Posted on 02/25/2011 4:03:30 AM PST by Liz
U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., said today that Boeing Co. won a $35 billion contract to build an air refueling tanker due to "Chicago politics." Chicago-based Boeing defeated the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. for the contract.
EADS planned to assemble the tanker in Mobile. “I’m disappointed but not surprised," Shelby said. "Only Chicago politics could tip the scales in favor of Boeing’s inferior plane. EADS clearly offers the more capable aircraft. If this decision stands, our warfighters will not get the superior equipment they deserve.” Boeing wins air tanker contract The Pentagon awarded a $35 billion contract to build new air refueling tankers to Boeing Co. The winner beat EADS, which proposed assembling the craft in Mobile. The decision left Alabama officials shocked and disappointed, and Boeing backers jubilant. Replacing the Air Force's aging KC-135 tanker took many years and never lacked for drama.
U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby blamed "Chicago politics" for EADS' loss. Other members of Alabama's congressional delegation were critical of the Pentagon's decision. U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. and U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile both said they intended to learn more about the process that awarded the lucrative contract to Boeing.
"After having already won the competition three years ago and having brought to the table the best refueling aircraft for our military, it’s deeply disappointing that Mobile and the Gulf Coast were not chosen as the home of the new Air Force tanker," Bonner said in a statement.
"Unfortunately, the best tanker for our military was not selected." Boeing's Senate backers were as jubilant as EADS' were critical. "Even when competing against an illegally subsidized foreign competitor, Boeing’s skilled workforce proved that they have the know-how and the product that can best serve our military," U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said in a statement. "And it is finally time to get this Boeing tanker into the hands of our men and women in uniform."
So guess what Chicago Mayor facilitated the Boeing FREEBIES - which shifted a huge tax burden to Homeowners for decades to come?
Yup----it was Richard M. Daley, Bill's brother. And then Bill Daley gets picked to be on Boeing's Board of Directors. Watta coincidence.
NOTE During the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries, Daley was a prominent supporter of Barack Obama. On November 5, 2008, Daley was named to the advisory board of the Obama-Biden Transition Project.
Bill "Let's Count the Ballots Again in this Locked Room" Daley is the new Ohaha COS ......... Daley headed the Chicago Branch of The Daley Family Vote Mfg Division. The Daley family motto is "When We Fix Elections, They Stay Fixed."
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MORE DALEY TIDBITS: Bill Daley (brother of Chi/Mayor Richard Daley), is former Commerce Secy under Clinton and long-time executive at Wall Street’s JP Morgan Chase.
REFERENCE Lehman's Bankruptcy Estate Sues J.P. Morgan
WSJ | 5/26/2010 | BY MIKE SPECTOR And SUSANNE CRAIG
FR Posted May 26, 2010 by markomalley
Lehman's Bankruptcy Estate Sues JP Morgan Chase & Co., alleging that JP Morgan illegally siphoned billions of dollars from Lehman in the days before the investment bank filed the largest bankruptcy in US history.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in US Bankruptcy Court, New York, alleges that JP Morgan Chief Executive James Dimon and other top executives used inside knowledge to take advantage of Lehman as its financial state worsened.
JP Morgan coerced Lehman to turn over $8.6 billion in collateral in Sept 2008, triggering a liquidity squeeze that contributed to Lehman's collapse, the suit said. The estate is hoping to recoup billions in collateral the bank demanded, and other damages. (Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
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BACKSTORY Daley became associated with Amalgamated Bank of Chicago, where he was first vice chairman (1989–1990) and then president and chief operating officer (1990-1993). Daley returned to the practice of law, as a partner with the firm Mayer Brown (then Mayer, Brown & Platt) from 1993 to 1997, where he served on the board of Fannie Mae.
In December 2001, he was appointed President of SBC Communications Inc. to help reform the company's image.
In May 2004, Daley was made Midwest Chairman of J.P. Morgan Chase and Bank One Corp. to oversee post-merger operations from Chicago. (See JB Morgan billion dollar looting reference above--circa 2008.)
Daley currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Boeing, Merck & Co., Boston Properties, Inc., and Loyola University Chicago. He is also a trustee of Northwestern University and sits on the Council on Foreign Relations.
In 1993, he served as special counsel to the President on issues relating to the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In 1997, Daley became Secretary of Commerce in the second administration of President Bill Clinton, and he remained at that post until July 2000, when he resigned to campaign for the Vice President.
After he resigned as Commerce Secretary he became chairman of Vice President Al Gore's presidential campaign. He was portrayed in the HBO film Recount, about the Florida election recount of the 2000 presidential election, by actor Mitch Pileggi.
