Jindal turns down $300 million in stimulus funds for high-speed rail.
Jindal turns down $300 million in stimulus funds for high-speed rail.
In response to President Obama’s national address in February, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal pointedly went after stimulus funding for high-speed rail projects as “wasteful spending.” But in August, state officials began drafting plans to request $300 million in stimulus funds to develop a high-speed rail between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. An official in the state Department of Transportation and Development called the project “a very valuable economic incubator.” The plan had the backing of Louisiana legislators such as Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao (R), who was pressing Jindal to request the money. Jindal, however, let the midnight Friday deadline pass, allowing his right-wing ideology to win out:
Jindal aides have said the administration is not applying because of concerns about the project’s ongoing costs. They said the state would incur an annual $18 million bill to run the rail system once it became operational. [...]
But U.S. Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao, R-New Orleans, on Friday called on Jindal to apply for the money. Since all U.S. taxpayers will foot the bill for the stimulus spending, Cao said, the state’s elected officials should see that Louisiana gets its fair share. “It’s our duty to obtain as much as we can to rebuild this region,” Cao said at a news conference at his city’s train station.
He acknowledged “a real concern” about the state’s responsibility for paying the annual costs, but said the overall project would be “an $180 million win for the state of Louisiana.”
Earlier on Friday, Cao had still been optimistic that Jindal would file application for the funding, which was all ready to go. “We’re counting on his leadership in this goal to go beyond any party lines and do what’s right for Louisiana,” Cao said.
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Obviously Bobby Jindal hates America. And he hates Louisiana most of all.
October 3rd, 2009 at 6:57 pmJindal has put party first before his constituents. Very sad.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:01 pmThe mere fact that this goober can claim mass transit is “wasteful spending” confirms his utter lack of a single clue. Of course, any objective observer who has heard him speak knew that already.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:06 pmLets hope the GOP run some crazy ticket like Jindal/Palin or Romney/Jindal in 2012. It will be like the 1972 election in reverse.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:06 pmBobby Jindal pointedly went after stimulus funding for Interstate road projects as “wasteful spending.”
I am sure he would have told Eisenhower to take a hike too.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:15 pmJindal did do what’s “Right” for Louisiana. Unfortunately and as always, doing things the “Right” (wing’s) way is invariably wrong for the people.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:20 pmFirst state to third world status wins!
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:20 pmWhat do the people of LA think of Jindal and his turning down stimulus money and then passing out checks from stimulus money and taking credit for it?
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:23 pmThey said the state would incur an annual $18 million bill to run the rail system once it became operational. [...]
– - Jondal must be a Socialist because one of the tenets of Capitalism, which he apparently is unfamiliar with, is that to make money you have to spend money.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:23 pm- – Ummm, Jindal, too.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:23 pmHis concern for the citizens of Louisiana as well as for the environment is so overwhelming that I have been brought to (crocodile) tears.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:28 pmCmon now, we all know Bobby J dont want know train when he can fly around in a helicopter.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:28 pmGood; now let’s put that saved money toward health care for the American people.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:29 pmCan’t let what Katrina/GNOP did be in any way reversed.
Keep the down and out down and continue looking at the oil and real estate.
What a b@stard.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:29 pmHigh speed rail is wasteful? I can’t think of a corridor that’s been built anywhere in the world that hasn’t been a huge benefit to the local economy.
Methinks somebody’s grandstanding on a 2012 long shot. Me-also-thinks that playing “craps” with politics inevitably leads to failure.
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Hrundi V. Bakshi says:
I find your schtick racist and… well, racist in multiple ways, actually. Please re-register and try another approach, ‘k? Thx.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:30 pmHe is stupider than he looks, and he looks like a creep and a moron. Does he or doesn’t he know that he is just another Repub “token” dark skinned person?
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:31 pmChina has the Fastest Trains in the world…and they are set to Clean our Clock by embracing Green Technolgies.
If we don’t get serious…. and realize that there are Economic Reasons for embracing Alternative Energy…then the solar panels and high speed trains and electric Cars we need will be Made in China by Chinese Workers…
and we’ll have to Borrow and Buy them.
Most of the Leaders of China are engineers. And their System does not have Political Road blocking systems like those Now halting progress in our Congress.
America needs a Huge Dose of 21st Century thinking.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:32 pmElBruce, I think Hrundi’s kind of cute :)
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:34 pmJindal is making a principled stand in the name of fiscal conservatism.
But wait, did the country’s economy take a noise dive based on conservative fiscal principles?
I wonder if the principles of Jindals’ are new found conservative principles.
These Republicans are confounding; you wonder if they have any principles at all?
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:39 pmRepublicans are the exact opposite of fiscal conservatives. Whenever a Republicans claims to be fiscally conservative, they are lying.
Of course, when a Republican claims to be a compassionate conservative they are lying. When they claim to be supporters of the right to life, they are lying. When they claim to represent the people, they are lying.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:43 pmOh come now, don’t tell me he couldn’t figure out how to convert that stimulus grant into a giant check with his name
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:44 pmon it !
Jindal to Cao: “Screw Loosiana! I can’t run for President on the Wingnut ticket if I ask for tax money to be spent here. How would that look to the fiscally irresonsible CONservatives who’s asses I kiss daily?”
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:47 pmWTF? Were the h3ll does Cao come off telling Jindal to spend stimulus $$ when Cao VOTED AGAINST THE BILL!
Cao district should not be allowed to get any stimulus $$ since he voted against it.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:53 pmYou GO Droopy Dawg!
You make yourself look as freak’n STOOPID as possible!
Screw the people of your state…It’s more important that you stand on the rotten pile of crapola, called the Rushpub Principles! YUPPERS! The Hell with the People and YES to the Party of No!
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:59 pmRepublicans hate job creation. This is why every time our nation has a republican in the White House our nation loses tons of them and then we find it’s difficult for a Democratic President to gain them back, because the damage to our country was extraordinary under a republican to begin with!
Remember this when you head to the polls next year.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:03 pmThe sad fact is that Jindal is playing politics for no good reason. He had his moment in the spotlight and came off as a dullard. Even that pompous ass, David Brooks, was groaning.
