OK, being from Arizona, I have to respond to this. I'm making no political statement here one way or another but to say that McCain was a moderate to liberal senator before he ran for President beggars the imagination. I know that it's not true; anyone else in Arizona except the most stridently conservative would tell you it's not true; and Senator McCain would tell you it's not true( and that would be straight talk!)
mc cain's agenda on amtrak
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Apologies: I replied to the wrong note. As you can tell by my response I'm replying to the note that said McCain used to be moderate to liberal before he ran for President.
The Sunset Limited was the only coast-to-coast passenger railroad route in the United States prior to Hurricane Katrina. It is my understanding that 41% of the revenue earned in Fiscal Year 2003-2004 came from the 28% of the railroad miles which have effectively (but not following mandatory federal regulations for discontinuing passenger service) "removed" from the Sunset Limited route.
We do not have a surface transportation policy. Now is the time to ask your Representative and your Senators in the U.S. Congress to support H.R. 6003, to authorize and fund Amtrak.
Now is the time to decide whether you will vote for someone who puts passenger rail travel on the back burner and turns the burner off. Perhaps encouragement will have the burner turned on. Maybe when the price of gasoline goes to $ 5.50 a gallon in the United Satates after the November election, a surface transportation policy will become a priority. Unfortunately after the election politicians are not as anxious to talk to you nor are they as willing to listen.
We do not have a surface transportation policy. Now is the time to ask your Representative and your Senators in the U.S. Congress to support H.R. 6003, to authorize and fund Amtrak.
Now is the time to decide whether you will vote for someone who puts passenger rail travel on the back burner and turns the burner off. Perhaps encouragement will have the burner turned on. Maybe when the price of gasoline goes to $ 5.50 a gallon in the United Satates after the November election, a surface transportation policy will become a priority. Unfortunately after the election politicians are not as anxious to talk to you nor are they as willing to listen.
Joel N. Weber II
Engineer
However, the management of Amtrak is appointend by the President, and I strongly suspect that whether Amtrak grows to several times its present size in the near future, or whether it continues to stumble along with only the most painfully obviously needed service and equipment improvements will depend on what sort of management the President appoints for Amtrak. I believe our country would be best off if Amtrak has management appointed by the President that goes to Congress explaining exactly what could be done in the way of expanded, faster service if Congress would only provide the money. I believe if we expand Amtrak to ten times its present size in terms of the number of revenue passenger miles actually carrying passengers, it will still be too small.
I want Amtrak to have management that can talk to Congress about how embarassing it is that this country that we want to be able to think of as a great country is so far behind France and Taiwan in high speed rail.
I want Amtrak to have management that can recommend to Congress that we work out a plan for track with 300 km/h or faster speed limits from the edge of one city to the next going all the way from the San Francisco area to Los Angeles to Las Vegas to Salt Lake City to Denver to Kansas City to St Louis to Chicago to Cleveland to Pittsburg to New York City, with a proposal explaining how we could get this done in the next ten years with sufficient funding, if only Congress would approve that funding.
That proposal should also talk about the possibilities for 300 km/h or better track linking Seattle to Portland to the San Francisco area, Las Vegas to Phoenix (including a high speed route just south of Las Vegas allowing non-stop Phoenix to Los Angeles service in under three hours), Kansas City to Dallas/Fort Worth to Houston to San Antonio to Dallas/Fort Worth, Atlanta to Cincinnati to Indianapolis to Chicago, Atlanta to Charlotte to DC, DC to Pittsburgh, DC to New York City to Boston, Atlanta to Orlando to Miami, Tampa to that Orland to Miami track, Chicago to Minneapolis/St. Paul, Chicago to Kansas City, and St. Louis to Indianapolis to Columbus to Pittsburgh.
(At some point, I need to work out where that would put us in terms of per capita miles of 300 km/h or better track compared to France.)
I also want Amtrak to have management that will work to restore service along most of the routes NARP proposes in their vision, to enhance speeds along the existing Amtrak routes, and to provide more frequent service along the existing Amtrak routes. I want Amtrak's management to aggressively seek funding for these improvements from both the federal and state governments.
transit54
Conductor
Why not add Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Holland, China and Vietnam to that list? And if we want to talk about the extensiveness of the rail network, rather than just HSR, I was just in Russia and they have far more rail options than we do. I believe much of eastern Europe is the same way.
