I knew what Barack Obama was when I became involved in his campaign. I never expected him to be a leftist. Obama, if anyone ever listened to him, is a CENTRIST. Since I couldn't have Dennis Kucinich as my President I was willing to work for Barak Obama.
Tell me though, who do you think got Obama through the primaries? It certainly wasn't the centrists. They were all chasing after Hillary. The Obama people who helped you through the primaries mostly came from the left part of the Democratic Party.
Do I see so much as ONE token lefty on the cabinet? NAH.
The final straw was Rick Warren. ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR F****ING MIND???!! This is like have George Wallace preside over the civil rights debates. The man is a bloody neo-con! He is welcome but the LGBT community is not. The Left is not.
So much for inclusivness.
I may not vote for Republicans in the future. But that doesn't mean that I'm going to vote for you. I'll just stay home and vote for nobody.
So much for change--you are just another cheap politician and I'm done with you.
Courtesy: Morguefile
Here are the dead in Iraq for the Month of April. Say their name one more time and never, ever forget them!
Staff Sgt. Travis L. Griffin, 28, of Dover, Del., died April 3 near Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Capt Ulises Burgos-Cruz, 29, of Puerto Rico, Spc. Matthew T. Morris, 23, of Cedar Park, Texas, died April 6 in Balad, Iraq, when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Col. Stephen K. Scott, 54, of New Market, Ala. Maj. Stuart A. Wolfer, 36, of Coral Springs, Fla. died April 6 in Baghdad, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with indirect fire. Pfc. Shane D. Penley, 19, of Sauk Village, Ill., died April 6 at Patrol Base Copper, Iraq, from wounds suffered while on duty at a guard post.
Staff Sgt. Emanuel Pickett, 34, of Teachey, N.C., died April 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked with indirect fire.
Staff Sgt. Jeremiah E. McNeal, 23, of Norfolk, Va., died April 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Sgt. Richard A. Vaughn, 22, of San Diego, Calif., died April 7 in Baghdad, Iraq from wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked using a rocket propelled grenade, improvised explosive device and small arms fire.
Spc. Jason C. Kazarick, 30, of Oakmont, Pa. Sgt. Michael T. Lilly, 23, of Boise, Idaho, died April 7 in Sadr City, Iraq, when enemy forces attacked using a rocket propelled grenade.
Sgt. Timothy M. Smith, 25, of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., died April 7 in Baghdad, Iraq of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Maj. Mark E. Rosenberg, 32, of Miami Lakes, Fla., died April 8 in Baghdad, Iraq of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Staff Sgt. Jeffery L. Hartley, 25, of Hempstead, Texas, died April 8 in Kharguliah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Spc. Jacob J. Fairbanks, 22, of Saint Paul, Minn., died April 9 in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident.
Sgt. Shaun P. Tousha, 30, of Hull, Texas, died April 9 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Sgt. Jesse A. Ault, 28, of Dublin, Va., died April 9 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered in Tunnis, Iraq, when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Spc. Jeremiah C. Hughes, 26, of Jacksonville, Fla., died April 9 in Balad Iraq, of injuries sustained in a non-combat related incident in Abu Gharab, Iraq. Tech. Sgt Anthony L. Capra, 31, of Hanford, Calif., died April 9 near Golden Hills, Iraq, of wounds suffered when he encountered an improvised explosive device.
Sgt. William E. Allmon, 25, of Ardmore, Okla., died April 12 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Cpl. Richard J. Nelson, 23, of Racine, Wis. Lance Cpl. Dean D. Opicka, 29, of Waukesha, Wis.Both Marines died April 14 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.
Sgt. Joseph A. Richard III, 27, of Lafayette, La., died April 14 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Spc. Arturo Huerta-Cruz, 23, of Clearwater, Fla., died April 14 in Tuz, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Staff Sgt. Jason L. Brown, 29, of Magnolia, Texas, died April 17 in Sama Village, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked using small arms fire and grenades.
Spc. Lance O. Eakes, 25, of Apex, N.C., died April 18 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Cpl. Benjamin K. Brosh, 22, of Colorado Springs, Colo., died April 18 at Forward Operating Base Anaconda in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered in Paliwoda, Iraq, when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Petty Officer 1st Class Cherie L. Morton, 40, of Bakersfield, Calif., died April 20 in Galali, Muharraq, Bahrain. The cause of death is under investigation.
