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Environmentalists Protest Keystone XL Pipeline, Demand Action in Massive March on the National Mall

Feb. 17, 2013 8:35pm Erica Ritz

Environmentalists March on the National Mall to Push Obama on Global Warming, Keystone XL Pipeline

Thousands of protestors gather at the National Mall in Washington calling on President Barack Obama to reject the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada, as well as act to limit carbon pollution from power plants and move beyond coal and natural gas, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. (Photo: AP)

Organizers say roughly 35,000 environmentalists gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. today to urge President Obama to take action on global warming. Many of them particularly want to see the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would bring fossil fuels from Canadian tar sands fuels to the Gulf Coast, rejected.

Before the event, actor and environmentalist Robert Redford reportedly wrote: “This is the beginning. The beginning of a real battle, for America’s future…President Barack Obama’s legacy will rest squarely on his response, resolve, and leadership in solving the climate crisis.”

A website urging people to sign up for the “largest climate rally in history” has roughly the same message, adding: “Crippling drought. Devastating wildfires. Superstorm Sandy. Climate has come home – and the American people get it.”

According to the Huffington Post, organizers from 350.org, the Sierra Club and the Hip-Hop Caucus joined together to plan the event, which took place on a windy, 34 degree day.

From center to right; Bill McKibben, Fiona McRaith, Leah Qusba and Maayan Cohen join a march from the National Mall to the White House in Washington during a rally on calling on President Barack Obama to reject the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada, as well as act to limit carbon pollution from power plants and move beyond coal and natural gas, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. (Photo: AP)

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) told the lively group: ““They’ve got the lobbyists. They’ve got the super-PACs. They made the campaign contributions. They’ve got this town in their pockets — they have got the situation under control…And then you show up. And then we show up. And we change the game.”

He spoke about looking down the hallways of history and being able to say “yes we did.” The crowd, holding up their clenched fists, briefly chanted back, “Yes we did! Yes we did!”

Maura Cowley of the Energy Action Coalition added: “Keystone XL is a dirty and dangerous pipeline. It’s literally going to cut our country in half, carrying a very dangerous fuel, and it will cause runaway climate change…Young people across the country are the same generation that elected Barack Obama twice now, and we really want to see him reject the Keystone XL pipeline.”

Native Americans from the Cree Nation of Alberta, Canada, march with other protestors from the National Mall to the White House in Washington calling on President Barack Obama to reject the Keystone XL oil pipeline. (Photo: AP)

The Hill continues:

Activists at Sunday’s rally said approving the pipeline would taint Obama’s record on climate change. They said they hoped the demonstration would give the president the will to nix Keystone, even when a majority of both the House and the Senate want it built.

“His heart is there. The question is can we change the politics enough so he can do what he knows is right. And I believe that he will,” Van Jones, a former Obama adviser, told The Hill.

The politics surrounding the project are formidable.

Blocking Keystone would play into Republican assertions that the president is scuttling a project that could enhance energy security and create thousands of jobs to appease environmental supporters. They have pressed the White House to green-light the pipeline. [Emphasis added]

During the State of the Union last week, President Obama said that if Congress doesn’t take action to curb what he believes is contributing to global warming, he will.

Melinda Pierce, the legislative director for the the Sierra Club, expressed support for the idea even before Obama’s speech.

“Congress is a place where good ideas go to die,” she said. “There is a tremendous amount that his administration can do without Congress. He has the authority. He doesn’t have to wait for Congress.”

Here’s video from Sunday’s rally, via the Sierra Club:

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Comments (161)

DEFCON4
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:07pm
” Enviral-Mentalists ”

Another, ‘over-inflated’ wheel of the “democratic voting machine”.

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- barber2
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:36pm
  Yes. One of the many Soros funded groups . This one must be the Organizing for Economic Collapse Due to Stupid Environmental Actions group.
  
  Report this comment
- mtnvortex
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:44pm
  I’ve really got to give Andrew Wilkow the credit for showing me this…many moons ago.
  http://youtu.be/r47MZjlI3_M
  
  Report this comment
- cessna152
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:45pm
  They get a free lunch to march. I’m so freaking sick and tired of spending $40 every 3 days for gas on top of supporting these dam lowlifes that use our money against us. F-u
  
  Report this comment
- Advection
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 10:03pm
  @VORTEX
  
  Those people all have deep psychological problems.
  
