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Anti-Pipeline Dave Heineman Should Not Run for Senate in Nebraska

By: Daniel Horowitz (Diary)  |  December 5th, 2011 at 07:01 PM  | 

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One of the biggest political and policy winners for Republicans is their strong support for expeditious approval of the Keystone Pipeline.  Their unified support for this propitious project has provided voters with a sharp contrast to Obama’s casual disregard for private-sector job creation and cheap energy for consumers.  Hence, it is a no-brainer that the pipeline issue should be used as a rallying cry for all Republicans running for elected office in 2012.

In that vein, Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman would be wise to remain in Lincoln, and discard any aspirations to run for Senate.

Toward the end of the summer, amidst pressure from members of his own administration, Obama was on the verge of signing off on the deal.  The State Department had published yet another favorable environmental impact study, and even Energy Secretary Steven Chu seemed to concede that opposition to the pipeline was indefensible.  But then came the vociferous protestations from Obama’s base; greenies, hippies, Hollywood bimbos, and….Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman.

Late in August, the Nebraska Republican penned a letter to the President and Secretary of State requesting that they deny the permit for the pipeline.  Heineman stated that he objected to the route of the pipeline for fear that an oil spill would affect that Ogallala Aquifer – an underground water table in western Nebraska.

Never mind that unlike oil tankers, pipelines are much safer, and in the rare event of a spill, the affected area is measured in tens of feet, not thousands.  Never mind that the EPA and the State Department saw no concern with the proposed route of the pipeline.  Disregard the fact that the only legitimate threat to the water supply comes from the ethanol production that is so blithely promoted by Nebraska’s Republicans, without any concern for the Ogallala Aquifer.  Dave Heineman felt that he must convene a special session of the legislature and block the pipeline, granting Obama the vital bipartisan cover he needed to scuttle the project.

Two months later, buoyed by Republican Heineman’s moral support, Obama suspended the pipeline until after the 2012 elections.  As they say, the rest is history.

Now, Senators Cornyn and McConnell are imploring the governor to seek the Republican nomination in the Senate race against Ben Nelson.

Let’s not muddle our unified message on energy policy by electing the Keystone Pipeline slayer to the Senate?

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  • DerKrieger

    …must go. This pair are almost as bad as the Democrats in hindering conservative governance. And what was Heineman thinking when he blocked the pipeline? That the people of NE don’t need the jobs or income from the pipeline?

    And when will the GOP make an explicit pitch for the blue-collar vote, union and non-union? How many of their jobs has Obama not created and not saved due to his anti-energy policies?

    • hmmathis

      Cornyn was the bozo who gave $200,000 to Florida RINO Charley Crist as soon as Crist announced, well before the 2010 primary election for US Senate, despite the fact that it was well known that Marco Rubio would enter the race.

      When it became apparent that Marco Rubio was the hands-down favorite of the Florida Republican voters, RINO Crist became an “Independent” and refused to return the money back to the Republican Party.

    • paladin1

      and am very disappointed in his quick and steady move to the Republican moderate column. The Crist stunt was the final straw for me. He is one of my senators and I will definitely work to replace him when his term is up.

      McConnell should be moved out as well. He has done little besides cozy up to the Dems and is know for his deal-making prowess; a “quality” we can little afford in these difficult times.

      Their move to put Heineman into a Senate slot is only a perpetuation of their commitment to political moderation and a rejection of the new Tea Party conservatism that so surprised them in 2010.

    • cwfoster

      Has anybody here read even a synopsis of Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals”? There’s a website that will go right down the list and asve you the trouble of reading the communist drivel, and also keep you from giving residuals to somebody who i’m sure doesn’t have our best interests at heart.

      One of the ‘rules’ is to offer two choices that are the same choice, packaged two different ways. This way, whichever wins, your agenda is advanced. One may be ideal, but the other is at least acceptable.

      I think that not-quite-liberal-enough-to- toe-the-Democrat-line liberals were recruited and encouraged to join the Republican Party and run for office as Republicans. They were encouraged to be a moderating influence on the hardline conservative policies. (I think this was started at the Central Committee level as EE has advised us to do to take it back) They became more plentiful, and began influencing some of those that were already in office, which became easier to do as they gained seniority themselves. After the bloodbath of 2010, We got a glimpse or two of the inner workings of this leftist ‘fifth column’ when Trent Lott was quoted as saying they needed to co-opt as many of the TEA Party freshman as they could “because we don’t need a buch of little Jim DeMints running around.” Trent Lott was forced to resign, but after the 2006 bloodbath the leftist fifth colum was largely what was left, and they had been around a WHILE, so when 2010 rolled along, and we got control of the HoR, (ok 1/2 of 1/3 of the government but the half with the checkbook!) The senior people, the ones who assumed the “leadership roles” WERE the leftist fifth columnists!

