Editorial: Pipeline protesters win Pyrrhic victory

Grand Forks Herald ^ | December 5, 2016 | By Tom Dennis

[Brad from Tennessee]

There's a reason why Republicans soon will control not only the presidency, but also the Senate, the House, 33 governorships and both chambers in 32 states.

The reason can be found in the Dakota Access Pipeline case. With its elevation of identity politics above all else, its twisting of facts to accuse others of racism, its fanatic claim of being above the law and its wild exaggerations of environmental risk, the protest helps explain why so few Americans are willing to give the Left power.

The protesters won an important battle on Sunday, when their efforts convinced the Obama administration to block the pipeline. But it's likely to be a Pyrrhic victory, not only because the Trump administration might reverse it, but also because it deepens the public's distrust of modern liberals' governance.

Consider:

▇ For months, protesters have accused Bismarck residents of racism and used the charge to justify the anti-pipeline cause. That hurt: Racism is an explosive charge, and if, in fact, the pipeline had been rerouted because it was NSFW—Not Safe for Whites, in comedian Trevor Noah's words—the project would have been discredited.

Not one syllable of such evidence surfaced. Just the opposite: Clearly, the Army Corps' routing avoided cities, not "whites," and put the pipeline through the rural Midwest—which is mostly populated by whites. . .

[Ancesthntr]

[Ancesthntr]

“Most protesters are not Indians but hippies—many who arrived with little money or winter essentials—from all over the country. Now the Standing Rock community is having to take care of them. Currently it’s 26 degrees there. Tonight it will be 9 and tomorrow 13.”

---

Hippies - i.e. the unwashed.

Someone should hose them down so that they don’t stink so much. :>)

[rottndog]

One might think that these Indians would find the potential for economic commerce for THEM to be improved with the Pipeline?


Don't fall for the media hype and fake news...MANY tribes are all for exploiting resources in the ground for the betterment of their people. I would venture to guess that all the ruckus now is being caused by a very small minority of Native Americans. There are many energy companies built and owned by Natives who have no problem utilizing their resources...even open pit mining....one of the biggest of which is in Montana, who tried to outlaw open pit mines in the state (the tribe gave MT the big FU).

[tuffydoodle]

Too funny. In the movie “Little Big Man”, Dustin Hoffman’s character stated, when taken to the Indian camp, said “I see the dump. Where’s the camp?”

[burghguy]

I heard someone on the news say the body of water the protestors are trying to stop the pipeline from crossing already has 14 pipelines crossing it. Brother.

[depressed in 06]

Convinced the Obama Administration to do something it was certainly not loath to do.

Obummer does PC.

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

I heard someone on Fox say that over 1000 miles of it are complete and it needs less than a mile to finish it.

I haven’t been able to confirm that however.

Anyone here know?

[redfreedom]

“I know some of these AIM-types.”

AIM, as in American Indian Movement?

or

AIM as in A$$holes In Moccasins?

[tuffydoodle]

I think that is true.

[Lion Den Dan]

I suppose the protesters will be glad of any Pyrrhic effects they might have tonight. This afternoon, KFYR Bismark radio reported about 10,000 terrorists encamped at their illegal site on the Cannonball river south of Bismark. Keep in mind there are no sanitary facilities on the site; no running water, sewage, washing facilities, no reliable source of heat. As I type, here in western North Dakota, it is 7 above zero, snowing and blowing snow, North West wind blowing about 25-30 MPH. Visibility 1/4 mile. I am warm before my fireplace but the sound of the wind makes me shiver.

[Reddy]

Bfl

[Brad from Tennessee]

Thanks for your detailed and timely report.

[Elsie]

I used to work for the Herald and my brother sent me the editorial this morning but I don't know how to post.

How did he send it?

You could copy and paste.

[Elsie]

One might think that these Indians would find the potential for economic commerce for THEM to be improved with the Pipeline?

Looks like an awful LOT of NON-Indians protesting!

[Elsie]

INDEED!

[Elsie]

Now the Standing Rock community is having to take care of them.

Why?

[Elsie]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_jump

[JimRed]

The biggest danger the pipeline presents is that the green activists are likely to blow it up to prove how dangerous it is.