Obama orders US flags at half staff for miners

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Associated Press

Obama orders US flags at half staff for miners
(AP) – 31 minutes ago

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — President Barack Obama has ordered U.S. flags in West Virginia to be flown at half staff in honor of 29 miners killed in the Upper Big Branch mine explosion.

In a proclamation issued Monday, Obama said all U.S. flags in the state are to be flown at half staff until sunset on Sunday.

The proclamation comes as federal and state mine safety officials begin their investigation into the nation's worst coal-related mine accident in 40 years.


Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j6uIWq9FQzkCufHECJVhz6dkkhNgD9F1INHG1

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Since Massey Energy has its headquarters in Richmond, Virginia, maybe Bob McDonnell will request Obama to issue the same order for US flags in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Nice!

[Staph]

2. The flags were already at half staff

when I returned from a business trip on Saturday, including the US and West Virginia flags in front of the Federal Courthouse in Charleston.

It may be official now, but those West Virginians who are responsible for raising the flags had already done the right thing.

[Igel]

11. The WVa governor so ordered on 4/6, for state flags.

They were still at half mast on 4/12. Don't know how long the governor's order will stay in effect.

Don't know if he could order the lowering of the US flag or lgas at Federal facilities or not. But if not, I'm sure that lots of people did so anyway. If they hadn't, it would look bad. It's good for Obama to play catch-up.

Of course, pointing out that Manchin made the symbolic gesture on 4/8 and Obama on 4/12 is probably bad form. There'll be some saying that Obama obviously came up with the idea first, but Rovian plants (perhaps a Roving pothos on the windowsill?) interfered.

http://www.wvgov.org/sec.aspx?id=32&articleid=1989
April 6, 2010
GOVERNOR ORDERS STATE FLAGS LOWERED
IN COMMEMORATION OF PERFORMANCE COAL MINERS
CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Gov. Joe Manchin today ordered all State flags at all State-owned facilities throughout the State be lowered to half-staff in commemoration of the mining tragedy which occurred Monday at the Upper Big Branch Mine-South in Montcoal, W.Va.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the miners who have died. We are offering everything we can to assist those families at this time. For those families who are still waiting for news on their missing loved ones, I want them to know that we are doing everything possible in cooperation with state and federal officials and the company to get our miners out as quickly and safely as possible,” said the governor.
The flags will remain lowered until further declaration by the Governor

[Enrique]

3. I predict come good conservative out there will defy this order

just to show him he's not boss.

[burning rain]

10. The administration can do this without fear of conservatives attacking, or defying them on this.

Conservatives don't mind prayer services or flag-lowering--those things don't cost anything and don't impose on business interests. It's harmless from conservatives' point of view, so why not allow it.

[Tansy_Gold]

4. Should be nation-wide.

We all are end users of that coal in one way or another.



Tansy Gold

[joe black]

5. Now back it up.

President Obama needs to do more than symbolic gestures.

[pattmarty]

6. Good luck on that. Maybe he'll invite Blankenship to the White House..........

............for a fucking beer. I was referring to him as a "black" Bill Clinton, but now I am thinking he may in fact be worse than Clinton.

[Towlie]

7. (The Devil's advocate says) I wonder if that's really fair.

Americans in noble but dangerous professions die quite often. Think of police, firefighters, and above all, our soldiers. If we flew our flags at half-staff for all of those people, how often would our flags even make it to the top of the pole?

[NJmaverick]

9. 29 dying at once is a big deal in any of those professions

[one_voice]

8. WHAT?!?!?!?

How dare that America hating, Kenyan born, Muslim socialist tell us what to do with our flags!!! He doesn't have the authority..

:sarcasm:

Although, I wouldn't be surprised to see a headline similar to this on Fux Noise. Something like, Obama tries to show his patriot bonafides...flippin idiots.


This is a good first step. Next, step in and make sure these awful tragedies are at worst few and far between.