Posted on 02/15/2010 4:16:08 AM PST by kingattax
Republicans believe there are three words so powerful that they might reshape the political order in an economically-beleaguered corner of the country: War on coal.
With Democrats holding total control of the federal government and a cap-and-trade bill still looming, the GOP is fanning widespread coal country fears that the national Democratic Party is hostile to the coal mining industry, if not outright committed to its demise.
Those efforts are putting a group of coal state Democrats at risk as Republicans leverage the tremendous economic anxieties surrounding the future of an industry that is a vital part of their states economies.
In West Virginia and Kentucky, longtime Democratic House incumbents with solid records on the issue are taking heavy flak. Across the border in Virginia, a veteran Democrat could face his most serious challenge yet in part due to his support of cap-and-trade. Two junior Ohioans are facing threats for the same reason.
The issue may loom largest in West Virginia, where coal mining is an integral part of the culture and makes up a full quarter of the states revenues.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
its a huge national natural resourse....closing it down or even slowing down production will further zer0bamas plans to make America like his home birthland of Kenya...a 3rd world Marxist state where HIS SUBJECTS are beholding to him for everything...
Coal power is a vital part of the nation's economy. Unless, we can replace over 70% of our nation's energy needs that are supplied by coal, then the war on coal will finish off our economy.
Obama and his fellow Democrats seem to be attempting a murder, suicide on our nation.
That’s what the hacks at Politico fail to realize - this resonates on a national scale because it isn’t too hard to demonstrate to the average voter just how vital coal power is to their basic well-being, just as it is easy to demonstrate just how insane the Obama Admin counterterrorism polices are.
I’m not sure why western Pa is not mentioned in this article. I don’t know how some of these Democrats voted for the cap n trade legislation, but it doesn’t matter. Republican rivals can paint them as shills for Pelosi who were allowed to vote against it (if they did) because she had the votes. The fact is, if their vote is needed, they will vote for this piece of garbage.
Coal is huge in this area. Consol Coal (a huge coal company) has it’s headquarters located just south of Pittsburgh and there’s still lots of coal mined here and shipped on barges from here down the Ohio river to other destinations.
If the US committed to building a large number of coal to oil plants and a larger number of nuclear plants the cost of energy would fall immediately. Of course, this is not on Hussein's agenda.
The republicans should not be just defending coal but promoting its use, solving the energy dependency problem at the same time.
Because it's a heck of a lot more cost-effective and energy-efficient to burn the coal in its native form to produce electricity and heat. Although, heating a house with coal is a PITA (but if it ticks off the tree huggers, I'm all for it).
I really hate anyone who uses “leverage” as a verb.
That's according to this guy: http://www.moneyweek.com/investments/commodities/could-coal-replace-oil.aspx
All Congressmen who voted for Cap & Trade MUST be removed. They are either Traitors or simply too stupid to hold public office.
Here is the list:
Updated Congressional Vote Score Card
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/2406579/posts?page=13
BTTT by the Son of a former coal miner.
How does that compare to the amount of BTU’s per ton of coal in its native form? You will net more energy out of the coal if it is burned as coal rather than going through the conversion process.
As for the comparitive cost of oil, it would probably be less expensive to drill off the shores of Florida where known oil reserves exist.
While we import most of our oil, it is not the cost of production but the cost of importing that governs.
I think the US should drill everywhere, that’s fine. I will not get into a BTU discussion. I’m just going by the article which claims a break even point of $45 a barrel. Since oil sells for about $70 a barrel now, I think this makes economic sense.
Obama came out and outright said he was going to put coal plants out of business by raising the cost of using coal.
He unambiguously said it. It was recorded for posterity.
But still he had the support of the unions. Can anyone explain it to me? (apart from the obvious “But he is a Rat, all unions support them”)
Didn’t anyone from the rank and file stand up and say “Hey! He WANTS to eliminate OUR jobs!”?
Mike
The Virginia Dim alluded to is inveterate bedwetter Rick Boucher. If this sissy boy can be sent packing, it will be a real night to rejoice come November’s election.
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