[DwightShrute]

is this part of his jobs bill? Thousands of jobs down the drain. The country demands jobs and here is his first shovel ready job and he says "no thanks". Obama doesn't know how to lead and this is just another example proving it.

[YouMama]

DEMS dont want it cuz they are in bed with the enviornment people, Republicans want it so bad cuz they are in bed with the Oil companies ... its like 10k jobs, isnt that like a minute drop in the bucket? Figure Obama dont think its worth pissing off the base for 10k jobs ... I would allow it if the oil companies agreed to some stipulations that would cut prices or invest in a actual plan for energy indep... the more oil we can get that isnt from the middle east, the better

[jw]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...15702420110210

Republicans already bought and paid for .. its only being opposed because the Koch Brothers have not yet paid out enough bribe money to the Democrats. They will soon enough and it'll all go through .. and gas prices will go up, and jobs will be lost (see independent research from Cornell ILR Global Labor Institute) This has nothing to do with environmental issues .. or jobs, or dependence on foreign oil ... it's all political gamesmanship and greased palms ... again ...


"Koch Industries is already responsible for close to 25 percent of the oil sands crude that is imported into the United States, and is well-positioned to benefit from increasing Canadian oil imports.

A Koch Industries operation in Calgary, Alberta, called Flint Hills Resources Canada LP, supplies about 250,000 barrels of tar sands oil a day to a heavy oil refinery in Minnesota, also owned by the Koch brothers.

Flint Hills Resources Canada also operates a crude oil terminal in Hardisty, Alberta, the starting point of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.

The company's website says it is "among Canada's largest crude oil purchasers, shippers and exporters." Koch Industries also owns Koch Exploration Canada, L.P., an oil sands-focused exploration company also based in Calgary that acquires, develops and trades petroleum properties."

Koch Industries and its employees formed the largest single oil and gas donor to members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

That includes the campaign coffers of the new committee chairman, Fred Upton (R-Mich.), who though once a moderate is now leading the anti-regulatory charge in the Republican-dominated House.

... the pipeline, if approved, would increase the supply of oil reaching the U.S., a 2009 market analysis conducted by TransCanada, builder of the pipeline, forecast higher prices. The analysis, which TransCanada conducted as part of its Canadian permit application, projected that prices would increase about $3 per barrel as a result of the pipeline.

That would send at least an additional $2 billion from American consumers to Canadian and multinational oil interests, despite the increase in supply.


Am I for or against .. personally I don't give a crap one way or another on this issue ... As long as taxpayer money is not used to fund the pipeline, let 'em build it ... the jobs created will probably be offset by the jobs that are lost because of the projected increase in gasoline prices .. it's pretty much a wash to me and there are more important things to be worrying about.

[itchypickle]

Even the unions estimated thousands upon thousands of jobs would be created with the pipeline. Obama still shoots it down to appease his base.

The irony of this is that Canada will now just ship the oil to the highest bidder - in this case China - so now we have actually INCREASED our dependency on foreign oil for the future while giving this oil to a country who has worse environmental standards than the liberals complained about on the pipeline here

Obama again proves he is not a logical thinker on major issues. We will now have continued higher gas prices, less jobs, and increasingly dependent on imports all the while China gets the upper hand even more than they already had before this.

[nick86]

what's all the fuss about? these are only TEMPORARY jobs. temporary jobs or environment? should be a no brainer to non greedy fuks.

[itchypickle]

what's all the fuss about? these are only TEMPORARY jobs. temporary jobs or environment? should be a no brainer to non greedy fuks.

You act as though not having the pipeline technology be the provider is a net positive for the environment.

The oil still has to be delivered correct? So if not by a flowing pipeline....it will have to be shipped/driven which means using more gas and emissions as well as the pollution of the trucks, congestion on roadways from more traffic needed to transport and let's not forget the rig crashes that spill oil into the environment all the time...and you want them multiplied? Yes, you show excellent logic when dealing with the externalities involved in a major project like this

[Flashmo]

We have more oil here in the US than there is in all of the middle east..They should just tell the granola eating bastards to f*ck off and drill...build refineries here (lots of jobs) and screw the middle east for oil..Then charge the ragheads as much for food (wheat) as they gouged us for oil..If they don't like it, see how much they can grow in their sand...The environmentalists are to blame for the BP oil spill..shouldn't have to drill in a mile of water--margin for error is greater...and gas prices have doubled in the past 3 years..no way that wasn't planned..instead of becoming energy independent, we're going the other way..We've already seen the green garbage..they are all bankrupt with taxpayer money..what a waste just to appease their base..you want to create jobs and get the economy back on track? you need to start drilling here now

[Thor4140]

"Keystone XL is an export pipeline. According to presentations to investors, Gulf Coast refiners plan to refine the cheap Canadian crude supplied by the pipeline into diesel and other products for export to Europe and Latin America. Proceeds from these exports are earned tax-free. Much of the fuel refined from the pipeline’s heavy crude oil will never reach U.S. drivers’ tanks."

All for five thousand temp jobs NO wonder he said take a hike

[Andy117]

The irony of this is that Canada will now just ship the oil to the highest bidder - in this case China - so now we have actually INCREASED our dependency on foreign oil for the future while giving this oil to a country who has worse environmental standards than the liberals complained about on the pipeline here

Last I checked getting oil from Canada is still getting foreign oil. Or did Canada become the 51st state recently?

That said they shouldn't block this pipeline.

[itchypickle]

Last I checked getting oil from Canada is still getting foreign oil. Or did Canada become the 51st state recently?

That said they shouldn't block this pipeline.

Thanks for the assist there

I was referring more to the trade factor i.e. costs and corruption issues if the oil were coming from Nigeria, Venezuela and middle eastern supplies.

[mmaed]

You act as though not having the pipeline technology be the provider is a net positive for the environment.

The oil still has to be delivered correct? So if not by a flowing pipeline....it will have to be shipped/driven which means using more gas and emissions as well as the pollution of the trucks, congestion on roadways from more traffic needed to transport and let's not forget the rig crashes that spill oil into the environment all the time...and you want them multiplied? Yes, you show excellent logic when dealing with the externalities involved in a major project like this

Good point. I didn't think of that.

[rkelly110]

I wrote my congressman about this subject and this is his reply.

1. I did not support the pipe line. I'm against it for eye soreness and temporary jobs.

2. I never mentioned 'bama's name.

I wrote him to say, tanker trucks would create longer lasting jobs and would have a
trickle down effect for commerce along the highway route. Would create new business'
and increased revenue for state, local and federal.

He's playing the blame game like all his Repub buddies.

January 19, 2012


Thank you for contacting me with your support for the Keystone XL oil pipeline construction project. I appreciate hearing from you.

As you may know, the Keystone XL pipeline is a proposed pipeline project to transport over 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Alberta, Canada to refinery locations in Texas and Louisiana. Because this proposed project will cross into the United States from Canada, a Presidential Permit issued by the U.S. Department of State is required for the project to proceed.

Expediting the Keystone XL pipeline has the potential to create thousands of badly needed jobs across the country and decrease our dependence on the Middle East for our energy security without any increase in federal spending. Furthermore, this project has received support from elected officials on both sides of the aisle as well as prominent labor leaders.

Like you, I am extremely disappointed that President Obama has denied the appropriate permits for the pipeline and has chosen to sacrifice American jobs and new sources of oil from a friendly nation. Despite this setback, please know that I remain committed to this project and advancing other policies that will reduce our dependence on oil from unfriendly and unstable parts of the world.

Thank you again for your correspondence. Please feel free to contact me in the future if I can be of assistance.

Sincerely,


Pat Toomey
U.S. Senator, Pennsylvania

[jw]

The irony of this is that Canada will now just ship the oil to the highest bidder - in this case China -

The oil being refined will be going to the highest bidder anyway - there is nothing at all in the legislation that guarantees that this oil will be used here in the US and will reduce our dependence on "foreign oil" (Maybe if it were written into the bill that a certain percentage of the refined oil MUST be put onto the US market at a price x number of dollars/cents below current market value ... it would garner more support)

What it will do as it stands however is use existing refineries to produce gasoline that will then be shipped out of the country. Which will in turn leave us with a shortage of refining space to produce the oil for the US that we currently use, thereby raising prices (not lowering them)

[itchypickle]

Good point. I didn't think of that.

It's always those types of intangibles that get lost in the back and forth of these kinds of issues.

