Keystone XL’s continued delay is absurd (and it's obviously politically driven)

By Editorial Board, Published: April 23

IF FOOT-DRAGGING were a competitive sport, President Obama and his administration would be world champions for their performance in delaying the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline.

"Last Friday afternoon, the time when officials make announcements they hope no one will notice, the State Department declared that it is putting off a decision on Keystone XL indefinitely — or at least, it seems, well past November’s midterm elections. This time, the excuse is litigation in Nebraska over the proposed route, because that might lead to a change in the project that various federal agencies will want to consider. The State Department might even decide to substantially restart the environmental review process . This is yet another laughable reason to delay a project that the federal government has been scrutinizing for more than five years."

"The administration’s latest decision is not responsible; it is embarrassing. The United States continues to insult its Canadian allies by holding up what should have been a routine permitting decision amid a funhouse-mirror environmental debate that got way out of hand. The president should end this national psychodrama now, bow to reason, approve the pipeline and go do something more productive for the climate."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/keystone-xls-continued-delay-is-absurd/2014/04/23/81dab79c-c98c-11e3-95f7-7ecdde72d2ea_story.html?hpid=z3

The review process is asinine. Approve it based upon the most logical route, and maybe even the most promising alternate route. That should put all the pressure on the state to act quickly.

nochain wrote:

By Editorial Board, Published: April 23

IF FOOT-DRAGGING were a competitive sport, President Obama and his administration would be world champions for their performance in delaying the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline.

"Last Friday afternoon, the time when officials make announcements they hope no one will notice, the State Department declared that it is putting off a decision on Keystone XL indefinitely — or at least, it seems, well past November’s midterm elections. This time, the excuse is litigation in Nebraska over the proposed route, because that might lead to a change in the project that various federal agencies will want to consider. The State Department might even decide to substantially restart the environmental review process . This is yet another laughable reason to delay a project that the federal government has been scrutinizing for more than five years."

"The administration’s latest decision is not responsible; it is embarrassing. The United States continues to insult its Canadian allies by holding up what should have been a routine permitting decision amid a funhouse-mirror environmental debate that got way out of hand. The president should end this national psychodrama now, bow to reason, approve the pipeline and go do something more productive for the climate."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/keystone-xls-continued-delay-is-absurd/2014/04/23/81dab79c-c98c-11e3-95f7-7ecdde72d2ea_story.html?hpid=z3

'Embarrassing' pretty much sums it up...This project should have been started long ago along with building more refineries. It's funny that politicians from both parties speak out against dependence on foreign oil and yet projects like this are blocked along with other energy procucts....and yet we've wasted billions on green energy projects that have failed. The jokes on us every time we go to the pump...

mediawatcher wrote:

nochain wrote:

By Editorial Board, Published: April 23

IF FOOT-DRAGGING were a competitive sport, President Obama and his administration would be world champions for their performance in delaying the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline.

"Last Friday afternoon, the time when officials make announcements they hope no one will notice, the State Department declared that it is putting off a decision on Keystone XL indefinitely — or at least, it seems, well past November’s midterm elections. This time, the excuse is litigation in Nebraska over the proposed route, because that might lead to a change in the project that various federal agencies will want to consider. The State Department might even decide to substantially restart the environmental review process . This is yet another laughable reason to delay a project that the federal government has been scrutinizing for more than five years."

"The administration’s latest decision is not responsible; it is embarrassing. The United States continues to insult its Canadian allies by holding up what should have been a routine permitting decision amid a funhouse-mirror environmental debate that got way out of hand. The president should end this national psychodrama now, bow to reason, approve the pipeline and go do something more productive for the climate."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/keystone-xls-continued-delay-is-absurd/2014/04/23/81dab79c-c98c-11e3-95f7-7ecdde72d2ea_story.html?hpid=z3

      'Embarrassing' pretty much sums it up...This project should have been started long ago along with building more refineries.  It's funny that politicians from both parties speak out against dependence on foreign oil and yet projects like this are blocked along with other energy procucts....and yet we've wasted billions on green energy projects that have failed.  The jokes on us every time we go to the pump...

