West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin has once again been on the news in the last weeks a lot - as the sympathetic patriarch to the poor grief stricken families of the lost coal miners. He assumed this role before on the national media - in 2006 - during the Sago mine disaster in his state.

I'm sorry, but I'm not impressed with his performance. He isn't cracking down on the coal companies, which he could do as governor. And he has good reason to do so. But instead, according to news reports, he pats the coal magnates on the back, and turns a blind eye to real enforcement. Only when people die does he get forced into the corner of the miner. But in my opinion, it's a dollar short and a day late. Or should that be dozens of miners short and too late.

A person shouldn't have to die in their job, especially a civilian job. That Manchin is there, on the news again, teary-eyed, doesn't tell the real story of how these mines are getting away with murder, literally and figuratively. Manchin has had since 2006 to crack down on the mines, but the incidents of the last several days shows that he hasn't done what needed to be done to protect the miners. I hope the people of West Virginia see beyond the charade and elect a man or woman who is going to make the coal companies operate safely - period. And if they don't - then they are closed!