Apparently, people in West Virginia find this guy appealing. At the moment he has a slight lead in the Republican primary for the Senate. The U.S. Senate! The upper house!
West Virginians are pretty split over this guy. He was convicted over safety violations in the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion, so there is some bad blood there. But he's running radio ads about how much he's done for the working people of WV (you know, apart from the ones he killed), and some are buying it hook, line, and sinker. They're still convinced coal is the only thing they have to offer, and he represents coal.
Frankly, if he's elected, I'll no longer have pity for anybody there. It's my home state, and I love it, but some folks insist on shortsightedly voting against their own interests and giving their souls to the company store.
No, that was a different coal baron. I can't remember the name.
This guy did a year in federal prison after 29 miners died in his mine and it was found that he was in violation of MHSA regs.
In March 2013, at a plea hearing in a federal court, Blankenship was directly implicated in conspiring to skirt safety regulations. A former Massey Energy official accused Blankenship of conspiring and plotting to hide safety violations from federal safety inspectors. The implication was that Blankenship would order his officials to warn mine operators when the federal inspectors were coming for "surprise" visits, and to quickly cover up any safety violations. [32]
Blankenship went on to serve a one-year prison sentence. He called himself a "political prisoner", feuded with United States Senator Joe Manchin and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) over the explosion, [33] considered running against Manchin for the Senate, [34] and called for a new investigation into the explosion. [35] On May 25, 2017, he formally appealed his case to the U.S. Supreme Court . His petition argued that the U.S. District Court in Charleston and the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, "both erred in rulings, and they claim Blankenship was a victim of politics." [36]
Oliver discussed the damage done to coal mining communities when jobs are in decline. He also recalled a Utah mining disaster involving one of Murray’s mines, which killed nine miners and was found by a congressional inquiry to have been preventable. Oliver, a comedian, also criticized Murray with more creative language, calling him a “geriatric Dr. Evil,” referencing complaints Murray has received from his miners. He specifically recounted an instance in which one of Murray’s employees wrote “Eat Shit Bob” on a returned check for an unwanted $3 bonus and had a human-sized squirrel named Mr. Nutterbutter come on stage to present Murray a check for “3 acorns and 18 cents.”
Murray responded by suing John Oliver and HBO for defamation over what he insists are false claims about the coal industry and his company.
I forgot about that "Eat Shit Bob" thing on a 3 dollar bonus check. That's hilarious.
It looks like Blankenship was also discussed in that episode, though. I guess I mixed them up.
I liked the racist part about "China people" and Mitch McConnell's "China family".......a bit ironic since Blankenship's fiancee is a Chinese national. That's probably why you don't see her in the video.
China, as it happens, is a topic of personal interest to Mr. Blankenship. His fiancée, Farrah Meiling Hobbs, was born there. The two met on a flight from Atlanta to Las Vegas about eight years ago, Mr. Blankenship said. According to the website of an international trading company Ms. Hobbs founded, she is “a former Chinese professional basketball player and part-time model” who moved to the United States in 1996.
In 2016 Ms. Hobbs and Mr. Blankenship paid $2.4 million in cash to buy the palatial home near Las Vegas that Mr. Blankenship claims in court papers is his principal residence. It is a six-bedroom, eight-bath Spanish-style mansion with marble floors and a dolphin sculpture beside the pool, according to an online real estate site. (He also owns a residence in West Virginia.)
Yet he identifies the new frontier of uninhibited capitalism as China. In a telephone conversation he recorded in 2009 , introduced at his trial, Mr. Blankenship said he might move to Asia where governments enforce fewer regulations.
“I’m actually considering moving to China or somewhere and being more like George Washington if I can get citizenship,” he said. “I can probably get citizenship in India. I’d rather be in China.”
.
Blankenship has another ad where he panders to Trump supporters by slamming Trump's support of a pedophile in Alabama.
Of course Blakenship is quite right about Trump supporting a pedophile, not that it would discourage any voters in WV.
During a televised town hall interview on WZTS TV this morning, West Virginia GOP senate candidate Don Blankenship , continued to dismiss President Donald Trump following a tweet this morning from Trump urging West Virginians not to vote for Blankenship. The former coal executive, who served time in prison following a 2010 mine explosion that killed 29 miners, said, “Again, we all really like President Trump's policies but we know that he doesn't get things right. I mean he recommended that people vote for a guy that was basically accused of pedophilia in Alabama,” referencing the president’s support for Judge Roy Moore in last year’s Alabama Senate race. This follows Blankenship’s earlier statement on Monday in which he said that “tomorrow, West Virginia will send the swamp a message—no one, I mean no one, will tell us how to vote. As some have said, I am Trumpier than Trump and this morning proves it. ”
China does NOT grant citizenship to foreigners. The best he could do is get a "green card" and that is only given in special circumstances, like being the CEO of a large company in China, or a high level University official or senior professor. I am only able to get a visa for a 3 year renewable term on the basis of "visiting family", because I live with my wife who is a Chinese national. I cannot get a visa that permits me to work because I'm beyond the age limit.
