Governor Machin's chances now

[Harry Hayfield]

Following the statement that Governor Machin of West Virginia may be been behind the misapporiated report that 12 miners survived, is his re-election campaign in 2008 destroyed before it even started?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Not heard that; the rumours were spreading round the town before he said anything. Seems to have come from an overheard phonecall between the rescuers and the coal company.

Too early to worry about this sort of thing anyway...

[tarheel-leftist85]

This won't affect his re-election one bit.  It seemed like Shelley Moore Capito was more of a target than MANCHIN.  But the party with whom they express the most outrage was ICG,  West Virginians have been preyed upon for so long...I don't see how those souls put up with it.

[RBH]

It wouldn't surprise me if ICG decided to try and blame this on Manchin, since ICG's CEO is a Republican donor and all.

The families have been saying that Ben Hatfield told them about the miners being alive.

[Alcon]

The articles I have make it sound like Manchin was just allowed to announce the news.  I don't imagine he was responsible for it, and I doubt he will be hurt by this.

[Sam Spade]

I personally don't think it will affect any political leaders, either Manchin or Capito, etc., but I could be wrong on this.  I would predict that the mining company will have some lawsuits that they'll settle out of court, and there will be plenty of investigating from "officials", but that's probably about it.

The way this whole incident occurred feels to me like a tragic game of "telephone", for those who are familiar with the game.  I was actually up last night watching this, and each certain report of the good news seemingly did not make sense.  Miners who were in a mine for 41 hours would be in ambulances would be walking and return to the church to see their loved ones.  I didn't buy that for a second.

Anyway, as for the political implications, it's better to wait a little while (say a month) and see where and if the polls have moved.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

ICG seem to be taking all the heat for this; rumours flying around of lawsuits already.
Interesting they've just said that they "sincerely regret" the fact that the families weren't told the truth for three hours.

[RBH]

The lawsuit thing isn't a stunner to me.

ICG is going to be paying out a few million, at the least.

[Gustaf]

I doubt people will remember something like this by 2008 anyway (at least not enough to change their votes, I mean). And I don't really see how it's Manchin's fault either?

[DarthKosh]

ICG seem to be taking all the heat for this; rumours flying around of lawsuits already.
Interesting they've just said that they "sincerely regret" the fact that the families weren't told the truth for three hours.

Al some idiot told the family that they were alive not ICG.

[WalterMitty]

i hope the republican trend in wva will sweep this silly populist from office.

by the way, what kind of insurance is bob wise selling these days?

[minionofmidas]

ICG seem to be taking all the heat for this; rumours flying around of lawsuits already.
Interesting they've just said that they "sincerely regret" the fact that the families weren't told the truth for three hours.

This is interesting? It would be interesting if they didn't.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Al some idiot told the family that they were alive not ICG.

By the sound of it someone overheard and misheard a phone call and...
That they heard wrong and all that isn't why people are furious with ICG or why ICG has apologised; the reason for that is because they didn't bother to correct it for three hours. The mine's dismal safety record is another reason, although to be fair ICG only got hold of it relatively recently.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

This is interesting? It would be interesting if they didn't.

I suppose so, but it looks a bit like an admission of guilt. I'd expected them to have waited a bit longer before saying it actually.

[Democratic Hawk]

I certainly don't see anyway how any blame can be apportioned to Manchin

Dave

[tarheel-leftist85]

His chances seem pretty good.
80% Approval, highest in the nation

[Alcon]

i hope the republican trend in wva will sweep this silly populist from office.

by the way, what kind of insurance is bob wise selling these days?

Joe Manchin has a pretty non-partisan administration, but he's not too "populist" by West Virginia standards.

If you think that the West Virginia GOP is any better about "populism," you're sadly mistaken.