Maybe a reson to vote Dem.

[Soverytired]

I will never vote for a man that sat under a pastor that makes statements "I hate White America". And still continued to attend that church. You have to question his JUDGEMENT!!

"Today !! is the first time in my adult life I am proud to be an American"...Michelle Obama= SAD, because your husband is winning?=SAD

Obama will lose by huge numbers in November !!
He will lose NH,OH,FL,WV,PN,=all states Democrates need !!

He's going to win in a landslide and the Democrats will have a veto proof majority.

The Republican party is completely and utterly bereft of idea's and morally bankrupt. They deserve what's coming.

Gonna be a long time in the wilderness. I figure at least 10, and probably 20 years out of power on the federal level.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

<Snort!>

Nice double talk. Your opinion that federal support of unions is the number 1 issue is your prerogative. Your opinion that "everyone's problem" is that they don't agree you and are therefore shortsighted and foolish is simply silly and arrogant beyond belief.

The way Air Line Pilots pay their house note, other bills, etc is via union labor. Union labor sets the hourly rate. Even Skywest, VA and jB pilots pay rates are inflouenced by union labor.

Union labor is very political.

Tell me... what is the most important each month? Your house/rent payment or gays getting married? (or whatever "is important")?

If you can't make your house payment or the rent, what is ones primary concern?

Everyone has different things that are important to them, politically. Do I also think there are some really dumb issues out there? Certainly. Am I so arrogant to believe that what is closest to me must be closest to everyone else? Hell no.

The ability to pay your mortgage is done via work rules and hourly rate. The ability to earn fair work rules and pay rates is determined by the POTUS, judge appointments and NMB appointments.

You may have been told many times in your career that flying should be your standby job (profession, whatever) but you should have a primary back up. I humbly suggest you BELIEVE IT. If you're a responsible ADULT, you'll plan for it accordingly.

There are many ways to make money in this country. However, there are not easy ways to make money.

Re-education is time consuming and expensive. Starting and running a small business takes away from family time and doesn't gurantee success. The US economy is incredibly competitive.

If I need to I will do something else.

But I don't care for your ideals.. of being aloof to ones job and simply finding another when squeezed out.

I believe in fighitng for this profession, and I intend to.

Look around you. If you have any friends recently furloughed, you should now appreciate how quickly this can happen. Furloughs, loss of medicals, poorly run airlines, well run airlines that still can't compete with even better ones (like Frontier vs Southwest) . . . all of these happen, and no government plan or ultimate federal protection will make any difference.

Wow.. that is really deep.

I've been furloughed twice. If we had a pro pilot POTUS in the WH the last 7 years I don't think we would have gotten screwed as hard.

The difference is the ability to pick up the phone and talk to someone in the WH about air line pilot issues. Never happens with GWB and it never will with McCain.


So whats the most important action each month? House/rent payment or gays/guns/abortion?

 

[spinproof]

Because there is no need to listen to Air America... many Americans know how to think independantly.

Many Americans don't need Sean, Rush and Bill to tell us what to think and believe....

Wait a minute! I think you're on to something here!

Let's see Air america is Liberal and Bankrupt! All the other people you mention are very successful and Conservative...hmmm I see a pattern here.

Obviously Liberals don't own radios or they're just too busy listening to Oprah,NPR or Al Gore Global Spontaneous Combustion reruns.
Wow you really are Independant thinkers!

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

It's not. I fully believe that total airline capacity in the US will shrink by 30-50% over the next decade and nothing can change that fact. I'm planning accordingly.

However, lets fast forward though to Summer 2009. After sweeping both houses and winning the White House in a blowout election (deservedly, I might add) and Congress passes the "Airline Right to Strike Act".

Your union group now gets to strike whenever it wants. Isn't that great? You can negotiate for anything! Except the airlines will still be losing billions, and you can't squeeze blood from a turnip.

