NRDC, CAP, Others Warn Obama; No Forgiveness From Green Voters, Orgs If He Approves Keystone

[hatrack]

EDIT

If a flurry of climate change initiatives is an attempt by the administration to soften up environmental supporters ahead of an approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, green groups say President Obama better think twice.

While complimenting Obama’s calls for a $1 billion climate change resiliency fund and tougher fuel efficiency standards for heavy trucks, they say none of that will make up for green-lighting Keystone. “There is not a blanket of regulations big enough to cover the pipeline elephant in the room,” said Jamie Henn of the green group 350.org. “There is nothing the administration could do to negate the impact the pipeline would have on the climate.”

If Obama approves Keystone, it will provoke a “vehement reaction” from environmental groups, said David Goldston, director of governmental affairs at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

“People have speculated that a push in climate policies could be some kind of trade-off but for the environmental community there is no such trade-off on Keystone XL,” Goldston said. “I don’t think that’s a strategy that would work in terms of the environmental movement either substantively or politically.” Environmental groups acknowledge widespread speculation that Obama will look to burnish his climate change credentials as a way to soften the blow of approving Keystone. Doing so could help several Democratic Senate candidates — most notably Sen. Mary Landrieu (La.).

EDIT

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/198671-green-groups-tell-obama-keystone-wont-be-forgiven

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. OBAMA MUST NOT APPROVE KEYSTONE!!!

I hope that he is listening?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. If he approves this boondoggle, there will be considerable backlash from environmentalists.

It will hurt the Democratic party and our races for the Congress and the Presidency.

It really angers me that he is even considering approving this.

[djean111]

3. Last time I looked, Obama doesn't need to care about votes.

I am starting to wonder, though, whether delaying Keystone approval is a feint to take attention away from what looks like approval of fracking throughout the entire country.

[Isoldeblue]

4. He didn't start it and he can't stop it

No matter how Obama decides, it's coming no matter what. If anyone knows how to stop this, I'm all ears.

[roguevalley]

5. he can say no. He can use his presidency to end this now.

as for fracking, its going to take a 7 or 8 earthquake in the south to get it straight in people's heads.

[Isoldeblue]

6. No, to what??!

To not have MORE of the pipeline installed? Some of it already exists. If that building is stopped, then the crap oil will be shipped by railway with frequent derailments, due to poor infrastructure. Either way we are stuck with it coming through the US and then having to dispose of the sand. It's a done deal. Unfortunately. We have to work with what exists and to improve it's safety. Both the rails and the oil pipelines. That is where our energies should be spent. Instead of blaming Obama for something he has no responsibility for.

And of course, you didn't have one credible or constructive suggestion to offer, except to dump it all on Obama.

Where were you and everyone else when this was first started years ago??? Why didn't the uproar THEN be as loud as it is now....

I don't feel that Obama has been perfect. But on this issue, most people are being so damned unrealistic with him and what he has the power to do. The presidency is not a monarch. There is actually very little that the pres can due w/the congress he has. The expectations on this of Obama are just dumb!

And don't hijack the thread topic, bringing in another subject. We're talking about Keystone, not fracking. Start another OP if that's what you want to discuss.

[kristopher]

7. "dispose of the sand"???

Your post has a few mistakes. For example they aren't shipping "sand", they separate that from the "tar" on site in Canada. They ship "bitumen" which is tar made fluid by the addition of highly volatile and toxic chemicals that are part of any spills. The combination of the bitumen and these fluids is affectionately termed "dilbit", a contraction of diluted bitumen.

Obama can deny the pipeline.

Despite claims by the pipeline proponents, the pipeline is essential to the long term economics of the tar sands - meaning the total amount of extracted carbon will be substantially less if the pipeline isn't available to them.

Here's a question - what is your belief about climate change?

[Isoldeblue]

9. They have to refine it

and where will the sand go? Not in Canada. They have environmental rules about that.......... That is an issue that needs to be dealt with. I never said sand is being shipped and you know that.

I strongly believe in climate change and believe with every fiber of my being that we are self-destructing at a greater speed than we may even know. I cry when I took at my grandchildren today and wonder what kind of world they will grow into and if they will be able to have children and know the joy of parenthood and grandparenting. That's only a tiny bit of how I feel and know. Not that I owed you any defense.

But to believe that Obama can change this project for the better in any way is stupid and a false narrative. I'll say it again. We need to focus our anger and energy on what exists and improve it, til we can match the energy we take out of the ground, with solar, wind, water and hydrogen.

[NickB79]

8. A line in the sand. nt