I liked the racist part about "China people" and Mitch McConnell's "China family".......a bit ironic since Blankenship's fiancee is a Chinese national. That's probably why you don't see her in the video.
Gotta admit, that actually floored me. I didn't know that.
How hypocritical can a person be? There's something wrong with this guy.
How does anyone learn how to do anything there then ?
LOL
I've seen and heard of all kinds of people using Youtube to learn "how to" do all kinds of things. Many in America would be lost without it.
My own mechanic used youtube to learn a faster/easier way to change a headlamp on my truck, I've even heard of youtube being used in airplane maintenance "how to do" stuff.
youtube
Yes some of us cherish the freedoms we have here, some seem to take them for granted.
That how-to stuff does come in handy from time to time, but my favorite thing about YouTube is all of the educational material. Lectures, debates, documentaries, etc. There are things on YouTube from universities around the world that I simply never would've had access to without it. I just love that.
There's also some unique entertainment. Every now and then I follow a vlog or two. I just started watching one called Sailing La Vagabonde . It's from an adventurous Australian couple who've been sailing a yacht all around the world for a few years now...with zero sailing experience at the start.
Blankenship has a new ad designed to appeal to the bigoted base of the GOP:
On the final day of a chaotic primary campaign, a radio announcement from Don Blankenship, Republican hopeful for Senate in West Virginia, does not seek to deny or explain away charges leveled against him by his own party’s establishment.
He’s embracing those attacks instead. “They are calling me a bigot, a moron, a despicable character and mentally ill,” Blankenship says in the ad. “But even if all of this is true, I will do a better job than they have done.”
I don't know if it would guarantee Manchin a win. There seems to be this thing running through a hefty part of the Republican base at the moment where they just don't seem to care about decency, experience, or qualifications and will vote for the worst candidate they can find just to make 'libs' freak out. Which is a pretty sad state of affairs, to be honest. The GOP is becoming a farce. I mean, Donald Freaking Trump is the President for crying out loud.
I think he only ran in two elections, the reason no one took him seriously though, I think is because the first time he was on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and, did a lot of stuff that was similar to his campaign.
"China people" was totally on purpose. The ones to whom it was designed to appeal are the ones who still have a problem with folks whose last names don't originate in the UK.
His new campaign motto.....''I'll bring the coal mining jobs back for the people I haven't killed. It was them China people that are guilty, they are not one of us.''
Apparently, people in West Virginia find this guy appealing. At the moment he has a slight lead in the Republican primary for the Senate. The U.S. Senate! The upper house!
Unbelievable.
Only in the GOP...
West Virginians are pretty split over this guy. He was convicted over safety violations in the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion, so there is some bad blood there. But he's running radio ads about how much he's done for the working people of WV (you know, apart from the ones he killed), and some are buying it hook, line, and sinker. They're still convinced coal is the only thing they have to offer, and he represents coal.
Frankly, if he's elected, I'll no longer have pity for anybody there. It's my home state, and I love it, but some folks insist on shortsightedly voting against their own interests and giving their souls to the company store.
Lyric; "I loaded 16 tons and what do I get? Another day older and deeper in debt. Lord don't take me because I owe my soul to the company store."
Serfdom is alive and well in America.
That's the song I had in mind.
Unfortunately, the serfs have been voting to stay serfs.
Oh, yeah! This is the guy who sued John Oliver for talking about that on his show, right?
No, that was a different coal baron. I can't remember the name.
This guy did a year in federal prison after 29 miners died in his mine and it was found that he was in violation of MHSA regs.
I'm honestly surprised Blankenship would show his face in WV again. Back then, I'd have said his life would have been in danger.
Found it! Robert Murray.
Me too! Had to go poking around, and found this:
I forgot about that "Eat Shit Bob" thing on a 3 dollar bonus check. That's hilarious.
It looks like Blankenship was also discussed in that episode, though. I guess I mixed them up.
Easy to mix them up. They both sound like real princes.
I liked the racist part about "China people" and Mitch McConnell's "China family".......a bit ironic since Blankenship's fiancee is a Chinese national. That's probably why you don't see her in the video.
.
Blankenship has another ad where he panders to Trump supporters by slamming Trump's support of a pedophile in Alabama.
