About
Captain Ed is a father and grandfather living in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, a native Californian who moved to the North Star State because of the weather. He lives with his wife Marcia, also known as the First Mate, their two dogs, and frequently watch their granddaughter Kayla, whom Captain Ed calls The Little Admiral.
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The Crows Nest
OpenCongress Web Widget
Ever wanted to announce your support or opposition to Congressional legislation? OpenCongress now has a web widget that allows bloggers to do exactly that. Take a look at this, and check out how easily you can build your own.
Maybe They're Flotation Devices?
The Australian Navy foots the bill for breast augmentations. The Labour Party would like to know why, and probably so would most of the voters in Australia.
The Thinking Blogger
Congrats to Fausta, who won a Thinking Blogger award. She thanks me for my friendship, but the truth is that Fausta makes it easy to be her friend. She's always positive and energetic, and she epitomizes the notion of a thinking blogger. Make sure to put her on your must-read list!
Ensign Calls For Return Of MoveOn Money
NRSC chair Senator John Ensign calls for Democrats to return all campaign funds donated by MoveOn, after their despicable New York Times ad today accusing David Petraeus of treason. "If Senate Democrats are serious about moving our country forward, they will denounce this outrageous ad and return the campaign funds MoveOn.org has lavished on them as well as the donations made through MoveOn.org -- the choice is theirs." Ensign's right, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the refund ...
Support The Al-Dura Petition
Roger Simon at Pajamas Media is circulating a petition to demand accountability for the discredited al-Dura report from France's Channel 2. This is, as Roger calls it, the "Father of all Fauxtography," and C-2 has never acknowledged its fault in airing the supposed murder of a Palestinian child. He wants C-2 to show all of the unedited footage of the incident in order to show that C-2 faked the murder. If they're resisting the demand, I'd say they have something to hide ....
There Goes The Undefeated Season
Notre Dame managed to get its first loss out of the way as soon as possible -- and as badly as possible. Georgia Tech came to South Bend and stomped the Irish, 33-3, in the worst home opener loss in school history. The offense fumbled twice and allowed seven sacks on Evan Sharpley, who must have longed to have Brady Quinn back on the field instead. If Charlie Weis doesn't turn this debacle around fast, he may want to start asking Ty Willingham for some career counseling ....
Would Early Primaries Allow More Donations?
Jim Geraghty at The Campaign Spot believes that candidates will benefit if primaries and caucuses get pushed into 2007. A loophole in campaign finance regulation appears to allow an extra $2,300 per donor for candidates if those elections are held this year. Be sure to check out Jim's analysis, and the surprising candidate that may benefit the most.
When Tom Met Jeralyn
One of the interesting aspects of politics is finding out that opponents are people, too. Jeralyn Merritt of TalkLeft met Rep. Tom Tancredo backstage at NBC's studios, and found him more likable than she had anticipated. Perhaps it was their mutual interest in Dog, The Bounty Hunter ...
Joe Lieberman A Right-Wing Nut?
That's what CAIR says, according to Joe Kaufman. He has a link to a CAIR official's blog post that calls Lieberman, along with John Bolton, former CIA director James Woolsey, and the Heritage Foundation's Peter Brookes as "extremists". Affad Shaikh also calls Dick Cheney a "fat bastard of a liar," apparently not meant as a pop-culture reference to the Austin Powers movies. (via Let Freedom Ring)
Broadband Homelessness
The Japanese have made homelessness more efficient, and more Net-friendly, too. Their Internet cafés have become homeless shelters for the struggling manual-labor sector. The problem has grown into such a problem that government intervention will shortly become a political priority.
Found My Law Firm
Power Line links twice to this story regarding an attorney at Faegre & Benson who refused to become a victim and helped capture a very dangerous man. Keith Radtke is a partner in the firm as is Power Line's John Hinderaker. Radtke is listed in satisfactory condition after getting shot in the back, but that didn't keep him from locking up his attacker in a wrestling grip until police could arrive. I don't know about you, but that's the kind of man I'd want as my counsel ....
Don't Click That YouTube E-mail
The latest in spam seems to be redirections from YouTube links in e-mail to IP addresses without domain names. They attempt to entice people by making it seem that they have been inadvertently YouTubed. I'm sure most people can see through this scam, but just in case, you've been warned ....
Rick Moran Escapes The Floods
Rick Moran has kept us up to date on his travails along the Algonquin River. Yesterday, the police showed up to get him evacuated before the river flooded his home -- but today, Rick finds that a minor miracle has taken place, and that his house survives ... at least for now. Keep Rick in your prayers, and keep checking in at Right Wing Nut House for updates.
