MSM: Ignore the man behind the Curtain

Published on January 6, 2006 By Dr Guy In Politics

As has been documented here by other bloggers (http://parated2k.joeuser.com/articleComments.asp?AID=97023 ), the Mainsream media screwed up big time in the reporting the Sago Mine disaster. But instead of accepting blame, doing a Mea Culpa, and then try to correct what went wrong with them, they are now trying to shift the story to, who else? Bush!

Like a Clueless old Liberal, the MSM accepts no responsibility for their actions, and instead want to divert attention form the disaster and their shoddy reporting, to blame Bush for the disaster. never mind that the system was working, and the mine wsa being cited. Never mind that most of the 208 violations, as Gideon documented, were basically nit picking. Never mind the fact that they were cited by the Mine Safety and health Administration. No, forget all that. This was all Bush's fault!

"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." - former director of the National Mine Safety and Health Academy, Jack Spadaro

Nope! This could not have been an accident or an act of God! Bush did it! Plain and simple! See? It is easy to be a reporter. Something bad happens, tie it to Bush. Something good happens, untie it from Bush! Maybe I will become a reporter. Seems the work is very easy, and the pay aint bad. Who cares if I am accurate or not, right?

Comments (Page 1)

Trudygolightly

on Jan 06, 2006

Good lord........

Maybe we should ask Gid to write a song called The Blame Game, We Blame Bush

Dr Guy

on Jan 06, 2006

Maybe we should ask Gid to write a song called The Blame Game, We Blame Bush

He does have a flair for that kind of stuff!

Island Dog

on Jan 06, 2006

The media in this country is a complete disgrace. The NYT especially. No wonder col gets all his lies from them.

ParaTed2k

on Jan 06, 2006

The laughable thing about the whole thing is, many in the "press" say that bloggers shouldn't be taken seriously because there is no accountability for what we write. Apparently we have something in common with the "press".

So now what, we're supposed to add "mine safety" to the things that the President of the United States is supposed to be an expert in?

Dr Guy

on Jan 06, 2006

The media in this country is a complete disgrace. The NYT especially. No wonder col gets all his lies from them.

nah! He probably writes it for them!

Dr Guy

on Jan 06, 2006

So now what, we're supposed to add "mine safety" to the things that the President of the United States is supposed to be an expert in?

For some reason, while they yell that Bush is an idiot, if he shows even the slightest lack of omniscience, they crawl all over him like stink on poop! They want him to be stupid, yet know everything.

Moderateman

on Jan 06, 2006

all hail Bush, the most stupid yet cunning, the most unaccountable yet gets credit for all things bad, the evil genius that runs america like the starwars empire, yet is the court jester. bah!!!

Dr Guy

on Jan 06, 2006

all hail Bush, the most stupid yet cunning, the most unaccountable yet gets credit for all things bad, the evil genius that runs america like the starwars empire, yet is the court jester. bah!!!

What paper do you write for?

HC1240

on Jan 06, 2006

What is it? Is it something ingrained in us that just HAS to assign blame? Does assigning blame really make us feel better about tragedy? I suppose it must.

Sadly, I don't know that there is blame to assign in this case. I suppose the mine company could have shut down and refused to operate until all violations were fixed... but then the people would have been screaming about their income and the economy in Tallmansville, wouldn't they? International Coal Group can't win this one.

As to the false information about 12 miners being alive, ICG isn't to blame for that one. The man that overheard (incorrectly) the conversation and called his buddies back at the church to relay the misinformation did work for the mine company, but he was not acting in that moment as a representative of the company. He was acting as a friend to the grieving. I don't believe he spread the information with any malicious intent. He didn't set out to deceive anyone. He was simply a fellow mourner, sharing what he believed to be cause for celebration. In his joy, he spread what he believed to be a miracle. Should he have checked the information before sharing it? Absolutely. Should he have confirmed that it was indeed true before giving hope to despairing families? Of course he should have... but in the excitement of the moment, his heart couldn't contain the news and he ran to share it with those he knew would be most eager to hear it. I have to wonder if I wouldn't have done the same. I'd like to think I'd have acted more rationally, but really... at the end of many many hours of stress and anxiety, I can't be sure.

I feel for everyone involved in this accident... and that's what I choose to call it. An accident. A tragedy, to be sure... but an accident.

Deference

on Jan 06, 2006

Under Bush, the Mine Safety and Health Administration has worked more closely with mine owners than under previous presidents, according to union officials. The government has formed formal ''partnerships" between companies and agency officials and is shying away from imposing heavy fines and sanctions, said Phil Smith, a spokesman for United Mine Workers of America.

''They've gone from being an agency that enforces the regulations and puts penalties in, to something that's a lot more almost touchy-feely," Smith said. Workers at Sago Mine do not belong to a union, although Smith said United Mine Workers wants an investigation to address systemic problems, and thereby help all coal miners.

J. Davitt McAteer, a mine safety specialist who was President Clinton's assistant labor secretary for the Mine Safety and Health Administration, said there has been a major shift from enforcement to cooperation under the Bush's administration.

- from the linked article graciously provided by Dr. Guy

Dr Guy

on Jan 06, 2006

Reply By: HC...

The man made a mistake, but as you say, he was a friend trying to help a bunch of grieving family members. But the press was not. INstead of getting confirmation, they decided to run a story on rumor and innuendo. Which they seem to this passes for facts in today's world.

singrdave

on Jan 06, 2006

This was all Bush's fault!

"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." - former director of the National Mine Safety and Health Academy, Jack Spadaro

Nope! This could not have been an accident or an act of God! Bush did it! Plain and simple! See? It is easy to be a reporter. Something bad happens, tie it to Bush.

Remember: it's not about right or wrong, it's the seriousness of the allegations!
Besides, what court would actually take seriously "Miners' Families v. President Bush" in the inevitable liability class-action suit?

The blame belongs with the mine owners, if ya gotta blame someone. As was mentioned before, they were cited for serious (and nit-picky) violations of safety protocols. The blaming of President Bush by name in this tragedy is irresponsible at best and libelous at worst.

singrdave

on Jan 06, 2006

Besides, what court would actually take seriously "Miners' Families v. President Bush" in the inevitable liability class-action suit?

Allow me to answer my own rhetorical question...

The same court who slapped Letterman with a restraining order recently.

BenUser

on Jan 06, 2006

What does MSM have to do with it? Jack Spadaro has a long history of criticisizing Bush's mining policies. That's why he lost his job. It may turn out that lax enforcement and easing of mining regulations was the reason for the disaster. If that's the case, Bush is indeed to blame, since he's responsible for those policies.

drmiler

on Jan 06, 2006

Bush is indeed to blame, since he's responsible for those policies.

Get a grip dude! GW may be resposible for the policies. But he is NOT resposible for seeing them carried out. Which from "everything" that I'm reading has yet to be done. So unless you can "prove" otherwise.....lay off the blame game.

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