      So you are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, and not just about Cornyn, and McConnell, Boehner has to go! And several others until who’s left knows we want results not a dog and pony show!

  • renl57

    Ben Nelson is giving some thought to retiring.

    If he does retire, then the seat is a sure pickup for the GOP even if a lesser Republican figure runs for the seat. In that case, even Cornyn and McConnell will stop bothering Heineman to run.

    Let’s wait and see.

  • bobguzzardi

    RedState is a goldmine of good information.

    I was surprised to read of Ethanol’s threat to the water supply. I had not read about this before. The dominant liberal media has, conveniently, left this out of its narrative of “going green is good”.

    thanks nice work Red Meat Conservative David Horowitz. Great blog

    bob guzzardi, ardmore penna. FYI I am going to an event sponsored by the other David Horowitz in Philadelphia with Andrew Breitbart speaking.

  • edintexas

    Once more I’m reminded of the only worthwhile quote from Walt Kelly: “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”

  • icesweeper

    As surprising as it was to have a Republican gov oppose this pipeline, there are good reasons for him to do so. Western Nebraska (and huge portions of other Great Plains states) depend upon the Ogallala aquifer for irrigation and other water needs. My rough guess is 10-15% of our nations agricultural production is located over the aquifer. IF, and granted it is a big if given pipeline safety nowdays, the aquifer was contaminated it would be devastating. If you think the peanut butter shortage you are hearing about this year is bad, it is peanuts { :) , insert groan} to what you would see without the aquifer. Wheat, corn, beef would all skyrocket in price.

    The pipeline would pass through Neb, no refining, no terminals, etc. So long term jobs are limited. Construction jobs of this specialized nature are done with mobile crews, not locals. And mobile workers don’t vote, farmers and ranchers do. Yes, there is the trickle down effect of any construction work, but Heineman was looking long term.

    Keystone had the option of routing through eastern Neb., and and avoiding the aquifer. For project management expediency they chose not to. Larger ranches out west = less landowners = less easement work req’d, etc = lower cost. Keystone gambled on getting it through and lost. They have now agreed to reroute it through eastern Neb. to avoid the Sandhills and Ogallala.

    I live in western Iowa, (go Steve King!), but close enough to Neb. to watch Dave Heineman. I was somewhat, but not totally surprised by his opposition. He wasn’t opposed to the pipeline, just the route. He would do well against sellout Ben Nelson.

    • monhar

      If Heineman is such a great guy, why did he wait until it was all approved before he made his demands that the whole process be halted. Seems to me he could have worked with the pipeline in the early stage to promote his favored route. Sounds like a ursurper to me!

      • icesweeper

        Where did I say he’s a “great guy”? If I was voting, I would pick Heineman over Ben Nelson, but IMO, Ben is no better than a $5 whore. He runs as a conservative Democrat, but had no problem selling his Obamacare vote for the Cornhusker Kickback.

        Somewhat unbelievably, there was nothing in the Nebraska code that gave them authority to regulate pipeline routes. Thus it was left up to the Feds to regulate. That was fixed in the special session Heineman called. There was a lot of discussion about the route, and Keystone wouldn’t change it, so Heineman had to call the special session.

  • eldstenorge

    The AG in Nebraska was running, the last I heard. He is a solid conservative and should be supported. Why even worry about Heineman? Dump the jerk!

  • rmacgilv

    Mitch is an embarrassment.He should not be allowed to call himself a conservative.

  • quad4x4

    No matter the label, it is the man ( or woman) and what they DO, not what they SAY. If they are constructive conservatives and are well versed in the ways of congress, then elect them and get on with the show…but have no doubts, there are sneaky snakes in the grass, root ‘em out early and vet them before election. Barring that, recall them at next primary election, if they perform other than as promised.

    Some newbbies will need a little TLC get right with the world, give them a break, but watch them for signs of weakness, and dump them as quick as possible. (or perhaps we will get the likes of the Senator from WA, ms. tennis shoe mom, forever.Sad but true, her brain must be from chopped liver, been a back bencher, yes mam, every since she was elected, and the dem’s put her on the SC?)