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freshwest
freshwest's Journal
freshwest's Journal
February 19, 2013
Some may not remember, but every budget bill Boehner offered had to be fought over as he put approval for the pipeline at the head of them.
From 2011:
Koch Brothers Positioned To Be Big Winners If Keystone XL Pipeline Is Approved
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/10/idUS292515702420110210
OVERNIGHT ENERGY: GOP seeks political price for Obama’s Keystone pipeline delay
By Ben Geman and Andrew Restuccia -11/30/11
State of play: Republicans on both sides of Capitol Hill are taking steps this week to impose a political price on the White House for delaying a final decision on the proposed Keystone XL oil sands pipeline until after the 2012 election.
Senate GOP leadership on Wednesday promoted new legislation that would force a much faster decision on TransCanada Corp.’s proposed $7 billion Alberta-to-Texas pipeline.
They argue the bill (which E2 covered here and here) will help create jobs quickly, and alleged the recent administration delay was a political decision to appease green groups.
The pipeline puts the White House in a bind by splitting President Obama’s base — green groups loathe the project while a number of unions want it to proceed without further delay...
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/196347-overnight-energy
Obama Rejects GOP Bid to Tie Payroll Tax Cut to Keystone Pipeline Approval
Dec 7, 2011
President Obama warned congressional Republicans today that he will reject any attempt to tie a payroll tax cut extension to approval of the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline, which supporters say would create thousands of new jobs.
“Any effort to tie Keystone to the payroll tax cut, I will reject. So everybody can be on notice,” Obama said during a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Last month, the administration postponed a decision on the pipeline to allow for an extended environmental review that’s expected to last until after the 2012 campaign.
“The payroll tax cut is something that House Republicans and Senate Republicans should want to do regardless of any other issues,” Obama added. “The question’s going to be, are they willing to vote against a proposal that ensures that Americans, at a time when the recovery is still fragile, don’t see their taxes go up by a thousand dollars? So it shouldn’t be held hostage for any other issues that they may be concerned about.”
But Republicans insist Obama is playing politics with a project that has strong bipartisan support, including from labor unions, and which would help boost the lagging economy. Harper has also publicly pressured the administration to approve the deal...
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/obama-rejects-gop-bid-to-tie-payroll-tax-cut-to-keystone-pipeline-approval/
From 2012:
Sizing Up Obama's Keystone Pipeline Denial
By Amy Harder - January 23, 2012
Was President Obama right or wrong to reject the Keystone XL pipeline?
Last week, President Obama denied approval of a permit to build the pipeline, which as proposed would have sent oil from Alberta, Canada's tar sands to Gulf Coast refineries. Obama said the "arbitrary" deadline set by congressional Republicans was not enough time to complete a review of the proposal for an alternate route that would not go through an ecologically sensitive area in Nebraska. TransCanada, the Canadian company seeking to build the pipeline, immediately said it would apply for another permit...
http://energy.nationaljournal.com/2012/01/sizing-up-obamas-keystone-pipe-1.php
XL Pipeline: Oil Chief Threatens Obama
The Guardian - 06 January 12
The head of the US's biggest oil and gas lobbying group said on Wednesday that the Obama administration will face serious political consequences if it rejects a Canada-to-Texas oil sands pipeline that has been opposed by environmental groups.
Jack Gerard, the president of the American Petroleum Institute, said TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline would definitely play a role in this year's national elections.
http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/9308-xl-pipeline-oil-chief-threatens-obama
From 2013:
10 Lies Republicans Tell, over and over and over!
4. REPUBLICANS LIE about drilling and the Keystone XL Pipeline:
Much to the chagrin of the “drill baby drill” crowd, the President has kept the oil industry out of ANWAR, and recently disallowed the XL-Pipeline. To let Republicans tell it, the oil supply and employment in the industry have been stymied by this President. It is a lie.
From The Los Angeles Times:
Oil imports down, domestic production highest since 2003
“....the United States reduced net imports of crude oil last year by 10%, or 1 million barrels a day. The U.S. now imports 45% of its petroleum, down from 57% in 2008, and is on track to meet Obama’s long-term goal, the administration maintains.
Imports have fallen, in part, because the United States has increased domestic oil and gas production in recent years.... Current production, about 5.6 million barrels a day, is the highest since 2003.
The U.S. has been the world’s largest producer of natural gas since 2009, the report says. Use of renewable sources of energy, such as wind and solar, is still relatively small but has doubled since 2008.
The report credits administration policies for the improvements. It cites initiatives such as the higher fuel efficiency of passenger cars, the jump in renewable energy output, and improved weatherization of 1 million homes.
http://current.com/community/94053804_10-lies-republicans-tell-over-and-over-and-over.htm
A little more dirt from the above:
Boehner has significant investments in the Keystone XL Pipeline Project so he has actively promoted an agenda that will benefit him financially. If the Republicans were really interested in job creation, they would have passed the infrastructure bill. Construction workers could repair roads and bridges from now until eternity, but then again, I guess Boehner’s not invested in I-95.
And even the rightwingers know that Obama has been against the pipeline since the last three years, according to this undated blog here. Here's a lament penned by a Keystone supporter, extra emboldening and underlining is mine:
President Obama Denies Keystone Pipeline Permit
By LD Jackson
Let’s all be honest with ourselves. Did anyone really believe President Barack Obama would approve the permit for the Keystone Pipeline and allow it to go forward? Even though the preliminaries are finished, the environmental studies have been done, alternate routes through Nebraska have been proposed, etc., President Obama still thinks more time is needed. He originally wanted to put the decision off until 2013. You know, after the 2012 election is out-of-the-way. The Republicans in Congress nixed that plan and tied the permit to the payroll tax cut or holiday issue. From November 30, 2011, the President had 60 days to approve or disapprove the permit. He made his decision yesterday and as is usually the case, he blamed the Republicans for forcing his hand. His excuse? We need more time, at least another 18 months, to do yet another review. As far as I am concerned, that statement ranks right up at the top of the biggest lies the man has told since he took office.
Does anyone want to venture a guess how long the reviews for the pipeline have already been going on? Try three years. That’s right, this project has already been in the works for three years. More than that, if you count the time and effort Canada has expended on its end. Three years, yet our current President thinks that isn’t enough time. He wants another review, mainly about the environmental impact (isn’t that always his excuse), which will take about 18 months. Even though the environment studies have been finished and any concerns addressed, he needs more time.
The President is walking a fine line with this. On the one hand, he has the labor unions, who favor the project. That’s why they call them labor unions. They want the jobs, and I happen to agree. Turn the coin over and you have an issue that is near and dear to Obama’s heart, the environment and clean energy. If he approves the pipeline, he will be facing the wrath of multiple environmental groups, including some that have threatened to stop the flow of donations they are providing to his reelection campaign. As much as he says he wants to create jobs, the environment will always win this fight in the President’s heart. He will always side with the environment, even if their argument is bogus. Once again, this should surprise no one...
http://www.ldjackson.net/president-obama-denies-keystone-pipeline-permit/
Check out the Koch brothers comments here:
"I want my fair share--and that's ALL OF IT": The Kochs & the XL Pipeline
By Greg Palast
According to the transcript of the secretly recorded tape, Charles Koch was chuckling like a six-year old. Koch was having a hell of a laugh over pilfering a few hundred dollars' worth of oil from a couple of dirt-poor Indians on the Osage Reservation.
Why did Koch, worth about $3 billion at the time (now $20 billion) need to boost a few bucks from some Indian in a trailer home? Koch answered:
"I want my fair share -- and that's all of it."
Now "all of it" includes a pipeline, the Keystone XL, which would run the world's filthiest oil, crude made from tar sands, down from Canada to his family's refinery on the Gulf Coast of Texas...
http://www.opednews.com/articles/I-want-my-fair-share-and-by-Greg-Palast-130214-669.html
I even found a Yahoo story where the GOP is now trying to claim they stopped the pipeline. Bridge sales on the riiiiight...
I've kept track mentally, of the number of threats that the GOP issued over the KXL.
Since 2009, there were complaints, concluding in the Koch brothers creating the Tea Party in 2010 to stop Obama's agenda.Some may not remember, but every budget bill Boehner offered had to be fought over as he put approval for the pipeline at the head of them.
From 2011:
Koch Brothers Positioned To Be Big Winners If Keystone XL Pipeline Is Approved
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/10/idUS292515702420110210
OVERNIGHT ENERGY: GOP seeks political price for Obama’s Keystone pipeline delay
By Ben Geman and Andrew Restuccia -11/30/11
State of play: Republicans on both sides of Capitol Hill are taking steps this week to impose a political price on the White House for delaying a final decision on the proposed Keystone XL oil sands pipeline until after the 2012 election.