PetalumaLoco
Conductor
Some thoughts here about Obama, Amtrak management and the future...
link;
Mass clamor for mass transit
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McCain has a reputation as a moderate because of a fawning press. They like him because he's very accessible - good for a reporter. But he's no moderate. A right winger from Barry Goldwater territory.
And I have no gripe with (retired) General Clark's statement that being a fighter pilot and POW does not automatically qualify one to be president of the USA. Here I point out that McCain, as Senator from Arizona, has actually voted AGAINST the best interests of veterans. His patriotism is a crock. He's said that giving veterans better benefits might prevent them from re-enlisting. EXSQUEEZE ME?
Finally, I'll point out that McCain was not a fighter pilot. Not to rag on his bravery, but the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk (A for attack, not F for fighter) that he flew was classified as a light bomber. So bomber pilot.
EDIT: Once worked with a guy who was a Marine medic in Vietnam. Had to pry the war stories out of him. He had nothing but disdain for the Navy pilots who were called to do airstrikes when his unit was in a tight position. Called them high altitude pussies. He said the Marine aviators - also operating off carriers - came in right on the deck and got the job done.
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One of my gripes is John McSame wants recognition and support for having been a prisoner of war in Vietnam, a tererible thing, but how come he supports the fact that USA has a prisoner of war camp with autracious conditions at Quantanomo bay ???
planetcadillac
Train Attendant
I have always thought it wise to leave one military record alone unless there was a serious grievance committed that is akin to a civilian crime. Otherwise it is simply tit for tat to discuss how someone reacts to military situations. Everyone will be different and there is not way to tell whether being a POW is a net plus or minus for anyone. Considering many Republicans stepped all over John Kerry's military record I suppose it is fair game but again I would just leave well enough alone. Given $4-5 gas prices and a host of many other things McCain's Vietnam record will likely not be a major factor in anyone's voting decision.
I have found, in general (not assuming everyone...) that most Republicans have been reluctant to support Amtrak because A) Its more government spending and government control over what once was and could be a market driven commodity; B ) Republicans tend to dislike anything communal and they love their big trucks and SUVs so they can be 'king of the road'; C) The demographic that utilizes Amtrak tends to be more Democratic than Republican for various reasons not including the fact that the NE Corridor is a heavy commuter corridor and the NE is heavily Democratic.
Even in times of a Republican WH and Republican Congress - there were enough urban legislators and rural legislators like in ND where Amtrak is a popular and sometimes necessary mode of transportation to ensure at least level current spending. Given the fact that $4-5 gas is likely to remain indefinately and with Amtrak ridership on the upswing and given the above factors I do not forsee threats to service in the near term. Coming from Chicago - Barack Obama seems to be favorable to mass transit and likely will not fight funding.
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Joel N. Weber II
Engineer
US military officers with a couple decades of service get rather nice pensions, and the reduction in military income officers get by going from being active duty to being retired may be something that can easily be more than made up for by taking a civilian job, such that officers may fairly easily be able to make more money by retiring than by staying in the military.
I have no idea what enlisted pensions are like. Maybe they're a lot different than officers' pensions. I gather McCain must have been an officer.
The problem in your theory is there are way more enlisted than officers, and their prospect of employ has been diminishing for last 8 years
No matter what they may say, Republicans are never good for Amtrak. Or anybody else. EDIT: Except the filthy rich. Bush's buddies. Pie in the sky junk about privatization. Why don't we see in the business pages that companies are chomping at the bit for a chunk of passenger rail? Answer: Just not a profitable proposition. Nobody makes money from passenger rail or transit, and for Republicans to keep insisting on this delusion is just, well, delusional. But those clowns just don't give up. Now there's renewed Republican yap about offshore drilling. They still don't get it.
My friends, the answer is not more oil.. From anywhere. Ain't gonna happen. Reduction of consumption is the long-term partial solution, but you won't hear that from any Republican.
Hard times, and hard choices. But choices that must be made, and in the long run there is only one choice: Reduction of consumption.
