[Big Dan]

The GOVERNOR was working the handles?? I bet he also figured out the spot to drill, pulled up the broken bits, set up the second drill, assembled the lights, made coffee and passed out donuts. That, or he arrived at the scene just in time for a Clintoon-quality photo-op.

And why couldn't divers reach the miners? Did other parts of the mine cave in as well?

[Big Dan]

I am also surprised and pleased that all 9 were safe, so now we can analyze the rescue, that's all I meant.

[Becki]

Good morning!

Glorious morning, isn't it? I had to watch until all the miners were out last night. I love seeing prayers answered.

They discussed why divers couldn't help last night with a navy captain that was there for pressurization concerns. At the rate they were pumping the water out of there, it was not possible to send divers in. They would not have been able to make it both ways.

Becki

[MinuteGal]

The governor is getting a bad rap here from some. I saw no indication he was hogging the limelight or using the crisis as a photo-op. (He's running for NO political office!).

To the contrary he appeared concentrated on the job at hand, pitched in to help where he could, honored the families by giving them info first, and moved around the workers helping with morale and then shaking hands with them after the crisis ended.

The problem was that the TV pool contingent was following his every move when they could. He made a better photo-op for THEM, and he's not the culprit. Do you think the cameras would concentrate all night on some anonymous mud-smeared grunt operating the machinery? Not in TV land, my friend.

Some cynics are so used to slimy, attention-grubbing politicians, that when a genuine guy appears, they refuse to acknowledge the fact.

Kudos to the governor!

Leni