And so it begins
Joe Biden will be my President on Wednesday and already he has stepped up to bad policy. The decision to cancel the Keystone XL Pipeline is a bad policy decision. The knee jerk, no consultation with Canada, first day move is an insult to our country and Canada. Just bad policy and bad process.
Capital Thinking • Issue #765 • View online
In less than 46 hours, we will have a peaceful transition of power as Joe Biden becomes the 46th President of the United States.
He will be my President. I will not riot, demonstrate, conduct a coup, cry, wail, march up and down the street with a sign that says “Not My President”, and I will not demand his impeachment today — or, likely, ever. Not my style.
I will extend to him every courtesy of his high and difficult office as if I were interfacing with the entire 80MM persons who put him there. I will be respectful also to the 75MM Americans who did not want him. I will be a respectful, adult Big Red Car.
I have prayed that God grant him the grace to deal well with his momentous duties. I will continue to pray for him.
I will focus solely on policy. In my critique of Mr. Biden’s presidency, I will applaud those policies which I think are good for the country and I will boo those policies I do not think are good for the country.
Today, I learned of a policy initiative which President-elect Biden intends to put into practice immediately upon taking office.
The Bad Biden Policy Begins — Keystone XL Pipeline
Jeff Minch | The Musings of The Big Red Car:
President Biden Will Cancel the $9Bn Keystone XL Pipeline Permit
What is the Keystone XL Pipeline, Big Red Car?
The Keystone XL Pipeline is a 1,179 mile pipeline to carry 830,000 barrels a day of tar sands oil from Canada to the refineries in Houston and Port Arthur, Texas. It is a BFD.
It is a critical element in the nation’s continuing energy independence, will provide construction jobs, will provide operations jobs, will ensure American energy independence, will diminish American dependence on foreign oil, will keep gas prices low, and it is a strategic deal between the US and Canada.
It is a very big deal in the US – Canada relationship.
1. The Keystone XL Pipeline started in 2008, sponsored by a venture of TransCanada Corporation and ConocoPhillips. TCC would ultimately buy out CP and become TC Corp.
2. After dicking around with it, it was rejected by Pres Obama in 2012 — meaning he denied it the necessary cross border permit.
3. TC, in 2015, goes forward with the portion of the project from Cushing, Oklahoma to the Gulf Coast as that does not cross an international border and thus does not require Federal approval.
4. TC submits a new proposal, but there are routing issues in Nebraska. They work out the routing issues.
5. After the Congress changes hands in 2014, they approve a bill, send it to President Obama. President Obama vetoes the bill in 2015.
6. Trump is elected to office and grants TC a permit to build the Keystone XL Pipeline in 2017.
7. Joe Biden announces during the campaign he will cancel the cross-border permit granted by the Trump admin and says he will do it on the first day of his presidency, which is Wednesday.
What is the status of the Keystone XL Pipeline construction, Big Red Car?
Good question, Grasshopper.The cross border pipeline is built.
There are a number pumping stations in the United States that are built.
Much of the Canadian section of the Keystone XL Pipeline is built.
Why is this bad policy, Big Red Car?
Ahh, allow me to count the ways:
