The I-35W bridge in Hennepin County was not the only bad bridge in Minnesota. Not by a long shot:
Corroded strands of rebar jut from the sides and pillars of the cracked Hwy. 36 bridge near Stillwater, while jagged pieces of fallen concrete litter the ground below.
Every day, nearly 10,000 vehicles travel eastbound over the crumbling structure. Most of the people in the huge trucks, cars and school buses on the bridge are unaware that it has been listed federally as “basically intolerable.”The Hwy. 36 span, crossing over Hwy. 95, appears to be the only structurally deficient bridge on a major Twin Cities highway to carry such a critical label. But throughout Minnesota, hundreds of thousands of drivers cross over steadily deteriorating bridges. Many are considered to be in worse shape than the Interstate 35W span before its collapse and have been on replacement lists for years.
And what has Carol Molnau, our illustrious MnDOT head and Tim Pawlenty protégé, done in her time in office to address these and other pressing issues?
From the beginning, Molnau, 57, has seemed to be an unlikely leader for MnDOT.
She’s a no-new-taxes farmer without a college degree heading an agency with 4,500 employees and a $2 billion annual budget that hungers constantly for road funding. By her own admission, she’s a “not very polished kind of person.”
[...]
At a post-bridge collapse news conference last Monday, wearing white Capri pants and a nautical theme T-shirt, she praised the media’s coverage, then turned the session over to her assistant, Bob McFarlin. She stepped away from the microphones and sat down.
At another news conference later in the week, she stood in the back of the room as a reporter questioned the legality of a consultant’s contract involving bridge inspection. Molnau didn’t respond. It was McFarlin who immediately seized on the implication and defended the agency.
Um, wow. She really doesn’t sound like she’s all that qualified for the job, does she? But when you’re Tim Pawlenty’s buddy, such things don’t matter:
Molnau spent five terms in the House after serving on the Chaska City Council. She rose to chair the Transportation Finance Committee and was a fierce opponent of light-rail transit, favoring instead outstate and suburban projects.
In 2002, Pawlenty’s desk-mate in the House became his running mate. In 2003, Pawlenty gave her a unique dual role. In addition to her duties as lieutenant governor, he made her the head of MnDOT, one of the state’s largest and most important agencies.
Ah, a transit department head who hates the most effective weapon we have against pollution and the negative effects of sprawl. Charming.
Oh, and she flatly refuses to allow her agency staff to ask for the money they need, because that might require raising taxes, especially on rich people.
I remember a time, back before the 1980s, back before the long string of Republicans running things at the state and national levels, when Minnesota was a place to be envied, a shining city on a hill. We had excellent roads, bridges, schools, utilities, and jobs. Now, thanks to decades of cutting away the tax burden from the rich and shifting it onto the poor and middle class, Minnesota is no longer so shiny; if it shines at all, it’s only because the rest of the nation has got even worse.
Related posts:
- BREAKING: Franken Declared Winner by Minnesota Court; Governor Instructed to Certify Election
- Franken-Coleman Update: What Will He Choose?
- Pessimists on the Economy Don’t Exist at the Washington Post
- Palin’s Shot Across Pawlenty’s Bow
- Vote Fraud in Clay County Should be Considered in Hanging of Census Worker
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zunoed? PW!
I once lived at the corner of Franklin and Hennepin, 1971.
I think I’m hallucinating. I think Abrams is suggesting Karl Rove did leak.
Hah!
LS @ 2
For real? Cool!
Phoenix Woman @ 5
For real. N/E corner building.
That’s an odd arrangement, giving the Lt Gov an actual job to do. Is someone ensuring she doesn’t move up politically by tying her to the state’s crumbling infrastructure? Clearly she’s in over her head, but what Gop isn’t?
that is a GREAT pic!
Hi PW. Another fine post!
The day the bridge collapsed in MN was the day I arrived in Chicago, and I remember crossing a small bridge on the way into town from the airport. I had the impression that the only thing holding the bridge together was rust. We need to fix our country’s infrastructure NOW.
LS @ 6
Actually, I also lived in the building across the street too! I was 18.
TeddySanFran @ 7
Molnau’s been one of Pawlenty’s biggest allies from the get-go, but she’s not particularly bright. He probably figures that he’s outgrown her.
Phoenix Woman @ 5
About the only MN story I have is that I had a drink with Al Baker at his place in Eagan one Sunday just before the busload of fans made it back from a Vikings home game. The next morning I had to scrape an inch of ice off the car using a rental car scraper.
That pic is up there with Jane’s Gooper Cry Baby!
((((((((Phoenix Woman)))))))
TeddySanFran @ 7
Did somebody ask for a Brownie?
