The more we learn about the Sago mine disaster, the more it sounds like the same old same old: Your Republican Crony Gov't at Work (or not)

I mentioned in connection with the president's cronyboatload of recess appointments that Rachel Maddow was right on the subject in a really strong show this morning on Air America Radio. She was also great on the West Virginia mine disaster.

I don't really want to get into this at length just now. In any case, it all sounds so familiar as to be hardly worth repeating—if it weren't for the price that's just been exacted from those miners and their families.

God, by now it's all just such old news: a mine company with no apparent concern except minimizing costs, running a non-union mine that has been plastered with safety violations, which it can afford to plaster its walls with since it has been assessed only chicken-feed fines by a regulatory system that has been (a) gutted budget- and staff-wise, and then (b) had the remaining positions filled with people whose ties are entirely with the mining industry. On her Air America blog Rachel links to this morning's New York Times editorial, which is indeed strong and to the point.

Isn't it time for the media—or the Democrats, if the media won't do it—to begin an intensive national educational campaign on the theme Republican Government at Work, just hammering away relentlessly at what that chilling phrase truly means?