Coal mine manager defends screwing miners for Romney event
Here’s a audio of the radio interview on WWVA, news radio 1170, between host David Blomquist and Rob Moore, chief financial officer of Murray Energy Corp. Recall, Murray Energy told its Ohio miners it was “mandatory” for them to show up at an Aug. 14 Romney campaign event, and that they would not be paid for that day because the mine was shut down. The company’s owner, Robert Murray, is a big-time Romney supporter.
Listen for yourself (it’s 20 minutes long, but fascinating) and judge for yourself whether the company coerces its workers to donate to the owner’s pet political causes, and screws them out of pay because of politics.
A few of thoughts about this:
- The mine certainly has the right to shut down so its management can go to a campaign rally.
- The mine operators have no duty to pay the miners when the mine is shut down. But it’s a rotten tactic, especially when the shut down is for political reasons.
- The company was WAY WAY WAY out of line notifying employees that attendance at the rally was mandatory and on their own time.
- Robert Murray, who owns this coal company, and whose CFO refers to him with reverential tones that usually are reserved for deities, DESERVES to have his company unionized.
Robert Murray | AP Photo
Robert Murray needs to be taught a lesson that he can’t pull this kind of crap. Many of the workers who went to the rally went, ON THEIR OWN TIME because:
a) The company by its own admission told them attendance was mandatory;
b) The company was taking names on who showed up and who didn’t;
b) The employees felt it would be fired if they didn’t show; and
c) Employees have been pressured in the past to contribute to the company’s PAC, and to contribute money to the Romney campaign.
Such tactics are anti-freedom, folks. And with a union those miners wouldn’t have to put up with that kind of garbage.
When you hear CFO Rob Moore say “We had managers that communicated to our work force that the attendance at the Romney event was mandatory, but no one was forced to attend the event,” it’s obvious what he was trying to say.
Moore was saying: “We told them they had to be there, but it’s not like we handcuffed them and dragged them there kicking and screaming. We didn’t force them at gunpoint.”
And then he patted himself on the back for being so frickn’ open minded in that way. Listen to the tape yourself and tell me if there is any other interpretation.
It’s obscene, in 2012, here in America. But it’s not that surprising. It’s an extreme example of a trend that’s increasingly reflected in modern day management-labor relations.
——————-
And btw: The last time Robert Murray made national news, it was in 2009, after a collapse at the Crandall Canyon Mine in Utah, which he also owns. That killed six miners and three rescue workers. After that event, it was learned that government inspectors had issued 325 citations against the mine in the previous five years. Murray has donated $900,000 to GOP causes in the past two years.
August 29, 2012 - 8:00 AM
Where is Bob H when you need him.
Dan
If Obama had his way, all of those coal mines would be closed down to make way for “green energy.” Obama would then create legions of new democrats who would depend on a government check to survive.
But in your mind, mass layoffs are not the problem. You think the problem is that the miners are not unionized and that they were urged to attend a 20 minute rally.
I talk with West Virginia miners and their families literally every day. They truly hate Obama for what he has done to the coal industry and not one of them gives a damn about attending the 20 minute rally.
How surprising that a “big time Rmoney supporter” would screw over his employees to pad the bottom line. He’s learning from the master.
So he runs unsafe mines that kill off his miners, and throws lots of money at the GOP so it’s all good!
Yes, we definitely don’t need unions anymore. We did once upon a time, but everything is different now.
Dan, “Such tactics are anti-freedom, folks. And with a union those miners wouldn’t have to put up with that kind of garbage.”
Right, what you get with a union is forced participation supporting the Democratic party regardless of your political affiliation. For example the Teachers Union-millions upon millions of dollars illegally and forcibly taken from the pockets of hard working Americans without their permission. They aren’t given a choice, ever! With them its not a one-time thing for business as usual! Talk about anti-freedom!!! Where’s your outrage over this obscene behavior??? It’s an extreme example of a trend that’s reflected in modern day management-labor relations. Unions need to be taught a lesson that they can’t pull this kind of crap!
Furthermore, what’s your point???????? Romney isn’t responsible for this man’s actions anymore than Obama is responsible for the despicable behavior of his super pacs’ ads, right? (Although Obama’s own staff had direct contact with the puppet that did the ad while denying it). Liars all-from the top ALL the way down to the bottom (of the pit). You are delusional!
And you`re telling us that it actually bothers you ? Since when did you or any of the left give a rats rear end about the coal industry or its people ? You`re anti-business….remember ? And, yes….WE DID BUILD THAT!
#1 With them its not a one-time thing BUT business as usual!
“If Obama had his way, all of those coal mines would be closed down to make way for “green energy.” Obama would then create legions of new democrats who would depend on a government check to survive.
But in your mind, mass layoffs are not the problem. You think the problem is that the miners are not unionized and that they were urged to attend a 20 minute rally.
I talk with West Virginia miners and their families literally every day. They truly hate Obama for what he has done to the coal industry and not one of them gives a damn about attending the 20 minute rally.”
Terps,
1) The mine was closed for an entire shift because of the rally. The miners lost 8 hours of pay, not 20 minutes. I don’t dispute the mine owners had the right to close it, AND to NOT pay the workers.
2) What the mining company had no right to do is coerce workers to attend the rally on their own time. That’s exactly what they did. They made them show up because they wanted a blue-collar backdrop for the mine company owner’s pet political cause.
3) If you check with the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training, you’ll find out that coal mining jobs in W Va. have grown 8 percent since 2009, when Obama took office, and that they are now at 19-year high. The last time there were so many employed W Va. miners, Bill Clinton was president.
4) Let’s have an experiment: Send a memo to your employees telling them that they must show up at YOUR church this Sunday, Labor Day weekend, and that by the way they won’t be paid. Tell’em you’re all gonna prayer collectively for a repeal of workers’ rights or something. See if that doesn’t go over like a lead balloon.
There’s serious deficiency in reading comprehension here, from the right, for a change. Nowhere did Dan blame Rmoney for this stupidity.
The Teachers Union always support the Dems-it’s mandatory! With them its not just a one-time thing BUT business as usual. You would amazed (or not) if you saw all the garage they send through the mail trashing the man that is willing to take them on. Chris Christie did it in New Jersey. Romney can do it for the rest of the U.S. Go Mitt!
See #7
I see Dan had no retort for Post #4. No surprise. He can’t defend the actions of the unions. No one can unless they are dishonest (but then again maybe he can). He just loves spinning his crap. Sad man.
#2 “If Obama had his way, all of those coal mines would be closed down”
Yeah, we know, we know, terps. Just like Obama has seized all the guns, and banished Christianity, and shut down oil production, and destroyed the military, and hired on legions and legions of fake voters to show up at the polls.
“They truly hate Obama for what he has done to the coal industry…”
You’re either lying about the West Virginia miners or they’ve swallowed the right-wing Kool Aid with gusto. Way back when the Shrub was president, W.Va. coal mining jobs had dropped to about 14,000 in 2003. When Obama took office, they were back to 21,800. Now? Try 23,400. Way to destroy the jobs, Obama.
Why don’t you right wingers try telling the truth every now and then?
L.D., best line of the night from Christie:
“They believe in teachers’ unions. We believe in teachers.”
Why is it that the anti-union crowd thinks that teachers, policemen and firemen shouldn’t have the right to negotiate better pay, working conditions, insurance, etc.?
All the while they seem to never mention the large salaries of the non blue collar sector of government. Congress is a great example. They have the best health insurance your tax dollar can buy. They have a guaranteed lifetime pension. Their salaries are pretty good, too.
Most government higher ups don’t like unions because they don’t need one; they write their own checks!
#5 “And, yes….WE DID BUILD THAT!”
Well, Jeff Dolto, according to this Republican-voting business owner south of Richmond, that’s not quite true:
George Allen: Well obviously you built this business yourself.
Woman: But I had friends and family and the community supporting me, and I have an unbelievable staff that helped me.
Oops. Yes, George, the reporter’s microphone was on. He caught every word.
With Obama critics:
The absence of gun control efforts by the administration constitutes proof that it wants to seize all guns.
A growth in W. Va. coal mining jobs under Obama proves that he’s trying to kill the industry.
The successful capture and killing of Osama bin Laden, which was ordered by Obama, is proof of the efficacy of Bush Administration efforts to get the Al Qaeda leader.
The release of his long-form birth certificate from Hawaii is yet more evidence he wasn’t born in that state.
Do you see the pattern here, folks? It’s one of unreality.
Obama critics are so blinded by their hatred for the president that there are no depth to which they won’t go to attempt to trash him in the minds of the public.
#12 “They believe in teachers’ unions. We believe in teachers.”
And that’s why right wingers spend so much time tearing down public school teachers — because they care about them so much.
What a pile of baloney.
#14 “Obama critics are so blinded by their hatred . . .”
Left loons are so blinded by their hatred of success there are no depth to which they won’t go to attempt to undermine it. Do you see the pattern here, folks? It’s one of unreality.
Dan IS the blind leading the left-wing blind over the Obama cliff. Just do it!
gdad: Never heard a politician say he didn’t like teachers. I’ve heard them say there is a problem with our system, and like Christie there is too much power within the Unions, but never heard a speech about how all teachers are terrible and its not a noble profession.
Even Obama agrees with most of that as seen by his support of charters.
‘right wingers spend so much time tearing down public school teachers’ —Now that statement is a pile of baloney
gdad, I heard that clip on NPR this morning. Poor Allen. Hopefully they’ll figure out they’ve ridden that “You didnt build that” as far as it’s going to go. Especially with answers like he got.
I especially like the debt clocks at the convention. Maybe they should include a side clock telling us how much of that is due to the enormous amount of debt piled on during the Bush administrations (or even go back to Reagan).
Nah, they want gullible voters to believe that’s all Obama.
@7 Dan: Good points you made.
I listened to about 10 minutes of the radio interview and it’s clear that tacit pressure is habitually used to coerce independent minded management to obey the Coal Fuhrer’s wishes. Frankly, they would lose a lawsuit if they could get some of the bosses to testify (read: sacrifice their careers – so expect this to go nowhere).
This sort of behavior is very common, though… Key upper management has always pressed dissenting peers to follow the leader’s wishes – and then down the rank and file the “unwritten” policy goes. To refuse is the end of career advancement. Moreover, it typically results in all independent thinkers leaving the company over time.
#14 “Woman: But I had friends and family and the community supporting me, and I have an unbelievable staff that helped me.”
Well gdad and Kristen, As usual you missed the point. It sounds to me like she was saying exactly what she meant: friends, family, community supported her. THAT’S NOT THE GOVERNMENT unless like you left wing nuts who think because of government handouts and feeding at the government teat that the government IS your family! Time to let go of the nipple-the milk’s drying up!
Chris christie’s keynote speech emphasized that “we will always tell you the truth”. Here’s the “truth” as it comes from thje mouth of the chairman of the RNC Reince Priebus:
http://www.politifact.com/personalities/reince-priebus/
#18 PP, tell that to my public school teachers friends who complain that they feel like punching bags for conservatives. Explain that to posters like suzie, who regularly make fun of teachers.
LD says techers’ unions always support Dems. It’s too bad that the most highly educated asegment of our population, the segment that we depend upon for educating and training our children, recognizes that it is DEMOCRATS who support them, who believe in the value of education, and who are the strongest supporters of policies that support improvements in public schools, better outcomes for our children, and better financial support for teachers and their families.
gdad: Ten trillion in 2008 – 16 trillion now. You do the math.
Also, I think they should show “2016″ at the convention on primetime. As you can see it is doing pretty well.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/08/2016-obamas-america-director-hopes-to-beat-moores-fahrenheit-911/
gdad: Sorry for this image but the truth hurts:
http://urbangrounds.com/wp-content/uploads/Bush_vs_Obama.jpg
Its all Bush’s fault but….
Who would a second term Obama blame for the mess he Inheritied?
“Why don’t you right wingers try telling the truth every now and then?
Comment by gdad — August 29, 2012 @ 10:58 am”
we tell the truth all the time gDUD, you wouldnt recognize it if it hit you in the face
“you didnt build that’ will go down in history as obamas main theme…with a legacy of failed policies as well as his love of the people’s poverty, he is the welfare and food stamp pressydint of all time
…LOL
Is the fact that Obama ordered the operation that took out bin Laden just further proof that Obama is a Muslim?
“Is the fact that Obama ordered the operation that took out bin Laden just further proof that Obama is a Muslim?”
No, dobbs. Instead, it’s yet another sneaky attempt to conceal it!
Dan in response to your comment #15. 48,000,000 on food stamps, crippling unemployment (way more than the 8.2% that is being reported), 1 in 6 now living in poverty, 45% of single mothers on food stamps. Need I go on? How is that for unreality? You worry about lost freedom in a previous post how about executive orders every time the President stops by the office when he is in town not fundraising. The reality of your unreality is mind numbing. Your comment #15 was a Biden!
Whenever I hear someone get all worried about the “teacher unions” I know that they are pretty much clueless about the real problems here in the US.
“It sounds to me like she was saying exactly what she meant: friends, family, community supported her. THAT’S NOT THE GOVERNMENT..”
She’s confirming exactly what Obama said. He never said anything about the “government”…that was a fiction created by the RW braintrust to create a talking point for the masses to repeat. Allen got his butt handed to him by that woman, and this whole “you didn’t build that” meme is over. And at the hands of a small business owner.
In other words, “No Easy Day”, the ghost-written account from a SEAL who was ostensibly in on the Bin Laden raid is getting roundly trashed from all sides. He’s decided to burning the SEALs reputation by revealing that OBL had a fatal bullet wound to the head when they came in, and they decided to unload a few rounds in him anyway. Go ‘murica!
The president made them into heroes, and this self-aggrandizing glory hound manages to make them appear far, far less distinguished. I can’t imagine who this clown is in bigger trouble with…OBL’s people, or his own.
WOW pammala you are a genius… NOT …. ” i don’t know what a capital letter is ” will be your legacy online
L. D. and a few others need to read the discussion we had recently on what unions can force employes to do.
In 1947, the adoption of the labor-management-relations act (29 U.S.C.A. §§ 151 et seq. Section 8(a)(3) [a.k.a. the Taft-Hartley Act] specifically outlawed “Closed Shops.” So, the coercion of “employees” by the union is a figment of imagination or an echo of the past.
An “Open Shop” is a bargaining unit in a company or workplace at which the workers, though represented by a duly-elected and certified union, are neither required to pay the union dues nor a service fees (for representation which the union is nevertheless legally obligated to provide) nor may the union require political contributions / activity. NOTE: Nevertheless, under US law, workers who refuse to pay dues or representation fees to the certified union have a right to sue the union if it fails to represent them as fully as it does dues-paying members.
A “Union Shop” is a bargaining unit in a company or workplace in which all the workers, whom the union is legally required to represent as a result of the labor board’s certification, have negotiated a requirement that all workers in that unit must either pay union dues or a representation fee. OTOH, employees who opt not to be members cannot be forced to pay into PAC or participate in political activity. NOTE: again, under US law, workers who refuse to pay dues to the certified union have a right to sue the union if it fails to represent them as fully as it does dues-paying members.
Therefore, if employees “join” a union, itself, or participate in union sponsored activity they are not forced.
Nice – Yeah – Navy seals are clowns, Kristen. You’re an idiot. Seriously, why do you insist on staying in ‘murica? Go far, far away. Please.
Walker, I was referring this the ‘sswipe who “wrote” this book. Not all of them, although I expect we’ll hear on this matter from some other ex SEALs.
Matt Bissonette is a disgrace to his country and uniform. As a taxpayer, it displeases me that the military is doing such a poor job hiring.
And also, Walker,”clown” is one of the nicer words I could come up with. I think he’s a traitor to his service and country who needs to be locked up.
“Nice – Yeah – Navy seals are clowns, Kristen. You’re an idiot. “
Walker, the former Navy seal who led the operation is (now) either mentally ill, incredibly stupid, or a foolish clown.
That’s pretty much the only way to explain his recent actions in divulging his identity to Fox News, which published it.
By doing so, he has exposed himself, his family and potentially other members of the Seal team to retribution from bent-on-revenge extremists.
Completely apart from whatever he wrote, there’s really no other explanation. It has to be one of those three. Kristin chose the least pejorative of the bunch.
#23 Wow, what a truthful guy.
Pistol Pete:
26.”gdad: Ten trillion in 2008 – 16 trillion now. You do the math.”
Pistol Pete, no one cares. You and I do, but these people don’t care. Obama said it would be “a one term proposition” if he couldn’t get the debt under control after he first took office. He obviously is a total failure on that one, but is running agian unashamedly… ??? Despite that, which should have been political suicide, he is still favored to win this election. People don’t care.
#42 “Walker, the former Navy seal who led the operation is (now) either mentally ill, incredibly stupid, or a foolish clown.”
I’m sorry, Dan, but you just can’t call an American military man those names — unless, of course, you discover that he’s voted Democrat. Then you can call him a traitor or whatever you want.
I’d also say that the big rush to get this out before the election stinks to high heaven.
Dude was used.
Mice, mice, mice, all day long. If I found a snake in my house I’d probably burn it down.
Rats are a different story.
#44 I forgot that McCain would have had the debt under control.
Riiiiight.
gdad:
“I forgot that McCain would have had the debt under control.”
McCain vowed to “take a hatchet” to the federal budget. Obama made no such claim, and to his credit, did what he suggested he would and spent us to death.
“Walker, the former Navy seal who led the operation is (now) either mentally ill, incredibly stupid, or a foolish clown.”
Sure he is. Gotta be one of the three. I agree that SEALs gotta be crazy – crazy, bad-ass. Maybe he’s trying to get story out, you know the truth? I’m sure they were all fans of Obama politicizing the raid and Bin-laden killing for gain. Also – I’m pretty sure a SEAL isn’t worried about some ragtag bent-on-revenge extremist (which sounds more like a figment of your imagination than anything, LOL) You guys don’t seem to have any problems with this administrations leaks that could put others in danger?
Gdad – I don’t care if he voted for Mickey Mouse. He’s a SEAL and helped take out a punk that would have you, your wife and children hanging by your toes with your guts spilled on the floor, if he could.
Kristen – Sorry for name calling.
Re: Comment by Kristen — August 29, 2012 @ 2:30 pm
“Dude was used.”
—————–
http://tinyurl.com/8v2pc83
SNIP
Jihadists on al-Qaida websites have posted purported photos of the author, calling for his murder.
**
Nuf said.
I have read the reviews on “No Easy Day” and can’t understand why some are so upset about the book.
The author just told the truth. I never thought that the seriously ill OBL had put up a fight before dying. The story given by the Obama administration changed too many times in the days afterward. If there had been a fire fight, that would have been the story from the start and the Obama administration would have stuck to that story. That there was no fire fight does not diminish what the SEAL team accomplished. They went into the compound. They didn’t know if the compound was mined, if there were guards for OBL etc. It was a tough mission and they performed well.
It is no secret that BHO likes to take credit. Who is shocked that the SEALs were joking about it? And who is surprised that the Navy SEALs are not fans of this administration? I would have been surprised if any Navy SEAL voted for BHO.
Who is surprised that Biden comes off like “the drunk uncle at Christmas?” The guy is a buffoon and walking punchline. Calling his the “drunk uncle” is being nice.
The author may have endangered himself, but probably not. It seems that terrorist usually prefer easy targets and the author is not one. I suspect that the author will protect himself and his loved ones, and he’ll probably do it without being politically correct or following TSA procedures. It is one thing to find a moron who will blow himself up, but people like that don’t have the intelligence or training to go after the author.
DaveHicks, we see what they do overthere when an American mistreats the Quran or something. Imagine the response to this??
I cannot imagine any publisher thinking this is a responsible move.
#49 He wouldn’t have, John W, especially not things like defense.
No problem, Walker.
John W.;
President Obama promised to cut the federal deficit in half in his first term. Also he promised unemployment would now be 5.5% if we all came together and gave him the stimulus package.
Kristen: “and this whole “you didn’t build that” meme is over”. You wish! “We built it” is alive and doing quite well. Point not taken. Obama accidently revealed his true philosophy much to his chagrin.
“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time”. Abraham Lincoln, (attributed).
Obama should stick to reading what’s in front of him and not try to wing it. The great orator, NOT!
# 45 “I’m sorry, Dan, but you just can’t call an American military man those names — unless, of course, you discover that he’s voted Democrat. Then you can call him a traitor or whatever you want”.
I think you meant “if he’s voted Republican” then you guys would rip him a new one, no holes barred (no pun intended).
#58 LD, I’m just poking fun at one of the trolliest of the right wingers on this blog. This person has said in the past that any solider who votes for a dem isn’t a real patriot.
More:
http://tinyurl.com/96ko4ag
**
SNIP
Pentagon officials now are reviewing its contents to see if it contains classified information and to determine if further steps can or should be taken against the author, who should have submitted the book for pre-publication review under the terms of his service in the Navy SEALs, Nye said.
Two sources familiar with official U.S. government reporting on the bin Laden raid said it was unsurprising that there were discrepancies between the book’s account of how bin Laden was killed and previous official versions.
In any combat situation, participants in the operation would normally come away with different accounts and perceptions of what happened, the sources said.
SNIP
One official who has followed the issue closely said that it could be difficult for authorities to bring legal action against the book’s author because the Obama administration has itself released so much detailed information about the bin Laden raid.
SNIP
**
Right. These miners should be damn glad to support Romney if they hope to have jobs, since 0bama has declared war on the coal industry.
The poor coal miners. Here they’ve been loyal Democrats all these years, followed every order from their union bosses, and now who is it that wants to take away their livelihood?
The damn Democrats.
@42 Dan. You said: “…the former Navy seal who led the operation is (now) either mentally ill, incredibly stupid, or a foolish clown.”
I disagree. At least until I can read his book.
It is important to note that his mission was an execution. There was zero real contingency plan to bring Bin Laden out alive for trial. So maybe Walker’s conscience was bothering him?
And how could they put him on trial? Our CIA trained, financed and set him up in business decades ago to fight against the Russians. When the USSR gave up, did he believe we wouldn’t try to install ourselves as his country’s de facto master instead of Russia?
It is also important to note that about half of Seal Team 6 were killed shortly after killing Bin Laden under very suspicious circumstances. So maybe this Seal Team member is fearing for his life, too, and wanted to tell what he really saw?
Lastly, there is the matter of 9/11 itself, for it is CERTAIN our government had a hand in it somehow… And before you comment negatively, at least do me the courtesy of watching the following video. (It’s 15 only minutes.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZEvA8BCoBw
Correction: Not Walker’s conscience, but rather the Seal.
@#58: Only the most dull among us misunderstood the president’s words. Next time at least we won’t have to ask which line you belong in.
James Swingle:
56.”John W.;
President Obama promised to cut the federal deficit in half in his first term. Also he promised unemployment would now be 5.5% if we all came together and gave him the stimulus package.”
If I broke a promise and failed this miserably, I would be out of job. How on earth do people support him?
Suzie:
62.”The poor coal miners. Here they’ve been loyal Democrats all these years, followed every order from their union bosses, and now who is it that wants to take away their livelihood?
The damn Democrats.”
I sincerely appreciate the irony in this.
DaveHicks, if I were the author “legal action” would not be my top concern.
Kristen,
Re: 1:29pm
That is not “what he meant”.
What he “meant” is clear to anyone open enough to see/hear the truth.
Dan,
Re: “By doing so, he has exposed himself, his family and potentially other members of the Seal team to retribution from bent-on-revenge extremists.”
Do you think any of them will be at the DNC muslim prayer event?
Clearly they wont be at the “Catholic” prayer event, as the DNC turned down that offer.
John W.
Re: “people don’t care” … how true… how sad…
“You can fool some people some of the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on”. George W Bush
My great uncle Stan’s father was a coal miner in southern Indiana starting in the 1890s and quitting during WW I. He was no longer able to work. My uncle Stan worked in the mines beginning at the age of 8 and continued until he ran away from home at the age of 13. He and his brother were taken into the mines by their father to help him get more coal out of the mine each day. He, their father, was paid based upon the amount of coal he brought out the mine each day. There were no unions nor were there any child labor laws at the time.
When my uncle Stan ran away he ultimately wound up apprenticing himself to my great grandfather John who was a carpenter who built barns. My uncle Stan remained a carpenter the rest of his life. He never smoked nor did he ever go back down into a mine. He died at the age of 82. Black lung disease killed him. For the last 20 years of his life he gasped for every breath he took.
The United Mine Workers union and the passage of child labor laws ended the practice of children going into mines in the U.S., but it was too late for my uncle Stan. Mine safety regulations and other government actions nearly knocked out Black Lung Disease, but in the last 10 years there has been a resurgence of the disease. There is on the market, and their has been for some time, technology to cut down on the incidence of Black Lung amongst coal miners. However, that technology has been blocked by House Republicans from being used in the mines. Mr. Robert Murray has been among the most active mine operators lining the pockets of the Republicans in Congress as well as Mr. Rmoney in order to prevent mine safety regulations & equipment from being put in place. Mitt Rmoney, Paul Ryan and the Republicans have said openly they will not impose any regulations on the mining industry. In fact, they have pledged to eliminate many safety regulations that are already in place.
It is not surprising to me to see Mitt Rmoney & his ilk fawning over Mr. Murray. Stupid is as stupid does.
Here’s a link to an article about the efforts of the corporate leaders of the mining industry in partnership with congressional Republicans to forestall and if possible eliminate much of the regulation structure in place to protect miners.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/18/black-lung-disease-politics_n_1799340.html
There haven’t been this many coal miners employed since Clinton was president. Do you get that? Coal jobs declined almost every year under Bush, now they’re approaching a 20-year high under Obama. For an industry in perilous danger of being destroyed by the Democrats, ol’ coal seems to be doing well under their administrations. Can you explain that, Suzie? I’d love to hear it.
The great thing about cheerleaders is that even when their team sucks, you can rely on them to act like they don’t. Never let the facts get in the way of a good rally cry and pom-pom shake.
RA RA REE!
Kick ‘em in the knee!
RA RA RASS!
Kick ‘em in the other knee!
Though I’ve never quite seen cheerleading squads focus so much on the other team. Note: This is directed at BOTH sides.
I thought you would like to see a speech…MSNBC did not cover anyone of “color” during the convention…
The mayor told Democrat President Barrack Hussein Obama..”no one is buying your message.”…
Let’s Hear It for Mia Love
August 29, 2012
RUSH: MSNBC didn’t carry it, NBC didn’t carry it, CBS, ABC, didn’t carry it, CNN was split screening with the hurricane. This did not get wide play. Mia Love is African-American. She is from Utah. She’s a congressional candidate. She is running against an entrenched Democrat out there, who’s apparently pretty popular.
Ok..question to my liberal friends..Your premise is the “wealthy are not paying “their fair share” in taxes.
Do you admit almost 50% of US citizens are not paying anything?
If so..why not? Do they not have any skin in the game?
I would challenge anyone on here to go to the Social Service Office (old Sears Store on Williamson Rd.(supported by TAX PAYERS) before you answer.
#61 Even troll suzie is swallowing this hogwash. Or pretending to swallow it.
Yes, so unlike Bush, Obama “loves” to “take credit”, too damn bad a flight suit on a naval carrier with a handy banner was already done! You hypocrites earn all the disdain you get!
The whole convention of pandering and wailing against a freaking speaking gaffe is really too comical. If Romney wins, it will only prove how deranged the TP/GOP has managed to make America.
Well here is certainly a soldier Suzie can support. She cannot seem to swallow when a soldier supports Obama.
CampusGallup: Americans Rate Public Schools The Worst Place To Educate Kids
Let’s get the party started..
.The Democrat Union thugs ain’t getting the job done.
Democrat President Barrack Hussein Obama…YOU’RE FIRED! The gig is up!
Your golf outings, sending your Wife to Spain for Vacation at tax payer cost,(Michelle you could have come to The Homestead or Greenbrier and stimulated this region), your USURPING the Constitution for your “arrogant fascist ideals is over!.
Chicago can use another community organizer…the killings in Chicago make Mexico City a better destination.
Correction, I was wrong. – There was an increase of 11,000 coal jobs from 2000-2006 under Bush. This was the first increase in coal jobs since 1980.
Bill Clinton also presided over a loss in overall coal jobs during his tenure, as well.
A larger dataset seems to show that the coal industry has finally bottomed out of a 30-year near-freefall in jobs, with a few bumps here and there. Still, the question remains: If the Democrats are destroying coal, why do they seem to be doing so well (86,000+ jobs and hiring)?
Stever Nelson, I trashed your post. You can’t use racially slurs on this blog, in any context.
steve nelson, I doubt you will ever grasp it, but it’s a total lie that “almost 50 percent of US citizens are not paying anything” (i.e. taxes). You believe it, though, because the RW lie machine told you so. That’s your problem.
Re: Comment by Kristen — August 29, 2012 @ 5:38 pm
DaveHicks, if I were the author “legal action” would not be my top concern.
———
My reply was primarily in response to some earlier questions / discussion about “terms his service” and “nondisclosure” oaths.
IMHO, violation of oaths should be persuade whether or not damage is done.
As to his well-being, I suspect it will be others, more easily reached, who will pay the price for his claims — be the claims true or not. IMHO, that in and of itself is suffice damage to justify legal action.
(Michelle you could have come to The Homestead or Greenbrier and stimulated this region)
Hey Michelle! Did you get that? You’re a failure because you didn’t vacation in steve nelson’s back yard.
“L.D., best line of the night from Christie:”
“Pass the gravy”…
his is the data for calendar year 2003 just released in October 2005 by the Internal Revenue Service. The share of total income taxes paid by the top 1% of wage earners rose to 34.27% from 33.71% in 2002. Their income share (not just wages) rose from 16.12% to 16.77%. However, their average tax rate actually dropped from 27.25% down to 24.31%
*Data covers calendar year 2003, not fiscal year 2003
- and includes all income, not just wages, excluding Social Security
Think of it this way: less than 3-1/2 dollars out of every $100 paid in income taxes in the United States is paid by someone in the bottom 50% of wage earners.
Dan, I was off by 3 1/2%
Dan, I was only posting what was reported by liberals..like Bill Mayer,Chris Matthews, Martin Bashir,Rachel Maddcow.former producer of ABC news..honestly I watch MSNBC, read Washington Post, Roanoke Times….(always wait for your endorsements and vote the opposite.)
Never said Michele is a failure but Michele “I have never been prouder of my country”.
So you think Michele going to Spain ON my tax dollars is “good optics”…or taking 2 different planes 4 hours apart to Martha’s Vineyard…now that you mention it Michele is a failure, arrogant just like her fascist husband and hope they take advantage of the perks 24/7!
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Just think how much it would help Homestead or Greenbrier’s economy. Her visit has not helped Spain…another socialist regime going bankrupt!
The gig is up!
Do you think ‘moochelle’ reads your blogs?
Did I mention sending her 13 year old to Mexico for a spring break!
I did vote for Democrat candidate Barrack Hussein Obama before I voted against him in the general election.
“Data covers calendar year 2003″
Good morning. 2003 is ancient history. The bulk of the transfer of wealth occurred in the latter half of the Bush regime. Did you know that 40% of the American economy is now stashed in offshore accounts? Nah, probably not.
#80 Why is it that it’s always the right wingers using racial slurs?
#84 Now, now, Art, I know we’ve made fun of Rash’s weight in the past, but let’s leave the fat “jokes” to pammalalala, suzie and people of that ilk. Let them wallow in the mud.
So…stevenelson sits up all night posting on here. And it shows.
“So you think Michele going to Spain ON my tax dollars is “good optics”…or taking 2 different planes 4 hours apart to Martha’s Vineyard…”
I’m sorry…how did 1 person take two different planes to the same place, 2 hours apart?
“Never said Michele is a failure but Michele “I have never been prouder of my country”.”
It’s not a sentence. It’s not even a fragment.
Who cares where their kid went for spring break….they’re rich and can afford it. Get some sleep, dude. And open a window.
#86 :I did vote for Democrat candidate Barrack Hussein Obama before I voted against him in the general election.”
I think it’s pretty safe to assume you did that because you thought he’d lose to the Repub.
“his is the data for calendar year 2003 just released in October 2005 by the Internal Revenue Service. The share of total income taxes paid by the top 1% of wage earners rose to 34.27% from 33.71% in 2002. Their income share (not just wages) rose from 16.12% to 16.77%. However, their average tax rate actually dropped from 27.25% down to 24.31%”
Steve nelson, you’re changing the subject now. Your original post said half the population doesn’t pay anything in taxes. Now you have limited the parameter to federal income taxes. That is but one subset of “taxes.”
The nearly 50 percent of taxpayers who pay no federal income taxes pay SS taxes (at a far higher rate of their total income than millionaires, btw); they pay sales taxes, utility taxes, state income taxes, state gas taxes, federal gas taxes and local meals taxes (unless they never buy prepared food). They pay real estate taxes (even if they rent) and personal property taxes (unless they own no car).
Now, why don’t they pay federal income taxes? Easy. Conservatives TEMPORARILY rigged the system so that they would not owe any taxes.
That was part of the Bush tax cuts. It made a greater number of people on the lower income scale ineligible for federal income taxation through a variety of ways. For most of them it didn’t amount to a huge tax cut — it may have saved them hundreds of dollars a year, or maybe $1,000.
The rich, of course, got the real big income tax cuts. They saved big money.
Now that the rich have tricked people like you and you’re shouting around that half the population PAYS NO TAXES, they are setting the stage to correct that, dagnabit!
Romney/Ryan are advocating increasing taxes on the poor to correct that horrible inequity. But of course they’re gonna cut them on the rich again.
Can’t you see how you’ve been played in this game? Most people with half a brain can.
I am a big Romney supporter but after hearing this interview I believe Romney needs to address this situation and distance himself from it. This person admitted that it was mandatory yet states they were not forced to go. What the heck does “mandatory” mean? And they should have been paid for the day. No one should be docked pay for something that was politically motivated and then on top of that strongly urged to give more money to the campaign and on top of that reminded that there are plenty of other people that would love to take their jobs! I am not a lawyer but I think these employees could have a good lawsuit against this company.Bottom line for me, I want to hear what Romney has to say.
Sonya, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for Romney to say anything about it. His pockets are lined by the mine owner.
Honestly, Rmoney might not even know about this. If you’re otherwise a Rmoney supporter, there’s nothing new here about him, IMO. The mine owner is guilty of epic douchebaggers (johnw!), but even I can’t blame Romney for this one.
It speaks to the importance of unions and labor protection laws, and that’s sort of tangentially attached to Romney, but I cannot believe he instructed this mine owner to screw his people out of a days pay to participate in this dog and pony show.
Worker intimidation is wrong.
Kristen, I’m with you on the mine owner. But I can’t imagine that this isn’t going to hurt Romney’s prospects among blue-collar voters in Ohio. Who he needs, BADLY.
Romney should definitely throw Robert Murray under the bus. But it’s against his nature. He’ll only do that if and when he realizes his chances for election hinge on it.
I wonder if Murray’s miners will be working Monday, for no pay? Wouldn’t be surprised. He probably thinks “federal holiday” means he doesn’t have to pay them.
LOL, Dan. Labor Day = Free Labor.
If Romney knows what happened that day, he should throw this guy under the bus ASAP. If I were one of the workers, or any mine worker, this story would infuriate me and Ohio is full of voters whom this would tick off. I was just addressing Sonya’s comment.
We all know in elections, perception is reality.
I don’t blame Romney either, but I don’t think he will be rushing to condemn the owner’s actions, even if he does find out about it.
#97 Problem is, Dan, that Romney is winning over blue collar workers with the lying ad about work for welfare. Rethugs know the ad is a lie but refuse to quit using it because their polling shows its making a difference in perhaps 1 percent of white blue collar workers.
#92 “Can’t you see how you’ve been played in this game? Most people with half a brain can.” If that ‘s true Dan, then how did YOU figure it out???????????????????
#95 “I cannot believe he instructed this mine owner to screw his people out of a days pay . . .” Well, Kristen that’s because HE DIDN’T instruct the mine owner. He had nothing to do with it. To quote Danny, “can’t you see how you’ve been played in this game? Most people with half a brain can.” Oh, by the way, I think I spotted Obama darting around in the background of the lying Cancerous ad he said he had no control over. Right.
#95 again. Wow. Kristen, I misread your post the first time! I never thought you’d cut Romney some slack. My bad. (Is there any hope bloggers on here can ever see eye-to-eye)?
Can anyone source coal mining jobs in total?
I can only find “total” stats thru 2006.
In individual states I can find that WVA is up 2% and VA is down 40%.
L.D. I don’t love Romney, but I can’t imagine anyone with any sense making a bunch of men paid by the hour to stand around, unpaid, to make them )the politician) look good. It defies logic.
Worker intimidation is wrong
You mean like card check?
Frankly, I’m laughing pretty hard at the notion of leftwingers being outraged by workers allegedly being ‘forced’ to do something poltically. These are the folks who invented union bullying, mind you; forcing workers to pay union dues, forcing them to attend political events, forcing them to support Democrats, etc.
#103 mike o – The more recent (2010) employment numbers I’ve been able to find are on the Nat’l Mining Association’s website, and they’re pulled from Dept. of Labor stats.