And, this district is not really rural. Yeah it has a huge rural component, miles and miles of completely flat, well drained, three-foot deep, black loam top soil. The best farm land in the world. But it is also the heart of the industrial mid-west. The home of Caterpillar and Richard Pryor. Transportation is more than trolleys, bike lanes and BRT. Transportation is at least an equal part freight, railroads, barges and trucking. This district has all that. The industrial meltdown America faces has a huge transportation component.

I would have preferred Oberstar, even Nadler and although I think J. Sadik-Khan is absolutely brilliant she is working for a Mayor that is totally comfortable with converting what remains of industrial New York into condos as quickly possible. The swing voters who work in factories in the mid-west deserve to be recognized here too.

I supported Hillary and didn’t have great hopes for Obama. I’m hoping for a couple decent Supreme Court appointments, thats about it. The main issue for the economy is how to push through a carbon tax and what to use the money for. Maybe this guy will do it. Who knows? But I don’t think LaHood’s political pedigree is all that determinative in this regard.

For a guy who campaigned on the promise of change Obama is sure looking like someone who plans to be as uncontroversial as possible. Has there ever been a progressive transportation secretary? Ever? I guess we should never get our hopes up.