  And now one of them is in the White House.
  
  Report this comment
- dealer@678
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 10:07pm
  Obama Zombies.
  
  Report this comment
- Conservative2
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 11:09pm
  Wouldn’t this be classified as 35,000 climate conspirators? Sure looks like they drank the Koolaid!
  
  Report this comment
- CobraBill
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 11:16pm
  We never had droughts, floods, super-storms, ice-age and thaw out or blizzards before we started to burn gas, oil and coal.
  It is a good thing they figured out what causes those things.
  Now if they could only figure out what causes young unmarried girls to get pregnant
  
  Report this comment
- Hobbs57
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 11:35pm
  You guys talking about mental problems got that right. This is what happens to people who are absent faith and are forced to live through a persona of who they are. It is a purposeless existence, and all any person wants in life is a purpose. Well, these people adopt this as their purpose for existence. Everything in their life is central to enviromental problems,while projecting the mantra they are concerned for the planet, it is only a rouse which is part of a very, very deep selfish, self centered, and self promoting personality. Stricken with guilt and shame from extensive indoctrination from academia, these people are driven by a deep instinctual fear of not preserving their own lives hidden by massive wall of denial filled with countless justifications and reasons why they “good” people who truly care about others. What they fail to acknowledge is that nobody escapes death, this fact is their cryptonyte, and the fear of which ensures they remain in the insane circle of doing the same thing expecting different results. Amazing how these type are so against what they determine are societal forces, yet, it is those very forces which construct their very identity. They have never come to know who they really are, and probably never will. Not as long as long as the power hungry idiots like Van Jones keep providing them excuses and ways to run from who their true selves … Not even the horrific slaughter of a loved one phases these types, they only care about themselves.
  
  Report this comment
- pdw
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 11:51pm
  All oil that does not belong to George’s foreign oil company is dangerous as it will hurt the pocketbooks of our politicians.
  
  Report this comment
- Southerner01
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 11:57pm
  They should show their commitment to reducing the human carbon footprint by killing themselves. That would really help.
  
  Report this comment
- DarkJello
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 11:59pm
  Environmentalists are way too anti-science for my liking.
  
  How is it better for the planet when we buy oil shipped across the ocean?
  
  They fail at logic way too often for me to do anything but smile.
  
  Report this comment
- moreoilplease
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:04am
  Nothing will convince these “people”, I use the term loosely, that climate change is not caused by man. They suspend healthy skepticism because it appeals to them emotionally. They talk of science but ignore the obvious signs of pseudo science. Ounce junk science takes hold it’s almost impossible to reverse.
  
  Largest hurricane on record? Uh, no. Just not true.
  
  Hottest year on record? Uh, yes insofar as the accuracy of the data. Let’s assume it’s 100% correct and ignore that some have looked at the data and can’t seem to figure out how they (NOAA) got the numbers they published. Oceans temps and levels are how you measure the planets temp simply because most of the planet is covered with water and land and air are not sufficient conductors of heat. A hot year (ambient temp) is not indicative of man caused global warming in the sense these idiots think it does.
  
  Climatologists know this but the average smoe is too dense to absorb these concepts. It makes them easily misled. And climatologists get their funding vaporized unless they tow the line.
  
  I used to think global warming was man caused until I objectively, deeply studied the science. Not what Limbaugh or some other talking head says. I’ve read read all the major players and dissertations that strain credibility. One was about porcupines and the number of spines was indicative of climate change. Everything has been done so they just find something remotely related and they get grant money no questions
  
  Report this comment
- marssnw
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:05am
  I guarantee these morons left more pollution from their stupid protest than what the pipeline ever would. What pollution are these morons talking about? Its already drilled!!! Its all about piping it into the country now. Would like to know how that is dangerous? These people are brainwashed and brain dead. Its people like this that have destroyed America. They get their education from some brain dead hippie that dropped acid one to many times, and then they major in things like marijuana during their college years. They come out of college with a degree in Gay Lesbian Science or some other bullcrap degree. Most likely we (taxpayers) payed for it too.
  