Should hire the owner of the Utah mine to take care of these problems—retreat bridging- that’s the ticket!
It’s a great post and I dislike going OT but if JAYT is still here, i think that Walton is correct in the sense that if links occurred when lives were at stake, they should be revealed. Morally It would be nice if the journalist came forward sooner. Think of the priest in the confessional..
dakine01 @ 12
I actually remember Al Franken, who I think was about a year ahead of me in school (he attended an all boys school, I was in the sister school), doing some kind of comedy skit with his comedy partner at the time..maybe Tom Davis or somebody. Anyway, he was exactly the same as he is now…he was funny and really smart.
radiofreewill @ 13
And Brokeback Mountain with Bush and who was that crony? “Why can’t I quit you?”, Dubya said.
This is great Jon Stewart:
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/….._0810.html
If the Etruscans can build a tomb that would last 2000 years, certainly we can build bridges to last. Also, their culture lasted 2000 years, will we make it to 300?
The United States of America, like all other industrialized nations, has and needs a large government. But, unlike other industrialized nations, the citizens of the United States have sought people who don’t believe in large governments to manage theirs, and with the obviously predictable consequences.
ok, the infrastructure needs a “pay your expenses fee”
that’s the way I want to frame ALL new taxes
from now on, NO CORORATE WELFARE
that’s the way I want to frame it too/
like so’;
” corporate consumption such as heavy vehicles and carbon contamination burdon others with their expense.
everyone pays the corporations expense through wearing infrastructure, through health issues with our children that are caused by the corporations that transfer those expenses to everyone else
this cannot be allowed, nobody thinks a profitable corporation should get their bills payed for by those who are burdoned
if a bussiness is struggling, we will find exemptions when the public needs the service that bussines provides but we will say it now, LOUD AND CLEAR
NO WELFARE FOR PROFITABLE CORPORATIONS, ALL PROFITABLE BUSSINESSES WILL PAY USE FEES THAT ARE COMENSERATE WITH THEIR CONSUMPTION?
can you say
BING
wigwam @ 21
And when you elect people who campaign on “government is bad”, that’s what you get – bad government.
perris @ 22
and when the fascists CLAIM the middle class will be burdoned with higher prices we say
“BULL CRAP
our children will be healthier, our roads will be safer, our air will be cleaner, our water clear”
and we continue;
“the price of goods is not decided by the cost of product, it is decided by what the consumer will pay for that product
added cost is transfered FROM ceo’s that get billion dollar parachutes, no longer will the American public pay the services that profitable corporations burdon”
Even in China …
Fourteen die in China bridge collapse, 65 missing (Reuters)
Published: Tuesday, August 14, 1:22 AM
Reuters – A bridge under construction in southern China has collapsed killing at least 14 people and injuring 22, state media reported on Tuesday.
TexBetsy @ 25
they must have our neo cons running things there too
hackworth @ 18
LOL. Must have been Rove.
TexBetsy @ 25
That is sad even though it was under construction.
LS @ 19
thanks LS
LS @ 19
That is a good one. Thanks, In other words, I missed Jon Stewart that nite.
It’s interesting to see the view in Right Blogistan: We have an infrastructure problem now because the Democrats re-directed the money for decades into the Welfare State!
Elliott @ 29
Kids are watching that in the other room and laughing.
OK, first, my MN bona fides: I lived at Cedar Square West for about 8 months right after it opened, and then lived at 10th and University SE – 5 blocks from Dinkytown, 2 or so blocks from the 35W bridge.
And now, if you haven’t seen it, check out this Cafepress bumper sticker that TexBetsy found:
perris @ 24
Not only that but Bush’s tax “cuts” were really tax “deferals” to our children / grandchildren.
Garrison Keillor chimes in on the I-35W collapse.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/f…..8/keillor/
TexBetsy @ 25
Damn. Why does that remind me of, “Eat your dinner. Think of all of the starving children in China”…
radiofreewill @ 31
Plus, real conservative bridges wouldn’t be weak-kneed.
to quote rumsfeld himself;
“oh my”
check this out from think progress;
as one of the architechs of unending war I have no sympathy
We really need to tie global warming, crumbling infrastructure and under-developed rail systems together. We’re not paying our way on any of them and they basically are all tied to the artificially low taxes on petrol based fuels. If we really taxed gas and diesel at the level of the true system costs we would not be in nearly as bad shape as we are. A gas and diesel tax of $3.00 a gallon coupled with a tax credit for the poor and mid-income to reduce the impact would go a long way towards solving all three issues.
