188 responses to “Sandbox – 3may15”

1. 

   George Rebane

   15 May 2015

   Jon 1048am – I do indeed see private enterprise taking this on if they are allowed to operate the trains without govt price controls. Right now the feds and CA are pissing away billions on a new right-of-way to build a ‘bullet train'(Ha!) that will benefit no one for years (decades?). Such monies could be used to build/improve high speed tracks along existing routes. I have no problem with seeing if the govt can systematically acquire and maintain the current rail rights-of-way and then allowing private enterprise to operate the passenger and freight traffic on such rails. This would be the functional and fiscal equivalent of govt ownership and operation of the interstate and US highway network. What say you?

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2. 

   fish

   15 May 2015

   Not the biggest Geraldo fan but this merits a response from ABC.
   http://www.mediaite.com/online/geraldo-abc-fired-me-for-200-donation-why-not-the-same-for-stephanopoulos/

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3. 

   Jon

   15 May 2015

   George, I would not mind looking at anything to improve passenger rail travel, and the economics and efficiency of it. Have not heard of any private entity stepping up to offer to take over passenger operation. Are you proposing an RFP process or something like that? Wouldn’t even know where that would begin, but I do know Congress would have to make a whole lot of changes to even begin the process.

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4. 

   Jon

   15 May 2015

   The rub is that the Repub Congress very likely won’t want to spend any more money on track improvements and maintenance- but if some type of deal is struck to bring a private operator into it, the govt. must then step up and do their part to revamp the infrastructure in a BIG way. The CA high speed rail project is really a separate discussion.

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5. 

   Todd Juvinall

   15 May 2015

   The tracks are privately owned. It appears that some people don’t know what they hell they are talking about when infrastructure arises.

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6. 

   George Rebane

   15 May 2015

   I think that most of us know that now the tracks are privately owned (see my 1058am), that is why I’m proposing the govt’s acquisition of the rights of way so that new monies spent on passenger rail lines could come from the feds as did the funds for our interstate and US highways. But then, let private industry operate the trains that use the tracks. The feds would have the same responsibilities for track maintenance as they do today for highway maintenance (which is contracted out to private concerns).

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7. 

   Jon

   15 May 2015

   That’s right Todd- you certainly don’t know what the hell you are talking about when referring to the Northeast Corridor. ZERO private ownership of tracks there.
   From Wiki:
   The NEC is a cooperative venture between Amtrak and various state agencies. Amtrak owns the track between Washington and New Rochelle, New York, a northern suburb of New York City. The segment from New Rochelle to New Haven is owned by the states of New York and Connecticut; Metro-North Railroad commuter trains operate there. Amtrak owns the tracks north of New Haven to the border between Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The final segment from the border north to Boston is owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

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8. 

   Todd Juvinall

   15 May 2015

   Here “Jon” you still don’t know your a** from a hot rock. From Wiki
   “The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak, is a publicly funded railroad service operated and managed as a for-profit corporation[1] which began operations on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States.”
   Now where does it say government owns that track?

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9. 

   Jon

   15 May 2015

   Todd got punked today and cannot admit it. Ah ha.

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10. 

    Todd Juvinall

    15 May 2015

    Say what? No you are the one punked. Read the Wiki correctly and I am right and you are wrong. Fess up “Jon” You have been bested.

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11. 

    Jon

    15 May 2015

    Oh Todd, cute semantics, but the tracks of the NEC are not owned by Warren Buffett or any private company. Other tracks are often owned by private companies.
    And interestingly..
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/2015/03/09/dd125130-c691-11e4-aa1a-86135599fb0f_story.html
    Amtrak and State Agencies are government- PUBLIC entities.

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12. 

    Walt

    15 May 2015

    Who really cares Jeffy,, The Son of a bitch was SPEEDING. This was an issue of stupidity, not money. So far, NO problem has been found with the tracks. The LIB dog whistle ain’t working.

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13. 

    George Rebane

    15 May 2015

    Walt 540pm – Watch your blood pressure Walt. You are arguing a point beyond the ideological blinders of our leftwing readers.

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14. 

    Todd Juvinall

    15 May 2015

    “Jon” is hope;ess. Beaten but failing to recognize. Libs, you gotta loveum!

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15. 

    Jon

    15 May 2015

    Todd, do you just say things that are opposite of reality- to make yourself feel better?

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16. 

    Bill Tozer

    15 May 2015

    As previously stated by yours truly, “Government does not make things, it breaks things.” Looks like all the bells and whistles were on the train and the tracks, but not turned on. That’s a pretty big but. So, what does that have to do with infrastructure and more money? They have what they wanted but nobody gave the green light to turn the new fangled gadgets on. I guess I can’t blame them for wanting more testing and being reluctant to throw the switch after the mad dash to launch 0bamaUnaffordableHealthcare.com.
    http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/05/14/exclusive-train-control-was-installed-turned-off-at-time-of-amtrak-crash-congressmen-say
    In other news, some of the crash victim’s bodies have mysteriously disappeared. Boko Harem may be behind the disappearance of the corpses.
    http://www.eater.com/2015/5/15/8613497/nigerian-restaurant-shut-down-for-serving-human-flesh

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17. 

    Walt

    15 May 2015

    LOL Doc,, my BP is just fine. I know,, I have exceeded the limitations of “his” medications.
    Some people just can’t understand gravitational force in a turn. Ya’ just can’t do 108 MPH in 50 MPH designed flat turn. No amount of money can buy down “G” forces.
    You can always tell a LIB… Just not vary much… ( they already think they know it all)

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18. 

