Res ipsa loquitur

Former congressman James Oberstar passed away yesterday. He had a very long career in Washington, and we'll leave it at that. So has Vin Weber, a one-time colleague of Oberstar who has long been a big-time player in Republican circles, both in Minnesota and nationally. Writing for the Washington Post, former Stribber Tom Hamburger turned up some highly useful information:

“[Oberstar] was the leading infrastructure expert of our time,” said Vin Weber, a former Republican congressman from Minnesota who served with Mr. Oberstar and developed a friendship despite partisan differences.

Weber, like other friends of Mr. Oberstar, was stunned at the congressman’s death because he had been in good health and was an avid bicyclist. Mr. Oberstar apparently died in his sleep with no warning, friends said.

Weber recalled that Mr. Oberstar was held in high regard by Republicans because he sought to keep issues before the Transportation Committee free of partisan rancor. Weber, a leading conservative, bought a house in Mr. Oberstar’s district and confessed that the pro-labor Democrat won his support.

“My wife and I usually voted for him,” Weber said. Mr. Oberstar was elected to 18 successive terms.

If you wonder why so many people want to take a fire hose to Washington, DC, there is your answer.