Well lets see, some of were shocked at Katrina and how that was handled but not too surprised,we have agencies that monitored bridges and roads, or mine safety, little things like OSHA, the quality of safety of our food and drugs. Now we have safety theater, and politicians who’s only thought is “don’t get caught”, As Pogo once said we have met the enemy and he is us.
exactly what will it take for we the people to wake the fuck up? crumbling infrastructure, iraqi war still a killing field, no resources for vets coming home with PTSD, and ceo’s making millions while laying off workers…. its just a bit too much – thanks for this post oh and unsafe mines …..{{PW}}
radiofreewill @ 31
Welfare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Medicare (other than Dubya’s boondoggle gift to big pharma) VA Hospitals and Nursing homes and infrastructure have all been cut hard by Rethuglicans. Rethuglicans hurt old people, and children the most.
radiofreewill @ 31
So say “So you agree that we should have been taxing? You just disagree on how to spend it?”. One step at a time.
hackworth @ 42
And the disabled, both veterans and civilian.
TexBetsy @ 32
I like that image.
The LA Times today had a story on the bridges of CA. They pointed out that there are several ’structure-critical’ bridges, where if one element goes, the bridge goes. One of them is the bridge between San Pedro and Terminal Island. The one between Long Beach and Terminal Island isn’t much better. Guess where the port of Los Angeles is ….
P J Evans @ 46
Not in a good place, I’m sure.
Elliott @ 29
Love this the best:
Bush knows how to take lemons and make terroraid.–Jon Stewart
Actually, the Bush tax cuts have increased taxes on the middle class. Bush tax cuts are a myth. The tax burden has been shifted from the millionaires to us. Redstate knuckeldraggers don’t realize they are paying higher taxes. Maybe b/c they are unemployed.
and so rove leaves this sinking ship of state and bushco has no rudder – 2008 cant come fast enough – we are so near a meltdown with criminals in high places
P J Evans @ 46
Well if those bridges went how would we get our cheap and dangerous things from China? After all we did tear down the Long Beach Naval base for them.
P J Evans @ 46
Oh, yes, well we all know nothing happens in CA that would put stress on bridges.
hackworth @ 50
in fact they are not tax cuts they are tax giveaways
they redistribute middle class assets, investments and wealrth and they give that treasure to the wealthies people on the planet
it’s not about giving them money either, it’s a class war, they do not want a strong middle class they want robber baron economics
juslin @ 49
Former RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie got the knob did he not? Ed’s gonna tell Bush what to say and do in Dubya’s left ear and Cheeney’s got the right one.
CEO of the company that owns the Utah mine that collapsed is diggin more holes- says that the guys are probably alive down there.
radiofreewill @ 31
As opposed to cutting the revenue.
But of course, wingnuts don’t hate taxes so much as they hate seeing them spent on black and brown people. That’s what this is all about.
perris @ 53
Middle classers and future middle classers have to pay it all back eventually.
hackworth @ 50
While I agree that Bush has raised taxes on the middle class, it was Reagan that made it balance. Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy have no way been balanced by regressive taxes.
Welcome to the 400 Year Reich. Can’t even maintain roads and bridges, just kill Iraquis. Jesus H. Fuck, Minnesota was home to so much Progressive history. When and how did the fucktards take over?
hackworth @ 54
JDM @ 59
Started back in the 60s. A bunch of guys in smelly polyester suits used to meet in cheap, rural Holiday Inns and plot strategy. Called themselves the “John Birch Society”. Caught the eye of some Carnegie Mellon hiers. The rest is history.
NYC bridges are also in trouble. One of my nightmares since childhood is a bridge collapse, I usually go over the Tappan Zee because it’s lower than the George W. Bridge (stupid cause both are a risk) but it makes me feel better. Our taxes are one of the highest in the nation, but I have always felt that we get what we pay for. We need to invest in infrastructure, but we need to invest wisely. Most people around me have bought into the ‘less taxes always better’ frame of mind. While I certainly don’t want to pay excessive taxes, I get alot of service from the trains, bridges, roads, etc. The mindset that it is all or nothing (i.e. low taxes or growth) do not reflect the utility we get from our tax revenue. Just pisses me off that my neighbors want lower taxes, but can’t see any utility in their tax dollars.
TexBetsy @ 57
unless we do something about it
we need that revenue returned from whence it came and we need to people who it was given to give it back
Is anyone else wondering where the discussion of impeachment has gone in the blogsphere? Have we given up?
IMPEACH
rwcole @ 55
You know it occurs to me that they may never be found. In other words, if they were migrant workers, perhaps the mine owner doesn’t want them found. Ditto with many of the people who died in N.O. A KBR company was brought in to search for the dead. You know they found far fewer than were actually there.
GordonM said,
While I agree that Bush has raised taxes on the middle class, it was Reagan that made it balance. Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy have no way been balanced by regressive taxes.
