Big Dig: The view from outside 495

There's a whole 'nother world westa Worcester. And many folks out there see things a bit differently than we do. For example, even our local conservative blogs have yet to note, as have several conservative blogs in the heartland, that Ronald Reagan vetoed the initial appropriation for the Big Dig.

Out in Indiana, Paul Patrick blames Ted Kennedy and John Kerry for Del Valle's death - apparently, news hasn't reached Hoosierland that Massachusetts has had Republican administrations for the past 16 years - or that our current Republican governor is trying to get rid of the Republican head of the turnpike authority.

Chad Butler, somewhere else out in the heartland, merely blames Kennedy and Kerry for the cost overruns:

... Finally, Mitt Romney has taken control of the situation, something he's been trying to do since he took office. Too bad someone had to die in order for the rest of Massachusetts to take notice.

In Carmel, California, the Old Professor wonders why Mitt Romney is saying such idiotic things. In Bloomington, Indiana, MrCommonScents agrees. Peter in Kentucky, however, finds Romney's performance most presidential.

Deborah Wald, a San Francisco attorney, knows she's on Cape Cod for vacation in part because:

... News about "the big dig" (Boston's major construction project that has gone on for about 10 years and is already collapsing before it's completely finished) is bigger news than the mess in Lebanon ...

Gary Best of Evans, Indiana, wonders:

... Is there a more disgraceful example of political corruption in the history of the U.S. than the Big Dig in Massachusetts? ...

Up in New Hampshire, Raven worries that the Big Dig problems might lead to national tunnel taxes.

Um, do they have tunnels in New Hampshire?

Joshua Trupin of Bayshore, NY, says the loss of life sucks, but the traffic problems after the ceiling collapse made it a lot easier for him to get from his Revere hotel to a conference in town:

... On Tuesday night, I started back for the hotel. By now, they had set up the detour signs everywhere. Anywhere near I-90, you were now redirected to the 1A tunnel with readable, well-placed signage. I had no problem at all for the rest of the week. This tragic collapse was so awesome for me! ...

Justa Blog Guy in Vermont is mad as hell:

... Heads need to roll and taxpayers need to hold someone accountable and taxpayers need to demand that cost overruns on this project come to a halt. 15 years of this mess is enough.

In El Paso, Texas, Heather Lynne cites the ceiling collapse as one of the reasons that make her question whether she should bring a child into this world.

But the Gay Prof, also in Texas, tries to find the bright side of the ceiling collapse:

... It could rain concrete on me everyday in Boston and it would still be better than living in Texas. ...