Although much of the Tampa Bay political and business class, along with most progressives are outraged at Governor Rick Scott's decision to reject $2.4 billion in federal stimulus money to construct a high speed rail line in Florida, the moved turned on Tea Partiers and others who believe that such a plan is a potential boondoggle for U.S. taxpayers.

Both supporters and critics of Scott's decision met up at what could be considered Tampa's version of Tahir Squar today, in the plot of land off Kennedy Boulevard called City Hall Plaza.

Among those speaking in support of rail were Tampa mayoral candidates Ed Turanchik and Thomas Scott, as well as Congresswoman Kathy Castor, and City Councilmembers Mary Mulhern and Yolie Capin (both up for re-election next week. Other city council candidates at the event include District 5 hopefuls Frank Reddick and Carrie West).

Congresswoman Kathy Castor, adorned in a black and yellow dress that looked like it was designed by a Pittsburgh Steeler enthusiast, asked the crowd if they wanted to send $2 billion to California? "Nooo," they changed back to her. "Are we going to fight for these jobs?" she asked, getting a healthy "yeah" from the 120 pro-rail supporters standing underneath her. "We're not going to give this up as a fight," she continued, saying that Governor Scott "has indicated that a willingness to work with us to keep those jobs here, but we've got to keep the pressure on," she said (for more on that possibility, read this).

Turanchik led off the rally, speaking through a megaphone. "We would be the first in North America, so we can catch up with the Chinese, the Japanese, the French, the Spanish, and the British. When have we said 'we're going to give it up to other people for leadership?'" he asked. "This is about us leading America here in Tampa," which elicited a huge cheer. "This is about 20,000 jobs for people who don't have jobs!" he said, before leading the crowd to a chant of "We Want Rail!"

Turanchik was followed by his competitor in next week's mayor's race, Thomas Scott, who said it was great to see so many people out supporting "what we voted on several years ago," referring to the 2000 constitutional amendment for rail (which was then repealed by the voters in 2004). Pointing to a baby being held by its parent in the crowd, Scott said rail was about the Bay area's future. "It's about them and 20,000 new jobs in this community, from here to Orlando."

Although there looked to be more pro-rail supporters at the rally, the pro Rick Scott anti-high speed rail folks that stood across the street at Franklin and Kennedy had dozens of people supporting their cause.

This article appears in Feb 17-23, 2011.