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House Committee Hearing on Gunn's Firing

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House Committee Hearing on Gunn's Firing
Posted by jeaton on Monday, November 14, 2005 1:41 PM
This is from the web site of The National Association of Railroad Passengers Hotline news last Friday

"Things are likely to become clearer within just a few days as the House Transportation and Infrastructure Railroads Subcommittee will hold a hearing on “Current Amtrak Governance Issues” on Tuesday, November 15 at 10 AM. The hearing was scheduled shortly after Gunn’s termination from Amtrak and David Laney is scheduled to testify. The hearing will likely deal with the legality of firing Gunn (which full T&I Committee Ranking Member James Oberstar (D-MN) has questioned), Amtrak Chairman David Laney’s previous statements of support for Gunn before the same Subcommittee, and vacancies on the Amtrak Board of Directors which will grow when the recess appointments of Enrique Sosa and Floyd Hall expire next month. Tuesday’s hearing will be in room 2325 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

NARP asks that members contact C-SPAN (cable and satellite channel carrying federal-level government and public affairs programming) to request that they broadcast the hearing on either of their two main channels. This would allow all Amtrak advocates nationwide to view the hearing and the vigorous debate that is likely to result. Please e-mail C-SPAN at events@c-span.org. Remember: this is the Railroads Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Amtrak hearing on Tuesday, November 15 at 10 AM. "

I have heard that Gunn has also been asked to appear.

If c-span does not cover this on cable or via audio stream on the c-span site check www.house.gov/transportation and clink on the link for live feed.

Jay

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Posted by chad thomas on Monday, November 14, 2005 1:48 PM
Jay, Thanks for the heads up. I e-mailed C-Span requsting the air it.
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 14, 2005 1:54 PM
Heres a direct link for the audio feed.
http://www.house.gov/transportation/audio/index.html
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Posted by vsmith on Monday, November 14, 2005 1:57 PM
INTERESTING

The Plot Thickens!

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Posted by chad thomas on Monday, November 14, 2005 2:03 PM
Wouldn't it be funny if Gunn got reinstated and Mineta got fired.[tup]
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Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Monday, November 14, 2005 2:10 PM
Oberstar is a pretty good guy, and an old fashioned public servant. He's not my congressman, but I wish he was. He's been around for a long time, and represents the Duluth area. There may be hope for Gunn yet, if he still wants the job.
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Posted by chad thomas on Monday, November 14, 2005 2:13 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

Oberstar is a pretty good guy, and an old fashioned public servant. He's not my congressman, but I wish he was. He's been around for a long time, and represents the Duluth area. There may be hope for Gunn yet, if he still wants the job.

And that's a big IF.[;)]
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 14, 2005 2:21 PM
It should be interesting to watch. My boss has a tv in the lower level with cable. I think i will find a project to work on down there tomorrow morning.
i fired off an email to C-Span. Hopefully we can get enough of us to get them to listen.
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 14, 2005 2:47 PM
I have also emailed C-Span. Heres tomorrows schedule.
http://inside.c-spanarchives.org:8080/cspan/fullschedule.csp?timeid=211998786219
No mention of the hearing yet. Maybe if they don't carry it live it will be broadcast later in the day, or evening.
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Posted by daveklepper on Monday, November 14, 2005 3:36 PM
Again, Mineta did not show the leadership the USA should expect of a Transportation Secretary during the two Gulf Coast hurricanes.
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Posted by Modelcar on Monday, November 14, 2005 4:02 PM
Jay...Thanks for the C-SPAN info....I have e-mailed them requesting broadcasting the hearings. That could be one very interesting case....!! Wow, wouldn't that be great to have Mr. Gunn there to testify...
Lots of hearings are broadcast....Guess it's too much to expect this one will be.

Quentin

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Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Monday, November 14, 2005 4:30 PM
Here's an interesting sidebar to the whole Gunn thing. Check out this topic from about 10 weeks ago.

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=43863

Now for the update. It seems that both Randy Kelly, the then St Paul Mayor, and Mr Gunn, have met with similar fates. Both seemed to be on the wrong side of Mr Bush, but for opposite reasons.

You see, Mr Kelly, a democrat, was soundly defeated in his re-election bid last week. The media points to his open endorsement of Mr Bush in 2004, where he was seen shaking hands and hugging the president.

