In which all becomes clear (ATC)

[MegaGlide]

Firstly, a little foreward by me, which I hope will be at least semi-coherent, since I'm so pissed I can hardly type.
Marion Blakey is the FAA Administrator. Her legacy is an FAA in shambles, and the finest ATC system in the world on the brink of collapse.
In addition to bringing the ATC system to its knees, her biggest push has been for user fees. In reading the article that follows, bear in mind that Boeing, Lockheed-Martin and Raytheon all want the ATC system to be privatized, and they all want the contract. The only way this will work for them and be profitable is if there are user fees in place.
It is now very clear who has been holding the leash of this drawling republican bitch from day one.
So, the next time you're sitting in a commercial aircraft, on the ground, for hours, because of the delays caused by an ATC system stretched beyond the limit, know it's because of Marion Blakey's single-minded push to please her corporate masters, for nothing more than her own personal gain.

Reprinted in part from Nequals1's Blog with permission.


Today Marion Blakey, the FAA chief who has programmatically dismantled worker safety protections for air traffic controllers, forced no-contract working conditions down their throats, and generally has carried the Bush Kool-Aid is pulling an Agwunobi: walking out of her wingnut welfare job at the FAA and walking directly into the arms of the power player Aerospace Industries Association, according to the WaPo.

The nation's chief defense-industry lobbying group has selected Marion C. Blakey, administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, as its new chief executive.

Industry officials confirmed yesterday that Blakey will head the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), replacing John W. Douglass, 66, who is retiring. Late yesterday, the association made the announcement official

In her new job, which is to start in November, Blakey will be the most prominent spokesperson to the federal government for the makers of commercial aircraft and for contractors to the Pentagon. Founded in 1919 -- only a few years after the birth of man-made flight -- the AIA, based in Arlington, concentrates on three areas: civil aviation, space and national security.

Its more than 100 members include Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Textron and United Technologies.

The AIA represents the nation's largest manufacturers and suppliers of civil, military and business aircraft; unmanned aerial vehicles; space systems; aircraft engines, missiles and related components; aerospace services; and information technology. Its early members included aerospace pioneers Orville Wright and Glenn Curtiss.

Isn't that cozy? Blakey leaves the air passenger system in shambles.

The on-time rates are abysmal - in fact, they are the worst ever .
Air traffic controllers are working under few, if any, safety protections.
They are working under dangerous, persistent and programmed staffing shortages
The entire system is blinking red (I just had to include this story dated September 10, 2001 for its prescient viewpoint).
And for that performance record, Blakey is rewarded with an immediate transition to the nation's most powerful defense lobbyist corporation.Matthew Wald of the NYTimes, who usually covers the FAA and NATCA beat, doesn't have much to say about Blakey's welfare to welfare appointment, but he does give the resignation to walk-in timeline:

Her term expires Sept. 13. The term of a successor would fall mostly in the next presidential administration. The White House has not announced an intention to nominate a successor.

With her new "job" starting in November, this will give her just enough time to take a vacation and get away from all of the stress of slavering lobbyists. Oh. But she won't be getting away from them. They'll be her new office mates.

I'll bet she doesn't have co-pays, either.

Another gift from the corporatacracy of George W. Bush.

[Geezer-Glide]

That idjit from TEXAS (proving he's a true zINt) is gonna be the singular cause for the destruction of America.

[rk custom]

This is interesting
My only hesitation is using a blog as your only sourse.

[rk custom]

Originally Posted by Geezer-Glide

That idjit from TEXAS (proving he's a true zINt) is gonna be the singular cause for the destruction of America.

if the last two Dems that ocupied the oval office couldn't destroy the country I doubt W has a cahance

[MegaGlide]

Originally Posted by rk custom

This is interesting
My only hesitation is using a blog as your only sourse.

Please don't start thinking I'm completely stupid. It just saved me some typing...

[Scabbydoo]

Said it before and I'll say it again. There should be a 5 year moratorium/block on any Secty., Director or senior staffer for any federal agency or White House staffers or members of Congress and their staffers leaving their job and taking a position with any existing supplier or lobbying group/organization to the Federal Govt. The number of individuals getting rich on our tax dollars from sweetheart deals like Blakey's has been growing for years and has reached a level of absolute obscenity during W's administration. One of the more notable ones was Tom Scully who after strongly arguing and recommending against open price negotiations for the medicare drug plan, "negotiated" the fixed price schedule and within weeks after passage of the plan, left the Govt. to take a lucrative job with Alston & Bird, a drug company lobbying firm. Several other staffers along with a couple of Congressman who fought for passage of the plan also accepted very well paying jobs with drug companies and lobbying firms. And we wonder why people continue to flock to the thankless jobs in Washington of "serving the people"...

[route66paul]

We have an insurance commissioner in Calif. It seems that one is retiring and taking lucrative jobs in the insurance industry. I think that that proposed rule ought to apply to any goverment post.

Is this why we have so many illegal aliens from Mexico... that they feel so at home here with a government like this?

[squish]

Corruption at it's best...

[AGlocker]

About the same is happening over here in the DOD.

[TimmyD]

Originally Posted by 8-Ball

Is this why we have so many illegal aliens from Mexico... that they feel so at home here with a government like this?

....yep...

[Kfengler]

Originally Posted by 8-Ball

Is this why we have so many illegal aliens from Mexico... that they feel so at home here with a government like this?

...that and the Government is one of the biggest employer of the illegals! (according to a news article I read)

[Highmiles]

Scabby, you hit the nail on the head.

[AGlocker]

Every year as a government employee I have to take ethics training. I can not in any way influence any decision and profit from it or I go to jail. I can't even own stock of any company I deal with. And I have to wait one year after leaving the government before I can take a job with a company I had dealings with. Sounds like the law is not being enforced or just flat out ignored.

Originally Posted by Scabbydoo

Said it before and I'll say it again. There should be a 5 year moratorium/block on any Secty., Director or senior staffer for any federal agency or White House staffers or members of Congress and their staffers leaving their job and taking a position with any existing supplier or lobbying group/organization to the Federal Govt. The number of individuals getting rich on our tax dollars from sweetheart deals like Blakey's has been growing for years and has reached a level of absolute obscenity during W's administration. One of the more notable ones was Tom Scully who after strongly arguing and recommending against open price negotiations for the medicare drug plan, "negotiated" the fixed price schedule and within weeks after passage of the plan, left the Govt. to take a lucrative job with Alston & Bird, a drug company lobbying firm. Several other staffers along with a couple of Congressman who fought for passage of the plan also accepted very well paying jobs with drug companies and lobbying firms. And we wonder why people continue to flock to the thankless jobs in Washington of "serving the people"...

[TalonChief]

Fellas, this ain't nothin' new. In fact, it used to be considerably more common here in the good ol' USA.

Still sux, though. Darlene Druyan is one of the few who got caught and paid a price.