I haven’t seen enough from the screeching heads to think that anyone, even among the Reichwhiners, believes his national political career will last beyond the few minutes he had and squandered. His only role on the national stage is to obstruct and sabotage any efforts by the federal government in Louisiana. It’s past time for the Democratic party to call out state and local Republicans who are doing all in their means to thwart the President and Congressional Dems.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:05 pmSP Biloxi says:
Jindal has put party first before his constituents. Very sad.
What else is new? If the governor of a state which has suffered the greatest disaster of the 21st century is going to mock volcano monitoring, then he doesn’t give a crap who dies due to natural disasters. That’s his position and he’s sticking to it.
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WillowOrchid says:
Does he or doesn’t he know that he is just another Repub “token” dark skinned person?
Hey, if they think that Sarah Palin (a female) was an acceptable substitute for Hillary Clinton(a female), then they probably also think that Bobby Jindal (a light-brown skinny guy with a funny name) is an acceptable substitute for Barack Obama (a light-brown skinny guy with a funny name).
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mk3872 says:
WTF? Were the h3ll does Cao come off telling Jindal to spend stimulus $$ when Cao VOTED AGAINST THE BILL!
Cao district should not be allowed to get any stimulus $$ since he voted against it.
Cao’s just Jindal’s Louisiana/GOP/ethnic understudy. And he knows it.
Does anybody else find it odd that Louisiana of all places can’t actually find an actual African-American to represent them on the Republican side of the aisle?
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hayley joe guevara says:
It’s clear that Jindal’s aim is for the White House.
Well he damn well better go for it then, because I have a very strong feeling that Louisiana isn’t going to put up with his crap for another term.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:07 pmThe deep south’s job is to preserve the old days. As governor, he’s keeping the Heat of the Night state in good hands. He’s doing his job.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:07 pmWhy has ElBruce been voted down at 17. What has anyone got against the truth that he spoke there?
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:10 pmSurely by now Cao must be wondering why the hell he’s got an R
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:10 pmafter his name.
The most important thing we can do to compete with other countries is to revive the Bush economy. The nation needs more hedge fund managers and financial advisors to compete with other stock markets. I recommend Obami go on a national push to encourage our youth to enroll in business school programs and abandon the liberal arts, ambulance chasing & medicine.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:11 pmFor 2010 the Democrats need, really need to keep a list of all the things the republicans are doing to deprive their constituents of jobs, money, health care, etc., and ram them down their throats in campaign ad after campaign ad – if only to counter the all-out blitz that Faux and “friends” will be putting on for the GOP.
The repubs have shown time and time again that they are willing to play dirty, lie, cheat, and distort whenever they can in order to win – it is in the Democrats best intrests to do nothing more than tell the simple truth, and expose these tactics. The republican base may not be above falling for the repub slime, but the average Ameican is quite capable of parsing the lies.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:12 pmI was working with a group of engineers from China. They ask the question “Do I believe the United States really put a man on the moon”? I had to do a double take but answered yes we did, I was there to see it. They shook their heads and ask what happened to the United States? I answered our leaders quit dreaming, quit planning and the only thing that counted was making money. Strangely they smiled and agreed.
Jindal’s approach is to insure the United States becomes a second rate society. This is contrary to the conservative’s theory of American exceptionalism.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:14 pmJindal’s a moron. Way to keep the U.S. behind the rest of the industrialized world. What an idiot. The people of LA can’t really re-elect this lapdog can they?
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:15 pmBlaidd Drwg
The commoners are free to do whatever they choose. But if they ask us, we are going to say NO.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:15 pmSurely Cao knew that Jindal would turn his back on Louisiana when his presidential ambitions were on the line. Pawlenty in Minnesota is also turning his back on his State for the same reason. There is no honor when presidential politics is in the air. Not for Republicans.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:17 pmBlaidd Drwg says:
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Love the name!
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:21 pmPresident Pawlenty
President Pawlenty
(yuuuuck!)
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:24 pmHayley #27
I like the Army of Darkness reference. Good job.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:36 pmLouisbananna
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:41 pmPawlenty, Jindal, Palin and Sanford; the list of Republican governors keeps growing who betray their states.
Looks like the Republican strategy to win state governorships?
Turning your back on your constituency. Not good for the country, the states or the Republican Party.
Remember, all politics are local.
Looks like Carl Rove is doing the planning again!
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:49 pmWhat the GOP REALLY means … says:
The most important thing we can do to compete with other countries is to revive the Bush economy. The nation needs more hedge fund managers and financial advisors to compete with other stock markets.
You know what, if America could punk the rest of the world the way that Wall Street punked us, I’d consider throwing in on the grifter side.
… for about a second. But I’d still consider it. ; )
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hayley joe guevara says:
It’s clear that Jindal’s aim is for the White House. But as Rachel Maddow points out here he’ll have his work cut out for him against “Tiny Tim” Pawlenty’s army of darkness.
The guy who refused to sign his Senator’s election certificate after the recount was officially completed, waiting until all court challenges were exhausted? Yeah, I think we got his number.
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flight says:
I was working with a group of engineers from China. They ask the question “Do I believe the United States really put a man on the moon”? I had to do a double take but answered yes we did, I was there to see it. They shook their heads and ask what happened to the United States? I answered our leaders quit dreaming, quit planning and the only thing that counted was making money. Strangely they smiled and agreed.
Hey, their granddads marched clear across the largest continent on the planet to overthrow the (by far) oldest empire on the planet, in the name of the peasantry. Now, one may or may not agree with what they did, but it’s about an equivalent accomplishment.
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DallasNE says:
Surely Cao knew that Jindal would turn his back on Louisiana when his presidential ambitions were on the line.
Of course. If it were Cao’s turn on deck to take the national spotlight, he’d probaly do the same.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:53 pmAmericans are learning you can’t trust Republicans with the Presidency. You can’t trust them as Congressmen or Senators. You can’t trust them as Governers.
Long story short, you just can’t trust a Republican in anything, ever.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:54 pmMy God! Why do the GOP insist on moving backwards? Every innovated idea, any progressive thought is shot down! We NEED to update our systems! We NEED greener and better alternatives! Christ! Our bridges, our roads, our infrastructure is falling apart! No wonder the World thinks we are idiots. THEY have been investing and upgrading their countries, while WE have Global Warming denyers who would rather let the Country turn to dust! WTF? And if the people of Louisana vote for this guy again? Well, what can I say? You get what you vote for.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:58 pmAnother Jindal tantrum. Oh my. Can’t see the forest for the trees.
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:16 pmLets see…$18M cost to run a super cool super railway (REAL JOBS!) [i]between Baton Rouge and New Orlean[/i] it could be a $180m bonanza for the state. And he says no.
bobby can count.
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:30 pmThe thing I keep thinking is, how can he think he’s positioning himself for anything? He keeps throwing his own constituents under the bus while making himself look like a fool on the national stage. In many ways, this is Palin all over again – you can’t capture the Presidency from a governorship if you’re being a crappy governor. Why can’t they see this?
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P.D. says:
Our bridges, our roads, our infrastructure is falling apart!
I’ll give you this tip for free: in the 21st century, how people move from place to place is going to be the key issue. It goes into growth boundaries, development zoning, sprawl, travel lanes, light rail, high-speed rail, subways, buses, taxis, everything – local/regional location and transportation will be the central issue of the next stage of the American economy. Bullet trains will be the new interstate highway system. Somebody oughtta dust off Joe Biden and get him on this stuff.
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:31 pmSeems like the petroleum industry so firmly entrenched on the Louisiana Gulf Coast could help support the high speed rail line project.
Oh, wait…
Never mind.
“Gov. Jindal? Sorry to interrupt your dinner, but you have a call. Shall I have them call back later?”
“Who is it?”
“Delta Drilling and Refining.”
“I’ll take it!”
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:39 pmHrundi come back, we miss you!
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:50 pmJindal is just another sissy boy RePugniScum trying to act tough.
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:51 pmWhat the GOP REALLY means … says:
The deep south’s job is to preserve the old days. As governor, he’s keeping the Heat of the Night state in good hands. He’s doing his job.
bobby old days were when East Indians were colonized.
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:56 pmHow fond a memory does he have?
Jindal just wanted to create his very own, “I said thanks but not thanks” issue. Sarah Palin is his idol.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:06 pmMacaca much?
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:18 pmThere is no way in h*ll that jindal can ask for that money now. He knows it will be a great benifit to his state to get the railway,but he already told Obama thanks but no thanks.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:19 pmJindal is to afraid to say yes and then having to answer to his boss limpolard.
bobby old days were when East Indians were colonized.
How fond a memory does he have?
The memory we want him to have, and which he whole heartedly accepts. General Custer was a demlib and Obami is already the cause of several pending divorces in my pro-family neighborhood. He is destroying the snuggle fabric of this country. The libs will not stop until every stepford wife is husbandless and has their genes rearranged to be lezbo.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:25 pmGnarmuchakingdombrelatepasadurklemmshrabbatinkling says:
I don’t think much of what you said, but whatever you do, don’t clear your browser cache if you ever want to log in again!
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Shayne says:
Jindal just wanted to create his very own, “I said thanks but not thanks” issue. Sarah Palin is his idol.
It does seem like he was looking very carefully at her 2008 GOP nomination reception, and has some kind of parallel playbook based on Palin politics. He should probably take note of the fact that she lost before he goes any further.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:28 pmGnarmuchakingdombrelatepasadurklemmshrabbatinkling says:
Good call from Jindal. We don’t need $300 million to go to “high-speed rail”. The public gets around just find using buses and other forms of transportation.
David Vitter rails ‘em at high-speed.
HA HA HA
HURK HURK HURK
HORK HORK HORK
HEE HEE HEE
HAR HAR HAR!
(The ladies love my laugh.)
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:29 pmGnarmuchakingdombrelatepasadurklemmshrabbatinkling says:
Jindal is a libs worst nightmare, a smart minority that’s republican.
I have yet to see him say or do anything that could be characterized as “smart.” But I’ll keep an open mind, if he keeps talking.
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Gnarmuchakingdombrelatepasadurklemmshrabbatinkling says:
Now the libs can’t play the race card and say bobbeh is a racist for not accepting that stolen stimulus money.
Nobody ever said anybody was a racist for not accepting stimulus money.
Wait – stolen? What? From where? By who? Huh?
A black guy gives you money and it has to be “stolen?”
Racist!
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:32 pmGnarmuchakingdombrelatepasadurklemmshrabbatinkling said,
You know, I have seen the wingnuts put a lot of different names up for 2012, and none of them have a snowball’s chance in hell of ever beating Obama.
It is so entertaining to watch the fascist Republican propagandists try to bail while the conservative ship sinks.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:35 pmJindal/Kenneth The Page 2012!
Say, I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting lately.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:39 pmOne of the reasons we have been falling behind the rest of the world for decades is our stubborn insistence on starving mass transit. Most people abroad are not forced to fire up a 5,000 lb. SUV to go to work. We simply waste much more of our resources on cars and mostly it’s just pure contrariness.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:41 pmGnarmuchakingdombrelatepasadurklemmshrabbatinkling says:
Jindal/romney 2012
1. Romney wouldn’t take a back seat to Jindal. He earned the top spot with a strong showing in the 2008 primary.
2. Sounds great to me, let’s do it.
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Gnarmuchakingdombrelatepasadurklemmshrabbatinkling says:
Bobby Jindal for president
we need somebody that’s halfway decent!
From what I’ve heard so far, that sounds like an exactly perfect description of the man.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:41 pm67, You’re alone. You’re drunk.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:43 pmMy party is so desperate to draw up democrats as weak-on-defense, that we’ll force feed that narrative down people’s throats if their time in power doesn’t produce the anti-military sentiment we desire, to bolster our own prospects at power.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:45 pm#19 Actually China is buying 80 high speed trains from Bombardier, a Cdn company, albeit in a joint venture with China. Bombardier has an expertise in Aircraft,and general transportation systems; subway cars etc.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/09/china-buys-80-high-speed-trains-from-bombardier-4-billion.php
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:45 pmChildish.
