This is an opinion cartoon.

In last week’s episode of ‘Name the new bridge’, I went first. With the reasoning that after all these years of talking about how desperately we need a new I-10 bridge, and seeing one plan after another bite the dust, it should be named after the folks who finally possibly will make it happen. Right?

What put this plan for the new bridge in play? The $550 million grant from the Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal. My bridge name suggestion: ‘Biden Buttigieg Bayway Bridge.’ The BBBB.

With all the glowing praise for the new bridge from our Republican leaders you would have thunk they had spear-headed this plan. According to Sen. Tommy Tuberville, he practically pushed the boulder up the mountain all by himself. Nope. Ol’ Tommy Sissy-fuss voted against it.

Related: ‘It’s a shame’: Alabama congressional delegation praise Mobile’s $550 million I-10 project; most voted against funding – al.com

Related: The new Mobile I-10 Bayway Bridge needs a new name. What you got? – al.com

Tommy Dumberville wasn’t alone. Rep. Jerry Carl is all a-glow about the bridge, but he voted against it too. Now retired Sen. Richard Shelby voted against the bill, as did Reps. Robert Aderholt, Gary Palmer, and Mike Rogers. Katie Britt was not a senator at the time, but said in 2021 she would have been a “firm ‘no’” on the bill had she been in Washington. Today, she’s singing its praises.

Every GOP congressional delegate from Alabama voted against this bridge. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, the only Democratic federal lawmaker representing Alabama, was this state’s lone vote for it.

Let’s let the readers have their say

in 2014, my colleague John Sharp put together a ‘Bridge Madness’ tournament of potential bridge names. Over the course of a few weeks, the readers chose Joe Cain “Mardi Gras” Bridge in a landslide over the simply titled “Mobile Bay Bridge.” Other names in that tournament honored Alabama Veterans, Jeremiah Denton and the Bay of the Holy Spirit. Read more about that tournament here.

Related: What are the eight possibilities in the ‘Bridge Madness’ tournament – al.com

Related: Let the good times roll: Joe Cain ‘Mardi Gras’ Bridge is winner of AL.com’s ‘Bridge Madness’ tournament – al.com

My little ‘Name the new bridge’ game wasn’t as formal as my buddy Sharp’s tournament idea in 2014. But it still garnered passionate offerings that ranged from serious to frustrated to silly. (I am surprised to report that a good many – almost half of all responders – either voted for my BBBB plan or suggested something similar.)

Here are a handful of responses from the pack, in no particular order:

The Mays Aaron Bridge – Alex Butler

America’s Amazon Gateway – Bebe Kern

Jack Edwards Bridge – Peggy Gunter Stone

Dark Brandon’s Bridge – Mary Pharr McGowin

I would say: let’s move away from naming things after people. What about a quality that many Alabamians share? – Rachel Jones Sholler. —> Ignorance Bridge? – Donna Riley Lein

We should name it the Mobile-Baldwin Visitor’s Bridge because if it has a toll, I’m not using it. – Wendy McCall

The Pay Way – Andy Scott

Boondoggle Bridge, Bridge of Cries, Bad Idea Bridge, Waste over Water, Miss Mobile Bridge, Ivey Icon, Stimpson Folly, Government Waste – Trey LeBlanc

Bridgy McBridgeface – George Legg

Buffett Bridge – Becky Bolling

Bay Water Bridge … I know, too plain!! – Maggie McNab. —> How about the “McNab Brothers Blues Bridge!!” – Don Hoffman

Republican Chris Elliott Toll Bridge – Walter Bower

The Baybidge …There is no R in this bridge – Don Prosch

The Paul “Bear” Bryant Bay Bridge! ‘Nuff said. – Don Hoffman

Bridge over troubled waters! – Grayson Capps

Two different names. Coming into Mobile could be called the Highway to Hell. Leaving Mobile should be the Stairway to Heaven – Jimmy Kane

MeeMaw’s High Steppin’ Highway – David Morris

Jimmy Buffett or Jubilee Bridge, take politics out of it; perhaps About Time Bridge. – Leon Maisel

(Several others also suggested Jubilee and Jimmy Buffet)

The Rob Gray Bay Way has a nice ring to it – Rob Gray

John LeFlore Bridge – Damarius LaKee Nolan-Watts

Hank Aaron Bridge – Lorie Webb

George C Wallace Bridge – ‘cause a tunnel wasn’t enough. Lottery<——> Casino on Heathen Hwy Bridge. 5 Rivers Bridge- Brought to you by OnlyFans.com – ‘cause it was the only way to pay for it, now featuring Sandy Stimpson. 6 Flags over Jesus Tithe Tollway – nuff nonsense, what we really like would be the bridge named Espíritu Santo or Bridge of the Holy Spirit. – Mary H and son

“Poison Ivey Memorial Bridge”. A reminder that some things are hard to get rid of. Lawrence Starr

Biden dementia Bridge, We will Toll the Hell out of you Bridge, Jam Bridge, Hurry up and wait Bridge – Andrew Bravata

WOD Bridge … Way Over Due – Rick Whiston

“Most of you will be dead before it is finished Bridge” – Ron Goleman

MoBāTow – Dennis Lundy

Claim to Feign Bridge OR In-Spite-of-Them Bridge – Ellen Dyas

I don’t know what to name the bridge other than “FINALLY” – Jeri Harrison

Thanks to all for your passionate bridge-naming skills! (Sorry I couldn’t use all of your responses. Next time …)

Check out more cartoons and stuff by JD Crowe

JD Crowe is the cartoonist for Alabama Media Group and AL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award for local and state cartoons by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix. Give him a holler @[email protected].

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