Joe Biden Is Full of Gas

Joe Biden gave a speech to Ukrainian legislators a few days ago. One statement really stood out to me:

And as you attempt to pursue energy security, there’s no reason why you cannot be energy secure. I mean there isn’t. It will take time. It takes some difficult decisions, but it’s collectively within your power and the power of Europe and the United States. And we stand ready to assist you in reaching that. Imagine where you’d be today if you were able to tell Russia: Keep your gas. It would be a very different world you’d be facing today. It’s within our power to alter that. It will take some time, but it’s within our power. Very difficult decisions, but within our power.

One of those "difficult decisions" that is "within our power", would be to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. Aside from reducing the carbon footprint of transporting crude oil and natural gas, and lessening the odds of catastrophic rail or highway accidents involving tankers and oil fires, it has been pointed out that a non military response to the Russian bear's expansionism, would be to provide eastern Europe with an alternate supplier of energy. Providing an alternate buyer to Russian energy would have the twofold effect of reducing the leverage Russia holds over those dependent on Russian oil and gas, and reducing the revenues to Russia, weakening their ability to finance their expansionist adventures.

"...we stand ready to assist you in reaching that. Imagine where you’d be today if you were able to tell Russia: Keep your gas. It would be a very different world you’d be facing today. It’s within our power to alter that..."

No, Joe. You and Barry are standing in the schoolhouse door of energy production, obstructionist at every turn. The record levels of energy production you like to brag about, that took place during your administration, were either federal lands whose development was started during earlier administrations, or on state and private lands you could not successfully obstruct.

Are you serious about what you told the Ukrainians, Joe? Then show them that there's a prayer that we could have the capability, at least some time in the future, of providing them energy independence from the Russian bear. Convince your boss to take out his pen and sign the damn pipeline agreement and then, discuss the kind of infrastructure needed to provide liquified natural gas to our allies. You know. The kinds of facilities that your supporters on the Left oppose whenever they're proposed.

Show the political will to do the right thing, Joe, if you have any dreams of becoming the Leader of the Free World. Start now, and twist the arm of your lame duck boss and actually do something useful and facilitate the thousands of jobs the pipeline will create. Or just mouth the words and stand idly by while the world goes to hell in a handbasket.

Choice is yours.

Cross posted at LCR, Political Clown Parade