McCain Signals “No” Vote For Expanding Metro in Nation’s Capital to Airport
October 7, 2008 Mass Transit, Politics
I used to live in DC, and getting to and from the airport is awful. The metro itself, which is “so clean!” and “so pretty!” is also severely limited in terms of where it will take you in the DC metropolitan area.
Unfortunately, Senator McCain is an old school Republican when it comes to mass transit, in that he doesn’t appear to see the need for such infrastructure.
The Washington Post reports,
McCain was also one of two dozen senators who voted last week against a bill that included Davis’s proposal to authorize $1.5 billion in dedicated funding to Metro over 10 years. The provision was part of broader rail safety and Amtrak funding legislation.
Davis said that he was disappointed with McCain’s vote but that he thinks McCain’s opposition was directed more at Amtrak.
A statement from the McCain campaign, however, targeted the Metro funding as well as Amtrak. “Senator McCain strongly objects to earmarks in the bill such as a $1.5 billion earmark for the Washington. . . Metro system and questions if this money is warranted above the needs that may exist among other mass transit systems in our country,” the statement says. “With the serious financial situation facing our nation, this [multibillion-dollar] commitment of taxpayers’ dollars can [be] dedicated to addressing far more important national priorities.” The Dulles rail issue was not addressed.
Oh, and believe or not, our own beloved current president doesn’t quite get this sort of mass transit thing either, which is why they reached out to The Maverick in the first place.
Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) and Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va), both of whom are retiring, are appealing to their longtime colleague to publicly back the Metro expansion, which has a rocky history with Bush administration officials. This year, federal officials voiced concerns that nearly sank the project, the first phase of which would stretch through Tysons Corner. Federal officials have since given the project a series of approvals.
If McCain wins, I am so sure we will see all sorts of wonderful mass transit initiatives. Just like we saw under Bush.
14 comments
Leaving aside all ideological considerations – anyone who has listened to McCain and/or Palin these past few weeks and not come away seriously pained and concerned for the future of this country has to be in a state of deep denial. I can’t see it any other way.
Jeff,
Palin may not answer the questions the way Joe Biden and the moderator would like, but she’s going to talk straight to the American people.
….
Oy.
I have been brought up not to be rude to women particularly mothers. That said, the position of Vice President is especially important when you have a Presidential candidate of McCain’s age and past health concerns.
The odds are in favor of Obama winning the election. That said if McCain wins, I can see nothing in the 25th amendment which would allow him to dismiss Palin from office and replace her with someone of more gravitas such as Dan Quale
At least Biden can actually answer a question! (I understand he’s had himself some fancy book learnin’!)
Now, as John Stewart said – if we need to know how to filet a moose…
I do hope Obama will fully utilize Biden. I mean…WADR, that’s a reversed ticket.
Biden better not be sidelined.
Jeff
guess I’m in Egypt then
McCain has already made it clear that he would shut down Amtrak (in favor of small privately-owned companies— hello again, 1830!) if elected. On the other hand, Obama has said that he understands the need to (re-)build and maintain a strong national ground transit system, is opposed to a gas tax holiday, wants to revisit tax codes so that mass transit users would see financial incentives, and sees urban issues management strategies that focus on crime and poverty, without considering the relationship between residences, workplaces and and transit needs, as incomplete. Which might lead you to wonder, who’s the maverick? (she writes, reaching for her beer and taking another gulp).
McCain has already made it clear that he would shut down Amtrak (in favor of small privately-owned companies— hello again, 1830!) if elected.
I can understand that he has nostalgic feelings for those days – because he was friggin’ there!
Yes, and he may have been only a child at the time, but he was known to “pal around” with members of the American Anti-Slavery Society who vehemently opposed the inclusion of women in their group. I’m surprised this didn’t come up in any of the debates.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/p.....ndex1.html
“Revived contemporary feminism”??? How about calling it what it is– Legally Blonde feminism. It looks a little like feminism, but it’s pretty, non-threatening, dumbed-down- and after the credits have rolled, you look back and realize that while it sounded vaguely plausible at the time, it really doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.
חתימה טובה לכולמ
Do you want for presidents someone who is endorsed by terrorist? Just research his back ground like a lot of us are doing.If it sounds too good , it most be not truth….. So does Mr. Obama sounds great for our nation then it most be…..
Do you want for presidents someone who is endorsed by terrorist?
Disgusting people will always back both of the two presidential candidates. When Obama accepts their endorsement, then I will be worried.
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