Every WV judge/justice that accepted contributions from Massey's Don Blankenship

[LiberalFighter]

should be removed from office. And lose their law license.

[doc03]

1. A Repug called our local talk station in WV today

whining about people picking on Don Blankenshit. He doesn't see why Blankenshit's political contributions should have anything to do with the story.

[LiberalFighter]

3. Too bad they didn't have someone on the radio station

explain to the caller that the reason he contributes is to bribe judges to side with him.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

4. I heard the same - it was Hoppy Kercheval's show

and he's a rightwing prick. The station is the flagship of rightwing WV media mogul John Raese's radio chain.
Raese ran against Robert Byrd in 2006 and lost. He's as big of a rightwing scumbag as Blankenship and Hoppy happily repeats his talking points.

[Enthusiast]

5. Blankenship is a symptom.

Just look at the state of U.S. politics. If you have enough money and influence you can buy any outcome in court or election result. It is well on the way to the ruination of the nation.

[pkz]

2. 3rd time Supreme Court rules in favor of Massey

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=185x3480

[ensho]

6. kick

nt

[flpoljunkie]

7. Opensecrets.org: Massey Energy, Owner of Ill-Fated Mine, Frequently Targets Politicians

Massey Energy, Owner of Ill-Fated Coal Mine, Frequently Targets Politicians

Published by Dave Levinthal on April 6, 2010

Massey Energy, owner of West Virginia's Upper Big Branch coal mine where an explosion Monday killed at least 25 people, has long involved itself in federal-level politics through campaign contributions and lobbying efforts, a Center for Responsive Politics analysis indicates.

In all, people associated with Massey Energy, along with the company's political action committee, have together contributed more than $307,000 to federal political candidates since the 1990 election cycle, the Center finds. Of that money, 91 percent went to Republican candidates.

That's in addition to several million dollars the company's chairman and chief executive poured into a West Virginia judicial race in 2004.

Don Blankenship, Massey Energy's chairman and chief executive officer, is a particularly active political bankroller, having in recent years donated tens of thousands of dollars to a variety of federal political interests.

For example, Blankenship last year contributed the federal maximum -- $30,400 -- to the National Republican Senatorial Committee. The federal political action committee West Virginians for Life also received a $5,000 contribution from Blankenship in 2004, the Center's research finds.

Among candidates, Inhofe, U.S. Senate candidate Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and U.S. Senate candidate Rob Portman of Ohio are among recent recipients of Blankenship's money.

more...

http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2010/04/massey-energy-owner-of-ill-fated-co.html

[salguine]

8. Wrong solution, since there's nothing explicitly illegal in the contributions. Rather than

disbarring the judges, wouldn't it be better to outlaw the contributions?