Spc. Steven J. Christofferson, 20, of Cudahy, Wis. Sgt. Adam J. Kohlhaas, 26, of Perryville, Mo. died April 21 in Bayji, Iraq, of wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
1st Lt. Matthew R. Vandergrift, 28 of Littleton, Colo., died April 21 from wounds he suffered while conducting combat operations in Basrah, Iraq.
Airman Apprentice Adrian M. Campos, 22, of El Paso, Texas, was found dead in Dubai on April 21 due to a non-combat related incident. The incident is under investigation.
Lance Cpl. Jordan C. Haerter, 19, of Sag Harbor, N.Y. Cpl. Jonathan T. Yale, 21, of Burkeville, Va. died April 22 from wounds suffered while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.
Pvt. Ronald R. Harrison, 25, of Morris Plains, N.J., died April 22 at Forward Operating Base Falcon near Baghdad, Iraq, of a non-combat related injury. Staff Sgt. Ronald C. Blystone, 34, of Springfield, Mo., died April 23 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when he encountered small arms fire during a dismounted patrol.
Pfc. John T. Bishop, 22, of Gaylord, Mich. 1st Lt. Timothy W. Cunningham, 26, of College Station, Texas.They died April 23 in Golden Hills, Iraq, of injuries suffered in a vehicle incident. The incident is under investigation.
Sgt. Guadalupe Cervantes Ramirez, 26, of Fort Irwin, Calif., died April 23 at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, of injuries suffered in a vehicle incident. Staff Sgt. Shaun J. Whitehead, 24, of Commerce, Ga., died April 24 in Iskandariyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when he encountered an improvised explosive device while on a dismounted patrol.
Pfc. William T. Dix, 32, of Culver City, Calif., died April 27 at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident. The incident is under investigation.
Pfc. Adam L. Marion, 26, of Mount Airy, N.C. Sgt. Marcus C. Mathes, 26, of Zephyrhills, Fla. Sgt. Mark A. Stone, 22, of Buchanan Dam, Texas. all died April 28 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their forward operating base with indirect fire. Spc. David P. McCormick, 26, of Fresno, Texas, died April 28 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his forward operating base came under rocket attack.
Staff Sgt. Bryan E. Bolander, 26, of Bakersfield, Calif., died April 29 in Baghdad from wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. Staff Sgt. Clay A. Craig, 22, of Mesquite, Texas, died April 29 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when he received small arms fire during combat operations.
Cpt. Andrew. R. Pearson, 32, of Billings, Mont. Spc. Ronald J. Tucker, 21, of Fountain, Colo. both died April 30 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Staff Sgt. Chad A. Caldwell, 24, of Spokane, Wash., died April 30 in Mosul, Iraq, of injuries sustained while conducting dismounted combat operations.
Sgt. 1st Class Lawrence D. Ezell, 30, of Portland, Texas, died April 30 in Baghdad of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit during combat operations.
Here are the dead in Iraq for the Month of March. Say their name one more time and never, ever forget them!
Staff Sgt. Keith M. Maupin, 24, of Batavia, Ohio, was declared captured on April 16. The DOD has confirmed his death as of April 9th 2004
Staff Sgt. Christoper S. Frost, 24, of Waukesha, Wis, died March 3 near Bayji, Iraq in a crash of an Irai Army Mi-17 helicopter.
Cpl. Jose A. Paniagua-Morales, 22, of Bell Gardens, Calif, died March 7 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered in Samarra, Iraq, when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. Sgt. 1st. Class Shawn M. Suzch, 32, of Hilltown, Penn, Staff Sgt. Ernesto G. Cimarrusti, 25, of Douglas, Ariz., Staff Sgt. David D. Julian, 31, of Evanston, Wyo., Cpl. Robert T. McDavid, 29, of Starkville, Miss., and Cpl. Scott A. McIntosh, 26, of Houston, Texas, all died in Baghdad, Iraq, of of wounds suffered when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device on March 10.
Sgt. Phillip R. Anderson, 28, of Everett, Wash., Spc. Donald A. Burkett, 24, of Comanche, Texas., and Capt. Torre R. Mallard, 27, of Oklahoma died Mar. 10 in Balad Ruz, Iraq, all died of wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Staff Sgt. Laurent J. West, 32, of Raleigh, N.C., died March 11 near Kishkishkia, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. Staff Sgt. Juantrea T. Bradley, 28, of Greenville, N.C., Spc. Dustin C. Jackson, 21, of Arlington, Texas, Pfc. Tenzin L. Samten, 33, of Prescott, Ariz., all died March 12 in Tallil, Iraq, of wounds suffered when their vehicle was hit by indirect fire.