We can make this choice now, or we can wait until it's too late and people are seriously suffering. This is only the beginning.
My friends, the answer is not more oil.. From anywhere. Ain't gonna happen. Reduction of consumption is the long-term partial solution, but you won't hear that from any Republican.
Hard times, and hard choices. But choices that must be made, and in the long run there is only one choice: Reduction of consumption.
We can make this choice now, or we can wait until it's too late and people are seriously suffering. This is only the beginning.
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Joel N. Weber II
Engineer
I don't intend to be arguing that McCain is right about this. Just trying to figure out where he might have gotten his ideas on this from.
wayman
Engineer
All pilots are officers.
I can't speak for enlisted pensions. The officers pension is based on "years of service", but those years can be either active duty or in the reserves. So after the mandatory five years on active duty, you can leave full-time active duty, remain in the reserves until you hit 20 or 30 years (retirement age varies on rank), take a job in the civilian world, and ultimately perhaps wind up with two full pensions (one military, one civilian). So yes, you can almost certainly make more money this way.
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G
Guest
Guest
"He's said that giving veterans better benefits might prevent them from re-enlisting. EXSQUEEZE ME?"
Whooz,
That's partially because the incentives can be so good that it takes away the drive to stay in the military. Why stay (especially the Marines/Army where it's especially tough right now) if you've earned a nice bonus and want to actually enjoy it, or educational bennies and you want to go to school NOW instead of years later ending behind your peer group.
No yapping at me folks. I'm the military wife and have written this before in this forum. I KNOW the life.
Jody
Whooz,
That's partially because the incentives can be so good that it takes away the drive to stay in the military. Why stay (especially the Marines/Army where it's especially tough right now) if you've earned a nice bonus and want to actually enjoy it, or educational bennies and you want to go to school NOW instead of years later ending behind your peer group.
No yapping at me folks. I'm the military wife and have written this before in this forum. I KNOW the life.
Jody
G
Guest
Guest
"He had nothing but disdain for the Navy pilots "
Whooz,
Me again. This isn't all that unusual for chinks between the services. The Army thinks of the Air Force as desk jockies. My 4 years Ranger husband (tab and service in Bn for those who understand that just going to Ranger school doesn't make you a Ranger) had to endure the Viet vets (a war older than my husband) disdain for Rangers. The gripe: Rangers would go in first and stir up the hornet's nest and those that followed endured the sting. In SF, the consummate mil professionals, we didn't even get sat with at a holiday dinner until after the tab. SF is thought of as being a college grad and thinks of Rangers as high school.
So, don't give any thought to the rivalries.
Jody
Whooz,
Me again. This isn't all that unusual for chinks between the services. The Army thinks of the Air Force as desk jockies. My 4 years Ranger husband (tab and service in Bn for those who understand that just going to Ranger school doesn't make you a Ranger) had to endure the Viet vets (a war older than my husband) disdain for Rangers. The gripe: Rangers would go in first and stir up the hornet's nest and those that followed endured the sting. In SF, the consummate mil professionals, we didn't even get sat with at a holiday dinner until after the tab. SF is thought of as being a college grad and thinks of Rangers as high school.
So, don't give any thought to the rivalries.
Jody
G
Guest
Guest
"Republicans tend to dislike anything communal and they love their big trucks and SUVs so they can be 'king of the road'"
That's BS. I vote Repub because of my litmus test issue not because I agree with every plank on deck AND I was once a member of Greenpeace. I happen to have a brain that thinks independently of scripts. SUV luv isn't limited to Repubs. (I wouldn't own one unless it was given to me- always been that way.)
In this election, I keep thinking, "where's another choice". I don't like these two.
Jody
That's BS. I vote Repub because of my litmus test issue not because I agree with every plank on deck AND I was once a member of Greenpeace. I happen to have a brain that thinks independently of scripts. SUV luv isn't limited to Repubs. (I wouldn't own one unless it was given to me- always been that way.)
In this election, I keep thinking, "where's another choice". I don't like these two.
Jody
Nice to hear from you again, Jody. I understand McCain's reasoning, but just find it appalling. I see you've done some more posts. Let me read them more thoroughly and take some time to gather my thoughts. Both of them.
