Coal Industry Sponsoring Tonight’s CNN/YouTube Republican Presidential Debate
Coal Industry Sponsoring Tonight’s CNN/YouTube Republican Presidential Debate
Tonight at 8 pm EST, CNN will air a Republican presidential debate, live from St. Petersburg, FL. A full-page advertisement in today’s Washington Post states that the debate is being sponsored by the “clean coal” industry:
View the full page ad HERE.
Sponsorship of tonight’s debate appears aimed at influencing Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R), who is leading a “crusade against coal.” Crist has unveiled a plan to reduce his state’s carbon dioxide emissions by replacing coal plants with solar thermal power plants. He has also canceled plans to build new coal plants that were pushed by his predecessor, Jeb Bush.
In early October, when Tampa Electric shelved plans to build a $2-billion power plant, Crist applauded the move:
“I am not a fan of coal,” he reiterated. He pointed to the expansion of nuclear power, as well as recently announced solar and biomass projects, as examples of clean, reliable, affordable energy.
“There’s a lot of different ways to skin the cat and still provide the energy that Floridians need and deserve without harming Florida in the process,” Crist said.
This CNN debate isn’t the first sponsored by the coal industry. On Nov. 15, it also sponsored the Democratic debate in Las Vegas, NV, which featured a similar full-page ad in The New York Times. The move appeared to be an attempt to pressure Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), who has stood firmly against the construction of three proposed major coal-fired power plants in his home state.
Today, the Center for American Progress released Progressive Growth, a new plan to create a low-carbon economy. Climate Progress has more on the plan.
UPDATE: ThinkProgress spoke to a Google representative who confirmed that having the coal industry sponsor the debate was a “CNN decision.” Google played no role in acquiring or approving the sponsorship.
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27 Responses to “Coal Industry Sponsoring Tonight’s CNN/YouTube Republican Presidential Debate”
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I gotta say, I love Crist’s position on this. He also, upon entering the governor’s mansion, ordered an energy audit of the residence, looking for ways to improve the energy and water efficiency.
I like it when Republicans are actually conserving something.
November 28th, 2007 at 12:08 pmI still hold to the belief that each candidate tonight should be waterboarded prior to answering any questions. This would have the added benefit of comedy relief, in addition to the current rage of ‘reality’ shows.
Reality shows suck. So do Neoturds.
November 28th, 2007 at 12:12 pmI don’t really care who sponsors a debate as long as that by sponsoring the debate, they don’t change the tenor and substance of the questions being asked…..
I also believe in the tooth fairy
November 28th, 2007 at 12:15 pmEvery kilowatt of electricity produced from a Coal power station produces 600 Grams CO2
Introduce green rating labels on Products like Walkers crispd have done AMAZINGLY every 25 gram packet produces 75 grams CO2
Put Labels on products as Europe is going to do
November 28th, 2007 at 12:16 pmAnd remember America and the big 5 at the UN is trying to monpolize the selling of Eriched Uranium
Thats what all the problem with Iran is
The IEAE are bringing out new rules that everybody can have Nuclear energy so long as they buy the fuel
Problem is what currency will be the universal payment for Fuels
November 28th, 2007 at 12:19 pmIf Republicans are ‘conservatives’, why do they hate conservationists so much? Anyone explain, please?
There was a time (T Roosevelt’s days) when Repubs actually were the progressives. Didn’t Teddy start the Nat Park System, or at least help beef it up? Grand Canyon and Adirondeck Nat Park (which the Rockefellers donated, I believe…).
November 28th, 2007 at 12:25 pmWell, they mostly want to conserve their money.
http://www.tshirtinsurgency.com
November 28th, 2007 at 12:34 pmThere was a time (T Roosevelt’s days) when Repubs actually were the progressives. Didn’t Teddy start the Nat Park System, or at least help beef it up? Grand Canyon and Adirondeck Nat Park (which the Rockefellers donated, I believe…).
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — November 28, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
Don’t forget Lincoln, who freed the slaves.
November 28th, 2007 at 12:35 pmUh, let’s see -
They will have pre-approved questions that the criminals…er ah, candidates want.
They will have a pre-scanned audience, with pre-approved questions.
All the candidates will be falling all over each other to show how willing they are to continue and start any war they can, (Iran)
They will endorse torture.
They will ignore that global warming is a reality.
They will endorse even more tax cuts for the uber rich.
They will endorse pollution by industry.
They will continue to support the gutting of American Industry and jobs by sending them overseas.
They will ignore the up and coming Recession/Depression.
They will ignore the falling dollar and how to stop it.
They will claim to not be gay and that they love their wives.
They will avoid any questions that really matter about the economy and energy alternatives.
Oh wait, that sounds exactly like the CNN democratic debate, go figure.
Bush/Cheney
Hague Trials ‘09
Buck Fush
November 28th, 2007 at 12:42 pm“Sponsors by Coal and Coors. It does a body good.”
Sponsored by the Lung Cancer development foundation and the Citizens for Cirrhosis.
November 28th, 2007 at 12:42 pmFOOLED YOU….exactly NOT like the Democratic debate, except for the pre-approved questions of course.
November 28th, 2007 at 12:43 pmDon’t forget Lincoln, who freed the slaves.
Comment by toasterhead — November 28, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
True, and I read somewhere once that Lincoln actualy freed the slaves when he did to screw w/ the Confederacy’s economic system, and to force them to keep more soldiers in the South waatching out for rebellious slaves.
I think some historian once pointed out that if Lincoln had really wanted to end slavery for the sake of ending slavery, why did he wait until 1863, instead of doing it in 1861?