Chris Coleman, another democrat, was elected by a 63% to 37% margin. The people of St Paul sent a real message to Mr Kelly and Mr Bush. I don't live in the city, so this wasn't my election, but the results are quite telling.
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Posted by Modelcar on Monday, November 14, 2005 4:34 PM
....Quite interesting.

Quentin

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Posted by vsmith on Monday, November 14, 2005 4:36 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

Here's an interesting sidebar to the whole Gunn thing. Check out this topic from about 10 weeks ago.

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=43863

Now for the update. It seems that both Randy Kelly, the then St Paul Mayor, and Mr Gunn, have met with similar fates. Both seemed to be on the wrong side of Mr Bush, but for opposite reasons.

You see, Mr Kelly, a democrat, was soundly defeated in his re-election bid last week. The media points to his open endorsement of Mr Bush in 2004, where he was seen shaking hands and hugging the president.

Chris Coleman, another democrat, was elected by a 63% to 37% margin. The people of St Paul sent a real message to Mr Kelly and Mr Bush. I don't live in the city, so this wasn't my election, but the results are quite telling.


Ask the ex-Govenor of Virginia about his.....some Republicans up for re-election were openly saying they did not want the Presidents endorsement for fear it would drive voters away which is what pundits were saying happened in Virginia. Quite a shock considering how unified the party has been over the last decade.

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Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Monday, November 14, 2005 5:01 PM
Hey Vic, it'll be fun to see if Lotus and Future modal can rebut this.[swg]

By the way, the republican candidates had been removed from the election during the primary. Only the top 2 finishers moved on to the general, both democrats. City level offices aren't like national or even state.
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Posted by vsmith on Monday, November 14, 2005 5:17 PM
Maybe so Big Boy, but I've grown tired all over trying to talk to the rock's, had better conversations talking to the furniture.

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Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Monday, November 14, 2005 6:42 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

Maybe so Big Boy, but I've grown tired all over trying to talk to the rock's, had better conversations talking to the furniture.


I know what you mean.

Illigitimi non carborundum. If my Latin is any good that should mean, Don't let the
b---ards wear you down.[;)]
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Posted by UPTRAIN on Monday, November 14, 2005 6:57 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by chad thomas

Wouldn't it be funny if Gunn got reinstated and Mineta got fired.[tup]


How would that be funny? It would be a fricken blessing, lol.

Pump

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 14, 2005 10:22 PM
If the folks of St Paul voted their mayor out of office soley for the fact that he endorsed Bush back in 2004, then those folks are dumber than you guys. I would expect that there are other issues out there that affected that election. Hmmm, Democrat mind-sets dominating an election in a heavily Democratic city. That's a shock. Kind of like all those *polls* that show Bush's popularity is falling, it turns out only 35% of the respondents were Republican, while the rest were Democrats and "independents" i.e. people who vote Democrat but are too ashamed to admit it. Since over 50% of the nation has identified themselves as Republican, one would think those pollsters would want a sample base that reflects the nation's political makeup, unless of course they are really engaged in push polling.......

Hey vsmith, not suprise you *talk* to the furniture. BC bud will have that affect on you.

back to the topic matter......

I for one am glad Gunn is gone, he was not a team player, and his *vision* for Amtrak was nothing short of blind. The current modus operandi for Amtrak is a dead-ender, frankly always has been and always would be, and Gunn's penchant for continuing down that same path makes him a dead-ender as well. It isn't just Amtrak that needs change, it is the whole concept of rail passenger. We need someone who will drag the rail passenger communitiy kicking and screaming out of the 1930's logistics the rule the roost today, and start them down the path of fitting rail passenger concepts into the modern transportation network.

It shouldn't matter if you are pro-passenger rail or not, it should be patently obvious to everyone that Amtrak's LD operations need to be separated from the NEC operations, because that is the only way we can get some real transparant accountability for the two different divisions. Gunn opposed this move, which begs the indictment that he knows one or both of those divisions are engaged in some shady accounting.
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Posted by jeaton on Monday, November 14, 2005 10:39 PM
And some people we know would vote for a Pet Rock if it was labeled "Republican".

Speaking of pet rocks... There seems to be an economics major that must have slept through cost accounting courses.

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Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 12:48 AM


Hi, I'm running for president.

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Posted by daveklepper on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 2:49 AM
Gunn is probably the best manager of a passenger rail transportation system the USA has.

