Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Republicans mine coal-country anxieties
Politico ^ | 2/15/10 | JONATHAN MARTIN

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 state’s revenues.

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Kentucky; US: Virginia; US: West Virginia
KEYWORDS: 111th; boucher; coal; energy; issues
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-35 next last

1 posted on 02/15/2010 4:16:08 AM PST by kingattax
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: kingattax

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...


2 posted on 02/15/2010 4:19:30 AM PST by Vaquero (BHO....'The Pretenda from Kenya')
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kingattax
is a vital part of their states’ economies.

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.

3 posted on 02/15/2010 4:23:09 AM PST by FreeAtlanta (Don't settle for less than fresh roasted coffee!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FreeAtlanta

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.


4 posted on 02/15/2010 4:29:24 AM PST by dirtboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: kingattax

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.


5 posted on 02/15/2010 4:30:58 AM PST by Old Teufel Hunden
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kingattax; All


November, 2008:

Coal Industry in Extreme Danger: Obama/Biden Caught on Tape! (PA, OH, WV, VA, KY, MT, WY, TN)



6 posted on 02/15/2010 4:55:00 AM PST by backhoe (All Across America, the Lights are being relit again...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kingattax
Why not build a dozen coal to oil plants in Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and the Virginias? The technology is proven, the raw material is there, with the right tax incentives it makes economic sense. The only thing missing is the political will.

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.

7 posted on 02/15/2010 4:55:51 AM PST by Former Proud Canadian (How do I change my screen name now that we have the most conservative government in the world?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Former Proud Canadian
Why not build a dozen coal to oil plants in Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and the Virginias?

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).

8 posted on 02/15/2010 5:04:29 AM PST by meyer (Obama's failure is America's Success)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: kingattax

I really hate anyone who uses “leverage” as a verb.


9 posted on 02/15/2010 5:08:13 AM PST by ez ("Abashed the Devil stood and felt how awful goodness is..." - Milton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: meyer
At capital costs of $700 million for capacity of 10,000 barrels/day and a 30-year life, operating costs of $15/barrel and current coal costs, breakeven for a coal-to-liquids plant in the US would be in the range $39-44 a barrel, assuming no tax incentives.

That's according to this guy: http://www.moneyweek.com/investments/commodities/could-coal-replace-oil.aspx

10 posted on 02/15/2010 5:13:27 AM PST by Former Proud Canadian (How do I change my screen name now that we have the most conservative government in the world?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: kingattax

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


11 posted on 02/15/2010 5:17:24 AM PST by Texas Fossil (Government, even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kingattax

BTTT by the Son of a former coal miner.


12 posted on 02/15/2010 5:21:56 AM PST by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Former Proud Canadian

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.


13 posted on 02/15/2010 5:35:14 AM PST by meyer (Obama's failure is America's Success)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: meyer

While we import most of our oil, it is not the cost of production but the cost of importing that governs.


14 posted on 02/15/2010 5:44:07 AM PST by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: meyer

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.


15 posted on 02/15/2010 5:45:58 AM PST by Former Proud Canadian (How do I change my screen name now that we have the most conservative government in the world?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: kingattax

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!”?


16 posted on 02/15/2010 5:46:43 AM PST by rlmorel (We are traveling "The Road to Serfdom".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kingattax; Carlucci; proud_yank; meyer; Horusra; Para-Ord.45; rdl6989; mmanager; FreedomPoster; ...
 




Beam me to Planet Gore !

17 posted on 02/15/2010 5:51:26 AM PST by steelyourfaith (FReepers were opposed to Obama even before it was cool to be against Obama.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kingattax
If the shoe fits...

Mike

18 posted on 02/15/2010 5:53:00 AM PST by MichaelP (Actung! Actung! The Neofuhrer's weak!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kingattax
Republicans mine coal-country anxieties

Why don't we ever see headlines written about democrats like this? It give the impression that Republicans are like a pack of wolves lurking in the shadows, waiting for some poor little innocent rabbit to venture out of his hole. Both democrats and republicans take advantage of situations whenever possible, yet you never see headlines written about democrats in this manner.

Disgusting.


19 posted on 02/15/2010 5:54:26 AM PST by reagan_fanatic (The liberals are asking us to give Obama more time. Is 25 to life enough?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kingattax

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.


20 posted on 02/15/2010 5:55:17 AM PST by SharpRightTurn (White, black, and red all over--America's affirmative action, metrosexual president.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-35 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson