home

Karl Rove and the Mining Disaster: Connecting the Dots

Arianna connects the dots between Karl Rove and the Utah mining disaster.

Coal mining interests have donated more than $12 million to federal candidates since the Bush-era began with the 2000 election cycle, with 88% of that money -- $10.6 million -- going to Republicans.

And what did that largess buy the coal mining industry? Mine safety regulators far more interested in looking out for the financial well-being of mine owners than for the physical well-being of miners.

As "Exhibit A", Arianna points to Richard Stickler, Bush's "mine safety czar":

More:

Stickler is a former coal company manager with such a lousy safety record at the companies he'd run that his nomination as head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration was twice rejected by Senators from both parties, forcing Bush to sneak him in the back door with a recess appointment.

In other words, the guy the White House tapped to protect miners is precisely the kind of executive the head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration is supposed to protect miners from. And now Stickler is the one who will lead the "investigation" into what happened in Utah -- unless there is enough public outcry to force a truly independent investigation.

Where does Karl Rove enter the picture?

Rove's unprecedented use of federal assets for political gain, laid out in yesterday's Washington Post, meant that every tool at his disposal was employed to help foster his goal of a permanent Republican majority.

...These accouterments included, in the words of the Post, "enlisting political appointees at every level of government in a permanent campaign that was an integral part of [Rove's] strategy to establish electoral dominance." But Rove's plan involved much more than having Cabinet officials make election year visits bearing federal goodies to the districts of embattled Republicans; it also meant using the government's regulatory mechanisms to reward major GOP contributors. Major contributors such as Big Coal.

Arianna's logic is compelling. Go on over and read it all.

< Cheney Says He Has NSA Warrantless Spying Docs, Won't Turn Them over | Obama's Wife Takes a Swipe at Hillary >
  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


  • Display: Sort:
    See the 1987 film MATEWAN (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by Dadler on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 12:22:47 PM EST
    Everyone should take a look back at the best film John Sayles has ever made -- MATEWAN.  About the coal wars in the teens and 20s in West Virginia, the small town of Matewan to be exact.  It's a beautiful and pertainent piece of cinematic art.  Especially today.

    (Note, these clips contain a few titles and some footage not in the film)

    Clip 1
    Clip 2
    Clip 3

    In case you haven't checked lately (1.00 / 0) (#9)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 02:45:38 PM EST
    it isn't the teens or the late 20's.

    Parent
    Patience my friend..... (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by kdog on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 03:03:37 PM EST
    the times are changing back!

    Parent
    kdog (1.00 / 0) (#13)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 03:20:06 PM EST
    lol

    You gonna be ready for the Great Depression??

    Parent

    Certainly, Jim... (none / 0) (#23)
    by Dadler on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 08:50:30 PM EST
    ...We can never learn from history, or find disturbing parallels.  Why would anyone read history to learn things?  Why would we study the past to learn about the present?  

    Sometimes, Jim, you make less than no sense.

    And you'd love this film, it's gorgeously shot, well acted and a true slice of American cinematic greatness.

    Parent

    Dadler (1.00 / 1) (#26)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Aug 22, 2007 at 10:19:15 AM EST
    If you want to discuss movies I'd be happy to....but...

    This thread is not about movies or learning from the past. It is about attacking Bush and blaming him for the latest "disaster."

    Nothing wrong with that. Politics is a blood sport and false claims are part of it.

    But please don't pee on my shoes and tell me it kis raining.

    BTW - Next Open Thread I'll post my favs and we can discuss...

    Parent

    You're the only one here (none / 0) (#27)
    by Edger on Wed Aug 22, 2007 at 10:27:28 AM EST
    who specializes in making false claims daily, ppj.

    "False claims", of course, is a euphemism for lying.

    "Nothing wrong with that. Politics is a blood sport and false claims are part of it." is your admitted guideline?

    Parent

    You know, you have been caught and (1.00 / 1) (#28)
    by jimakaPPJ on Wed Aug 22, 2007 at 10:47:08 AM EST
    documeted as making false claims, and you continually accuse others of lying. If you want, I'll be happy to provide proof.

    As in the case of your "bedwetting" attacks, I think it has become clear that you are suffering from:


    Psychological Projection

    According to Sigmund Freud, projection is a psychological defense mechanism whereby one "projects" one's own undesirable thoughts, motivations, desires, and feelings onto someone else.



    Parent
    Go ahead (none / 0) (#29)
    by Edger on Wed Aug 22, 2007 at 10:51:39 AM EST
    you can provide (as you have repeatedly) one instance of an error.

    Not the continual daily lies that you post here in comments nearly every day.

    Parent

    Sigmund Freud??? (none / 0) (#31)
    by squeaky on Wed Aug 22, 2007 at 11:16:36 AM EST
    In case you haven't checked lately it isn't the teens or the late 20's.


    Parent
    Oh, please (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by jondee on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 12:53:03 PM EST
    Whats wrong with 80% of those in charge of regulation in the Bush Corp. being former lobbyists? Please.

    I suppose you'd all prefer a bunch of socialists from the teachers union. Of course you would.

    Coal miner's union (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by koshembos on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 12:56:09 PM EST
    Andy Stern in HuffPost stated an extremely important principle for coal mines operation: have a coal miners unionize and operate the mines as a cooperation between owners and union. This results in safe mines.

    Wow.... (1.00 / 1) (#15)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 03:23:06 PM EST
    Hmmm. Siezure of private property... Isn't that communism????

    And we know the Soviets and Eastern Euope had such a great environmental and other saftey issues records.

    BTW - When I hear of such I can't help but say:

    Where do we get such people?

    Parent

    Siezure of private property (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by Sailor on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 06:37:50 PM EST
    The Supreme Court already OK'd that.

    We've established that, now we're just haggling. So Corps should be able to take over for the 'public good' but workers aren't allowed to do that to save their lives?

    Where do we get such people?
    you voted for bush, that's where we get them.


    Parent
    Aint that commonism? (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by jondee on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 06:47:44 PM EST
    Those that cant be responsible enough to operate their firearms, cars, guns or mines safely have been known to have them taken away. Maybe you heard something about that in your travels.

    Of course when said irresponsible party fills Shrubs coffers, it gets a little more complicated.

    Parent

    Have sort of avoided this story (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by Militarytracy on Wed Aug 22, 2007 at 10:59:05 AM EST
    for a bit.  I had heard on CNN a small blurb that a corrupted MSHA might be a factor in the mine disaster in Utah.  My father is a retired contractor and big on unions and bid contracts and quality craftsmanship before we gave way to McMansions that will fall down in 15 yrs.  My father in his early twenties witnessed two men buried alive while digging an unsafely constructed trench on a contruction site before OSHA became a governing force.  They died before anyone could dig them out, suffocated in a collapsed hole that most of us would have never suspected could kill us and probably would have readily crawled down into.  It left a permanent mark on my father though witnessing that.  People who make professions out of construction and mining usually make A LOT of money.  They are part of an infrastructure of brawn that the rest of us sit upon and rely on and readily pay for because we need warmth and a roof over our heads before we need many other things.  My dad made a lot of money.  His best friend ended up owning a roofing company, he made a lot of money too but when it was really rolling in in Colorado Springs he forgot it wasn't all about making money.  He was using round power cords unstead of flat power cords on top of roofs because flat cords were much more expensive and sometimes harder to find when needed and he had jobs rolling in.  OSHA can try to watch everything, they can shut your site down and fine you but it's a big world with more power cords than OSHA inspectors!  If you are walking around on a rooftop and step on a round power cord it rolls under your foot and you can fall, and if you fall you can die.  A twenty-one year old kid died.  Jimmy was sued and he lost and he was suffering from a building slump at the time the suit finally couldn't be stalled any longer.  He cried to my dad but my dad was firm.  If you get to make a living doing something you love you are a lucky man.  He was really disgusted with Jimmy's bawling, told him he got a twenty-one year old kid killed so shut up.  Without MSHA and OSHA doing their jobs the parents of children will die and college students working summer jobs will die because some people focus too much on the money and accidents are something that happen to someone else, not them.

    Oh Please (1.00 / 1) (#2)
    by jarober on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 12:30:36 PM EST
    Should I "connect the dots" and link union donations (almost all to Democrats) to the union labor that built (and was in the process of repairing) the I-35 bridge?

    Maybe a moron would, but it's guilt by association - which is exactly what you are doing here.  You've long since passed into what can only be called Bush/Rove derangement syndrome.  

    The anti-Clinton nuts of the 90's were nothing compared to you.

    So you think mining companies lobby for nothing? (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by Dadler on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 12:41:58 PM EST
    You think these big companies pump zillions into pockets for nothing more than access to parties?  They wanted and got lax regulation, because they paid politicians.  That's just reality.  They do this to put millions in their pockets, you can't be that naive.  And when it comes to saving money on safety and regulation of it, well, people suffer and die.  That's what happens.  

    Unions are no angels, but that ain't the point of this thread.  If you want to find a labor conspiracy in the bridge collapse, have at it.  But most likely you'll find that neglected infrastructure is the culprit, not infrastructure that has suffered from too much union work.  

    Parent

    He isn't saying a labor conspiracy, (1.00 / 0) (#10)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 02:48:11 PM EST
    he's saying that union money, including some from those working on the bridge went to Demos.

    That proves nothing.  Which his point re the mine.

    Parent

    So union $$ went to dems ... (5.00 / 0) (#16)
    by Sailor on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 03:46:35 PM EST
    ... makes sense, they want to protect their members and they know republicans put profit over human life. WVA was a perfect example.

    Under bush mining inspections have been reduced, safety fines reduced and new safety rules not implemented or rolled back.

    It's supposed to be the  Mine and Health Safety Administration, not the pro-mining business lobby.

    Parent

    Ingenious (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by jondee on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 12:45:48 PM EST
    comeback J.R. Yes, unions just go ahead and build things anyway they want regardless of design, structural requirements and safety r*gulations (sorry for the offensive word).

    How is the ethics of deregulation NOT pertinent here? I know, I know..when Rush and Sean say it isnt.

    Parent

    Good Point Jar (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Peaches on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 12:47:22 PM EST
    I think we should have local Farmer/peasants doing the bridge work in this country instead.

    Yes, thats what we need. It works so well in China, and its cheaper, too.


    Parent

    Come on Peaches (none / 0) (#11)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 02:51:05 PM EST
    How about we go back to letting the airlines hire the contactors for airport security.. that worked so well.....

    Parent
    I thought we were (5.00 / 0) (#14)
    by Peaches on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 03:21:53 PM EST
    going to keep our discussions to gardening. I have a gardening union of one and all dues are paid to your's truly.

    I don't know what the point is on on airline security, and the link between Rove and the mine disaster may be tenuous, but there has been a payback to the mining industry by the bush administration in the form of decreased environmental and safety regulations. I think this is true from articles I have read (from union sources?) However, I don't think there has been any recent payoffs to unions from their donations by any administration since what...1970? Certainly, in Minnesota, the insinuation that I35 had anything to do with Union construction workers (of which, one was the last victim found yesterday) is inane and blatantly misplaces blame from the decrease in state and Federal funding for road construction in Minnesota and around the nation that has been championed by republicans and conservatives wishing to decrease taxes on the main beneficiaries of our roads users through the  subsidy of interstate commerce - the rich and large corporate interests.