Rule 1: Drag The Corpse On Over First
If I've learned anything in four years of blogging, don't try to be out in front of the death rumors, especially with the villains of the world. Saddam died a hundred deaths before we caught him alive in his spider hole, and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi almost as many before his demise last year. Osama may or may not be alive, but everyone's avoided speculating on his fate for a while now. Maybe Val at Babalu Blog will get luckier with his "Castro Is Dead" story. We all hope so. I'll wait for the announcement ....
Hobbs Choice
Volunteer Voters is holding its annual "Best of Nashville" on-line polls, and one of the categories is for the best political writer. Our friend Bill Hobbs, now posting at Newsbusters, and he'd like his on-line fans to cast their votes. Drop by and put one in for Bill if you get a chance!
Comments (15)
Posted by Eric | September 20, 2007 1:49 AM
I know most Republicans don't care about this, much less fiscal conservatives, but I hope this bridge isn't an eyesore like the one that fell or every other Interstate highway bridge across the Mississippi or Minnesota Rivers in the state. That it is a gorgeous bridge folks will want to come to look at. I mean, it is supposed to be built to last for many decades, right? Can a little extra detail be put in to make it a landmark?
Posted by rbj | September 20, 2007 7:32 AM
I don't mind aesthetics playing a part in the design.
Given the problems with Boston's Big Dig boondoggle, I'd rather see a bridge done right rather than done quick & cheap.
Posted by Ron C | September 20, 2007 7:42 AM
I'm not one bit convinced that giving money for faster completion is smart or practical. Seems guaranteed to introduce less than best-possible work - despite 'assurances' to the contrary.
Posted by Cindy | September 20, 2007 8:13 AM
The bridge that fell was built to be a "gorgeous" bridge. I would rather have something that is not going to fall down in 40 years.....
Cindy
Posted by jay | September 20, 2007 8:26 AM
Boston's Big Dig was anything but cheap. Build the bridge to meet our future traffic needs. Not to please an effete snob in the Minneapolis Art crowd.
Posted by Carol Herman | September 20, 2007 12:21 PM
The clock. And, that winter weather! Working outdoors.
I just hope they didn't pick the contractor that was doing the paving; when the bridge came down.
I guess you can't run a ferry from one side to the other? The Mississippi must have one heck of a dynamic flow.
Posted by Terry | September 20, 2007 1:27 PM
Sure it was easy to take the costliest bid when the vast majority of the money's coming from outside MN. If you take off your MN hat, do you think it's right that the Feds paid for the whole thing?
Now you poor Minnesotans are crying that the new bridge needs to be pretty. Gimme a break.
Posted by Eric | September 20, 2007 1:50 PM
Go jump off a falling bridge Terry. I'm not crying.
Do the Feds not pay for you Interstate highway bridges? Interesting.
Posted by Terry | September 20, 2007 2:37 PM
Well Captain, you have nothing to be proud of.
If you Minnesotaians have money to pay for a new baseball park, then, you certainly have the money for a new bridge.
"The cost, even if it is the largest of the bids, still fits neatly within the $250 million grant approved by Congress." So you stick the bill on people outside of Minnesota.
You stink Captain. You and your whole damn state stink.
Your nothing but a bunch of greedy, sleazy white eskimos, but without the class.
Go to hell.
Posted by Captain Ed | September 20, 2007 3:03 PM
Terry,
Its a federal highway, you twit. It's part of I-35, which goes from Texas to Minnesota. I've mentioned this over and over again on the blog.
Try reading up on the issue before commenting on it.
Posted by Eric | September 20, 2007 4:25 PM
Yes, Terry hasn't been paying attention to the issue.
That, or he lives in a part of the country where the federal Interstate highway system is built with only his state's own money. Such a unique place that is.
Last I checked, the transit accommodations (whatever your opinion of them, smart or a boondoggle) on the new bridge will entirely be paid with local funds, not federal.
Posted by Terry | September 20, 2007 4:32 PM
The bridge starts in Minnesota and ends in Minnesota and is used primarily by Minnesotians.
"Its the Feds responsibility", that is the attitude that got us 9/11 and the collapse of the bridge.
No, it isn't. It maybe on paper, but the deaths are local. So its IS THE LOCALS RESPONSIBILITY, NOW AND ALWAYS.
But why should anyone expect more from a state that is one big farm welfare state.
PS The Feds can't even do there first and primary responsibility, defense of the country, securing the borders. And you trust them to maintain your, YOUR, bridges?
Get your heads thawed out.
Posted by Eric | September 20, 2007 6:53 PM
Where do you live, Terry, where no highway or bridge was built with federal money? Where, replacement of federal highways or their bridges is entirely done without federal money. It must be an amazing place.
Posted by Terry | September 21, 2007 7:42 AM
Well, this is a first (for me anyway). I am the Terry that made the 9/20, 1:27PM post.
All the other posts by "Terry" are someone else. What a coward.
I'm bowing out of this discussion.
Posted by Terry | September 21, 2007 2:51 PM
Terry,
Why am I a coward?
Terry