McCain: Pork Played Role In Bridge Tragedy

He is right. This is the maverick McCain speaking out again. I don't know if he thinks his remarks will help his presidential chances--they won't. Nevertheless, it is good to hear the truth coming out of the mouth of a prominent Senator. McCain can be an enigma. His independence has made him in the eyes of some a reformer of a corrupt system. Then there is the arrogant, foot-in-the-mouth politician that appears every time he runs for president:

Republican John McCain said Saturday that Congress could share in the blame for the Minnesota bridge collapse because lawmakers diverted billions of dollars in transportation money from road work to pet projects.

"I think perhaps you can make the argument that part of the responsibility lies with the Congress of the United States," the Arizona senator said.

McCain just made a lot of enemies back on Capitol Hill. It is an amazing, damning admission from someone who would know. And McCain would admit--maybe not this time around--that he's been guilty of the same practices in the past. I hope the public was listening. Your government is jeopardizing your safety so that the politicians can get themselves re-elected. This also applies to State governments as well. Of course those same politicians will now run around pledging to do that which they should have done decades ago. The pledges will disappear along with the cameras. And the problem-- it will get plenty of lip service but won't be addressed in a meaningful way:

President Bush pledged Saturday to cut red tape that could delay rebuilding a highway bridge that once arched over the Mississippi River but now lies crumbled in muddy water concealing some victims.

Bush, still dogged by his administration's sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina