Minnesota bridge collapse discussion on WJ now - one year later

[malaise]

One year later. Jim Ray lying like a corpse in a casket - our infrastructure today is safer than ever. He has no numbers for a damn thing.:puke:
http://www.startribune.com/local/26142764.html?location_refer=Nation:highlightModules:5
<snip>
It was just past 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007, when the Interstate 35W bridge buckled and fell into the Mississippi River. Thirteen people died.

One year later, the bridge's replacement is nearly finished, but the investigation is not. Many of the 145 people injured in the collapse are still struggling to rebuild their lives — physically, financially and emotionally.

And Minnesota, along with the rest of the country, is still struggling to address the infrastructure needs laid bare by the catastrophe.

___

[ColbertWatcher]

1. One year and how high have gas prices risen...

...while the infrastructure crumbles?

[malaise]

3. Yes indeed

By the way there was a thread earlier this week about Sonia Pitt. She was fired by DHS yesterday.

http://www.startribune.com/local/26145699.html?location_refer=Most%20Viewed:Local%20+%20Metro
<snip>
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has fired Sonia Pitt, the former MnDOT emergency response executive who lost her state job for failing to return to Minnesota in the days after the I-35W bridge collapse.

Pitt was hired two months ago to work in Washington as a security specialist for the agency's Transportation Security Administration.

TSA spokeswoman Ellen Howe said that the latest termination was based on information that MnDOT sent to the federal agency Thursday at TSA's request. The TSA opened an investigation into Pitt's hiring in May about two weeks ago.

Howe said she couldn't comment on the reasoning behind Pitt losing her $89,920 job, but said the information MnDOT sent "corroborated our investigation.''

[ColbertWatcher]

5. Less than 6 months to go and the corruption doesn't end. n/t

[KharmaTrain]

2. And Gramps Still Wants To Cut Oil Taxes

So this goon thinks the gas tax shouldn't fund highways? Wanna bet he thinks they belong in the oil companies pockets? Sheesh.

More consumption of gas is better? What planet is this asshat from?

The dude is totally oblivious that the high prices of oil are both cutting driving and consumption that is ruining tax bases that go to keeping more bridges from falling down. I expect another disaster and this lackey to say "who knew".

Ah...C-SPIN's Fascist Friday...gotta love it.

:hi:

[malaise]

4. Gramps thinks his friends should be making that money

:hi:

[malaise]

6. Holy Shit

This caller is nailing his sorry ass.

[KharmaTrain]

7. This Dude Is Auditioning For His Next Job

Note the "acting"...obviously this hack would be eaten alive in a confirmation hearing. He's out there trying to land a lobbyist gig.

Here's a lady rippin' into him and he smirks...then calls her a "gentleman". What a dick.

[malaise]

8. Something's seriously wrong when a government employee

is lobbying for privatization.

He's a big time hack.

[KharmaTrain]

9. Another Caller Reams Him

Now Peter's running interference...he sees how bad this is going.

How come I think he worked for a horse show at one time? :rofl:

[malaise]

10. LOL

Dems need an ad - a vote for McSame is a vote for the privatization of your roads and bridges.

Another caller is tearing him a new one. This is too good.

[malaise]

11. He is part of the Bush/Cheney goon squad - damn!

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/admin.htm

James Ray
Acting Administrator
and
Deputy Administrator
Federal Highway Administration

Jim Ray was named Acting Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in February 2008. Mr. Ray joined FHWA as Chief Counsel in April 2006 and was appointed the Deputy Administrator of FHWA in December 2007. In these roles, Mr. Ray led the oversight and coordination of all FHWA activities related to the ceiling collapse in the Central Artery/Tunnel Project in Boston, including the process of reopening closed sections of the tunnel. Additionally, Mr. Ray leads the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) "Corridors of the Future" program, drafted model Public Private Partnership legislation and is one of the DOT's leading authorities on innovative financing and contracting.

From February 2004 to April 2006, Mr. Ray served in DOT's Office of the General Counsel. While in that office, he advised the General Counsel and other senior Department officials on a variety of legal and policy matters relating to all modes of transportation.

Prior to joining DOT, Mr. Ray served as Deputy General Counsel to the Bush-Cheney campaign and the subsequent Presidential Inaugural Committee from 2003 to 2005.

Before joining the President's re-election campaign, Mr. Ray worked as an associate at the law firm of Alston & Bird, LLP, representing clients in a wide range of legal issues, including mergers and acquisitions and federal government relations.

Prior to his legal career, Mr. Ray worked on Capitol Hill in the offices of Senators Burr and Ensign.

Mr. Ray is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and received his law degree from Georgetown University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

[KharmaTrain]

12. Privitzation...The "Yellow Brick Road"

This shit needs to use the google and find out why there's an FHA and an Interstate Commerce Commission in the first place. So we should have dozens of different jurisdictions that determine how to maintain infrastructure?

I can't wait to get rid of these corporate hacks...the chilling thought is how far this regime has infected all areas of the federal government...it's gonna take a while to root out these hacks.