Counting on Coal Country

American Spectator ^ | October 8, 2012 | ROBERT STACY MCCAIN

[neverdem]

Romney fights for jobs -- and votes -- in an industry at war with Obama’s EPA.

Nearly four thousand people turned out Friday in Abingdon, Virginia, to hear Mitt Romney declare his support for the coal industry, which has been besieged for more than three years by President Obama's Environmental Protection Agency...

--snip--

For a Democratic president so closely allied with the labor movement, Obama's abandonment of the mine workers is stunning, considering that the head of the AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka, began his career with the UMW.

Even as the EPA's regulatory squeeze of power plants has had the effect of reducing demand for coal, Jackson's agency has suppressed the supply by enacting new clean-water rules that have brought permitting for new surface-mining operations to a screeching halt in Appalachia. As a result, since Obama took office, coal production has fallen by a third, eliminating hundreds(?) of jobs, most recently when Alpha Natural Resources announced it would be forced to lay off 1,200 miners. While stimulus money was squandered on bankrupt "green energy" boondoggles like Solyndra, Obama's anti-coal agenda has destroyed private-sector jobs that were the very definition of "shovel ready."

Obama might shrug off the economic hardship his policies have imposed on those small-town workers he once dismissed as "bitter," clinging to "guns or religion," but perhaps the one job most endangered by the president's war on coal is his own.

--snip--

Folks in America's coal towns have not yet lost hope, even as they have been betrayed by the president who famously promised Hope. The end of Obama's war on coal may now be within sight, and the people of Coal Country could cast the deciding votes to end it.

[Timber Rattler]

As a result, since Obama took office, coal production has fallen by a third, eliminating hundreds(?) of jobs, most recently when Alpha Natural Resources announced it would be forced to lay off 1,200 miners.

Thousands. The number is over now over 3,000 in Southwest Virginia alone.

[ConservativeInPA]

Coal and shale is changing the vote in PA. If we could only turn of the electricity to Philadelphia to make the hood vote realize where energy comes from.

[Sacajaweau]

The Philly stats are overwhelming. He needs Philly County and Pittsburg...and that’s about it.

[Combat_Liberalism]

Romney is going to carry Pa. Coal country is going to vote for him in greater numbers than for any GOP candidate ever. He is going to carry the Philly suburbs—unlike McCain or GWB—and he is going to carry rural Pa with a higher turnout than ever seen before. He will increase his percentage of the Philly vote to the largest share since GHWB took Pa in 1988. Lok for Romney to win nearly 51% of the Pa. vote. That will bury the Kenyan for good.

[SERKIT]

Ill-Annoy used to be coal country, but we have sequestered it along with Conservatives holding public office. No Mitt bump in Ill-Annoy coal country that I can tell from suburbia.

[shalom aleichem]

I agree and Ohio and West Virginia are right there also

[tbw2]

Will Obama’s shutting down of coal fire plants also help drive Democrats to Romney? Shutting down both the power plants and the mining lead to lay offs AND higher energy prices.

[Fresh Wind]

Lok for Romney to win nearly 51% of the Pa. vote. That will bury the Kenyan for good.

From your keyboard to God's monitor!

[CaribCarter]

I sure hope you’re right — but, the black/hispanic votes in Philly, York, and Harrisburg are devastating. In the latter two cities, there is barely a square inch of civilized territory remaining. They will definitely go for Obama.

[phormer phrog phlyer]

I live in WV, Obama will not win here.

[Reily]

They think electricity comes from a wall with a socket in it!

[fantail 1952]

"Romney to win nearly 51% of the Pa. vote.

Seems to me that in PA, like Chicago, it takes at least 55% for a Repub to win a statewide contest.

[Combat_Liberalism]

Do not succumb to negative thinking. Many of those animals will never darken the door of a polling station. Romney is going to win Pa. Obama is in deep trouble.

[old and tired]

Several times a week I drive through the extremely liberal sections of Philadelphia - Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy, and Germantown. Lots of college professor types, assorted weirdos and homosexuals (most of whom are White) as well as more mainstream working African Americans. Mt. Airy and Germantown are primarily Black with the fruits and nuts thrown in, while Chestnut Hill is primarily white. In 2008, lawns and windows were wallpapered with Obama signs. I’d never seen anything like it. This year, there are less Dem signs than you’d see in a normal presidential election year for this liberal area. The silence is astounding. There is NO WAY the African Americans will turn out for Obama in the same numbers they did last time. I’m pretty sure that Obama is going to lose the suburbs this time. There are far , far more Romney and anti-Obama yard signs than pro-Obama signs. THis is a huge departure from the last few presidential elections where things were either tie or advantage Dems.

[Personal Responsibility]

Electricity magically appears whenever I need it. Who cares where it comes from? /obamavoter

[tomkat]

After the results are in and PA goes 'red' to rid this nation of that mullato marxist maggot,
I'll be vey tempted to set up a special buffet thread for all the naysayers who've been gleefully spreading FUD and writing off our chances for months.

FREE CROW ! !

  * Self Serve Only

[hinckley buzzard]

Southeast coal country in Ohio is not heavily populated but it is traditional democrat--until this year. We may get a surprise congressional seat there too, on Romney's coat tails.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks neverdem.

[itssme]

Well said!