Posted on 08/02/2004 6:50:58 PM PDT by Rebelbase
Wheeling, W.Va. --- In the nation's coalfield's Saturday afternoon, Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry touted his support for a $2-billion dollar clean-coal technology plan as a part of the nation's energy independence from Middle East oil while at the same time noting his support for hunter gun owner rights to an estimated 15,000-plus audience.
Kerry said he would be a president who "believes in science," and will pour $2 billion directly into developing clean coal technology as a part of his strategy for energy independence. "I want a nation that depends on its own ingenuity, not the Saudi royal family," the Democratic party nominee said.
Kerry and his vice presidential running mate John Edwards stopped in Wheeling as part of the "Believe in America" tour that started from Boston Friday and will continue a 3,500 mile, 15-day, 21-state travel trek from coast-to-coast ending in Seattle, Washington August 13th.
The first national poll since gaining the Democratic presidential nomination showed Kerry getting a 5% bounce coming out of the Democratic National Convention, according to Newsweek magazine. In a survey of registered voters Thursday and Friday, Kerry led Bush 52 percent to 44 percent. Adding independent Ralph Nader, Kerry gets 49 percent, Bush 42 percent and Nader 3 percent. Virginia has also been indentified as a toss-up state between the two presidential camps.
Kerry made a reference to the challenge President John Kennedy made in 1961 to land a man on the moon before the end of the decade. He said that great things can be done again such as utilizing stem cell research to find cures for disease and investing in new technologies that make America an economic leader noting that a Kerry Administration will provide leadership in clean-coal technologies.
"You've got coal to be dug right here," Kerry, a a four-term U.S. senator, decorated Vietnam War veteran and former prosecutor, said adding, "We've got to make sure we do it clean," in touting a $2-billion dollar research program to assist the nation's coal-producers and utilities in making the nation's most abundant energy source meet clean air emission standards.
Kerry also addressed trade saying, "Here's the rule: You give the American worker a fair playing field and they can compete with anyone in the world. We have the tools," citing anti-dumping measures and tariffs.
Kerry said he plans to close tax-law loopholes that encourage businesses to shift work overseas, and reward those that create jobs here. He also wants to create new technologies to make factories more efficient by expanding research partnerships with the federal government.
Democratic vice-presidential candidate John Edwards elaborated, "For us, coal is an enormous part of our energy strategy for America," tellin the Wheeling News-Register that coal would play a big part in a Kerry-Edwards plan to make America energy independent and create new jobs in the coal industry.
"We need to be investing in clean coal technology, which is not happening now," Edwards said. "We want to make sure people who work in coal now keep their jobs."
"Kerry wants to allocate $10 billion over the next decade towards upgrading the nation's power plants to burn coal in a cleaner way. Burning coal more cleanly will mean a greater acceptance of coal as America's primary energy source, which could translate to an even greater use of coal and the employment of many more coal miners," United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil Roberts said stressing his union's backing of the Kerry-Edwards ticket.
In the 2000 presidential election, George W. Bush's 6-point win stunned Democrats who thought they owned West Virginia - and those five electoral votes would have given Al Gore the presidency, rendering the Florida recount superfluous. Kerry is making a significant number of apperances in the state in 2004 to demonstrate his support for the people in the nation's coal-producing region.
Many Democrats say Kerry's appeals on the need for coal in the energy mix, his credentials as gun owner and hunter, and his rural-state running mate will help him in the mining states. Lavishing attention on the mountain state, it was Kerry's sixth visit to West Virginia this year as compared to only two stops in the state by Al Gore in 2000.
In a suprise visit President Bush visited a store in Wheeling, West Virginia Saturday afternoon set to oopen in 2-weeks prior to the Kerry rally. In Ohio, Kerry and Bush were a mere 35-miles apart on an Interstate Highway causing one Bush aide to quip that the Secret Service's agent-in-charge for the region must be chugging antacid.
Both campaigns professed that the scheduling was a coincidence, and that they didn't plan the trip in response to what the other was doing that brought the two presidential candidates to nearly the same places in Ohio and West Virginia Saturday.
Ohio is a critical battleground state for both Bush and Kerry. No Republican president has ever been elected without winning the state. Kerry has a slight edge in recent Ohio polling giving rise to the respective campaign's attention in that state.
Rasmussen Reports indicate that Virginia has moved into a toss-up state for its 13-electoral votes giving Democrats a chance to win the state for the first time in 40-years.
Thought it good for a laugh!
Kerry supports gun rights for WHO?
No. you mean Hugh. He's vey series about Hugh.
Kerry said he would be a president who "believes in science,"
As opposed to a president who doesn't believe in science? Wow, he's got my vote. I'll wager the science he most believes in is the kind where politically motivated theories (like Global Warming) are proven by large numbers of petition signing scientists. Now if we only had a President who actually invented something--like the Internet!
while at the same time noting his support for hunter gun owner rights
Any man that doesn't know and understand the second amendment doesn't deserve a place in government,
much less as it's head.
I vote NO to johnK!
Bunk!
Of course, we have a lot here in the US, too. But we can't use it, because Clinton made it part of the Grand Escalante Staircase Monument in Utah.
Naturally, taking all that coal off the market means that the price goes up for the coal in Indonesia.
By the way -- who owns that Indonesian coal? Lippo Group, wasn't it?
Weren't they big funders for Clinton's political campaigns?
Funny coincidence, if you ask me.
If there were 15,000 people there, I'm a liberal. There were 13,000 for Bush in Cambridge that day, and there's no effin' way Kerry draws more than him!
Caption, Pic #2:
"Where does the lure go on this thing?"
The FACTS - John Kerry's record on coal (exerpted from Robert Novak - http://www.townhall.com/columnists/robertnovak/rn20040426.shtml)
Do NOT allow John Kerry to run away from his record!
Not the commonfolk of the U.S. You've got to be kidding yourself.
Does he EVER take his finger off the trigger?
I love how the Gallop poll is nowhere to be found,, LMAO
Sounds like an oxymoron - clean coal.
Bush should have a news conference in Alaska amidst a cheering crowd and say - "we've got oil right here but Kerry and the liberals won't let us drill for it. As a result, this forces us to buy more Mideast oil and makes us less secure at home. Look out here - now what person with any common sense would have a problem drilling for oil out here. Now are you Alaskans OK with us drilling out here? (audience roars) OK! Well lets get it done by winning in November!"
The liberals then think they have an issue to beat Republicans with - but then Bush ignores them and starts pushing for a flat tax. Liberals have a hissy fit and think they can talk about Bush favoring the rich but then Bush issues an executive order making some more recess judicial appointments and then starts talking about tort reform. Bush needs to get on the offense and stay there. ATTACK, ATTACK and then attack some more ...
He has no clue. He's like those Chicago guys siting in their guns before Wisconsin deer season.
Kerry: "And with my help, Elmer Fudd will finally get that wascally wabbit!"
I heard they also have a bridge and an island for sale somewhere in New York.
There is NO WAY they plan on fulfulling this promise.
I could tell you stories about 'city folk' trying to use guns once a year.
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