American Republic Online

In the aftermath of the bridge collapse tragedy, we have some interesting theories on the real reason for the catastrophic failure, because government mismanagement and incompetence seem so far fetched as to stretch credulity.

My favorite theory is by Joseph Romm former Clinton Administration official and now a senior fellow at the Clinton founded Center for American Progress. He asks “Did Climate Change Contribute To The Minneapolis Bridge Collapse?” Now before you doubt his premise, consider how his own in depth research swayed his own ideas on the matter:

I was skeptical at first, but after doing a Google search — and after NBC reported Sunday that National Transportation Safety Board investigators are “looking at everything” including “the weather” — I think it is a legitimate question to ask.

That’s right: a google search. Oh and a news report mentioning the word “weather”. Joseph didn’t become a senior fellow for nothing. Further review of this breakthrough is additionally entertaining. Romm goes on to compile further evidence: the channel 4 weatherman’s blog and a local resident’s thoughts - it was a hot summer. Joseph dismisses a structural engineer’s thoughts on his growing theory and instead offers his own: did engineers really design bridges to withstand the extreme 90 degree summer heat? Where such extremes really foreseeable?

While it goes on with further statements from ignorant people (perhaps the Minnesota school system mirrors their infrastructure?), Romm’s real problem will be overcoming the other experts in this field. Few have been able to stand against the intellect and voluminous knowledge of the reigning metallurgical expert: Rosie O’Donnell.

Rosie has long contended that steel can’t melt. Even if it could melt, it certainly wouldn’t happen in a compressed area with a mere puddle of jet fuel burning on it. In fact, steel wouldn’t even buckle under such conditions - even supporting a large amount of weight at the time. Thus, Josephs conundrum: has global warming yet reached the tipping point? Can global-warming-enhanced summers produce the flash point for steel fatigue? Why is the plague of high temperature bridge failure starting at the North edge of the country? How did I land a senior White House job?

• YouTube: Rosie O’Donnell “steel doesn’t melt” clip