Teabagger Michele Bachmann is pushing a massive $700 million bridge over a Wild & Scenic river

[Minnesota Raindog]

A river of misinformation and smears is flowing from Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and other proponents of a massive new $700 million freeway bridge over the federally protected St. Croix River in Minnesota.

http://rippleinstillh2o.blogspot.com/2011/03/michele-bachmann-bridge-advocates-play.html

[jpak]

1. Yet another dumbass bridge to nowhere

twit

yup

[dflprincess]

4. Not really a bridge to no where

If the only concern is traffic congestion, then a new bridge in the Stillwater area linking Minnesota and Wisconsin isn't a bad idea.

BUT if you care about the area it's a lousy idea as any bridge built will only be an eyesore in an area that needs to preserved.

[Berserker]

12. This is not a dumb ass bridge to nowhere

this is a bridge between Minnesota and Wisconsin that should have been replaced many years ago. I know this because I live by this bridge. They have been talking about replacing this bridge for over 30 years. This bridge is not safe and needs to be replaced regardless of what party affiliation gets it done. This is not a political issue.

[Minnesota Raindog]

15. That's bullshit

You want to replace the bridge, replace it in the same corridor where the old one is. Like it or not, that's how it works with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

You're right on one thing--conservation of our nation's natural resources isn't a partisan issue.

[Berserker]

17. Do you live in Stillwater?

I don't think you do. Every time the river floods which is quite often this bridge is closed down because of the location. Also the location of this bridge during certain hours of the day back up traffic for miles in all directions. And it's not whether I like it or not these are the facts. So don't lecture me about Wild and Scenic rivers I have lived in the area all of my life.

[Minnesota Raindog]

18. Lived there for most of 50 years

I've lived in Stillwater, on the river, in the river, next to the I-94 bridge for over 40 years, been working on this bridge issue for more than 25 years.

Don't like the traffic in Stillwater? Cross at Hudson--6 miles away. Or go the other direction and cross at Osceola. Or Taylor's Falls. Is your life too important to go a little out of your way to protect a river? And save nearly a billion dollars? Once again--quit lifting the bridge, no back-ups. Put a toll on it and see how fast those Andersen Windows workers discover the Hudson bridge.

[rbixby]

19. I agree with you

but at the same time, there needs to be a compromise that would work. The current bridge, though in desperate need of replacement, adds to the scenery (at least in my opinion). Building a behemoth freeway style bridge ala the 35W bridge would really be ugly, and I think that's kind of what she's envisioning. Also, the hypocrisy of asking for a government handout to build a bridge seems funny on her part, I'd think she'd would want the residents of the area to take up a collection to build it instead of asking for government money or something like that.

[VoteProgressive]

24. So you support Michelle on this topic?

[opihimoimoi]

2. A Bridge ReRUN??? WTF???

[Major Hogwash]

3. This isn't even in her district, is it? Shit, this is on the other side of the state!

Why the fuck is she supporting a bridge that isn't even in her district?
Unless I'm looking at the map wrong, the St Croix River is between Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Hmmm, could this be another Koch-based project?

[dflprincess]

5. Her district does include Stillwater which is where the bridge would be built

(the district then extends west across the state up to Becker & Sterns Counties where it picks up a lot of the wingnuts).

Apparenlty Old Michelle has decided her distaste for "earmarks" is not as strong as her need to have some reason she can rail against "radical environmentalists".

[Goblinmonger]

7. I lived in Monticello for a couple summers

and there are plenty of wingnuts there. Some fond memories of some very lovely ladies, too, but you are right about that side of the district.

[Another Bill C.]

6. It's in her district

Minnesota's sixth district is one of the most gerrymandered districts you'll ever see. With a Republican legislature, it's going to stay that way for a while.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd?state=MN&district=6

[texastoast]

8. In the Koch pocket

I would imagine.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

9. Pres. Obama Health Care bill sure has her pissed he has it all set up for :single payer".....

already passed and appropreations for it were passed under their radar...because they ain't very bright

[BeFree]

10. She feels entitled to a bridge?

If they want a bridge there they need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and build their own damn bridge without asking Obama for his blessing.

I can hardly believe she is begging Obama for her bridge. Get it yourself, bitch!

*************

This message brought to you from a rabid, foaming at the mouth anti-bushco partisan.
So sue me!

[DCKit]

11. She needs one to live under when she leaves Congress. nt

[highplainsdem]

14. +1,000. LOL

[kickysnana]

13. Respectfully disagree with Raindog on this one

This is to replace the 100 year old Stillwater lift bridge which is closing because it is about to fall into the river. That bridge is in downtown Stillwater and goes into Wisconsin and traffic backs up there idling for miles in the summer. I cannot breath there anymore so I don't go there in the summer. Tens of thousands of cars use the bridge dayly throughout the year.

Hwy 36 is a main highway out of the Twin Cities and this bridge into Wisconsin would by pass Stillwater and leave it as a pristine rural town of shops and activities.. The next nearest bridges are Taylors Falls north and I94 South. If either of those bridges has work being done traffic would be impossible without the Stillwater bridge.

This has been needed for about 40 years and has been struck down by environmental laws so as to show they are stupid and to do away with them. It would be better for this bridge to be built and the laws to be left in place for actual bridges to nowhere.

My son had a High School girlfriend who's father lived in Sommerset, WI and I went through there for about 4 years to various functions, birthdays, graduations etc.

You will get over it Raindog. It is one needed bridge that keeps tons of pollutants out of the air by letting traffic flow.

[Minnesota Raindog]

16. There are so many things wrong with this post

If you can't breathe in Stillwater, you better stay indoors and seek immediate medical attention because you've got some serious problems.

Interstate 94--NOT State Highway 36--is the main highway out of the Twin Cities and the I-94 freeway bridge across the St. Croix already exists--SIX MILES from Stillwater. Get a clue. Use it. We don't stick freeway bridges across Wild and Scenic Rivers every 6 miles. That I-94 bridge has work done without any disruption to Stillwater. You want to stop the disruption in Stillwater? Stop lifting the bridge every half hour during the summer. That's why traffic backs up there in the summer. But you don't live there so you wouldn't know.

[rbixby]

21. Agreed!

Maybe make the bridge into a pedestrian/bike bridge and let people cross by car at one of the other bridges.

[kickysnana]

22. I get that you don't want anyone else in "your" neighborhood, here is some details.

http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/stcroix/pdfs/StCroixWorkshopBackground.pdf

Page 20 gives the number of vehicle crossings per day for each Bridge. My handicapped lift equipped van gets 12 mpg meaning it would take 2 gallons of gas for me to bypass the Stillwater crossing. Even if you figure twice as much mileage that is 18,000 gallons of gas a day used to bypass the bridge and that will increase every year.

You are talking about not wanting to look at one bridge and there is a lot of river where you don't have to look at a bridge. I usually support environmental and scenic efforts but int his case, I think the anti-bridge people are being selfish and arrogant.

Here is a synopsis by a Washington County Commissioner.

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/letters/97703299.html

[Minnesota Raindog]

25. How much gas did you use coming to Stillwater?

Your argument is as lame as the air being unbreathable in Stillwater. Stay home then.

[SpiralHawk]

20. Republicon Socialism for the Rich

Bachmann is getting filthy rich off the public tit for doing doodley squat with her land, while harvesting government Socialist Farm-Welfare checks

[VoteProgressive]

23. She is an embarrassment to her great state!