Today the president rejected the Canadian oil pipeline project, a decision that made many environmentalists very happy. In November, Frum explained why he supports the pipeline:
What will curtailing oilsands accomplish for the environment? Nothing. This is a big planet full of oil, and if the United States does not buy its oil from Canada, it will buy its oil from somebody else. So long as demand runs high, oil will be imported and burned. And it’s not like pumping the oil from the Gulf of Mexico, or transporting oil from the Middle East in tankers, is exactly environmentally risk-free.
Frum goes on to propose a carbon tax instead. Erik Loomis counters:
You mean denying this one permit isn’t going to halt climate change and isn’t the final answer to all our energy questions? Who knew! Frum might be right that we need some carbon taxes, but it is an absolute environmental victory to stop the Keystone XL pipeline.
Michael Levi criticizes both supporters and critics of the project. Jess Zimmerman rounds up her arguments against the project. And Steve Benen wonders why the GOP pushed Obama into a corner.
(Photo: A protestor against the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline climbs on a Keith Haring sculpture as he demonstrates outside of the W Hotel where U.S. President Barack Obama was holding a fundraiser on October 25, 2011 in San Francisco, California. By Justin Sullivan/Getty Images.)
The Dish 