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BrAinPaiNt
08-21-2007, 07:40 AM
Well some will say this is just another bash bush type of thing. But honestly you have to wonder how this type of thing happens. Brownie and now this guy. At least this guy had exp in his field, too bad it was bad exp.

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LINK (http://www.abc4.com/news/story.aspx?content_id=cded9797-246e-4dc6-9d55-cc4e6506e018&rss=20)

Story by:
Chris Vanocur

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - The families of the Crandall Canyon miner's aren't the only ones raising questions about the handling of the rescue effort.

Many news organizations and blogs are also now asking questions about the governments role and the man chosen to lead the rescue effort, Mine and Health Safety Administrator, Richard Stickler.

Sunday, the questions that had been whispered about for days, the miner's families themselves finally made public.

Sonny Olsen, families spokesperson said, "We are at the mercy of the officials in charge and their so-called experts."

Increasing attention is now being paid to Stickler, the federal government's main mine man.

Stickler used to be a mining executive who - according to various media reports - ran mines which had several fatalities and "...an incident rate that was often twice the national average."

Stickler's rocky road to appointment


Also coming to light, is the fact that Stickler's nomination to head the mine administration was twice rejected by congress and rejected when republicans were still in charge.
Rejected reportedly by senators who were concerned about Stickler's safety record when he operated mines.
After his nomination was twice rejected by the Senate, President Bush gave Richard Stickler the mine safety job with a recess appointment.
That's a presidential appointment made when congress is not in session.
Finally, congressional investigations and hearings are now expected to look at a key provision of federal mining law, one which requires the U.S. Government to be the main communicator when an accident occurs.
ABC News now notes it took the mine safety administration two days to take public control of the Crandall Canyon Mine.
ABC also adds, "Others were irate that [mine owner Bob] Murray was allowed to publicly predict success and contradict MSHA itself while agency officials quietly looked on."
And even though Richard Stickler does have considerable mining experience, he is now acquiring a new not-so-favorable nickname.
Among many bloggers, he is now being referred to as the "new Brownie."
That in reference to Michael Brown who headed FEMA during Hurricane Katrina.

arglebargle
08-21-2007, 06:41 PM
Lock step loyalty over skill and competance. It's an MO we have seen a lot.

BrAinPaiNt
08-21-2007, 06:43 PM
Lock step loyalty over skill and competance. It's an MO we have seen a lot.

Yes this admin has been bad about it. Now it happens with every admin but just seems more prominent with this admin.

arglebargle
08-21-2007, 07:09 PM
The real difference in this administration is how deeply their fingers go into the pie. Most administrations appoint people they are comfortable with at the top, important positions. This one worked the loyalty angle deep into middle management and even below. The K Street project was sorta the plan, I think: to make all the lobbyists hire only THEIR brand, or no sweet government graft and influence.

BrAinPaiNt
08-22-2007, 07:38 AM
Funny yet Sad

Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDJvJOi6YNc)

This really explains a great deal about some of the bad choices bush has made in appointing some of these people for jobs.

burmafrd
08-22-2007, 11:48 AM
With democrats you get corrupt apointees, with republicans you get incompetent ones. What a choice.

BrAinPaiNt
08-22-2007, 12:06 PM
With democrats you get corrupt apointees, with republicans you get incompetent ones. What a choice.

That is why I hate the two party system. No matter which way you go you will get corruption.

At least with other parties in the mix you might get a little better in that area, but probably not.

arglebargle
08-22-2007, 04:21 PM
With democrats you get corrupt apointees, with republicans you get incompetent ones. What a choice.

With the present Republicans, you offload the corruption into the private sector. Of course, I guess that is consistant with their platform. :D

(BP) And while there are problems with multi-party systems as well, I'd have to agree, that at this point I am all for it.