Tragedy and outrage

The day by day reports on the Utah mine tragedy clearly have brought on a deep national sadness. Just about everyone knows there is not much hope now for the six trapped miners. The death of three rescuers (three other rescuers remain in the hospital) has understandably caused the principal rescue operation to be stopped.

For many people, the sadness is accompanied by indignation. And it should be. George Bush's mine safety chief that we keep seeing at the scene is Richard Stickler. This former mining exec had such a poor safety record that the Republican-controlled Senate twice refused to confirm him. That was in August and September of 2006. The next month Bush used one of those sneaky "recess appointments" to appoint Stickler anyway. And this is the guy who will be in charge of the federal investigation of the present disaster.

So an awful tragedy leads to yet another corner of White House corruption coming under the spotlight. Maybe that is why all these "Bush team" resignations are happening one after another. Commentator Chris Cillizza said on MSNBC tonight that it is like the rats jumping off a sinking ship.