• Front page
• Receive letters on your RSS reader

Frank Ohrtman of Denver writes:

Thank you for your coverage of the bridge collapse in Minneapolis. What’s more important to us: the roads and bridges we drive on daily or the (projected) trillion-dollar wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

Oh yes Frank. Don't you know that the bridge collapes was all Persident Bush,s idea so that Haliburtain can get the contract to fix bridges all over the country at hugh proffits and Dick Chaney made Bush do it.

Considering the costs associated with Iraq haven't caused the USDOT budget to be reduced one cent, I don't see the connection.

Does the letter writer understand how the fed dollars flow to the states for interstate freeway spending? Or who inspects the bridges and who is responsible to request emergency funds if a major problem was detected?

We'd all love for the war on terror to be over but trying to link every calamity that befalls the US to the situation in Iraq is rather illogical.

Unless you're not looking for the truth.

Recent documents reveal that concerns about the bridge were abundant in 1996. The democrat dominated state government of Minnesotta decided to ignore the situation in favor of watching it more carefully.

They carefully watched it lean to one side, then they carefully watched it fall down.

I know logic and reason have no place among everyone anxious to make everything Bush's fault, but please make an effort to stay on this planet, even if it's just to keep the rest of us from dying of laughter.

Recent documents reveal that concerns about the bridge were abundant in 1996. The democrat dominated state government of Minnesotta decided to ignore the situation in favor of watching it more carefully.

They carefully watched it lean to one side, then they carefully watched it fall down.

I know logic and reason have no place among everyone anxious to make everything Bush's fault, but please make an effort to stay on this planet, even if it's just to keep the rest of us from dying of laughter.

Darn double postings. That must be Bush's fault, too.

i say it was Nixon who caused it, or was teddy taking another girl home from the bar?

I've reread the letter a couple of times and have yet to see a reference to Bush.

Bush supporters: why so paranoid?

611 moron it was the reference to the money spent on the war. oops you missed that didnt you.

Just like New Orleans,under democrat occupation.

You liberals are the biggest bunch of baby whiners I've ever seen in my 72 years. The last 6 years have been the worst crying and moaning about every little thing I've ever seen in my lifetime.

I have yet to see anyone offer a direct answer to the letter's original question, so reframe it as a hypothetical:

If you could direct how $1000 of your taxes was spent and the only two choices were to fund the war in Iraq or to pay for bridge maintenance in your home state, how would you personally allocate the $1000 between the two?

611 moron it was the reference to the money spent on the war. oops you missed that didnt you.

This is tacit admission that this war is Bush's war...if any critique of the war must be construed as a critique of Bush, and thus triggering the response from his loyal defenders.

Sorry, but this is America's war...Bush's blunder perhaps in invading Iraq and mismanaging it as he has, but the Iraq debacle is America's problem to mop up after he's gone.

well apparently since it's looking more like a design flaw - don't think the war had much to do with it....

well apparently since it's looking more like a design flaw - don't think the war had much to do with it....

Another double post. Bush strikes again.

Neal5x5

Why do you hate Bush?

How dare any of you? To make the bridge a political issue is absurd. To address neal, the CURRENT governors office, is the one that made the decision to "watch closely." He is a republican, and the department heads associated are appointed by him.

But, yes, there have been democratic governors, legisatures, etc... also republican and sadly... yes, even Jesse. There is plenty of burden to share by all!

I am from Minnesota, grew up there and visit frequently -- all of my family is there, along with countless friends and each of us drove that bridge almost dailly. There are a lot of Minnesotans who now call Colorado home, and a lot of us who were affected by the collapse of the 35W bridge.

It makes me sick that all you want to banter about is the republicans and democrats, not thinking for one second that a 60-year old mother of 2 is dead, and her children will never see her again, or that a woman and her two-year-old daughter are somewhere at the bottom of the Mississippi under a multi-ton slab of concrete. How about the agony being felt by the 8 families of those still missing, knowing that their loved ones bodies will have to be removed piece by piece from a flattened car once it's finally pulled from the mud.

Get a grip people. Your petty bantering is sickening -- and before someone tries to counter with it, yes, I am aware of the thousands dead in Iraq... and am equally disturbed when people fail to take that into account as well.

POST A COMMENT

• 'Kid Nation' reality show a new low
• Rivers a shameful hire
• Too little news
• ‘Diesel’ fumes
• Unlocalized story a disservice to readers
• Riled up by Christian music
• Darling of the left
• Solutions too costly