Anti-Rail Republicans Ideologically Oppose Trains

[BridgeTroll]

Hey Bridge, you know I am in full agreement with you on "the ones that cannot be bothered to vote," but the more direct cause of regressive policies is the fanaticism of the regressives to hold back progress. And they do so in droves, showing up to vote for their fanatically regressive policies.

Sorry Faye... that is just too easy and convenient.  The REAL direct causes are failure to make the case that rail is worthy... supporting poor rail choices and last but most importantly... the abject failure of those who do support rail to show up at the polls.  Spend some more time convincing rather than condemning and you may see some progress.  Merry Christmas!

[FayeforCure]

Hey Bridge, you know I am in full agreement with you on "the ones that cannot be bothered to vote," but the more direct cause of regressive policies is the fanaticism of the regressives to hold back progress. And they do so in droves, showing up to vote for their fanatically regressive policies.

Sorry Faye... that is just too easy and convenient.  The REAL direct causes are failure to make the case that rail is worthy... supporting poor rail choices and last but most importantly... the abject failure of those who do support rail to show up at the polls.  Spend some more time convincing rather than condemning and you may see some progress.  Merry Christmas!

You saw the title of the thread: Regressives are ideologically opposed to rail.
No amount of convincing is going to change that.

That's why Jax will always lag behind other cities on energy efficient mass transit.

There is a simple cause and effect to all this, and yes, it is partisan.

Merry Christmas, and good luck convincing your Regressive brethren on the need for street cars in Jax!!

[BridgeTroll]

Regressives are ideologically opposed to rail.

Again with the name calling... and not sure who you are painting with that very broad brush but most who are opposed to specific rail projects are opposed for a variety of reasons... usually fiscal in nature.  No one I have spoken with is "ideologically" opposed to rail. 

No amount of convincing is going to change that.

Then you have lost before ever starting.

[tufsu1]

I guess Faye's thread title isn't that off-base....

of course Anti-Rail Republicans (a portion of the party as a whole) are ideologically opposed to trains  

[Ocklawaha]

Every person who went out to vote for a regressive who now is stopping HSR in America is to blame. Hmmm here is looking at you all!!!

CA keeps showing us the enlightened way:

Lets hope Florida follows suit, and boldly face down the wrath of Tea Partiers!!

Go HSR for Florida!!!!

Go 23,000 jobs for Florida!!!

Funny, was that you Faye, looking over my shoulder at the voting booth? Damn! You obviously missed who I voted for... but I'll give you a hint... SHE HAD HAIR!  Your carte blanche condemnation of our readers and staff based on what "you think" we believe seems a little harsh.

...And I'll agree with you... CALIFORNIA IS SHOWING THE WAY! As usual, and its NOT THE WAY FLORIDA IS PLANNING IT!

It's not just about HIGH SPEED RAIL job creation, it is also about job retention, expansion and ridership. Most of the California HSR mainline follows right alongside the long established rail corridors, possibly even using some of the historic stations. It runs from City Center to City Center to City Center... and it can do that because it is alongside those rails. I'm even shocked that they have opted for Tehachapi Pass and the Bakersfield-Mojave-Palmdale-San Fernando-LA railroad route, clearly many miles longer then the I-5 "Grapevine." You can create 50,000 jobs to build a high speed rail line from an airport (an airport that COMPLETELY MISSES the metro mass) to an amusement park (even Disney) to a parking garage with city buses (even if it's in a metro) and fall flat on your face when nobody shows up to ride.  We'll never get to phase two without a very successful phase one...witness the SKYWAY. FAILURE! All you accomplish then is to justify every Tea Party quack in the Country to get their far right allies to kill any remaining rail projects.

I'm FOR high speed rail in Florida, in fact apparently more of it then even you are... as what I'm saying is realign it, and spread it from Pensacola-to-Miami, and that includes not one but 5 routes to Tampa. I'm just not for a starter line that I am almost certain will fail.


OCKLAWAHA

[BridgeTroll]

I guess Faye's thread title isn't that off-base....

of course Anti-Rail Republicans (a portion of the party as a whole) are ideologically opposed to trains   

Thanks tufsu... I suppose it could have been meant that way.  Given Fayes history... I think not!

[FayeforCure]

Regressives are ideologically opposed to rail.

Again with the name calling... and not sure who you are painting with that very broad brush but most who are opposed to specific rail projects are opposed for a variety of reasons... usually fiscal in nature.  No one I have spoken with is "ideologically" opposed to rail.  

No amount of convincing is going to change that.

Then you have lost before ever starting.