Mineta did not show any leadership whatsoever in two hurricane evacuations and should be replaced as soon as possible.
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Posted by TomDiehl on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 6:50 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by futuremodal

If the folks of St Paul voted their mayor out of office soley for the fact that he endorsed Bush back in 2004, then those folks are dumber than you guys. I would expect that there are other issues out there that affected that election. Hmmm, Democrat mind-sets dominating an election in a heavily Democratic city. That's a shock. Kind of like all those *polls* that show Bush's popularity is falling, it turns out only 35% of the respondents were Republican, while the rest were Democrats and "independents" i.e. people who vote Democrat but are too ashamed to admit it. Since over 50% of the nation has identified themselves as Republican, one would think those pollsters would want a sample base that reflects the nation's political makeup, unless of course they are really engaged in push polling.......



The folks in St Paul voted out their REPUBLICAN mayor (wonder how he got elected in the first place in a "heavily Democratic" city?) I also notice there's no breakout of the Democrats and Independents. Probably because there's LOTS of the "Independents" that are Republicans and afraid to admit it. Seems anyone can manipulate statistics and prove whatever point they want.
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Posted by TomDiehl on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 6:59 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by futuremodal

I for one am glad Gunn is gone, he was not a team player, and his *vision* for Amtrak was nothing short of blind. The current modus operandi for Amtrak is a dead-ender, frankly always has been and always would be, and Gunn's penchant for continuing down that same path makes him a dead-ender as well. It isn't just Amtrak that needs change, it is the whole concept of rail passenger. We need someone who will drag the rail passenger communitiy kicking and screaming out of the 1930's logistics the rule the roost today, and start them down the path of fitting rail passenger concepts into the modern transportation network.



You're right. Someone who's competent and capable of doing their job has no place in this administration. Anybody that runs a passenger railroad, improving customer service and increasing passenger carriage figures is definately screwing up. Maybe they should put a show horse judge in his place. How soon we forget how well the airlines provided passenger flights on September 11, 12, and 13. Oh wait, they were GROUNDED. Public transportation isn't on the minds of this "silver spoon" administration, they can just hop in their gas guzzling SUV's and go where and when they want.
Smile, it makes people wonder what you're up to. Chief of Sanitation; Clowntown
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 8:05 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by TomDiehl

QUOTE: Originally posted by futuremodal

I for one am glad Gunn is gone, he was not a team player, and his *vision* for Amtrak was nothing short of blind. The current modus operandi for Amtrak is a dead-ender, frankly always has been and always would be, and Gunn's penchant for continuing down that same path makes him a dead-ender as well. It isn't just Amtrak that needs change, it is the whole concept of rail passenger. We need someone who will drag the rail passenger communitiy kicking and screaming out of the 1930's logistics the rule the roost today, and start them down the path of fitting rail passenger concepts into the modern transportation network.



You're right. Someone who's competent and capable of doing their job has no place in this administration. Anybody that runs a passenger railroad, improving customer service and increasing passenger carriage figures is definately screwing up. Maybe they should put a show horse judge in his place. How soon we forget how well the airlines provided passenger flights on September 11, 12, and 13. Oh wait, they were GROUNDED. Public transportation isn't on the minds of this "silver spoon" administration, they can just hop in their gas guzzling SUV's and go where and when they want.


Hmmm, I guess it all comes down to your skewed definition of "competent". I guess in your world "competent" means complete aquiesence to anachronistic leftist *ideals*.

David Gunn was incompetent. He was trying to keep Amtrak going down the road of outdated logistics. I would think even folks like you would admit that trying to run a transportation operation with outdated logistics is the poster child of incompetence, but of course your political views are also outdated, so at least your view of what is and isn't *competent* is consistent.

Tell me, which *forward thinking* world leader do you admire the most? Castro? Schroeder? Chirac? Chavez?
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 8:11 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by TomDiehl

QUOTE: Originally posted by futuremodal

If the folks of St Paul voted their mayor out of office soley for the fact that he endorsed Bush back in 2004, then those folks are dumber than you guys. I would expect that there are other issues out there that affected that election. Hmmm, Democrat mind-sets dominating an election in a heavily Democratic city. That's a shock. Kind of like all those *polls* that show Bush's popularity is falling, it turns out only 35% of the respondents were Republican, while the rest were Democrats and "independents" i.e. people who vote Democrat but are too ashamed to admit it. Since over 50% of the nation has identified themselves as Republican, one would think those pollsters would want a sample base that reflects the nation's political makeup, unless of course they are really engaged in push polling.......



