Bush Surveys Bridge, Pledges Aid

[Terri]

By DEB RIECHMANN
Associated Press
August 6, 2007

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- President Bush pledged Saturday to cut red tape that could delay rebuilding a highway bridge that once arched over the Mississippi River but now lies crumbled in muddy water concealing some victims.

Bush, still dogged by his administration's sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina, toured the site of Wednesday's collapse, which sent dozens of cars sliding into the river from the Minneapolis span. At least five people died and about 100 others were injured.

''Our message to the Twin Cities is, we want to get this bridge rebuilt as quick as possible, that we understand this is a main artery of life here -- that people count on this bridge and this highway system to get to work,'' Bush said as he stood next to the buckled spans, still littered with abandoned vehicles.

More (http://www.gopusa.com/news/2007/august/0806_bush_bridge1.sh tml)

[Speedway]

Bush, still dogged by his administration's sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina

Whatever the tragedy, the administration's reaction inevitably is compared with its slow response to Katrina, which devastated the Gulf Coast in August 2005.

I do wish the media would get off of Katrina.

If Minnesotans had acted like the NOLA crowd, everyone would still be on the bridge and no one would have been pulled out of the water and everyone would be complaining that the president didn't get there fast enough.

But NO, Minnesota's first responders (and ordinary citizens) handled the tragedy! And have been working diligently from the moment it happened and have not quit. And Minnesotans had no warning anything was going to happen.

The ones who need to be praised here are them!

And blame for the fiasco in NOLA needs to be put on the shoulders of the state and local governments of NOLA.

[studebaker51]

If Minnesotans had acted like the NOLA crowd, everyone would still be on the bridge and no one would have been pulled out of the water and everyone would be complaining that the president didn't get there fast enough.

I agree!! So far, I haven't seen anybody crying "Where's my government check?":rolleyes:

The MSM, obviously hasn't heard of "Beating a dead horse". :beatdeadhorse: If they can use it to bash POTUS G. Bush & the Republican Party, then they will drag it up forever!

[schillerbjr]

Since January 20, 2001, every problem in America has been President George W. Bush's
fault! Actually, in my opinion, I think it is the MSM's fault!!

[rangerrebew]

Didn't comrade Stevens of Alaska want $280 million for his bridge to nowhere? All it did was cross a dumpy river, hardly the Mississippi and he wanted more than is currently thought it will cost to replace this huge bridge!:eek: No wonder he's under investigation.:egg:

[qrayjack]

Is it just me or is this mine owner doing a lot of cya and showboating for the media?

[Terri]

Qray, I think you're in the wrong thread. I'd move it but not sure where you meant the mine post to go since this one is about bridges. :D

[qrayjack]

Sorry. Brain dead this am. Yes, please move it.

[Engineer Scott]

What frosts me is Oberstar had the gall to accuse Bush of not spending enough on infrastructure. Further up I-35 between North Branch and Stacy there's a perfectly good bridge that was torn down and replaced. They added some on and off ramps whereas before there were none, but the whole project could have been just for the price of the ramps.

Scotty

[Genea]

I am so sick and tired of Bush being blamed for everything gone wrong in this stupid country. Look at gas taxes, local and federal that were supposed to go for repairs of bridges and roads and see where the money went, elsewhere like every other tax we pay. In PA, these taxes went for a sports arena, mass transit in Philly and Pittsburg (two cities in the huge state of PA), and I don't want to know where else. Also, trace back to how long this has been going on and you will soon discover that it has been happening way before Bush and wii continue way after him.

The whole system is broken and we need to fix it. I wish I knew how.

[qrayjack]

I wish I knew how. 'How' is the stickler. 'What' is pretty obvious. In any event, America needs a wakeup call.