A state judge has thrown another obstacle into the plan to build a major high-speed bullet train here in California. Kevin Drum says this may be a major setback for the project. Well, yes…if you ever thought it had any chance of completion. I didn't. Oh, it's not impossible we'll see it happen in our lifetimes, assuming we all live to 120 or so. But there are some things about which utter pessimism just feels like the way to go. You'll probably be right…and if you aren't, well, you'll have a delightful surprise.