Bush promises 'flood of help' for Minnesota
Bush praises response to flooding, bridge collapse and promises a "flood of help."
Following a 15-minute closed-door briefing on recovery efforts related to the I-35W bridge collapse and flash flooding in southeastern Minnesota Bush departed for for a private political fundraiser on behalf of U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman.
On hand to meet with Bush at the airport were Gov. Tim Pawlenty and First Lady Mary Pawlenty, Coleman, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Reps. Michele Bachmann, John Kline, Keith Ellison, Tim Walz and Betty McCollum and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.
Following the briefing, Bush spoke briefly about both the bridge and the flood.
"A flood of help" will be coming to southeastern Minnesota, he said, including small business aid and housing assistance. "There's help, it's available," he said.
Bush suggested that accomodating rail transit may be an option on a replacement for the I-35W bridge.
"The question now is how fast we can get the bridge built," he said, referring to the "significant chunk of money" that has been pledged by the federal government.
"Our job now is to cut through the bureaucracy as fast as possible and get the people down here a new bridge," he said.
"The questions are how fast can it be built" Bush said, and whether the bridge can be made accessible to "modern forms of transportation," apparently referring to discussions about making a new bridge capable of carrying light rail trains. "I believe the answer to that question is yes," Bush added.
Bush expressed sympathy and admiration for flood victims who "woke up and found their lives turned upside down. You can wreck the infrastructure but you can't wreck the spirit."
He praised Navy divers working on the recovery effort at the bridge collapse site and the "unprecedented cooperation of federal state and local government" in the response.
The fundraiser was to be held at the Eden Prairie home of hearing aid executive and philanthropist William Austin and his wife Tani. The Austin's have contributed generously to the Republican party and its candidates in recent years.
More than 50 protesters gathered near the site of the fundraiser Tuesday afternoon, condemning the war in Iraq and faulting Coleman for his loyalty to Bush and his policies.
Four things for you Mr. President:
1. Is it really appropriate or "tactful" to refer to support from the federal government as a "flood" when those funds are going to be used to help people devastated by and dead from a flood?
2. You only spent FIFTEEN minutes getting briefed about two fairly significant tragedies occurring in the state? I cannot imagine where people would get the impression that you don't care!
3. Are your Republican supporters at all outraged at the fact that you are using the occasion of a POLITICAL FUNDRAISER to announce federal aid given the outrage they displayed over apparent politicization from the left?
4. Can you ask Michele Bachmann why she voted against Small Business Aid and Housing Assistance given your promise to provide such measures?
