In the interview, which was posted online Saturday night,
| When nobody was laying attention. That's almost as good as Friday after 5 p.m. |
Not nearly as many jobs as Solyandra!
"And my hope would be that any reporter who is looking at the facts would take the time to confirm that the most realistic estimates are this might create maybe 2,000 jobs during the construction of the pipeline -- which might take a year or two -- and then after that we're talking about somewhere between 50 and 100
| He forgot all the support jobs. You know, restaurant and bar servers, gas stations, video rental places, UPS delivery guys -- all the things that an influx of workers with no local ties, plenty of money, and little free time need to make the long hours worth while. The same way it's calculated that every car manufacturing or steel mill union job adds another two or three jobs to the local economy. |
Don't bother drilling that one well - it won't solve the energy crisis!
He also suggested that the pipeline would not lower gas prices in the U.S., and could actually increase them in the Midwest, an argument buttressed by recent fluctuations in the crude oil market.
| The key isn't lowering prices, but 1) keeping them from rising as Chinese and Indian demand increase, and 2) keeping American money from flowing into the pockets of those oil producers who support jihadi groups and the fostering of jihad attitudes (have you seen the kind of religious textbooks the Saudis donate to every mosque willing to accept free stuff?). |
"So what we also know is, is that that oil is going to be piped down to the Gulf to be sold on the world oil markets, so it does not bring down gas prices here in the United States," Obama said. "In fact, it might actually cause some gas prices in the Midwest to go up where currently they can't ship some of that oil to world markets."Keep sending your money to my Saudi buddies!
| See periwinkle item 2, above. |
He noted that with the southern leg nearly complete, "We will close the books in the coming months on the 4,000 Americans we put to work on the pipeline from Oklahoma to Texas. On this leg of the Keystone system alone we employed more Americans than the 2,000 figure the President pointed to."
| Oh, snap! |
But isn't it better to have the gubamint spend money on infrastructure? That way they can carve out pieces for their friends. And the disadvantaged.
In his climate address last month Obama established a new litmus test for Keystone XL, saying, "Our national interest will be served only if this pipeline does not significantly exacerbate the climate problem." "The net effects of climate impact will be absolutely critical to determining whether this project will go forward," he added. "It is relevant."Then the rest of the pipeline is doomed.
| Until the next president is sworn in, anyway. But that's only a bit more than 1,200 days or so -- President Obama mentioned the number in a recent speech, but as I didn't watch it, I don't know what he said. |
Maybe if you make some more investments to make the eco-freaks happy, I just might approve. Maybe.
"We haven't seen specific ideas or plans," the president added. "But all of that will go into the mix in terms of John Kerry's decision or recommendation on this issue."
Great. The two smartest men in the room.