Commentary: Utah mine owner "Boss Hog on crack", a PR disaster

[Bluebear]

When a tragedy or scandal hits a corporation, the CEO usually hires a crisis management firm to take over public relations. When the president of a beleaguered company looks like Boss Hog on crack, it's imperative that he hire a professional as a spokesman.

Six miners have been trapped for almost two weeks in the cave-in at the Crandall Canyon mine in Utah, and now three rescue workers have been killed in another cave-in or "bump". The disaster at the Crandall Canyon mine calls for an expert in public relations to handle the press and the concerns of an anxious community. But it's Crandall Canyon mine's colorful co-owner and operator Bob Murray, who has been facing the press every day.

"Bob Murray, has dominated news conferences, narrated video of rescue efforts for TV news and — despite safety concerns — personally led reporters and family members on a tour of his mine." - Quote from the Associated Press

Bob Murray has been an unqualified disaster as a spokesman for his company, his misleading and self-serving comments don't fool anyone. He repeatedly insisted that the cave-in was caused by an earthquake, when all the seismic experts are convinced that the cave-in caused the earthquake. About five of six days into the tragedy Murray informed the press that at his next press conference he would have "definitive" news. In my mind "definitive" news meant that he had information about the status of the miners. Murray had no such definitive information; I don't even remember what trivial tidbits he passed on to the media. Mining experts questioned Murray's lame-brained decision to lead reporters on a tour of his mine. Murray proclaimed that the rescue effort wasn't endangering the lives of the rescue workers, and we all know the truthfulness of that statement.

You couldn't keep Murray away from the cameras the first few days of the cave-in disaster, but now that three rescue workers have been killed, he is nowhere in sight. Come out of your hiding place you coward, and face the music!

A few generations ago a disgruntled mine worker would have made sure that Murray had an "accident" of his own. But in these more enlightened times we take revenge via the judicial system. I hope Murray is sued by the families of the Crandall Canyon mine, and maybe he will finally do the right thing and step down from his leadership position.

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=35441

note: no offense to our own BOSSHOG :hi:

[bluestateguy]

1. Hmmmmm

[Va Lefty]

2. "Boss Hog on crack"

Now that's funny!

[NoPasaran]

3. Also, presumably "no offense" to crack heads

It seems pretty cruel to lump drug addicts in with this blood-stained monster.

[Ellen Forradalom]

8. nor to DUer BOSSHOG, of course

one of the funniest DUers, IMHO.

On edit: saw the note in the OP.

[Contrary1]

4. You are absolutely correct. Look at this:

Where's the ass hole hiding?

Official: Likely six miners may not be found

HUNTINGTON, Utah - Officials extinguished nearly all hope of finding any of the six miners alive on Sunday, nearly two weeks after the men were trapped in a violent collapse deep with a mine.

The latest results from a fourth hole drilled more than 1,500 feet into the mountainside found the air quality could not sustain life, said a top executive of the company that co-owns the Crandall Canyon Mine.

"It's likely these miners may not be found," said Rob Moore, vice president of Murray Energy Corp..."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20342380/

[ellenfl]

7. i'm sure murray energy corp considers it an acceptable loss

just as long as it does not impact the bottom line.

ellen fl

[Raine]

5. Ths guy deserves

to find himself in some deep dark hole like what happened to those miners.

[Wiregrass Willie]

6. Let's hope the Senate calls him back

Maybe this time Senator Boxer can take up where she left off with this old &$%#*&^.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, (D) Calif., then produced paperwork that claimed Murray's safety record was sub-par.

"You say how much you care about ordinary people... but you own the two largest mines which recorded injury rates that are about 1/4th higher than the national average," she retorted. "So let's not have a double standard about how much you care about people."

"You are flat-out wrong," Murray snapped. "I resent you for bringing this in, because my employees are important to me. And I take their safety to bed every night."

"I'm not going to argue with you, sir," Boxer said. "But I don't appreciate you attacking the members of this committee."

http://kutv.com/topstories/local_story_223001648.html

[Mutineer]

9. Anybody seen Boss Hogg. . . I mean Murray

Since the second cave-in? Where is that Rat Bastard hiding at?

[spinbaby]

11. I suspect his lawyers made him shut up

by describing his liabilities if he keeps flapping his mouth.

[Blue_Tires]

10. good quote...if only

A few generations ago a disgruntled mine worker would have made sure that Murray had an "accident" of his own.

[Heidi]

12. Difference is, crack addicts have an illness. Murray is just plain greedy and ruthless. (nt)

[KittyWampus]

13. The higher portions of his brain are unactivate/residual. Hence, his reptilian brain dominates

just like a republican.

It's ALMOST like a handicap.

And I do think addiction to money and power triggers the same chemistry as addiction to any other behavior.

[Heidi]

14. I have a lot more sympathy for the crack addicts

than I have for people like Murray, even if his problem is addiction, too. Not rational, I though, but there it is.

[glitch]

15. Probably because crack addicts cause less harm to society. nt

[nashville_brook]

16. all i can think about when i see him on TV is that he looks like a giant mole

and that it's creepy that a giant mole would be in the mining business.