Editorial: Thumbs

Published Saturday, September 6, 2008

Up- to the political convention speeches.

It has been a fascinating year for presidential politics, with unpredictable twists and turns. This has been a thrill ride for political junkies and an embarrassing time for those political pundits who seek to predict anything. Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama delivered stirring speeches and so did many other people at the Republican and Democratic national conventions. Everyone agrees on one thing: No matter who wins on Nov. 4, either one will be better a better president than George W. Bush. (If you just got mad at us for saying that, you haven’t been drinking morning coffee at local restaurants lately.)

Up- to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

Finally! Westbound Interstate 90 between Rochester and Austin is getting repaired. Last summer, eastbound I-90 between Albert Lea and Austin was fixed. We thought for a while there the state of Minnesota was trying to prevent people from getting to Austin. Now, all MnDOT needs to do is get U.S. Highway 218 in shape.

Up- to the Freeborn County commissioners.

Finally! The county commissioners are looking into broadcasting their meetings. Everyone and their brother and their sister for the past three years seems to have agreed that broadcasting the meetings over the Albert Lea government channel is a good idea. Just now the commissioners are rolling. What was the hold up? Simple willingness. Sure, people who don’t live in Albert Lea won’t see the broadcasts, but this project needs to start somewhere. Expansion of the broadcast area can come later.