If You Disagree with Massey CEO, You're Osama bin Laden

By: TheGreenMiles
Published On: 12/11/2008 5:39:40 PM

Via the Natural Resources Defense Council, here's the CEO of Richmond-based Massey Energy going off on a rant about how he thinks all the world's scientists are conspiring with the communists and the atheists to fool us about global warming.

As Dave Barry would say, I am not making this up. Don Blankenship goes on to compare people who disagree with him to Osama bin Laden, which may call for a revision of Godwin's Law. NRDC breaks the video down and concludes:

Blankenship goes on with his bizarre theories about how mass transit will destroy American capitalism.  Or, how dealing with global warming will cause the Chinese to take over and tell you where you have to go to church.

But you get the idea.

Next time you hear someone from the coal industry asking to be taken seriously about "clean coal" or the nonexistent "debate" about climate change, just remember the wit and wisdom of Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship.

Did I mention Massey has given 97% of its contributions to Republicans?

Comments



Thanks for the reminder... (Kindler - 12/11/2008 9:21:24 PM)
...that we have not yet completely pulled Virginia out of the 19th century.

Sigh...



C.Montgomery Burns "role model" ? (hereinva - 12/11/2008 11:13:51 PM)
Sounds like C. Montgomery "Monty" Burns (from the Simpsons) alpha dog.


Correct "Monty" Link: (hereinva - 12/11/2008 11:17:09 PM)
should read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M...

Excellent!



Different Day, Same Old Sh** (rockdove - 12/12/2008 2:47:49 AM)
The chemical companies did the same thing to try to keep Rachel Carson's seminal book, Silent Spring, from being published.  They attacked Carson personally, trying to discredit her in an attempt to prevent Houghton Mifflin from publishing the book, which pointed out the dangers of indiscriminate use of pesticides (including DDT).  Didn't work, thankfully. Not a bad book to go back to - in fact I just loaned my copy to a friend and plan to read it again when I get it back.  :-)

Thank you for keeping these stories "in the light" so that the disinformation and crazy personal attacks (basically leveled against any person who is concerned about the environment that we live in) can be exposed for what they are - desperate attempts to keep the profits coming in at all costs (external to the company, of course).  

Just in case anyone is interested, here is a link to excerpts from Silent Spring - with an "Afterword" by Edward O. Wilson and an informative introduction by Linda Lear.
http://books.google.com/books?...



Coal River (rockdove - 12/12/2008 3:31:38 AM)
Since I mentioned Silent Spring, I couldn't resist mentioning one more book. Another interesting read is Coal River: How a few brave Americans took on a powerful company - and the federal government - to save the land they love, written by Michael Shnayerson (2008).  In the book, Don Blankenship has a "starring" role that is consistent with his remarks in the video.  All the more reason for us citizens to stay energized, scientifically informed and involved...

Here are several links to excerpts on line:
Publisher excerpt -
http://us.macmillan.com/BookCu...
Amazon excerpt, starting with dramatic cover photo -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/reade...
NYTimes "First Chapter":
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01...



REALLY? (legacyofmarshall - 12/12/2008 2:16:12 PM)
Really?  The "Soviet Union" cut off gas to Europe because they shut down coal plants?  REALLY?  Doesn't he mean - because Europe pulled for Democratic elections in the Ukraine.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, coming from someone who really, truly, honestly does not believe in anthropogenic climate change.  Well go ahead you incompetent f***.  Deride Pelosi, Obama, and Ried all you want, THEY'RE in charge, you are a pathetic non-entity, part of a quickly fading old order.  I just feel bad for your employees.



HA! (legacyofmarshall - 12/12/2008 2:21:50 PM)
It gets better!!!

Sulfur, Mercury, and Atomic Particulates shouldn't be regulated because the Chinese don't regulate it!  HAHAHA!  Wait - wait - so does that mean that we shouldn't hold Democratic elections because the Chinese don't?

Good God I hope I see this bastard in Richmond so I can tell him how unwelcome he is in my delegate's office, how useless he is.

I hope you get elected Miles - so you can invite him over to your GAB office for a nice SMACKDOWN.  Someone needs to put this freaking idiot in his place - intellectually (that is: NOT at the head of a major corporation).



Don Blankenship has megalomania (DSD - 12/12/2008 7:18:54 PM)
Here's a more cheery coal related story though:

Mountaintop miners lose bank's backing

http://www.newscientist.com/ar...