If you do a bit of research, you will see that you are repeating a right-wing fantasy. Right Wingers love historical revisionism. Raygun ran up a huge deficit. Progressives don’t call him Red Ink Reagan for naught. Sidebar: Home mortgage rates were as high as 14 percent under Saint Ronnie. Bush is far worse, however.
Entirely OfT, but this cheered me up:
ccmask @ 48
that’s funny. But it’s so sad that it’s true.
hackworth @ 66
Well no, I just worded it badly. Effective tax rates over Reagan’s term were unchanged. He just spent like a motherfucker.
realworld @ 64
I was wondering about that earlier today.
And so was Nancy.
Nancy calls for impeachment (youtube) *s*
Regroup.
One minute till Weeds.
What kind of receptions have been plained for the key players in our great leaders?
IMPEACH!! yeah but the dems have shown no willingness to do so – hell they cant bring no indictments for all the wrong-doing thus far… repugs have outfoxed them on every turn
and north korea:
NKorea: Hundreds dead, missing in rain (AP)
AP – Heavy rains spawned flooding that left “hundreds” dead or missing in North Korea and destroyed more than 30,000 homes, the country’s state media reported Tuesday.
PW – all you have to know about Rove and the Base is that Rove’s cover story for his Cooper Conversation during the Plame Leak was “Welfare Reform” when the actual subject was “Niger.”
hackworth @ 50
I remember getting that $500. child tax credit check in 2001 and
thinking about what could have been done with my check x how many others. I thought it was the stupidest move possible. Imagine what it cost in IRS costs, printing and postage to send all those checks out. Not to mention that it wiped out Clinton’s surplus. Just stupid.
GordonM @ 69
in point of fact, contrary to corporate propaganda, reagan raised taxes more then any other peace time president up to him
those taxes came from the middle class, the giveaways to the wealthy came from..you guessed it, the middle class
class war boys and girls
I remember when all the papers and tv was saying how great the economy was under reagan and I remember talking to everyone and everyone saying “bull crap”
we drove down the street every day and there was another small bussiness closing shop
we played tennis in the park and there were more homeless then we had seen in our entire lives
hey…by the way and off topic;
remember all those stray cats we used to have in new york?
where did they all go?
no more cats…genocide me thinks
I just got my “Impeach Cheney?” hat, but haven’t had a chance to wear it around town yet. Seriously though, I just don’t see the political will for impeachment. Will keep making calls in any case.
hackworth @ 50
How many school districts do you know of that haven’t had to pass local bonds just to keep schools in shape? Not any I can think of here in San Diego area.
juslin @ 74
And quite a few Dems.
0ff to bed, night all
57
TexBetsy Middle classers and future middle classers have to pay it all back eventually.
While this is mostly true, the wealthy fear another democratic president like the plague.
One issue that is seldom discussed is the tax hike Clinton imposed on millionaires at the beginning of his second term. One millionaire complained to me that Clinton’s one time tax cost him a hundred grand. Believe me, 100 g’s is pocket change to this prick. But rich pricks were really pissed about Clinton hitting them in the pocketbook. At that time, 100 grand would buy a new Mercedes sport coupe/cabrio.
The rich are going to have to pony up again and they fear it. They don’t care if trickle down economics grind the economy to a halt (its happening). They do not want to part with any dough. Too bad.
Not so OT:
CNN’s headline “Cheap labor key to $30K electric car”.
Article here.
Made in China, of course. Not like we could do anything like that in this country, what with labor unions…
Grrrrr.
hackworth @ 83
I have never understood this. How many cars can you drive, how many houses can you live in, etc. Wretched excess !
Only one Democratic candidate mentioned the power grid in the last debate when they were talking about weaknesses in our national infrastructure. That scares me more than crumbling bridges, because if we experience a massive power failure that could take days or god forbid even weeks to repair things would get ugly fast. If the power were to fail out here in the West during a heat wave a lot of folks could die. The same goes for a loss of electricity in the North during the winter. I don’t think most Americans have any idea how tenuous their creature comforts actually are.
TexBetsy @ 75
Is it that there are enormous amounts of dead from catastrophes in Asia…which always exceed the numbers killed here in similar events, or is it that the reports are skewed. Who really knows how many were actually killed during Katrina? The numbers are somehow odd. During Vietnam reporting, they would report something like 100 dead Americans, then they would report 1,100 Vietcong dead. The numbers seem skewed. That is why I am skeptical of numbers reported. There always seem to be thousands more dead in “Asia” than in the US. Something always seems…wrong.
In my area there are many of the very rich that complain about heavy taxes. What they don’t seem to understand is that, as a percentage of income, the heavy load is on the middle class. Of course we are trying to apply a system that would require them to pay the bulk of taxes (sarcasm.) What they won’t understand is that we are paying a much higher percentage most of the time because they earn a great deal in capital gains, while we pay a higher percentage on earned income. Unfortunately that distinction is beyond them (again sarcasm.)
GordonM @ 84
Sounds high to me. In the movie Who Killed The Electric Car several points were made about how simple the design was including no transmission, iirc.
Gotta bail for now — big-ass storms coming through. ‘Night, everyone!
LS @ 87
This is because homes here have traditionally been built better and with more safeguards.
Now Mulnou is practially giddy about how the federal moneys for the new bridge can NOT be used to add room for a light rail line or bike paths to the bridge. The federal money is like insurance, they’re saying, in that the money won’t pay for upgrades that weren’t there before. So we’re basically going to get a bridge designed with a 50’s attitude. great.
BTW, LOVE the graphic!
Marretta @ 86
Well I live in rural Maine. Everyone who winters here is prepared for at least a week of no power. See, Maine is a poor state, so no one has ever even pretended to offer us any ’security’. No cell phone service, no cable TV, no DSL. “Can you hear me now?” Fuck no. Never could.
85
Twain says I have never understood this. How many cars can you drive, how many houses can you live in, etc. Wretched excess !
The more money you have, the more money you want. You can never have enough. No matter how rich you are, there is somebody richer than you. You always worry that you won’t have enough. This is what motivates the wealthy.
What motivates a guy like Cheeney? Money and power. Cheeney is one of the most powerful and wealthiest men on the planet, yet his appetite cannot be sated. On to Iran he says.
Phoenix Woman @ 90
Nite. Thanks for the post.
hackworth @ 94
I want each kid to have their own private space and I’d love for them to have decent furniture held together by more than duct tape. We’re fine on cars.
JPL @ 16
It’s a great post and I dislike going OT but if JAYT is still here, i think that Walton is correct in the sense that if links occurred when lives were at stake, they should be revealed. Morally It would be nice if the journalist came forward sooner. Think of the priest in the confessional..
yeah, I changed my mind a bit after reading the article. EPU’d:
jayt says:
August 13th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
JPL @ 119
LS @ 95
The Walton story:
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap…..15583.html
OMG, IF Rove is tied to this, no wonder the strange press conference
Hmmm, maybe I spoke too fast. Ugly legal situation. I hate to see reporters forced to reveal their sources, though. Reporters should have a codified, presumptive privilege to protect their sources.
I think that this might be a good occasion for the doctrine of res ipsa loquitor (the thing speaks for itself) to be used. Maybe Reggie could require the reporters to identify only the agency involved, as opposed to specific individuals.
Competing privacy interests are present here, I now see – makes for a very tough legal call. I guess I’m still a little pissed about the Sibel Edmonds thing.
I think the response to the flooding is partially caused by the fact the it is somewhat systemic, and slow coming. Tsunamis create an outpouring because it is a one-time event that contributions can “fix” while problems like annual flooding are ongoing and therefore more daunting.
realworld @ 64
I haven’t given up. Look for where your congress critter is having public meetings in your district, and go– and ask questions! Let’em know what you think!
Bob in HI
Repeal the Bush taxcuts.
Repeal the Reagan taxcuts.
If that’s not enough, repeal JFK’s taxrate cuts.
Keep taxing the rich until they scream and give up their Paris Hilton dog-purses. Then tax them some more. Raise the estate tax to eliminate our burgeoning aristocracy, implement a progressive consumption tax, raise the unearned income tax, startup a windfall profits tax, put in a luxury tax (like in Monopoly), a second house and a fourth car tax. Then make them pay the taxes for all their illegal grasscutters, nannies, maids, and servants. Tax the wealthy until they flee to Paraguay, and seize their assets at the border when they do.
That’s my tax policy.
Phoenix Woman @ 90
Not like I have brewing!!!
http://www.goes.noaa.gov/ha1.html
bobschacht @ 99
You doing okay wrt the storm, Bob? CTuttle?
CT take care of yourself.
CTuttle @ 101
It does appear to be south of you but I’ll bet you get some amazing rain. Stay dry.
jayt @ 97
It would be nice if reporters honored the code that says a source that burns you gets outed.
TeddySanFran @ 100
Finally! What actually needs to be done!
Gordon at 93,
I hear you, :) When I moved from rural Missouri to Phoenix nearly 20 years ago I noticed that no one here had hurricane lamps or gas stoves, much less gas freezers or refrigerators. No one had back-up generators. When I asked them what they did when they lost power, they just stared at me and said, “We call the electric company.” Your Maine self-reliance will see you through any number of disasters we urban dwellers are ill prepared to weather.
