Looks like Obama approved the pipeline

[Richard D]

I'm having a really hard time digesting this and an even harder time figuring out why I should support him.
I hope a strong ecologically conscious candidate shows up soon.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I hear you, but don't hold your breath...

This is so damn frustrating...

I am sick over it...

[gateley]

3. Check this out, Peggy --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1821075&mesg_id=1821310

Gives me hope. He's GOT to know how devastating this would be. Didn't he say he'd make a decision before the end of the year?

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. I did see that.

I'm pretty sure he will approve it.

I hope you're right, but my gut feeling is that he will approve it...

Damn.

I honestly do not know what's motivating him. I just do NOT.

I don't recall when the decision will be made; you might be right on that.

[gateley]

11. Part of me fears he'll approve, another part of me would

be incredulous that he'd do in knowing the disastrous effects. Al Gore needs to get him on the phone!

I said this about Republicans, but I think this about Obama, too, that being Christian they believe in life after death -- how are they going to feel knowing they took actions that harmed fellow human beings and our beautiful planet? I think that would be Hell.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. I really don't think his religion is playing any part in his decision.

He's too hard-headed for that.

I wish you were right, though.

[tblue]

15. being Christian?

I get what you're saying, but I don't think that's what's driving Obama. AAMOF, I don't know WHAT drives him.

[gateley]

28. But I think those who espouse Christianity should heed "do unto

others" and "whatever you do to the least of my brethren" (or whatever it says) and I just can't see anyone with any sense of concern for others, much less the planet, make such a horrible choice.

[bahrbearian]

21. Why doesn't he come out against it , like candidate Obama would have.

I would give him something to Negotiate with.

[gateley]

29. Because he's POTUS now, and he's got to try to appeal to

everybody. Not a criticism, but NO President ever does all they tell us they're going to do. It's politics. It sucks. And I wish he'd do it, too, but I know it's not going to happen like that. If he does come out against it, he'll take his time explaining WHY.

[gateley]

2. Not so sure -- check out ProSense's post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1821075&mesg_id=1821310

[Richard D]

4. From The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/aug/26/obama-approves-pipeline-alberta-texas

[gateley]

6. From the same article:

"However, McKibben held out hope that Obama - who still has final authority over the project - might step in to stop the pipeline."

Doesn't that indicate it's not a done deal?

[Life Long Dem]

13. No, some would rather say they are pretty sure the sky will fall.

Just so they can bash Obama.

[Richard D]

18. Believe me

The last thing I want to do is bash Obama. I want to praise him for doing the right thing. This isn't the right thing.

[MuseRider]

19. No need to rush into the bash

there is plenty right now to be angry with him about. I can wait, will be happy to wait and if he does not vote for this I will apologize for being snarky right now about it. I do not think there is a chance in hell he will not vote for it but I can wait.

Bash: To engage in harsh, accusatory, threatening criticism.

Criticize: To judge the merits and faults of; analyze and evaluate.

I never see pure bashing here and frankly think using the word is insulting to the members here who disagree with you. It takes a big person to stand against criticism and Obama seems to let it slide pretty easily. His supporters here don't fare so well.

[gateley]

24. I see plenty of pure bashing, but plenty of valid criticism, too.

I think those who are just so fed up/angry/discouraged go for the bash.

[SammyWinstonJack]

39. Are you for real?

:wtf:

[tblue]

16. What in Obama's history makes you think he will step in to stop it?

Seriously.

[gateley]

25. I'm not looking at his history, I'm looking at this issue. I've been

predictable before, too, but I've surprised some people by some actions. I don't judge others more harshly than I judge myself, nor do I expect more from others. I'm of the belief that we do the best we can most of the time, right or wrong.

[Bluebear]

35. +

[SammyWinstonJack]

38. His corporate history won't allow him to stop this. What will he tell his daughters?

:shrug:

[bahrbearian]

23. McKibben held out hope that Obama ,,,Yada Yada Yada , held out HOPE

[gateley]

26. Yeah. I like that word. I never give up. nt

[patrice]

5. .

That feels pretty bad, just like news of all of the suicides this country is experiencing.

[gateley]

9. Check out this part of the article:

"However, McKibben held out hope that Obama - who still has final authority over the project - might step in to stop the pipeline."

That seems to mean it's not dyed-in-the-wool yet, don't you think? That's what I'm hoping, anyway.

That's an arresting visual - wow.

[joeybee12]

14. Well, the EPA is against it, the State Department is for it, Carol Browner got pushed out

of the EPA earlier this year...I know where I'd place my bets.

[patrice]

22. I will call the White House about this. Thanks. nt

[gateley]

30. I did and sent an e-mail. I should do it again, too. That's

all we CAN do :shrug:. :hi:

[DCBob]

8. Maybe something to do with reducing dependence on ME oil.

and stabilizing the cost of gasoline.. a product that most of us rely on to survive day to day.

[Richard D]

20. I don't want to reduce dependence on ME oil

I want to see dependence on oil eliminated.
That would be real leadership.

[DCBob]

32. I agree we should not be dependent on oil at all but that seems along way off..

The alternatives just arent there in large enough quantities to fully replace petroleum products. In the meantime we have to keep the engines running.

[Richard D]

33. Could be and could be fairly quickly

if all the money going to bail out banksters and the war and subsidizing oil had been channeled to research and development. The amount that is going there is pitifully small compared to the urgency of the problem.

[DCBob]

49. I wish we would treat this issue as a high level national crisis..

like we did with the Mahattan Project.

[Selatius]

51. I generally do see it as a national security issue, but it isn't taken that seriously in Washington.

If we were to cast the issue of building up mass transit and research and development into alternative fuels as an issue of war and peace, an issue of national survival, I'm sure we'd get more traction on it than it currently gets; hell, give a cut of some of the money to certain defense contractors to get them on board, for instance. I mean, I'm sure General Electric could produce turbine diesel-electric engines that could power bullet trains to move people from city to city for a fraction of the amount of fuel compared to simply building an interstate between the two cities.

[DCBob]

53. I like your idea of giving the defense contractors a cut of the action..

That would probably be what it will take to get this to happen.

[Richard D]

59. Yes.

Exactly. What would a trillion dollars in R&D create? Money directed at really clean and sustainable energy has been a pittance so far.

[Fumesucker]

62. You mean like "a moral equivalent to war"?

I seem to recall someone a long time ago saying something like that..

Wait a moment or two and perhaps it will come to me..

[SammyWinstonJack]

42. So tell me what % of the Alaskan oil pipeline ever benefited the lower 48?

Hasn't it always
been sold to Japan or on the open market to the highest bidder?

[DCBob]

50. I have no idea. Would you be ok with it if it did benefit the lower 48?

[glinda]

10. He needs to hear our anger about this project. If it goes through, it will devastate the planet.

Even more than before.

[gateley]

31. I've called and e-mailed, I don't know what else to do. Big

protest going on at the WH (although he's not there) but this is one time where pressure on our representatives don't carry that much weight.

Any ideas?

[glinda]

36. NOpe. I am very upset. Maybe someone can organize a call in day.

[gateley]

43. You know, that would be a great idea! Deluge them with calls --

like Ron Paul's Money Bomb. I think getting a LOT in one day would hopefully get the point across. I'm really worried, too. :(

[Octafish]

17. He's got to make hard choices to benefit the people...

...who own Wall Street.

[sfpcjock]

27. He has to do this sh!t or it's an automatic slime series of "issue ads"

on election day from

Freedomworks
Crossroads GPS
Americans for Promiscuity
Coors
Koch
etc, etc.

all funded by Saudis for all we know now.

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[in_cog_ni_to]

40. That's my grand plan!

Bernie is my candidate.

[apocalypsehow]

37. If it meets environmental standards and has due oversight, what's the problem?

:shrug:

[in_cog_ni_to]

41. Like the oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska? Accidents happen.

This project would be a disaster.

[bluestate10]

45. You make a declarative statement without a shitsmear of evidence to back it up. nt

[in_cog_ni_to]

57. Really? The BP oil well disaster isn't destroying the Gulf of Mexico? That's not proof enough

that accidents CAN and DO happen? The Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska isn't proof enough that accidents CAN and DO happen? Shitsmear my ass. It's the truth. If you think for one minute this DISASTROUS pipeline won't have an impact on our environment, you need help.

