[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Robert Cruickshank
California High Speed Rail Blog

High speed rail is an inherently political project. We can - and should - discuss the technological and transportation merits of the plan, defend its purpose, its value, its need. But to make it reality we must navigate the politics of California - never an easy thing no matter what the issue - as we've seen this week.

The main obstacle facing high speed rail is this state's political inertia. For the last 30 years California has slowly but steadily fallen apart as its public services are hollowed out from a lack of investment. Californians don't like $4.50 gas and are flocking to rail travel - but without massive investment this can never become the viable alternative to oil-based travel that we need to stay afloat and economically competitive.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

So, ‘what if’, the California primary election had not been the subject of political meddling this year? California moved the presidential portion of its primary into February to have more of an impact on the process. (Or was it to allow California politicians the ability to ingratiate themselves to the probable nominee, Hillary Clinton?)

Clinton won that February event – to no avail. Had the primary date been left for June 3rd, the latest Field Poll shows that Barrack Obama would trounce Hillary Clinton 51-38 and would be the uncontested nominee of the Democratic Party for President.

This would have provided Democratic politicians with the opportunity to ingratiate themselves to President Obama. So much for foresight.

The Field Poll also finds that Obama will kill McCain in California – bringing the accuracy of the Los Angeles Times poll, which showed a more narrow Obama win, into question in yet another election. (Is the Times pollster a relative of the editor?)

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Three and a half weeks in advance of Super Tuesday, Hillary Clinton made her first trip to California yesterday,greeting union workers and Latino voters in LA, reports the LA Times.Among other California politicians, she met with LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa andAssembly Speaker Fabian Nunez. (You can play spot-the-politician in the picture above.) She will next head on to Nevada, whichholds its caucuses on January 19.

Senator Barbara Boxer is heavily criticizing the EPA’s refusal to grant California a waiverto limit carbon emissions from vehicles, reports the LA Times. She hasthreatened to issue a subpoena for documents showing White Houseinterference in the EPA’s decision, which the EPA justified by callingglobal warming an international problem which needed to be dealt withat the national level, rather than state by state.