In a recent commentary, political analyst Jonathan Turley condemned California Governor Gavin Newsom for what he sees as an extravagant display aimed at generating political capital from the state’s high-speed rail project. He describes a recent press event where Newsom showcased a diesel freight train on a conventional track, portraying it as evidence of a functional rail system. Turley points out the irony in this performance, highlighting the vast sums spent without any real progress on the project since its inception.

Newsom had promised a transformative high-speed train project approved by voters in 2008, which involved a $9.95 billion bond issue based on implausibly low funding estimates. Despite the passage of years and the expenditure of approximately $12 billion, the project has not advanced significantly, with critics branding it a 'boondoggle' and questioning the motives behind its promotion. Influential stakeholders reportedly profited from the project, complicating the possibility of abandoning it, even as track construction remains nonexistent.

Turley suggests that Newsom’s attempts to leverage this troubled project for future political aspirations, potentially eyeing a run in 2028, reflect a more extensive pattern of political maneuvering that disregards the reality of fiscal accountability. The ongoing issues with the high-speed rail serve as a cautionary tale about the interplay of politics, public spending, and the pursuit of personal ambition within the California political landscape.