What is one of the key take-aways from Wednesday night's debate?
Mitt Romney has lots of love in his heart for government programs-- yet he wants to defund all the things he loves except the one killing us.
- "I love Big Bird." And he "likes PBS" but he wants to defund it.
- "I love great schools" although he doesn't see a Federal role for it (even as he likes what the Secretary of Education is doing in it).
- "Now, I like green energy as well" but his energy policy concept doesn't include energy efficiency (that "invisible energy" which is the most powerful of 'green' energies) and attacks wind and solar energy
All these things that Mitt "loves" and "likes" will be defunded and destroyed if his policy concepts are enacted.
On the other hand, what does Mitt "like" that will get support?
I like coal. I’m going to make sure we continue to burn clean coal. People in the coal industry feel like it’s getting crushed by your policies.
What a load of ...! Here are a few examples why ...
- It is interesting that Mitt wants to discuss what "people in the coal industry feel like" rather than confronting market reality: the booming natural gas industry (with extremely low natural gas prices) means that existing coal plants simply aren't competitive in the market place. And, with technological and business developments, "new" coal plants are simply uncompetitive against not just natural gas but, in ever-more market areas with each day, coal isn't competitive with new wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, hydropower, and other emergent electricity options.
- "Make sure we continue to burn clean coal." Where is the intrepid reporter who is going to ask the Romney campaign some simple questions: Where are we "burn[ing] clean coal" today that we will "continue" into the future? What does Mitt Romney mean by "Clean Coal"?
- Let us be clear, burning coal is killing Americans every single day and driving significant health issues (from asthma to mercury in food stream to ...). Burning coal is contributing to serious environmental problems -- from acid rain (greatly reduced impact due to a Cap and Trade program on sulphur), to mercury in our food stream, to mountain top removal, to ash ponds, to global warming.
Yes, when it comes to Mitt's likes and loves, the only ones that would get support in a Romney Administration are those that are bad for America and Americans.
Considering Mitt's "I like coal", perhaps the correct "Denver debate in short" is:
"Big Bird Beware: Coal in every stocking".
As for "Clean Coal", here are a few truthful perspectives ...