Whattya bet this investigation takes just long enough to postpone the pipeline decision until right after the 2012 election?

That’s the majority bet.

That is so cynical and I wouldn’t take that bet. Cynical seems to be the norm on FDL and unfortunately it isn’t misplaced cynicism.

Yup. Expect the results of the inquiry at midnight on November 6, 2012. Nevertheless, this is a great victory for the TarSands folks like Bill McKibben (and Jane Hamsher), who were occupying before Occupy Wall Street ever started. If the OWS Movement builds enough strength between now and the 2012 election, maybe we can put the kibosh on this insane project for good.

Some commenter here a few months ago wrote something to the effect of “Just when I think I can’t become any more cynical, something happens to prove me wrong”.

I’m afraid the pipeline people have the long view. It’s not about Obama. He’s come and he’ll go. If he doesn’t approve the pipeline, someone else will.

In fact it’s already 2/3 built.

In June 2010 TransCanada commenced commercial operation of the first phase of the Keystone Pipeline System. Keystone’s first phase was highlighted by the conversion of natural gas pipeline to crude oil pipeline and construction of an innovative bullet line that brings the crude oil non-stop from Canada to market hubs in the U.S. Midwest.

Keystone Cushing (Phase II), an extension of the Keystone Pipeline from Steele City, Nebraska to Cushing, Oklahoma went into service in February 2011. The 36-inch pipeline connects to storage and distribution facilities at Cushing, a major crude oil marketing/refining and pipeline hub.

so no pipeline until after the election. I mean does bernie think there will be a proper investigation by somebody who works for the state department??? he must smoke a lot of crack in vermont.

We know Hillary would!

I’m afraid the pipeline people have the long view.

When I first saw this I thought it read, “DON’T have the long view,” and I was about to note the irony. But then I saw it actually said what it does and I really don’t know how to describe it, though “insane” comes to mind.

Heh,

There is a lot of confliction in this issue.

Shovel ready project = probably the best example.

Government stimulus = not required.

The argument that regulation doesn’t affect job creation = it does here.

Has anyone at FDL suggested America add infrastructure jobs = pipelines are infrastructure.

How about upgrading our roads and bridges = no reason to have them if you won’t let the oil and gas come in.

The unions that we support when we buy cold weathere USA socks and caps = they support the pipeline.

If you’d quantify & prioritize those statements, you might not find so much conflict.

From an article in 2008 in a Canadian Trade Journal

American parent Kinder Morgan Inc. is the largest transporter of CO2 in the U.S.

Q: So what’s your take the “dirty oil” talk emanating from the United States and does it pose a threat to the Canadian oilsands industry?

A: Our views are that ultimately producers will look for optional markets

. . . . The political rhetoric coming out of the U.S. is just that, largely posturing (around a U.S. presidential election) and the right conclusions will be reached. I think it’s important for the producers, the Alberta and Canadian governments to have their eyes on it and be responsive to it, though.

So yes Canucks and their American /Multi-National cohorts have the long view.

I think the Obama Administration finds this to be a hassle that they just want to go away, and this investigation gives them an opportunity. They can tell the oil industry that they have to wait for the results of the review. Obviously vigilance is needed, but the IG report is helpful to the cause.

I think obama is just going to dig in his heals and go full froth, calling us fucking hippys and whatever it takes to get this deal done

Uncovering a conflict of interest should lead back to the EIS and any deficiencies caused there. Missing, incorrect, or concealed data that might have influenced the decision (or at least have been considered) would be the point rather than simply financial connections among contractors.

If the comment period has expired, and nobody has come up with specifics that way, maybe a delaying tactic is all that remains along with hoping a public outcry will upend the project in the political sphere.

That review process comes up with unpleasant, counterintuitive results sometimes. That can be the case even when the EIS is prepared as required. All that is required is that germane issues are studied. So the most environmentally friendly decision (eg., no pipeline) does not necessarily have to be the result.

I think it was during the Carter Administration that there was a move to tweak the law in order to require the friendliest environmental outcome — that effort failed, for obvious reasons. Instead they’ll study, yes, but then do as they please regardless.

This is rube goldberg logic. There isn’t any conflict in any of your premises. If our environment is ruined we won’t have any people either. Logic requires intellect and nature abhors the vacuous. “More people are killed with knives than guns so we should have knife control therefore everyone will have to eat spaghetti.” Ed Davis circa 1975

It’s called kicking the can down the road. And smart people are right to be paranoid. Maybe they’d like to have something to hang over Hillary’s head, too, just in case she gets to feeling frisky, decides to challenge the Big O.

There isn’t any conflict in any of your premises

Start with, we need to be pro-infrastructure, anti-pipeline, it’s the progressive way.

If our environment is ruined we won’t have any people either.

And if you start out believing that quote to be true, you’re right. Global thermo-nuclear war could end human life, but probably not global warming. There isn’t enough time. Life on earth lived for millions of years in changing environments before some died off.

The long view is that oil and gas in modern form have only been around for about 150 years. From that time we went from no internal combustion engines to cars and planes, etc. The known reserves only hold enough oil for another 1 to 2 hundred more years. There’s not enough time.

The oil’s comming out of the tar sands. This generation, or the next, or the next.

If history is a any guide you will be proved correct.

“The review request was led by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee, both Democrats.”

Bernie is an Independent, although he most often will vote with the Dems. Calling him a Dem is a mistake–we need more Independents in Congress (meaning, not beholden to corporate money).

Well the Canadians know their option is to build west to the ocean and send it to China. That’s the fall back plan.

As for the Canadians, you’d think there would be some solid opposition, but a lot of the maritime people have moved to the tar sands dump to work. I talked to someone up there as I was interested in selling maritme photos through a store at the site. They said that the people from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, etc. can afford to fly home a lot so it is unlikely that they get that homesick that they’d buy photos of the Bay of Fundy!

As always, best to balance the risks against the benefits, and the risks are just too great. But Canadians are no different than the rest of the world–they love the money.