Cpl. William D. O’Brien, 19, of Rice, Texas, died March 15 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when he was attacked by small arms fire during combat operations.
Spc. Lerando J. Brown, 27, of Gulfport, Miss., died March 15 in Balad, Iraq, from injuries suffered in an incident currently under investigation. Staff Sgt. Michael D. Elledge, 41, of Brownsburg, Ind. and Spc. Christopher C. Simpson, 23, of Hampton, Va. died Mar. 17 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device during combat operations.
Sgt. Gregory D. Unruh, 28, of Dickinson, Texas, died March 19 in Mandali, Iraq, of injuries suffered in a vehicle accident.
Pvt. Tyler J. Smith, 22, of Bethel, Maine, died Mar. 21 at Forward Operating Base Falcon near Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when the base received indirect fire.
Sgt. Thomas C. Ray, II, 40, of Weaverville, N.C., Spc. David S. Stelmat, 27, of Littleton, N.H., and Sgt. David B. Williams, 26, of Tarboro, N.C. died March 22 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Pvt. George Delgado, 21, of Palmdale, Calif. Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Hake, 26, of Enid, Okla. Pfc. Andrew J. Habsieger, 22, of Festus, Mo. and Spc. Jose A. Rubio Hernandez, 24, of Mission, Texas died March 24 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive on March 23.
Spc. Gregory B. Rundell, 21, Ramsey, Minn., died March 26 in Taji Iraq, of wounds suffered from small arms fire on March 26.
Cpl. Steven I. Candelo, 20, of Houston, Texas died March 26 in Baghdad, when his vehicle was struck by a rocket propelled grenade.
Spc. Joshua A. Molina, 20, of Houston, Texas, died Mar. 27 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Staff Sgt. Joseph D. Gamboa, 34, of Yigo, Guam, died Mar. 25 of wounds suffered when he came under indirect fire in Baghdad, Iraq. March 28
Maj. William G. Hall, 38 of Seattle, Wa; died March 30 from wounds he suffered while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq, on March 29.
Sgt. Jevon K. Jordan, 32, of Norfolk Va., died Mar. 29 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Landstuhl Germany, from wounds suffered Mar. 23 in Abu Jassim, Iraq, when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive.
Spc. Durrell L. Bennett, 22, of Spanaway, Wash., and Pfc. Patrick J. Miller, 23, of New Port Richey, Fla died March 29 in Baghdad from wounds suffered when they encountered an improvised explosive device and small arms fire.
Sgt. Terrell W. Gilmore, 38, of Baton Rouge, La., died March 30 in Baghdad, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.
Sgt. Dayne D. Dhanoolal, 26, of Brooklyn, NY died in Baghdad, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle on March 31.
From AntiWar.com
Lest we forget just why we need a Democratic President, House, and Senate. Here are the names of those who we lost in January alone:
Staff Sgt. Ryan D. Maseth, 24, of Pittsburgh, Pa., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 2 of injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident.
Pfc. Joshua R. Anderson, 24, of Jordan, Minn., died Jan 2 in Kamasia, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.
Maj. Andrew J. Olmsted, 37, of Colorado Springs, Colo.died Jan. 3 in As Sadiyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire during combat operations. Cpt. Thomas J. Casey, 32, of Albuquerque, N.M. died Jan. 3 in As Sadiyah, Iraq, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire during combat operations.
Petty Officer Second Class Menelek M. Brown, 24, of Roswell, N.M., was declared dead Jan. 4 after apparently going overboard from USS Hopper in the Arabian Sea Jan. 3.
Pfc. Jason F. Lemke, 30, of West Allis, Wis., died Jan. 5 in Ibrahim Al Adham, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.
Spc. James D. Gudridge, 20, of Carthage, N.Y., died Jan. 6 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.
Pfc. Timothy R. Hanson, 23, of Kenosha, Wis., died Jan. 7 in Salmon Pak, Iraq, of wounds suffered from enemy small arms fire.
Sgt. David J. Hart, 22, of Lake View Terrace, Calif., who died in Balad, Iraq.
Pfc. Ivan E. Merlo, 19, of San Marcos, Calif., who died in Samarra, Iraq.
Pfc. Phillip J. Pannier, 20, of Washburn, Ill., who died in Samarra, Iraq died Jan. 9 of wounds sustained during combat operations in Samarra, Iraq.
