[mykalberta]

Really...really?

The US elects a president who at least seems to be one of the staunchest environmental presidents ever and who has tried at least politically to indicate that "green" jobs can bring the US out of the current recession. And the writer of this article wants us to believe its Harper's fault that the US would prefer to prop up corrupt regimes around the world who are anti-democratic, anti-woman, and anti-anything that is synonymous with democracy and yet its Harper's fault that Keystone hasnt passed.

And oh yah, Transcanada isnt the most warm and fuzzy piepline operator in the world, I am sure that has helped out alot.

Harper is doing exactly what he should be doing, lobbying for Keystone but not putting all the eggs in the Keystone basket because you dont have any control of the outcome. If the US doesnt want another supply of domestic oil from Canada then so be it, let them keep importing from the likes of Libya, The Kingdom of Saud, Iraq, and every other popcorn dictatorship from around the world and we will continue to ship oil by Rail and allow the rail lobby in the US to ensure its continuation. A decade of slowed production in Fort McMurray probably isnt the worst thing to happen.

A more effective lobbying technique would be to try to pull at the heartstrings of American voters. Tell them what things are allowed to take place in countries where the US currently gets its oil and ask them what do you dislike more, the complete disregard of the female gender when you buy a gallon of gas from Texaco, or a few dead ducks. Would you rather purchase oil from a place that treats everyone who isnt related to the King as second hand citizens and practices open racism by segregating everyone else and who supports terrorism and who from where the majority of the 9-11 hijackers came from, or from a country that not a single 9-11 hijacker and who has been on friendly terms with the US for over 2 centuries.

Canada eventually will have a pipeline to the Pacific and then the only thing we have to worry about is wondering when the US will invade because we are selling our oil to the highest Asian bidder. Canada's biggest mistake (Harper, Creatien, Mulruney, Trudeau, etc) is waiting too long to look for alternative markets. A pipeline to the East and West coast would allow for Keystone to not even be needed and eventually having the US lobby us to allow one to be built.

I still still think a pipeline to the west coast will be built before any pipeline to the US, but who knows.