Venerable senator says Kerry needs coal dust on his hands to win West Virg

[Kadie]

Venerable senator says Kerry needs coal dust on his hands to win West Virginia

Sunday, July 18, 2004

07-18) 12:31 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

Despite his public dislike for coal, John Kerry can win West Virginia's five important electoral votes by going there and getting "that dirty dust on his hands and on his face," the state's senior senator said Sunday.

Also, said Sen. Robert Byrd, history's second longest-serving senator behind the late Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, "Always, always remember that sovereignty rests, John Kerry, sovereignty rests with the people of this country."

snip..
"Yes, coal is a dirty energy source, but that's what we're trying to do. We're trying to clean it up. I've appropriated money over the years for coal research to make it cleaner," Byrd said.

snip...
"Yes, he can carry West Virginia. He will carry West Virginia if he continues to stand up for the liberties of the people," Byrd said.


more... http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/07/18/politics1531EDT0525.DTL

[NC_Nurse]

1. Does he have to inhale?

*cough*

[flpoljunkie]

2. Response to Robert Byrd from Kerry campaign spokesman...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59955-2004Jul18.html

"John Kerry saw firsthand the work of the miners of West Virginia when he went down in a mine in the spring, and he received the endorsement of Cecil Roberts and the UMW (United Mine Workers). His commitment to these workers is personal," said campaign spokesman David Wade.

Has Senator Byrd forgotten Kerry's visit? And, by the way, what in the hell is that "sovereignty" crack about? More United Nations bashing, perhaps--or am I missing something?

[xray s]

6. I am sure Sen. Byrd was reciting a simple fact regarding sovereignty

Here is the legal definition (maybe Sen. Byrd was trying to contrast the proper role of sovereignty in the US versus the current state of affairs with the Bush / Cheney regime in DC...which is simply a puppet for the corporate plutocracy that has taken over our government.)

SOVEREIGNTY. The union and exercise of all human power possessed in a state; it is a combination of all power; it is the power to do everything in a state without accountability; to make laws, to execute and to apply them: to impose and collect taxes, and, levy, contributions; to make war or peace; to form treaties of alliance or of commerce with foreign nations, and the like. Story on the Const. Sec. 207.
2. Abstractedly, sovereignty resides in the body of the nation and belongs to the people. But these powers are generally exercised by delegation.
3. When analysed, sovereignty is naturally divided into three great powers; namely, the legislative, the executive, and the judiciary; the first is the power to make new laws, and to correct and repeal the old; the second is the power to execute the laws both at home and abroad; and the last is the power to apply the laws to particular facts; to judge the disputes which arise among the citizens, and to punish crimes.
4. Strictly speaking, in our republican forms of government, the absolute sovereignty of the nation is in the people of the nation; (q.v.) and the residuary sovereignty of each state, not granted to any of its public functionaries, is in the people of the state. (q.v.) 2 Dall. 471; and vide, generally, 2 Dall. 433, 455; 3 Dall. 93; 1 Story, Const. Sec. 208; 1 Toull. n. 20 Merl. Repert. h.t.

[QC]

9. Maybe he's referring to NAFTA/WTO-type trade agreements

that transfer our sovereignty to unelected trade courts. I wish somebody would bring that up more often.

[demwing]

10. Sounds like populism

Not UN bashing, at least not in the context of what Byrd was saying.

[Nay]

3. Someone needs to remind Kerry that Bush praised coal miners

and their rescuers in that cave-in a couple of years ago and then went back to Washington and cut safety regs and money for safer mining. Every miner in the place would vote for Kerry.

[DebJ]

4. I saw just about 2 minutes of Byrd, and I thought it was

really cool not only when he said:
"Yes, he can carry West Virginia. He will carry West Virginia if he continues to stand up for the liberties of the people," Byrd said.
(Continues was the good word there)
but also cool that as he said it, he was waving a pocket size copy of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. He has the exact same one that I keep on me all the time, in purse or jeans pockets. I like these types of displays, because to me he is wordlessly communicating that he read this, and he understands and supports it, do you, Wubya?

[no name no slogan]

5. Cool, somebody else does this, too!

I have a pocket-sized copy of the Declaration and the Constitution in my briefcase/bag, too! I find it quite useful when argue-- erm, "persuading" right-wingers that yes, indeed, the Constitution does not say "every man for himself" ANYWHERE in the document. :hi:

[TexasSissy]

7. The use of coal is part of Kerry's energy plan (www.johnkerry.com).

I didn't know why, since as someone who believes in cleaning up the environment, he of all people would know how harmful coal is. Now I know why.

[lgardengate]

8. Don't hate me but...

I live in WV and Bush's numbers are up here...he's in the lead.
I kind of doubt Kerry will pick up WV this year.People here tend to be Dems but are also very conservativ socialy.This being the Bible belt and all...that gay marriage thing is a big deal with my family and friends that are Christians.That,and the fact that they see Bush (because of his stated faith) as one of them.

[DaveSZ]

11. What is Kerry's position on mountaintop removal mining of the Appalachians

?




http://www.wvgazette.com/static/series/mining/


In West Virginia, mining companies are literally moving mountains to uncover valuable, low sulfur coal reserves.

Mountaintop removal has become the dominant form of surface mining in the state. Coal operators are blasting off hilltops, and dumping leftover rock and dirt into nearby valleys.

An untold amount of the state has been flattened, and hundreds of miles of streams have been buried.

In October 1999, a federal judge ruled that the practice had to be limited. On April 24, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Haden's decision. Click here for more information on the appeal, including court rulings and briefs.

more

[DaveSZ]

12. .

dupe

[DaveSZ]

13. .

http://www.wvgazette.com/static/series/mining/MINE0809.html




"Mountaintop mining was supposed to be carefully conducted to benefit local communities and encourage their economic development, but it is destroying them instead," said Joe Lovett, one of the lawyers who filed the suit. "The coal companies are simply taking off mountaintops and dumping them into West Virginia's streams, harming the communities and the environment in the process."