Grumpy Editor

Obama’s clean air regulations smack U.S. coal industry

Today’s unveiling of President Barack Obama’s proposed environmental regulations aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions from the nation’s power plants will be a blow to the U.S. coal industry, a long-time source of low-cost electricity generation, notes Grumpy Editor.

Look for few media outlets to mention the president’s latest salvo at the coal industry will mean higher power bills to households and businesses.  The regulations will favor solar power, wind and other renewable energy sources.

Overlooking North Korea and Iran with their nuclear threats, Islamist extremism, the country’s swelling national debt, growing federal welfare programs and reduced U.S. military forces, Obama for months has been declaring climate change (formerly global warming) as the biggest threat facing the U.S.

Three months ago with a commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Obama envisioned climate change aggravating poverty and social tensions that can fuel instability and foster terrorist activity and other violence. 

Going back to his state of the union address to Congress in January, the president declared, "No challenge, no challenge, poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change."

 Even the Pentagon --- with its 23,000 military and civilian employees as headquarters for the U.S. Department of Defense --- is getting into a field far remote from its usual military activities in jumping into backing climate change.

A Pentagon report called “National Security Implications of Climate-Related Risks and a Changing Climate,” was released last week and sent to U.S. combat commanders around the world.  It pointed out climate change as an “urgent and growing threat to our national security.”

Meanwhile, while the Pentagon now is focused on climate change, the Army saw a 14 percent shortfall in the number of recruits so far this year as it plans to pare 40,000 soldiers from its ranks over the next few years.

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE…

The U.S. economy expanded less than previously estimated for 2012 to 2014.  A Bureau of Economic Analysis revealed expansion averaged 2 percent each year rather than 2.3 percent as reported under a prior method of calculating gross domestic product…U.S. consumer sentiment slipped to 93.1 in July from 96.1 the previous month, reported the University of Michigan…Fed rate hike chatter quiet for a few weeks.  The Federal Reserve last week dropped hints that it is close to seeing enough improvement in the job market and economy to prompt an interest rate increase next month --- maybe…Gee, only about $3 BILLION?  While Donald Trump, Republican presidential candidate, said he is worth more than $10 billion, Bloomberg calculated he is worth a mere $2.9 billion. Responded the real estate mogul:  ‘They don’t know what they’re talking about”…Where the auto jobs are.  General Motors will invest $5 billion over the next several years to develop a new line of Chevrolets via its Chinese partner…Hammering the message.  Pitching printers, Staples Inc. ran the same 30-second spot four times during a morning radio news hour, including three times within 13 minutes…More empty desks.  U.S. newsrooms last year lost 3,800 jobs, tallied the American Society of News Editors.  The job total at year end was 32,900, down about 40 per cent from a 2006 peak of  55,000...How public officials think. With 47,000 fewer weddings a year taking place in Las Vegas vs. a decade ago, rather than cut the marriage license fee to attract more “I do’s,” county commissioners voted to BOOST cost of licenses to $77 this month, up $14.

With AT&T’s acquisition of DirecTV, look for a name change in the satellite TV provider.

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Confusion prevails as EPA clamps down on coal power

Those concerned about ever-increasing electricity bills, as low-cost coal-fired power plants are shuttered or reduced in numbers, should be aware that confusion --- overlooked by most media --- exists in Washington on tough upcoming requirements from the Environmental Protection Agency as it moves to control carbon pollution, notes Grumpy Editor.

Associated Press writer Dina Cappiello, in a weekend story, pointed out, “the federal government’s own analysis of the new power plant proposal concludes that it would have a ‘negligible’ impact on carbon dioxide emissions, pose little to no costs for the industry and provide no additional benefits to the public by 2022.”

The EPA, Cappiello mentioned, “does not anticipate this rule will have any impacts on the price of electricity, employment or labor markets or the U.S. economy.”

However, Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W. Va.) declared the EPA was holding the coal industry to “impossible standards,” added Cappiello.  “If these regulations go into effect, American jobs will be lost, electricity prices will soar and economic uncertainty will grow,” warned Manchin.

(Manchin, born in small coal mining town Farmington, W. Va., was governor of the state from 2005 to 2010.)

EPA administrator Gina McCarthy, reported the AP writer, said the proposed regulations, “rather than killing future coal, actually sets up a certain pathway forward for coal to continue to be part of the diverse mix in this country.” 

 

Most Democrats flee latest Benghazi hearing

Ignored by most media was a shameful Capitol Hill happening involving some members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee who left the second portion of Thursday’s hearing on the Benghazi attack that resulted in the murders of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans, observes Grumpy Editor.

But Katie Pavlich, writing on the Townhall.com website, noted, “The majority of Democrats on the committee left the room and refused to listen to the testimony of Patricia Smith and Charles Woods. Ms. Smith is the mother of Sean Smith, an information management officer killed in the 9/11 Benghazi attack. Charles Woods is the father of Navy SEAL Tyrone Woods, who was also killed.”

That resulted in most of the far side of the room, where Democrats sit, becoming empty. 

Pavlich added the only Democrats who stayed were Elijah Cummings, ranking member from Maryland, and California Rep. Jackie Speier. 

Seventeen Democrats are on the committee.

 

In case you missed these…

Marking the 17^th anniversary of Fox News Channel, its prime time lineup starting Oct. 7 has Greta Van Susteren moving to 7 p.m. (Eastern), Bill O'Reilly remaining at 8, Megyn Kelly's "The Kelly File" at 9 and Sean Hannity shifting to 10…In other TV news:  Final season of "Mad Men" on AMC actually is split over two years with seven episodes airing next spring and another seven in 2015. The saga of Madison Ave. advertising folks in the 1960s started in 2007…The 1960s lives again as CNN reached a deal with actor Tom Hanks and his film and TV production company, Playtone, to create a 10-part documentary on The Sixties. 

In print action: The Kiplinger Letter, which calls itself the most widely read business forecasting periodical in the world, is marking its 90^th year of weekly economic and political predictions.  Spokesperson Jessica Weeg said the oldest continually published newsletter in the U.S. “pioneered a concise, telegraphic style that was widely emulated by other publications in the decades to follow”…Nancy Gibbs was named managing editor of Time magazine --- the first woman to lead the publication that first rolled off presses on March 3, 1923…Boosting coverage on its pages, the Indianapolis Star is aiming for more national and international news, plus expanding local coverage, through a partnership with USA Today.  But it’s all in the family, since The Star and USA Today are owned by Gannett Co.

Double duty in U.S. government building:  The Washington Examiner reported the roof of the Department of Labor headquarters building in Washington, D.C. was the scene Wednesday night of a same-sex marriage between a worker, described as a regional solicitor, and his long-time partner.  No names were offered.

Labor Secretary Thomas Perez was not on the scene.