It’s the best one word description for the rabid fringe of the American right. I simply can’t recall the last time I’ve witnessed adult behavior from any GOoPer. Who would have guessed, not so long ago, that the GOP would become a daycare center for tantrum throwing toddlers?
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:45 pmJindal smart? If jindal was smart he would have taken the stimulous money. Why dont you go ask the unemployed peole in LA if they think hes smart. How many people do you think are suffering right now because their unemployment benifits ran out in LA. Jindal did not care about those people, he just wanted to say no to Obama like the rest of the repugs. If I lived in LA and my UC benifits were cut off because of jindal and I had to see my children go to bed hungry because of him.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:46 pmI can gaurantee jindal would not have to be worried about running for relection. He wouldnt have to be worried about anything anymore.
Skip57 says:
#19 Actually China is buying 80 high speed trains from Bombardier, a Cdn company, albeit in a joint venture with China. Bombardier has an expertise in Aircraft…
I bet we could get Boeing to build high-speed trains, if there were any demand for them in the U.S… (snooze)
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:48 pmYes, we in the republican party love the Army so much we pay mercenaries several times what an E-4 makes to do half the job.
Remember, libs, you’re weak-on-defense if you’re not clunking up the Pentagon with civilians.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:48 pmI might add that, on my one visit to Europe back in the late ’70s, the mass transit systems in Europe were already a wonder to behold. We hit five countries in two weeks and never once had to rent a car, hire a cab, or walk more than a few blocks. The rest was trains and buses.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:49 pmOf course, the sad part is that the entire American right is the rabid fringe nowadays. Everyone but the extremists have left.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:50 pmClaudine Longet says:
67, You’re alone. You’re drunk.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:43 pm
You left out “And you’re an idiot.”
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:51 pmLooky here what I found for the Republican party, a mynurtity!!!
Scared, libs?
BOO!
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:51 pmJindal aides have said the administration is not applying because of concerns about the project’s ongoing costs. They said the state would incur an annual $18 million bill to run the rail system once it became operational. [...]
HaHA! what dumbasses!
The rest of the civilized world is moving onto highspeed rail.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:55 pmThese losers will be riding buses when gas goes back up to $4/gal.
Ever taken a long ride on a bus?
Not a pleasant experience.
The Neo Confederate States of America are halfway to being a third world country and they’re trying their hardest to go all the way.
You know, off-topic, but it looked like the 50s candidate for Va. governor, spit-shined and ready-to-go, was going to handily beat that cree deeds fella, but now he could narrowly lose.
Damnit. I’m tired of living in the 21st century.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:55 pmMommy! Mommy! Mommy!
Too funny.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:57 pm81, Jane this is not an intervention. I don’t want to help him. If you must know both he and GOP (and maybe EB too) are twajie. If he’s going to o.d. then it’s up to 911 to take care of him. We can’t help him.
Rick you’re a sad case. I wish reggie were here.
To push you over the edge.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:00 pmI’m not taking the time to read that shit. You’re out of your troll-laden f ucking mind. On the other hand, that is your mind.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:02 pm91, Let’s get a face to go with that.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:02 pm93, Nice dodge Rick. He’s all yours.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:03 pmSo using tens of thousands of dollars in tax-payer money to fly around in helicopters to attend mass is ok with this guy, but using tax-payer money to create jobs and stimulate economic growth is socialism? I just don’t get it.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:06 pmIf you must know both he and GOP (and maybe EB too) are twajie.
If you must know, you’re a newcomer and you’ve got you’re facts wrong. Thanks for playing. G’night.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:07 pmThe French have always believed that Americans are idiots. I was working on a product support job for a particular machine for a large computer manufacturer when problems arose in machines in the European sector. These machines did not exhibit the same problem in the same machines supported from the USA, Japan or Latin America. After a two week pissing contest where I asked that the French receive a new transmission of the last engineering change, the French stood firm in refusing to do so.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:10 pmI got pissed off and asked the French liaison to arrange for the transmission of a single module that seemed to be the root of the problem in Europe. I found that that particular module lacked about 2048 bytes of code and data. I sent a copy of the release module to French support and asked for them to try it on a customer machine – the problem disappeared.
The first reaction of the French support team was how’d-ya-do-dat? The second reaction was that we must supply a “fix” in order to save face on their part. We in the US just told them to accept a re-transmission of the engineering change which had been truncated by a JCL error on their end.
#89 and 91,
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:14 pmFlagged for blatant racism and for being a plagerist. Begone, Troll.
What the GOP REALLY means … says:
HA HA HA
HURK HURK HURK
HORK HORK HORK
HEE HEE HEE
HAR HAR HAR!
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Ohhhh baby…
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:15 pmsscncturn64, hope your surgery went well and that your feeling better.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:19 pmSteppenwolf Freebird says:
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:22 pm
GOP is not Trahan, he’s a gifted parody troll.
The other thing is just voted down racist scum.
Thanks anyway.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:26 pmFLAG THE RACIST!
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:27 pmClaudine Longet says:
If you must know both he and GOP (and maybe EB too) are twajie.
I’m maybe twajie? Holy crap, I’m going to go in the corner for a while and have an existential crisis.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:28 pmAwwwww, no one ever thinks I’m Trahan…. **pout**
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:30 pmSyd Barrett
Another newcomer. Off-character, I have to acknowledge this “twaje” obsession is utterly ridiculous.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:30 pmWhat the GOP REALLY means … says:
Off-character, I have to acknowledge this “twaje” obsession is utterly ridiculous.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Dude, you’re making me dizzy here…
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:31 pmClaudine Longet says:
67, You’re alone. You’re drunk.
Ha! Shows what you know, young lady. It is I who am drunk!
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Shayne says:
FLAG THE RACIST!
The racist obviously hijacked the account of a troll, and is trolling the troll (see posts 83 – 86). Perhaps the troll-troll thinks they’re doing us a favor by painting the orignal troll as a racist troll, but all we get is trolling squared.
