Clay, Clay, Clay, Clay!! Yes, we did go thru this last nite - and I'm glad to see nothing has changed between here and there
Permit me to begin with the bottom statement in your post - can't show you where Obama would wipe coal from the face of the earth,
near-term - mostly because I never said he would, nor did he. What he
did say was that he would seek regulation of the industry that would bankrupt it, and/or make the use so cost-prohibitive as to bankrupt it. Now, in all fairness, he was specifically addressing the electical-generating industry, so I suppose all who use coal to heat their houses might get a coal break....today, anyway
.
And, yes, I remember well Hillary's efforts at Universal Health Care. I also remember Bill taking a tacit side-line in the whole effort, deferring any and all comment to her since she was taking the lead in the attempt. Hardly a ringing endorsement and strong backing, eh? When the President, who's also your husband, doesn't strong-arm congressional members to fall in line with the policy, where's it gonna go? On the other hand, Obama's charisma has so many hearts a-flutter that it's not much of a stretch to think he's better able to reach his (potential) D super-majority in both houses of Congress with issues that might be....ah....controversial. Getting your way, after you've so stated it was your intention, is often seen as a mandate, rightly or wrongly. Just is what it is.
Not sure just which
influential Dems, from coal-producing states, you're referencing, Clay. Not that Obama directly threatened production, mind you. But there are always ways (and means) to address those concerns, too.
And. Sorry if I am "....beginning to sound like CDC." It's not intentional, nor coordinated, if that matters. I just cannot seem to swallow the Obama Kool-Aid so readily gulped -and defended -by others around me.
-Roger