[muldoon]

Nebraska did not agree upon a route. The State Department (supported by Obama) is not able to sign off on any pipeline until Nebraska agrees on their route. May be convenient for Obama - but the fact remains that without Nebraska - no permits can be issued.

Blame Obama all you want.

I'm more curious why Canada is so passive about not demanding the crude gets upgraded North of the border and then shipped to market.

[rkelly110]

C-span3 has the pipe line debates going on now.

[nick86]

You act as though not having the pipeline technology be the provider is a net positive for the environment. The oil still has to be delivered correct? So if not by a flowing pipeline....it will have to be shipped/driven which means using more gas and emissions as well as the pollution of the trucks, congestion on roadways from more traffic needed to transport and let's not forget the rig crashes that spill oil into the environment all the time...and you want them multiplied? Yes, you show excellent logic when dealing with the externalities involved in a major project like this

your uneducated and misinformed if you think the pipeline will have no effect on the environment.

[andywend]

"Keystone XL is an export pipeline. According to presentations to investors, Gulf Coast refiners plan to refine the cheap Canadian crude supplied by the pipeline into diesel and other products for export to Europe and Latin America. Proceeds from these exports are earned tax-free. Much of the fuel refined from the pipeline’s heavy crude oil will never reach U.S. drivers’ tanks." All for five thousand temp jobs NO wonder he said take a hike

Thor, if Obama was in favor of the Keystone Pipeline and the republicans were the ones against it, you would be talking about all the jobs it would create and how it would lessen our dependence on foreign oil and you would say how horrible the republicans are for trying to block it.

As is the case with all liberal democrats, YOU HAVE NO MIND OF YOUR OWN and instead of being a leader you're just a blind sheep follower.

[DwightShrute]

[itchypickle]

your uneducated and misinformed if you think the pipeline will have no effect on the environment.

I didn't say it would have 'no effect' but it is not exactly damaging either. We bury gas lines...we bury cables...we bury water lines.....and this is NEW tech that goes into pipelines and not the older more unsubtle ways of trenching. No I am not an engineer...but I realize that there are thousands upon thousands and layers and layers of all sorts of pipes that have been running underground for decades.

[jw]

A little more revealed as to the reason why the Republicans are so in favor of the pipeline .. no matter what the downside .... "according to the Speaker .. Boehner's financial disclosure forms, he invested $10,000 to $50,000 each in seven firms that had a stake in Canada's oil sands."



He also came out today and said that the Republicans will indeed force Obama to approve the pipeline .. by holding the payroll tax cut hostage until he agree's to their demands .. the average American taxpayer will be $2000 per year worse off if the payroll tax cut is not extended .. and if Obama does not agree to pass the pipeline bill (that Boehner stands to make tens of thousands of dollars from) .. he will gladly screw the hard working middle class taxpayers.

Business as usual for Congress :0)

[dante1]

Nebraska did not agree upon a route. The State Department (supported by Obama) is not able to sign off on any pipeline until Nebraska agrees on their route. May be convenient for Obama - but the fact remains that without Nebraska - no permits can be issued. Blame Obama all you want. I'm more curious why Canada is so passive about not demanding the crude gets upgraded North of the border and then shipped to market.

This is the reason it was blocked, I will guarantee and even bet when these state problems are corrected this will be approved by Obama. Any takers?

[jerry]

Obama didn't want to pizz off the environmentalists before the election. They're part of his base. Either party will sign the papers after the dust settles.

[Thor4140]

Thor, if Obama was in favor of the Keystone Pipeline and the republicans were the ones against it, you would be talking about all the jobs it would create and how it would lessen our dependence on foreign oil and you would say how horrible the republicans are for trying to block it.

As is the case with all liberal democrats, YOU HAVE NO MIND OF YOUR OWN and instead of being a leader you're just a blind sheep follower.

Oh really Andy. The problem with u neo-con nut huggers is that when someone calls out bullshit they are all of the sudden labeled a Democrat. The bottom line is i have been down on Obama and have said it many times. To me he is just another 4 year extension of BUsh and Bushes polocies. That is why we are still in this ditch we are in today. It's amazing how much you righties hate Obama considering he's continued so many policies put in place during the Bush Administration. It almost makes one wonder what it is about Obama that you guys hate so much... hmmm... what could it be? Change the name, skin color,and party of the guy in charge, but keep doing the exact same shit and you go from being a great president to one of the worst of all time. Comical.

