Gunn to be fired

[bbrant]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

So, let me see if I have this straight. The constituents of the current administration are, Haliburton, oil companies, airlines, railroads, other big business, cronies, suck ups, and anyone with money, or without a brain. I see how he got elected without my vote.

I guess Mr Gunn doesn't fit into any of the perfered catagories, making him expendable.

Wake up people, this is our country he's destroying.[:(!][:(!][:(!][V][V][V][:(][banghead][banghead][X-)][censored][sigh]

More proof the liberal left is coming unglued.

How can you see that cutting funding HELPS Amtrak. And if Gunn had to go, then that rests with the powers that be - not you or I.

[dharmon]

SWEET......It's the bi-monthly doom/gloom Amtrak is going to die, Amtrak hater vs. you can't be a railfan if you don't like Amtrak, let's bash Bu***hread...only we get two this week.....

Unfortunately it's not going to go. It will continue to exist like a coma patient. If it were up to me, I'd just pull the plug and let it go. Use the money to subsize or support regional transportaion initiatives that support the need of the regional customers, be it rail, air, road or donkey. Regional/commuter rail works...VRE, NEC, Coaster, Metrolink, TRE.....even Amtrak's Downeaster (a service created by demand of real users, not nostalgic foamers)..these are success stories. If government money is to be used to subsidize passenger rail, it should be run by the regions using it, not Amtrak. And long distance trains.....well leave that up to tour operators..if there is a market, the market will bear it out. If it's HSR you want...build it from the ground up and exclusive, not some rework of existing tracks.

As for the airlines and roads vs. Amtrak.....subsidies and such...these are what the people want and use and are critcial to the nation's economy, so will and should be funded accordingly. Amtrak doesn't even come close to measuring. It is not critcal to the economy, nor national defense.

I am for passenger rail. But Amtrak, isn't the answer.

Dan

A REAL AMERICAN ALSO..who thinks Amtrak's time has come.

[jeaton]

Elliot

At the risk of getting my CPU burned to the ground, I think I will go along with your view.

Jay

[Big_Boy_4005]

So, let me see if I have this straight. The constituents of the current administration are, Haliburton, oil companies, airlines, railroads, other big business, cronies, suck ups, and anyone with money, or without a brain. I see how he got elected without my vote.

I guess Mr Gunn doesn't fit into any of the perfered catagories, making him expendable.

Wake up people, this is our country he's destroying.[:(!][:(!][:(!][V][V][V][:(][banghead][banghead][X-)][censored][sigh]

[chad thomas]

Quinten, Jamie,

I know Amtrak compensates the freight RRs for use of there tracks. I was just saying the freight carriers shouldn't be forced to take back a money loosing bussiness, nor should they have to allow a passenger service a free ride.

[bbrant]

QUOTE:
And why should Bush care? Him and his rich cronies have their SUV and limo convoys they can ride around in. They certainly wouldn't lower themselves to use PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. Gunn was the best man available for the job, but since he wouldn't get on board with the plan to bury Amtrak, he's history.

Maybe he'll shut down the Northeast Corridor and take the whole area from gridlock to parking lot.

When was the last time any president used public transportation, Amtrak or otherwise. Don't you think that they ride in special SUVs and limos for a reason?!?

[jchnhtfd]

Modelcar and Chad -- the freight railroads are paid for the obligation to get the trains over the tracks. Not enough, but they are paid.

Take a look at my new thread on this...

and vsmith -- you are so right. About both the timing and the cost of gas. I might add that air fares will also rise, probably substantially, particularly in the northeast corridor shuttles; with Amtrak out of the picture (see my other thread -- through train service on the corridor will NOT survive) there is no reason for the airlines not to raise fares enough to begin to cover their losses.

[Modelcar]

....Chad....Aren't they {the freight railroads}, paid for that obligation...That is, simply to get the train over their tracks.

[oltmannd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bnsfkline

my god

David Gunn was the best thing to ever happen to Amtrak

My vote would go for Graham Claytor, but Gunn would be a close second.

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by coborn35

"One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half. "-Sir Winston Churchill

"The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining."
-John F. Kennedy

"We need men who can dream of things that never were."
-John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963

"It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one."
-George Washington

"Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties."
-Aesop

"Self-conceit may lead to self-destruction."
-Aesop


Mineta.......

R.I.P. AMTRAK 1973-2006

That's 1971 - 2006, and could you please remove a few cars from your signature. The caboose ain't prototypical anyway.[;)]

[coborn35]

"One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half. "-Sir Winston Churchill

"The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining."
-John F. Kennedy

"We need men who can dream of things that never were."
-John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963

"It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one."
-George Washington

"Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties."
-Aesop

"Self-conceit may lead to self-destruction."
-Aesop


Mineta.......

R.I.P. AMTRAK 1973-2006

[vsmith]

Prediction:

Amtrack as we know it will not survive 2006, it will be allowed to limp along until JUST after the mid-term elections, then CHOP! down comes the axe!

BTW did anyone forget that they are forcasting $5 a gallon for gas next summer??????

