Former director of Mine Academy blames Bush admin. over mine disaster

[kpete]

Thursday, January 05, 2006

Former director of National Mine Academy blames Bush admin. over the Sago Mine disaster



COLMES: You're saying this mine should not have been open?

SPADARO: This mine should have been closed. And there were too many serious violations. And the record is very clear.

COLMES: Why was it open then? If you, as a safety expert, feels it should not have been, why was it open?

SPADARO: I think it's because of the current Bush administration's policies toward mine operators and their reluctance to take the strong enforcement action that's sometimes necessary. And that often involves closing a mine.

SEAN HANNITY, CO-HOST: Jack, let's not politicize this! I mean, already, what do you want, to blame George Bush with this? Is that where you're headed with this political question? I don't think this is the time to go into that.

There certainly are issues. This mine was cited for over 200 violations, 46 during an 11-week period late in the year. They've been fined thousands of dollars. But I can't see an instance where it was recommended that they close it.

SPADARO: Well, actually, there were three orders to close portions of the mine that were issued in the October to the December period. And there has been a significant change since the Bush administration took over, the enforcement of mine safety and health.

And I can speak to that, because I worked in the agency, and I talk with people every day who tell me that, in recent years, and particularly in recent months, there's been a reluctance on the part of the top management at the Mine Safety and Health Administration...


http://www.crooksandliars.com/

[BeyondGeography]

1. Let's not politicize this!

[stop the bleeding]

2. Stephanie Miller was all over this today, you said it

K&R

[Cha]

6. Righto! Let's just politicize

things that are bad for Dems. Let's not politicize this Sago mine disaster and the Spying, War On Iraq, jackoff, libby, Katrina, Rita, Traitorgate, ad infinitum...

[shance]

7. The text book Republican reply when they are busted.

"Let's not politicize this"!

or

"Let's show some bipartisanship!"

[Hobarticus]

3. When you enforce basic workplace safety laws, terror wins...

It's not particularly funny,but jeez, I don't know whether to laugh, cry, or just be seriously pissed.

[DBoon]

4. I'm surprised the mine's safety record isn't classified by DHS

isn't this the case with workplace injuries at chemical plants - don't want to give the terrorists ideas about safety flaws they might want to exploit? Aren't these records now kept from public scrutiny (along with disaster plans for these facilities, etc.)?

After all, only corporate owners should profit from safety failures.

[Hobarticus]

9. ...and they're dismantling the legal means for workers to seek justice

By undermining the tort system. Or is that under a whole different branch of law?

Man, this is a grim, grim time to be blue-collar...or any collar, for that matter.

[yellowcanine]

5. Why does Spadaro hate America?

:sarcasm:

[stop the bleeding]

8. Look at this if you want the truth.....

Meet James Steven Griles - former Deputy Secretary of Interior

Oversees regulation of the mining industry - was former lobbyist