Howdy-ho, it's the Clean Coal Carolers!

This holiday season, the coal industry has created the most incredibly easy-to-skewer mascots ever: the "Clean Coal Carolers."

See Rachel Maddow's take and read more about the myth of "clean coal" here and here.



They do bear a striking resemblance to another piece of--umm--animation that I can think of:

King Coal not such a merry old soul

Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship to ABC reporter: "If you're going to start taking pictures of me, you're liable to get shot." (ABC News)

One of the chief architects of the destruction of Appalachian mountains and waterways through mountaintop removal coal mining, Blankenship apparently sheds the "good ol' boy" persona when pressed.

The proprietor of West Virginia

OK, so King Coal may not literally own the Most Unhorizontal State in the Union. But he's about to buy it.

Don Blankenship, CEO of Charleston-based Massey Energy, last week "announced plans to wrest control of at least one chamber of the state Legislature from the majority Democrats in November."

In coordinated press appearances, Blankenship declared war on several dozen lawmakers seeking re-election. He pledged to devote millions of dollars from his personal wealth to "change the leadership of the West Virginia House of Delegates" while also targeting several Senate seats."--AP

For a little background on Massey Energy's track record in West Virginia, check out this CBS story. You may also want to pay a visit to the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition.