Last year Robert Murray, CEO of Murray Energy, made the tour of Wheeling area service organizations. Despite giving what apparently was the same speech to each group, the Intelligencer never failed to put the speech on the front page along with a picture of Murray. This year's tour began yesterday with a speech at West Liberty University. And yes, the Intelligencer covered it at the top of the page with an accompanying photo of Murray -- this time shaking hands with a student. (The afternoon News-Register had even a larger headline and picture.)

As I asked on numerous occasions last year: how is this news? According to the Intelligencer story, Murray described his early life and how he came to be CEO. The speech also included his usual attacks on the EPA and the Obama administration. What was apparently different from the previous speeches was his seven point "decision tree." (Is it right by God? Is it right by family? Is it right by your lenders? etc.) While this might conceivably be of interest to some in his audience, I don't see any news value in any of it.

The newspaper account did miss a few of Murray's gems. According to an attendee, Murray included his usual undocumented statistic that one coal mining job creates 11 outside jobs. (Every source I've seen is at least one-half of that number.) Murray also asserted that Obama has brought hundreds of thousands of regulators to Washington (really?) and that government workers are rejects who couldn't make it in the private sector. (He did except teachers and security from that gross generalization.)

Yes, different venue but same old crap.

Murray apparently did reference today's fundraiser for Ted Cruz that he is sponsoring. Earlier today Channel 9 reported that Senator Cruz will be attending the $5,000-a-plate dinner. I see the afternoon "newspaper" finally acknowledged the event although it didn't mention the cost.