Snake oil salesmen pitching high-speed rail

The pitchmen are Illinois governor, Pat Quinn and our Iowa governor Chester "Debt" Culver.

Iowa, Illinois submit high-speed rail application

Iowa and Illinois submitted another joint applications [sic] Friday for a high-speed intercity passenger rail grant to link Chicago to Iowa City via the Quad-Cities.

The project was not approved in the first round of the multi-year federal grant program.

The application seeks federal funding for 80 percent of the project, with the remainder coming from matching state dollars from Iowa and Illinois.

Why am I reminded of a Simpsons episode?

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and Iowa Gov. Chet Culver emphasized “new green products and practices” that would be integrated nto [sic] the rail project in a joint letter to Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Joseph Szabo supporting the bi-state bid.

The governors said recycled materials would be used in the construction of the train, locally-grown produce served in train dining cars, and recyclable and biodegradable containers used in food service on the train.

Let's call it the Green Machine.

And the money quote from Gov Chester:

Culver wrote that the project’s success would be the important first step in initiating passenger rail service across Iowa. (emphasis mine)

Apparently our governor is too stupid to realize that the Amtrak's California Zephyr stops in Burlington, Mt Pleasant, Ottumwa, Oceola, and Creston as it passes through Iowa. Or that the Southwest Chief stops in Ft Madison. All of these towns are in Iowa.

Don't worry, Democrats. When Branstad regains the governorship, I'm sure he'll be saying stupid things as well.

UPDATE - best line I've heard regarding this: It should be called Chetty's Choo Choo in honor of our governor.