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icemanat95
11-22-2005, 10:39
The Infamous Bridge to Nowhere which was intended to link Ketchikan, Alaska to an island with a population of about 50 people, at the cost of many millions of dollars, was scuttled by the rep who shepherded it through the process, Republican Don Young. The bridge would have cost about $230 million to build. Another bridge in Anchorage has also been de-funded to the tune of $209 million.

Good riddance to a bad idea.

MOWGLI
11-22-2005, 10:58
The Infamous Bridge to Nowhere which was intended to link Ketchikan, Alaska to an island with a population of about 50 people, at the cost of many millions of dollars, was scuttled by the rep who shepherded it through the process, Republican Don Young. The bridge would have cost about $230 million to build. Another bridge in Anchorage has also been de-funded to the tune of $209 million.

Good riddance to a bad idea.

That is inaccurate. Here is an editorial from todays paper in Wheeling, WV (not exactly a hotbed for liberals).

'Bridge to Nowhere' Still May Be Built

The Intelligencer


The announcement came complete with faux regret on the part of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, who just weeks ago threatened to quit the Senate if his precious $223 million "Bridge to Nowhere" was not funded. GOP leaders announced they had removed a specific appropriation for a bridge to link the outback Alaskan towns of Ketchikan with Gravina Island and thereby spare the townsfolk a 10-minute ferry ride. Fiscal responsibility cheers all around - or at least that was the intended spin.

Did taxpayers finally win one? What happened to Stevens' outrage? How did this famously grudge-holding appropriator get rolled by a few headlines?
He didn't. Here's the real deal: While specific mention of the "Bridge to Nowhere" is to be removed from the final spending measure now speeding to passage, Alaska's state transportation department will get the money to spend as it wishes. In order to keep the Treasury raiding senator lovingly dubbed by his constituents as "Uncle Ted" happy, the state undoubtedly will spend the money on the "Bridge to Nowhere."

Republicans can't seriously believe these sorts of shenanigans will improve their battered fiscal image. Indeed, this latest chapter in the Bridge to Nowhere story brings to mind a quotation usually attributed to the first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln: "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."

The GOP leadership's wanderings from fiscal responsibility have put the Republicans very much at risk of squandering their majority. If Congress insists upon adopting the fraud of an appropriation containing thinly disguised "Bridge to Nowhere" money, then President Bush should save his party from further pummeling by dusting off his long-neglected veto pen. As matters stand, Democrats have an excellent issue to use against Republicans, in both congressional and presidential elections. Unfortunately, Bush and other GOP leaders have yet to do anything about that.

icemanat95
11-22-2005, 11:05
Thanks Mowgli,

We can only hope that cooler heads will prevail here and shut this pork project down hard. I'm sure Alaska has more pressing transportation needs than a bridge to a tiny island village that is as easily served by a ferry or local boats.

Scribe
11-22-2005, 11:28
The way I got it, the Bridge to Nowhere (assuming that Ketchikan and the adjacent island are nowhere), will not receive direct funding, but instead the ADOT will get federal bucks and use those to build the bridge. Kind of a back door approach, but it'll be built. This explains why Stevens wasn't ticked off.

weary
11-22-2005, 11:57
The way I got it, the Bridge to Nowhere (assuming that Ketchikan and the adjacent island are nowhere), will not receive direct funding, but instead the ADOT will get federal bucks and use those to build the bridge. Kind of a back door approach, but it'll be built. This explains why Stevens wasn't ticked off.
Being a cynic, I suspect it's not a bridge to nowhere, but a bridge to land owned by political friends who will profit mightily from increased land values bought by the taxpayers' largess.

Nightwalker
11-22-2005, 15:19
Being a cynic, I suspect it's not a bridge to nowhere, but a bridge to land owned by political friends who will profit mightily from increased land values bought by the taxpayers' largess.
I'd be betting with you on that one.

You know, if the democrats would just go against ab*rti*n as one of there litmus-test issues and let the states decide it, a lot of us unhappy conservatives would vote democrat, because the republicans surely do suck lately.

smokymtnsteve
11-22-2005, 17:27
I'd be betting with you on that one.

You know, if the democrats would just go against ab*rti*n as one of there litmus-test issues and let the states decide it, a lot of us unhappy conservatives would vote democrat, because the republicans surely do suck lately.


Frank NOBODY is for abortion,,,abortion is a CHOICE that every woman as a FREE AMERIKAN gets to make for herself,,,

conservatives should keep thier religious hands of of womens bodies,

even Bill Clinton kept his hands off Monica until she made the offer. :eek:

Bjorkin
11-22-2005, 17:39
somebody said the "a" word. counting down to see how fast this thread spins off topic, turns heated, nothing solved, new grudges formed...3 2 1

smokymtnsteve
11-22-2005, 17:45
well speaking of abortion ,,,if abortion is made illegal in this country ,,then what is going to be the punishment for women who make arrangements and attains an illegal abortion???

I suggest since these women will then be committing pre-mediated murder then we give them capitol punishment.

Nightwalker
11-22-2005, 18:12
conservatives should keep thier religious hands of of womens bodies,
Legalized murder Steve. That's all it is. Making it legal doesn't make it right.

Calling me or anyone else anything you want for saying what's true doesn't make legalized murder right.

And I'm done. I'm not debating this. There is no debate. If you want to be blind to the truth, that's your choice.

I love you anyway, buzzard-breath.

Nightwalker
11-22-2005, 18:13
I suggest since these women will then be committing pre-mediated murder then we give them capitol punishment.
I'm agin' that too. I don't fit your stereotypes. I don't go to Jerry Falwell's church either.

SGT Rock
11-22-2005, 18:14
Please lets drop the abortion talk or run the risk of getting this thread off track and moved off this forum.

Chip
11-22-2005, 18:22
I hope this "bridge to nowhere" along with the "road to nowhere" do just that !!! GO NOWHERE !!! No bridge, No road!!! This country needs to wake up and vote a few pork barrel politicians out of office !!!!! :datz

Bjorkin
11-22-2005, 18:28
The problem with politics isn't the politicians, it's the system. Politicians used to be farmers or your local store owner who would run, go to DC for a few years and then return to their home once the term was over to face those neighbors who voted for them.

Now, politics and elected positions are careers. The root of this problems is because loyalty is rewarded and honesty is not. Loyalty to the party line that is.

We're the best country in the world and change takes time, but some times you just shake your head and wonder how these DC fat cats got so full of themselves. The onus is on us. Reward honesty with your vote and not just be loyal to a party. It's just one big circle of lies otherwise.

MOWGLI
11-22-2005, 19:10
We're the best country in the world....

You know, this is definitely a great country. No doubt about it. My family has been here since the 1650s and fought in most of the big wars. But, I always question whenever anyone writes or says this. Quite frankly, I haven't been everywhere (although I have traveled extensively) so I don't know how anyone can say this unless they have. Yeah, I know, it's heretical to say this, but I mean it.

OK, what makes us so much better than Canada, Australia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, or any number of other places? Seriously. Taxes? I disagree. Health care? Sure, if you have insurance. Our Constitution? Yeah, that's about as close to perfect as it gets. But now some politicos want to muck with that too.

There are so many problems in this Country right now, from drugs (meth) to illegal immigration, jobs going overseas, we're practicaly the fattest people on the planet, trade imbalance, political corruption (see Jack Abrahamoff (sp??) story), HUGE budget problems, racism, Wal Mart (just thought I'd toss that one in there), violence, pedophiles everywhere, we're even forgetting about those poor folks on the Gulf Coast- only 3 months after Katrina. The list goes on & on. And we have about a handful of politicians with any kind of courage AND brains (these things seem to be mutually exclusive). We spend more on Intelligence than just about every other country - and we missed that boat by a country mile. Frankly, we're soft. Hardly anybody is willing to make a sacrafice anymore.

SO tell me - please. Why do people keep saying this over & over? Cause that's what you learned growing up? Or is it really true? Anyone care to answer without accusing me of hating this country? Cause I don't.

