad for the environment!

http://pollingreport.com/energy.htm

[stillcool]

37. I had someone explain to me..

The significance of supplying countries with gas and oil that are currently being supplied by Russia. I don't know which way I would go if I were him, nor do I know the consequences of either decision, for sure. In a better world there would be a way to do the job without the consequences.

[karynnj]

38. Exactly

What I do trust is that more than almost any politician (which he is not at this point but was for most of his life), he will listen to the facts and will - to the best of his ability - follow his conscience.

[840high]

32. Exactly. Yes it is bad news.

Politics as always.

[sulphurdunn]

15. This was a done deal even before

the first spade of dirt was turned. Everything since has just been theater.

[Cal Carpenter]

18. Yep.

[olddad56]

23. this deal was done before Bush left office.

[MBS]

25. yup.

and some Dems have been aiders and abettors:
Clinton as SoS had the environmental "study" carried out by a company with clear conflict of interest.
Note also the despicable recent letter to Obama by 11 Democratic senators, urging Obama to approve the pipeline.
Sigh.

If SoS Kerry and President Obama can summon the political courage to nix this, I will jump with joy. As it is, I'm at least glad that they're delaying the decision, and I really hope that they DO wait until after the 2014 midterms.

[riverbendviewgal]

20. Stephen Harper must be ticked off.

He signed away Canada' s sovereignty to get thst pipeline. I hope President Obama ssys no.

[alarimer]

24. If he approves it, it will go down as one of the worst betrayals by a Democratic President ever.

Worse even than Clinton's NAFTA and welfare "reform."

Why delay if you are going to turn it down? That would help Dems in terms of turnout. People who actually believe in not contributing further to global warming would be cheered by that.

So it must mean he's going to approve it. And why not wait until after it can't do any damage to the election? Approving it before would hurt Democrats for sure, I would think.

I'm not sure I can be any more disappointed in him than I already am; this will be scraping the bottom of the barrel.

[arcane1]

27. Well, he campaigned on fracking and "clean" coal, so this isn't much different.

I certainly will be surprised if he turns it down.

[MannyGoldstein]

29. And he ran on a "Manhattan Project" for clean energy

I guess by "Manhattan", he meant Wall Street, not the code name.

[karynnj]

39. It would not help turn out Democrats

You are thinking of the liberal/progressive/environmentalist Democrats only. These are Democrats likely to come out any way because the Republican alternatives are absolutely not acceptable.

You ignore what was called the Reagan Democrats and many labor union Democrats. Though a lie, the Koch message that the pipeline will create innumerable (or at least ever increasing estimates - backed by no real information) good paying jobs. This is a lie and needs to be countered.

In addition, there is the argument - also untrue as the oil is not the kind we use - that if we don't buy this oil from friendly Canada, we need to depend on the unstable Middle East or Russia.

Look at the polling data - in two polls taken this year, 61 and 65 percent of the people favor approval. If the decision was to be made on political grounds, it would be approved.

[Louisiana1976]

34. I hope environmental groups are right that this delay

is a sign that the pipeline will not be approved. If built, the pipeline will carry dirty oil called dilbit that will add to greenhouse emissions and ultimately increase global climate change.

[proverbialwisdom]

35. More.

Last edited Fri Apr 18, 2014, 07:53 PM - Edit history (1)

FOLLOW HERE: https://twitter.com/EPWChairBoxer

12:34 PM - 26 Feb 2014
EPWChairmanBoxer Verified account
Boxer's remarks: The Keystone Pipeline & The Threat to Human Health http://1.usa.gov/1frOvvb . Photo: Hilton Kelley http://pic.twitter.com/ixoMJHSPvh

[img][/img]

http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Majority.LatestUpdates

Senators Boxer, Whitehouse Expose Harmful Health Impacts of Tar Sands and Keystone XL Pipeline
Posted by EPWChairmanBoxer