    But, anyway, to more important matters, it seems are drought has come to an abrupt end just has my harvest has passed its peak point. We are now experiencing a flooding crisis in MN.

    Parent

    All I have left is okra (none / 0) (#17)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 05:03:09 PM EST
    which isn't very interesting...but delicious fried..

    Perhaps all conflicts should be diced, rolled in egg and corn meal and fried in peanut oil...

    My point is that the problems with airport security was well known for years. The Clinton administration had eight years to fix'em, and didn't...neither did Bush1 and Reagan and Carter... etc, etc ad nausem and other things.

    And of course this blog's theme is politics and crime.... but trying and connect every disaster to Bush and the Repubs is as silly as the Repubs trying to connect everything to Sweet William. It may stir the base but it adds no new members, or at least ones that will remember to vote.

    The larger amounts of industry money typically goes to the party in power, the exception being unions, media and Hollywoood to the Demos.

    Parent

    Sorry Peaches ... (5.00 / 0) (#18)
    by Sailor on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 06:21:54 PM EST
    ... but ppj sullied your garden already by devoting his reply to not discussing gardening.

    The larger amounts of industry money typically goes to the party in power
    Got links? ppj's belief that that is true should be substantiated.

    The $$ spent by corps has been mandated for several years. ppj made a factual claim, I just think he should be able to cite facts for his beliefs.

    I'm sorry if this POV offends you, but I've always believed if someone states something as a fact they should be able to show work.

    Parent

    Sailor has reading problems (1.00 / 0) (#22)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 08:47:10 PM EST
    or else he is loving them Strawmen.

    Peaches said:


    I thought.....

    Can't you be factual on something as simple as that??


    Parent

    ppj (none / 0) (#25)
    by Peaches on Wed Aug 22, 2007 at 09:11:27 AM EST
    and I have many political disagreements. Some of are views are vehemently opposed to one another. But, the fact that we both enjoy gardening cuts across the political divide and reminds each of us that we are each fellow humans and Americans trying to make our way through an increasingly complex world.

    Of course we will not keep our discussions confined only to gardening, but we will keep reminding each other of our commonalities, so we do not get bogged down on our differences. It is a long established means for reaching compromise between vastly opposed   positions, parties, or societies. What first must be established are the points of commonality. Ppj and I are gardeners and, for me, that makes ppj all right. It does not mean I won't disagree with his points on other areas. It just means that we can sit down together and eat Okra, have a drink, admire the garden, talk about many things, while avoiding pissing each other off, since we enjoy the moment of each other's company.

    Parent

    How about Rupert Murdoch for Internet Czar? (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by JSN on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 02:14:50 PM EST
    After all he is an honorable man who never take advantage of his position and he has the ability to make a big donation.

    Parent
    Once again (1.00 / 1) (#21)
    by Slado on Tue Aug 21, 2007 at 07:36:24 PM EST
    no problem natural or man made isn't solvable by more spending and regulation by the government.

    Nevermind that there is no possible way of knowing if increased standards or regulations would have saved these unfortunate miners.

    No blame is put on blessed mother earth that seems to not always react perfectly to the intrusion of men deep beneath her surface.

    No we are to assume that under a democratic administration  the miners would have been sheilded by the magical bubble of increased taxes and government minding, the unions would have a utopian workplace where the air they breath would be filtered by solar powered corn based filtration system etc....

    That is the fantasy world one has to believe in to buy this crazy conspiracy theory.

    Echoing the comments above Bush/Rove Derangement syndrome has reached new hights.

    You're right..... (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by kdog on Wed Aug 22, 2007 at 08:10:28 AM EST
    there is no way of knowing if the old safety regulations in place before Bush put his crony in power would have saved these miners.

    But I'd bet the old regulations lessened the chance of a mining disaster...and when the old regs were in place companies still mined so it must have still been profitable.  So why roll back the regs?  The answer, I believe, is greed....good old fashioned greed, a common trait in Bush policy.

    Parent