Ad hominem insults whether aimed right left or center only cheapen the argument. While I despise Mr Cox and his cohort, I prefer to point out objective lapses in his POV. As to CSHRA, the "waste, fraud, and abuse" % is not much different whether highways such as Boston's Big Dig (so much cost overrun that the rail tunnel from North to South Station was cancelled and the Green Line extension money was all used up), BART, the various DOD purchases of dubiously useful hardware, the basic realities remain. The construction of the first "highways" in ancient history was done on the order of the kings/pharoahs/emperors because they could see the value in improved transport options. A previous US President from Illinois had a similar vision of linking distant parts of the US. If any of the naysayers about HSR were given the money wasted/stolen in the building of that boondoggle, they could enjoy retirement as if they had just won the large multi state lottery jackpot.
This does not mean I am pleased at the corruption, but I am adult enough to recognize that I can't prevent it,and I do want the infrastructure in question.