Mine Deaths Blamed on Company Run by Major GOP Contributor

[PA Democrat]

West Virginia state mining officials concluded Thursday that a fatal mine accident in January could have been prevented, placing blame on a huge coal company run by one of the country's biggest Republican donors, Don Blankenship.

<snip>

The report on the fatal mine accident cites "168 notices of violations" in Massey Energy's Aracoma Mine that led to the deaths of two miners, according to the investigation issued by the West Virginia Office of Miner's Health, Safety and Training.

The scathing report came just days before Tuesday's election, in which Blankenship has played a major role.

In September and October alone, Blankenship has spent $2,041,510 of his own money to place television commercials, billboards and newspaper advertisements on behalf of Republican candidates in West Virginia, according to state election records reviewed by ABC News.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/11/mine_deaths_bla.html

[spinbaby]

1. I thought this was going to be about Murray

Crazy Bob Murray of last summer's Utah mine deaths is also a major Republican contributor.

[PA Democrat]

4. I did too at first glance. I guess we shouldn't be surprised that there is more than one

corrupt Republican mine owner.

[spinbaby]

6. Especially since he's in the news again

Being sued by the families:

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695266840,00.html

[PA Democrat]

10. I hope they take Murray to the cleaners. I would expect that he would not favorably impress a jury

given his horrific behavior during the search for those miners.

[malaise]

19. Take him to the cleaners

Please.

[malaise]

9. Ditto

What's that scum bag up to these days?

[PA Democrat]

12. Check out spinbaby's link. He's being sued.

[malaise]

18. Thanks n/t

[LeftinOH]

2. I recall him blaming the accident on "that evil mountain"...he's a total scumbag.

..on edit: That was Murray, the Utah mine owner who said that.

[PA Democrat]

5. You're thinking of Murray. This is another scumbag. What a shock that there's more than 1, huh?

[Kitty Herder]

11. That mine was played out years ago. It was unsafe when my dad worked

there fifteen years ago. Murray and those like him just won't give up on a mine until they've eeked every bit they can out of it, even at the cost of human lives. And it's not just the major incidents like the one at Crandall Canyon that got so much press. People die and are injured in coal mines every day. I don't know any one in my community whose life hasn't been touched in some way by a coal mine accident.

After my uncle lost an eye in Genwal (now known as Crandall Canyon to all but us locals) years ago, my dad who also worked there went on a crusade to increase safety standards. The main thing he wanted was safety goggles. He was ridiculed for wearing them by his co-workers. They should have been standard, required equipment.

O.K. I'm ranting and getting off subject, so I'll quit now.

[PA Democrat]

15. Thanks for the personal story.

My grandfather was a coal miner in western PA many years ago. He quit for a lower paying city job due to safety concerns. I never realized that the reason he chewed tobacco was that it was common among coal miners to reduce thirst. He never broke the habit.

[TooBigaTent]

3. Typical repuke values at work. And yet, there are those here that defend the GOP

and its supporters. I just don't get that viewpoint.

And the Dems will never run on issues like this.

[Omaha Steve]

7. Now they will lobby for more mountain top removal saying it is safer

We won't mention the way it looks, pollutes streams, and saves the company $!

K&R for the miners.

[PA Democrat]

8. And he makes his donations using a fake non-profit organization called

"And For the Sake of the Kids." I guess he wasn't too concerned about the kids of those dead miners.

[Cant trust em]

13. a corporate republican didn't ensure worker safety?

I'm shocked.

:sarcasm:

[sam sarrha]

14. yep... did you know th rat infested black molded apts at Walter Reed were managed by Corp Dan Quale

was involved with..

[sam sarrha]

16. the Minnesota bridge fell because the ReThug Governor set back the inspection so the work wouldn't

start before the next election. he felt the slow down on the bridge would make people angry and they wouldn't vote for him.

[PA Democrat]

17. Coal Boss to ABC reporter: If You Take Photos, 'You're Liable to Get Shot'

OMG, it gets even worse.




"If you're going to start taking pictures of me, you're liable to get shot," the chairman of one of the country's biggest coal mining companies, Don Blankenship of Massey Energy, told an ABC News reporter before grabbing the reporter's camera.

The incident this week, in the parking lot of a Massey Energy office in Belfry, Ky., is just the latest chapter in the saga of Blankenship's controversial relationship with the West Virginia Supreme Court, which is hearing appeals that could cost his company hundreds of millions of dollars.

Photographs recently emerged showing Blankenship vacationing on the French Riviera with the state Supreme Court Chief Justice Elliott "Spike" Maynard.

Earlier, Blankenship helped to raise $3.5 million for a television advertising campaign that led to the defeat of another Supreme Court justice.

[magellan]

20. On first glance I thought that read "Mime deaths"

And I was like :wtf:

....

I wish I could say this article surprises me. What is it called? "Outrage fatigue"?

GOP involvement in wanton acts of death and destruction never ends.