Bush Reappoints Mine Safety Chief Who Bungled Crandall Canyon Disaster
Bush Reappoints Mine Safety Chief Who Bungled Crandall Canyon Disaster
The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) came under severe criticism for its mismanagement of August’s Crandall Canyon mine collapse in Utah. Nine men died, including six trapped after the initial cave-in and three rescue workers. Many safety experts questioned why the MSHA allowed “anyone, including rescuers, into the still-dangerous mine.”
Overseeing the effort as head of MSHA was Richard Stickler, a former Murray Beth Energy executive. The Senate had twice rejected his nomination because the mines he managed “incurred injury rates double the national average.” Stickler had also stated that he believed no new laws or regulations were needed for mine safety.
Stickler’s term as assistant secretary expired on Dec. 31. His bio was quickly removed from the MSHA website earlier this week, and on Thursday, MSHA officials revealed that they had a new chief:
[O]n Thursday, MSHA officials revealed that agency staffer John Pallasch had been named to Stickler’s job — assistant labor secretary for mine safety and health — on an acting basis. Pallasch took over on Jan. 1. [...]
But it’s not clear how long Pallasch will be running the $340 million agency or if President Bush plans to submit a different nominee to Congress.
Pallasch’s 15 minutes of fame lasted just three days. The Bush administration was evidently so happy with Stickler’s job performance that President Bush yesterday renamed him as acting assistant secretary. From the White House personnel announcement:
The President intends to designate Richard Stickler, of West Virginia, to be Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health.
Stickler’s bio has also reappeared on the MSHA site. With his acting title, he will be able to serve 210 days. The White House has also renominated him for the permanent position.
As The New York Times recently noted, Bush “has left whole agencies of the executive branch to be run largely by acting or interim appointees,” who have not been approved by the Senate. The Senate has repeatedly had to convene pro forma sessions in order to prevent Bush from giving these controversial nominees recess appointments.
UPDATE: Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) issued a statement on Stickler’s appointment:
The White House has again gone behind the Senate’s back to install Mr. Stickler as head of the agency that is supposed to protect our nation’s miners. After almost a year and a half of Mr. Stickler’s stewardship, MSHA remains an agency in crisis and in need of strong leadership. I urge the President to send us a nominee who will give our brave miners and their families the kind of effective safety enforcement they deserve.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
Of course, he has to – they’re all partners in crime!
January 5th, 2008 at 10:30 amWhy isnt this man in jail?
January 5th, 2008 at 10:32 amThe largest on-going criminal conspiracy in history and all Congress does is whine–withhold funds for the offices and salaries of the non-approved, circumvent-the-will-of-Congress, appointees–co-conspirators! Congress, get tough or get out!
January 5th, 2008 at 10:39 amI feel that 210 days is far too long to leave someone in a position as “acting” anything. It should be limited to 90 days. If the head of an agency leaves (for whatever reason, be it to spend more time with his family or spend more time in jail) they should appoint someone from within the agency to temporarily hold the reins. They should be there just to keep things moving, not long enough to leave a legacy. An “acting” leader is not supposed to make significant changes, just carry on the current policies (however ill-conceived) and make sure that the workload of the incoming leader isn’t unmanageable. This is just one more example of how Bush has failed to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” And any member of Congress who feels Bush should not be removed from office is not fulfilling his or her own oath of office.
January 5th, 2008 at 10:39 amgee ted… it’s too bad the senate doesn’t have
“eyes in the back of their heads”…
as moms do…
did this really sneak up on ‘em?
January 5th, 2008 at 10:39 amWe have not only a “lame duck” presi-dunce. We have a whole frickin’ lame duck government.
January 5th, 2008 at 10:47 amIt is no wonder that Obama is so popular. It is even no wonder that Schmuckabee is the leader amongst the weak field of Republican contenders.
The theme of this year’s election is change. Obama would be a positive change; Scmuckabee would be a negative and regressive change.
In either case, however, these candidates are at the opposite end of the spectrum from GDumbya and his Keystone Kops.
I know libs are hoping / praying that Huckabee gets the Rep nom, but their is a risk / cost calculation you aren’t thinking about.
I know you were all expecting Hill’reh to win, with her national standing being enough to defeat Huckabee in a general election, but now that it appears Obama may win it, Huckabee actually looks like the better bet in the White House. If Huckabee wins, he will certainly pull in a Republican Congress with him, and he will no doubt nominate pro-life judges to the Supreme Court.
Regardless of how unlikely you feel this may happen, the consequences of it happening makes this too risky a strategy. I understand that you won’t believe me until it happens, so just be aware of it as it happens, so the lesson sticks with you.
January 5th, 2008 at 10:52 amYer doin’ a heckuva job Schtickey!
-The King and The Decider
January 5th, 2008 at 10:54 amYa gotta admire these people though, doncha? Wholly Criminy! At least they’ve got balls!
I sure wish the Liebercrats had balls (or ovaries)! Damn, we need a progressive party. If we don’t come up with something I may have to vote for Huckleberry Hound instead of Obama/Lieberman in ‘08. At least he stands for something!