The folks in St Paul voted out their REPUBLICAN mayor (wonder how he got elected in the first place in a "heavily Democratic" city?) I also notice there's no breakout of the Democrats and Independents. Probably because there's LOTS of the "Independents" that are Republicans and afraid to admit it.


So he was Republican! Shocking. A Republican mayor being voted out in a Democrat city! Imagine that! KInda like heavily Democratic New Jersey and Virginia electing Democrat governers, whoda thunk it!

QUOTE:

Seems anyone can manipulate statistics and prove whatever point they want.


Well, that seems to be the modus operandi of the media dissection of the 2005 elections. BTW, weren't there also Republicans elected to LG and AG in Virginia? Ooops, there I go *manipulating* statistics again!
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Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 8:30 AM
I just watched C-SPAN's call in show with congressman LaTourette (R-OH). Very interesting, he seems very moderate and well versed on the issues. For being from the same party as the president, his views are far from similar. I got the impression that he smells a rat with regard to the Gunn firing, just as many of us here do.

The actual hearing will be taped and replayed later today. Check www.c-span.org for the time.
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Posted by Modelcar on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 8:48 AM
Yes, I totally agree with above assessment of Rep. LaTourette's counting of the problems at hand concerning Amtrak and Mr. Gunn's firing....he seemed sharp on the subject and not by any means a yes man of the Administration. Now if I can find when C-SPAN is going to broadcast the 10 oclock hearing today.....If anyone sees the time please post it here.....Thanks.

Quentin

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 8:58 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Modelcar

Yes, I totally agree with above assessment of Rep. LaTourette's counting of the problems at hand concerning Amtrak and Mr. Gunn's firing....he seemed sharp on the subject and not by any means a yes man of the Administration. Now if I can find when C-SPAN is going to broadcast the 10 oclock hearing today.....If anyone sees the time please post it here.....Thanks.

I'm hoping we can hear it live online at this link.
http://www.house.gov/transportation/audio/index.html
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Posted by TomDiehl on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 9:43 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by futuremodal

QUOTE: Originally posted by TomDiehl

QUOTE: Originally posted by futuremodal

If the folks of St Paul voted their mayor out of office soley for the fact that he endorsed Bush back in 2004, then those folks are dumber than you guys. I would expect that there are other issues out there that affected that election. Hmmm, Democrat mind-sets dominating an election in a heavily Democratic city. That's a shock. Kind of like all those *polls* that show Bush's popularity is falling, it turns out only 35% of the respondents were Republican, while the rest were Democrats and "independents" i.e. people who vote Democrat but are too ashamed to admit it. Since over 50% of the nation has identified themselves as Republican, one would think those pollsters would want a sample base that reflects the nation's political makeup, unless of course they are really engaged in push polling.......



The folks in St Paul voted out their REPUBLICAN mayor (wonder how he got elected in the first place in a "heavily Democratic" city?) I also notice there's no breakout of the Democrats and Independents. Probably because there's LOTS of the "Independents" that are Republicans and afraid to admit it.


So he was Republican! Shocking. A Republican mayor being voted out in a Democrat city! Imagine that! KInda like heavily Democratic New Jersey and Virginia electing Democrat governers, whoda thunk it!

QUOTE:

Seems anyone can manipulate statistics and prove whatever point they want.


Well, that seems to be the modus operandi of the media dissection of the 2005 elections. BTW, weren't there also Republicans elected to LG and AG in Virginia? Ooops, there I go *manipulating* statistics again!


Since we can add "avoiding answering a question" to manipulating statistics, let me rephrase them. I'll try to bring it down to your reading level and even number them so you can answer them a little easier.

1. Since St Paul is a "heavily Democratic City," how did a Republican mayor get elected in the first place?

2. Since 35% of the poll respondents were Republican:
a. How many were Democrat?
b. How many were Independant?

Or are you trying to say that more Democrats are capable of independant thinking than Republicans?

The blame on Bush supporting them was REPORTED by the media. The original quotes come from the offices of the elected officials.

I guess an independant media is a bad thing. We really need more scripted "news conferences" like Bush has been holding over the past 5 years.
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