Coal industry reps granted 3 times the meetings with White House staff than environmentalists

[txlibdem]

Between October 2009 and April 2010, coal industry representatives held at least 33 meetings with White House staff on the coal ash issue, almost three times as many meetings as environmentalists and university scientists were granted on the subject.

http://desmogblog.com/coal-ash-disposal-sites-contaminating-ground-water-19-states

What does that say about the President's priorities regarding environmental protection?

[leveymg]

1. It tells me they have at least 3000 times the money to contribute. Could be worse.

You get the government you pay for, after all. If you don't like it, go buy your own White House.

[txlibdem]

9. And that's only from the tax breaks and other subsidies we GIVE them each year

They don't have to break into their own piggy banks for bribe money. Oops. I mean "educational junkets" or "seminars in the Bahamas" or "golfing trips to (wherever)" etc, then there's the campaign donations.

PS, did you know that while a candidate is campaigning for an office he or she can hire their spouse and pay them from campaign funds. The candidate gets all of their expenses paid: food, travel, lodging, etc.

[panader0]

2. Maybe it's the other way

Why would you need more than one meeting with your allies? You agree.
You meet with the enemy to negotiate.

[kristopher]

6. +1

There is no possible way that Obama's policies could be considered "pro-coal". Like it or not they are a power block that has to be talked to.

It is also far-fetched to extrapolate the administration's relationship with an entire range of coal industries based on a snapshot of talks on one piece of legislation affecting only power plants.

[TheWraith]

11. Here's something that we can agree on. nt

[Enrique]

3. Obama's always been friendly with coal

back to his days as a state legislator in IL.

[CarmanK]

4. Meeting with the President or his staff?? Money gains access!

Don't know about the laws they have influenced though. Not much has been done legislatively and the EPA seems to be trying to get to work again. Let's hope.

[DURHAM D]

5. word - Exelon

They brought him to the big dance.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. I read your thread title and was instantly flashed back to the Bush era.

This sort of headline was common and the outrage from this community loud and united. Now that Obama is doing it, everything is hunky dory.

[txlibdem]

8. That speaks volumes, does it not.

Just like Clinton was the only one who could have done away with banking regulations and instituted NAFTA, etc., without a huge outcry.

"I feel your pain. But I'm gonna export all your jobs to Mexico anyway." Now where did I leave that Lewinsky? Oh, yeah, down there. ;-)

[Nihil]

10. Nothing ... and everything.

> What does that say about the President's priorities regarding
> environmental protection?

To you, it says everything (because you have been repeatedly
let down & disappointed about the difference between the candidate
egg-of-future-hope-and-change and the hatchling business-as-usual).

To the President, it says nothing (because he couldn't give
a monkey's fuck about you or the people like you, just his
corporate sponsors).

You haven't had an "environmentally-aware" president since before
the phrase became popular.

[txlibdem]

12. Not since President Carter

I agree with 100% of your post. Candidate Obama was a different person than President Obama, no similarities. That is why I feel let down and disappointed at each and every turn.

My only question is: at what point did President Obama become a multi-millionaire (his net worth is now $10 Million), that may answer the question of when he quit giving a damn about us "little people."

[Nihil]

13. Remind me ...

> at what point did President Obama become a multi-millionaire (his net worth
> is now $10 Million),

... when did he get elected again?

Now take a few years off that and you will find your answer ...