Close Call: Obama Successfully Avoids Another Presidential Moment

Townhall.com ^ | April 22, 2014 | Michael Schaus

[Kaslin]

It’s beginning to look like President Obama has developed a chronic aversion to anything that might be mistaken for “leadership” in his second term. The Keystone XL pipeline was, again, delayed until after the 2014 elections. Of course, then again, maybe this wasn’t political. Maybe the White House just likes watching oil company stocks take a hit every once in a while.

TransCanada stock took a beating after it was announced that Obama would once again push the no-brainer decision on the Keystone pipeline until after the 2014 elections. And, while it literally figuratively kills me to write the following sentence, it must be pointed out: Even MSNBC (I really, really, really hate the words I’m about to type) got the issue right when Morning Joe took the administration to task for kicking the can down the road. In fact, they even managed to hit the nail on the head when – Hang on, my computer screen seems to be freezing up…

…Ok, I’m back. As I was saying:

Not only is the President’s childlike attempts at political calculus painfully obvious in his latest Keystone delay, but it reeks of ineptitude. After all, what exactly is going to be gained by postponing a major infrastructure project – that would create tens of thousands of jobs – while simultaneously injecting some price relief on domestic energy production? Maybe he wants to save his Keystone denial speech for after the 2014 election? (That actually kinda makes sense. More on that later.)

Remember when Democrats used to salivate at the idea of infrastructure projects? Where the heck did Obama’s fanatic devotion to Keynes-style stimulus suddenly go? Or, is he just not as enthusiastic about this infrastructure project because it’s not a soon-to-be bankrupt green energy company that is clamoring for US taxpayer dollars?

As MSNBC pointed out (it was probably an accident), not only is the latest delay a stunningly self-destructive economic decision, it may prove to be equally idiotic in the realm of politics. After all, which Dems face the most serious challenge in 2014? Primarily, they’re “Blue-Dog” Democrats in fairly conservative districts. Even from a political standpoint, the decision seems to make less sense than a teleprompter-less Obama.

Which brings us to the big question regarding the guy who currently plays a US President on TV: What the heck is “controversial” about the Keystone XL? Since when did creating jobs in the midst of an economically anemic “recovery” become a tough decision? And don’t tell me that the big issue at hand is the environment… After all, those trains, diesel trucks and cargo ships don’t exactly ship oil by sail power.

Pipelines are the safest, and “greenest” methods of transporting oil over large distances. And Canada isn’t exactly going to give up on extracting oil from "Mother Earth" just because a few enviro groups picketed (and delayed) one possible shipping route for North American energy. As long as that oil is getting pumped out of Canada (and it will continue to get pumped out as long as you and I continue to use laptops, automobiles, cellphones, and even Chevy Volts), we might as well bring it down to the Gulf Coast for a little ‘merican energy production.

Sure, a couple of environmental groups will continue to give big bucks to Democrats because of the President’s most recent delay… But how is that different than any other year? I kinda doubt tree-huggers in Oregon were thinking about donating to tea-party groups because of the possibility that Team Obama might say yes to a safe form of oil transportation.

There is, however, the very real possibility that the President is planning to tell TransCanada to take a hike. And given the way he’s once again (or “still”) dragging his feet, this scenario is starting to look more realistic. After all, why would he postpone approval for a job-creating project that Unions, moderate Democrats, MSNBC show hosts, and conservative voters all think is a good idea? I mean, heck: That would almost resemble something similar to governing. He’s only halfway through his second term… I’m not sure he’s ready for that kind of responsibility yet.

[econjack]

...or, maybe the President has an economic IQ of dirt and wants to see this economy fail by killing off anything that would lift us out of HIS (not Bush's) recession.

[TsonicTsunami08]

Present!

[TigersEye]

Where the heck did Obama’s fanatic devotion to Keynes-style stimulus suddenly go?

He's more of a Cloward and Piven man. He'd rather destroy things intentionally than wait for stupidity to take its course.

[hulagirl]

He plays to his base, what’s so surprising about that? Aren’t the environmentalists the winners now? Didn’t they vote him in and isn’t everyone glad he’s saving the planet from the oil polluters? Why would he go against his conscience and allow an evil OIL pipeline to be built, just when we’re about to see ourselves begin to really take off on the wings of windmills and the like?

[mowowie]

President Present

Thanks leftists!!

[mowowie]

President Present does not want to piss off his throngs of Moonbat supporters with the pipeline just months before the 2014 election.

[Marcella]

He doesn't want ANY oil in this country. If he could shut down Texas fracking wells, he'd do it in a minute and I would bet he has the EPA working on a plan to do it. He'd also shut down every oil refining plant in Texas. He has no redeeming value in this country - maybe a muslim country would want him - or not.

[SMARTY]

“...what exactly is going to be gained by postponing a major infrastructure project – that would create tens of thousands of jobs – while simultaneously injecting some price relief on domestic energy production?”

Pandering to the most extreme of the extreme Left... the enviro wackos!

It must be the group who funded his campaigns the MOST!! And who are holding out the best hope for “O” and MO to continue lining their pockets, when they exit the WH!!

[lavaroise]

Obama thinks capital, slave capital made or would make this country back. It is a case of racist projection.

No, it is life in God which makes things...

It will be painfully demonstrated by the absurd to Marxists who will never adapt and always be most in need of money and banks, ironically.

[Carry_Okie]

After all, what exactly is going to be gained by postponing a major infrastructure project – that would create tens of thousands of jobs – while simultaneously injecting some price relief on domestic energy production?

Stock dividends for his plutocrat sponsors.

[Carry_Okie]

After all, what exactly is going to be gained by postponing a major infrastructure project – that would create tens of thousands of jobs – while simultaneously injecting some price relief on domestic energy production?

Higher margins on the production from existing wells, more profit for his sponsor Warren Buffett, higher margins for his "green energy" investor contributors, more foreclosures from stressed middle class families paying higher fuel prices, turning them into dependents as a matter of social justice...

It's a long list. Apparently the author has a harder time accepting that Zero is evil rather than stupid. After six years of this rolling disaster, I really don't understand why.

[JoeFromSidney]

Don't forget that stopping Keystone benefits his pals, the Saudis. Neither he nor they want America to become self-sufficient in petroleum.

[lentulusgracchus]

[Art.] After all, what exactly is going to be gained by postponing a major infrastructure project – that would create tens of thousands of jobs – while simultaneously injecting some price relief on domestic energy production? [Emphasis supplied]

The fulfillment and fruiting-out of deep, resolute malice toward the American People.

[hattend]

He wants European gas prices over here. This helps achieve his goal.

[savedbygrace]

The environmentalists he’s playing to are the watermelons: green on the outside, red on the inside.