Obama now in favor of Keystone pipeline again?

[eridani]

http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/312-16/10187-obama-welcomes-southern-keystone-pipeline

Under fire from Republicans over high gas prices, President Barack Obama on Monday cheered news that the Canadian company hoping to build the Keystone XL Pipeline to carry oil from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico would press ahead with a US-only segment of that controversial project.

"The president welcomes today's news," spokesman Jay Carney said. "We support the company's interest in proceeding with this project."

The southern segment would connect a storage hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, to refineries in Texas. Carney also signaled that Obama, who last month rejected a key permit for the entire Canada-to-U.S. pipeline, would approach a new application for the rest of the project with an open mind. Because the project spanned the two countries, it required approval of the State Department.

[OKNancy]

1. just the route from Cushing to the gulf

There are at least eight pipelines already out of Cushing. No problems that I know of.
Also there is a "backup" of domestic oil in Cushing that needs to move out. I don't have a problem with this.

[eridani]

4. Tell me why sandblasting the interior of a metal pipe is a good idea again?

Tar sands slurry is not regular oil.

[paulk]

8. it's a good idea because Obama approved it

who needs more than that?

[ROFF]

10. Do a thought experiment.

Put yourself in the place of the pipeline operator. Would you accept any oil that had sand in it?

Probably not. Here is why.
1. If the flow ever stopped, the sand would settle out in the low spots blocking the pipeline.
2. The increased cost of pumping a non-useable substance.
3. As you said, wear and tear on equipment.
4. You would have trouble finding a refinery to take the sandy oil. They can not refine sand and would have to separate it out = increased cost.

[eridani]

17. So explain how they get the sand out of tar sands first n/t

[ROFF]

18. They use a floatation process

I have seen videos of what looks like a combination of air, oil and whatever else they use being skimmed off the top of a vat. There may be other steps involved.

We all have seen video of trucks hauling sand to be processed. This is loaded by front-end loaders or machine shovels.

More bad news: Wait for the Saskatchewan oil sands to come online.

[eridani]

22. Sounds like a very seriously contaminated end product results n/t

[Owlet]

2. Why in the world

would the WH endorse a pipeline carrying environmentally dirty oil from Canada to a tax-free facility in Port Arthur? Yes, I understand that this refers only to the Oklahoma/Texas portion (which makes no sense, either, but that's another story)

http://priceofoil.org/2011/08/31/report-exporting-energy-security-keystone-xl-exposed/

"But a closer look at the new realities of the global oil market and at the companies who will profit from the pipeline reveals a completely different story: Keystone XL will not lessen U.S. dependence on foreign oil, but rather transport Canadian oil to American refineries for export to overseas markets.


Can someone explain to me the President's rationale behind this? Is it simply a kneejerk response to Republican criticism? If so, it's a pretty piss-poor one.

[SidDithers]

3. The news that was welcomed was the decision...

to build the pipeline from Oklahoma to the Gulf, not from Canada to the Gulf.

Sid

[Owlet]

6. What part of this n my post did you not understand?

"Yes, I understand that this refers only to the Oklahoma/Texas portion (which makes no sense, either, but that's another story) "

Not trying to be snarky, but it irritates the hell out of me when folks comment on a post they obviously haven't even read.

[dionysus]

12. get it straight sid...this is just like the time obama slashed SS and left our seniors in the gutter

he also put out a cig in my cereal this morning. he's a bad man. wake up.

[dionysus]

11. why in the world... wouldn't you bother to read the post?

"...would connect a storage hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, to refineries in Texas...."

"Is it simply a kneejerk response to Republican criticism? "
i see someone jerking knees, and it isn't Obama on this...

[joeybee12]

14. apparently you're not reading either...

It's dirty, dirty oil...it should not even be drilled.

[arikara]

21. Its not techically drilled

Its actually more like strip mining it out of the Earth. When they pipeline it they have to mix it with toxic chemicals to make it more liquid and at that its still the consistency of peanut butter that they have to force through the pipes at high pressure. It wears the pipelines out faster than conventional oil and its harder to clean when - not if - there is a disaster. It costs so much in energy to mine and refine it that it is actually worth nothing, and its a speculative shell game to make money from it. If oil prices weren't as high as they are now, they would not be able to afford to do it. Its very gross, filthy, expensive stuff and it should not be mined or used period.

[Owlet]

15. It's not worth my time to try to 'splain it to you.

[spanone]

5. again????

[LiberalAndProud]

7. I think Obama has always supported the pipeline.

I believe the Ogallala Aquifer kerfuffle only delayed the inevitable. It was clear the day Obama nixed the pipeline that it was a temporary measure. I was happy about the planned reroute, because I believe that was the best we could have hoped for.

The TransCanada pipeline is a reality. The only option we might have is the route it will take. But if you want a new route, your state will pay the price difference.

It makes no sense to begin with the southern section unless you're certain that the northern section will be built. It's a DONE deal.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

9. What you said.

He was ALWAYS for it. We were ALWAYS going to get that fucking pipeline, regardless of what was good for the environment, what the American people wanted, or what bullshit to the contrary was being pedaled by the WH.

As far as I am concerned, Obama can not be trusted to be straight forward on the environment. He continues to be a tremendous disappointment.

[TheKentuckian]

13. Rhetoric continues to be the biggest difference between the major parties

After the jawing the actions come together and then back to the rhetoric for justification of the actions.

Not on all things, of course, but in many of the most critical areas the agenda is very, very close (especially those with huge dollars involved) and those that profit from the collusions are the same.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

16. Yup. Talk is dirt cheap.

Especially in an election year. I have seen too much over the last 3+ years to ever take O at his word.

[cherokeeprogressive]

19. If the election is in ANY way close, look for it to be OK'd and announced in late October.

This is Texas Hold'em, and it's one of President Obama's hole cards.

[LiberalAndProud]

20. It seems to me that the battle is over who will get the credit.

The Republicans have known that there is not real opposition to this project within the halls of power, they would simply like to take the credit.

Credit -- as if.