    Walt

    15 May 2015

    You should have NEVER posted that Bill,, “our” food critic is making reservations by now.
    ” Uncle Frank.. The “other” red meat.”… He is probably looking for the just the right red wine to take with him. Reservations under “Donner”.

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19. 

    Bill Tozer

    15 May 2015

    It doesn’t take a rocket scientist (nor a brain surgeon) to know that Speed Kills.

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20. 

    Walt

    15 May 2015

    There are now a bunch of LIBS getting ready to eat crow on the news. Nancy P. should be passing feathers for a week. The money WAS spent. So much for blaming Republicans.

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21. 

    Bill Tozer

    15 May 2015

    Walt, sometimes I prefer white meat. It tastes like ripe banana. Sometimes I prefer red meat. It tastes like sage. To each his own. I was thinking about heading up to Donnet and having myself a cold one.
    Q: What does our local food critic make before dinner? A: Reservations.
    Speaking of reservations, I took a wonderful lady to a fine French restaurant last month. The hostess came up and asked if we had reservations. I told her “Yes, but we decided to eat here anyway.”

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22. 

    Walt

    15 May 2015

    Hummm Been a while since I had any French delicacies. I have stuck to German “goods”.
    Think he has got his airline tickets yet? Gotta get there before the kook looses his job.

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23. 

    Jon

    15 May 2015

    god Tozer, that joke is as old as you. For a wit like yourself, that’s a D-.

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24. 

    Bill Tozer

    16 May 2015

    Gee, thanks Jon. It shows the only way to go from here is up. Always a silver lining. I am most encouraged. Thanks, I owe ya one.

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25. 

    Russ Steele

    16 May 2015

    What happened to “no boots” on the ground?
    BEIRUT (AP) — U.S. commandos mounted a rare raid into eastern Syria overnight, killing a senior Islamic State commander in a firefight, capturing his wife and rescuing a Yazidi woman held as a slave, the Pentagon said Saturday.

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26. 

    fish

    16 May 2015

    Posted by: Bill Tozer | 16 May 2015 at 05:20 AM
    D-…?
    I thought a Cal man would have greater appreciation for the classics.

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27. 

    Jon

    16 May 2015

    So Russ, was that raid a good thing or a bad thing IYHO?

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28. 

    Walt

    16 May 2015

    Nice try Jeffy,, he’s just pointing out the good ol’ Lefty double standard.
    If the raid went South, we would have NEVER heard about it, until ISIS bragged about it, and the dead dragged through the streets. ( with video on youtube) Then “O” would claim to know nothing about it, and only new after reading about it in the paper.

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29. 

    Jon

    16 May 2015

    Hi Jeffy, wouldn’t it be nice to give the President some credit for once? Come on now, we know exactly why you hate the President so much. Is it that tough to admit?

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30. 

    Walt

    16 May 2015

    I see the wine hasn’t worn off yet. ( Ya,, that “mad dog” bites back)
    But here is another “winner” from “O”‘s boys.
    http://dailycaller.com/2015/05/16/obamas-education-secretary-when-i-go-home-ill-sit-down-with-gang-leaders-video/
    Yup,, ask the gang bangers how to get job growth.

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31. 

    Walt

    16 May 2015

    Uh, Jeffy,, maybe “O” could do the job right. He’s a day late and more than a dollar short.
    You guys wanted to tuck tail and run,(and did) and the Middle East went up in flames.
    A token “raid” here and there is meaningless, and pretty much useless. There is always another dirtbag to take his place.
    Your boy “O” is the Father of ISIS. They came to be under HIS watch, and inaction’s.

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32. 

    Jon

    16 May 2015

    Walt,
    Lots of things in the world get you into a lather, don’t they? What is your proposed solution in the middle east to combat the Bush-Cheney created ISIS?

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33. 

    Jon

    16 May 2015

    Walt, too much DailyCaller. Need more World Net Daily.

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34. 

    George Rebane

    16 May 2015

    Administrivia – the brand spanking fresh (16may15) sandbox is now open for business.

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35. 

    Ben Emery

    16 May 2015

    16 May 2015 at 07:10 AM
    Good question Russ.
    I will add another question for the regulars here. Why don’t you guys like Obama more? His administration actions are pro business, pro fossil fuel, pro war, pro pentagon, pro killing muslims, pro free trade, pro GMO, pro war on drugs, pro homeland security, pro punishing whistle blowers, pro drone warfare, ect… The list was longer than I thought it would be and it can still go on.
    Other than he is a Democrat what don’t you like about those policies.
    I oppose every single one of them but you guys should love them.

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36. 

    fish

    16 May 2015

    I oppose every single one of them but you guys should love them.
    You omitted fucking up the healthcare system more than it already was and increased taxes.

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37. 

    George Rebane

    16 May 2015

    BenE 1146am – you’re invited to take your ‘good questions’ to the new sandbox. Thanks.

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38. 

    Walt

    16 May 2015

    Pro fossil fuel? Just where do you come up with that farce.? Oue new “oil wealth” come from private and state lands, NOT FED. The oil trains from Can. are owned by his buddy W. Buffet. ( which fall off the tracks twice a month on average.)
    Pro war? Just what are you smoking Ben? HELL! He won’t even give arms to our allies that he stabbed in the back. When it comes to Israel, “O” favors the Muslims. ( How dare the Jews protect themselves!)
    I can tear apart every one of your claims with facts.
    Yup “O” is “real big” on boarder security. ( Let’m ALL in!)
    And punishing whistle blowers? Really? That’s supposed to be a good thing?
    Here is a dose or reality on that subject.
    http://dailycaller.com/2015/05/15/va-whistleblower-sheds-light-on-billions-spent-in-violation-of-federal-law/

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