But of course, iFlag. The mods will be in first thing Monday morning to clean this mess up. : \
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:32 pmGoing down thru the comments.
Who spiked the cool aid and with what?
I think they saw god!
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:35 pmGnarmuchakingdombrelatepasadurklemmshrabbatinkling
(I guess you don’t think people can just copy and paste your user name, eh?)
What a load of bile that you spew. I’m not going to address your load of crap, but instead ask you a simple question…
Between 2001 and 2007, 40,000 factories closed in the United States. The jobs went to China and Indonesia and Thailand and India. Hell even computer service call center went to India. Now Last time I checked most corporations are not run by many people with a darker skinned pigmentation than you.
If you want to point the finger of blame at anyone, you might consider the multi-national corporations that do not care a whit about Americans. They only care about making a profit.
And Republicans have thought that destroying the middle class was the means to prosperity. In a way, it is, but only for the very very few. The top 1% make more money than the lower 95%. Do you think that you will ever reach that status? Not bloody likely. The only way to restoring America to its former glory is to restore the middle class.
And yet you keep voting against your own best interest. Spinning in your hate and blaming it on political correctness is no way to live, kid. I seem to remember something about the golden rule and treating others as you would have them treat you. I don’t think that was only to be applied to people with a lack of pigmentation in their skin.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:36 pmI enjoyed Professor Duke’s screed. It was awesome. Where does he teach, again?
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:36 pmClaudine Longet is hayley joe guevara. Somebody’s playing account games with us tonight.
.
Zooey says:
Awwwww, no one ever thinks I’m Trahan…. **pout**
My God… That explaines everything! I’ve solved TP!
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:37 pmZooey = Trahan
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:38 pmThis whole dillemma is solved. Zooey is Twaje. I knew she wore bisexual clothing.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:41 pmElBruce says:
My God… That explaines everything! I’ve solved TP!
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:37 pm
What the GOP REALLY means … says:
Zooey = Trahan
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:38 pm
My life is complete. I’m Trahan!
**doing the Latin Kings dance**
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:43 pm“Claudine Longet”
With a name like the clarinet teacher I never had, it’s got to be good.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:44 pmRats. I left out my question. Never mind.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:45 pmHoozhooheerhuh?
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:47 pmHey Claudine — how’s Andy these days?
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:48 pmnoseeum says:
Hoozhooheerhuh?
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:47 pm
I’m Trajan tonight. You can have a turn tomorrow night.
Now….I have to get back to counting my money from my bag boy job, and find the key to my gated community…
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:52 pmExcuse me if I’m light on posting, I’m trying to figure out a good way for the republican to steal the Va guv election. The toughest part is actually getting the campaign to talk to a peasant like me. Pay-to-say, you know?
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:54 pm@102 Shayne, It did, Thankyou.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:57 pmTrajan, you’re going to need a lot more than a key to get into Latin HQs.
(Good night, Zooey!)
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:57 pmWhat the GOP REALLY means … says:
“The toughest part is actually getting the campaign to talk to a peasant like me. Pay-to-say, you know?”
Find out the schedule of the opposition candidate, then show up in the neighborhood he’s working, and tell him your a poor starving plumber trying to buy the business.
No, wait, plumber’s been done…
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:59 pmtry posing as an electrician…
Find out the schedule of the opposition candidate, then show up in the neighborhood he’s working, and tell him your a poor starving plumber trying to buy the business.
Yes! And I can call out the demlib for his mythical proposal to take away the sofa change I plan to use to buy the business. Thieves, those demlibs. Bob McDonnell will love me then.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:03 amWhich town in America is the most pro-American place to celebrate the holidays? Christmas is coming up and I don’t want to be at war.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:07 amyou all voted down AND flagged that waste of bandwidth, right?
well, just guessing…
October 4th, 2009 at 12:07 ami prefer LINKS to long reads, not taking up space here…
even_flow says:
Zooey, don’t forget your friend ElBruce got w_cleon_skousen banned.
I did what who now? Awesome!
October 4th, 2009 at 12:08 amWHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE
by Pete Seeger
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the flowers gone?
Girls have picked them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young girls gone?
Taken husbands every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone for soldiers every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Covered with flowers every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?
There’s too much cynicism here tonight.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:09 amWhat the GOP REALLY means … says:
“Yes! And I can call out the demlib for his mythical proposal to take away the sofa change I plan to use to buy the business.”
Avoid a wardrobe of unkempt baggy sweatshirts and anything plaid, and you may get somewhere.
And no overseas trips.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:10 amyes, you did… thank you… i’m a slow reader tonight…
SNL on… is lady ga ga supposed to be attractive?
October 4th, 2009 at 12:11 amum…
even_flow says:
Zooey, don’t forget your friend ElBruce got w_cleon_skousen banned. He was a parody troll too. Something to think about.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:01 am
How did ElBruce accomplish such a thing all by himself?
October 4th, 2009 at 12:11 amMary Travers, R.I.P.
Go ahead and laugh ElBruce.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:12 amElBruce says:
I did what who now? Awesome!
You plot attacks!
October 4th, 2009 at 12:13 amPeter, Paul and Mary says:
Mary Travers, R.I.P.
Go ahead and laugh ElBruce.
I’m getting the impression that El Bruce is the root of all evil.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:14 amHey, no one told me it was “Pick on ElBruce Night.”
ElBruce, you are a boogerhead!
October 4th, 2009 at 12:14 amAvoid a wardrobe of unkempt baggy sweatshirts and anything plaid, and you may get somewhere.
And no overseas trips.
I’m not eating no Iraqi food.
What if I’m talking to Cree Deeds and he pats me on the shoulder as I’m ranting? Do I temper my words out of appreciation or stay the course?
October 4th, 2009 at 12:16 amEl Bruce sucked the medicinal power out of that tube of Preparation H I so badly needed.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:18 am“What if I’m talking to Cree Deeds and he pats me on the shoulder as I’m ranting? Do I temper my words out of appreciation or stay the course?”