[Waterstpub87]

Oh really Andy. The problem with u neo-con nut huggers is that when someone calls out bullshit they are all of the sudden labeled a Democrat. The bottom line is i have been down on Obama and have said it many times. To me he is just another 4 year extension of BUsh and Bushes polocies. That is why we are still in this ditch we are in today. It's amazing how much you righties hate Obama considering he's continued so many policies put in place during the Bush Administration. It almost makes one wonder what it is about Obama that you guys hate so much... hmmm... what could it be? Change the name, skin color,and party of the guy in charge, but keep doing the exact same shit and you go from being a great president to one of the worst of all time. Comical.

Where to start?
1. I wouldn't support any candiate who based his entire reelection campaign on blaming others for his failure.
2. When people say Obama is conservative, its laughable. Though some republicans might have supported the individual mandate in the past, it is far from being anything that the tea party influenced republicans would support now.
3. His drilling moratorium is even farther away from republicans.
4. We are in this mess because of cyclical cycles that were greatly impacted by people not paying their mortgages, and the government interfering in the housing market. Dubious lending practices were also to blame, but many of the people who took interest only and neg am loans knew what they were doing, and were betting that housing prices were going to go up.
5. Bush, for the 100th time, was disliked by many republicans because he believed in big government. This was one of the reasons that many republicans did not vote for John McCain.
6. Hate is a strong word. I disagree with Obama, but like John McCain, believe that he is most likely trying to do his best for the country. I disagree with his ideas, but he is most likely not a bad person. Calling everyone who disagrees with you a racist is a poor argument.
7. Most of the so called "Bush policies" were passed with a democrat controlled legislature, hence needing bipartisan support. Most of the Obama policies were passed regardless of how the people felt, because Pelosi, Reid, and Obama know how to run your life better then you do.

[DwightShrute]

[antifoil]

i like my jobs like i like my venereal disease.

temporary.

[Thor4140]

A little more revealed as to the reason why the Republicans are so in favor of the pipeline .. no matter what the downside .... "according to the Speaker .. Boehner's financial disclosure forms, he invested $10,000 to $50,000 each in seven firms that had a stake in Canada's oil sands."



He also came out today and said that the Republicans will indeed force Obama to approve the pipeline .. by holding the payroll tax cut hostage until he agree's to their demands .. the average American taxpayer will be $2000 per year worse off if the payroll tax cut is not extended .. and if Obama does not agree to pass the pipeline bill (that Boehner stands to make tens of thousands of dollars from) .. he will gladly screw the hard working middle class taxpayers.

Business as usual for Congress :0)

Didn't Boehner's make enuf beating down the public options with his amazing stock predicitions to mess around with this? Fukin piece of shit.

[rkelly110]

Another classic example of Repubs only thinking of themselves. 'bama's speech emphasized
on this about insider trading, it influences the law makers decisions. They would hold the
American people hostage by not passing the payroll tax cut, to further line their own pockets.

Yeah, they're ALL pieces of shit!

[rocky502]

your uneducated and misinformed if you think the pipeline will have no effect on the environment.

First and foremost, if you're going to challenge the education of others, perhaps you could go back to your school, and learn how to use simple english yourself, like the difference between your and you're.


I see the liberals on here shooting the pipeline down because they are claiming that it only creates "temporary jobs". Why did these same liberals not have a problem with the stimulus bill? The stimulus bill turned the government into the world's largest temp. agency. Once the money ran dry, thousands of these jobs were eliminated. Of course the Obama jobs calculator only has a plus sign to tout the jobs created/saved, and never takes into consideration the people who were hired, finished the project, and were back unemployed once the stimulus money ran dry.

[DwightShrute]

I see the liberals on here shooting the pipeline down because they are claiming that it only creates "temporary jobs". Why did these same liberals not have a problem with the stimulus bill? The stimulus bill turned the government into the world's largest temp. agency. Once the money ran dry, thousands of these jobs were eliminated. Of course the Obama jobs calculator only has a plus sign to tout the jobs created/saved, and never takes into consideration the people who were hired, finished the project, and were back unemployed once the stimulus money ran dry.