Senate GOP leadership on Wednesday promoted new legislation that would force a much faster decision on TransCanada Corp.’s proposed $7 billion Alberta-to-Texas pipeline.
They argue the bill (which E2 covered here and here) will help create jobs quickly, and alleged the recent administration delay was a political decision to appease green groups.
The pipeline puts the White House in a bind by splitting President Obama’s base — green groups loathe the project while a number of unions want it to proceed without further delay...
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/196347-overnight-energy
Obama Rejects GOP Bid to Tie Payroll Tax Cut to Keystone Pipeline Approval
Dec 7, 2011
President Obama warned congressional Republicans today that he will reject any attempt to tie a payroll tax cut extension to approval of the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline, which supporters say would create thousands of new jobs.
“Any effort to tie Keystone to the payroll tax cut, I will reject. So everybody can be on notice,” Obama said during a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Last month, the administration postponed a decision on the pipeline to allow for an extended environmental review that’s expected to last until after the 2012 campaign.
“The payroll tax cut is something that House Republicans and Senate Republicans should want to do regardless of any other issues,” Obama added. “The question’s going to be, are they willing to vote against a proposal that ensures that Americans, at a time when the recovery is still fragile, don’t see their taxes go up by a thousand dollars? So it shouldn’t be held hostage for any other issues that they may be concerned about.”
But Republicans insist Obama is playing politics with a project that has strong bipartisan support, including from labor unions, and which would help boost the lagging economy. Harper has also publicly pressured the administration to approve the deal...
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/obama-rejects-gop-bid-to-tie-payroll-tax-cut-to-keystone-pipeline-approval/
From 2012:
Sizing Up Obama's Keystone Pipeline Denial
By Amy Harder - January 23, 2012
Was President Obama right or wrong to reject the Keystone XL pipeline?
Last week, President Obama denied approval of a permit to build the pipeline, which as proposed would have sent oil from Alberta, Canada's tar sands to Gulf Coast refineries. Obama said the "arbitrary" deadline set by congressional Republicans was not enough time to complete a review of the proposal for an alternate route that would not go through an ecologically sensitive area in Nebraska. TransCanada, the Canadian company seeking to build the pipeline, immediately said it would apply for another permit...
http://energy.nationaljournal.com/2012/01/sizing-up-obamas-keystone-pipe-1.php
XL Pipeline: Oil Chief Threatens Obama
The Guardian - 06 January 12
The head of the US's biggest oil and gas lobbying group said on Wednesday that the Obama administration will face serious political consequences if it rejects a Canada-to-Texas oil sands pipeline that has been opposed by environmental groups.
Jack Gerard, the president of the American Petroleum Institute, said TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline would definitely play a role in this year's national elections.
http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/318-66/9308-xl-pipeline-oil-chief-threatens-obama
From 2013:
10 Lies Republicans Tell, over and over and over!
4. REPUBLICANS LIE about drilling and the Keystone XL Pipeline:
Much to the chagrin of the “drill baby drill” crowd, the President has kept the oil industry out of ANWAR, and recently disallowed the XL-Pipeline. To let Republicans tell it, the oil supply and employment in the industry have been stymied by this President. It is a lie.
From The Los Angeles Times:
Oil imports down, domestic production highest since 2003
“....the United States reduced net imports of crude oil last year by 10%, or 1 million barrels a day. The U.S. now imports 45% of its petroleum, down from 57% in 2008, and is on track to meet Obama’s long-term goal, the administration maintains.
Imports have fallen, in part, because the United States has increased domestic oil and gas production in recent years.... Current production, about 5.6 million barrels a day, is the highest since 2003.
The U.S. has been the world’s largest producer of natural gas since 2009, the report says. Use of renewable sources of energy, such as wind and solar, is still relatively small but has doubled since 2008.
The report credits administration policies for the improvements. It cites initiatives such as the higher fuel efficiency of passenger cars, the jump in renewable energy output, and improved weatherization of 1 million homes.
http://current.com/community/94053804_10-lies-republicans-tell-over-and-over-and-over.htm
A little more dirt from the above:
Boehner has significant investments in the Keystone XL Pipeline Project so he has actively promoted an agenda that will benefit him financially. If the Republicans were really interested in job creation, they would have passed the infrastructure bill. Construction workers could repair roads and bridges from now until eternity, but then again, I guess Boehner’s not invested in I-95.
