I am the governor and the only allegiance I owe to anyone is to my corporate pals.

Republican Michigan Governor and cartioon-voiced asshat—who brought you the Flint water crisis and the democracy-killing emergency managers concept, in which Ricky’s hand-picked GOP toadies replace elected officials—has done it again. As reported today by MLive.com, Snyder has chosen Heidi Grether, a registered lobbyist for BP from 2001 until 2008, who also “helped to lead Gulf Coast restoration efforts” for BP America, as the head of the state’s Department of Environmental Quality. Yes, the very same agency that declared Flint’s water safe to drink when it was polluted with enormous amounts of lead, thanks to Ricky’s emergency manager’s decision to save some money by switching Flint from safe Detroit water to unsafe Flint River water. Because, you know—we can save a few bucks that I can spread around to my business cronies as tax breaks. Because, you know—Flint is mostly black and poor. So, you know—who cares?

It pains me to post this diary—my first, by the way, so please be kind—because I live in Michigan, which voted this corporate tool into the governor’s office not once, but twice. It’s mortifying. And infuriating.

Here’s what Snyder said, after appointing the BP shill to the office that has been vacant for seven months, since the former head, implicated in the Flint disaster, resigned: "Heidi has decades of experience in environmental quality issues, and has effectively served during times of crises and recovery. Her expertise in delivering good customer service from a large organization will be of great value as we continue working to reinvent the department and act more proactively to address issues that arise."

Perhaps he’s talking about issues such as the Enbridge oil pipeline 5, which runs beneath the Straits of Mackinac and has been carrying 23 million gallons of oil a day through this enivronmentally delicate waterway since it was laid during the Eisenhower Administration. Enbridge is the Canadian oil company that brought you the 2010 oil spill into the Kalamazoo River, the largest land-based oil spill in U.S. history. Enbridge says that pipeline 5 is “in excellent condition,” and the company has no plans to shut it down or replace it. Heidi Grether sounds like just the person to help Enbridge ensure that the risk of a major spill into the Great Lakes becomes even greater.

But, hey—it isn’t personal, right, Ricky? It’s just business.