Of the arguments that have been made by those who support the looming environmental disaster known as the Keystone XL pipeline, this by far has to be the worst. It amounts to screaming, in a Snidely Whiplash fashion, "Give in! There's NOTHING you can do to stop us from destroying the planet! MWAH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH!"
Well, that may not be entirely true. After all, given the current pressure coming from not only Congressional Republicans, but also the Canadian government, the pipeline is clearly the preferred choice of the pipeline's supporters. Otherwise, they would just go ahead and pursue the railway-to-China option. And yet, that option is there.
What, then, should President Obama do?
If he's half as smart as I hope (and believe) that he is, he will use the pipeline as a way to get concessions on a whole host of green programs and policies, including but not limited to a carbon tax, which may end up being the only true way that the pipeline, and its inevitable ecological consequences. (Note to the Republican Governor of Nebraska, who has thrown his support behind Keystone: Good luck with your state continuing to be the nation's breadbasket, pal.)
I realize that the reality of the pipeline is a bitter pill to swallow. And the GOP may just look at this as a bluff on Obama's part, and try to call it. But, if I were him, I'd say "Fine. Say goodbye to the pipeline, and all the benefits you say it would create. We could build a million pipelines, and all it would do is hasten the day when we get our power from somewhere else." And leave them in the political dust.
Is this some kind of crazy, liberal dream on my part? I don't think it can be, if Tom Friedman, Mr. Centrist himself, also thinks it's a good idea.
Let's hope that Obama thinks so, too.
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