I don't think there is anything wrong with the green energy projects other than our government's failure to commit to them.The oil companies have a lot of money to funnel to lobbyists, and money talks. As for the pipeline though, yes, it should have gone through a long time ago. We'd be much better off buying our oil from our allies than from the middle east. My understanding is that it's impossible to do anything more on the pipeline so long as Nebraska is still unsure about where it will be placed. Hey, that's just one of those state's rights issues that runs over the rest of the country.

Otter wrote:

mediawatcher wrote:

nochain wrote:

By Editorial Board, Published: April 23

IF FOOT-DRAGGING were a competitive sport, President Obama and his administration would be world champions for their performance in delaying the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline.

"Last Friday afternoon, the time when officials make announcements they hope no one will notice, the State Department declared that it is putting off a decision on Keystone XL indefinitely — or at least, it seems, well past November’s midterm elections. This time, the excuse is litigation in Nebraska over the proposed route, because that might lead to a change in the project that various federal agencies will want to consider. The State Department might even decide to substantially restart the environmental review process . This is yet another laughable reason to delay a project that the federal government has been scrutinizing for more than five years."

"The administration’s latest decision is not responsible; it is embarrassing. The United States continues to insult its Canadian allies by holding up what should have been a routine permitting decision amid a funhouse-mirror environmental debate that got way out of hand. The president should end this national psychodrama now, bow to reason, approve the pipeline and go do something more productive for the climate."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/keystone-xls-continued-delay-is-absurd/2014/04/23/81dab79c-c98c-11e3-95f7-7ecdde72d2ea_story.html?hpid=z3

      'Embarrassing' pretty much sums it up...This project should have been started long ago along with building more refineries.  It's funny that politicians from both parties speak out against dependence on foreign oil and yet projects like this are blocked along with other energy procucts....and yet we've wasted billions on green energy projects that have failed.  The jokes on us every time we go to the pump...

I don't think there is anything wrong with the green energy projects other than our government's failure to commit to them.The oil companies have a lot of money to funnel to lobbyists, and money talks. As for the pipeline though, yes, it should have gone through a long time ago. We'd be much better off buying our oil from our allies than from the middle east. My understanding is that it's impossible to do anything more on the pipeline so long as Nebraska is still unsure about where it will be placed. Hey, that's just one of those state's rights issues that runs over the rest of the country.

Maybe the administration can send in troops and take the land needed....

mediawatcher wrote:

Otter wrote:

mediawatcher wrote:

nochain wrote:

By Editorial Board, Published: April 23

IF FOOT-DRAGGING were a competitive sport, President Obama and his administration would be world champions for their performance in delaying the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline.

"Last Friday afternoon, the time when officials make announcements they hope no one will notice, the State Department declared that it is putting off a decision on Keystone XL indefinitely — or at least, it seems, well past November’s midterm elections. This time, the excuse is litigation in Nebraska over the proposed route, because that might lead to a change in the project that various federal agencies will want to consider. The State Department might even decide to substantially restart the environmental review process . This is yet another laughable reason to delay a project that the federal government has been scrutinizing for more than five years."

"The administration’s latest decision is not responsible; it is embarrassing. The United States continues to insult its Canadian allies by holding up what should have been a routine permitting decision amid a funhouse-mirror environmental debate that got way out of hand. The president should end this national psychodrama now, bow to reason, approve the pipeline and go do something more productive for the climate."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/keystone-xls-continued-delay-is-absurd/2014/04/23/81dab79c-c98c-11e3-95f7-7ecdde72d2ea_story.html?hpid=z3

      'Embarrassing' pretty much sums it up...This project should have been started long ago along with building more refineries.  It's funny that politicians from both parties speak out against dependence on foreign oil and yet projects like this are blocked along with other energy procucts....and yet we've wasted billions on green energy projects that have failed.  The jokes on us every time we go to the pump...

