New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo became the nation's progressive superhero and pre-determined 2016 Democratic nominee for president just last week, with the legalization of same-sex marriage. So what's next for this once-in-a-generation liberal lion? How about ditching the state's moratorium on dangerous hydraulic fracturing for natural gas? Hmm.

"Fracking" is the hot new potential Ponzi scheme in which millions of gallons of water are blasted into deep subterranean shale formations to release sweet, sweet natural gas. Depending on how you identify politically, this booming extractive business serves to either (a) poison the area's water forever or (b) make buttloads of cash. Is there a way to do it on the massive scale being planned now without killing many humans? Professional spokespeople for the natural gas industry say there is, so that's good enough for us.

And the New York Times is reporting that Cuomo will allow the practice in parts of New York state with access to expansive shale formations. He would spare the effete, wine-tossing communists of New York City, and Syracuse, however:

The Cuomo administration is expected to lift what has been, in effect, a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing, a controversial technology used to extract natural gas from shale, people briefed on the administration's discussions said on Thursday.

Administration officials are discussing maintaining a ban on the process inside New York City's sprawling upstate watershed, as well as a watershed used by the city of Syracuse, according to people briefed on the plan. But by allowing the process in other parts of the state, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo would open up New York to one of the fastest-growing - critics would say reckless - areas of the energy industry.

Cuomo's office labels the Times report "baseless speculation," as a long-awaited state report about the risks of hydrofracking doesn't come out until tomorrow. But we're getting the feeling that the report will be good enough for the rock-blasters camp.

[Image via AP]