Of course Blakenship is quite right about Trump supporting a pedophile, not that it would discourage any voters in WV.
It would discourage some.
China does NOT grant citizenship to foreigners. The best he could do is get a "green card" and that is only given in special circumstances, like being the CEO of a large company in China, or a high level University official or senior professor. I am only able to get a visa for a 3 year renewable term on the basis of "visiting family", because I live with my wife who is a Chinese national. I cannot get a visa that permits me to work because I'm beyond the age limit.
Gotta admit, that actually floored me. I didn't know that.
How hypocritical can a person be? There's something wrong with this guy.
He best rethink moving to China. They have been known to sentence company executives to long prison terms for some of the shit he did here in the U.S.
Are you able to see the video in China, Buzz?
No. YouTube is banned here.
Man, that sucks. YouTube is one of the best things on the entire internet, as far as I'm concerned.
How does anyone learn how to do anything there then ?
LOL
I've seen and heard of all kinds of people using Youtube to learn "how to" do all kinds of things. Many in America would be lost without it.
My own mechanic used youtube to learn a faster/easier way to change a headlamp on my truck, I've even heard of youtube being used in airplane maintenance "how to do" stuff.
youtube
Yes some of us cherish the freedoms we have here, some seem to take them for granted.
Long live freedom, long live America.
See, this way if someone calls him racist he can trot her out and, say "No, see, I'm not a racist my girl friend is a China girl."
There are Chinese alternatives in Chinese and in English.
I could not function without my daily fix of kittens and puppies on YT.
That how-to stuff does come in handy from time to time, but my favorite thing about YouTube is all of the educational material. Lectures, debates, documentaries, etc. There are things on YouTube from universities around the world that I simply never would've had access to without it. I just love that.
There's also some unique entertainment. Every now and then I follow a vlog or two. I just started watching one called Sailing La Vagabonde . It's from an adventurous Australian couple who've been sailing a yacht all around the world for a few years now...with zero sailing experience at the start.
YouTube is the best.
Blankenship has a new ad designed to appeal to the bigoted base of the GOP:
LOL, if he wins the nomination that will say everything we ever needed to know about the base and, insure a win for Manchin.
I saw that somewhere last night. All I could think was, "Yeah, what did you expect?"
I don't know if it would guarantee Manchin a win. There seems to be this thing running through a hefty part of the Republican base at the moment where they just don't seem to care about decency, experience, or qualifications and will vote for the worst candidate they can find just to make 'libs' freak out. Which is a pretty sad state of affairs, to be honest. The GOP is becoming a farce. I mean, Donald Freaking Trump is the President for crying out loud.
Two words, Roy Moore.
Yup. Thankfully he didn't win, but it still speaks volumes that he had so much support.
Looks like Blankenship came in dead last.
This, in a way, is a good thing, it shows the people of West Virginia still have working brain cells.
Naw. The worst campaign ad ever was-------------------"Who's going to pay for the wall" and the crowd cheered back---"Mexico."
Blankenship? The miners deserve him.
If you have a shoestring budget and must script your own videos you better at least have a personality. A powerful message would be nice too.
I don't think better production values would help. I think this is as good as it gets.
If that ad ran while I was watching SNL I'd think it was one of those fake commercial skits that they do.
This was an actual ad for a campaign in 1967, no one actually believed he was running for president but, he was.
That's pretty funny. Everyone knew he was a professional comedian, though. Didn't he do that for several elections?
I think he only ran in two elections, the reason no one took him seriously though, I think is because the first time he was on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and, did a lot of stuff that was similar to his campaign.
China people? You just can't make this stuff up.
Right?
Next, he'll be saying good mining jobs shouldn't go to Czechs, Poles, and "Eye-talians", but to good "West Virginia people".
Blankenship did say that he might move to China because mining regulations weren't as strict as they are in the US.
Color me surprised.
LMAO!!
Who are also, Czechs, Poles, Eye-talians...
They're not, but when workers die, CEOs lose their heads
Yeah, but they're, you know, different.
"China people" was totally on purpose. The ones to whom it was designed to appeal are the ones who still have a problem with folks whose last names don't originate in the UK.
Unsurprisingly, Blankenship is leading all Republican candidates in WV.
His new campaign motto.....''I'll bring the coal mining jobs back for the people I haven't killed. It was them China people that are guilty, they are not one of us.''
The part with the little girls posing all sexually suggestive is a nice touch. What a creep.
Just reported that Blankenship finished 3rd in the republican primary.
Good. Good. That's something, anyway.
Twitter message from Mitch McConnell's campaign team to Blankenship,
"Thanks for playing, Don"
his radio ads that we had to put up with in Virginia were annoying