KC-30 Ground Game Revs Up

In a previous post we highlighted some of Boeing's grassroots mobilization or "ground game" activities in preparation for the GAO tanker contract decision.

The KC-30 team has also been actively organizing on the ground in addition to their efforts on the web at ComeBacktoMobile.com. (We readily admit that its a nice website and tip our hat to their efforts.)

Alabama station WALA Channel 10 interviewed Mobile County Commissioner Steve Nodine and several other local business leaders in its report on pre-GAO decision actions:

Mobile Chamber of Commerce President Win Hallett placed his opinion in the mix, as well. "Well we're always anxious until it's finalized, but we think this is an opportunity to re-win what we've already won. And, we are excited about that," he said.

Still, it might not be the end of what has been a long fight.

"We need political support obviously as we go down the road we have to make sure Congress doesn't toy around with and lifts the stop work order currently in place," said Nodine.

Tuesday, some of that help was demonstrated when a new political support network was announced. Local leaders in Mobile County have formed the Gulf Coast Aerospace Coalition in response to Boeing's challenges.

The network, founded by local leaders, includes 50 cities and counties in the Southern United States, stretching geographically from New Orleans, Louisiana, in the West to Tallahassee, Florida, in the East.

The Mobile Chamber of Commerce has been doing everything that it can to secure support for the city, as well. The organization has "been in touch with our allies all over who have something as stake in this project," said Hallett.

Contrary to most people's perception, political grassroots mobilization is expensive. But, if the GAO decision is not definitive either way, each side will spend as much as needed to get their supporters (voters) to demand action from elected officials. Given that this is an election year, the pressure will definitely be on Congressional offices to do something for their state's/district's economy.

TAnchorman says: Stay Classy Northrop

[Note: In this post we would like to introduce someone who we hope will join in from time to time and help us moderate and report on the tanker debate: Tankerman.]

Thanks TWB but please read the prompter correctly, its spelled TAnchorman.

What do you think this is? Amateur hour?!

Anyway, today I would like to reiterated what I have said on a number of occasions, I don't believe an ugly fight between Northrop Grumman and Boeing is good for America. It also misses the point since the true enemy is Airbus.

We all know my friends at TWB have been very hard on EADS, Airbus' parent company, because EADS can not be trusted to be good economic or defense partners.

I am very disappointed to find that Northrop Grumman has decided to counter any questions raised about EADS by handing out fliers attacking its competitor and stating "Boeing has a long history of criminal misconduct".

Sweet Lincoln's mullet that's getting ugly!

Regardless of this attack, I have asked that Boeing not reciprocate by publishing their list of NG missteps because I believe it serves no purpose. As I have stated before, we all understand that companies have employees who have behave badly from time to time. What makes EADS unique in this discussion though is that the French or German governments rarely hold it accountable when its actions are detrimental to the US.

Also, I would like to take NG to task for putting the corporate front group Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) up to naming two of the tanker critics as "Porkers of the Month". Maybe it will score some points in Mobile, but everyone in this town has a pretty good idea on KC-30 team money to CAGW. Son of a bee sting! That's not fair to two elected officials who I believed have supported you in the past.

Besides, Airbus can fight their own battles. Here is a nice zinger just reported today:

“I think they [Boeing] are competition-averse, period,” Allan McArtor, chairman of Airbus Americas, told The Hill. He said the production of the commercial aircraft in Mobile will break Boeing’s monopoly in the United States.

Thanks for the aerospace industry insight Airbus, I'll be sure to lead with that story on the evening news.

Now as for you NG, like I said, "You Stay Classy."