Simply follow the tempo of his pats on your shoulder.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:20 amEva Destruction says:
Why don’t you ask Hrundi? Heard from him lately?
All he wanted was a friend.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:19 am
Why don’t you settle on one name and get over it?
October 4th, 2009 at 12:23 amEva Destruction says:
“Why don’t you ask Hrundi? Heard from him lately?”
I’m guessing he’s still at the store.
It’s Saturday night…
“I’ll have a glazed donut,
October 4th, 2009 at 12:24 amand a bottle of anything…
TO GO!”
noseeum says:
Simply follow the tempo of his pats on your shoulder.
So the solution is to hum as I talk!
McDonnell campaign: Come on board, peasant!
October 4th, 2009 at 12:24 amAre you looking for a friend, Eva?
I know someone you might get along with, her name is
October 4th, 2009 at 12:26 amBella Konfusion.
***
i agree with eva. smack is smack. and smacking
down an immigrant american who only wanted to
express his love for his adopted country is wrong.
i’m sending out a message to hrundi and asking him
to be brave and to come back. don’t listen to the cynics,
hrundi, you are welcome in your new homeland.
**
October 4th, 2009 at 12:26 amI’m spending my time here as opposed to my usual late night routine of re-reading Ann Coulter books and playing Monopoly with myself. Then I sleep with my rubber chicken. And I hawk it.
Be more appreciative, libs.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:27 amClaudine Longet
Joe Cantwell rip-off.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:29 amYou’re a chickenhawk-er, then?
October 4th, 2009 at 12:30 amnoseeum says:
You’re a chickenhawk-er, then?
No, sir! There’s no such thing as a chickenhawk. Hawking the chicken is more like a midnight habit. All military action is good. Whether you’re two feet away from a boobie trap or eating skittles in front of the big screen, it’s natural and ok to love combat.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:34 amClaudine Longet
I heard that.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:35 amSo you libs take off and expect me to fight your wars. Typical chickenhawks.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:36 amAwwwww, GOP misses us when we’re gone…
October 4th, 2009 at 12:39 amCome back, mummy! Come baaack!
October 4th, 2009 at 12:40 amHug your chicken tighter…
October 4th, 2009 at 12:43 amIt’s late and I’m going out for a hummer. I don’t expect the government to pay for it unlike some of you (yes, YOU) libs. *nudge*
I’ll have the keys in no time.
You didn’t think that’s what I meant, did you?
October 4th, 2009 at 12:44 amI will hug my chicken tigher, miss thang. It’s my very best friend.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:46 amWhat the GOP REALLY means … says:
“I’ll have the keys in no time.”
Here’s a tip to hasten your return…
October 4th, 2009 at 12:46 amThe average hummer owner hides them in the spare tire carrier on the back gate.
Jindal makes me long for the days when Edwin “Fast Eddie” Edwards was governor of Louisiana. Yeah he was a crook but, at least when he was governor things got done and Louisiana prospered.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:48 amI wonder if it’s possible for a great GOOPER to actually be kind to a librul. If so, you coulda fooled me.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:50 amWhat the GOP REALLY means … says:
“You didn’t think that’s what I meant, did you?”
We rarely think about what your words mean.
October 4th, 2009 at 12:57 amHigh speed-rail is a threat to teabagger conservatism. As is literacy. They like their new Dark Age.
October 4th, 2009 at 1:02 am.
Shorter Jindahl:
.
October 4th, 2009 at 1:56 amFrom the blogpost;
“Jindal aides have said the administration is not applying because of concerns about the project’s ongoing costs. They said the state would incur an annual $18 million bill to run the rail system once it became operational. [...]”
Dang. Yeah. That would be $18 million a year going into payroll, infrastructure, operations and maintenance, instead of bribes, kickbacks and greasing palms. Cain’t have that. No sirree, Bobby Jindal.
October 4th, 2009 at 2:03 amOK, it looks like I’m on the verge of being found out. So, rather than leave my unveiling in the control of others, I’m going to man up and break the news right now.
You, who are reading this?
I am everybody else here.
That’s right. I’m the smart guys, the dumb ones, the nice ones, the mean ones. I’m the all the trolls and the all the attack dogs. I’m the concern trolls and the drive-by’s. I’m the textwall posters, the longtimers and the newbies as well.
The ThinkProgress comments section has been run as a web community simulation designed to make you believe that it’s actually a conglomerate of people. Actually it was just me the whole time.
You were the only other person here.
Tomorrow morning, I’m going to go back to pretending. I’m going to go back to arguing with myself for your benefit. This account (ElBruce) is going to go back to its usual conglomerate of snark and links, and I’ll deny this post, even if you link it. Heck, I’ll probably argue with myself over the fact that I just posted it, with some denying it and some supporting it. I’ll start all of the other accounts up and we’re going to run as normal according to the personality profiles I’ve developed for each.
And you know what the freaky thing is?
Even after I’ve told you this, even though you know it, you’re still going to treat each account as if it were an individual person. Because that’s just how you humans work. Even when you know that these aren’t people you’re dealing with, it’s still more comfortable to believe they are anyway, so you do.
See ya in the morning!
:)
October 4th, 2009 at 2:26 amyou guys, maybe he is afraid of high speed socialism that will bring muslim-nazi-fascism four to six times the speed of ordinary rail.
I wonder how long the great people of Louisiana will tolerate the governor putting a bureaucrat between them and their tax dollars?
October 4th, 2009 at 2:40 amwoah bruce you are freaking us out. Am I real?
October 4th, 2009 at 2:42 amWhat do the people of LA think of Jindal and his turning down stimulus money and then passing out checks from stimulus money and taking credit for it?
October 4th, 2009 at 3:04 amGnarmuchakingdombrelatepasadurklemmshrabbatinkling @ 80:
For pity’s sake…boys and girls, can you say “racist ranting”?
“Do you think I really hate black people?”
“Yeah.”
“Have I done anything to make you feel this way? How do you know?”
“You just do.”
“Why do you say that?”
