On the day that President Obama shows his determination to get America working, regardless of Congressional obstruction, he's being threatened by the American Petroleum Institute. If he doesn't approve the Keystone XL pipeline, there will be huge political consequences.

The oil industry, secure in the knowledge that fuel is the top American export, want the pipeline so that they can continue refining oil into fuel and exporting it overseas. The oil companies cloak their rhetoric with "the national interest," but let's be honest - the only interest being served by refining Canadian tarsands oil and shipping it to South America is the bottom line interest. Similarly, House Republicans hide behind the rhetoric of Keystone XL creating thousands of jobs, but President Obama and the American public should know where the real jobs are. This is simply a naked, shameless threat by an industry that's long ago lost any pretense of caring about the 99%.

The third act of what I've dubbed Keystone Kabuki opened in late December, and must close with a decision on the pipeline by February 21. The President seems to have realized that there's no point in appeasing Congressional Republicans on matters such as appointments to the Consumer Financial Protection Board and National Labor Relations Board. Let's hope Obama is equally willing to face down hostage-takers from the oil industry.