I have yet to hear anyone explain how a labor friendly Congress will actually help airlines or their labor groups. Can they:

• Lower oil prices? - doubtful, cuz it ain't within their power
• Spur development of supply via shale, oil sands, offshore drilling and new refineries - are you kidding? (It would take decades anyway.)
• Subsidize airlines, picking winners and losers? - possibly, but there is no way the taxpayers could support anything like the number of airlines we have now
• Give tax breaks to airlines? - hahahahahahah!
• Build new airports at major hub areas to improve efficiency at congested areas? - (see previous)
• Actually implement ATC "point to point" and NextGen FAA improvements that have been promised and delayed for 30 years and save a fortune in gas? - only if they fire half the FAA brain trust first (not controllers)
• Implement "profiling" at the TSA instead of 10,000 see-through-clothes x-ray machines? - not gonna happen.

Neither party will commit to any of the above.

If there is a single reason to vote "red" based solely on what's good for the airlines, it really is this: Which party is likely to "do what it takes" to prevent another crippling terrorist attack? Personally, I think it's still the "reds" but it's certainly a debatable point, and even I don't think that's a good enough reason to keep them in.

It appears you know not much...

A friend flies for UAL. On a vancuver, Canada overnight he asked a UAL ramper if UAL took his pension... the ramper replied.. Nope.. the gov't would not allow it...

It is not about stopping oil prices or pathetic airline managemnt it is about not getting screwed in the response...

 

[Soverytired]

It appears you know not much...

A friend flies for UAL. On a vancuver, Canada overnight he asked a UAL ramper if UAL took his pension... the ramper replied.. Nope.. the gov't would not allow it...

It is not about stopping oil prices or pathetic airline managemnt it is about not getting screwed in the response...

Now we're getting somewhere! Your number one voting issue is airline pension reform! Fair enough, and a worthy issue. And the democrats are likely to do it . . . although one COULD argue that the unions should have negotiated this themselves years ago when times were good instead of "pie-in-the-sky" unfunded pensions. I might also add that POTUS "O" wants to raise capital gains taxes, which will make the growth of your 401(k) slow considerably.

Sorry about the furloughs. Yeah, they suck. Retraining to another career is expensive, time consuming, and the experience does not improve with repetition (I've done it twice so far). However, there is not a profession or job in America where your job is "safe." Anyone who's been furloughed once and hasn't started lining up other options hasn't been paying attention.

Any career counselor will tell you to keep developing skills because that's the world we live in . . .global competition on steroids. It's a trend that will only accelerate in our lifetime. There are no guarantees, but you can only make your own opportunities. Lucky for you, as a pilot, you're more intelligent and resourceful than the average Joe.

As to the "gay marriage" issue you seem hung up on . . . I posit that IF you were gay and in love, this one issue would be more important to you than cheap housing or even gainful employment. If you truly believed "abortion" was murder, wouldn't you be torn up by the millions of abortions that take place? Stopping a perceived holocaust would be more important than rent, right? "Guns"? . . . .well, I like guns, but I have plenty already . . . non-issue for me (but I could always use more . . . )

Personally, I think immigration policy, public school reform at the local level, energy policy and national defense are the "big four" . . .and I'm dismayed at the total lack of leadership on most of them.

I'm not going to deride anyone who has other priorities though.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Now we're getting somewhere! Your number one voting issue is airline pension reform! Fair enough, and a worthy issue. And the democrats are likely to do it . . . although one COULD argue that the unions should have negotiated this themselves years ago when times were good instead of "pie-in-the-sky" unfunded pensions. I might also add that POTUS "O" wants to raise capital gains taxes, which will make the growth of your 401(k) slow considerably.

I just want a political alliance that will furhter the agenda of the Air Line Pilot profession.

Sorry about the furloughs. Yeah, they suck. Retraining to another career is expensive, time consuming, and the experience does not improve with repetition (I've done it twice so far). However, there is not a profession or job in America where your job is "safe." Anyone who's been furloughed once and hasn't started lining up other options hasn't been paying attention.

That is why I'd like to defend the profession I got.

