Obama spent the whole night agreeing with McCain...."uh, yu, uh, well I agree with John that blablabla is important, but we have to remember that it is critical, uh, and uh -that's where we differ- to, to, to make a priority of this issue.
You're right Veejaya... there's a difference when someone articulates with experience and someone who uses rhetoric. Earlier in the campaign, I didn't have concern who got elected.
Tonight, I realize that Obama is nothing but rhetoric or pumped up script and little experience in substance or knowledge of the subject.
I am conerned that he felt it unnecessary to initially be involved in the discourse of the bailout until provoked and only then included in the meeting with GWB. I believe McCain pushed this issue as any potential president should have as he'd end up at the helm of the ship!
McCain seems to take this seriously on so many levels. BO has to depend on too many people to tell him how to think. We've been through this with GWB. Nope, the diversion of using the words, 'Hope and Change' doesn't convince me now.
There is no circular logic, the comparison is that pilots live in a competitive market for their skills whereas, ATCOs do not. With rare exceptions, the FAA is the ONLY employer in the US. The government has only one group to employ (but based on 1981, perhaps not so hard to find replacements), so it must attempt to bargain with them, and controllers have only one possible employer for their specialized skills that do not have substitute uses. Both sides are locked without escape-a classic prisoner's dilemma.
I quite agree pilot's salaries have declined greatly, in fact, while SW pilots are now the highest paid 737 pilots, it is mostly due to falling salaries at the majors. Or, I should call them the former majors.
Keeping it on track, I cannot see any advantage to unions in the airline industry when all they have done is retreat, handing back wages and benefits. The reason, however, is the basic economics of the industry-there are too many planes seeking too few passengers and consumers have the upper hand in pricing. The majors need to fill as many seats as possible to maintain complex and expensive networks in a vicious competitive market. The unions simply cannot stop the forces of the market, witness Alitalia perils with a whole government subsidizing them, eventually the money runs out.
I'd like to see ALPA continue to receive the salaries of the '70s (and be there to get 'em ) but I also like the $200 round trip to see Mom. Pilots, in particular, have given back so much because of union seniority rules, they have no opportunities at other employers without taking a severe pay cut. Only by becoming expat is there better opportunities. Consumers have saved billions over the years and had travel opportunities they never imagined in 1978. The same economic forces have allowed us to have cheap electronics, car choices from around the world, clothes, 2500 square foot homes, the list goes on.
Who is the country run for-all of us or some select union employees who can hold us hostage? Europeans have very tightly run, government influenced economies with "safety nets" galore, yet their unemployment is 50% higher than ours, disposable income is probably 20% less, under-30 year-olds have few opportunities. Living standards are noticeably lower than US, the vast majority of Americans would not accept European lifestyles. In the last 3 years I have meet French youth waiting tables everywhere-London, New York, Cairns AU, Auckland, NZ, Washington, Mumbai. Why? No chance at home is the universal answer. Our Italian salesman last week, when asked about the economy, responded with "all the young want to leave, no opportunities, no chance to leave Mom & Dad" Wonderful place, if you can afford it and have gotten access to right people.
This wiki thing is really growing on you isn't it? I remember the first time I stumbled across the CIA fact book online, kinda like you, a kid in a candy store.
Glad you found the references, I'd rather not read anymore about Jesse's checkered past if you don't mind. What I know and now you do as well is that some high powered pseudo religious organizations favor Obama. I'd hope that's not a surprise to you, wasn't to me. That other religious groups favor McCain due to some of his views (and Obama's polar opposite beliefs) shouldn't be a revelation either (sorry, couldn't help myself) nor is it anything of a negative as you've tried to portray it as. I guess I could play the same and play up labor unions endorsing BO. Everyone loves a boogeyman don't they?
I had never had 'President's Day' off before in my life. Never had it off again after I left governmental service.
So Con...do you think we should move towards everyone having President's Day off or do you think we should move towards no one having President's Day off ?
Should we move towards American workers having more vacations or less vacations ?
Better pay or worse pay ?
More benefits or less benefits ?
