ShrubCo fires successful Amtrak CEO

[funflower]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 - Amtrak's board fired the company's president on Wednesday morning, widening a divide between the Bush administration and Congress over the future of the railroad.

(snip)

Mr. Gunn, who is credited with turning around New York City's subway system in the 1980's and came out of retirement three years ago to steer Amtrak successfully during a financial crisis, described the reason for his dismissal as "ideological."

"Obviously, what their goal is - and it's been their goal from the beginning - is to liquidate the company," Mr. Gunn said in the interview.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/10/politics/10amtrak.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/10/opinion/10thur4.html

[ixion]

1. their goal is to liquidate the country

privatizing and mortgaging every last bit of it.

It seems obvious to me -- it's the only thing that truly makes sense when you try and discern motive.

But hey, I'm not a 'pundit', so what the hell do I know?

[...of J.Temperance]

2. Bush Inc. will PROBABLY replace Gunn with Michael "FEMA" Brown

Jaysus, I wish I could say this as a joke...but you know that Bush Inc. is probably THINKING of doing this.

War is peace.
Up is down.
Day is night.

FAILURE IS SUCCESS.

Another day in BushWorld.

[funflower]

3. I can't believe they've got the gall to do this when they're already so

unpopular.

Guess they know their days are numbered. Gotta do as much damage as possible before they get sent back to the white-men-only golf club.

[...of J.Temperance]

4. Well

These are insane and reactionary freaks we're talking about.

They're weird, they seem to fall into two categories: the oblivious and the "fuck you! who cares what you think?" camps.

The next three years are going to be scary, as they realize more and more that the majority of the nation HATES them because of what they've done.

They'll try and do as much damage as possible and they'll try and steal ANYTHING from the Treasury that's not nailed down.

I live in constant hope that SOMEBODY or SOMETHING will step in and stop them.

[ryan_cats]

5. I hate these thugs.

I hate these thugs. God forbid we should use mass transit, it'll affect the oil industries' bottom line!

As someone who has been through Europe numerous times on their excellent train system, I'd be more than willing to pay subsidies to bring more rail to the U.S. But NO, can't have that. Can't have lower pollution and less crowded roads, that would affect the bottom line.

If we had a system that has even a 10th as much coverage as Europe has, we'd be able to lower our oil consumption, our carbon output and increase our productivity. All they have to do is have corridors like we have here in the Sacramento area. It's much better to be able to relax on the commute than sit in traffic. At least, for me, the busses go where I need to go for work and it saves over paying for gas and parking. The people who work in the Bay area get to either sleep or be productive during their train commute. I'd hate to have to drive that commute.

I can see them even eliminating the existing corridor system we have now. As if the freeways aren't crowded already. Next thing you know, they'll cut the commuter busses. All in the name of big oil, no thanks!