Keystone XL delays are Harper's fault

[oilyfan]

http://www.bloombergview.com/article...l-blame-canada

Pretty bad indictment of how Harper has handled the Keystone issue. And I tend to agree with the key points, Harper has acted arrogant and like an ideologue instead of a savvy political leader. It's a shame.

To hear the Canadian government tell it, Barack Obama's administration has yet to approve the Keystone XL pipeline because it won't stand up to environmental activists. Exhaustive new reporting offers a more persuasive explanation: The oil pipeline hasn't been approved because the Canadian government keeps screwing up.

Many long-time players in Canada-U.S. relations, including some of Harper’s own diplomats, also question whether Canada was wise to position itself as an equal partner and choose to irritate rather than accommodate. “We’re not the G-1, the U.S. is,” said Peter Harder, foreign affairs deputy minister during Harper’s first year in office. “We’re the ones who need to be working harder to have a good relationship.”

[Jacks]

I heard Harper eats those kittens when the cameras are off.

[burn_this_city]

It's probably the midterm elections more than anything.

[Cowboy89]

That's a very Canadian view on this. "If only we were nicer!" lol.

This (As always is the case with Washington) is about politics.

I read an article in the Globe and Mail that essentially said the delay was because Obama is mostly concerned with the Democrats holding the Senate in the November Elections. If the Dems lose the senate, then the Republicans hold both the house and the senate and Obama is a complete lame duck for his remaining two years. Also the senate and the house could approve Keystone and side step Obama altogether in that scenario.

The six incumbent democrat senators in play are in traditionally red states and they all support Keystone. So Obama cannot flat out reject Keystone now, because these red states would vote out the dem senators. He also cannot flat out approve it now, because in order to combat the Koch brothers money supporting Republican challangers in the senate races, the democrats need environmental activist and stanch anti-keystone billionaire Tom Steyer to put up money to defend the democrat senators in the races. It sounds like a 'House of Cards' episode, but looks like that might actually be what's going on.

But, maybe if Harper asked more nicely, Keystone would have been approved!

[rubecube]

The Koch brothers are terrible people. The world would be a better place without them.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by rubecube

The Koch brothers are terrible people. The world would be a better place without them.

There will always be a$$hole billionaires on both sides of the political fence. The problem is that super pac money decides government actions.

Seriously the President of the United States cannot make a decision based on what he thinks is best for the people he supposedly governs because his party needs political campaign money from an activist billionaire to fight campaign money contributed to the other party by activist billionaires. There needs to be serious campaign finance reform in the US, because politicians there are all whores to the highest bidders.

[nik-]

It would be easier to impose term limits rather than try to close all the money loopholes.

With a max 3 terms for a house rep and 1 term for a senate rep, they might be less inclined to build wealth through the job and actually do the job.

[troutman]

Unless Keystone delays are good, in which case Harper is super-awesome!

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by nik-

It would be easier to impose term limits rather than try to close all the money loopholes.

With a max 3 terms for a house rep and 1 term for a senate rep, they might be less inclined to build wealth through the job and actually do the job.

Or engage in as much corruption as possible over those 3 terms.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

There will always be a$$hole billionaires on both sides of the political fence. The problem is that super pac money decides government actions.

Seriously the President of the United States cannot make a decision based on what he thinks is best for the people he supposedly governs because his party needs political campaign money from an activist billionaire to fight campaign money contributed to the other party by activist billionaires. There needs to be serious campaign finance reform in the US, because politicians there are all whores to the highest bidders.

Go capitalism!

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by oilyfan

http://www.bloombergview.com/article...l-blame-canada

Pretty bad indictment of how Harper has handled the Keystone issue. And I tend to agree with the key points, Harper has acted arrogant and like an ideologue instead of a savvy political leader. It's a shame.

Obama is no friend of Canada's or Stephen Harpers, but the whole line that we have to suck up more and kiss his a$$ is bull.

We have been more then a great friend to the Americans, we have always helped when needed, we have a great free trade deal with the States.

Basically Obama left the Ambassadors role to Canada open for 9 months, then put one of his fund raising croneys into that role.

His own state department has said that Obama's arguments about both emissions and no job creation are basically wrong.

This is Obama trying to protect his party at half term elections, and its failing because a lot of the Demoncratic members are wondering why he's not approving it and possibly losing their seats because of it.

But if Obama approves it, he loses his largest political contributors, and probably doesn't get invited to swank Hollywood parties where he gets fawned over.

Harper's failing is that he hasn't pushed hard enough to expand our economy from and especially energy markets away from the American's .

