by Frank James
President Bush (remember him?) is making the rounds of the federal bureaucracy doing something of a farewell tour.
Today, he was at the Transportation Department talking up all that employees there and his administration have done to improve the nation's transportation system, such as better management of the New York City airspace, improvements that should have the salutary effect of making life better for holiday travelers, the president said.
Of course, because of economic slowdown, the airlines will be flying fewer planes so don't expect the airports to be any less crowded.
Anyway, the president started off with a joke which contained a kind of heckuva job compliment to the department's employees :
I appreciate you giving me a chance to come by and visit with you today. I want to thank you very much for the great job you are doing to make sure that across America our railroads and highways and airways are working to keep our citizens moving. You have done a terrific job, as far as I am concerned. The past eight years I have not seen a traffic jam -- (laughter) -- waited for an airplane -- (laughter) -- or had my bags lost. (Laughter.)
Yes, it's good to be the king. In Washington, he's the guy who creates the traffic jams.
I'm sure he didn't mean to rub anyone's face in it.
No doubt a lot of people next week will be wishing they could travel by private jumbo jet and motorcades with police escort to grandma's house.









Comments
I remember many people scoffing at the invention of Dean Kamen for the Segway, which should have revolutionized traffic/transportation in cities. Why don't we bring this sort of technology into our lifestyles? What is it about an automobile that we can't get our heads around alternative transportation?
Posted by: lochnessmonster | November 18, 2008 8:05 PM
Here is a typical example of the "quality" of Frank James' journalism:
"Of course, because of economic slowdown, the airlines will be flying fewer planes so don't expect the airports to be any less crowded."
Frank, please explain how it makes sense to write that the airlines are flying fewer planes; hence, don't expect the airports to be any less crowded. If there are fewer planes flying because fewer people are flying, then, Frank, the airports will be less crowded.
And, of course, the Tribune censors do not like Tribune readers pointing out where the Tribune goes wrong. Tribune censors also do not like the First Amendment. So, this post probably won't see the light of day. The Chicago Tribune: journalism corrupted.
Posted by: John D | November 18, 2008 10:58 PM
Well if he had received and more importantly read the information sent to him a couple of years ago by now the average guy could also start to get a Presidential Green Light run across every major city in peak traffic and what’s more do it faster, safer, reducing the fuel wasted sitting in traffic so it left the money in their hip pocket and as a result reduced the pollution.
It will be in the public records somewhere probably under UBTSC Pty Ltd or Jozef Goj.
Under what title then that would be more interesting.
Could it be under “crazy mad inventor” or was it just ignored by a minion as not worthy of attention!
The outcome is that he deemed it not worth the trouble to read or respond. What’s it about?
Just 21st Century infrastructure that eliminates all jams gridlock and congestion.
You see for the last 140 years after the first traffic light was invented every intersection since then is designed in a way that under peak traffic loading it works like a chain that’s as strong as its weakest link.
It works to the flow rate of the slowest intersection. Even today there are traffic engineers that tell us that traffic lights help smooth traffic flow. Pardon me, but someone stops, to let someone else go, so you get, stop go, stop go, traffic flow. Where’s the smoothness in that.
I’ll let you make up your own mind and you can read about it and see a couple of models of intersections www.ubtsc.com.au where when installed into the infrastructure will give you Liquid Flow Traffic and eliminate the $400 Billion lost to the economy just stuck in traffic.
If you want to invest in the future invest in Liquid Flow Traffic and get that Presidential Green Light Run every day. Your grandchildren may well thank you as they will benefit with less pollution.
Posted by: Jozef Goj | November 18, 2008 11:44 PM
Bush might create congestion in DC but you should come to Chicago and see how having the President-elect residing in your community can mess traffic up.
I reside in Hyde Park very close to the Obama residence. We no longer can ride down Hyde Park Blvd. and if you desire to have visitors you need to get them cleared by the Secret Service.
I cannot wait for him to move to the White House because this is becoming onerous!
I would hope he sells his house and move to the country as I do not want to put up with this for four years.
Posted by: Pat H | November 19, 2008 9:58 AM
Yeah, good job BROWNIE!! whiteagle38
Posted by: R. Juneau | November 19, 2008 10:42 PM
Yes, indeed, I hate to fly, but not so much for the reasons GW gave. what I hate is being treated like a criminal at the airport, especially since I have NO record; I've never had so much as a speeding ticket. There's got to be a better way to do security.
Posted by: Jane Hawes | November 22, 2008 3:59 PM