And even the rightwingers know that Obama has been against the pipeline since the last three years, according to this undated blog here. Here's a lament penned by a Keystone supporter, extra emboldening and underlining is mine:
President Obama Denies Keystone Pipeline Permit
By LD Jackson
Let’s all be honest with ourselves. Did anyone really believe President Barack Obama would approve the permit for the Keystone Pipeline and allow it to go forward? Even though the preliminaries are finished, the environmental studies have been done, alternate routes through Nebraska have been proposed, etc., President Obama still thinks more time is needed. He originally wanted to put the decision off until 2013. You know, after the 2012 election is out-of-the-way. The Republicans in Congress nixed that plan and tied the permit to the payroll tax cut or holiday issue. From November 30, 2011, the President had 60 days to approve or disapprove the permit. He made his decision yesterday and as is usually the case, he blamed the Republicans for forcing his hand. His excuse? We need more time, at least another 18 months, to do yet another review. As far as I am concerned, that statement ranks right up at the top of the biggest lies the man has told since he took office.
Does anyone want to venture a guess how long the reviews for the pipeline have already been going on? Try three years. That’s right, this project has already been in the works for three years. More than that, if you count the time and effort Canada has expended on its end. Three years, yet our current President thinks that isn’t enough time. He wants another review, mainly about the environmental impact (isn’t that always his excuse), which will take about 18 months. Even though the environment studies have been finished and any concerns addressed, he needs more time.
The President is walking a fine line with this. On the one hand, he has the labor unions, who favor the project. That’s why they call them labor unions. They want the jobs, and I happen to agree. Turn the coin over and you have an issue that is near and dear to Obama’s heart, the environment and clean energy. If he approves the pipeline, he will be facing the wrath of multiple environmental groups, including some that have threatened to stop the flow of donations they are providing to his reelection campaign. As much as he says he wants to create jobs, the environment will always win this fight in the President’s heart. He will always side with the environment, even if their argument is bogus. Once again, this should surprise no one...
http://www.ldjackson.net/president-obama-denies-keystone-pipeline-permit/
Check out the Koch brothers comments here:
"I want my fair share--and that's ALL OF IT": The Kochs & the XL Pipeline
By Greg Palast
According to the transcript of the secretly recorded tape, Charles Koch was chuckling like a six-year old. Koch was having a hell of a laugh over pilfering a few hundred dollars' worth of oil from a couple of dirt-poor Indians on the Osage Reservation.
Why did Koch, worth about $3 billion at the time (now $20 billion) need to boost a few bucks from some Indian in a trailer home? Koch answered:
"I want my fair share -- and that's all of it."
Now "all of it" includes a pipeline, the Keystone XL, which would run the world's filthiest oil, crude made from tar sands, down from Canada to his family's refinery on the Gulf Coast of Texas...
http://www.opednews.com/articles/I-want-my-fair-share-and-by-Greg-Palast-130214-669.html
I even found a Yahoo story where the GOP is now trying to claim they stopped the pipeline. Bridge sales on the riiiiight...
February 19, 2013
'No KXL' Rally Interview with Robert Kennedy Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is President of the Riverkeepers group who work to protect our air, land and water. He came with others to protest the Koch brothers and the oil industry backed plan that Obama has been threatened with consequences for not backing it by the GOP all the time he has been in office and resisted no matter what.
Bobby knew he'd be arrested, explaining how civil disobedience is the way we can express ourselves peacefully as part of a democracy, and was among the first arrested.
Just as Secretary of State John Kerry was arrested in Washington, D. C. years ago. Bobby also explains the grave dangers to all future generations from climate change and pollution.
Between 2:06 and 2:22 Bobby speaks of the President's knowledge and moral compass and that he knows Obama will kill the Keystone XL pipeline.
This video brought tears to my eyes and I am proud of my President and the Kennedy family who loves our country so much that they continue to do what they are doing.
Our President will see us through the hard days ahead for many Americans with the Sequester forced on him by the GOP last year. Let's give him our support.
