Not Easy Being Green

Grapevine: Not Easy Being Green

Environmentalists fight White House on oil pipeline from Canada

And now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Not Easy Being Green

Environmental activists who are unhappy with the Obama administration say the president has a chance to redeem himself. The State Department is considering whether to grant approval to the company TransCanada for an oil pipeline that would run from Canada to the Gulf Coast.

Environmentalists are planning civil disobedience protests at the White House later this summer. Politico reports actor Danny Glover has signed on along with activist Bill McKibben who says -- quote -- "This is one issue where the president has total control... It's where Obama can get his environmental mojo back."

Duty Calls

Sarah Palin is dismissing reports she cancelled or shortened her One Nation bus tour. Palin -- who is a Fox News Contributor -- says she was called for jury duty. She writes on Facebook -- quote -- "Sigh. Reports of tour demise are greatly exaggerated. The coming weeks are tight because civic duty calls. Like most everyone else even former governors get called up for jury duty."

But the Washington Post reports Palin is canceling a trip next month to the war-torn African nation of Sudan for scheduling reasons.

News Feed

And finally, talk about social media run amok. A Utah man just couldn't stand to be out of the Facebook loop. Jason Valdez managed to post several status updates; confirm at least a dozen new friends and even upload a picture of himself and a hostage, during a tense 16-hour standoff with SWAT teams at a motel.

One update read in part -- quote -- "I was lettin' this girl go, but these dumb (expletives) made an attempt to come in, so I popped off a couple more shots." That post was "liked" by three people.

Police say, Valdez eventually shot himself. At last word, he was in critical condition.