Clinton, Obama talk up clean coal

Love all of you!!!...

This is good stuff. Especially what you're saying jeffego about the dependence on jobs in the coal industry. The conditions they work in are terrible. I mean, can you imagine what their lungs look like after working day after day in that environment?

I too think we should create a better future for them and our environment. And too what riverdeer is saying...absolutely. There is no such thing as clean coal.

So lets tell them to cut the bulls@&# and give us some real solutions... who's with me on this?!

they should call it what it is cleaner than dirty coal.
there is no such thing as Clean Coal

Clean coal. What great marketing.

I think it is rediculous for candidates to be talking about carbon capture and storage when the technology hasn't been developed and will be incredibly expensive.

I understand states like West Virginia are dependant on the coal industry for jobs right now, but maybe its time we create a better future for them. Seems to me coal hasn't brought the citizens of that state prosperity or economic benefits.

Incidentally, I am reading an excellent book about the coal industry if anyone is interested -- Big Coal by Jeff Goodell.

mm.

this is the way I see it: Just because you've already done damage to your lungs doesnt mean you shouldn't quit smoking.

I put that shit in me for 8 years. I quit last year. I run 7-8 miles a day now. I feel like a new person. The whole world could share my euphoria, if only they would quit their addiction, have faith in renewal, and 'hit the ground running'.

beedee: It is a shame these Democrats have to play it this way. I expected better regarding the environment from them. I truly believe change will not come on this from within unless pressure is exerted from without.That is why as you stated it is so crucial to have sites like Current and other organizations ready to educate and to hold them all accountable.

BTW, i hope everyone who supports either of these candidates fervently AND is pissed off about their positions on this is voting FOR this doc. Just because it looks bad on both of them is no reason to ignore it. This needs to piss off a lot of people.

The candidates need to be held accountable and forced to demand less reliance on these industries. If they are talking about cleaning up existing coal plants as they are expediently grandfathered out, that's fine. On the other hand, I'm gonna be one ticked off Democrat if anymore goddamned moutaintops are blown off to process that crap, regardless of how clean it is.

And the comments about the futility of effecting the Federal level ring true to me as well. I've decided to stop treating this like a political issue and just talking about it to all my friends and family. The more people learn, the more hungry they grow for solutions and community action. When the people want something bad enough, it will happen.

It's a big reason I'm digging current.com I think everyone needs to start taking responsibility for educating everyone else. This site and all the other people powered media will allow us to bypass the Washington high school prom crowd cesspool and spread the word and take action without them.

I agree with you on that 100%. It is the same pandering in every election and to me it is very demeaning to the people they are pandering to. I and many others surely have the capacity to understand that real change does not involve the same style of campaigning. Tell me the truth. Tell me about the new innnovative technologies I can be a part of. Inspire me. Sorry, but I am not inspired on any level with this, and I too am beginning to wonder what will actually be in the next four years.

It will then most definitely have to be states, individuals, groups, and businesses that step up to put more pressure on govt. to do the right thing. I just hope we don't run out of time before that may have any kind of an effect. I was hoping a new global treaty on climate would be signed in 2009 that truly addresses this crisis. Now I wonder how much of it will be watered down to give these interests more time and a bigger piece of the pie in lieu of actually bringing change. And yes, I don't want to keep seeing the dribbling and doing tricks, I want to see some baskets now.

yes, whoever is president will be held accountable for his/her policies. I had hoped that Obama would eventually reject certain things like clean coal and nuclear. I'm not sure what to think about what ACTUALLY will happen, but I wish that during a campaign we could be as broad and enlightening in our dialogue as we wish to be in the general election and beyond. I'm mixed on the issue of pandering to certain populations of people in order to win votes. it's the game of politics. and even gore admits to not playing that game well.

ultimately what we, gore, and others are interested in is shooting the hoop, not dribbling around and doing tricks.

Oh, he will be held accountable alright.

You're right JanforGore and stephenthompson ...

And that's why we need to pressure both canidates to stop pandering and really give us some better solutions than what they're proposing. This leads to what the likely nominee was saying through out His campaign about having transparency in the government. These are the kind of issues that all of us can voice to the government to get things done for a change. Our Planet can not afford anymore pandering and this is why we need to keep making our voices heard for the sake of the future. I'm a Gore suppoter too, but unfortunely He's not running for President and the closest we have now is in my opinion Sen. Obama because of his transparency approach to government. That means we can hold Him accountable if things are'nt getting done about our economy and our beautiful Planet in turmoil.

So... what you guys think?

"They should be campaigning in these states by introducing voters to the new jobs, economic prosperity, and cleaner lives they and their children could have by calling for investment in solar, wind and other energies that save lives."

I agree. Assuring them that they'll always have a job in coal is wrong. It's pandering, and its short-sighted.

How can those committed to solving the climate crisis read articles like this and not be totally disillusioned with them all? The more I read the more I realize that on the Federal level regardless of who is in the white house, climate change is not going to get the attention it now must have. Do they care about the planet as far as what is really happening regarding glacier melt and other factors due to fossil fuels being burnt? If they did why would they be pushing "clean coal" ( and using the same deceptive name for it) as there is no such thing!? It still has to be mined, and that isn't clean or safe. It will still be spewing poisons out of smokestacks and into our air, water, and lungs, and that isn't clean or safe. They should be campaigning in these states by introducing voters to the new jobs, economic prosperity, and cleaner lives they and their children could have by calling for investment in solar, wind and other energies that save lives. To push 'clean coal' is to only appease the corporate interests, not to care about the health and safety of our people or our waterways and air. I can't support either of them in regards to talking about 'clean coal.' Once again we see politics playing it safe and pandering to all sides instead of taking a definitive stand for what is right. Change? Where?