By: Evan Troxel
In review, Barack Obama the Democratic Presidential nominee and his Vice President Joe Biden won the 2008 Presidential Election over John McCain the Republican Presidential nominee and his Vice President Sarah Palin.
Actually, back in 2008 Fred Thompson gave me the impression at least that he could have been a strong President had he not dropped out of the Presidential Candidacy race. I will agree that it was fairly inevitable that Obama was going to win the election before Election Day in 2008. Just think what would have happened had he lost the election?
There are five potential people who could be President of the United States starting around January 20th, 2013. Those five candidates are current U.S. President Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum. Actually, there could be at least one more candidate and this person would be from the Democratic Party who would (in effect) steal the nomination from Barack Obama. Well, let’s pick a candidate and talk about him. I think we should start with Barack Obama.
There is only one good thing (in my opinion) Obama has done during his Presidency. Reject the building of the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline. I think Obama (in his mind) has already decided that he will approve the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline Project although he wants to get elected for a second U.S. Presidential term first. Currently, I think what has already been done with the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline Project is completely illegal and unconstitutional under Federal government law. Finally, Obama is age 50 and is the youngest Presidential Candidate out of these five that I’m going to focus on in this article. However, I want to make a point that age does not matter when it comes to being President of the United States. Now let’s turn our attention to Mitt Romney.
To look on the positive side of Mitt Romney, to me he seems to be a smart guy and knows what he is talking about. He is at the age where he can still think decently and make mostly good decisions. Romney if elected, to me seems like he really wants to get this U.S. Economy turned around in a positive direction immediately. I think it will be interesting to see (whoever wins the 2012 Presidential Election) how quickly they will do what they say they are going to do when he/she actually is the President of the United States and not just another politician anymore.
Anyway, it is obvious that Mitt Romney has some kind of “plan” for the U.S. Economy. What I mean by “U.S. Economy (in general)” is taking care of this giant National Debt, helping Americans get out of debt, and employing people. Unfortunately for Romney, many people have recognized that he has flip-flopped his views on several issues. That basically just canceled out everything I said within this paragraph and it also says that his views are going to change based on the circumstances. Maybe the best way to describe Romney, he looks at both sides of the coin and the positive and negative aspects to both sides of the coin.
I don’t think Romney’s “plan” (whatever that means) will work out successfully. Currently, Romney wants the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline to be built and he has the religious beliefs of Mormonism. Frankly, I think building the Keystone XL Pipeline is stupid and lots of environmentalists agree with me on that. I don’t think you should take any chances of possibly contaminating the water and water is every human being’s physical life source which is needed to physically survive. Romney’s religious beliefs of Mormonism I mentioned I’m just going to leave alone for this article and let you the reader process what I just said in the last three paragraphs about Mitt Romney.
Here is a hyperlink to an article titled, Ron Paul: Mitt Romney 'more likely' than rival candidates to 'listen to his advisers'. http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-presidential-primary/218079-ron-paul-mitt-romney-more-likely-than-rival-candidates-to-listen-to-his-advisers
Newt Gingrich. I have also heard people complain that because he is a former Speaker of the House that he knows a lot about the U.S. Presidency and some people think that is a bad thing in that he knows too much about the “job” of the U.S. Presidency. Gingrich wants to create jobs and he supports building the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline.
From an interview with Gingrich that I found on YouTube (which I have a hyperlink displayed below these paragraphs about Newt Gingrich), it sounds like he doesn’t want to support the Saudi Arabians by giving them money to do with what they plan to do with it which I think will probably be used to terrorize the U.S. as well as other countries. That money is given to the Middle Eastern peoples (if not just the Saudi Arabians) so that Americans can have oil at least if nothing else. That to me seems like the only reason he wants to build the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline so Americans don’t have to get oil from Middle Eastern countries.
I agree with Gingrich in that it is bad to give money to the Saudi Arabians. I disagree with him however that there should be an oil pipeline built through the U.S. (from what I understand) to basically to cease talking and/or negotiations (about anything) with the Saudi Arabians or any of the other Middle Eastern countries and/or peoples.
Gingrich also made some points in the YouTube video about the American middle class through high unemployment and high gas prices. I think high unemployment is bad, but I really believe that most people can get a job (any job) if they want to be employed. I think the people who are unemployed and who want to be employed probably have a bad attitude that they cannot get a job because he/she only wants a specific job and don’t want to try doing a job that a person thinks that he/she will dislike. I think people need to realize that most people are hiring for specific jobs (such as law enforcement and the medical fields) vs. a person wanting to do a job that he/she selfishly likes to do (such as anything that has to do with sports unfortunately). The points that I made in this paragraph are the core reasons why I won’t be voting for a Presidential Candidate who supports the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline because in short, I believe that the same number of people who could get “temporary” jobs under the Keystone XL Pipeline can get full-time, part-time, and/or temporary jobs if they just make a little effort to get a job, any job!
