Hardball tactics backfire on Boeing

The Chicago Tribune ^ | 1/26/04 | Stephen J. Hedges Washington Bureau

[Fixit]

Fifteen months ago, the struggling Boeing Co.'s ambitious plan for a $17billion revenue boost was stuck deep in a Washington quagmire.

The aerospace giant wanted to lease to the Pentagon 100 of its 767 airliners modified as aerial refueling tankers, and it had won over the Air Force and key members of Congress.

Full story ...

[Fixit]

ping

[Cicero]

Condit was already running the company into the ground. This was just the final straw.

It's a bit nervous making that this one will be blamed on Bush, who according to this story was directly involved. It sounds as if they finally may have negotiated a reasonable price but did it through a back-door process that smells. Not good.

This is the Chicago Trib. But it suggests that Boeing tankers may be the next Enron when the liberal media all get on board. They actually tried it once before, and it dried up, but now maybe they'll try it again.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I see Boeing's about to abandon Wichita and "outsource" all its assemblies from other companies in other countries.
Memo: short your Boeing stock.

[skinkinthegrass]

????...Is Linda Daschle (an Civil Airline lobbyist) involved with this, Too.

[Fixit]

She's a lobbyist for Boeing, but I don't know what her role, if any, may have been in this deal.

[Lael]

I see Boeing's about to abandon Wichita and "outsource" all its assemblies from other companies in other countries.

Why, oh why are American companies in the downsizing business???

How come those supposedly inefficient Continental European companies, with all the benefits like REAL 4 week vacations, retirements fully funded, STRONG UNIONS, etc., etc., etc. able to compete, whereas American Companies with access to Illegal Aliens, union busting "Right to Work" States, forcing workers with minimum wage jobs to work "off the clock", etc., etc., etc. are unable to do so, and now want to "offshore outsource" can't compete???

Somethin just doesn't add up!!!

[vikk]

Yes, it seems like Airbus is kicking some Boeing a** lately. It seems like it's more about profits, not making a good product.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

This is a relatively new strain of corporate blindness (net present value computations, probably) that minimizes the value of assets and turns everyone into bankers. BP Amoco is an recent outstanding example of this stupidity.

[kennyboy509]

Something doesn't make sense.

Patty Murray 's got her fingers into this pie.

Sounds like the libs are trying to enron/haliburton The Boeing co.

[KangarooJacqui]

Whichever way you look at it, this deal just ain't gonna fly.

[Free Vulcan]

self-ping