Triangulization- a politician lingering between two ideological extremes, hovering above these opposite arguments to retain credibility and avoid taking one side or another.
Dick Morris first proposed "triangulization" in the 1996 Clinton re-election, and Governor Joe Manchin uses it now to stay above the fold in the "economy vs. environment" debate.
As the media has covered arrests and protests, tensions mount between envrionmental activists and coal industry supporters. Michael Hendryx released a questionable report yesterday, suggesting the costs of mining outweigh the economic benefits (This report is flawed in countless ways, but that is another topic). Massey CEO Don Blankenship challenged NASA climate scientist James Hansen to an academic debate about the effects of "global warming" and the West Virginia coal industry. A former Congressman and Secretary of State, 93 year old Ken Hechler was arrested at a protest!
While activists and citizens garner support for either side, where is Joe Manchin? Well, aside from dealing with the PEIA budget crisis, organizing a judicial reform board, and making official visits around the state, Governor Manchin is seemingly taking no firm position in the coal debate... yet.
The Gazette reports, in interview with Manchin, that he supports: peaceful protests, pro-coal legislation, environmentalism, alternative energy, natural resource management, mountain top removal... Huh?!?!
Attempting to stay between and above the two ideological extremes, Governor Manchin is clearly pro-coal, but supports environmentalist protests and ideals. If he is giving both sides an opportunity to voice opinions and come to the best consensus, then this could be great leadership. However, if this is an attempt to play politics with both sides, then he might be forced to choose one or the other, eventually.
Triangulization can be very effective when properly positioned. However, Aesop having a much smarter intellect than I, once said "Please all, and you will please none."
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Ok, you want to challenge Michael Hendryx's report as questionable that links coal as counterproductive to economic benefits....as flawed, but to deal with another time. Well, deal with it! Of course, health and dollar bills are a bit like "apples and oranges" especially when most of the dollar bills are carted out of state. Leaving WV coal regions among the most impoverished and low in quality of life in the nation.
ReplyDeleteHansen accepted Blankenship's offer for a debate. Blankenship at first delayed, then requested his own hand-picked moderator. I wish the debate had occurred, of course in a neutral forum with honest fact checkers present.
I contend coal has been and is a curse to West Virginia.
--Allen Johnson