Published on Feb 26, 2014

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) held a press conference on Wednesday, February 26th to expose the harmful health implications associated with tar sands oil and the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, which is currently under consideration. Senators Boxer, Whitehouse, doctors and community representatives spoke about the health impacts of tar sands oil on communities across the country. Additional speakers included:

Dr. John O'Connor, MD, Alberta, Canada
Dr. Stuart Batterman, Professor of Environmental Health Sciences, Univ. of Michigan School of Public Health
Hilton Kelley, Founder and CEO, Community In-power & Development Association Inc., Port Arthur, TX
Tom Shepherd, Vice President, Southeast Environmental Task Force, Chicago, IL

EPWChairmanBoxer ?@EPWChairBoxer Feb 26
Petroleum coke pollution blanketing Chicago's East Side. Photo: Southeast Environmental Task Force #NoKXL http://pic.twitter.com/4wQFpSXeO7

[img][/img]

EPWChairmanBoxer ?@EPWChairBoxer Feb 26
Stacks of petroleum coke piles in Chicago, IL. Photo: Southeast Environmental Task Force #NoKXL http://pic.twitter.com/6jH4EQ5DCA

[img][/img]

[proverbialwisdom]

40. EPW Committee Chair Senator Boxer’s Statement on Extended Comment Period for Keystone XL Pipeline

http://www.epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Majority.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=a1a81a31-0ccb-08f5-8d50-d5fd600420bd

[img][/img]

Senator Boxer’s Statement on Extended Comment Period for Keystone XL Pipeline
April 18, 2014

Washington, D.C. - Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the statement below following the Obama Administration's decision to extend the government comment period for the Keystone XL pipeline.

Senator Boxer said: "Given the unprecedented number of comments from the public on the Keystone XL pipeline proposal, and the legal uncertainties due to lawsuits in Nebraska, the State Department was entirely correct to delay a decision on the pipeline.

"I was pleased to learn today that Secretary Kerry has agreed to take into account the public health impacts of the tar sands oil when he considers whether the pipeline is in the national interest. But I still do not have a clear cut answer on whether there will be a separate health impacts study, which is clearly in the public interest. I reminded the State Department today that joining the call for an independent health impacts study are National Nurses United, the American Public Health Association, and the National Association of County and City Health Officials."

[proverbialwisdom]

42. Have faith.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jamie-henn/keystone-xl-protest_b_4886208.html

Jamie Henn
Co-founder and Communications Director, 350.org

Hundreds of Students Arrested at White House Protesting Keystone XL
Posted: 03/02/2014 4:53 pm EST Updated: 03/02/2014 4:59 pm EST

I just came back from the White House, where the police are still arresting the hundreds of students who are taking part in what will likely be the largest act of youth civil disobedience at the White House in a generation.

This is XL Dissent: a massive surge of protest against the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline and a powerful show of solidarity with all communities who are fighting the fossil fuel industry and confronting the impacts of the climate crisis.

"An entire movement has thrown itself into in this Keystone fight, from local frontline groups to big national green organizations," 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben wrote in an email. "But this weekend shows the power and bravery of some of the most crucial elements: young people, and activists who understand the centrality of environmental justice."

The scene down at the White House this afternoon was incredible. There were just over a thousand students that rallied in Lafayette Park, but it sounded like 10 thousand. This wasn't your parents' protest, but the spark-shooting dynamo of student movement that is beginning to embrace its true power.

"Obama was the first President I voted for, and I want real climate action and a rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline," said Nick Stracco, a Senior at Tulane University and one of the lead organizers of XL Dissent. "The people that voted him into office have made it absolutely clear what we want, and that's to reject Keystone XL."

The action this morning began up at Georgetown University, where last summer President Obama pledged that he would only approve the Keystone XL pipeline if it didn't significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions. At around 10:30am, students surged out of the gates of campus and headed towards the White House. Along the way, they stopped at Secretary Kerry's house and unfurled a giant mock oil spill in the middle of the street. It's up to Kerry to make a recommendation to President Obama on whether or not Keystone XL is in the the country's national interest. While students are counting on Kerry to build on his legacy as a climate champion and push for a rejection, they're not taking any chances.

<>

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/06/25/remarks-president-climate-change

June 25, 2013 (100 degrees in the shade)
(Outdoor) Remarks by the President on Climate Change

Georgetown University
Washington, D.C.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you! (Applause.) Thank you, Georgetown! Thank you so much. Everybody, please be seated. And my first announcement today is that you should all take off your jackets. (Laughter.) I’m going to do the same. (Applause.) It’s not that sexy, now. (Laughter.)

It is good to be back on campus, and it is a great privilege to speak from the steps of this historic hall that welcomed Presidents going back to George Washington.

I want to thank your president, President DeGioia, who’s here today. (Applause.) I want to thank him for hosting us. I want to thank the many members of my Cabinet and my administration. I want to thank Leader Pelosi and the members of Congress who are here. We are very grateful for their support.

And I want to say thank you to the Hoyas in the house for having me back. (Applause.) It was important for me to speak directly to your generation, because the decisions that we make now and in the years ahead will have a profound impact on the world that all of you inherit.

<>

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017178729
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014743382

[davidpdx]

44. OH JESUS LET'S ALL FREAK OUT

We know Obama is going to approve the pipeline because we were right when we said he'd send troops to invade Syria and Ukraine, was going to cut social security, was never going to get on healthcare passed , and cave-in to Republican demands . I mean he's such a failure!

[freshwest]

55. Or, even worse, he's delaying to help the Dems toss out the Koch funded GOP! Oh, the horror! n/t

[davidpdx]

56. Ah shit, I forgot that one

[on point]

48. Obvious spine failure to do what is right for the country and planet. Sell out to the corps

just not willing to admit it until after the elections.

The case to disapprove is obvious as is the craven waffle of a DLC minion.

[olddad56]

49. most of the politicians in this country, at every level, sold out long ago.

had they not, they would not have the funds to get elected.

[Benton D Struckcheon]

51. Nebraska killed it, for all intents and purposes.

Now we're just waiting for the date of the funeral to be announced.

[MindMover]

53. Money Talks ....

[freshwest]

54. He's been delaying 2009. May he stymie them until 2017. n/t

[on point]

57. How about show some spine and just cancel here and now. Why wait tioll 2017?

[freshwest]

58. Because delay equals denial. And if he fully denies it, they'll find another way.

Some of the OFA were in the early protests and RFK,Jr. said he doesn't believe Obama will approve. But some red states want it, and even Schultz and others for a while supported it.

The groundswell, like that on Citizens United, must come from the citizens to overwhelmed its supporters. This is a Koch brothers plan, and PBO has spoken against it and they have threatened him and created the Teas to go after him. They said they would go after him and they did, and they will double their net worth from $100B to $200B from this alone.

The oil would be shipped from Canada to a refinery they own on the Gulf to go to China. Obama says the jobs will be minimal and Americans will get none of that oil. But if Americans keep believing the Koches in 2014 and 2016, even if Obama denied it today, they'd reintroduce it and call it something else.

He's done what a limited executive can do, and the GOP has attached fast track on the pipeline to every budget bill. He's negotiated out of it and has only one card to play. It's up to us to change the minds of people in the states that want this, he has made the case, been working under a blackout by media, as the red state governors have dug in their heels on this just as they have with the ACA.

[Doctor_J]

59. I think he's going to go full-bore "moderate Republican" after 11/4

XL and TPP will be signed off, and the "Profitize Schools" juggernaut will put into overdrive. I am pretty sure he will leave SS alone though. This will of course put a damper on HRC's chances in 2016, but she'll win because

1. Dim-witted auto-Dems like me will vote for her (there will be no rational alternative of course)
2. She will score a huge % of women and minorities
3. She will parade pics and quotes of Scalia, Thomas, Roberts and Alito around which will bring lots of sane indies out

[Owl]

60. Let's hope the pipeline is delayed forever.