Damn, I’m sick of the spineless jellyfish Liebercrats.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:00 amThis is not the last straw; that was years ago. This is overwhelming evidence of an arrogant, cynical, and criminal administration. Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels would be a breath of fresh air, at least you knew their intentions.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:04 amA new prison wouldn’t hold them all.
able as
Bush is really an “in-your-face” president. He doesn’t care what we, the congress or anyone else thinks of him – he will do as he pleases.
Again, he is not a king (because Kings are often benign) — he is a tyrannical dictator. He is corrupt to the core, passing favors to his friends and cohorts in crime.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:05 amAnd to think that only yesterday, Gov. Romney suggested that he too, wanted “change,” but not necessarily change in the White House… Guess that Mittins just loves Bush corruption, Bush cronyism, Bush arrogance, Bush stupidity, Bush torture, Bush lying, Bush spying, Bush treason. And Insane McCain wants to illegally criminally continue to occupy Iraq for the nect ten, one hundred, one thousand years?
January 5th, 2008 at 11:12 amThe insanity and stupidity of Bush seems to be contagious and spreading to most of the 2008 GOP Presidential candidates…
Who, among the Republican candidates, has leveled ANY criticism of Bush’s policies besides McCain (tax cuts, troop levels) and Ron Paul?
January 5th, 2008 at 11:19 amThe neocon-corporatist plan is really quite brilliant, though.
Decimate the professional civil service and fill all appointment positions with corporatists who are there to protect corporate interests so you wind up with a shell of a government.
It looks real, but it’s all window dressing while they loot and pillage what they’re entrusted to protect.
It’s despicable, but quite clever. And some of them even manage Congressional Medals of Freedom while landing cushy book deals and private sector jobs after they leave.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:27 amNothing succeeds like incompetence.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:28 amInsanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein, (attributed)
Our congress people continue their polite statements urging that Bush behave like an honest, capable president. Bush is anything but that.
What I’d like to hear from congress is some 4 letter words about Bush’s atrocious behavior, and some other words too… like impeachment.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:30 amSad but true FC, and the guilded, elitist mindset flows across the partison aisle.
Our Gov. is such a empty shell of it’s intended, former self.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:32 amMemo:
From: Current Administration
To: American Public
Re: assistant labor secretary for mine safety and health appointment
Up yours.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:32 amInstead of a Bush appointment, this man should be the subject of a criminal investigation!
January 5th, 2008 at 11:39 amI guess Bush surrounds himself with other criminals and incompetents to keep the “inner sanctum” intact. Once someone gets in there who can out them, they’re toast.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:40 amAnd to think that only yesterday, Gov. Romney suggested that he too, wanted “change,†but not necessarily change in the White House… Guess that Mittins just loves Bush corruption, Bush cronyism, Bush arrogance, Bush stupidity, Bush torture, Bush lying, Bush spying, Bush treason.
Of course Mittins loves the things Bush does since that is what he would do if, god forbid, he was ever elected President. If that’s not a good reason NOT to vote for Mittins, I don’t know what is.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:46 amThe Chimpistas’ have done their level best to leave whoever follows him a hollowed out husk of a government filled to the brim with lackeys and stooges.
Then when it goes to shit they can say: Goverment doesn’t work!
-GSD
January 5th, 2008 at 11:46 amWho could be surprised? Whether Frosty’s right, and this is part of a systematic pattern to destroy government from within, or whether it’s simply more evidence of Bush rewarding failure, this episode fits neatly into the Bush narrative.
Personally, I think Frosty’s on the right track but, since I’m a liberal, and therefore capable of complex thought, I believe it’s a bit of both.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:47 amA nation degressing, always looking to the status quo, the kiss asser, the brownie. Why not betterment? No pay out?
January 5th, 2008 at 11:48 amThe Chimpistas’ have done their level best to leave whoever follows him a hollowed out husk of a government filled to the brim with lackeys and stooges.
Then when it goes to shit they can say: Goverment doesn’t work!
-GSD
Comment by GSD — January 5, 2008 @ 11:46 am
That is precisely what the modern conservative movement has been aiming to do: Fill the government with friends and cronies who are extremeley incompetent at governance, and then claim that government doesn’t work. The only thing they have managed to prove is that a free, democratic-republic government run by conservatives doesn’t work.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:51 amanother crime committed against the people of this country.
January 5th, 2008 at 12:06 pmit is time to end this. When is our lousy congress going to do their job again?
“since I’m a liberal, and therefore capable of complex thought”
Comment by ralph the wonder llama — January 5, 2008 @ 11:47 am
Too funny.
And theswan, I think we’re entering DisEnlightenment. You know, the era of ant-modernism, anti-progress and anti-science.
Wayne: I don’t think it’s a plan, per se, to intentionally fill the government ranks with the incompetent. Rather, a plan to fill the government with those who can further a corporate agenda. Some of whom are grossly incompetent.
But I agree, the “conservative revolution” has been a complete failure for 98% of us.
January 5th, 2008 at 12:09 pmAwe who cares what sloshy Ted has to say.