  Report this comment
- Farmhand82
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:29am
  Haha so trucking and shipping oil across oceans and continents is more environmentally friendly than a pipeline? Got some world class thinkers over there.
  
  Report this comment
- Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:38am
  These idiots probably think if the pipeline exploded (which we know it won’t, unless one of these people cause it) that the country would be cut in half. Do they think it would float away? Sounds like the same thinking as Congressman Hank Johnson. These anti-capitalists would be happy if we went back to Flintstone-mobiles and being on a level playing field as muslim countries.
  They just do not understand science and how oil is the backbone of our economy and how oil is used in SO many different products. Of course, they would never quit using their iPads if they realized that it takes oil to produce plastic and some of the components in it, or the medicine they take, or the clothes they wear, or things they use in everyday life.
  Stupid, stupid people.
  
  Report this comment
- moreoilplease
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 1:45am
  Don’t forget, the most important use of oil is food production. Tractors need cheap diesel and most importantly, petro chemicals like fertilizer and pesticides. Many don’t realize just how important oil is for food production.
  
  Pipelines are safe. People on the east coast probably don’t realize they likely live within a 100 miles of a major pipeline. They proly don’t realize over a million gallons a day go through these pipes and make it possible for them to go to work., doctors, schools etc. A lot of technology go’s into these pipelines. They fly over and infrared the pipes for leaks and I know of no major leaks, ever.
  
  Report this comment
- PAUL GULLO
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 5:33am
  Take a good look at the people who would rather make you
  abort your child rather than cut down tree.
  
  Report this comment
- Thatsitivehadenough
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 7:00am
  Screw these lefty radicals. To honor them, I REFUSE to recycle ANYTHING until the communist is OUT of the WH. I hate the left. Liberalism is a mental disease.
  
  Report this comment
- Cemoto78
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 10:06am
  Seeing that these idiots don’t like fossil fuels, I hope they had a nice walk home to wherever they cam from.
  
  Report this comment
AmericaMustBeFree
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:07pm
People who have been brainwashed on global warming.. I would say that American’s who are for the Keystone Pipeline needs to have their own little Massive march… I am almost certain it would make this look like a small party! The only way to fight fire is with fire. When are we going to stand up and be heard.. or are we going to wait until we are shoved into full blown socialism! What does it take to save our country.. where is the Tea Party, have we given up.. have we thrown in the towel? Will we wake up when they have taken our guns?? We must do something.. something peaceful.. but profound!
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- Advection
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:35pm
  The problem is that the people who are for the pipeline are busy working at jobs.
  
  It’s only the leftwingnuts who have an inexhaustible supply of idle people to corral for these sorts of propaganda events.
  
  Report this comment
- SUNTZU
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 10:27pm
  This is how they pay for their
  FREE stuffffff
  
  Report this comment
- JustSayingIt
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:45pm
  We could sell them “Useful Idiot” t-*****. Capitalizing in Marxists, what a concept!
  
  Report this comment
tothepoint
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:03pm
Someone should educate these so-called “Environmentalists” that “Global Warming” aka “Climate Change” has been proven to be a hoax.

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- smokeysmoke
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:09pm
  someone should tell these dopes, that as the artic melted, the Antartic has increased in size… and while we have seen slight warming in the north americas, in places like E europe to russia and china have been seeing some of the coldest weather in years. how can one say there is global warming when it is not consistant over all the world…
  
  and to even say we had the largest hurricane in history last year is laughable
  
  Report this comment
- The Big Mick
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:25pm
  way to lay out some hard facts Smoke.
  
  Report this comment
- tzion
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:38pm
  It doesn’t even matter if it’s a hoax or not. That’s how stupid these people are. They don’t realize that if we aren’t using the oil Canada is drilling, someone else will. And in all likelihood, it’ll be someone who cares less about the environment than us. The oil is being drilled do either buy it and stop complaining or don’t start crying when someone else buys it first.
  
  Report this comment
- Advection
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:38pm
  If Global Warming were true, it would be great news! We are headed for another Ice Age, and that’s terrible.
  
  If we could slow that down by driving an SUV, we should all be wandering aimlessly around the streets, spewing out as much CO2 as possible.
  
