Posted on 09/19/2014 7:51:37 AM PDT by thackney
Marking the sixth anniversary of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline's permit application, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) teased voters with a preview of what a GOP-controlled Senate would do.
"If American people give us the opportunity to be in a majority next year, I'll be setting the agenda," McConnell said. "It's easier to score if you're on offense, and the majority leader is offensive coordinator."
He added: "If we have a new majority next year, and a new majority leader, the Keystone pipeline will be voted on on the floor of the Senate, something the current majority has been avoiding for literally years."
The promise should come as no surprise as Republicans have voiced constant frustration with the administration over the $5.4 billion project, which would carry crude from oil sands in Alberta to Gulf refineries. Republican Sens. John Hoeven (N.D.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), John Barrasso (Wyo.), John Thune (S.D.) joined McConnell in marking the anniversary of Keystone's permit, which is currently in limbo at the State Department.
All 45 Republican senators also sent a letter to President Obama on Thursday, calling on him, yet again, to approve the pipeline, which they argue is "shovel-ready."
Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) said, when asked by voters why the pipeline has yet to be approved, that he blames billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer.
"There is no good answer to this other than the ideological blinders that Sen. Barrasso was alluding to and the fact that Tom Steyer will come after any Democrat who votes for this because of his own ideological blinders," Cornyn said.
He added that, if given the majority, Republicans would pass Keystone XL, move on natural gas exports, and "have a robust debate about crude [oil exports] as well."
Environmentalists and liberal Democrats are adamantly opposed to the pipeline, arguing it would significantly contribute to climate change, as well as endangering the environment and homes along the project's route.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) offered to have a binding vote on Keystone XL earlier this year as long as Republicans joined with Democrats in passing a major energy efficiency bill.
Republicans wouldn't budge, blasting Reid for blocking their energy amendments.
When the most liberal candidate gets elected in the primary, and most liberal candidate gets elected again in the general, I believe the message is the voters want more liberal candidates.
I hate to argue too much with conservatives after the same goal as I. We want the same thing. We disagree on how to make it happen.
God Bless.
It is highly unlikely that he will have a veto proof or even a filibuster proof majority if he gets a majority at all. The smacking down of many of the conservative candidates by chicanery and by overtly pandering to the Left will depress the Republican vote in November so the Democrats’ Republican subsidiary may not even get a majority.
It will be SOP for returning Republicans including some who ran as Conservatives supposedly against that sort of thing. So long as going to Congress opens up the path to permanent wealth and a guaranteed large pension the voters lose control and influence as soon as the polls are closed. The Tea Party firebrand goes to Washington and finds out, if he did not already know, that if he votes "properly" he will be wealthy for life even if he doesn't get re-elected. If he is obtuse and doesn't go along his income will be limited to his salary and pension no matter how long he stays. Very few will maintain any sort of principle in the face of that. After all, they are politicians and most of them lawyers to begin with.
Aye! Keel haul the lying, spineless traitor.
Well, if voters want liberal candidates, we shall soon see which liberal
candidate they chose in Ky. Two liberal candidates are running in Ky.
McConnell and Grimes.
So please tell me how that would repeal Obamacare.
Obama has a veto pen. Elections have consequences; when a far left liberal is elected, do you think the right can get anything it wants?
Unrealistic. That's why we have to have the House, Senate and WH to get real stuff done. Blaming your leaders so much when a liberal man is in the WH is just stabbing yourself in the back.
David Patterson is on the ballot. Libertarian candidate from Harrodsburg, KY.
Spot on, roll back the filibuster vote number and make nice with the other liberals at the Club, bi-partisanship, be pals...
I am not advocating a third party I am advocating we get a real second party and give people a choice.
No chance whatsoever to even make a dent.
Well first Mitch you need to win your senate race and then you and your GOPe sychophants need to motivate the rest of us to go out in sufficient numbers to take the Senate back. Then we can talk about the Keystone pipeline and other things we will expect you to do.
We had the house, senate and Presidency not that long ago.
What exactly gone done other than spend like drunken sailors.
In fact, the only administration in American history that spent more
than Bush Jr. is Obama.
So what exactly are you talking about?
Dear mitch,
If you want to put it in terms of sports. Stick our head in the strike box and take one for the team. Instead of putting your head in the dark place.
Bush never put Obamacare in place. It's the GOP that fended it off, in fact when Hillary tried to do it in the nineties. And not one GOP member voted in favor of Obamacare.
That is true. But not that long ago, the GOP, which controlled all three
branches of GOVT spent like drunken sailors on everything else.
Are you aware Bush Jr. did not veto one single bill during his eight years
in office?
President George W. Bush vetoed twelve bills.
http://www.senate.gov/reference/Legislation/Vetoes/BushGW.htm
I stand corrected. Thanks for correcting my mistake.
It did take him a while, skipped his first several years, but finally found that pen. Least amount since JFK.
True. But I can, in good conscience, vote for Patterson...whereas I can’t for McConnell or Grimes.
I confess that as the day approaches and I examine Grimes’ personal record, I may find myself doing the same. But I have to do some research. It won’t be hard...
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