Misdemeanor Conviction For 29 Miner Deaths

After a long trial, former West Virginia coal executive Don "Big Shit" Blankenship was convicted today on a single misdemeanor charge of conspiracy to commit mine safety violations.  The conviction carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison.  The former Massey Energy Co. CEO had faced decades in prison for multiple counts stemming from the Upper Big Branch mine disaster in which claimed the lives of 29 miners.  Naturally, the human turd pile plans to appeal and may very well get away with, well, murder.

Back in 2010, Digby had this wonderful sketch ("Sociopathic Plutocrat") of the viciously anti- union, well- heeled Big Shit after he stirred up a crowd of benighted miners and their families (the kind who commonly vote against their self- interest) in his trademark American flag regalia:

I honestly can't think of a better illustration of plutocratic arrogance. He's literally killing them, but because he looks like a patriotic good old boy and mutters corn pone gibberish in vaguely soothing tones, they cheer wildly and consider him one of them. He climbed back into his personal helicopter that day and had a good laugh having just been reassured once again that there's a sucker born every minute.

Today, he's probably climbing back into his personal helicopter and having a good laugh with his lawyers having just been reassured once again that there's at least 12 suckers who can serve on a jury in West Virginia.  He'll beat this rap yet, mark our words.

(Photo: The last refuge of a scoundrel - "Big Shit" Blankenship's a killer patriot.)