/sarcasm
January 5th, 2008 at 12:16 pm(By the way, Frosty, I wasn’t trying to imply that you’re not capable of complex thought. I have a lot of respect for and enjoy your contributions to this forum. My comment was meant as a dig at the familiar binary mode of thinking displayed by most conservatives here.
Just wanted to make that clear.)
January 5th, 2008 at 12:42 pmJust one more year and it all changes, if we can hold our breath long enough and keep the contaiment efforts in place this nightmare will all be over soon and then……………
Its our turn and the Bushies will not like how far the pendelum will be swinging back.
January 5th, 2008 at 12:59 pmPro-life president indeed! IT’D be more appropriate to call him Pro-Death, Pro-Profit…
January 5th, 2008 at 1:03 pmchomot ~ It will be nice to have appointees nominated based on their professional credentials and not on the size of their donation, or the wear and tear on their kneepads.
January 5th, 2008 at 1:03 pmThat’s the problem with pendulums, they have to swing to the opposite extremes before beginning the long swing back………..
January 5th, 2008 at 1:04 pmThat’s the problem with pendulums, they have to swing to the opposite extremes before beginning the long swing back………..
Comment by Nevar — January 5, 2008 @ 1:04 pm
I understand what you’re saying, but I think it is in error to believe that everything has to be only two-dimensional – this way or that way. Too much is made of the liberal-conservative divide in this country (which may be about 50-50) and very little is discussed about the libertarian-authoritarian divide (which may be more like 75-25).
rather than a pendulum which swings from “one side” to the other, I prefer to liken the situation to the seasons on a planet orbiting the sun – we go not from let-to-right, but from winter to spring to summer then to autumn again. We are currently in the midst of a long, deep, cold harsh winter, but spring will be here soon followed by a beautiful summer and we’ll prosper for a while. Hopefully, the “planet” will slow down once we enter spring and summer and not hasten too quickly toward autumn again. Oh, and in my model, the planet can either stay in one area or go backwards and step back from autumn to more summer, rather than proceed straight to winter. (Eating Robin’s minstrals is, as always, optional.)
January 5th, 2008 at 1:43 pmPro-life President????? Bush is the biggest baby killer the planet has EVER seen. He has killed and maimed babies not yet conceived and born. With his illegal war and his stepped up use of Depleted Uranium we can just sit back for the next few years and watch the numbers snowball. The BEST kept secret of today’s modern military!!! And guess what??? Our men and women over there are breathing the same dust. So pass around the yellow ribbons and and the patriotic bumper stickers supporting the troops. It’s a sad, sad day in the “Land that’s known as Freedom”.
January 5th, 2008 at 1:53 pmDang Wayne, thank you.
I feel significantly more ellipsoid already.
;)
January 5th, 2008 at 2:08 pmPS Wayne and Jane… Happy New Year!
January 5th, 2008 at 2:10 pmI have a good feeling about the times to come…
Cheerfulness!
Bush just proving how much he hates non-white, non-rich Americans. No surprise, since he has never shown loyalty to th USA or Constitution.
January 5th, 2008 at 2:12 pmI have a good feeling about the times to come…
Cheerfulness!
Comment by Nevar — January 5, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
Me, too. Our plumber is coming by today to finally fix that low hot water problem we’ve been having for months. :)
And Happy New Year to you, too.
January 5th, 2008 at 2:16 pmwhoa! a saturday plumber???!
January 5th, 2008 at 2:32 pmhope he’s a good friend! :-)
Gotta stay positive about those contractors…
I’m waiting to hear from the second electrician…
January 5th, 2008 at 2:41 pmThe first one showed up once over the course of 9 weeks, and worked for two hours….. I hope I wasn’t being to impatient by firing him….:)
Ralph @ 28:
I knew what you meant. No worries. :)
January 5th, 2008 at 2:56 pmWhen you think about the US currently lack of Internatinaol credibility… it is amazing to see the war criminal G.WC.BUSH can lower the barr even further!!!! Congress may think people around the globe is not following what is happening. They are so wrong!
January 5th, 2008 at 3:04 pmThey say ignorance is bliss…apparently it is a job with government.
January 5th, 2008 at 4:04 pmRichard Stickler, a former Murray Beth Energy executive was doing a heck of a job.
January 5th, 2008 at 4:24 pmIt doesn’t make sense.
Comment by BARTLEBEE — January 5, 2008 @ 4:28 pm
It does to bat-scat crazy neocons.
January 5th, 2008 at 4:37 pmIt doesn’t make sense.
Comment by BARTLEBEE — January 5, 2008 @ 4:28 pm
It does to bat-scat crazy neocons.
Comment by Impolitics — January 5, 2008 @ 4:37 pm
But so far not even the usual trolls are trying to defend this one.
January 5th, 2008 at 6:11 pmObama is an aipac shill and his campaign manager is Arthur Lake is responsible for starvation in Haiti.
I remember the families of the miners killed by bush and his thugs – we need to arrest the destroyers of America.
January 5th, 2008 at 7:14 pmWill the good people of Brattleboro Vt, be the ones who Arrest Bush and/or CHeney?
January 5th, 2008 at 7:56 pmhttp://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/29548