G
Guest
Guest
"And I have no gripe with (retired) General Clark's statement that being a fighter pilot and POW does not automatically qualify one to be president of the USA"
What isn't coming across with Clark is that McClain has hooah for having endured the POW camp. That's no small thing. Look deeper than the surface with Clark's remark. There's bound to be something there. And of course, not all are entrusted with fighters. It's a different breed with a high espirit de corps. The leadership training (actually for all service members) starts right after basic training.
I like to know (as do military members) that my commander in chief knows what the military life is like and doesn't show the disdain for them as the Clintons appeared to have. Somehow, Harvard Law School doesn't instill that.
Jody
What isn't coming across with Clark is that McClain has hooah for having endured the POW camp. That's no small thing. Look deeper than the surface with Clark's remark. There's bound to be something there. And of course, not all are entrusted with fighters. It's a different breed with a high espirit de corps. The leadership training (actually for all service members) starts right after basic training.
I like to know (as do military members) that my commander in chief knows what the military life is like and doesn't show the disdain for them as the Clintons appeared to have. Somehow, Harvard Law School doesn't instill that.
Jody
G
Guest
Guest
"Nice to hear from you again, Jody"
Whooz,
You're a riot. I've been posting almost daily since "the incident" but anonymously because of the vitriol that was inappropriately directed my way.
How's the family doin! ... just kidding.
I keep reminding people to write their representatives and let them know your thoughts on Amtrak, not just vote and then seethe in silence when Amtrak is squeezed. These issues that face us need some unique solutions and the time seems right for Amtrak.
Use the NTB report link and posts (yep, I read and post stuff like that) and find a way to make some saliable points to your reps.
Writing example: "My job is in Junction City, 50 miles away. I can't afford the gas, but with Amtrak, I can swing it. Amtrak is the difference between my family getting fed, you know with these high food prices...etc., etc." For me, I would write, using the NTB report and asking for funds to be reallocated from something I dislike (airplanes and asphalt) towards trains. I'm epileptic (but it's not a handicap for me) and there may come a day when driving is not possible. I want to know that a means exist for me to travel long distances. Excuse me for a moment older folks, but I think of the Auto Train as the "Old Fart" express. It keeps a lot of accidents off of the annual Snow Bird migration route. If you camp in state parks like we do it amazes me that some 75 year old is winging an RV the size of a tractor trailer around and most of the time dodging the trees. We're all going to be aging in place and we need a lot more of these express routes to ship us around from kid to kid.
Who did I rile up this time!
Jody
Whooz,
You're a riot. I've been posting almost daily since "the incident" but anonymously because of the vitriol that was inappropriately directed my way.
How's the family doin! ... just kidding.
I keep reminding people to write their representatives and let them know your thoughts on Amtrak, not just vote and then seethe in silence when Amtrak is squeezed. These issues that face us need some unique solutions and the time seems right for Amtrak.
Use the NTB report link and posts (yep, I read and post stuff like that) and find a way to make some saliable points to your reps.
Writing example: "My job is in Junction City, 50 miles away. I can't afford the gas, but with Amtrak, I can swing it. Amtrak is the difference between my family getting fed, you know with these high food prices...etc., etc." For me, I would write, using the NTB report and asking for funds to be reallocated from something I dislike (airplanes and asphalt) towards trains. I'm epileptic (but it's not a handicap for me) and there may come a day when driving is not possible. I want to know that a means exist for me to travel long distances. Excuse me for a moment older folks, but I think of the Auto Train as the "Old Fart" express. It keeps a lot of accidents off of the annual Snow Bird migration route. If you camp in state parks like we do it amazes me that some 75 year old is winging an RV the size of a tractor trailer around and most of the time dodging the trees. We're all going to be aging in place and we need a lot more of these express routes to ship us around from kid to kid.
Who did I rile up this time!
Jody
G
Guest
Guest
"I have made no secret that I will be banging my head against the wall at human stupidity if McCain gets elected"
No you won't. Your kibbutzing butt will get drafted! I believe the service would be good for you.
Jody
Green Mandolin. You know I adore you.
No you won't. Your kibbutzing butt will get drafted! I believe the service would be good for you.