America voted for hope and change when they voted for Obama, instead that got a president that's pretty much equally bad as the last one.

[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.

[IliketoPuck]

Hyperbole filled article from Bloomberg (American) pointing the finger at Canada - stunning.

Hyperbole filled article from the G&M (Canada) pointing the finger at the U.S. - stunning.

Like most political issues, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Could TCPL have taken a more tactful approach? Sure. But based on the past precedent of pipeline approvals being a mere formality, you can hardly blame their actions.

Harper has certainly displayed a fair amount of hubris in dealing with Obama. However, Obama has shown himself to be unable to make a decision of any magnitude throughout his presidency.

The whole argument is ridiculous. Environmentalists standing against Keystone XL are hypocrites. Their protesting and delaying of the pipeline has directly resulted in increased oil by rail shipments which are clearly of higher risk to the environment. In my opinion this is the most damning thing about Obama's indecisiveness; delaying the pipeline because of environmental concerns, leading to increased volumes of riskier transportation.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by 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.

.

I would hardly call Obama a staunch environmentalist, when he's building tons of pipelines in the States, he's importing in oil from over seas countries, the green companies that he's given money to are his biggest donors. He's ok with massive exports of the dirtiest fossil fuel around in coal to every third world country that he can get. On top of that his 100 million dollar donor, has stated that if Obama oks the keystone, then he loses the donation.

I don't think that Obama is that environmentally sound, he makes a good sound bite about it because all of his buddies go oh look at the tree hugger, lets give his party lots of money.

he's a great defender of fund raising and sucking up to his donors.

[Clarkey]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

I read an article in the Globe and Mail that essentially said the delay was because Obama is mostly concerned with the Democrats holding the Senate in the November Elections. If the Dems lose the senate, then the Republicans hold both the house and the senate and Obama is a complete lame duck for his remaining two years. Also the senate and the house could approve Keystone and side step Obama altogether in that scenario.

At the end of the day Barry Obams has final veto on cross border pipeline approval. This condition was implemented by Dubya and kind of backfired.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

There will always be a$$hole billionaires on both sides of the political fence. The problem is that super pac money decides government actions.

Seriously the President of the United States cannot make a decision based on what he thinks is best for the people he supposedly governs because his party needs political campaign money from an activist billionaire to fight campaign money contributed to the other party by activist billionaires. There needs to be serious campaign finance reform in the US, because politicians there are all whores to the highest bidders.

Lets not pretend its equal by any stretch of the imagination. The right promotes less regulation and lower taxes, both parties weild to the wealthy as is sadly the case but these brothers are very aggressive guys who help determine more state and local battles, they have their hands in everything and they are very smart to do so.

[puckluck2]

Harper is the worst thing to happen to Canada ever. What a fool.

[Zarley]

Rather than the sophomoric Bloomberg opinion piece in in OP, I'd encourage everyone to read their in-depth analysis of the Keystone situation and come to your own conclusions. It's a very well-researched look at the dynamic between Harper, Obama, and the other players involved. A much better article than the one posted, which cherry-picks excerpts from the longer article and reaches a foolish conclusion (in my opinion).

How Obama Shocked Harper as Keystone's Frustrator-in-Chief
Apr 26, 2014
On Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, seated in his Ottawa office across from Parliament Hill, took an urgent call from U.S. President Barack Obama. Harper’s advisers were listening intently around a muted speakerphone in an adjoining room.

By Edward Greenspon, Andrew Mayeda, Rebecca Penty and Theophilos Argitis

The State Department, Obama said, would be making an announcement later that day putting the Keystone XL pipeline project on hold. There was no choice, according to the president. Nebraska wanted the route changed to protect a key aquifer under millions of acres of prime farmland. This would necessitate a new environmental assessment. He assured Harper the call wasn’t a game changer; neither a yes nor a no, just a delay.

Harper was far from assured -- he was irritated. The project had already undergone three years of study and was, so the Canadians believed, on the cusp of approval. Delay, he told Obama, served no one’s interest.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/...-in-chief.html

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Thor

Lets not pretend its equal by any stretch of the imagination. The right promotes less regulation and lower taxes, both parties weild to the wealthy as is sadly the case but these brothers are very aggressive guys who help determine more state and local battles, they have their hands in everything and they are very smart to do so.

Not surprising.

US an oligarchy, not a democracy: study

http://www.timeslive.co.za/world/201...emocracy-study

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Harper is the worst thing to happen to Canada ever. What a fool.

Geez imagine you saying something like that.