BOB2 Wrote:
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> The nattering nabobs of negativism and the
> blathering bleating of mice will not stop it. The
> lawsuits, the failure to initiate condemnation,
> which may take years, and the time constraints of
> the lapsing Federal funds are the real threats, to
> HSR, from years of incompetent planning and
> political trough slopping.
>
> Unlike the modern luddites and nattering nabobs, I
> support a properly planned, affordable, and much
> needed system of high speed and intercity rail to
> meet our real needs. So I am more interested in
> how to fix this mess. We have a very shovel ready
> set of projects to meet real needs today, that
> were not funded, and not even submitted by
> Schwarzenegger and the Caltrans, Division of Fail,
> which meet those requirements.
>
> Division of Fail just released the State Rail Plan
> which could have been used to refine and refocus
> the HSR program, but doesn't. The plan is an
> empty document that fails to address how the
> improvements proposed meet real travel needs in a
> cost effective manner. So this, thus far, is a
> clear failure in attempting to reform the HSR
> component. This so-called State Rail "Plan" is
> out for review and comment, without even having
> completed an operational plan, another sign of
> failed planning at Caltrans. After all, shouldn't
> such plans identify real needs, prioritize cost
> effective solutions, identify operating scenarios
> to achieve those goals, and prioritize projects to
> achieve those operational parameters? Well, it
> doesn't. So start by commenting on that.
>
> HSR and IC hearing in the Legislature are planned
> this spring about the time the court cases are
> being heard. These hearings are being held by
> some of those legislators, who like me, support an
> effective and affordable rail passenger system to
> meet our real passenger travel needs. So this
> will also be an opportunity to review this
> troubled program., and propose needed reforms.
> Similarly, the reauthorization of the Federal
> Transportation Act, there is an opportunity to
> reform and restructure the passenger rail planning
> process (there currently isn't a real planning
> process required by FRA despite the useless
> guidance they published), and toughen up funding
> requirements and project prioritization, based on
> a needs based process, not political visions or
> delusions.
>
> But unlike nattering nabobs of negativism, the
> train haters, the BART conspiracy theorist's,
> those who hate the American form of imperfect
> governance, and the neo luddites, I support a
> first world rail passenger system for California,
> and hope that by reform and education we can fix
> the troubled transportation programs in
> California, and provide to our children and grand
> children the kind of wise investments that our
> parents and grand parents left us.

nattering nabobs of negativism
Yep, good ol' Spiro!.
Doesn't mean he was wrong.