Towering intellect

As the eighth anniversary of Sept. 11 looms, many wonder why the World Trade Center site still remains an empty lot, for the most part. And many also blame politicians and public officials — from New York Gov. David Paterson’s office to the Port Authority — for what appears to be a bureaucratic impasse.

“The richest man in New York may not be collecting a salary, but it is not Mayor Bloomberg’s money that is being squandered at Ground Zero. How much longer will a handful of politicians be allowed to defy the will of millions of Americans?” asks structural engineer Kenneth Gardner of the Twin Towers Alliance.

The local group wants no mere skyscraper at the hallowed site. They want their identical towers back and are using concepts suggested by Herbert Belton, now deceased, an architect on the original construction team.

“A recent MSNBC poll suggests that more than 90 percent of the people agree that the Twin Towers belong in America’s skyline. Why are politicians catering to the tiny segment of the population that disagrees?” Mr. Gardner demands.

The “Freedom Tower” and surrounding structures that are currently planned won’t open until 2018, according to a report from the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center. Numerous press accounts — including one from the New Republic’s Deroy Murdoch — condemn the interagency squabbling and endless “pending decisions.”

They point out that the Empire State Building was built in just over 13 months.

Enough already, says Mr. Gardner, who maintains that “Twin Towers II” could be built at the site with existing funds — and within four years. He has also launched a public petition to wrest lawmakers and public officials from their lethargy and proposed a series of “Kitchen Table Summits” to jump-start a new course.

“This is not an effort to rebuild 40-year-old buildings. It is an elegant, once-in-a-lifetime chance to revive our city and nation by putting the people back in charge of their destiny,” Mr. Gardner says.





Buy the way

Some Democrats have openly declared war on FOX News, calling the news channel “the propaganda arm of the Republican Party” and accusing FOX of “outright hate-mongering and incitement of violence.”

Democrats.com — an activist group that bills itself as “the aggressive progressives” — is calling on the public to boycott FOX News advertisers and citing news host Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity as the “worst offenders.”

So. Democrats. Need insurance, house alarms, a suit, a Benz or some cheese? Is the mall beckoning?

Among those on the new suggested no-no list: 60Plus.org, AARP Insurance, ADT Security, Apple, Brita Filter, Conservatives for Patients Rights, Ditech, Healthy Choice, Men’s Warehouse, Mercedes-Benz, Nexium, Pepboys, Radio Shack, Red Lobster, Sargento Cheese and the Wall Street Journal.

Quotes of note

“America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009” — the official title of proposed heath care reform legislation before the House.

“We can discuss these issues like civilized people. At least that’s what I tell my 6-year-old.” — White House press secretary Robert Gibbs on the health care debate, to NBC.

“Hillary: Still angry after all these years.” — John Hinderaker, Powerlineblog.com





Days of yore

On this day in 1841, President Tyler vetoed a second attempt by Congress to re-establish the Bank of the United States. Angry supporters of the bank burned his effigy outside the White House.

Queen Victoria sent the first overseas telegraph to President Buchanan over a new trans-Atlantic cable 151 years ago today.

Now-and-then prospector George Carmack discovered gold in the Yukon’s Klondike River on this day in 1896. Yes, he became a millionaire and retired to Vancouver, British Columbia. Just for the heck of it, we’ll note that on this day in 1898, Edwin Prescott patented the world’s first roller coaster

Adlai E. Stevenson won the Democratic nomination for president on this day in 1956.

And you know you still care. Elvis Presley died of a coronary arrhythmia in Memphis 32 years ago today. Babe Ruth and Bela Lugosi also died on this day, in 1948 and 1956, respectively. Mr. Lugosi was buried in his Dracula cape.

Poll du jour

65 percent of Americans say they are likely to get the swine-flu vaccine.

31 percent say they are unlikely to get the vaccine.

44 percent normally get a flu shot each year.

37 percent are confident that doctors are prepared to handle a flu epidemic.

46 percent say the danger of swine flu has been blown out of proportion.

30 percent say the attention is warranted; 25 percent are unsure.

71 percent say the media has exaggerated the danger of swine flu and other diseases.

Source: A Rasmussen Reports survey of 1,000 adults conducted Aug. 4 and 5.

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