White House Promises Mine Investigation

[sabra]

http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/feeds/ap/2006/01/04/ap2427491.html

White House Promises Mine Investigation


The White House on Wednesday promised a full investigation of the West Virginia coal mine disaster that killed 12 people, and President Bush said the entire nation mourns the loss.

"We send our prayers and heartfelt condolences to the loved ones whose hearts are broken," Bush said at the Pentagon, where he was briefed on Iraq and the war on terror. "We ask that the good Lord comfort them in their time of need."

The president praised West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin "for showing such compassion" during the crisis and thanked rescuers "who risked their lives to save those miners for showing such courage."

"May God bless the good people of West Virginia," Bush said.

[pinniped]

1. This POS should tell us his role in undermining mine safety.

.

[rustydog]

2. No one could have forseen an explosion in a coal mine

[Botany]

3. O.K.

I wonder if the investigation will cover that the dept. of interior's head of mine safety used to be the chief lobbyist
for the coal companies, that in 2000 the coal companies gave more then any other group to bush/cheney,
and that "they" cut funding for mine inspections.

[54anickel]

8. I'm sure that's why THEY want to make sure that THEY are the ones

to head up the investigation. :grr:

[HuffleClaw]

11. i didn't know that but it comes as no suprise

who is it? i've been searching the DOI site.

[hippywife]

25. You got some more info on this?

I would really like to see who the guy is. DOI website shows it being Jeffrey D. Jarrett, confirmed February 17, 2002:

http://www.doi.gov/bio/jarrettbio.html

But then according to a trade rag, this same guy was sworn in as Asst. Sec. For Fossil Energy, confirmation December 17, 2005:

http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=28283

Is the DOI website not up to date?

Thanx! :hi:

[Miss Chybil]

4. WHUT ever.

I'll believe it when I see it.

[John Q. Citizen]

5. Is he going to send "Brownie?" n/t

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

6. I'm sure they'll be all over this! West Virginians are much better than

poor New Orleanians

[Corgigal]

7. Haven't the families been lied to enough?

This administration just needs to shut up now, it's not about them.

[HuffleClaw]

9. *yawn* one more attempt to make political hay from a tragedy

that THEY had an indirect hand in. cutting funding etc...

[peaches2003]

10. The Press

It would be nice if we could see some investigative reporting of mine safety regulation since 2000 and an expose of how BushCo has seen to it that the owners of these mines are now protected by the feds. Oh, I'm sorry, I must have been dreaming. I forgot that today's journalists don't investigate or report anymore. They just laugh at the Bush Crime Family's jokes and hope they get a nickname.

[Supersedeas]

16. the Corporate Media would sooner take Katie Couric lipstick off

[meow2u3]

12. Promises, promises

That's all I have to say

[truth2power]

13. "May God bless the good people of West Virginia"...

How in the world that pathetic little pissant can call on God for anything without being struck down where he stands is beyond me.

Friggin' little hypocrite!! :puke:

[hatrack]

14. Yeah, I'm sure they'll get RIGHT on that . . .

:boring:

[lavenderdiva]

15. yeah, right..

IF they DO conduct the investigation, it will be nothing more than an attempt to divert attention from the Abramoff matter, IMHO.

[Norquist Nemesis]

17. Except the WH won't comment on ongoing investigations. n/t

[truth2power]

18. "Bush ...owes his presidency to coal miners."

While Googling for something else,found this interesting article from DU, 8/10/02.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/02/08/10_mine.html

"Mine all Mine."

"Bush, in no small measure, owes his presidency to coal miners. Let me explain. In the 2000 campaign, Bush won the coal miners vote in West Virginia by promising less environmental regulation of coal mines. Coal miners were seemingly scared of by Gore's 'green' reputation, and handed Bush West Virginia in 2000. This was the first time since 1928 that a Republican presidential candidate had won the state of West Virginia. What miners forgot is that Republicans generally like to deregulate everything, including mine safety. Democrats must emphasize safety if they hope to carry states like West Virginia on 2004.

This is how the Bush administration thanks the miners who provided him with his slim electoral 'victory.' By cutting the federal organization charged with protecting miners, and smiling while he does it. Blue collar workers need to realize Bush is not their friend, and send him back home to his ranch in Crawford for a permanent vacation in 2004."

Did Bush carry WV in '04? Can't remember.

[doc03]

22. Bush carried WV in 04 too, that article was exactly right

the Repugs used Gore's environmental record to scare the miners into voting for them. In addition to that the NRA played big part in this on the gun issue. The Republicans also used the Clinton administrations lack of action on illegal steel imports and Gore's environmental record to win steelworkers votes in the area. As you may have heard Bush failed to stop the illegal pipe imports Monday betraying a lot of the votes he got from the steelworkers. These people are masters at using fear to get their way. 911 911 911 911 terra terra

[alfredo]

19. This is what happens when you put a mining lobbyist in charge

of enforcing mine safety. You get reports of violations, but no real penalties to the rich mine companies. Sago mine should have been shut down .

gale Norton. their blood is on your hands. Your lack of leadership and real oversight allows the coal barons do as they wish.


Brent Wahlquist is head of OSM. He might be an OK guy, but he can't do much if Norton had her foot on his back. Just him being named as head of OSM casts doubt on his honesty. If I am wrong, let me know.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

20. Misquoted. They promise a MIME investigation. Too many mimes have

gone missing from Aruba.

If anyone thinks that the federal mine safety guys will do anything serious, especially under Mike Duffy's control, I really want to smoke what they are smoking.
For those that don't know, Duffy was appointed by Bush after being the leading voice against Kyoto for the mining industry. He has repeatedly argued that there was too much safety in mines today, and that it cost too much.

Think of Mike Brown, and you get Mike Duffy

[MasonJar]

21. They need to investigate why they are so incompetent and

pro-corporation and pro-death. Don't you just have a warm spot when the Bushies are going to investigate themselves...such an effective strategy.

[Harper_is_Bush]

23. People, people, people.....can we PLEASE talk about the mine for a while!

PLEASE...no more talk about Iraq and corruption and New Orleans and illegal spying.

No more blame game, we must speak of the mine. Watch CNN, they've got the right idea!

:eyes:

[high density]

24. How about an investigation into the $300 billion war that is a lie

Goodness all this outrage over this mine fiasco and nobody gives a shit about the dead people in Iraq.

[sakabatou]

26. How much do you wanna bet that

some of it will be censored to cover *'s ass?