Actually, from where I’m sitting, the reason why he thought and said that seems incredibly obvious to me based on the diatribe posted earlier…
October 4th, 2009 at 3:43 amSoutherners really would kill themselves before they accept anything from a black guy.
October 4th, 2009 at 4:52 amOops…should be Gnarmuchakingdombrelatepasadurklemmshrabbatinkling @ 86
Actually, the combination of racist posts with others shortly thereafter under the same name denying all responsibility plus the odd formatting of the racist posts (suggesting that they were merely copied-and-pasted from elsewhere) leads me to suspect that this person’s merely a flame-baiter who’s doing this purely for the sake of attention and is trying to play manipulative mind games for his — or her, although it seems unlikely — own skewed sense of amusement.
In short, if this troll appears again, he shouldn’t be fed — just voted down and flagged.
October 4th, 2009 at 5:00 amAt least Jindal is sticking to his principles, which is a rare sight amongst Republicans.
The fact that those principles have been completely discredited is another matter.
October 4th, 2009 at 5:46 amAny stimulus money turned down by a right wing governor should be sent to the state of California. The End.
October 4th, 2009 at 7:54 amELBruce really isn’t Politically Superior….
October 4th, 2009 at 9:21 amI’m as progressive as the next guy, but I’ll ask for a little consistency here: TP has hit Republican senators and governors in the past for hypocrisy, for speaking out against stimulus funding and then accepting it for their state. Bobby Jindal, whether you agree with his politics or not, spoke out against stimulus funding and then didn’t actually go for some of it. There ought to be some recognition that even if Jindal’s wrong, he’s being straightforward about it, unlike a lot of other Republicans.
October 4th, 2009 at 10:29 amNice try fella. The only problem is the large group of us that are true progressives but work out of the luxury offices George Soros provides for us and spend the big fat checks and receive the perks he gives us. Champagne flows freely to wash down our caviar and we all have the latest Apple computers which is a huge draw. So you may be the only guy not on the payroll posting but the rest of us have met each other and know we exist. ;)
October 4th, 2009 at 11:08 amNo you’re not.
October 4th, 2009 at 11:08 amSo, elBruce, do you remember all the words to “A Bicycle Built For Two”?
October 4th, 2009 at 11:11 amElBruce says:
“Even after I’ve told you this, even though you know it, you’re still going to treat each account as if it were an individual person. Because that’s just how you humans work. Even when you know that these aren’t people you’re dealing with, it’s still more comfortable to believe they are anyway, so you do.”
Sure are a lot of “yous” in this statement..
October 4th, 2009 at 12:11 pmAre you people getting this?
;)
@ 168. ElBruce says: OK, it looks like I’m on the verge of being found out. … You, who are reading this? I am everybody else here. That’s right. I’m the smart guys, the dumb ones, the nice ones, the mean ones. I’m the all the trolls and the all … The ThinkProgress comments section has been run as a web community simulation designed to make you believe that it’s actually a conglomerate of people. Actually it was just me the whole time. You were the only other person here. Tomorrow morning, I’m going to go back to pretending. I’m going to go back to arguing with myself for your benefit. This account (ElBruce) is going to go back to its usual conglomerate of snark and links, and I’ll deny this post… See ya in the morning! :) October 4th, 2009 at 2:26 am
ElBruce strikes another blow for solipcism. Maybe. I’d be him too, but I’m back to myself now. Whew. Had me worried about the rest of us, or all of you, there, for a minute or two. Don’t tell the trolls though. They already have self-esteem problems.
October 4th, 2009 at 1:35 pm@ 178. RSA says: I’m as progressive as the next guy, but I’ll ask for a little consistency here: TP has hit Republican senators and governors in the past for hypocrisy, for speaking out against stimulus funding and then accepting it for their state. Bobby Jindal, whether you agree with his politics or not, spoke out against stimulus funding and then didn’t actually go for some of it. There ought to be some recognition that even if Jindal’s wrong, he’s being straightforward about it, unlike a lot of other Republicans. October 4th, 2009 at 10:29 am
October 4th, 2009 at 1:39 pm@ 184. Hm, a little quick on the submit button, there, ElBruce.
RSA, that won’t wash. Jindal may have slipped the deadline on the high-speed rail stimulus, but he accepted a lot of other stimulus money and then handed it out in parishes all over the state as Louisiana money with his name on it. Furthermore, he’s a knuckledragging turd for trying to turn down Federal stimulus money to extend unemployment insurance.
October 4th, 2009 at 1:42 pmWow. 185 posts and not one intellectually honest one from the left. Lotta name calling, smearing, but no rigorous thought.
October 4th, 2009 at 3:03 pm@185 Jindal may have slipped the deadline on the high-speed rail stimulus, but he accepted a lot of other stimulus money
You’ve got me there, Virtual Pebble. Somehow I wasn’t thinking about those other instances.
October 4th, 2009 at 3:09 pmtnovitske says:
Wow. 185 posts and not one intellectually honest one from the left. Lotta name calling, smearing, but no rigorous thought.
October 4th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
And yet, all you have to contribute is pissing and moaning.
October 4th, 2009 at 7:32 pmSo what. The governor is elected to make decisions. The citizens of the state with get a change to re-elect him or kick him to the curb next time. Get over it.
October 4th, 2009 at 7:46 pm“We’re counting on his leadership in this goal to go beyond any party lines and do what’s right for Louisiana,” Cao said.
Why would anyone count on Bobby Jindal?
October 4th, 2009 at 8:20 pm“And yet, all you have to contribute is pissing and moaning.”
Well then let me be the first to start an intelligent conversation 200 posts into the thread. Matt Iglesias had a similar discussion a few months back regarding Ed Glaeser’s four part high speed rail series in the New York Times last August. Glaeser comes to the conclusion that a theoretical line between Houston and DFW would be a net loss to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars per year…and that even after including the environmental and quality of life benefits. It suggests that Governor Jindal, if not flat out correct, is at least rational in his line of thinking.
I can’t say that for the commentary in this thread. When the facts aren’t on your side, pound the table. Glen Beck would be proud.
October 5th, 2009 at 10:54 am@ 181. tnovitske says:
“And yet, all you have to contribute is pissing and moaning.”
