Boehner rejects Amtrak question as ‘stupid’

[CatWoman]

It became clear yesterday that congressional Republicans came up with one talking point in response to the deadly Amtrak derailment in Philadelphia: “human error.”

The point, of course, is obvious. If the Amtrak 188 tragedy was the result of a person making a mistake, then there’s no need for federal policymakers to act, there’s no need for Congress to make additional investments in infrastructure, and there’s no need for Republicans to be embarrassed by slashing Amtrak’s budget just hours after the accident.

This morning, as National Journal noted, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) didn’t hold back on this point.

Boehner downright dismissed claims that underfunding for the rail system was responsible for the derailment in Philadelphia that killed at least seven people and injured 200 on Tuesday night.

“Are you really gonna ask such a stupid question?” Boehner said during his Thursday morning press conference when a reporter began to ask about Democratic concerns that Amtrak was underfunded because of Republicans. “They started this yesterday: ‘It’s all about funding. It’s all about funding.’ Well, obviously it is not about funding. The train was going twice the speed limit.”

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/boehner-rejects-amtrak-question-stupid?cid=sm_fb_maddow

[CatWoman]

1. Schumer: Boehner's Amtrak comments are 'patently false'

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Thursday slammed Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) for saying there is no link between Amtrak's funding and this week's derailment of a train that left eight people dead.

“Speaker Boehner’s comments are patently false,” Schumer said in a statement. “Experts have made clear that Positive Train Control [PTC] could have prevented the tragedy in Philadelphia.”

The PTC system would automatically recognize whether a train is speeding and stop it. Congress has mandated that the system be put in place by the end of the year, and it was not in place on the section of railroad north of Philadelphia where Tuesday night's crash took place.

More than 200 passengers were injured in the wreck.

A National Transportation Safety Board official said the system could have prevented the crash, something echoed by Schumer.

“It is simply a fact that insufficient funding for Amtrak has delayed the installation of PTC, and to deny a connection between the accident and underfunding Amtrak is to deny reality,” Schumer added.

http://thehill.com/policy/finance/242146-schumer-boehners-amtrak-comments-are-patently-false

[malaise]

3. ReTHUGs will lie still

even when they are dead - Fugg Boehner

[yeoman6987]

2. The President would veto it anyway

I often wonder why Republicans pass bills with no chance of getting passed. They do this all the time. Notice we are talking about them and not our candidates in the media. They love this and their base especially loves it.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Watched Boner's presser.

The duffuss was totally wasted. What a ill informed Drunk.