I'm not a conservative, so I have no idea what they'd tell him.
I lived in California for 34 years and I know that it is that "great low income assistance" which has contributed to the state's current woes.
Not being a "Teabagger," I couldn't speak to whether or not they hate jobs. I know I don't, but I also know that, despite my being in favor of HSR, now is probably not the time for California to be throwing money they don't have into a project that may fall short and never be completed. In the current economy, how many residents of the state do you honestly believe will be buying bonds for this project? The project depends on selling enough bonds to build a predetermined length of track to qualify for federal funding. It's far too easy for this to fall short, especially when you are banking on funding from a majority of people who will probably never use this train.
All one has to do is look at AMTRAK and it's losses. THIS will be no different.
The lack of success of Amtrak is certainly something to consider.
However, I see the HSR between L.A. and S.F. as a slightly different animal. I think the idea is intended for business folk who frequently fly back and forth between the two cities, often times on a daily basis, and for weekenders looking for a quick, inexpensive way to get from one end of the state to the other.
On the business man end of the plan, you would reduce the number of daily flights to and from the two cities, this of course would mean less pollution and, sadly, probably some airlines reducing their work force in the two cities...