Jody
Green Mandolin. You know I adore you.
WAY off topic, Jody, but I know a bit about that. Certain chinks even within services. I was a civilian jet mech, and there was a shop full of recip mechs right next door at Pt. Mugu. Worked mostly with swabbies. We hated the recip guys, and they hated us jet jockeys. Mostly a friendly rivalry, and we would take it out everyday on the volleyball court in front of the hangar at lunchtime. Recip Crew vs. Attack Crew.
Way fun!!
Occasionally we took a reinstalled engine out to test at high power. Everybody saved empty soda cans for such occasions. Tie down the aircraft, run it up to 100%, toss the empty cans into the exhaust, and watch them get rocketed into the air by the jet blast deflector. Kids having fun with major machinery. One time they let me sit in the cockpit and run up the throttle myself. An A-6, so two engines. Major rush.
Again, WAY off topic. Sorry.
G
Guest
Guest
"we didn't even get sat with at a holiday dinner until after the tab. "
In the spirit of disclosure to those for whom this matters. Dear hubby didn't make it all the way through assessment (he's way too little for the physical aspects and older than most of you SFers.). We did spend about a year in SF before the assessment and you know what happens afterwards.
Jody
In the spirit of disclosure to those for whom this matters. Dear hubby didn't make it all the way through assessment (he's way too little for the physical aspects and older than most of you SFers.). We did spend about a year in SF before the assessment and you know what happens afterwards.
Jody
Well the President nominates Amtrak board members, but they still require Congressional approval.
G
Guest
Guest
"Occasionally we took a reinstalled engine out to test at high power. Everybody saved empty soda cans for such occasions. Tie down the aircraft, run it up to 100%, toss the empty cans into the exhaust, and watch them get rocketed into the air by the jet blast deflector. Kids having fun with major machinery. One time they let me sit in the cockpit and run up the throttle myself. An A-6, so two engines. Major rush.
Again, WAY off topic. Sorry."
What a hoot.
My attempt at high speeding was to try to impress my husband by going up in a Cessna with a parachute attached to my back. Yeah. I was tough...gonna jump out and impress this Ranger. HooAH. Well, they opened the door-said I was first, wind was squeezing my face and if you know jumping, it's (after ground school) Feet/hands on the struts/steps (been a long time), something else, "go". I took one look out. The civilian jump zone (a gravel pit) appeared tiny in comparison to the power lines, forest and huge lake (could of been an inland ocean for all I knew at that moment). I turned around to the pilot, grabbed ahold of the seat and said, "no way, I'm going down with you". Ticked off the other 5 or so cramped in behind me. My husband, on the other hand, is a jumpmaster (the one who climbs outside the plane to rescue stranded jumpers and cuts them loose to land in the tops of trees or wherever it's safe. He knows no fear and still smiles at my "jump" experience. I found my limit at that moment.
No doubt, McCain found what he was made of in the POW camp and it's an inseparable part of who he is. The military makes extraordinary stuff, ordinary, to those who serve.
We just have to convince him that Amtrak should be ordinary.
Jody
Again, WAY off topic. Sorry."
What a hoot.
My attempt at high speeding was to try to impress my husband by going up in a Cessna with a parachute attached to my back. Yeah. I was tough...gonna jump out and impress this Ranger. HooAH. Well, they opened the door-said I was first, wind was squeezing my face and if you know jumping, it's (after ground school) Feet/hands on the struts/steps (been a long time), something else, "go". I took one look out. The civilian jump zone (a gravel pit) appeared tiny in comparison to the power lines, forest and huge lake (could of been an inland ocean for all I knew at that moment). I turned around to the pilot, grabbed ahold of the seat and said, "no way, I'm going down with you". Ticked off the other 5 or so cramped in behind me. My husband, on the other hand, is a jumpmaster (the one who climbs outside the plane to rescue stranded jumpers and cuts them loose to land in the tops of trees or wherever it's safe. He knows no fear and still smiles at my "jump" experience. I found my limit at that moment.
No doubt, McCain found what he was made of in the POW camp and it's an inseparable part of who he is. The military makes extraordinary stuff, ordinary, to those who serve.
We just have to convince him that Amtrak should be ordinary.
Jody
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