Well then let me be the first to start an intelligent conversation 200 posts into the thread. Matt Iglesias had a similar discussion a few months back regarding Ed Glaeser’s four part high speed rail series in the New York Times last August. Glaeser comes to the conclusion that a theoretical line between Houston and DFW would be a net loss to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars per year…and that even after including the environmental and quality of life benefits. It suggests that Governor Jindal, if not flat out correct, is at least rational in his line of thinking.
… October 5th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Matt who? Glaeser? NYT? Where’s a link? Seriously. There’s something flawed in the notion of a high speed link from Houston to DFW; oh, perhaps you mean the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, not DFW the airfield. If that’s the case, I’d point out that any study is only as good as it’s assumptions, it’s initial conditions. If the study is predicated in any way on the notion that you can’t pry Texans out of their cars to travel between Houston and Dallas or Fort Worth, then that’s what the study will show. OTOH, the point is not to look at where we are and say we can’t do any better.
There are alternatives to the automobile transportation model that are less costly in terms of energy consumption and offer less stress to the traveler. Why not nudge states and communities and the nation in that direction. In his effort to throw a hissy-fit over anything being done by Democrats, after investing all that work in being a leading light in a party that is self-destructing, Bobby Jindal may be missing the train. (heh heh snark)
October 5th, 2009 at 11:58 amHere are the links…
http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2009/08/dallas-houston-hsr.php
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/what-would-high-speed-rail-do-to-suburban-sprawl/
Glaeser ran the numbers between two of the six most populous urban areas of the country. If the ridership can’t make it in this lane, how is it suppose to reach critical mass in Louisiana? Whether progressives like it or not, high speed rail is any extremely costly proposition. Our transportation system may not be optimal, but funding a new system will take a huge amount of resources that are needed for other priorities (like the aging of America and the coming health care crisis). Progressives fancy themselves as enlightened realists, but I saw no such evidence of that in this thread.
“There are alternatives to the automobile transportation model that are less costly in terms of energy consumption and offer less stress to the traveler.”
Fine, so name them and make cogent arguments for them.
October 5th, 2009 at 12:40 pm“his effort to throw a hissy-fit over anything being done by Democrats…”
What hissy fit? Did he take off his shoe and pound the podium at the state capitol building? Why can’t it just be a principled stance not to saddle Louisianans(?) with an $18 million annual expense for something he thinks does not provide as much in return? Why must he be demonized?
October 5th, 2009 at 12:50 pm@ 183. tnovitske says: … Glaeser ran the numbers between two of the six most populous urban areas of the country. If the ridership can’t make it in this lane, how is it suppose to reach critical mass in Louisiana? Whether progressives like it or not, high speed rail is any extremely costly proposition. Our transportation system may not be optimal, but funding a new system will take a huge amount of resources that are needed for other priorities (like the aging of America and the coming health care crisis). Progressives fancy themselves as enlightened realists, but I saw no such evidence of that in this thread. “There are alternatives to the automobile transportation model that are less costly in terms of energy consumption and offer less stress to the traveler.” Fine, so name them and make cogent arguments for them. October 5th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Thanks, I’ll take a look at the links. I should think that rebuilding our passenger rail infrastructure is an obvious move. Yes, high-speed rail is expensive, particularly in the initial infrastructure outlay, and the train sets are more expensive than standard rail; further, the faster you want to go in that modality, the more it’ll cost. But it doesn’t all have to be high speed rail. For distances less than around 60 to 100 miles, regular old rail is usually sufficient.
Just a study that says high speed rail can’t be done between six high population density areas isn’t exactly satisfactory, in my opinion. Not because the study doesn’t have merit, but because we need to change the entire transportation system, and not just in this country. The world can’t sustain continued growth and reliance on the automotive modality for personal transportation and industrial logistics.
We already know that freight rail is cheaper and more efficient in fuel costs and infrastructure and perhaps other factors, such as overhead, particularly in medium to long haul logistics, than trucking. It may be that air transport is very competitive with automotive for some travelers; you’d certainly think it is, given the amount of business and commercial travel by air.
About the only advantage for automotive is at the local level, and that’s because of it’s on-demand capability; it certainly doesn’t have an advantage in what it does to air quality and the mix of automobiles and pedestrians usually isn’t much fun in most American cities.
We’re always going to have some mix of transportation alternatives. The issue is an over-reliance on automotive and a reluctance of some to move toward a different balance. Keeping the “freedom” to come and go as you please that car culture offers adds an interesting problem to a much larger problem, but …
October 5th, 2009 at 4:02 pm@ 184. tnovitske says: “his effort to throw a hissy-fit over anything being done by Democrats…” What hissy fit? Did he take off his shoe and pound the podium at the state capitol building? Why can’t it just be a principled stance not to saddle Louisianans(?) with an $18 million annual expense for something he thinks does not provide as much in return? Why must he be demonized? October 5th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
It’s called hyperbole, tnovitske. Maybe it was just a small snit when he was offered stimulus money.
I was more impressed by his wandering about the various parishes, handing out really big checks, poster sized checks, stimulus money checks that had no clear reference to the source, but which did have Mr. Jindal’s name prominently featured. The business about wanting to refuse, on behalf of some of his citizens and constituents, Federal stimulus money for extending unemployment insurance also impressed me, and not favorably. Seems to me that his ‘rebuttal’ of the President’s remarks to the joint session back in February, the non-State of the Union speech, had a couple of nasty defects.
You’d have to prove to me that he does anything more than pay lip service to any principles. I think he’s just another politician and a hypocrite.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:14 pmIf Jindal talks out of both sides of his mouth and is cut down for it, so be it. I have no more love loss for unprincipled Republicans than I do for unprincipled Democrats.
I appreciate your comments on the high speed rail. I would still put the project in the “wants” column as opposed to the “needs” column. We need to fix the looming structural debt of the nation before signing future generations up for even more spending.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:53 pmIf these governors want to play political games, fine, but please give the money to someone who wants it. meme diklestirme
October 9th, 2009 at 9:40 am