Cong. John Mica lost House, considered for transportation secretary

[Bob Dylan]

Could it be that he is a Pathological Liar who is dangerous because he doesn't know anything as he proved during the Campaign, and is surrounded by a Palace Guard of Despicable people like Bannon,Flynn, Newt and Rudy?

And did he really "Win" the Election when he lost by over 2,000,000 Votes?

Do the Math!

 

[PRR 60]

Please take any further general election discussion to Random Discussions. Let's keep this one centered on the Secretary of Transportation and Amtrak.

 

[sldispatcher]

Sec of Transportation will hopefully be someone with executive experience that also has served in a government role. That's not a long list for sure.

The sad part is that very few projects can get going quickly.

I'm curious, are there any actual plans/preliminary work done on replacing the long haul bi-level fleet that could be presented to a new Sec of DOT? (I realize that may not be a Sec of DOT decision..was just a question).

Also, are all viewliner car types (I'm assuming a coach car design at least?) is sitting out there waiting for funding/review up the chain?

 

[jis]

There are no Viewliner car types other than those that have been ordered. Any further orders will go through an RFP and design phase just like this bunch did.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

There are no Viewliner car types other than those that have been ordered. Any further orders will go through an RFP and design phase just like this bunch did.

Though I would imagine somewhere early in the chain someone has ginned up plans and maybe even models for Viewliner Coaches and Lounges.

 

[Green Maned Lion]

Lots of people have ginned up plans for Viewliner Lounges, Coaches, slumber coaches, and for all I know swimming pool cars. Unless you are looking to change the window layout, it's not rocket science. A coach is a Viewliner with all window slots occupied, wall panels, an additional ADA restroom, and the Amtrak seat track.

A lounge is a diner with several extra booths and a counter replacing the kitchen. The whole point of the bloody Viewliner design is that it can accommodate any layout and, in theory, you can convert them.

 

[oregon pioneer]

Good article on the woman that beat Mica:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/stephanie-murphy-went-vietnam-war-refugee-member-congress-n700181

 

[dlagrua]

I have serious doubts that John Mica will become transportation secretary. Mica is anti- passenger rail. His positions are diametrically opposed to that of the president elect who campaigned as a populist highly critical of our decaying transportation infrastructure. With his promise to rebuild and improve the entire transportation system; the president elect must be held accountable to that promise.

 

[jis]

You need to catch up with the news. Mica is not in the running for SecDOT any more. A selection has been made and it is not him.

 

[Ziv]

Chao isn't a terrible choice. She was Chair of the Maritime Commission, was Dep Sec of Transportation for 2 years and she was also Secretary of Labor for 8 years, so she knows her way around the Hill.

Unfortunately, she is also the wife of Mitch McConnell and she has been named by some crook as having asked for donations ($2,000?) for her husbands campaign. Not sure the validity of that claim but it does leave a bit of a stench behind. Given the level of corruption in DC, this isn't that terrible.

I think this is a neutral pick for Amtrak. Maybe a mild positive.