[chad thomas]

Why should the freight carriers bear the burden of Amtrak? That's not fair, They were relieved of that obligation 34 years ago (DRGW & Southern excluded)

[PBenham]

More and more I am convinced that Amtrak unilaterally shot itself in the foot[:o)][soapbox]So, why not just tell the railroads upon which Amtrak's trains operate to pick up more of the responsibility for certain costs Amtrak runs up,and relieve them of all, or some of their tax liabilities.( More or less equal to the extra costs this move imposes on the carriers) Then Amtrak could afford to obtain new equipment and fix/repair the equipment it has.[:)] It would also get better treatment from dispatchers on certain routes! [banghead]This move is right down there with the Red Sox letting Theo Epstein go. Where is a workable successor, anyhow? Try talking a major carrier's VP/Ops or law into taking a pay cut for this hot potato![:0]

[cbq9911a]

A perfect example of the "How Dumb Do They Come" mentality in the White House. The powers that be there forget that passenger trains have a constituency in some states, and that they tend to vote at above average rates.

This is going to really hurt the Republican Party next year in Illinois, because people in Chicago ride trains. Unfortunate, because the Republicans have a candidate that could win the governor's race next year.

[robscaboose]

I just e-mailed my 2 Senators. I can hardly wait to vote the bums out.

Rob

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JOdom

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

As far as I know GAO stands for Government Accounting Office, not ACCOUNTABILITY. They are a bunch of bean counters, not finger pointers. Politicians take the reports and do the finger pointing. Sounds like the old agenda is back, and Gunn is doing things right if he has them so pissed off.

The name changed recently. They do a lot of studies/audits/evaluations of various government entities and functions, along with a few oddball functions that don't fit any other place in the government.

Like another post, I wi***hey would get busy and expose some of the ridiculous pork barrel spending that goes on. However, they work for Congress, not the executive branch, so they aren't going to bite the hand that feeds them.

Hmmm, thanks for the update. I think I'll crawl back under my rock, where life is, if not pleasant, at least simple.

So, the GAO is the chicken's hired fox, lovely.[V][:(!][;)] (Yes, I mean to imply that congress is a bunch of chickens.)

Maybe North Korea or somebody will do us a favor and nuke Washington DC. This government needs some serious help.

[daveklepper]

May I point out that the World View involves our soldiers fighting in Iraq while the USA funds the half the terrorist they are fighting by continuing to buy oil from Saudi Arabia and claiming the Saudis (who even fund textbooks for American Muslims kids that teach hatred for Christians and Jews) are our allies. It is a World View that is out of kilter with the real world. As far as subidies for Amtrak, the World View does not consider LAND USE in figuring the the subsidies for airports and highways.

The Democrats aren't any better as far Kerry goes or there would have been a North Station - South Station rail connector in conjuction with or instead of the Big Dig (and that is just one example)

It is also a World View that killed 10,000 New Orleans USA Citizens.

[oltmannd]

I can't believe nobody else has said this yet....

Aren't Gun(n)s made for firing?[;)]

[Anonymous]

So David Gunn gets a pink slip for standing up to Congress and giving them the truth about Amtrak and what needs to be done to fix it. What gives with the current administration's inability to handle the truth? And what does being a team player have to do with Gunn keeping his job. Go with the team, and risk missing something crucial to Amtrak's survival, or be the boss, make tough decisions and inject some new ideas into the business. Much remains to be done with Amtrak, so why fire the person in the know? Compassionate conservatism? Hardly. [:(]

[Modelcar]

DJL: It's obvious Mr. Gunn was not a yes man.....And anyone who thinks Amtrak or any other viable rail passenger system doesn't need financial help is living in a pipe dream. That same example can go for airlines too.....with very few exceptions.

[jeaton]

Some of you may have caught on to the fact that Gunn and I both worked at the ICG in the early 70's. Dave is one of the smartest people I have ever had the privilege to know and his ability to get the most out of difficult situations is widely respected by those that have knowledge of his performance.

Gunn himself has stated that the problem he has with running a place like Amtrak is that the ideologues don't want to hear anything that runs counter to there world view. But, when things get in a jam, they will go to people with the chops to get thing straight. Once the crisis appears to be over, they will get somebody that is a political hack. Qualifications? Demonstrated ablilty to manage a one car funeral prossesion. Excellent suck up ability a plus.

Based on a short visit we had last summer, I do not think this action was unexpected.

Jay

[bnsfkline]

my god

David Gunn was the best thing to ever happen to Amtrak

[TomDiehl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DJLPhantom

From what I understand, the Bush Adminstration has always said Amtrak must be self sufficient. Gunn has publicly state that Amtrak needs to have federal subsidies in order to operate. Obviously, Mr. Gunn is not being a team player thus it makes sense for him to be fired. Mr. Gunn has done s fabulous job with streamlining and improving Amtrak these past few years but he refused to go along with the Bush Adminstration's policy of no subsidies. He didn't give his superiors the answer they wanted to hear. So obviously he had to befired. He dug his own grave.

