Politics and profit, it appears, is still more important than a few dead miners:
Ah, the magic of the presidency. The Senate has refused to confirm former coal company executive Richard Stickler as the head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). So, while they were out, Bush gave him a recess appointment to the post.
MSHA exists to protect miners’ well-being. Once a miner himself, Stickler spent most of his career above ground, much of it as an executive for companies like coal giant Massey Energy. According to the Charleston Gazette, Stickler’s mines had accident rates of twice the national average.
At a Senate hearing in March, Stickler explained that if U.S. mines were unsafe, it wasn’t an “enforcement problem,” merely a “compliance problem.” His nomination was opposed by the United Mine Workers of America and the AFL-CIO, among others.
Apply that ‘logic’ to the war on drugs- the reason we are failing isn’t because we aren’t catching the drug dealers, it is because the drug dealers refuse to comply with drug laws.
Oh, and guess what happened over the week-end just down the road from me:
A man is dead after an accident at a coal mine Friday in Fellowsville, Preston County. Officials are not releasing the man’s name.
Caryn Gresham, spokeswoman for the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training said the accident involved a rib-roll. A rib-roll occurs when the wooden rib of a mine comes loose from the wall or roof of the mine. Gresham said once the rib is loose, it usually causes rocks to fall.
The miner was taken to Preston Memorial Hospital, where he later died.
Someone commented the other day that if the Democrats win in 2006, nothing much will change. The President will just find his veto pen and continue to appoint who he wants through recess appointments. In this case, the boy President, the great decider, had his man and he was sticking to him- even if the the Senate and everyone in the mining industry with a reason to be concerned about safety opposed him. But, as always with this administration and this GOP, it isn’t about what is right or what is good with this country. It is about political power, rewarding those who have been loyal, and, at the core, simply getting what you want at the expense of everyone else- in this case, the widows and orphans of future dead miners.
Thank goodness the adults are in charge. I am really looking forward to voting for the Democrats.
cd6
I love that he signing statement-ed away the rule requiring that the new FEMA director have 5 years of relevant experience because that “might keep the most qualified people out of the job.” (paraphrased)
This is the kind of little thing that there literally is no common sense justification for, but the dittoheads would never admit it. How does this make sense? HOW?
After seeing so many of his reckless appointments utterly fail, why does Bush think recess apointing them in spite of the Senate is in any way logical? I mean, good God.
The Other Steve
I suppose you saw the story about the guys who worked at the Sago mine committed suicide? Happened last month or so.
The point being, that there are people in this world who do take their jobs seriously and suffer from regret when they feel they have failed.
Pb
While we’re on the topic, I’m wondering if Bush will try to recess appointment Bolton back in again, I heard that they’ve got a sneaky way to do it all planned out if they can’t get him through otherwise.
David
Maybe Bush doesn’t think of “failure” in the same way that we do. I mean, sure, Iraq killed (literally) uncounted thousands of innocents, created a black hole of money and destabilized the country for years to come. But it won elections, sent money to contractors and made the Republicans feel manly, so it succeeded! Same principle.
stickler
First let me say that my screen name is in no way an endorsement of the hopeless tool Bush just appointed.
Precisely. Bush’s definition of “succeed” seems to be different than ours. This idiot must have been pushed by some moneyed supporter of Bushco. Thus, they are rewarded by his appointment.
The question is: who is getting served by this? Follow the money.
DougJ
I remember John that at the time you were angry that some Democrats were trying to politicize the mine tragedies. You’ve changed, man.
DougJ
Well put. It’s interesting that we only hear the unvarnished — though obvious — truth from potty-mouthed bloggers and not the wise old gray heads of the Gang of 500.
Davebo
You’re doing a heckuva job Dickie.
Rex
This blog wasn’t worth a damn for about a month straight toward the end of summer. Cole and company are more than making up for it with this pre-election buzzsaw of posts.
Good job, John and Tim!
Filthy McNasty
Sure, go ahead and vote Democrat, you turncoat. And smoke this bongload of what America will get as a result of your betrayal.
The Democrats have no business running any aspect of our national government. And this is a perfect example why they should be denied elected office in these trying times. They’re unfit to serve, and you’re unfit to call yourself a citizen.
Perry Como
Did you know that if you vote Democrat an uppity black man may date a white woman? Do the right thing and vote for Corker. Otherwise the strawmen may get you!
JoeTx
Dude, what planet do you live on?
Bob In Pacifica
David, the fragmentation of Iraq and destabilization of the region will also increase the cost of oil. That helps friends.
Barry
One difference that Democratic control of the House would make is that these recess appointees could be properly ‘vetted’. By that, I mean left feeling like the Spanish Inquisition had been on their case.
Mike S
If you keep this up pj media is going to stop sending you those $.32 checks. Not to mention RedState’s children “blamming” you into oblivion.
I’m glad your voting Dem and I hope you and people like you will retake control of your party.
Tsulagi
Well Filthy, took that link you provided over to Powerline. Guess, Scott, was too busy going ass up for Bush with the gang to provide a link to the Philadelphia Inquirer editorial he was printing. Sort of wanted to read it directly from the Inquirer. Not that I think they make shit up all the time on Powerline.
