George,

So Bush wants to bankrupt AMTRAK to save it!

The "compassionate conservative"'s philosophy seems to be by destroying everything, from Social Security to the nation of Iraq, he will be saving them!

This odious administration has the Midas touch in reverse, everything it puts its hands on seems to head only in one direction--down the tubes!

At least their record of getting it wrong, is consistent.

AMTRAK is a vital transportation alternative, serving many who do not have the means or the local airline service to transport them. Many areas no longer have interstate bus service, but AMTRAK still serves some.

It is an easy target for the Republicans to pick apart an operation like AMTRAK because, in large part, the patrons of this service, particularly, the interstate passengers, have little lobbying power as opposed to the main line freight railroads who see AMTRAK as an impediment to their "bottom line".

It is unlikely you'll see the Tom DeLays of the world riding the rails(unless, of course, it's gratis).

For example, the "Cardinal" that provides service from New York to the mid west, arrives in Charlottesville about 25 minutes later than would be possible, if the Norfolk and Southern would grant AMTRAK trackage rights over their high speed line from Orange, Virginia to Charlottesville. As it stands at present, the "Cardinal" is compelled to use old outmoded tracks to make the connection into Charlottesville, at some points enroute through the woods, I am convinced I could jog faster!

AMTRAK is totally at the mercy of a largely bought and paid for Republican dominated Congress that will bow to the interests of any opponent to AMTRAK. The disc brake problem on the high speed "Acela" trains was just what the Republicans needed to once again demonize AMTRAK, its management, its "wastefullness." A party that is the personification of waste (IRAQ--a third of a TRILLION dollars, and counting!), the GOP should surely recognize that AMTRAK, in the scheme of things, is a pittance--Christmas Club bucks for them.

Logic is not the hallmark of Bush and his followers, but hustling a few bucks, from everything from Medicaid, Head Start to veterans benefits, should not surprise AMTRAK supporters!

Every dollar cut from a service for the poor and unrepresented can bolster Bush's tax cuts and other perks for the privileged.

Returning from Utica, New York in January 2005, aboard the "Cardinal," I briefly detrained in Washington D.C., where the dining and sleeping cars are usually added, for the trip west. I learned from a fuming AMTRAK yard worker that this trip would not have those additional cars because the Republicans had purloined them for their free trip to Philadelphia where their leader was to address them!

When I told an old couple, waiting to move to their reserved sleeping compartment, returning to Chicago, after the gentleman had been through a major surgical procedure at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, she cried, he just said, "those bastards have gotten my last vote!" Chalk one up for the Dems!

The mantra of the right wing , during the Clinton years, was, "Where's the outrage?"

Their concern was sex ... my outrage is the survival of our nation!

Harry Tenney (electronic mail, May 13, 2005)