Eric Cantor Bashes, Tries to Take Credit for, High-Speed Rail
Extension of the existing Northeast Corridor high-speed rail south from Washington, DC to Richmond, Virginia and then onward into North Carolina is clearly something that would be beneficial to the state of Virginia. Virginia has experience a lot of economic growth in the past 15-20 years that’s mostly been driven by those portions of the state that fall within the orbit of the Washington, DC metro area. There have also been recent, and not especially successful, efforts to leverage the money generated by that growth into enhanced prosperity for other regions of the state. A better approach than much of what’s been done would be to expend funds on building better transportation links between the DC area and other population centers in the state.
That’s exactly what the HSR expansion plan would do, so it’s not surprising to see Rep Eric Cantor (R-VA) trying to hop on the bandwagon (or locomotive, as the case may be):
Yesterday, though, the Henrico County Republican said bringing high-speed rail to the region could further spur economic development, creating as many as 185,000 jobs and bringing $21.2 billion to a region already home to about a half-dozen Fortune 500 companies and 20,000 small businesses.
“If there is one thing that I think all of us here on both sides of the political aisle from all parts of the region agree with, it’s that we need to do all we can to promote jobs here in the Richmond area,” Cantor said.
But of course Cantor voted against the federal legislation that’s making increased HSR capacity possible. Indeed, on Meet The Press he specifically singled-out the HSR provisions for inaccurate, demagogic mockery, repeating the myth that the Recovery Act contained a provision for a “train from Disneyland to Las Vegas” that was an example of the “waste and pork-barrel spending” said to typify the package.
Back in his district, of course, Cantor wants to portray himself as an agent for constructive change in Virginia. But you can’t be a constructive agent for change if you’re busy lying constantly and opposing everything.
14 Responses to “Eric Cantor Bashes, Tries to Take Credit for, High-Speed Rail”
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April 28th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
If this train to Richmond gets built, Cantor can be the Republican Joe Biden, riding the Acela home each night so he can enjoy time with his family, be closer to his constituents, and more effectively obstruct progress.
April 28th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
This begs the question. Why not just roll every spending measure into one bill so whoever votes against it doesn’t like babies, women, and minorities?
April 28th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
What does electing this mental midget say about the voters of Henrico Co.?
April 28th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Henrico Co. is full of scared, stupid people. I grew up there.
April 28th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Why does Matthew Yglesias hate the only Jewish Republican in Congress?
April 28th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Henrico County is actually not that bad – most of it is suburban Richmond and it’s getting bluer along with the the rest of the state (Obama won the county by about 7 points – slightly more than his VA margin).
Even though Cantor comes from Henrico, it’s Chesterfield and the rural parts of his district that are really responsible for foisting him on the rest of the country.
April 28th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Regular readers know that this is because Matthew Yglesias is a self-hating Jew.
April 28th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Ooops, make that 13 points in Henrico – Obama won VA by 7.
April 28th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
There have also been recent, and not especially successful, efforts to leverage the money generated by that growth into enhanced prosperity for other regions of the state.
If Virginians are unwilling to spend their own tax dollars to enhance the prosperity of other regions of their state, why should residents of the other 49 states be forced to “expend funds on building better transportation links between the DC area and other population centers in Virginia”?
April 28th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Maybe i’m not reading in the right newspapers and blogs, but i keep hearing about how high speed rail COULD be built here ,or COULD be built there.Does anyone acually know where they will be built. Or how fast they will go.
I do not feel that these are trivial questions .After all high speed rail can mean anything from 85 mph to 200 mph.I think more people would support HSR if they actually found out how it would revolutionise transportation in this country.And where it will be built. Or even how long it would take to go coast to coast.
Right now, people like MR YGLESIAS are simply preaching to the converted.
I support high speed rail. But as i have said in other comments, i do not want 8 billion of my tax dollars spent on ” DEVELOPMENT ” of high speed rail, and have no trains, or tracks to show for it.
This is not new technology .Europe already has it. China and Japan do too. Brazil is starting to build it as well.
If there is a reason that we simply can not build it, i would like to know. I am not being sarcastic by saying that. I sincerely would like to know the reason.
If anyone can provide me with answers to these questions , i would be grateful . Thank you.
April 28th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Pete — I don’t think any final decisions have been made. Matt’s posted several maps of various proposals, but nothing much is set in stone.
Extending the current Acela network down to Richmond (and eventually to Atlanta, via Raleigh-Durham) is probably one of the most likely HSR projects. And I believe Acela tops out at 135 MPH. (Their website says 150, but I think this is only on a small part of the route).
April 28th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Obviously the HSR will be built wherever Arlen says.
April 28th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
MR LAFOLLETTE PROGRESSIVE
Thank you for that information. I know the Acela can go up to 135mph but i googled it once and it said that the average speed is 85mph. I understand this is because of the denstity of the north east corrider. But i wonder if 200 mph is possible when going through Iowa or Nebraska.
By the way i have seen the maps he has posted. And while they are interesting ,they seem to be pure conjecture.I would hope the government would announce something.
Thank you for the information, Mr LAFOLLETTE PROGRESSIVE , i appreciate it.
I am curious if anyone knows whether high speed rail can carry frieght. And if so what kind of frieght.Obviously it wouldn’t be coal cars.
If it could , i am sure businesses would support HSR. We should focusing on the improvement of our industrial and economic infrastructure and the benifits to the economy high speed rail could create .
When people simply say that HSR is great, and do not elaborate i feel that they are simply preaching to the choir.This is a democracy. It is not just about winning elections. You have to get people to support your programs if you want them passed.
Their are many good arguements for HSR ,people should make them.
April 29th, 2009 at 12:12 am
Cantor continues to get elected b/c his constituents can’t seem to find a Democrat who is popular enough to get his/her name out to the rest of the district. He’s won all of his re-election bids by getting over 64% of the vote. Seriously, who was the lady who ran against him this go around? Anyone remember her name? I sure as heck don’t and I voted for her. Get someone worth a darn, who can get their name out to the public and Cantor will be finished. Until then, his household name and local favoritism will win out, regardless of the fact that no one likes him. If you have a choice of A) Cantor (a name you’ve come to known over the past 10 year) or B) Sally Joe Marry, you’ll obviously pick the name you know (if you’re an unintelligent voter) like most people in his district are….. : )