November 28th, 2007 at 12:44 pmWe should be following Germany’s example with Solar Power. It’s growing exponentially. We’re so far behind the curve it’s sad. We should have fully 25% of our power from solar by now. And we should aim for 50% by 2015. It can be done. It must be done. We need an administration who’ll take a sledge hammer to our current energy policy.
Germany embraces the sun:
November 28th, 2007 at 1:10 pmhttp://www.wired.com/ science/ discoveries/ news/ 2001/ 07/ 45056?currentPage=all
Obviously Gov. Crist is a loony tree-hugging moonbat who needs to be recalled immediately!
/sarc off
November 28th, 2007 at 1:12 pmThere was a time (T Roosevelt’s days) when Repubs actually were the progressives.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — November 28, 2007 @ 12:25 pm
Don’t forget Lincoln, who freed the slaves.
Comment by toasterhead — November 28, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
It’s true — the Republicans used to be the progressives, and it’s hard to believe that it was less than a century ago that the tide changed. Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal changed party ideologies forever, and this was further solidified when LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act.
Both parties tend to use this for some rather bizarre argument points. For example, they might say that Martin Luther King grew up in a Republican family (not surprising — Republicans back in the 30’s still stood for civil rights more than Dems in the south did), or that Strom Thurmond used to be a Democrat (ditto).
November 28th, 2007 at 1:14 pmHere’s what we think of “Clean Coal” in Washington State:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ html/ localnews/ 2004039453_powerplant28m.html
November 28th, 2007 at 1:29 pmdo a google search for FutureGen…
“…a US $1 billion public-private partnership to design, build, and operate the world’s first coal-fueled, zero emissions power plant.”
the area north of my town is competing against texas for this plant…
illinois has many coal mines, high sulfur though…
the plant is touted as a job producer, and so is highly sought after…
i’m not sure how i feel about it… many reservations…
November 28th, 2007 at 1:34 pm“coal-fueled, zero emissions” sounds oxymoronic… or something…
the coal will run out, just as the oil is…
…
Comment by free thinking american
Our Great State of Washington is a very progressive GREEN state, at least the Western Half is.
Seattle has the highest per capita education level in the country and that has a lot to do with our GREEN decisions. We are also great recyclers.
Bush/Cheney
Hague Trails ‘09
Buck Fush
November 28th, 2007 at 1:50 pmIt’s true — the Republicans used to be the progressives, and it’s hard to believe that it was less than a century ago that the tide changed.
Comment by missmolly — November 28, 2007 @ 1:14 pm
WTF happened? Since they both come from the same root word, wouldn’t Conservatives and Conservationists have similar interests?
November 28th, 2007 at 1:51 pmor something… the coal will run out, just as the oil is…
…
Comment by katy — November 28, 2007 @ 1:34 pm
I believe there is the technology available to make coal plants burn much, much cleaner, katy. It’s simply a matter of economics and will power. As much as I distrust Big Coal, if they’d simply reform mining (that hideous mountain top nonsense) and make coal plants burn as clean as they could, at least it’d be a start. Oil is a dead end.
As long as it’s as much money as fast as possible, it’s going to be a nightmare.
November 28th, 2007 at 1:55 pm14- 2MillionLightYearsToAndromeda
Nice link - Even Freiburg’s premier league soccer stadium is solar powered.
November 28th, 2007 at 2:05 pmAre you ready to see Charlie Crist as your next VP? He would make a great addition to any ticket, but it appears likely that he will focus on Florida until at least 2012.
Comment by cold_hard_left — November 28, 2007 @ 12:23 pm
“He would make a great addition to any ticket”
Yeah, I think he would. At any rate, I prefer him to any of the Republicans and some of the Democrats, too.
November 28th, 2007 at 5:04 pm“We should be following Germany’s example with Solar Power.”
Absolutely. That’s why solar power makes so much sense here in sunny Florida and I’m relieved that Crist is taking such a positive step in this direction.
It makes for good, rational policy.
November 28th, 2007 at 5:07 pmAmerican Standard, the manufacturer of toilets and toilet stalls will be sponsoring the next Republican debate.
November 28th, 2007 at 5:09 pmI’m haveing trouble with the coal thing and need help finding out what is right. I know coal burning has always been dirty but we have a majoe power plant locally that is very clean, so clean I can only see the steam from the boilers. It uses Wyoming coal and is very clean.
Can’t some coal or all coal be burned and scrubbed?
November 28th, 2007 at 8:19 pmI’m haveing trouble with the coal thing and need help finding out what is right. I know coal burning has always been dirty but we have a majoe power plant locally that is very clean, so clean I can only see the steam from the boilers. It uses Wyoming coal and is very clean.
Can’t some coal or all coal be burned and scrubbed?
Comment by Cactus Jack1 — November 28, 2007 @ 8:19 pm
Clean coal is an oxymoron. Coal is inherently dirty, and even if you were to build a perfect system to clean it of impurities, and/or remove those impurities from the stack - you’re still talking about pouring countless tons of previously fossilized CO2 and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere! We need to stop pulling CO2 out of the ground, it’s a big part of the pollution issue beyond impurities.
November 28th, 2007 at 8:49 pmI see the COORS logo there also which has a long record record with right wing ” think tanks” , in fact I believe they helped start several , with papa Joseph dolling out big bucks to advance his right wing agenda . Just Google Coors - think tanks- right wing .
“Journalist Russ Bellant examines the influential but little-known role of the Coors beer family in American politics. Through their philanthropic donations, Joseph Coors and other family members have bankrolled a right-wing agenda of union-busting, homophobia, sexism, racism, and covert operations. The Coors family has served as the cornerstone of the right-wing movement known as the New Right. “
November 28th, 2007 at 11:07 pm