When it comes to pass that Senator for Life, Tom Carper, sides with Republicans and votes to override the President’s veto of the Keystone XL pipeline it could change things here in Delaware. At long last, all pretense will be set aside and even the most out of touch Democrat will know that Carper is not a member of the Democratic Party in any meaningful sense. It will be an undeniable break with public sentiment on the issue of the environment and the brazen opposition to the President will be impossible for him to hide from.
It doesn’t mean that he will lose the next election – he is the Senator for Life after all. But I think it does open up some room for actual Democrats to begin to assert what it means to be a Democrat, and perhaps begin rebuilding the Party’s brand equity. It could take a generation for the party to recover from the damage that Tom Carper has inflicted on it, but I think a recovery is possible. Recovering our sense of what the Democratic Party stands for is therefor, something we should be preparing for. When this execrable vote happens, we need to be ready to use the public disgust with Carper to launch a larger movement to articulate Democratic values.
Just this morning I was thinking that I might register as a Green Party, but just the prospect of this vote – this horrific inevitable vote has sparked something in me that I haven’t felt for a while. It has reminded me of the fact that votes do matter. That Carper is in DC to represent me and my interests. That’s his job. It has fired me up to demand that he do his job for a change.
In the meantime…what should I do? Well, Robert Riech posted this to his facebook page, and I think making sure that all my friends and acquaintances see it might be a start.
Republicans some Democrats are now trying to round up votes they need to override Obama’s veto of the Keystone XL pipeline. By most estimates, they’re within striking range (63 senators support it but an override needs 67). You need to know:
1. The pipeline is an environmental disaster. The Alberta oil sands, from which the oil would come, requires far more fuel and water to extract than conventional oil and gas, and the carbon emissions are worse. If the pipeline leaks (leaks do happen), the heavy oil-sands petroleum could cause terrible damage.
2. Proponents claim shipping by rail would be even more hazardous. But far less of it could be shipped, and rail is more expensive.
3. Proponents claim it’s a job creator. Wrong. The State Department concludes almost all would be temp jobs during pipeline’s 2-year construction, and almost all of those temp jobs would be in low-wage services. The pipeline would create only 35 permanent jobs.
4. Although low oil prices make tar-sands extraction less attractive right now, its big-oil backers think it will pay nicely over the long term, which is why they’re lobbying so hard.
Call your member of Congress and senator today to register your rejection of this hair-brained scheme.