As for high gas prices, I don’t like them and I’m tired of people who set prices on anything having the attitude that when gas prices go up “this” item increases in value. I wish people who set prices on things would actually do their math and not overcharge you the customer because I believe that some people who set prices on things don’t do those things.
Rick Santorum. Where did he come from? To me, he seems to be a people person.
At the end of these paragraphs about Rick Santorum, I have a hyperlink to a YouTube video about his general views on almost everything. I think it is good that Rick Santorum wants to lower (and I suppose eliminate) the National Debt. In the YouTube video, he mentions that he successfully did something about the welfare program in America. Santorum has the viewpoint of establishing a “Made in the U.S.A.” jobs plan and he is going to try to repeal Obamacare, if elected. I don’t necessarily think Obamacare is a completely bad thing but it probably won’t be helping certain people if it does get repealed.
Under Santorum’s plan, he also plans to lower manufacturing taxes all the way to zero. I disagree with Santorum that he thinks the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline will be safe for the environment. I would actually like to see any Presidential Candidate (or politician for that matter) come and see the Ogallala Aquifer and visit with the people who live in the area where the Ogallala Aquifer is at. I also think building Keystone XL will decrease America’s national security for two reasons. First, it will decrease America talking to the Middle Eastern countries. Second, oil can pollute the environment and if the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline is built, it provides an easier match for terrorists to light on fire.
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Ron Paul. If this guy wins the U.S. Presidency before John McCain (if McCain can ever be a U.S. Presidential Candidate again) I will forever be shocked and be wondering why the American people didn’t vote for McCain in 2008. Why do I think that? Ron Paul is only 1 year and 9 days older than John McCain. Is 1 year and 9 days really that big of a difference? Then again, McCain was up against (as some people claim) the world’s best orator in Barack Obama although to Obama’s discredit, he never directly looks into the television cameras except when his only audience is American television viewers.
People were saying how McCain would have died in Office (if he would have won the U.S. Presidency). Ron Paul meanwhile is 76 years old and McCain is still living and is 75 years old. I’m going to laugh on January 20th, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. ET if John McCain is still alive, again on January 21st, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. ET, and yet again on Inauguration Day 2017 at 12:00 p.m. ET. Inauguration Day is normally on January 20th but in 2013 it lands on a Sunday so the public ceremony of the Oath of Office will take place on Monday, January 21st, 2013. The private ceremony of the Oath of Office will take place on Sunday, January 20th, 2013.
According to Wikipedia, Ron Paul endorses increased border security and opposes welfare for illegal aliens, birthright citizenship and amnesty. He opposes the Iraq War and a potential war with Iran. He is Pro-Life and opposes abortion. As a free-market environmentalist, he asserts private property rights in relation to environmental protection and pollution prevention. Ron Paul opposes affirmative action.
I don’t know what to think of these wars America has been in during the 21st Century. In general, I’d rather not be at war. However, I think there should at least be some U.S. Troops staying over in Afghanistan and Iraq and any other countries that we are fighting war with and/or are ending war with to peacefully and perhaps positively help them in any way America can. I also don’t know if I agree with Ron Paul on affirmative action which refers to Equal Opportunity Employment. In some ways, I suppose it’s okay to oppose affirmative action and doing that for example (from what I understand about affirmative action), by showing no tolerance for something.
Here is a hyperlink to a YouTube video titled “Ron Paul Intellectually Pummels Mitt Romney Into Submission.” In this video you will see more of the debating side for Ron Paul than you will see for Mitt Romney. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua4inlXnhhc
If you are not into watching candidates debate, here is a hyperlink to a YouTube video titled, “Ron Paul on CNN with Piers Morgan 3/26/2012.” I thought this was a very low-key chat and you can definitely see where Ron Paul’s position is on a few things that were mentioned in the video such as Obamacare and how soon he plans to pull out of the Presidential Candidacy race. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlBZQ_UYius
To conclude my thoughts about the Presidential Candidates, I think Obama, Romney, and Santorum have realistic shots to win the U.S. Presidency. I heard that if Ron Paul doesn’t win the Republican Nomination for President that he will try to run as an Independent. If Obama doesn’t get impeached before November 2012 and/or gets elected as President for four more years starting on Jan. 20th, 2013, I don’t know what I am going to think of him then. If Romney gets elected in November for U.S. President, I think I’m going to have to keep my eye on Mitt Romney on what he does for his Presidential term in Office.
The hyperlink just below this paragraph will lead you to an online article titled, “Keystone XL pipeline a 'no-brainer': Romney.” I hope you all will take the time to read it. It is just a viewpoint of some of the Presidential Candidates thoughts on the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline Project and about it.
