I hear the train a-comin’

You don't have to be a fortune teller to see this train-wreck. Remember when Sen. Harry Reid switched sides during his re-election campaign to back his supporters behind the "Train to Nowhere" -- a high-speed train from Las Vegas to Victorville?

It was a political payoff of the first magnitude, most people thought. And guess who looks like they are going end up holding the bag -- the taxpayers, of course.

Here's a few graphs from the Las Vegas Sun today:

"Ever since plans to build a high-speed train from Las Vegas to Victorville, Calif., were unveiled, developers have been adamant about one point — they wouldn’t ask taxpayers to fund it.

"But DesertXpress Enterprises has no qualms about borrowing from taxpayers — and borrowing big — for a project that skeptics say has little chance of gaining the ridership needed to pay for it.

"The company has applied for a $4.9 billion loan through a federal program to construct what is billed as a $6 billion project. Since the plan was presented nearly two years ago, the cost estimate has ballooned from $4 billion."

You can read the full story here.

For my money, taxpayers would be crazy to loan this outfit one dime to build a train to Victorville. Unless of course, every single person involved in the hairbrained idea -- including Sen. Reid -- put all their wealth on the line as personal security. Then it might be fun to watch.

How about it, guys? Willing to put all of your personal money up ... like you now want to put the taxpayers' money up?

I promise you they won't. But for once I'd like to see the government grow a pair and ask developers for some personal guarantees. You want a $4.9 billion loan on something you think can't miss? Fine. Go all in. All of you.