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Special Report

Coal Shoulder

Virginia coal country turned out, but it was just too small.

(Page 2 of 2)

Really, not much changed on Tuesday: The nation, like Virginia, remains divided along regional, demographic and ideological lines.

While Obama’s supporters view the President’s agenda as a way forward, others — like those in coal country who turned out in significant numbers Tuesday to vote against him — have already started to talk about preparing for the worst.

And while the pundits speculate on whether the election outcome will mean continued political gridlock or a new opportunity for compromise, the people in coal country and elsewhere remain every bit as worried about the issue at hand: their economic future.

Page:   12

About the Author

Debra McCown is an award-winning journalist based in Abingdon, Virginia. She can be reached at debra (dot) mccown (at) gmail (dot) com.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (17) |

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 11.7.12 @ 6:15AM

If they have anything to do with coal they have no future now.

Von Mises Jr| 11.7.12 @ 7:36AM

Anyone with high debt or high expenses has no future. Unless you were living quite frugal, where does the average middle class family come up with several hundred dollars more next year every month for their taxes?

Al Adab| 11.7.12 @ 3:23PM

Heck guys, that was a campaign promise the first time around, remember?

LarryK| 11.7.12 @ 6:46AM

I wonder if Obama voters will connect the dots when their electric bill doubles and a gallon of gas hovers at $4 or $5 or when employers cut their wages and benefits. Oh no, they will follow the MSM that will blame those nasty Republicans.

Al Adab| 11.7.12 @ 3:24PM

Larry, that is exactly the economy they desire. Forced conservation for after all we plebs are to ignorant to understand what is best for us so they impose it surreptitiously.

Purp| 11.7.12 @ 7:45AM

America Won! The Middle Class Won! The Constitution Won! Gay Rights Won! BIG MONEY lost! You can't buy an election, and that's good news for America.
For all those who are sad, I have to say Romney gave a classy concession speech. As the last political thing he does, it's a good way to end after a loss to President Barack Obama.

Von Mises Jr| 11.7.12 @ 10:55AM

You probably think AmbASSador Stevens won too, but only if he got ploughed before he got snuffed.

PolishKnight| 11.7.12 @ 11:06AM

Purp is creaming his pants right now. Or at least he's paid to pretend like he is.

Either way, Purp, enjoy. I seem to recall that the Bolsheviks were happy when they won the USSR and were in charge. The problem is that winning elections and especially power is different than actually getting anything out of it.

It's going to be a cold winter and the rust belt citizens who turned out for Obama are waiting in line for $8 gasoline and acting like they're "winners" if they fill up a jug. Soviets were less excited waiting in line for toilet paper. Great, shutdown coal. Again, Bostonians are going to have a cold, expensive winter.

In the meantime, folks, there is a silver lining to this: With the military cutbacks in Northern Virginia, my wife and I who are military defense workers will be able to afford a house here. Obama voters will be hitting the road. I'll be sure to remind them of how great it is to be a democrat...

PolishKnight| 11.7.12 @ 11:10AM

Oops, I mean we're NOT defense workers. I stayed out of government work just in case something like this happened.

Or maybe now that Obama got the votes of the suckers, er, progressive whites of Ohio and Pennsylvania, he'll just cut them loose to starve to death while he still sends over money to Northern Virginia liberals. If that happens, I won't get to buy a house but I'll laugh my head off. Yeah guys, he "cared" about you! You're so smart! Hahahaha!

Al Adab| 11.7.12 @ 3:19PM

It will not be long before they turn on and eat their own. Once they have devoured our children through abortion and debt, they will have no enemies but themselves. It is always thus.

Crassus| 11.7.12 @ 10:28AM

This election was Southwest Virginia's last stand. God help our region now. The deluge is coming.

djn1313| 11.7.12 @ 11:51AM

Shameful that the selfish progressive liberal guilt-ridden whites sold out their country once again. After four years of obama's reign of destruction and lies they sold their souls to EVIL. May God have no mercy on them.

djn1313| 11.7.12 @ 11:46AM

These forgotten, mostly white, hardworking Americans have been ignored by the black racist in the WH. Thanks to the guilt-ridden liberal white traitors that voted for obama again the suffering for these Americans will continue.

PolishKnight| 11.7.12 @ 1:03PM

djn1313, it wasn't just the white liberals traitors that showed up. It was the fools. People in Ohio and Pennsylvania ought to know better. But they don't. They were raised by grandparents to believe that FDR and the unions would get them decent wages and "rob the rich". It's been about 100 years and that hasn't happened for them. They just don't "get it". They'll need to freeze their boots off during the winter with $8 Obamagas before they might get it. This is an intervention of their own making.

Archie| 11.7.12 @ 1:19PM

I spent a decade in SW Va IN THE 80s and want to thank the hard working and good people there for turning out. I apologize on behalf of my fellow northern virginians for screwing up.

Hardcard| 11.7.12 @ 2:45PM

They can beat their shovels and picks into solar windmill blades.

Al Adab| 11.7.12 @ 3:17PM

One of the first trial baloon proposals out today was the carbon tax to reduce the debt. All these people think of is tax when what the nation needs is a growing economy. Sadly they now believe that every facet of their agenda was ratified by the "mandate" that this election is claimed

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