91
TexBetsy says
This is because homes here have traditionally been built better and with more safeguards.
Deaths are high where mudslides occur b/c poor people (squatters) live in makeshift shelters on the sides of the mountains away from town.
When the heavy rains come and the mud comes down in an avalanche, it buries the living and the dead.
The mudslides are caused in large part from deforestation. Where the trees have all been cut down, there is nothing to hold the soil.
TeddySanFran @ 100
Yeah. Marginal tax rates under Eisenhower were over 90%.
I agree that taxes should be much more progressive than the current system. Rich people and corporations should be paying much more. Competiveness could be increased by a universal health program, and increasing taxes on wealthy individuals would increase federal revenues.
GordonM @ 105
Why does the name Jason Leopold come to mind?
Minnesotans need new government ASAP. Of course we need that nationwide too.
Marretta @ 107
I went through a 5 day power failure in the ‘burbs of Concord CA. It was frightening. Neither of my neighbors even had a camp stove. I went (winter) camping, just to be out of the ‘burbs.
Here – I’ve got wood, oil lamps, candles, a generator, a stove I can light with a match… In fact, power failures are almost a relief, ’cause I don’t have to think about keeping up on the news.
Twain @ 104
Already flash flood alerts are posted island-wide, I told my folks and Grandma to come stay with me since their directly within the projected cone and I live outside the brunt of it and I have two mountains hopefully shielding me from most of it!
jayt @ 111
I’d love to hear the end of that story.
CTuttle @ 114
good luck!
Bushist fascism — replacing the thoughtful, planful benevolent competent Mommystate with the shrieky, drunken, feckless/reckless/out of control abusive-Daddystate.
Russ Feingold is looking for citizen co-sponsors of the censure:
Prev Prev | Next Next
Move to:
Date: Monday, August 13, 2007 10:34 AM
From: Russ Feingold, U.S. Senator
Dear Terry,
Over the last week, I’ve held Listening Sessions across
Wisconsin and heard the same sort of comments that thousands of
people like you have emailed my way over the last week – it’s
time to hold the President, and his administration, accountable.
Become
A Citizen Co-Sponsor of Censure
The President and Vice President led our nation into an unwise
war, under false pretenses, without adequate planning, and have
mismanaged the situation that continues today. The President and
Attorney General have time and time again thumbed their noses at
the Constitution and the rule of law – on everything from
warrantless wiretapping to undermining Congress’ role to conduct
adequate oversight.
If Congress stands by and does nothing to hold this
administration responsible, we open the door for this President,
and future presidents, to continue to undermine the very
foundation of our government whenever they see fit. The
President, Vice President and Attorney General must be held
accountable.
Loo Hoo. @ 102
Thanks for asking. CTuttle is closer to it now. As long as Flossie stays on course, it will pass far enough south of the islands to not upset too many apple carts.
Bob in HI
Loo Hoo. @ 118
Censure is toothless, impeachment and inherent contempt need to be front and center in dealing with this Maladministration!
technicolor @ 79
I got one also, but the GF opened the package and made it her hat.
Great post, PW!
Mn. readers might get a bumper sticker: build bridges, not stadiums.
(I’m in the Uptown. Long time resident from back when it was a nice place to live, before insanely greedy developers wrecked the area.)
I gave up MPR as soon as I found 950AM. I was writing to MPR nearly every day on something they got wrong or misrepresented or allowed rightwing Bushies to shout out unchallenged. Has it come back into sanity finally?
Anyway, thanks for a great read.
Loo Hoo. @ 118
thanks for linky, signed and already back here, like a good pup :-)
Toothless maybe, but I signed it anyway.
bobschacht @ 119
Be wary tho, Bob, it’s following a similar track as Iniki, and Iniki packed a serious wallop for Oahu! *g*
wangdangdoodle @ 124
Ditto!!! ;-)
wangdangdoodle @ 124
yeah, my thoughts also. At least Feingold is hearing that there are a lot of unhappy folks out there.
jayt @ 111
Because you think Leopold got burned. However, what if Leopold got punked?– not burned, technically, but punked by a technicality?
Remember also that we now know that Rove could peek at the case Fitzgerald had against him, because of his contacts in DOJ– Fitzgerald could not make a move without Rove knowing about it, so when Fitz was about ready to indict him, Rove knew exactly what he needed to do to escape indictment. All he had to do was to go back to Fitz’s Grand Jury and “correct” his testimony. Rove apparently did this 4 times.
Its hard to prosecute someone when the crook can see all the evidence against him before charges are even filed.
But the chickens are starting to come home to roost.
Bob in HI
AC360 is about to talk about Flossie!
CTuttle @ 126
Me, too. Something is better than nothing.
