Scott Shields over at MyDD wrote a thoughtful piece that outlined the Bush administration's failure to enforce mine safety laws in recent years.  It's a timely point in light of the tragedy at the Sago mine.

But the right wing is coming unwound about it, charging that Shields is blaming Bush for the explosion at the mine.  Shields did no such thing, and it is a sign that the right-wing is in a panic that they are trying to make such a silly argument.

What is clear is that the right wingers did not learn anything from the beating Bush's reputation took over his administration's handling of Hurricane Katrina.  The clear message that the American people sent during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is that there are certain things that we really must be able to depend on the government to do.

They must be able to defend our country, assist localities during natural disasters, and I think they believe that the government must enforce workplace safety laws so that we don't have senseless deaths like those at the Sago mine.

The right wing wants to believe that everyone hates the government, just like they do.  The reality is much more subtle.  Most people think there are certain things only the government can do, and that it should do them well.

The mine company had a duty to maintain as safe a workplace as the law requires.  The Bush administration had a duty to make sure the company did that.  From Shield's analysis, and some reporting over at Crooks and Liars, it appears that International Coal did not meet their obligations under the law, nor did the Bush administration meet its obligation to enforce those laws.  Senator Kennedy has already called for Senate hearings by the HELP Committee.

Does all this mean George Bush wanted this tragedy to take place?  Certainly not.  But he failed to require his agencies to perform their jobs in a manner that might have prevented a tragedy like this one.  And for that failure, he must accept responsibility.