Well HSR is probably dead for now, but there is next year and the year after that, and one after that. In two years we'll have many different members of Congress again, and I'm hopeful that all this political bickering will stop, and maybe get some guys that actually work together. I think many people agree, we're going to need to build HSR in one form or another. It's just that right now, no one can agree on how it should be built, or funded. I think as long as some just want to throw money at it, it won't work until we come up with a long term funding solution, such as the Highway Trust Fund for highways and the Aviation Trust Fund for runways and such. (Albeit the fact the HTF doesn't pay for all of the highways)
Didn't FDR propose some sort of interstate highway system back in the 30's? I guess it got killed, and didn't come about again until the 50's. It might take 5, 10, or 20 years, but HSR is coming. More and more people are attracted to train travel every year, and one day our politicians will have no choice but to listen.