And why should Bush care? Him and his rich cronies have their SUV and limo convoys they can ride around in. They certainly wouldn't lower themselves to use PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. Gunn was the best man available for the job, but since he wouldn't get on board with the plan to bury Amtrak, he's history.

Maybe he'll shut down the Northeast Corridor and take the whole area from gridlock to parking lot.

[oltmannd]

Amtrak has a lot of Senate and HR support. Both have budgeted a lot more $$ than Sec DOT asked for. The Lott Laughtenberg bill was particularly interesting. It has more in it than Amtrak asked for.

However, NOBODY has yet told Amtrak exactly what their mission is. Lots of proposals to fund it this way or that, ideas to cut costs, etc. but not one word on why or which.

Amtrak is so ham-strung by labor agreements that the cost of "no Amtrak" is almost the same as "full Amtrak", at least for the next several years - unless bankurptcy can force the labor agreements to be broken - which isn't likely given Congress being willing to fund the status-quo (or maybe even a bit more)

Prediction: a more expensive, less filling tuna sandwich in the cafe car and a declaration of "Victory" by Mineta. (and perhaps a sacrificial (mercy?) killing of the Sunset)

[Anonymous]

From what I understand, the Bush Adminstration has always said Amtrak must be self sufficient. Gunn has publicly state that Amtrak needs to have federal subsidies in order to operate. Obviously, Mr. Gunn is not being a team player thus it makes sense for him to be fired. Mr. Gunn has done s fabulous job with streamlining and improving Amtrak these past few years but he refused to go along with the Bush Adminstration's policy of no subsidies. He didn't give his superiors the answer they wanted to hear. So obviously he had to befired. He dug his own grave.

[overall]

He was doing too good of a job there. He was helping preserve Amtrak. The Highway establishment wants Amtrak gone and they won.

Where do we go from here?

George

[samfp1943]

From The Associated Press:Back to Story - Help
Amtrak President David Gunn Is Fired By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer
40 minutes ago



Amtrak's board of directors on Wednesday fired President David Gunn, saying the debt-laden rail carrier needs "a leader with vision and experience."

Gunn has struggled to maintain Amtrak service amid a sinking financial picture and a push by the White House and some in Congress to recraft it as a group of regional inter-city companies.

"Amtrak's future now requires a different type of leader who will aggressively tackle the company's financial, management and operational challenges," Amtrak Chairman David Laney said in a statement.

"The board approved a strategic plan in April that provides a blueprint for a stronger and more sustainable Amtrak. Now we need a leader with vision and experience to get the job done."

Gunn, who assumed the post in 2002 after having headed transit systems in New York City, Washington and Toronto, could not be reached for comment.

Sen. Charles Schumer (news, bio, voting record), D-N.Y., who has fought against a Bush administration effort to end subsidies for the struggling passenger rail service, praised Gunn as "a brilliant manager."

The senator called Gunn's removal "a crushing blow to Amtrak's hopes for success and reform."

In September, Amtrak's board approved a resolution authorizing splitting off the Northeast Corridor, which accounts for the largest share of the railroad's ridership. That region could be operated by a federal-state consortium.

The Bush administration favors the idea, but critics say it will destroy Amtrak.

Amtrak has never made money in its 34-year history and an operating loss of more than $550 million was expected for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. The railroad has a debt of more than $3.5 billion.

The White House has called for an end to subsidies for Amtrak, but the House has approved an appropriation of nearly $1.2 billion for this budget year.

In recent months, Amtrak has been besieged by problems up and down the line, from equipment breakdowns to big-ticket budget woes.

Earlier this year, Amtrak suspended all high-speed Acela service between Washington, New York City, and Boston, due to cracks discovered in the brakes.

A report issued last week by the Government Accountability Office, the auditing arm of Congress, said the company needs to improve the way it monitors performance and oversees its finances in order to reach firm financial footing.

"The company is likely to need outside help in developing a comprehensive approach to address internal control weaknesses and improve the financial information for management and external stakeholders," the report found.

The GAO recommended that the transportation secretary direct the Federal Railroad administrator to: require Amtrak to submit a plan laying out specifically how it will improve its financial operations; provide Amtrak with direction on how to do so; and monitor the railroad's performance and report to Congress on Amtrak's progress.

Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, who also sits on Amtrak's board, called the report "unusual, if not unprecedented, in the scope of its review and the severity of its indictment." He urged the board to "stop and take a fresh look on how to proceed in the face of this nonpartisan, objective report of systemic failure."




Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.


Copyright © 2005 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
I guess that this proves once again, that "NO GOOD DEED WILL GO UNPUNISHED IN WASHINGTON."

[Anonymous]

i'm so angry i could spit

1. they are going to appoint some flunky who'll have his hands tied
2. after a year or two of not fixing anything, the government will say, "see? it can't be fixed"
3. and adios, amtrak

cr@p.

[Anonymous]

Just saw senator Byron Dorgan commenting on this on C-Span2. He said "David Gunn was nobody's crony, and for that he was fired".