Posted on 10/22/2009 7:32:11 AM PDT by Willie Green
Singing competitions can happen anywhere. Just ask Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), who broke into song during a recent House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee hearing on high-speed rail.
The subject of the hearing clearly had Cohen thinking about fast trains.
“Have you ever heard of [1960s band] the Box Tops?” Cohen quizzed Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo.
“Yes, I remember the Box Tops, but I ... ” he stumbled, “you were stretching me a little bit, but ... ”
Cohen clearly had a home-field advantage: The Box Tops were a Memphis, Tenn., group whose biggest hit, “The Letter,” came out when the congressman was 18 years old.
Reps. Cohen and Miller have their attachments to the blues “Give me a ticket for an airplane,” Cohen spontaneously cooed, “ain’t got time to catch a fast train. My baby just wrote me a letter.”
The crowd gave his performance the next best thing to applause: laughter.
“We’ll write you a new song,” he told Szabo. “Get us a fast train.”
When he was finished, subcommittee Chairwoman Corrine Brown (D-Fla.) challenged Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) to “top that.” Game on.
Cohen echoed the challenge to his chairman.
But Oberstar would have none of it. “I don’t compose music or lyrics,” he countered. “We compose legislation.”
Oh for crying out loud...
Yeah, I remember the Box Tops...
Anything's better than MC Rove, I suppose,
But Little Eva is a CLASSIC...
And Grand Funk Railroad ROCKS!!!
Everybody's doin' a brand new dance now
Come on, baby, do the locomotion
I know you'll get to like it if you give it a chance now
Come on, baby, do the locomotion
My little baby sister can do it with ease
It's easier than learning your ABC's
So come on, come on, do the locomotion with me
Every time I see articles about high speed choo choo it reminds me of a certain Simpsons episode...
Planes are more like busses than rail when it comes to dedicated infrastructure. Plus planes are faster than trains (ignoring homeland “security”). Back in the days when OJ ran to the gate, commercial planes were quite time efficient.
(monorail....monorail....monorail)
How'd you like to be stuck at a party talking to this guy?
Planes are more like busses than rail when it comes to dedicated infrastructure. Plus planes are faster than trains (ignoring homeland “security”). Back in the days when OJ ran to the gate, commercial planes were quite time efficient.
Planes are still more efficient on longer trips of 500~600 miles or more.
But on shorter regional trips of 100~500 miles, trains are much more efficient than short-hop airflights. They are not only more fuel efficient than airlines, they are also just as fast or faster. And they can also make quick, convenient stops along the way to allow passengers to get on or get off wherever it's more convenient. Planes can't do that.
How'd you like to be stuck at a party talking to this guy?
It would make me feel like singing this one.
There’s a far more relevant song which we should all remember:
There’s something happening here
What it is ain’t exactly clear...
I think it’s time we stop, children, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Planes are likely cheaper as there are no rails to own/maintain. Especially at >=250 mi.
My experience is that buses are as fast or faster than Amtrak at ~250 mi. Cheaper too.
I think it’s time we stop, children, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Buffalo Springfield is OK sometimes...
but you can't boogie to it.
Planes are likely cheaper as there are no rails to own/maintain. Especially at >=250 mi.
My experience is that buses are as fast or faster than Amtrak at ~250 mi. Cheaper too.
Most people would disagree with you, which is why politicians who want to get elected or reelected are supporting this high-speed rail initiative.
Oh, you'll still have a choice to ride the bus or plane if you want. But most people will be taking the trains.
Good times!
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