[bluestate10]

46. Facts and objective analysis of data does not fit with the Chicken Little crowd. nt

[bvar22]

63. Ask the people of Fukushima how they feel about your "analysis".

They WILL have some "facts" about the potential for disaster for you.

"These plants are perfectly safe.
They have redundant back up systems.
They have been "Engineered" to withstand Natural Disasters and Terrorist Attacks.

Yeah.
Go sell THAT shit in Japan.
:rofl:


You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.

Solidarity!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Selatius]

52. Because it will simply pump more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere??? nt

[stuntcat]

64. and burning the oil from tar sands is much worse

like exponentially dirtier.
This is a giant setback, the investment in this needs to go to better energy.

This makes me sick.. I thought it was impossible for me to have less hope for the future.

[bluestate10]

44. Climate change deniers ignores science. Evaluations of the pipeline

design lead to the conclusion that the pipeline as planned does not pose environmental hazards. I will write this to alarm you, because doing so is fun, the nation has gas chemical pipelines running around it. Have had pipelines for decades. We're still here. My question is what makes you different from climate change deniers when it comes to ceding to fact based objectivity?

[Blaze Diem]

47. Isn't this pipline the reason Palin was in Texas before her VP run?

She was beholding to some oil pipeline venture & her visits to Texas weren't just a social call.
Why ship the dirty sludge to Houston? This venture has been in the works for a long time.
This pipeline deal makes me ill.
Have they cleaned up the Yellowstone River spill yet?
The beautiful Missouri River will be the next water way polluted with Canada's sludge oil.
Canada should build their own refineries to clean this crap oil.

Right across the Canadian border is North Dakota. The Bakken Oil Field.
The oil extracted from this huge field is a pure clear amber color. High grade & needs minimal refining.
I'd like to know what the USA is getting out of this deal.
I hope this government gets a pretty price for it and all damn profits we get should go directly to pay down the deficit.

I can just see all the greedy greedsters just wringing their hands and think-tanking in private as to just how much profit they can make off this massive venture.
I hope that along with Obamas signature, came a clause as to how US profits will be dispersed.
It needs to benefit the damn citizens of this Nation.
Sorry for the rant. I'm just so disgusted!
Tks
Blaze

[Blaze Diem]

48. Next project: Make the I-35 Corridor a Toll Road

I seem to recall Perry bringing this up not long ago.
Haven't heard much about it since, but that could be the reason Perry has zoomed ahead in the fake polls.
He's been pre-selected for POS, as was GW.
Perrys biggest campaign money comes from Oil Corps.
Pres Perry will see that there is a freeway from border to border for the oil companies. Right nexrt to their freakin pipeline.
Course the average US citizen traveling the 35 freeway will pay never-ending, sky-high toll fees and I'll just bet somewhere in the Perry playbook will be a clause exempting & giving Oil Cos free passage.
Perry will lay out the welcome mat from Canada to Houston to please his "base".

MFKers

[blindpig]

54. After the Gulf why should you even blink?

You will never get an ecologically conscious candidate from a capitalist party. Al Gore was a sham.

[Enthusiast]

55. I had no doubts that he would approve it.

No doubts whatever.

[Broderick]

56. But look over there -------------------->>>

there is a crisis, a hurricane of biblical proportions! OMG!

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

[Safetykitten]

58. And?

[TwilightGardener]

60. I don't really see him, or any President, not approving this, despite the drawbacks.

Not in the current political and economic situation we're in. I can only imagine the headlines that the Drill Baby crowd would run with during the election.

[AtomicKitten]

61. It's Hillary that supports the pipeline & State Dept cleared it, but Pres O hasn't weighed in yet

... and he has the final say.

From a mis-titled piece from The Guardian:
edited for link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/aug/26/obama-approves-pipeline-alberta-texas

-- excerpt

Bill McKibben, who helped organise the protests at the White House, said the approval from the State Department had been expected. The secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, indicated last year that she favoured the pipeline.

"Everyone has known exactly what they would say all along. And everyone knows that they've valiantly ignored the elephant in the room - the fact that this would go a long ways towards opening up the world's second-largest pool of carbon," he wrote in an email.

However, McKibben held out hope that Obama - who still has final authority over the project - might step in to stop the pipeline.