York:Obama faces defeat on pipeline as Dems defect

campaign2012 washingtonexaminer

quote:

If Obama vetoes the pipeline, he faces an embarrassing rebuff in the House. But in the Senate, it would take 67 votes to overturn the veto, and that's probably an insurmountable obstacle for pipeline supporters. All the president would need is 34 Democratic dead-enders to stick with him to stop the pipeline.

But Obama could prevail only at grave political cost.

 Comment:

If politics is war by other means, how can Obama win this battle?  York thinks it is a lost cause for team Obama, but is that so?  What can he do to mitigate the effects of a veto, which York says will cost Obama politically?

There is the Strategic Oil Reserve.  If oil prices spike, he can unload as much as possible in order to damp down the price increases.   Even if he has to veto it, Obama still has options.  This political game ain't over yet.  But using the Reserve for political reasons is not necessarily in the best interest of the country, but will the public recognize this?

In the end, all this may do is allow the Republicans to make a small political point at Obama's expense.   The Congress is up for election as well as the president, so that explains their defections.  The pipeline could still be defeated, but the Democrats can take cover in voting for something that won't become a reality anyway.

It's politics, but it is not a game changer, except for the well being of the country.  It would be better if the pipeline is approved, sure.  It would be a little better for Obama as well, because by the time the election comes around, people will have forgotten it either way.

If it is war, it is best to know the enemy.  The enemy for the Democrats is the truth and the public's memory.  All they need to do is make sure people don't find out the truth, or remember it.