Friday, December 09, 2005
Throw David Gunn from the Trains
His Amtrak Sack
By Matthew Schuerman
New York Observer
This article is, by far, the most insightful report on the Amtrak firing of David Gunn as President. This is a very salty old man. At 68, he's been around some real railroads, including Illinois Central and Santa Fe.
Why exactly did Gunn get the ax?
It is my theory that, because of the federal law which requires six months advance notice of route discontinuance, the Amtrak board wanted the big move against long distance service (including the Texas Eagle through Arkansas) to be complete before the mid-term elections.
Give the story a look and you will gain an insight into one of the worst administrations ever. Get ready for a lot of desperate moves as GWB hunkers down.
By Matthew Schuerman
New York Observer
This article is, by far, the most insightful report on the Amtrak firing of David Gunn as President. This is a very salty old man. At 68, he's been around some real railroads, including Illinois Central and Santa Fe.
Why exactly did Gunn get the ax?
Mr. Gunn was fired six days after a critical report by the U.S. General Accounting Office on Amtrak came outone that the Bush administration has pointed to as evidence of Mr. Gunns incompetence. It is hogwash, he told The Observer, full of outdated facts from before he took over in 2002. The real reason he was fired, he said, is that he was capable of subverting the U.S. Department of Transportations plan, which was, in Mr. Gunns term, to bankrupt the railroad.
It is my theory that, because of the federal law which requires six months advance notice of route discontinuance, the Amtrak board wanted the big move against long distance service (including the Texas Eagle through Arkansas) to be complete before the mid-term elections.
Give the story a look and you will gain an insight into one of the worst administrations ever. Get ready for a lot of desperate moves as GWB hunkers down.
