Links 1-29-10

-The initial economic reports for the 4th quarter of 2009 are out, and Obama probably wishes that he'd held the SOTU a couple days later.  The economy grew at an annual rate of 5.7% from September-December -- the fastest growth in six years.  It remains to be seen if the growth will continue once stimulus money starts to peter out in six months or so.

-Yesterday President Obama announced $8 billion in grants to begin the process of creating a national high-speed rail network.  The largest single grant went to Tampa and Orlando, FL.  TIME asks if high-speed rail's time has come.

-David Brooks writes that what the country needs is a "saner Ross Perot" as President.  Which reminds me that none of you are old enough remember Ross Perot - and makes me feel ancient again.  The article is both short an interesting, but his main point is that the country needs somebody independent and above the fray to come to Washington and unite both sides.  He concludes with a message to Obama: "He’s out there — that saner Ross Perot. He’s a-comin’. The country would be better off if it were you."

-It's likely that Obama agrees, at least to some extent.  He held a meeting with House Republicans this morning in which he told the Congressmen: "I want us to have a constructive debate . . . the only thing I don’t want – and here I am listening to the American people and I don’t think they want it either – is for Washington to keep being so Washington-like.”  Since House members only have two-year terms, they tend to be the most responsive to the political environment -- and the most likely to be replaced if they aren't.