Damn, on the Inquirer site couldn’t find the editorial Powerline was quoting from. Not saying it doesn’t exist. I have faith in the assuppers. However, while on the Inquirer site I did find their editorial from Sunday, Oct. 22 regarding Santorum and Casey. The Inquirer endorses Casey by the way. Wonder why? Probably because only someone brain dead would vote Republican at this point.
p.lukasiak
well, the good news is that this appointment is only effectve until the new Congress is seated (i.e. until January).
The bad news is that the if they win in November, the Democrats probably won’t have the sense to refuse to officially “recess”, and thus prevent Bush from doing this kind of crap for the next two years….
(I mean, you need both houses of congress to agree to a “recess” for it to happen. If the Dems gain control of one house, all they have to do is refuse to go into an official “recess” — and pass legislation that defines “recess” as a period of more than 60 days when Congress is not in session. The whole idea of “recess appointments” is one of those outdated “quaint” aspects of the Constitution from back in the day when Congress was intended to meet for only a few weeks each year—and should be done away with.)
sglover
It might be a tangential point, but aside from the usual cronyism, this appointment represents something that had me highly annoyed at the Cheney administration long before they started their criminal military schemes: They’re totally in the pocket of last century’s technology. If the Dems 1) manage to take the Congress, and 2) don’t betray us by pussyfooting around, maybe we’ll see some real investigations of Cheney’s “energy task force”, and lingering question about the logic behind our glorious Mesopotamian adventure might finally get an answer.
jcricket
Not to be cavalier, but isn’t that the core model of Libertarianism? I know, somehow privatizing everything will result in even better environmental stewardship and we’ll all have ponies.
Seriously, I know you’ve had at least a temporary “conversion” (even if it’s just “I hate the GOP”), but do you really think the GOP is coming back from the direction it’s headed? If anything I think
At this point the theocracy, no-bid contracts, graft, pork, spending with no tax increases (at least tax and spend makes some kind of logical sense), ill-conceived militarism, anti-diplomatic foreign policy, hatred of immigrants/gays/non-christians, disdain for science are part and parcel of the GOP agenda – not just the current crop of politicians. It’s part of the Rovian wedge-politics strategy and I don’t think you’re headed back, even if you lose.
See the Texas GOP part platform, for one example of where I believe the GOP is headed. You dance with the devil, the devil don’t change, the devil changes you.
The Other Steve
What are we going to do after the Democrats win and hand the keys ot the country over to Osama bin Laden and Adolf Hitler?
Whooaaaa is me!
I’ll bet Osama bin Laden wants to raise taxes too!
Whoaaaa is me!!!!!
Bombadil
Hey, John — are you willing now to go back to this thread and admit that maybe you were full of shit then when you jumped on Democrats and others on the left as politicizing a mine disaster? Or is it OK now that you’re a lefty sympathizer?
rachel
Shorter Filthy McNasty:
The Democrats are going to take my T-bird away!
Teak111
There is nothing more revealing then critism from one of your own, great stuff John Cole. Don’t get me started on the Dem Party. I think the lesson learned here is to vote for the most compentant, intelligent, sharp candidate available, regardless of party. The other lesson over the past 6 years is, given total power over the government, either party would deteriorate into corruption. ITs up to the people to understand the importance of checks and balances in government, that the sunshine and bleach is often the other party.
Hyperion
wow, i did and was reminded of Brian…precursor of scs and Darrell, no? that guy was annoying.
CaseyL
I’m not going to get on John’s case about things he said way back when. There’s nothing he can do about things he said, or votes he cast, way back when.
Everyone will prefer to stick up for what they see as “their side,” and everyone is more likely to see (and criticize) the mote in the “other side’s” eye than the beam in their own. That’s human nature.
I think that John – who tends to be a bit, ah, hyperbolic when he’s upset anyway – was more hair-trigger than usual during what now, in retrospect, seems to have been the last throes of the last vestiges of his Republicanism.
Zifnab
John’s been apologizing through his nose for the past two months. I think every other post begins or ends with “I can’t believe I voted for these guys”. He’ll be voting straight D in November and I’m sure he’s doing a few Hail Marys before he goes to bed. He’s paying his penance.
John Cole
Bombadil-
There is a clear difference between the two situations. First, this is behavior on the part of the president that has occurred AFTER the Sago 13, which is completely inexcusable. Second, I am not blaming the President for the death of this miner, as RedDan was blaming Bush for the deaths of those 13.
I think there are some pretty big distinctions there.
John Cole
Not to mention, I have been known to be wrong about things before…
Bombadil
Irrelevant, unless the Sago 13 incident was the first mine disaster ever. The Sago 13 incident was AFTER whatever disaster had come before, and the mine safety regulations and funding for their enforcement were still being cut.
Codswallop. From the quote you yourself posted:
I don’t see how his laying this at the feet of the Bush Administration’s actions and policies is much different from your own take on it here:
And re:
You’re hardly alone there. We’re thinking of having jackets made up.