HD Net
HD NET link above will take you to Brad Blog, where you can watch a 12 minute preview video. Alas, I do not have HD Net. But I’m considering shelling out $9.95 to get it, just for this.
cheney’s friendly neighbors
newdealfarmgrrrlll @ 132
ouch
Because you think Leopold got burned. However, what if Leopold got punked?– not burned, technically, but punked by a technicality?
Remember also that we now know that Rove could peek at the case Fitzgerald had against him, because of his contacts in DOJ–
True. However, that information came out just recently. IIRC, Leopold told not only his readers, but the sources themselves, that he would “out” them if their information didn’t pan out. But, to the best of my knowledge, he never did.
Thanks for the reminder about the WH/DOJ machinations. I wish the MSM would throw this back in the face of those who insist, even this very day(Michael Reagan) that Rove did nothing wrong. The game was rigged, and it still took him five trips to the GJ to get himself, by the skin of his teeth, from being indicted.
boing – reverse two and a half somersaults, tuck position, legs slightly tilted upon entry, with slight splash the result
g’evening everyone
‘evening, Suzanne…
Suzanne @ 135
2 1/2 in a tuck position, nice.
hi suzanne!
(waving to all my peeps)
we just gotta get karl frog marched outta the white house by the end of the month
Hi Suzanne!
Suzanne @ 135
Nice Dive, Ma Cheri!!!
Back to the bridge– I live in St. Paul, MN. The opinion page of our paper (St. Paul Pioneer Press) had a featured column today titled “More money won’t fix problem” by David Strom. He is the hack from the MN Taxpayers League. They work closely with our gov to cater to the very wealthy. These people have no souls and no shame.
in handcuffs
I’d like to see kkkarl so busy with subpeonas he hasn’t got time to get out there with his “sage advice”.
Bev Sherwood @ 142
What? They have their own bridges? They disgust me.
Suzanne @ 135
Good evening, Suz. Nice dive!
G’evening, Suzanne! Lovely dive even if there was a slight splash. I didn’t get wet so i don’t care what the judges think.
TeddySF, love your tax policy. I’ll vote for you for prez ;-)
Hiya Suzanne! Do you wear a bathing cap when you do that?
bobschacht @ 128
What with all this wiretapping, who the hell know what’s going on? This MUST stop.
To those who say toothless, bless you for signing anyway, and of course we want impeachments. And we may yet get them. And the only way that will happen is to keep, as the coaches say, Pounding the Rock. This is what Feingold is doing, trying to shake something loose. A successful censure motion would help the Impeachment Movement waiting in the wings imeasurably.
Off to sign.
Suzanne @ 143
and an orange jumpsuit
wangdangdoodle @ 148
either a cap or i really secure my hair so it isn’t flying all over the place
Suzanne @ 152
As a pup, I used to swim daily at the Officer’s Club pool in Ft. Hood. One day they instituted a bathing cap policy for anyone with hair over 2″ long. My littermates and I hated those things so much, we all got “pixies”.
Good evening, Suzanne. Another unbelievable day, huh? Makes you want to submerse yourself in water…
omg, Bill Kristol on the Daily Show
and hi everyone!
Hey LL. You good.
LoudounLib @ 155
Hi Lou!
I lived next to the Bay Bridge for ten years. My loft windows were so close I could r each out and touch it. When CalTrans announced they were going to rebuild the bridge they had no choice but to notify our building. So I worked closely with CalTrans to ensure they didn’t make matters worse for us – like drive-by shooting directly in our windows.
If the trusting citizens in the Bay Area knew the truth about the structure of the bridge they would have rowed across the Bay rather than drive across it. The massive cement supports sat on top the ground. That was why our entire building shook and felt like we were hit by a continuous earthquake all day and night. Only prayers and faith were holding up the bridge. When I am forced to cross it, and I avoid it, I count my blessings when I reach the other side.
The engineering correction under way now is to drive the supports deep into the bedrock which will correct our building shaking and the bridge collapsing. The rebuild has been going on for fifteen years and I’m sure it will be several more before completed.
My advice to crossers – take an alternative route or up date your insurance policy.
Teddy, I like your thoughs on tax reform!
TRex is upstairs with some damned lies
Loo Hoo. @ 149
Thank you. This is, in elegant language simply stated, the core of the issue. The inability of a citizen to be free of monitoring seems to me the very essence of a corrupt, repressive society. Once pervasive electronic surveillance is acccepted as legitimate, the temptation and ability of the gov’t or its subcontractors to “generate” desired evidence will be overwhelming-as evidenced by a), forged Niger documents, and b), vague references to non-specific “chatter” and “terror alerts” based on classified evidence used to justify whatever the Regime wanted. The only way the tool of pervasive surveillance will not be misused is if it is not picked up in the first place.