Spc. Todd E. Davis, 22, of Raymore, Mo., Staff Sgt. Jonathan K. Dozier, 30, of Rutherford, Tenn., Staff Sgt. Sean M. Gaul, 29, of Reno, Nev., Sgt. Zachary W. McBride, 20, of Bend, Ore., Sgt. 1st Class Matthew I. Pionk, 30, of Superior, Wis., and Sgt. Christopher A. Sanders, 22, of Roswell, N.M. died Jan. 9 in Sinsil, Iraq, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated during combat operations.
Lance Cpl. Curtis A. Christensen Jr., 29, of Collingswood, N.J., died Jan. 11 from a non-hostile incident in Al Anbar province, Iraq.
Pfc. Keith E. Lloyd, 26, of Milwaukee, died Jan. 12 in Tal Afar, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Pfc. Danny L. Kimme, 27, of Fisher, Ill., who died in Balad, Iraq. Pfc. David H. Sharrett II, 27, of Oakton, Va., who died in Pallouata, Iraq. and Spc. John P. Sigsbee, 21, of Waterville, N.Y., who died in Balad, Iraq. died Jan. 16 of wounds suffered in Balad, Iraq, when they were attacked by grenade and small arms fire during combat operations.
Staff Sgt. Justin R. Whiting, 27, of Hancock, N.Y., died Jan. 19 in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.
Spc. Jon M. Schoolcraft, III, 26, of Wapakoneta, Ohio, died Jan. 19 in Taji, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device.
Spc. Richard B. Burress, 25, of Naples, Fla., died Jan. 19 in Al Jabour, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
Lance Cpl. James M. Gluff, 20, of Tunnel Hill, Ga., died Jan. 19 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.
Sgt. Michael R. Sturdivant, 20, of Conway, Ark., died Jan. 22 in Kirkuk, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident during convoy operations.
Pfc. Duncan Charles Crookston, 19, of Denver, Colo., died Jan. 25 in Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle during combat operations in Baghdad, Iraq.
Sgt. Tracy Renee Birkman, 41, of New Castle, Va., died Jan. 25 in Owesat, Iraq, from non-combat related injuries.
Staff Sgt. Robert J. Wilson, 28, of Boynton Beach, Fla., died Jan. 26 of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was conducting a dismounted patrol in Baghdad, Iraq.
Sgt. Mikeal W. Miller, 22, of Albany, Ore., died Jan. 27 at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., of wounds suffered in Baghdad, Iraq on July 9, 2007, when the vehicle he was in encountered an improvised explosive device.
Maj. Alan G. Rogers, 40, of Hampton, Fla., died Jan. 27 of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was conducting a dismounted patrol in Baghdad, Iraq.
Sgt. James E. Craig, 26, of Hollywood, Calif., Staff Sgt. Gary W. Jeffries, 37, of Roscoe, Texas, Spc. Evan A. Marshall, 21, of Athens, Ga., Pfc. Brandon A. Meyer, 20, of Orange, Calif., and Pvt. Joshua A. R. Young, 21, of Riddle, Ore. died from wounds suffered when their unit encountered an improvised explosive device during convoy operations Jan. 28 in Mosul, Iraq.
1st Lt. David E. Schultz, 25, of Illinois, died Jan. 31 of wounds suffered when the Convoy Support Center at Scania, Iraq, was attacked by indirect enemy fire.
Cpt. Michael A. Norman, 36, of Killeen, Texas, died Jan. 31 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.
NEVER FORGET THEM
Your theme is YES WE CAN!
Well, I'm not going to give up! You will change your mind or I will wear out my fingers trying! The people of Appalachia have no one to speak for them. They have no hope. Their land and heritage are being blown away. Their very lives are being taken from them.
By coal. By mountaintop removal.
That same mountaintop removal is going to eventually contaminate a good portion of the drinking water of the Eastern Seaboard. I don't doubt that Barack Obama is going to end up in the White House, but what will he inherit?
There is a massive time bomb ticking away in Appalachia. It's about to go off. In less than ten years there will be no potable water in the entire state of West Virginia. Think about that.
What are you going to do; President Obama--when 1.8 million people have no clean water to drink? And that doesn't count all of the water that normally flows downhill to a greater part of the Eastern Seaboard.
There are people in Southern West Virginia right now that are urinating blood. It seems the coal companies contaminated the wells and didn't bother to tell anyone about it. Now their kidney's have failed. There are more where that came from; right?
Marsh Fork Elementary School is sitting 400 yards downstream from a leaky earthen dam holding back 2.8 billion gallons of toxic sludge. The dam is owned by the coal companies. They won't repair or replace it. Why should they? After all, the people there are just a bunch of ignorant hillbillies, right?