Below this paragraph is a hyperlink to an article titled, Keystone XL Pipeline “Makes No Sense For America,” Says Sustainable Business Coalition. The article is extremely brief and tells a few reasons why building the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline will hurt the U.S.A. Also, the hyperlink will take you to other articles about energy resources and/or environment.
My thoughts from the hyperlink to the article above are that, I agree that America needs to turn its attention to alternative energy (as a start) and then renewable energy and not oil. I don’t understand why oil is continually being used since it is a nonrenewable resource and why people still drive vehicles when vehicles need oil to function. I also agree that oil is extremely expensive. I would also like to comment that it would be nice to know what the alternatives to oil are.
The hyperlink just below this paragraph is a YouTube video titled “Sackett v. EPA: How One Couple's Battle Against the Feds Might Protect Your Land.” I encourage you to watch this video. A decision on this Supreme Court Case will be made soon (as in Spring 2012). This court case decision I think could be a major factor in what eventually happens with the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline Project and which candidate you and I will vote for in the 2012 Presidential Election.
Here is a hyperlink to an article titled, “The Keystone XL Pipeline Exposes Utter Congressional Hypocrisy.” This is one of two hyperlinks to an article in this entire publication that I would highly recommend you should read carefully, consider seriously, and think about during and after reading the article. This article mentions the Supreme Court case of Kelo v. New London in 2005. http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?368368-The-Keystone-XL-Pipeline-Exposes-Utter-GOP-Hypocrisy
Here is a hyperlink to a long article titled, “On Keystone XL route, states allow different risks, reap different benefits.” I learned a lot from this article and this is the other hyperlink to an article in this entire publication that I would highly recommend you should read carefully, consider seriously, and think about during and after reading the article. This article has four Internet pages to it, not just one.
I feel like the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline is the #1 issue that people should seriously consider before voting for a person for the U.S. Presidency because it affects the whole planet. I also believe that if the Ogallala Aquifer is contaminated by the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline (if it is built) then human beings will start dying because the water won’t be clean (and all chaos will start happening). I also heard that the Ogallala Aquifer is the most important water source on the planet and I believe that is a fact. Any person who wants to “mess” with water in my opinion should not be in any position of power and should feel greatly ashamed of themselves for wanting to do that and for possibly and/or eventually being responsible for the deaths of a lot of people.
After reading the article with the hyperlink to it above, I don’t see why a person, a family, or a group of people would just give the U.S. government their land to use for what I think the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline is a “temporary” and “private interest” and not a “long-term” and “public interest” (since a lot of people oppose the Pipeline to be built) and therefore the Pipeline should not be allowed to be built…ever.
I feel like the American people will be cheated out of their future freedoms if you let the U.S. government take your land like this whether or not you are in favor of or opposed to the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline. Americans have a right to own land and if I were a landowner I wouldn’t give up my land (or a portion of my land) to the U.S. Government for $3,000 (as a statement in the above article did mention) unless it was a really small piece of land.
I feel like the U.S. government only wants the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline to be built so that the U.S. government can supposedly make more money and that American politicians can supposedly make more money. I say “supposedly” (in the previous sentence) because no one really knows how much money will be made if said Pipeline is built. I think the only reason said Pipeline wants to be built is because of the money. During and after reading the article above by reading between the lines, I feel like the U.S. government is not prepared to take on this Pipeline project anyway.
Transcanada I feel like is more prepared for this project than the U.S. government and the American people are. What country or group of people is “Transcanada” really representing? Who’s interests are they representing?
I’d also like to know, who is going to be installing these pipes into the Earth? How experienced are these pipe installers?
Some Americans I believe are in favor of supporting the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline so Americans ultimately don’t have to deal with, negotiate with, talk with, and/or mess with Middle Eastern peoples. I’m not positive, but I don’t think America is going to be receiving any of this oil from the Pipeline for its own use. I don’t think American Troops can simply just leave countries we (America) are at war with. I also don’t think American Troops can just simply leave different two different countries (excluding the U.S.A.) who are at or could be at war with each other and America needs to be the peacemaker in these situations (if it is necessary). I don’t think America should just end their relations with Middle Eastern countries.
If God wanted the United States of America to own their own oil, God would have given it to the U.S.A. Also, why an Oil Pipeline? Why not just transport oil in oil barrels to the Gulf of Mexico? Why not just transport oil the way America receives oil from Middle Eastern countries? And, oh yeah, the oil cannot be transported anywhere through the Ogallala Aquifer region.
Here is a hyperlink to an article about the key facts of the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline. http://www.tarsandsaction.org/spread-the-word/key-facts-keystone-xl/
My final thoughts about the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline Project is, leave the oil where it currently is. God owns it. There’s no reason to move it! Finally, please spread the word about the information contained in this article.
Very good article. I appreciated all of the information on the presidential candidates. The pipeline project is something I continue to waver on my opinion with but you provided a very convinving argument against it. Keep up the good work!
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