Boeing Boing!

Years ago when overseas one of my colleagues was a graduate from Embry Riddle University. We traveled to Africa once and I remember him referring to the Boeing planes we rode on as "Boings" an obvious play on words.

However, Boeing of late is the focus of political angst. The Air Force just sealed a deal with Airbus (the European airline manufacturing consortium) to build replacements for the USAF's aging in-air plane refueling fleet.

I recently received e-mail about this:

Recently a contract to build a tanker for our airforce (35 billion dollars) was awarded to a company in FRANCE! I dunno, but it seems to me that there are quite a few working US citizens who would benefit from doing the work that the defense department wants to send to France. Our corporations outsource jobs, businesses over-use H-1b visas and do not hire citizens, we have a huge trade deficit... I could go on and on.

E-Mail from a known but unnamed sender In fact, the Democrats are jumping on this too, pinning it all on – John McCain. However, people should not forget that not too long ago Boeing was caught trying to ripoff the American taxpayer in a deal to...replace the tanker fleet.

David Freddoso at National Review Online has the details:

In 2001, the United States Air Force wanted to begin replacing 500 of its aging refueling planes. The plan began with a sweetheart deal, buried in the fine print of the 2002 defense-authorization bill. The Air Force was to lease 100 Boeing fuel tankers at a cost of $26 billion — $6 billion more than the cost of buying them outright, according to an estimate by the White House Office of Management and Budget.

If that sounds like a bad deal, it’s because it was. It never occurred, thanks to loud and persistent protests from Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.). And now that McCain is a candidate for president and Boeing’s rival has won the contract, Democrats are effectively complaining that he didn’t let Boeing rip off the taxpayers.

...

When McCain finally received the e-mails, the Boeing tanker deal exploded. The investigation revealed malfeasance, resulting in a $615 million fine for the company. Boeing’s CEO, Phil Condit, was forced to resign. The company’s CFO was sent to prison. Darleen Druyun, who had served as the second-ranking civilian official for Air Force procurement, also went to prison. She pled guilty in 2004 to steering the tanker contract and other deals toward Boeing in the hopes of later securing lucrative jobs with the company for herself and her family members.

Source: A Good Deal of Credit to McCain for Stopping a Bad Deal (Boeing and blame.) by David Freddoso Essentially, Boeing was attempting to ripoff the taxpayers and is now attempting to use its status as a domestic corporation to let it get away with this bad behavior. Now, the e-mail I have brings up the usual points about jobs going overseas but Mr. Freddoso notes most of the work of constructing the planes will take place here in the USA.

What is interesting though, is those who normally whine about how American Corporations abuse the taxpayer and the people are now leaping to Boeing's defense or more accurately are using this case to beat up on John McCain. You see John McCain sniffed out the putrid deal and put an end to it. I am all for having American companies do this work, but they should not feel so entitled to it they think they can grossly and corruptly overcharge for the work and product.

Well, There It Is!

John McCain has succeeded in locking up the GOP nomination to run for the presidency.

This is a small blog not many readers and of course I only count for one vote in a state that tends Democratic and only has 9 10 electoral college votes. However, let it be known if John McCain picks Mike Huckabee or some sort of "unity pick" for VP then I will not vote for the position of presidency.

I also urge all in this debate to temper their language. This is not about "slobs vs. snobs" (neither category is a good one to be in) nor should others allude that anti-McCain conservatives are babies. Senator McCain is the choice of the Republican Party and like it or not, believe it or not, the Republican Party IS the conservative party. Perhaps not as conservative as you like, but it certainly is much more conservative than the Democrats.

Even McCain at his worst is still nearly a factor of 10x better than Hillary or The JFK Lama.

Is Conservatism About To Enter The Desert?

And roam for 40 years? Well, maybe not 40 but you get the idea.

I think it is very possible. The distaste many conservatives have for John McCain is very strong. Strong conservatives are talking about not voting for McCain. Now, maybe the reality will eventually hit them and they will do the nose pinch. Maybe not. After all, Ann Coulter is on record saying she prefers Hillary Clinton over John McCain.

Yeah, it is true McCain can not win without the "moderate voter" but he certainly can not win if conservatives do not vote for him.

Here is what I can see will happen. Hillary and her mud machine will eek out the nomination over the JFK Lama. She will then ask the JFK Lama to join her ticket as VP. That in my mind guarantees sixteen years of Dems in the Whitehouse.

The JFK Lama (the reincarnation of the mythical JFK as opposed to the real JFK) is very much like our own Russ Feingold. Despite his votes and his positions he has fooled many people into believing he is just another moderate. Oh, he is so nice!.

If one does not pay attention one might think the JFK Lama a moderate, just like our own Russ Feingold. So we will see moderates parading around with material promoting (for instance) John Gard and the Hillary -- JFK Lama ticket. Just like I saw people with gear pushing President Bush and Russ Feingold back in '04.

Dear John McCain

Dear John,

While this is not quite a dear john letter it is not going to be too far.

I am sympathetic to your ideas on immigration. I do not see us deporting all illegal immigrants as a practical idea both in terms of the political resistance as well as being able to muster the resources to do the job. I am okay with coming up with a list of true criminals and going after them and sending them back.

I hope (have not yet taken the time for the analysis) provisions are in the bill for real border security and pressure upon our neighbors to the south to reform their economies so their people do not have to wonder the world over for work.

But that is not my concern right now. Your actions, words, and so on are very disturbing. I understand politics is a rough and tumble sport (after all disagreeing friends usually do well to avoid the topic) and people have said some nasty things about you, but you are beginning to lose your cool. First you unload on Senator Cornyn, and now Mitt Romney.

"Maybe I should wait a couple of weeks and see if it changes because its changed in less than a year from his position before," McCain responded, referring to his rival's immigration stance. "And maybe his solution will be to get out his small varmint gun and drive those Guatemalans off his lawn."

Source: The Politico – McCain unloads on Romney, Mitt's camp punches back I am not yet on board with any presidential campaign, Your's is the closest to it, but if rubbish like this coming from yourself I will not support you, maybe even to the point of not voting for president if you win the nomination.

Do you honestly think the above quote won your campaign or your ideas on immigration any love? It lost your campaign & immigration plan support. Watch it.