Ummmmm, yeah the truth hurts. Here is another writer who confirms the ideological opposition to trains that regressives hold:

A windfall for California

The state benefits after Wisconsin and Ohio forgo billions of dollars in federal stimulus funds.
EditorialDecember 11, 2010

Outraged by excessive stimulus spending? Worried that construction of new infrastructure in your state will create operating costs lasting well into the future? If you're a Republican governor with such troubles on your mind, we have the solution: Send the federal money to California. The Golden State is more than willing to relieve you of the burden of all that free cash.

Remarkably, the governors of Wisconsin and Ohio seem to have taken us up on an offer so disadvantageous that the most shameless infomercial producer would hesitate to promote it. After being awarded a combined $1.2 billion in stimulus money to build rail projects â€" $810 million for a train from Milwaukee to Madison in Wisconsin and $385 million for a rail line linking Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland in Ohio â€" the governors turned it down. Instead, it will be distributed to train projects in 13 other states, with California being the biggest single beneficiary.


Why would they do such a thing? Because it would cost taxpayer money to operate the rail lines after they're built. Scott Walker, Republican governor-elect of Wisconsin, fretted that his state's train would cost $7.5 million a year to operate. As train supporters pointed out to the New York Times, this is sort of like turning down a free car because you don't want to have to pay for gasoline and insurance. Not only did Walker and Ohio Gov.-elect John Kasich, also a Republican, ignore the construction jobs the projects would have created, but they ignored the positive impact on their states' economies, freeways and environment that the trains would have brought to future generations.

But that's perfectly OK with us, because California can use the money. Our state's future high-speed rail line from San Diego to San Francisco and Sacramento is already hitting snags, and we expect many more before the system is complete. The $624 million from Wisconsin and Ohio, combined with the $3 billion in federal funds the state has already received, will help smooth the way. Thanks a billion, cheeseheads.

AND may more come courtesy of Republican Floridians !!!

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/11/opinion/la-ed-trains-20101211

[FayeforCure]

I guess Faye's thread title isn't that off-base....

of course Anti-Rail Republicans (a portion of the party as a whole) are ideologically opposed to trains  

tufsu1, what is a portion of the Republican Party? The Party of NO has been pretty uniformly opposed to trains!!!

So you must mean the vast majority of Republicans (rather than a portion), as in plus or minus 98% of Republicans (in particular their leaders) who actively oppose trains.

[tufsu1]

well Faye....as noted many times, the Secretary of USDoT is a Republican...as is the current governor of California....and Crist was a Republican when he first stated his support of high speed rail in FL

bolttom line...blanket statements are useless....I can find you some Republicans (like those noted above) that a pro-rail, and can also find a good number of Dems who oppose it.

[yapp1850]

hey we go again people tampa are mad because no high speed rail at airport and orlando people are mad no high speed rail station at downtown, and i do not think tampa will get light rail but commuter rail. that go's  on csx tracks  to brooksville and  clearwater, st. pete

[FayeforCure]

well Faye....as noted many times, the Secretary of USDoT is a Republican...as is the current governor of California....and Crist was a Republican when he first stated his support of high speed rail in FL

bolttom line...blanket statements are useless....I can find you some Republicans (like those noted above) that a pro-rail, and can also find a good number of Dems who oppose it.

Thank you for yet again confirming the typical defensive response:

quote a handful of pro-rail Republicans...........in this case just 2 since Crist is an Independent now reviled by Republicans, while ignoring the hundreds or thousands of Republicans who tow the Party line on "wasteful spending" on rail infrastructure, and the majority of Republicans who are outright train haters.

Blanket statements are good to describe the rule rather than the exception.

It also clarifies where the true support for Rail lies.

Something to be well aware of next time you're at the ballot box.

Thank you Ock for making the Pro-rail choice at the ballot box!!!!

[BridgeTroll]

 

the majority of Republicans who are outright train haters.

Good god faye... really?!  Is it because of the noise?  Perhaps they had nightmares as children?  Is Snidely Whiplash a train hating republican?  Do you picture yourself as Dudley do right? 

[yapp1850]

Scott says high-speed rail study due in February

[tufsu1]

Scott says high-speed rail study due in February

that is a cop out...the study will say the same thing every study since 2002 has said...which is the train can break even (operational costs will closely match revenues)...the study will give Scott the cover he needs to endorse high speed rail.

[Ocklawaha]

Thank you Ock for making the Pro-rail choice at the ballot box!!!!

Well Faye, after the shouting is over, you and I BOTH support HIGH SPEED RAIL, only concept and application separates our opinions.

OCKLAWAHA