Uh-oh! Bush's phone calls may have reduced the status of Minneapolis' disasterous bridge collapse to Katrina-lite.
They've suffered a terrible disaster and now that George Bush has found out about it, they could find themselves in the same shape as the people of New Orleans.
A bit of unsolicited advice, Minnesotans. Forget the phone call from the prez. You'll be lucky if you get one percent of what he promised you, and fix it yourselves. You'll get it done faster and better.
Keeping in mind that we can't believe a word of what these guys say, Bush said "....we in the federal government must respond and respond robustly..."
That translates to: You guys are on your own; you'll never hear from us again, but that was a helluvah a sound bite. Hee-hee.
Here's double proof that Bush, yet again, is not a man of his word.
Suzanne Malveaux reported on Lou Dobbs Tonight: The White House really took pains to emphasize it's the Department of Transportation that sets the standards when it comes to the bridges. But, they say it is the state and local governments that are in charge of inspections and maintenance.
In White House speak that means the ball's back in your court, Minnesota.
That was the first proof. The second was that Bush took a televised opportunity to talk about the tragedy in Minneapolis, and immediately turned it on its head to blame the Democrats for not giving him a budget.
No taking the high road for this guy. You'd think that just once -- in the face of a disaster, or something critically important to people other than himself -- he could stop himself from making a political football out of it.
Nah. That's too much to ask for.
There's only thing left for Bush to do. If they ever figure out what caused the bridge to collapse, to put the information in a folder marked "Top Secret", call it a matter of national security and seal it up for ever.