Any career counselor will tell you to keep developing skills because that's the world we live in . . .global competition on steroids. It's a trend that will only accelerate in our lifetime. There are no guarantees, but you can only make your own opportunities. Lucky for you, as a pilot, you're more intelligent and resourceful than the average Joe.

Airplanes will be flown in this country after I retire. My goal is to be one of the pilots that flies jets in this country.

However, there are those who don't care if Americans fly US registered jets.

I am willing to fight for Americans to fly US jets. Are you?

As to the "gay marriage" issue you seem hung up on .

I use gay marriage as an issue example b/c many air line pilots feel stopping gay marriage is more important than the air line pilot profession.

. . I posit that IF you were gay and in love, this one issue would be more important to you than cheap housing or even gainful employment. If you truly believed "abortion" was murder, wouldn't you be torn up by the millions of abortions that take place?

Sorry.... lets be realistic. If the cops came with the bank rep and an eviction notice and ensured you were physcially removed from your house because the bank repo'ed it... you are now literally "on the street". Your wife is looking at you.. the kids are crying... say what about abortion? You want to talk about gay what?


This has happened to airline pilots.... in the last seven years..

Stopping a perceived holocaust would be more important than rent, right? "Guns"? . . . .well, I like guns, but I have plenty already . . . non-issue for me (but I could always use more . . . )

Again... you are on the street... you have no place to sleep tonight... holocaust? Guns?

Personally, I think immigration policy, public school reform at the local level, energy policy and national defense are the "big four" . . .and I'm dismayed at the total lack of leadership on most of them.

All of this doesn't matter if you lost your house...

Think I am being dramatic? when do you stop worrying about other issues and start taking care of yourself?

I'm not going to deride anyone who has other priorities though.

Where I come from... taking care of yourself and your family is the first priority.... the gays and guns can wait..

 

[andyd]

I find it amazing that every 4 years the right goes back to doing what it does best: fearmongering and divide and conquer. Yep, it's time to bash gays again (when is the last time a gay couple FORCED a straight couple to get divorced) you as$wipe right wingers REALLY want to protect the "sanctity" of marriage then outlaw Heterosexual divorce. Time for some more scare tactics in the war on terror while were at it, raise the alert level......gotta keep the populace scared now. Now where are those pesky wmd's? Oh my god, some woman in Kankakee that was raped by her republican priest wants to abort the brain dead fetus she's carrying....better alert the abortion police to tell her what she can/cannot do with HER body. Oh no, the Liberals want to tax and spend us into oblivion....hmmm, just HOW much did the Federal Gov't grow under W? What was the size of the federal debt when he stole office, what is it now? How many times has he balanced the budget? When was the LAST time the budget was balanced and principle on the federal debt got SMALLER? Oh yeah, Clinton was in office.

Take your Rush/Beck arguements elsewhere, I'm SICK of hearing the ignorant talking points, rhetoric and DC beltway politics as ususal.

Vote Obama, a vote for McCain is Insane.

Any pilot who votes for McCain DESERVES to have his pay cut and furloughed when that is not enough.

 

[Rotorhead1]

There is no reason to ever vote for a f--king democrat. There is more to this than your airline job. A vote for a democrat is a vote to provide free everything to the masses. What money you have will be gone once those liberal POS gets into the White House.

 

[andyd]

Entitlements have grown more in the past 7 years of a Republican administration than in the previous 30 years combined. (source: Congressional Budget office)

Again, another moronic response from someone who gets all of thier news from Rush/Beck and FOX.

 

[Rotorhead1]

You might need to watch Fox News and open up your eyes and ears.

 

[Soverytired]

I just want a political alliance that will furhter the agenda of the Air Line Pilot profession.

That is why I'd like to defend the profession I got.


Airplanes will be flown in this country after I retire. My goal is to be one of the pilots that flies jets in this country.


I am willing to fight for Americans to fly US jets. Are you?


Sorry.... lets be realistic. If the cops came with the bank rep and an eviction notice and ensured you were physcially removed from your house because the bank repo'ed it... you are now literally "on the street". Your wife is looking at you.. the kids are crying... say what about abortion? You want to talk about gay what?


