I've just lived through thirty hours of disaster coverage here in Minnesota and I am pissed. They'll be pulling more bodies out and my thoughts go to the families of those still waiting for word on their loved ones (this was the case for me for a few hours Wednesday night, too, waiting to check in--via clogged cell phone lines--with a family member in the Twin Cities).
But now I'm thinking more about the larger meaning of the I-35W bridge collapse and what it stands for as a symbol, for our state and our country. I know there will be plenty of petty finger-pointing to go around, as was begun in the Rose Garden already Thursday morning. But let's ask a larger question.
What does the collapse symbolize in relation to the underlying political philosophy of the upcoming Republican National Convention, which will be held here in the Twin Cities in 2008? Join me after the flip...
In 2005 corrupt Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), former chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, championed an earmark of $223 million to fund a bridge, dubbed a "Bridge to Nowhere," connecting the town of Ketchikan (population 8,900) with its airport on the Island of Gravina (population 50). In Oct. '05 he threatened to quit the Senate if the money were diverted to fund infrastructure repair in New Orleans.
Well, Republican Party, now you've got your bridge. I-35W.
We'd like to give you a warm welcome to the Twin Cities next year. Please do not go somewhere else.
We are waiting for you. Your friendly neighborhood welcoming committees are already forming, here, here, and here.
We'd like to give you a tour of our local infrastructure.
We'd like to talk to you about bridges collapsing in Iraq.
We'd like to talk to you about the bridge of death in New Orleans.
We'd like to talk to you about plans by your leading lights to shrink our government "down to the size where you can drown us in your bathtub."
We'd like to talk to you about your foreign and domestic policy dead-end bridges to nowhere. With I-35W as Exhibit 1-A.
So congratulations, Republicans. It appears that Wellstone Country has now baptized your convention with a new slogan:
"RNC '08: A Bridge to Nowhere."
Bring.
It.
On.