New Democrat Strategy: Political Scapegoats Needed

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/09/09/wisconsins_rail_dream_is_a_spending_nightmare_107012.html

Executive Summary:

The outgoing, retiring, Democrat governor of Wisconsin wants a high speed rail line from Milwaukee to Madison so badly that he is rushing to spend $300 million on it before he leaves office.  He apparently hopes that the next governor will feel obligated to continue the project and spend at least another $800 million on it to complete the line, and then millions per year in operating costs.

This rail line will go on a thoroughfare that is currently mostly free of auto traffic and is already served by bus lines.  Backers say that they want this line to extend to Minneapolis and other cities in the future.  Both Republican candidates to replace the governor have pledged to stop the project, even if the state has to repay federal funding and spend more money to take out what has been installed.  The Democrat candidate for governor would continue the project as planned.

Analysis:
Wow.  This is a new low point in politics, and unfortunately, as I see it, a new strategy for Democrats.  Many of the far left Democrats know that their policies are unpopular with the country at large, even among other Democrats.  They have finally learned that lesson from the past, from Jimmy Carter's administration to Hillarycare in the 90s.  The new strategy seems to be to 1) get someone that is not seeking re-election (for retirement or other reasons) to take the huge political hit to start the ball rolling on a very, very unpopular project, law or entitlement and then 2) get another Democrat that is more "moderate" elected, ostensibly to pick up the pieces, maybe trim off a few of the really unpopular parts to stave off a revolution, and entrench the rest as much as possible into daily life (i.e. do whatever you can to get people dependent on it).  This is essentially what I argued is the strategy with President Obama's first term (see earlier post), but it is showing up in other areas of public service now.  This is not a good sign.  How do we fight this?