This has happened to airline pilots.... in the last seven years..
All of this doesn't matter if you lost your house...

Think I am being dramatic? when do you stop worrying about other issues and start taking care of yourself?

Where I come from... taking care of yourself and your family is the first priority.... the gays and guns can wait..

With all due respect, all YOU care about is YOURSELF. "My job, my profession . . ." All things are secondary to you keeping your precious airline job. All other issues facing America are secondary.

I can respect that. Yet you fail to list a single specific federal policy or proposal that would further this effort, beyond pension reform, which is pointless as few airlines have pensions anymore.

"The government" will provide everything you need/want. How? I listed some possibilities on what could be done to strengthen airlines in the US; try and do the same to prove you have some inkling about business, energy, the free market and the US economy.

While I pity pilots who lose their homes and their jobs, I can tell you that it will never happen to me. Live below your means, always keep a 6 month savings reserve (minimum), and have a backup plan. Basic responsible Adulthood 101.

If your plan is "the gub'erment gonna' save me", you're a fool.

 

[HA25]

You might need to watch Fox News and open up your eyes and ears.

ah yes, that wonderful counterbalance to CNN that claims to be fair and balanced but is further to the right (on some issues) than CNN is to the left..

No thanks.

 

[atlcrjdriver]

There is no reason to ever vote for a f--king democrat. There is more to this than your airline job. A vote for a democrat is a vote to provide free everything to the masses. What money you have will be gone once those liberal POS gets into the White House.

No reason ever vote democrat? Lets compare:
Clinton: had his issues but during his term we had a stable economy and a strong int'l standing.

Bush: recession, poor int'l standing, Iraq.
Do you feel safer since the war started?

Mccain=Bush

If you believe that Mccain can bring this country out of recession w/o raising taxs on any group than you are dreaming.

When I cast my vote it will go to the person I believe can turn around the economy. At least Mccain was honest when he said he didn't know much on this topic. Thanks for joining the party but no thanks.

I really don't care about what J Wright said as it was neither Obama's words nor thoughts. If you look at what Obama has said and what Obama has done through his life you would see that they don't follow those sound bites of J Wright.

 

[spitfire1500]

I'm all for diplomacy with Hamas, but I also stand by Israel.

That statement is just offensive!!! You do not negotiate with these types period!!! You negotiate and Hamas along with similar groups push for more!!

Hamas from Wickipedia:

Hamas (حركة حماس; acronym: حركة المقاومة الاسلامية, or Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya or "Islamic Resistance Movement"[citation needed]) is a democratically-elected Palestinian Sunni Islamist[1] militant organization and political party which currently holds a majority of seats in the legislative council of the Palestinian Authority.[1]
Hamas was created in 1987 by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin of the Gaza wing of the Muslim Brotherhood at the beginning of the First Intifada. They are known for multiple suicide bombings and other attacks[2] directed against civilians and Israeli military and security forces targets, Hamas also runs extensive social services in Palestine. Hamas' charter calls for the destruction of the State of Israel and its replacement with a Palestinian Islamic state in the area that is now Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip.[3] Although Hamas claims its conflict with Israel is political and not religious[4], the organization is described by some as antisemitic,[5] a charge the organisation itself rejects.[6]
Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by Canada,[7] Israel,[8] Japan,[9] and the United States,[10] and is banned in Jordan.[11] Australia[12] and the United Kingdom[13] list only the military wing of Hamas, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, as a terrorist organization. The European Union lists Hamas as a group 'involved in terrorist attacks' and has implemented restrictive measures against Hamas.[14]

I

 

[spitfire1500]

No reason ever vote democrat?

I really don't care about what J Wright said as it was neither Obama's words nor thoughts. If you look at what Obama has said and what Obama has done through his life you would see that they don't follow those sound bites of J Wright.

What the hell has Obama done...miss quite a few Senate votes during his 1 term,and don't tell me after knowing and associating with Wright for 20 years he wasn't aware of his beliefs....no action is condonement.