Carper’s keystone veto override vote should be a watershed moment for Delaware’s Democrats
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.
I am pessimistic that he water-cooler conversations will go the way you want them to. I don’t know anybody apart from bloggers who cares about the Keystone Export Pipeline. I expect Republicans to successfully brand it as a initiative to create jobs and lower energy prices, and most of my barometers are likely to see it that way. I don’t see arguments that it endangers the environment or enriches the few getting much traction – just ask Al Gore. I think Carper’s inevitable override vote will only increase his approval among low-information voters. Democrats, even better Democrats than Carper, don’t run on how much they support the party line, or how strongly they support the President. Democrats are now running on how “independent” their votes are, and this vote looks like a prime candidate for that.
Good points. I added “should” to the headline to replace “will be” at the last moment because part of me knows you are right.
Markell will primary Carper in 2018
No he won’t. Trembling Tom will be there as long as likes. Quivering Chris Coons has a more tenuous hold on permanent employment. His vote, not Carper’s, is a key here.
Rumor is Markell wants to go to Washington, but not Capitol Hill.
Not saying Carper would lose, but when has Markell given any indication that he is deferential to anything? Primaried (sp?) Carney after Carney’s 8-years as LG…
I suppose it’s possible that Markell might be too busy as Secretary of Education under President Paul/Cruz/Rubio/Christie/Walker/Romney to run for Senate…
It is ludicrous to think that Markell is going to primary anybody. Any Democrats anyway.
I don’t know where Markell rumors come from, but they are way off-base. If he had wanted to go to Washington, he had a clear shot at it 6 years ago. He primaried Carney instead. He has money, meaning he has options, and he’s not in politics for his ego. I’ll take all the even-money action I can get that he never runs for elective office again.
Alex Pires is our only hope
Being Gov./former Gov. just gives Markell more beltway cred for a think tank job or political appointment.
Is anyone still jazzed about Markell? I don’t just mean on this blog, I mean man-on-the-street. Lately, he just seems blah. The LGBT community has been taken care of, Gas Tax and clean water initiatives launched with a thud (thanks to no advance work on the part of the gov.), job deals made that produced nothing, education reforms failing (being charitable here). Zero on the environment. Shuffling the deck chairs and raiding the transportation trust fund on the budget.
What has he got? Oh, sorry, Bikepaths!
“Being Gov./former Gov. just gives Markell more beltway cred for a think tank job or political appointment.”
True, but why would he want such a job? Rich guys can play ball on their own court. Think Pete du Pont becoming a self-identified pundit.
“…he’s not in politics for his ego.”
That is one of the most ludicrous statements I’ve read. The vast majority of the folks who enter politics do so because of ego, even if it’s just a small part of it. The pie-in-the-sky “I just want to make a difference” sure as heck isn’t the reason.
I don’t know why he would want such a job unless he wants to be effective on policy, think tanks and appointments in DC are the place to be. Maybe because he thinks that his ideas are sound and that Delaware isn’t as bad as everyone else thinks it is?
Punditry is just a nice name for rock thrower on the side lines.
Not saying he can’t be a pundit, or fade into the backround and just be an ex-gov. but he is young enough to move on to an active role doing something.
Ego aside, Markell is an executive. He likes running things and being the man in charge. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up the head of a college or something like that.
Yeah, Prop Joe, except I have known the guy for 20 years now, and you haven’t. You’re making a bunch of assumptions you have no basis to make.
Markell is an executive, but I think he’s learned that being a government executive is a lot less rewarding than being a business executive, whether you’re measuring by either remuneration or effectiveness.
He wouldn’t be the first executive turned politician to find that out. But I dunno maybe he is indeed burned out.
Gone are the days of his talks on the campaign trail of a “New Delaware for a New Economy” He wanted high tech jobs with a highly skilled and educated workforce. With a high quality of life with good schools to attract business’ I kinda got a “just going through the motions” vibe during the gas tax and clean water initiative roll out.
I think the Clean Water Initiative was a photo-op for Sec. of DNREC Colin O’Mara’s sake to move on to a better job.
But we have bikepaths! The Gordons Pond bridge project was his pet. Minner floated the idea and was summarily dismissed by enviros and North Shores/Henlopen Acres residents. Markell managed to secure DoT funding, get an Environmental Impact Statement, public meetings and approved plans in less time than Minners entire roll out. All in a park system that doesn’t have money to fix its own pier or sewer system.
I know Markell and his cronies fancied him running for President one day. Gives one a good warm belly laugh on a cold day. The shine came off that penny very quickly.
@Plexing: Bullshit. None of his “cronies” said any such thing. That speculation came from people with no basis for their speculation.
@Geezer Not bullshit at all.
Yes, total bullshit. You got nothing that says otherwise. The only such speculation I ever saw or heard was by people on this blog.
Thank you for the reminder to call and support the efforts of those in favor of the Keystone Pipeline. What a novel idea to create real lasting jobs. Even some of our recent college graduates might be able to find a good paying job as a result and move out of their parents home.
Uh-oh, the school for the slow learners must be out for the day.
Permanent Keystone XL pipeline jobs: 35.
The Gov. will do what Happy Harry tells him.
Yeah but think of the jobs when there is a spill or ground/well water contamination