Bobby Kennedy, Jr. says Obama will kill Keystone XL Pipeline:
'No KXL' Rally Interview with Robert Kennedy Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is President of the Riverkeepers group who work to protect our air, land and water. He came with others to protest the Koch brothers and the oil industry backed plan that Obama has been threatened with consequences for not backing it by the GOP all the time he has been in office and resisted no matter what.
Bobby knew he'd be arrested, explaining how civil disobedience is the way we can express ourselves peacefully as part of a democracy, and was among the first arrested.
Just as Secretary of State John Kerry was arrested in Washington, D. C. years ago. Bobby also explains the grave dangers to all future generations from climate change and pollution.
Between 2:06 and 2:22 Bobby speaks of the President's knowledge and moral compass and that he knows Obama will kill the Keystone XL pipeline.
This video brought tears to my eyes and I am proud of my President and the Kennedy family who loves our country so much that they continue to do what they are doing.
Our President will see us through the hard days ahead for many Americans with the Sequester forced on him by the GOP last year. Let's give him our support.
February 10, 2013
World's Largest Urban Bat Colony
Crowds gather nightly to watch 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats shoot out from under the Congress Avenue Bridge. Standing atop the bridge, or down below, visitors offer the condemned mosquitoes a last meal while waiting for the bats to make their entrance.
Props to the Austin American-Statesman for allowing the use of their parking lot, and their grass to hang out on. Wear a hat.
Another convenient-for-tourists (but smaller) bat colony is reported 15 miles north of Austin, underneath the I-35 underpass at McNeil Road, Round Rock. Wear a hat.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/10852
This shows people in Texas are more open minded than people give them credit for being. Just sayin'
And I heard that Alex was Jesuit, not CIA.
Austin is also known as home to the:
World's Largest Urban Bat Colony
Crowds gather nightly to watch 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats shoot out from under the Congress Avenue Bridge. Standing atop the bridge, or down below, visitors offer the condemned mosquitoes a last meal while waiting for the bats to make their entrance.
Props to the Austin American-Statesman for allowing the use of their parking lot, and their grass to hang out on. Wear a hat.
Another convenient-for-tourists (but smaller) bat colony is reported 15 miles north of Austin, underneath the I-35 underpass at McNeil Road, Round Rock. Wear a hat.
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/10852
This shows people in Texas are more open minded than people give them credit for being. Just sayin'
And I heard that Alex was Jesuit, not CIA.
February 7, 2013
In short, if you’re still disappointed in Barack Obama, it’s only because you never understood whose job it was to produce change in the first place. But don’t take out your own failings in this regard on the rest of us...
~Tim Wise.
Good news to come. Only we can make it happen, Democrats.
In short, if you’re still disappointed in Barack Obama, it’s only because you never understood whose job it was to produce change in the first place. But don’t take out your own failings in this regard on the rest of us...
~Tim Wise.
February 6, 2013
Sad sacking gets old. I come here daily with a glad heart and expect the worst now.
Misery is easy to create. It's the tool of the maliciously lazy. Happiness takes work, it is the reward for a life being well lived. Make the choice to not let others steal your hard earned joy. ~ Anon.
February 4, 2013
When you read how Conservapedia blames the all powerful, evil liberals for everything,
it's the educational people that will be running to avoid being beaten up, or in our nation, gunned down, by fundie mobs. They could get employment in private security or other functions and do their mischief. It's happened before. Don't laugh at unbridled ignorance. Such people are dangerous and easily led.
February 4, 2013
http://www.11points.com/Books/11_Eye-Opening_Highlights_From_a_Creationist_Science_Textbook
It's as bad as the entries on Conservapedia on a thread we had last night.
How did they see Jesus then? With their third eye, huh? Yeah, it's satire, but remember this?
http://www.11points.com/Books/11_Eye-Opening_Highlights_From_a_Creationist_Science_Textbook
It's as bad as the entries on Conservapedia on a thread we had last night.
February 2, 2013
No one who promotes that will do a thing to help. Vote them out of power in government and ignore them every other place.
They are the problem, never any solution. Only in it for themselves.
United we stand and divided we fall.
Thank you, Mr. Grayson. The dividing line anywhere:
They want to instill in us a kind of fatalism and nihilism that means that we can't do anything to solve our problems.No one who promotes that will do a thing to help. Vote them out of power in government and ignore them every other place.
They are the problem, never any solution. Only in it for themselves.
United we stand and divided we fall.
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