I don't think there is anything wrong with the green energy projects other than our government's failure to commit to them.The oil companies have a lot of money to funnel to lobbyists, and money talks. As for the pipeline though, yes, it should have gone through a long time ago. We'd be much better off buying our oil from our allies than from the middle east. My understanding is that it's impossible to do anything more on the pipeline so long as Nebraska is still unsure about where it will be placed. Hey, that's just one of those state's rights issues that runs over the rest of the country.

    Maybe the administration can send in troops and take the land needed....

You are being facetious, I'm sure, but that's the only way it could be done and it won't. Nebraska has it's rights as a state and can stall the federal government as long as they want to do so. Just like Florida has tried for years to keep oil drilling away from our shores and has succeeded in some ways.
You just can't hate state's rights issues like Nebraska's and then be happy when other state's pass laws like the ones against early term abortions that so many states are trying to pass today.
They either have power or they don't.

Of course, the anti-abortion laws will be struck down eventually.

Otter wrote:

mediawatcher wrote:

Otter wrote:

mediawatcher wrote:

nochain wrote:

By Editorial Board, Published: April 23

IF FOOT-DRAGGING were a competitive sport, President Obama and his administration would be world champions for their performance in delaying the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline.

"Last Friday afternoon, the time when officials make announcements they hope no one will notice, the State Department declared that it is putting off a decision on Keystone XL indefinitely — or at least, it seems, well past November’s midterm elections. This time, the excuse is litigation in Nebraska over the proposed route, because that might lead to a change in the project that various federal agencies will want to consider. The State Department might even decide to substantially restart the environmental review process . This is yet another laughable reason to delay a project that the federal government has been scrutinizing for more than five years."

"The administration’s latest decision is not responsible; it is embarrassing. The United States continues to insult its Canadian allies by holding up what should have been a routine permitting decision amid a funhouse-mirror environmental debate that got way out of hand. The president should end this national psychodrama now, bow to reason, approve the pipeline and go do something more productive for the climate."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/keystone-xls-continued-delay-is-absurd/2014/04/23/81dab79c-c98c-11e3-95f7-7ecdde72d2ea_story.html?hpid=z3

      'Embarrassing' pretty much sums it up...This project should have been started long ago along with building more refineries.  It's funny that politicians from both parties speak out against dependence on foreign oil and yet projects like this are blocked along with other energy procucts....and yet we've wasted billions on green energy projects that have failed.  The jokes on us every time we go to the pump...

I don't think there is anything wrong with the green energy projects other than our government's failure to commit to them.The oil companies have a lot of money to funnel to lobbyists, and money talks. As for the pipeline though, yes, it should have gone through a long time ago. We'd be much better off buying our oil from our allies than from the middle east. My understanding is that it's impossible to do anything more on the pipeline so long as Nebraska is still unsure about where it will be placed. Hey, that's just one of those state's rights issues that runs over the rest of the country.

    Maybe the administration can send in troops and take the land needed....

You are being facetious, I'm sure, but that's the only way it could be done and it won't. Nebraska has it's rights as a state and can stall the federal government as long as they want to do so.  Just like Florida has tried for years to keep oil drilling away from our shores and has succeeded in some ways.
You just can't hate state's rights issues like Nebraska's and then be happy when other  state's pass laws like the ones against early term abortions that so many states are trying to pass today.
They either have power or they don't.

Of course, the anti-abortion laws will be struck down eventually.

If it were for a green energy investment/throw money away project this government might do so...

I don't think the greenies and their projects are getting any help from the government either.
Certainly not like the subsidies the "non-renewable" energy companies get.

I actually agree with you guys on this subject, cut me a break!!!
LOL

Otter wrote:

I don't think the greenies and their projects are getting any help from the government either.
Certainly not like the subsidies the "non-renewable" energy companies get.

I actually agree with you guys on this subject, cut me a break!!!
LOL

Correct....when you see such a broad range of politicians that support this project then it really should have started a long time ago.