Friday morning chutzpah

Two things stick out, to me, in the news this morning of such chutzpah and nerve, I had to mention them.

The first is the CEO of Massey Energy, Don Blankenship's, testimony in Washington yesterday on the Upper Big Branch mine disaster earlier this year.

Instead of coming off contrite, as many would expect, since last month's explosion was the worst in 40 years in the US, Mr. Blankenship actually came out blazing and blamed the government for the disaster.

It's Massey's mine, Don Blankenship's responsibility, as CEO, but, lo and behold, it's the government's fault for the disaster, not his.

That's a beauty, Don, we have to hand it to you. Chutzpah of the first order.

He says the government made them change the ventilation in the mines, even shutting them down for two days to do it, and that's why the miners were killed.

I suppose it could be true but I'm fairly certain that if and when this is examined, we'll all find out it's nothing of the sort.

Good try, though, Don. That's a first-rate snow job.

The 2nd Friday morning chutzpah goes either to the burglar/thief who snapped a lock, broke a window and stole five paintings in France at the Paris Museum of Modern Art worth far over $100 million OR it goes to the museum management who knew their alarm was broken back in March but didn't fix it.

Sure, you have nearly priceless Matisee, Picasso and who knows what all paintings in your building but you don't have the alarm fixed.

Wait. I have this figured out--the chutzpah goes to the burglar.

Not fixing the alarm system was just stupid.


Have a great weekend, everyone.