Lets keep this apolitical. So I am not a big fan of Bill O'Reilly and only watch for entertainment purposes. Last night on his talking points memo was surprised to hear him give a big push of support for High Speed Rail including government funding of such (less than a min of air time). It was a pleasant surprise and may indicate changing attitudes towards passenger rail. We'll see.
Well that's good for bill. I don't think I could ever sit through bill o Reilly even for entertainment purposes. Although some of his views are funny.
I always liked "Wild Bill." I don't watch all that often anymore, a few years back it was as if someone flipped a switch in my brain and I just wasn't interested in political talk shows anymore, on TV or radio.
I have to say this, ol' Bill never lied to me.
You might be right firelock, all the political shows, from the right and left just leaves my ears bleeding.
I get tired of watching 3 YO's in adult bodies trying to out shout each other rather than actually tackle an issue.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Maybe he rides Acela?
While it's nice to hear that Mr. O'Reilly supports HSR, I doubt his statement made much of an impression on his audience.
CMStPnP Lets keep this apolitical. So I am not a big fan of Bill O'Reilly and only watch for entertainment purposes. Last night on his talking points memo was surprised to hear him give a big push of support for High Speed Rail including government funding of such (less than a min of air time). It was a pleasant surprise and may indicate changing attitudes towards passenger rail. We'll see.
One can hope. Even on here, support for and interest in HSR seems pretty weak.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
schlimm Even on here, support for and interest in HSR seems pretty weak.
I think that's because it seems so remote, given modern economic and budget constraints. To me, the Great Hope these days is such as All Aboard Florida, offering true HIGHER speed service that is fast and frequent enough to get people off the highways and, in some markets, out of airplanes.
Maybe AAF will even convince us to do what it takes to modernize the Northeast Corridor.
I checked the transcript. He said nothing about high speed rail. The entire memo was about how the political class is working to convince people that the government owes them everything. In that context he mentioned a few things that correctly fall into constitutional duties of the Federal Government.
He said that included "transit".
The original post is a gross distortion of his Talking Points.
4 seconds of commentary (3:58 to 4:02)
“And the fact that we don’t have a high speed rail system is flat out irresponsible.”
http://www.billoreilly.com/show?action=viewTVShowByDate&date=20160418
All,
Wanswheel and I are both correct. The line he cites is on the tape but not in the transcript.
The original poster is also correct. My appologies to the original poster.
Mac McCulloch
PNWRMNM All, Wanswheel and I are both correct. The line he cites is on the tape but not in the transcript. The original poster is also correct. My appologies to the original poster. Mac McCulloch
And we blame the media for not getting a story 'correct'. But then the media would never appologize.
dakotafred To me, the Great Hope these days is such as All Aboard Florida, offering true HIGHER speed service that is fast and frequent enough to get people off the highways and, in some markets, out of airplanes. Maybe AAF will even convince us to do what it takes to modernize the Northeast Corridor.
Dallas talked about using a similar model to fund expansion of DART. DART planners feel strongly that light rail development spurs neighboring real estate development and they were looking for a way to share in those profits of increasing real estate values to help pay for DART. However they found the Feds more than willing to help with construction costs with over $2 billion in grants so far.
DART then resurrected the model on a more limited basis and tried to get a private firm to develop and contract for operation of the Cotton Belt line between Wylie, TX and DFW Airport. I think that was in 2015 and I think it failed because the real estate development aspect was not large enough to offset construction costs or lack of fare recovery.
So it is interesting you bring that up because it has been looked at in Dallas as a means of mass transit funding but so far they have not found the right formula to bring in private investors.
Another interesting aspect of DART was that it had just barely a majority of public support which dipped to minority at times before construction started. Public support waivered at several times with folks asking if the system was really necessary. After DART was built, it was like Dallas was a different Planet. Saw a see change in public attitudes towards the rail option. Few people ask if it is necessary anymore (some still do). The system has overwhelming public support and pretty much carte blanche on expansion and with expansion projects planned.
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