BOB MURRAY: MINE SWINE

...Murray then denounced widespread media reports that the cave-in was related to so-called “retreat mining,” a dangerous procedure whereby miners remove coal from coal pillars that support the mine roof in sections about to be closed, precipitating the collapse of the roof. There was no retreat mining, Murray declared, but only “primary mining.”

He singled out for attack the Associated Press and Fox News and denounced by name David McAteer, a former MSHA official and vocal critic of mine safety, United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) President Cecil Roberts, and others. The term “retreat mining” was being used, he said, only because of “lackeys” from the UMWA who want to organize his workers and “want to damage Murray Energy, UtahAmerican and the United States coal industry for their own motives.”

Following this harangue, Davis attempted to distance himself from Murray’s claims and accusations, saying MSHA had made no determination of the cause of the cave-in and had not even begun its investigation. However, when he attempted to discuss the progress of the rescue effort he was repeatedly interrupted by Murray and relegated to the background.

Even the CNN anchors and commentators, who earn their salaries by dispensing the vetted pro-corporate pabulum that passes for news, were taken aback. The news anchor described the press conference as “bizarre.”...

...Standing alongside Murray was Al Davis, the chief MSHA official for the region. The participation of Davis in a joint press conference with the mine owner was itself indicative of the real relationship between the industry and the federal agency nominally mandated to police it. The collusion has reached the point where even the pretense of government independence and oversight is barely maintained.

In a self-serving and semi-hysterical rant, Murray began by declaring that “The United States is a great country,” and proceeded to denounce government measures to control global warming and reduce green house gasses as an attack on the American people.

He asserted repeatedly that the cause of the cave-in was an earthquake, a “natural disaster” for which he had no responsibility. “This was an earthquake,” he bellowed. “It had nothing to do with our mining activity. All mining activities at the Crandall Canyon Mine were in accordance with all laws and mining regulations and a mining plan approved by federal regulatory agencies.”..........

Murray launched into an attack on the press for supposedly spreading false information. At one point he demanded that a media helicopter circling overhead be ordered away, and reacted to vehicle traffic in the area with the command, “Sheriff, stop everybody until I’m done.” Reflecting the typical relationship between local government and police and the coal bosses, the sheriff could be heard snapping, “Will do!”...[Open in new window]
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From THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE: On Bob Murray great American & Murderer.

He called Sen. Hillary Clinton "anti-American" for suggesting the nation needed a president who is pro-labor. He sued a Pennsylvania agency over environmental regulations that Murray's company contended resulted in the shutdown of a mine.

In 2001, he sued the Akron Beacon Journal for $1 billion over an unflattering profile. (Among other things, the story said: "Even his friends roll their eyes at his hyperbole.") The case was settled out of court on undisclosed terms.

Also, in 2001, Murray was acquitted of charges he assaulted an environmental activist fighting Murray's plans to mine beneath a 400-year-old forest in Ohio. Murray was accused of throwing Chad Kister into a wall outside a hearing room. Murray claimed the accusations were politically and financially motivated...[Open in new window]