SOME DEMS ABANDONING OBAMA – AT 8:57 A.M. ET:  Obama's reckless decision to again delay approval of the Keystone Pipeline has a number of Dems up in arms.  They're usually moderate Democrats from states where the energy industry is key to employment.  They represent a growing willingness by Dems to distance themselves from Obama on both Keystone and foreign policy, especially policy toward Iran and Russia.  From the Washington Times: 

The Obama administration’s latest Keystone pipeline delay had barely been announced late last week when red-state Democrats began to howl, calling the move everything from ridiculous to irresponsible and vowing to explore ways to force President Obama’s hand.

The outcry from within the president’s own party underscored the tricky politics for those Democrats, many of whom are facing tough re-election bids, and decisions such as Keystone make it difficult to be tied to Mr. Obama right now.

It also set up a major test: Can those Democrats find a way to pass legislation overruling the administration’s decision, would their leaders allow such a bill to pass, and would Mr. Obama sign it or veto it?

“This decision is irresponsible, unnecessary and unacceptable,” said Sen. Mary L. Landrieu, Louisiana Democrat. “I plan to use my power as chair of the Senate Energy Committee to take decisive action to get this pipeline permit approved.”

On Friday, as Washington was shutting down for the Easter weekend and with Congress in the middle of a two-week vacation, the State Department announced it was putting the Keystone XL pipeline application on hold indefinitely.

An afternoon call alerting congressional staffers to the decision did not go well, according to one aide who said even Democrats appeared caught off guard by the administration’s decision, and were frustrated with how the State Department was handling it.

COMMENT:  They can scream about State all they want.  This is an Obama decision.  He's yielding to powerful, extremely wealthy elements in the Democratic Party which have become environmental fanatics.  I wonder if it's really the environment they're concerned about, or investments in alternative energy.  Hmm.

April 21, 2014