Obama/Paterson's Lack of Energy for NY

As far as I can tell, the only thing that is keeping Gov. Paterson’s poll numbers from not dropping into the negative territory (while I realize that this not possible there isn’t much more down he can go in positive numbers) is that he seemingly has support from President Obama, who, at least for now, has better than 60% approval rating nationally, and probably even higher among New Yorkers. But for this close relationship I wonder why Paterson is not able to hold more sway over the President than a liberally minded environmental group when it came to providing more jobs and low-cost energy to New Yorkers. From the New York Post:

“Team Obama dealt the New York region a swift kick last month when it nixed plans by Broadwater Energy to park a liquefied-natural-gas terminal in Long Island Sound.…Broadwater fell to environmental zealots and NIMBY activists who cited "aesthetic" problems with the idea of placing a 1,200-foot barge in a 1,100-square-mile waterway outside America's largest city.”

This project would not only be beneficial for New York, but the only real objection to it was on “aesthetic” grounds. Obama and Paterson denied New Yorkers more jobs and cheaper energy because activists complained about how a 1,200 foot boat would look. I would be more than willing to have a spec on the horizon as I look out from the beach than to continue to pay exorbitant prices for energy.

But wait, there is a new plan on the table. Very similar to the one that Obama nixed:

“The ASIG project would bring many of the same benefits to the region as the Broadwater plan -- most notably, a new natural-gas supply source that will help keep down local energy costs.There's also significant economic activity tied to the facility: a $1 billion private investment and 1,000 construction jobs, just for starters.”

This plan will once again provide jobs and lower energy costs for New Yorkers. But once again, for all of Paterson’s support for Obama and vice-versa, New Yorkers will not get these jobs or this savings because Obama and Paterson are indebted to left-wing interest groups that do not care about New York. We need a strong executive like Rudy Giuliani who will be unafraid to stand up to even the President to get done what has to be done for New York!

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05142009/postopinion/editorials/an_energy_bo...