In West Virginia coal country, voters are thrilled about Donald Trump

[mahatmakanejeeves]

In West Virginia coal country, voters are ‘thrilled’ about Donald Trump

By Marc Fisher

https://twitter.com/mffisher

December 6 at 6:06 PM

....
Coal country offers a counterweight to the palpable anxiety about Trump in some parts of the country. Here, people said they are “euphoric” and “thrilled” about the incoming president, even in the valley where {coal company owner Bill Nesselrotte} has no customers for his coal. That optimism is pervasive even after Trump last week chose as his commerce secretary Wilbur Ross, the Manhattan billionaire who in 2006 owned the mine just down the hill, where an underground explosion killed 12 miners, the region’s worst coal disaster in decades.

“West Virginians are realists,” said Nesselrotte, a mining engineer by education and a serial entrepreneur by virtue of living in a place that still depends on coal, even though nearly every mine within an hour’s drive has closed in recent years. “The mines have been shut down, the railroads have been torn up, the preparation plants have closed. A lot of stuff has been done that can’t be undone.

“But I’m really looking forward to this president,” he said. “It’s kind of refreshing to see people come into government who know how business works.”

Still, for some, especially for families who felt the mine disaster firsthand, the naming of Ross has dulled the thrill of Trump’s victory. ... “I don’t like that choice,” Vickie Boni, 74, said. “I always felt the company was responsible.” ... Boni’s ex-husband, John Boni, was the fire boss, in charge of checking safety at the Sago Mine. Five days before the explosion, he alerted superiors to a leak of dangerous methane gas. A freak lightning strike ignited the methane, investigators later said. Right after the explosion, John Boni retired, after 36 years in the mines. A few months later, he put a bullet in his head.

[sharp_stick]

1. One of the biggest reasons

coal is dead and not coming back has nothing at all to do with the environmental activists. Natural gas, whether fracked or not, is cheaper, cleaner, much easier to get and a lot more efficient than any coal.

No matter what Trump says he's not bringing coal back.

[pbmus]

2. That's it , a person that runs government like

The corporations have been run ; right over everyone.

The kkk has arrived ... Kleptocratic kakistrophic klusterfuck

[BeyondGeography]

3. West Virginians who think Trump will improve their lives are fantasists, not realists

He will make it harder and more expensive to access health care, he will gut social spending, he will fight mandated wage hikes of every kind, he will shower the Wilbur Ross class with money they even know what to do with, he will gut the Treasury and make credit more expensive, the quality of your air and water will decline and he will send more of your children to war than any Democrat ever would. Oh, and Nesselrotte is an ass.

[putitinD]

10. the GOP is masterful at finding ways to blame the democrats and Nancy Pelosi

[Squinch]

12. You are much kinder than I am, calling them fantasists. I was thinking, "idiots."

[anneboleyn]

4. They actually believe that Trump will "bring back jobs" -- nevermind that coal and steel have been

in a drastic decline for decades -- these voters place nearly all of the blame for their job losses on Pres. Obama and "evil" EPA regulations. Every now and then they will mention Bush and the banks. It is puzzling to me as US steel was destroyed decades ago, and towns that were once booming communities in western PA were dying out in the 1970s as steel workers were laid off and steel mills closed. It's the same w/coal in WV. I saw some interview conducted with WV coal miners, and they were expressing a nearly religious level of belief in Trump. They seem to believe literally that he can wave his magic wand and order plants reopened, jobs all restored, towns rebuilt, etc. sigh.

[Wellstone ruled]

11. Ingnorance is so blissful to many.

When one losses hope,the thought process is easily swayed by propaganda. Some how some way whole population groups will have to be relocated to areas of employment. And it will have to be done with skills updating and or OJT training programs. Call it a investment in human capital.

[dhill926]

16. desperate people will believe anything....

they are clearly grasping at straws. we need to find a way to help them, because as others have said, coal ain't coming back.

[Thinkingabout]

5. I predict those singing Trump's praises now will have a different tune

After four years of Trump. He lies a lot, I dont trust him

[uponit7771]

6. Business to DPutin Paying 25 million for fraud. DPutin's "success" will look mostly like Carrier

[superpatriotman]

7. Yeah, he knows how business works

Borrow/bankrupt/sue/repeat

[MFM008]

8. thats nice

coal is still dead and you cant bring a dead thing back to life.not even when made from ancient flotsam.

[DinahMoeHum]

9. They better get used to living on canned beans and Spam. . .

. . .drinking poisoned water and breathing polluted air. . .

. . .'cause they ain't getting any of the jobs Trump is promising them.

[herding cats]

13. With China's coal consumption having peaked, and now inching down, coal is dying.

China, the EU, US, Japan, etc., all are using less coal now. The only country expected to have increased demand in the future is India, and they're ramping up their own mining to fill that need locally. The coal industry in the US is not going to ever rebound to its previous levels, no matter who is in office. It's just not a viable alternative anymore now that natural gas is so plentiful and inexpensive.

Maybe when these self proclaimed "realist" see Trump's administration expand pipelines across the country they'll figure it out they fell for a con, but I doubt it. Coal has been in decline for decades, and they still hold out hope someone can bring back its glory days.

[Baitball Blogger]

14. Oh, Donald Trump knows how business works alright.

He knows how to leverage other peoples money, and when his deal turns to bankrupt ashes, he knows how to rise like a Phoenix and find, yet, more found money to fund his next project.

Now he has public money to play with. So, yes, I'm scared shitless. I hope we can survive the next four years without our pension dollars disappearing. I'm almost sure that at some point, they are going to go after military pensions. That might wake up a few people.

[underpants]

15. The owner of Sago is overseeing mining?

OMG

[KamaAina]

17. 'Cause Cheeto Benito will do SO much for mine safety and health care.

[underpants]

19. Cheeto Benito

[meow2u3]

21. More like Cheato Benito

[hatrack]

18. So in a year, when the jobs don't come back, and with no insurance, what tune will you sing?

Lots of luck, fucksticks.

[underpants]

20. :-)

Lots of luck, fucksticks

[onethatcares]

22. "lot's of luck"

fucksticks. signed the Cheato Benito.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

23. Too much meth?

[Wounded Bear]

24. People with no clue "how business works" are praising a businessman...

who only knows how the dark side of government works.

And they think he actually cares about them and their jobs.

And they are determined to take the rest of us down with them.