  Report this comment
Jake Dog2
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:03pm
Remember when? ” When over 50,000 showed up to support Shara Palin and the main stream media said a small number showed up
One would think you could get more if it was such a big main stream cause. This is not a grass roots thing.

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- 13th Imam
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:13pm
  At Restoring Honor on the Mall about 400,000 American Patriots weren’t able to be found by the MSM. Yet this gaggle is MASSIVE? Journalism is dead.
  
  Report this comment
- Al J Zira
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:46pm
  You never see aerial shots of any of these things so they can make up any number they want.
  
  Report this comment
purple_circles
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:59pm
After seeing these people I totally understand how the spread of communism spreads in the name of good will for all. Feed them some sugar coated B S and watch them swallow it without a clue that there is a big political agenda behind it. The only thing green I see here are the people who back save the planet from a made up climate crisis; notice most of them are young they are the most easily and naive to convince, I suppose there could be some old hippies from the 60′s thrown in there as well. GEEEZ.

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DZ-015
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:56pm
Think there was coordination here between the protesters and the Obaministration?

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- M13
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:31pm
  Beats me but I do know that there is coordination between the protestors and stupidity.
  
  Report this comment
- Advection
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:40pm
  They look like NOW and Code Pink gangs.
  
  The fact is, Democrats have to take them out and walk them now and then.
  
  Report this comment
- RightThinking1
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 9:07am
  In other news: “Obama jets south in Air Force One to rub shoulders with serial philanderer Tiger Woods, burning thousands of pounds of fuel and taxpayer dollars, while producing huge quantities of ‘green-house’ gases. Eco-nazis cheer their leader”
  
  Report this comment
KickinBack
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:55pm
“roughly 35,000 environmentalists gathered on the National Mall in Washington…”

…And left 35,000 tons of trash behind them…

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- barber2
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:00pm
  Gosh , why would Obama want to improve the economy ? He would lose his army of unemployed , angry, nothing-else-to-do , get paid for this gig tools ….
  
  Report this comment
- Jake Dog2
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:05pm
  Yup just some more leftist pigs.
  
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Jake Dog2
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:55pm
Hell they get more at a pary in east LA

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Kinnison
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:55pm
…So how many thousands of gallons of fuel did the green weenies burn getting to D.C. for their little demonstration? How much JP4 does Air Force One burn per hour when the President flies all over the nation to make his speeches, and how much pollution does that add to the atmosphere? Do these people understand that solar and wind energy generation must have standby backups of coal and natural gas generating plants to pick up the slack when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing? They are modern-day Luddites and their reasoning ability isn’t impressive.

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- Wolf Moon
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 11:16pm
  Obama will drive us back to the horse and buggy if it takes a thousand Solyndras.
  
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lincolnhenry1860
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:54pm
These people are fools! Oil and gas are the future. Do they not know that almost all of the great technological advances that we have experienced would not be possible without oil and it’s byproducts? Stopping the drilling and importation of oil, furthers our decline and hastens the advancement of anti-freedom nations such as China and Russia. Also, how do they think we will maintain our super power status if we continue to kill jobs in this country? The ideology they promotes is the killer of us all!

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Jake Dog2
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:53pm
Organizers say roughly 35,000 environmentalists shows up. How roughly?

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Jake Dog2
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:51pm
35,000 is Massive?? Only when they are on the left. 100,000 A small amount showed up to support the tea pary.

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13th Imam
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:50pm
How did all these freaks get to DC? They better had walked because any other mode of transport would be rather hypocritical. But we all know better than that.

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barber2
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:50pm
Folks, welcome to Obama’s America : where ACORN mobs, union goons, international OWS invaders, Glitter bombers, MIC checkers, MSM propagandists, and Community Organizers rule the country ! The majority no longer rules America ! The Lefty ORGANIZERS rule America. Guess the Silent Majority needs to get vocal to reclaim the country…

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- OldSurfRat
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:57pm
  Barber
  
  Have a good laugh
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB0aFPXr4n4
  
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- barber2
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 10:05pm
  SURF: Thanks. I need and love a laugh . Wonder when Monk will awaken .
  
  Report this comment
ASE
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:50pm
I wonder how many of those idiots traveled to that protest using non-environmentally friendly means? Can you say hypocrites?

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- AMERICA4EVER
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:55pm
  Didn’t you see all the horses tied up to the monument? All professional protesters. Same faces at all liberal protests.
  
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- Displacedsoutherner
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:25pm
  You need to get your facts straight, everyone knows:
  
  - the electricity for electric cars is generated in the wall outlet with zero environmental impact
  - the Canadians have promised that if the pipeline to this country isn’t built that they’ll just leave the oil where it is and not sell it to the Chinese
  - wind energy at 3 to 4 times the per kilowatt cost of coal, gas or oil generation is really cheaper, you just need secret math to figure it out
  - nuclear energy isn’t the safest, cheapest, most environmentally sound means of electrical generation and those crooks in Western Europe have covered up all the deaths at their nuclear plants
  - leftist groups don’t get a free multiplier when attendees at demonstrations are estimated, like the 100,000 Million Man March
  
  Report this comment
- pissantno.10
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:27pm
  i would guess they all walked there. if not they are all lieing traitors to the United States of America
  
  Report this comment
Thevoice
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:49pm
Good grief..Here we go again …Bring out the bucket drums …and the rap music..and the ,,,Mike check….Another bowel “movement”.. bringing us closer to a downgraded Kenya…

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- barber2
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:53pm
  Don’t forget the glitter !
  
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ZAP
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:49pm
As 35,000 environmentalists DRIVE TO the National Mall in Washington, D.C ON FOSSIL FUEL !!!!!

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imsteph
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:48pm
ah-the running of the suicidal sheeple….

if only they would be done with it and let the rest of the human race alone.

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Beachmastermax
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:47pm
I guarantee you these “protestors” use petrol and coal to get to D.C.. Hypocrits of the highest order or just simply Marxist. Most are probably SEIU members being paid to be there.

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Xiccarph
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:47pm
Wait until these useful idiots have to start paying for their own gas and electric bills. Rude awakening.
Bet 90+% of these simplex minded people are university students with majors like feminist/womens’ studies, multicultural studies, political science, African American studies, sociology, gay-lesbian studies, native American studies, environmental studies, etc. Incapable of finding real jobs, most will end up in politics, social services, various activist organizations, or just on welfare.

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hi
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:46pm
What a bunch of weirdies.

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IndyGuy
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:45pm
Whaddaya wanna bet They are all paid by Warren Buffet to protest…..

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- Thevoice
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:53pm
  Yea ..The guy that got the “Free” train set …During the American self gratification crash …All for a 5 billion dollar save Goldman donation ….
  
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- henryKnox
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:54pm
  Well I thought he had more money than that. They only had 35,000 to save the planet. We had 1 million just to save freedom. If they wanted to show support for affordable energy and energy independence we should easily get 10 times the number. I feel sorry for these people because they are pawns in a game of deceit for the greedy environmental scammers.
  
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godhatesacoward
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:44pm
Why is everyone wearing gloves, woolen hats etc.

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OldSurfRat
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:42pm
To all you environmentalists this is just for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB0aFPXr4n4

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gyro
Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:38pm
As a proud Canadian and a proud Albertan This sickens me

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- oldguy49
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:43pm
  i just want to know……where did they park all their bicycles……………….
  
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- Cronpolis
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:50pm
  Stupidity is spreading or a lot of these people are paid to be there. I wish more people actually researched what they believe in before putting their two cents in.
  
  Report this comment
- Cronpolis
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:51pm
  And they all drove Hummers!
  
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- barber2
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:52pm
  OLD: wouldn’t you like to see Dear Leaders’ carbon footprint ?! He travels for speeches and vacations more than he governs ! Big Foot Obama …the Carbon King…such a bunch of hypocrites …
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 8:58pm
  I wish Old Evil ‘ I Bet On Loss’ George Soros would go bankrupt to end all of this senseless behavior due to lack of funds !
  
  Report this comment
- skippy6
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 9:25pm
  Flames or the Oilers??? Wild at Oilers Thursday.
  
  Report this comment
- gyro
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 10:05pm
  skippy6— Flames
  
  Report this comment
- AUsername
  Posted on February 17, 2013 at 10:27pm
  your Provence Alberta the most conservative is doing the best in Canada While Quebec the most liberal Provence is doing the worst.
  
  Report this comment

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