This Must Stop. Indeed.
Chaska city council? BFD. Wasn’t Jesse on a city council? How competent was he? When I lived in Minneapplesauce, MN seemed to be run better, but that was under the DFL. How long ago? I left 44th & Colfax in ‘71. Still a nice neighborhood. Better without me, to be sure.
Mr Ed, Jesse was the Mayor in Brooklyn Park or Maple Grove.
Jesse V has to bear some responsibility for the Bridge problems, he cut license fees, and several other taxes and fees all of which by the State Constitution are dedicated to the Transportation Department. And Arnie Carlson, a more moderate Republican (1991-1999) also was not particularly interested in Infrastructure issues. The bad ratings on the I-35 bridge actually began during the Carlson tenure as Governor.
Folk need to remember that the Minnesota Legislature is now solidly DFL — not enough to overcome a veto, but they have a clear majority. Of some interest, the current Transportation Commissioner, Lt. Gov. Molnau has not been confirmed in her position — the Senate Chair says he can’t find enough votes to confirm her — so we could see a stand-off where the appointment is called up and rejected. forcing Pawlenty to appoint an alternative. I am sure this is one bit of Leverage Larry Pogemiller is using as he tries to work with Pawlenty on the agenda for the special session post Labor Day. (Larry is both Senate Majority Leader and the I-35 bridge, both ends, are in his district.) And of course the City of Mpls has a say in this — and the Mayor is a fairly progressive DFL’er. The Legislative District is holding a meeting this week to organize a strong position on replacement — the district of course wants light rail and bike paths, afterall one thing this bridge does is connect two parts of the University. So just keep watching the action, some fairly significant principles are going to be fought over as this moves along.
The bridges in that state are subject to some of the harshest conditions in the nation. Extreme cold and salt spread on roadways in winter. That constant ongoing damage.
Why haven’t criminal charges been brought against Molnau yet for negligent homicide? As well as Gov. Pawlenty?
Because it is quite obvious to any thinking human being that their Grover Norquist anti-tax Republican policies are directly responsible for the I35W bridge collapsing and killing so many people, including children.
In fact, this Republican anti-tax policy that has degraded our nation’s infrastructure and has endangered all travelers on our nation’s highways and bridges goes all the way to Washington, and the Grover Norquist Republicans on Capitol Hill and in the White House who’ve decided that tax cuts for the wealthy is more important than making sure our roadways and bridges are safe.
To put it simply, insane Republican policies can get people killed, and have done so already. Iraq. Bridges collapsing. Katrina. Tainted food. Walter Reed Hospital. Medicare. To name just several instances in which American citizens have paid the ultimate price for insane Republican policies.
It is time to identify and remove from office all the Grover Norquist-kissing Repubicans before they get even more of our nation’s citizens, including children, killed.
These nefarious individuals have shredded our nation’s social safety net, with the apparent goal of destroying our social safety net completely, and all so that the wealthy can get even wealthier.
None of these individuals are Christian. I seem to remember something about Jesus, the eye of a needle, a camel and rich people.
Teddy for tax Czar… Now that’s a plan I can live with.
Teddy the Tax Man
Nothing really will change unless there is some catastrophe and even that may not do it.
People are basically living in some sort of denial… or else so burdened by staying alive that they can focus on nothing else.
So what happens is that scams of all sorts arise and suck the resources and drive society… whether war or American idol… or sports or the war in Iraq all created to make money.
Money rules in this culture and most others these days and so it clouds all decisions. We are not about living a just and enlightened life but one of accumulation of wealth and the pursuit of comfort.
TexBetsy @ 9
Agreed but until we control the message that Americans would be willing to have tax dollars spent on insuring our infrastructure is safe and is willing to put up with the inconvenience that new focus will bring rather than playing RUSSIAN R*UL*TTE hoping against hope that when it inevitably fails, we won’t be one of the victims, we can’t gain traction. They will use “taxes” and “inconvenience”. We need to be using “RUSSIAN R*UL*TTE”. Apparently fear is the only thing that motivates people. It’s time we help them visualize just what’s at stake if they continue to elect representatives that ignore the problem. Americans are literally playing a game of Russian R*ul*tte every time we cross a bridge. And they need to be reminded of it constantly.
Now, thanks to decades of cutting away the tax burden from the rich and shifting it onto the poor and middle class, Minnesota is no longer so shiny; if it shines at all, it’s only because the rest of the nation has got even worse.
And just as is the case in “the other story” in the news (ie, Rove’s legacy), the proto-sovietization has crept into the state’s institutions including the University of Minnesota.