Kansas's War of the Words. Does Osama love coal?
As we blogged here weeks ago, the Kansas anti-coal decision makes it the center of a vicious battle over energy policy and, of course, big bucks. The coal forces accuse Kansas of aiding and abetting America's enemies. So now it appears the pro-coal folks think not liking coal is unpatriotic. Now, I knew it was heretical in America to diss the petroleum folks and Texas in general, but coal?
This week coal lovers spent money to place ads in Kansas newspapers. The ad accused anti-coal folks of aiding America's enemies. Always a good charge to make against anybody you want to slim in the hyperpatriotic American mass media. So exactly who are the enemies the anti-coal decision made happy? Why those nefarious foreign suppliers of natural gas: Russia, Venezuela and Iran. That broad slam against anti-coal and natural gas got notice right away in the blogosphere as in this HuffPo commentary.
Coal slams natural gas? Proving once again, when the going gets tough, the tough get even with anybody within slashing range. No love lost as the fossil fuel folks feel threatened and start to trash one another. Natural gas aired their own side online. They claim to buy little natural gas from outside North America. None from those enemies of America. Course, you can't trust those Canadians as far as the border. While we were busy elsewhere didn't they fatten up their dollar to be worth than the U.S. one?
This Kansas Coal Shootout is not over. Guess they don't have enough windmills or solar panels in Kansas to draw any of that coal-fired vitriol. This Kansas coal battle has now taken over the state legislature and media. It's sure to infiltrate national politics and drive some Congresspeople to try to limit states' ability to control coal plant construction. There are big bucks at stake here.
I am hoping for clarification. Now that we know those evil three don't like coal, what about the Fourth Curseman of the Apocalypse? Old Osama Bib Laden. I'd expect him to love oil, being a Saudi by nature, but maybe he's a secret coal-hater as well? Osama's PR guy hasn't replied to my email. Maybe the next ad campaign will reveal all.