Bjorkin
11-22-2005, 19:40
Because no matter which third-world or first-world country I'm in people admire Americans because of our core set of values which founded this country. Family, God and country. People mock these values today, but seriously, how do you think we rose to the top so quickly relatively speaking?

Yeah, we're a screwed up lot and have lots of problems just like any other country because we're human, but go and live in a few other countries with their locals and you won't think so bad about our "external" problems. When i say we are the best country it's my own experience and not rhetoric. Plus, what's so great about us is our people more than anything. I mean, "We the people..." are the country not the other way around.

rickb
11-22-2005, 19:49
But seriously, how do you think we rose to the top so quickly relatively speaking?

Geography and natural resources had a lot to do with it.

Getting some immigrants to help us build the atomic bomb helped, too.

Rick B

Bjorkin
11-22-2005, 19:56
Geography and natural resources had a lot to do with it.

Not if you're playing Risk. Australia is the place to be defensively. ;)


Getting some immigrants to help us build the atomic bomb helped, too.

Rick B

Hmmm, how did stopping WWII with Fat Boy and Little Man help us any more than the rest of Europe?

smokymtnsteve
11-22-2005, 20:08
Legalized murder Steve. That's all it is. Making it legal doesn't make it right.

Calling me or anyone else anything you want for saying what's true doesn't make legalized murder right.

And I'm done. I'm not debating this. There is no debate. If you want to be blind to the truth, that's your choice.

I love you anyway, buzzard-breath.

making it illegal doesn't make it go away..just makes it illegal and dirty and MORE dangerous.

but Sarge told me to shut up...and as the cattlikers say

"and also to you"

aye aye Sgt

MedicineMan
11-22-2005, 22:41
and if you are member of the Sino-Soviet-Islamic confederation quietly planning to occupy North America then we present little to deter you. I think 'soft' is an understatement Mowgli.

Scribe
11-23-2005, 17:51
All of this jibber-jabber about abortion, a great country, bla, bla is 'way off topic. We're talking about bridges to nowhere here. If you wanna argue about baby-killing or choice, or a great vs. a merely good country, start your own danged thread...

MOWGLI
11-23-2005, 18:12
All of this jibber-jabber about abortion, a great country, bla, bla is 'way off topic. We're talking about bridges to nowhere here. If you wanna argue about baby-killing or choice, or a great vs. a merely good country, start your own danged thread...

You're right - we were talking about "nowhere." Now where were we?? ;)

rcli4
11-23-2005, 22:52
OK, what makes us so much better than Canada, Australia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, or any number of other places?

I have been to 26 countries. Rest assured this is the greatest. If you are from the far left wing Canada is probably for you. If you are a conservative redneck, when you die your hell will be in Canada. When I was in the Navy in the early 70's we couldn't go to new zealand because of their race policies. Sweden Denmark and Norway are nearly socialist. If you can live with that they may be greater than the US. Norway is cold as hell.
The bridge to nowhere seems to be something the Alaskans want. They send more money to washington than they recieve back. Seems to me we should say thank you and let them spend what little we send back the way they think is best.

budman5
11-23-2005, 23:18
Rcli4 Exactly..We sorely need infrastructure here in AK. so little of the state is open to easy travel. There's an airport on that Island and transportation will be needed to handle population increases..

Nameless
11-23-2005, 23:29
From a life-long alaskan -

I dont want that bridge, I dont know why we would. The fairy goes in good weather, which means it doesnt go a lot in ketchikan, with its horrible weather, but there is no real need for a bridge.

The one near anchorage could be useful as anchorage expends but I believe other options should be explored first because of unique weather and such up here (silt in the bay could be a huge problem, i dont know a huge amount though).

In every election I have been eligble to vote I have tried to get the boys out of DC, but i havent succeded yet. Hate our lying self centered govener with a passion.

Its interesting to live in an extermly liberal republican state... (and hair pulling frustrating when people elect morons like the murkowskies, not sure of the spelling)

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