What exactly is your complaint here ? Should we all go back to working 12 hour days, six days a week and shopping only at the company store like before there were unions ? Maybe "deregulate" the child labor laws too ?
Do you have a point -- besides somebody has it better than you ? Would you like for your government to be a worse employer than yours ?
Once again, you don't have one. This ain't the "war college". As a matter of fact, this ain't even college. It's an internet BBS. "Primary research" ? You guys don't even sign your names.
I only ask because those who need gov't often accept it during times of opportunity.
C of F,
Are we talking about me or Wall Street ?
Should you desire to ask me a personal question about an off topic subject I'd suggest clicking on my screen name at the left and sending me a PM, sending me an email or visiting my blog and see what you find.
Barring that, you can start another topic about the PATCO strike if you would like.
I've answered many questions about it in the past and would be happy to share my views about it with you. However, this isn't the place.
That's meaningless, 1DC, Fox did the same call-in poll and had returned 82% for McCain. It's a reflection more of the network's audience than anything scientific.
It's going to take a day or two for the polls to update the effect of the debate with any reliability (I trust Rasmussen polling most, based on their historical record of accuracy). Meanwhile, party hacks are furiously trying to spin them to their advantage.
I watched the debate intensely and listened to multiple network analysts for an hour or two after. I didn't see anything to significantly change the equation. Whoever you like before the debate, you probably liked after.
Most likely, the big bombshells won't drop until the last two weeks of the campaign, when all the stops are pulled. It's too close to call yet.
That other religious groups favor McCain due to some of his views...
I'm afraid something got lost in the translation WC. The religious groups I've mentioned do not favor John McCain. They do -- in general -- favor the Republican Party. It's the reason (or at least a significant reason) McCain chose Palin as his VP -- to energize "the base".
These are the groups that want to outlaw abortion (so much for the Palin kid's "choice"), teach Creationism in school (when they're not busy home schooling) and -- in general -- turn America into a theocratic state. Perhaps you noticed the "protest" scheduled to occur this Sunday that wants to tear down the wall between Church and State (but still retain their tax-free status) ?
McCain doesn't believe in any of this. But he will pander to it to win.
"It's "One nation under God". If you don't like it, get out." Sound familiar ?
An interesting little tid-bit of history behind that phrase
Eisenhower was baptized, confirmed, and became a communicant in the Presbyterian Church in a single ceremony on February 1, 1953, just 12 days after his first inauguration.[13]
BTW, I learned all that from a book too -- "The Family". Once again, Wikipedia just makes it easier to access.
And just to make you happy, The Family's head -- Doug Coe ? His Wikipedia entry has been edited -- severely. There wasn't much to start with. And now there's even less.
I had the TV on as I dozed prior to a flight and heard Sarah Palin speaking to Katie Couric(sp?) about her foreign policy creditentials. Listening to her (the emphasis on listening), it was ugly, almost embarrassing. I felt she was strugglling to repeat the trite lines the GOP PR hacks had rammed down her throat in the many press prep. sessions she has so obviously endured since her nomination.
I was up and about a couple of hours later and watched a repeat of the very same interview. With the visual distraction, the same stumbles didn't seem quite so bad, which says a lot about the power of the visual cue... and a good looking speaker - (or perhaps more about me!!!).
I can't for the life of me see why her handlers won't allow her to say "I'm the ex-governor of a US State. I've got no foreign policy experience and accept that I've got an incredibly steep learning curve ahead of me. But I'll be number two to a very experienced man who I'll learn from every day. And with my limited experience, and going in as Vice President, in executive experience, I'm still streets ahead of the man the Democrats want to put in as the President."
) but I also like the $200 round trip to see Mom. Pilots, in particular, have given back so much because of union seniority rules, they have no opportunities at other employers without taking a severe pay cut. Only by becoming expat is there better opportunities. Consumers have saved billions over the years and had travel opportunities they never imagined in 1978. The same economic forces have allowed us to have cheap electronics, car choices from around the world, clothes, 2500 square foot homes, the list goes on.
Linear Mode
