Robert Redford: Obama stood up to Big Oil

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from HuffPo: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-redford/keystone-pipeline-obama-administration_b_1214158.html


1/18/12 03:28 PM ET

Let's face it: Big Oil is used to getting its way. But not today... and we have President Obama to thank for standing up to them in spite of the political risk . . .

His decision represents a victory of historic proportions for people from throughout the pipeline path and all across America who have waged an uphill, years-long fight against one of the most nightmarish fossil fuel projects of our time.

But make no mistake: Big Oil is going to fight back hard and fast . . .

The president stood up to Big Oil and listened to Americans saying: "We're done with fossil fuel schemes that destroy our land, poison our water and wreak havoc with our climate so that oil companies can make out like bandits." Now we need to continue to stand with the president and make it clear that tar sands pipelines are not in our national interest.


read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-redford/keystone-pipeline-obama-administration_b_1214158.html

[spanone]

1. yes he did.

[Pirate Smile]

2. Kick & Recommend

When the ads from all the Big Oil $$$ funneled into SuperPacs start to try to take down this President, I certainly hope Mr. Redford and many others will help to try to counter the onslaught. It's going to be massive.

The ad the Obama campaign put out tonight seems to show that they plan to make the Koch Brothers (secretive billionaires) into an issue when they fight back. Good.

[Bok_Tukalo]

3. This is theater

If Obama is re-elected, the State Department will OK this project. If he isn't, our new Secretary of State will.

Election year fun for the whole family.

[rufus dog]

7. So you can be right if Obama loses or you can hope that he backtracks so you can be right?

[Bok_Tukalo]

9. I couldn't care less if I am wrong

I was really commenting on the political theater aspect of this issue.

My opinion is we will OK this project; not that it matters. Petroleum is a fungible product. If we do not benefit, directly, from this project, someone will. The product will hit the world market regardless.

[bigtree]

10. Politics is theater? Big revelation there

Pay attention to the process and work to effect it. I don't know why this issue shouldn't be treated like any other we support. It needs to be vigilantly defended against. Redford say exactly that. At this stage of the fight, the President is in our corner. You have to know that he's already proven opponents to this project who said he'd cave at this point wrong. Keep setting that re-setting that bar, though. That's all part of the political 'theater' you describe.Remember, there are many more key actors in this play than the President.

[DonCoquixote]

13. we will not ok it

Because by that time the pipeline to china will be in full swing, linked to the one Chavez wants to build to it. This was planned for years.

[Inuca]

16. The Keystone decision

will probably hurt him in term of re-election chances, so no, I do not think you are right.

[politicasista]

4. Kick

[bigwillq]

5. Robert Redford>George Clooney

[bigwillq]

6. Robert Redford>Matt Damon

[one_voice]

8. ....

[Scurrilous]

11. K & R

[FrenchieCat]

14. There you go!

Excellent!

[Cherchez la Femme]

15. Did the Gulf go down

the memory hole already?!

[Fumesucker]

18. Evidently it did.. n/t

[malaise]

17. GObama!

Rec

[T S Justly]

19. Bob's being too nice, it's his way. (nt) (nr)

[bigtree]

20. Bob understands that it's a political process

. . . and that it makes sense to let the President know he approves of his action in rejecting the project and that he intends to strongly oppose the project in the future.

That's what other folks who care about stopping the pipeline have done as well . . .