When that dam gives way; how are you going to explain it away? You gonna go to West Virginia to tell these people who have no hope that you could have helped them and didn't and now their kids are dead?
Or are you going to be a man and stand up for these disenfranchised people who have stood for this country longer than it was a country? Are you going to be a man and reject "clean" coal?
There's a wonderful slide show HERE
Check it out!
Courtesy: Appalachian Voices
The Marsh Fork Elementary School in Sundial, West Virginia is located 400 yards downslope from a mountaintop removal mine. Sundial is a community in the coal river valley about 10 miles south of Whitesville. The mining site above the school, operated by Massey Energy, houses the Shumate sludge impoundment. With 2.8 billion gallons of coal sludge held back by a 385-foot-high earthen dam, it is one of West Virginia’s largest impoundments. These two photos are of Marsh Fork Elementary School (left), and the 2.8 billion gallon coal sludge impoundment directly uphill from the school. Coal sludge is created when coal is washed – a process required to remove soil and rock from the coal prior to being shipped. According to the Sludge Safety Project,
“sludge contains carcinogenic chemicals used to process coal. It also contains toxic heavy metals that are present in coal, such as arsenic, mercury, chromium, cadmium, boron, selenium, and nickel.”
MORE
There are 2.8 BILLION gallons of hightly toxic coal sludge behind that leaky earthen dam. Are those children gonna have to die before you wake up Senator? How ae you going to defend yourself then? Disavow King Coal!
The Sierra Club has a nice fact sheet with references HERE
The nice thing about this sheet is that all of the claims are sourced. Really biased sources too. Like the Department of Energy and the National Coal Council! Check it out. Then I suggest you check out the link HERE:
It's a slideshow that gives you an idea what is being done to Appalachia.
This is Black History Month. Jeff Biggers wrote a great Huffington Post called
Strip Mining Black History Month.
I am ready to act, if I can find brave men to help me." --Carter Woodson
As schools, communities and politicians across the country celebrate Black History Month in February, they will be remiss if their lessons don't include the coal fields of Fayette County, West Virginia. There, in the 1890s, a teenage African American followed his brothers into the coal mines, serving what Carter Woodson called his "six-year apprenticeship." In the evenings, the young Woodson would gather with other black coal miners, read the newspaper, and listen to their extraordinary stories of life underground, and their struggles during the Civil War and Reconstruction Era.
The daily history lessons among African Americans in Appalachia were not lost on Woodson. He later wrote that his "interest in penetrating the past of my people was deepened and intensified" during these sessions among coal miners in Fayette County. Woodson managed to return to high school in Huntington, West Virginia -- the access to education for African Americans being one of the reasons his family had chosen to come to Appalachia -- and earned his diploma in two years. He moved on to earn a degree at Berea College, which had been founded in the hills of eastern Kentucky by abolitionists in 1855, the University of Chicago and then a Ph.D. in history at Harvard University.
Woodson went on, of course, to become the "Father of Black History," and one of our country's most celebrated historians. Few people realized, however, that West Virginia once again played prominently in Woodson's career in 1920, when the young black professor lost his job at Howard University and became a dean at the West Virginia Collegiate Institute. There in West Virginia, Woodson finally received a substantial grant from the Carnegie Foundation that allowed him to return to Washington, DC and set his Association for the Study of Negro Life and History on a course for world acclaim.
Woodson's and Black History Month's largely overlooked origins in West Virginia are not the only casualty in our selective memory on American history.
A century after Woodson's tenure in the coal mines in West Virginia, another "first" took place in Fayette County. In 1970, the first mountaintop removal operation was launched on Cannelton Hollow in area once called Bullpush Mountain. Thirty-eight years later, mountaintop removal practices--the process of literally blowing up mountains, and dumping the waste into waterways and valleys, in order to cheaply remove coal--have destroyed over 450 mountains and neighboring communities, displaced miners, and stripmined the cultural landscape in the Appalachian region. MORE
It was nice to see two adults on that stage. There was actually some detail and policy points made.
On the whole I would say that Sen. Obama won the debate on the Iraq question. I don't really know where Sen. Clinton was going with the comment about Sadam Hussein.
There was a telling point about changing the mindset that got us into war in the first place that I just loved.
Sen. Obama is a gifted orator who can inspire a whole generation of people--something like Jack and Bobby Kennedy did. I remember them well.
If I were allowed to ask one question for an upcoming debate it would be this:
"George Bush has grabbed an enourmous amount of power for the so-called Unitary Executive. If you are elected, will you hand that power back to it's rightful holders? By statute if necessacy?"