Simple, don’t fund it.
Richard Shelby’s sour grapes.
Shelby represents the state where the EADS factory would have been built. Take his remarks with a grain of salt. Personally, I think American companies should provide for American defense—especially when we are talking a contract of this size.
And Shelby has no dog in this hunt? Just a po’ lil’ old neutral observer, I’m sure.
In this time of economic crisis, it may be best to grant major defense contracts to American companies like Boeing as opposed to foreign companies like EADS.
Not quite sure why Shelby is shilling for foreign interests over an American company and American workers.
Boeing was caught bribing before and is probably doing it again, except Obama is the beneficiary this time.
Also, Boeing’s win means more unionized, pro-liberal jobs that fill Democrat campaigns with cash and manpower.
EADS unions cannot contribute directly to Obama and many of the support jobs that would have been created in Alabama would have been non-union.
Simply put, Boeing is another GE.
There is a misconception about Boeing employees and I see it all over this thread. We are not all Union members. The people that touch the parts in the plant, yes – but behind them are a whole lot of Boeing people who are salaried and not represented. And there are a multitude of outside suppliers in Puget Sound and throughout the U.S. that are also non union shops. So this deal will provide jobs for Union and Non union employees alike. This non-union Boeing family is celebrating because it means the 767 line will not shut down till many of us retire.
I think I have much more faith in our Air Force leadership than Richard Shelby.I seriously don’t think they would buy any aircraft that did not suit the needs of the Air Force.
Time after time we hear these story’s of equipment that was gold plated and wouldn’t work as advertised and when the items were used they worked better then anything our opposition had in their inventory.
I guess only time will tell who’s correct.
Why is it that there are so many anti-Boeing people on FR? Do they thing we are all Union? We are not. Do they think we are all Democrat? We are not. Do they think we outsource everything? We do not.
Sorry for all the sourpusses that would of rather have had workers in Italy and France popping corks last night. I for one am glad that aint happening.
EADS was planning a single-source manufacturer. NEVER a good thing.
The compatibility and similarity of current systems will cut-down on the time needed for training and transition to the new aircraft.
“.. will not shut down till many of us retire.”
Gee, sounds just like those teachers in Wisconsin....JUST KIDDING... couldn’t pass up the straight line.
And Becky Quick, co-anchor on CNBC, showed her obtuseness this morning when she called Sen. Shelby’s comments “trash talk” and remarked that the tanker decision “wasn’t even made in Chicago.”
Hello, Becky....Boeing, headquartered in Chicago, gets this taxpayer-funded bonanza the day after Obama’s best buddy Rahm wins the mayor’s post. Nothing to see here, so just move along.
Wonder how many extra over-run years we’ll be paying for since Boeing is years past its deadline on its Dreamliner passenger jet. Boeing and the Pentagon won’t stop the spending until China pulls the plug on our credit card.
Those of us here at Pratt (union and non-union) are also happy with this decision. People also need to understand that this entire mess was going on before Obama took office. Power politics and political favors/kickbacks are a fact of life in both parties. Doesn’t make it right, but let’s recognize that it’s not one-sided.
I agree completely with you Navy, always have. We should spend as much here as possible, my only question is was the EADS plane really better to fill the requirements of the AF or did they just find the 767 frame “acceptable” and did it for political reasons?
Once both tankers were judged to meet all mandatory requirements, it was a simple lowest price competition. Boeing simply bid lower this time than they had last time.
Had both aircraft been within 1% in price, then there were 93 non-mandatory "tie breaker" requirements that the EADS tanker would have won. The only politics in the decision is the politics that are just about to begin in the House and Senate over the outcome.
Then why waste people’s time with competiton? Do you know how many millions of dollars were spent on the proposal only to have the bid rigged for Boeing?
He may have sour grapes, but it doesn’t mean he’s not right.
All those Italians and French in Alabama? Wow, its more diverse than I realized.
EADS put in a superior bid and originally won the tender - fair and square - on points.
Then Boeing rang up their tame congressmen and got it reversed. A disgusting show of corruption that will lead to American taxpayers paying more for a worse product.
And it’s a terrible message of bad-faith to foreign manufacturers “If you offer us a good product at an competitive price, we’re just going to mess you about until you withdraw your tender. Next time, bribe us more than Boeing did.”
Boeing got a feather-bedded deal here at taxpayer expense. That’s a first step to ending up like General Motors. And FReepers are cheering. Unbelievable.
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