Air Marhsalls to be pulled - let's get patriotic hotels to donate ROOMS!

[DagmarK]

Per the LBN story about the feds pulling armed air marshalls from any flights requiring an overnight stay (ie, LONG flights with planes with tons of fuel), I suggest we rally the AIRPORT HOTELS to do the right thing for their country and donate rooms to the Marshalls so they don't have to be pulled.


"The decision to drop coverage on flights that many experts consider to be at the highest risk of attack apparently stems from a policy decision to rework schedules so that air marshals don’t have to incur the expense of staying overnight in hotels."

So, it's the expense of the hotel overnight stay, is it?

All right then......don't you think that the hotels at the airports would be MORE THAN HAPPY to put up the air marshalls overnight for FREE? And feed them? It's for their country........hell, it's for their own friggin industry. If people feel safe, they will fly and stay in their hotels.

So............why don't we initiate a campaign of these hotels and see if they might be able to help out Uncle Sam. Bet they would. And I bet there are like no more than FOUR companies we would have to contact!!!

Let's call the MIHOP's friggin bluff! This is the easiest task ever before us!

(Oh, and this would only be pro bono just until the economy takes off and the US Treasury if FULL OF MONEY again....6 months max)

Saoirse is wanting to help out and found the hotel trade assn website: http://www.ahma.com/

With the right pitch.....they can't say no. And Bush's BLUFF will be called and the Marshalls will stay on the planes. IF ONLY we could get a famous spokesperson or rich person to make the pitch. Hell, maybe George Soros might want to donate 3 months worth of hotel rooms.......

[JVS]

1. I guess nothing is too much for the safety of the American people

unless of course it costs the government money which could more constructively be used blowing up stuff in Iraq.

[alfredo]

2. A link please

Coming on the heels of the warning of new al Qaeda hijackings, this seems to be an odd move.

[DagmarK]

4. Here is the link Alfredo........

Be sure to rate the story a '7' on the news site.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=41531&mesg_id=41531

[DuctapeFatwa]

3. You can still take your bic lighter on planes

if you feared an attack, which incendiary devices would you let passengers carry on?

[DemBones DemBones]

19. Please tell me this isn't true. They will take your nail clippers but

not your lighter?

[DagmarK]

5. Okay, think of a DIGNIFIED AMERICAN who can pitch this.......

My brain is wired to press people.....like Bill Moyers and even Michael Moore.

I need a dignified, known-to-all, WEALTHY American who I can write a letter to ask to pitch this to the hotel trade assn head, who can then work with the hotels......

Warren Buffett?
George Soros?
Walter Cronkite?
Jimmy Carter? (hmmmmmmm, Mr. Charity himself!)

[Stephanie]

6. I think you're on the wrong track, IMHO

WHY in the aftermath of massive Tax Relief for the Wealthy, with cuts being made to social services and education across the country, with those in-the-know warning every day that the Bush Mob is skimping on Homeland Security, why would you ask the Private Sector to underwrite the Air Marshals? It seems to me you are going along with the Bush Mob Agenda with this pursuit, in a way. Privatizing the Terrorism Prevention Effort is not really our goal as progressives.

If you are using this campaign to PUBLICIZE the Bush Mob incompetence and neglect, then go for it.

[DagmarK]

8. I am doing exactly as you suspect.........

1. Exposing these greedy, incompetent sons of b's for what they are...... A spin on private citizens or industries making CHARITABLE donations to bail out the federal govt would be a great campaign trail soundbyte.

2. A second reason is to actually get the darned marshals on the PLANES! Might save some lives! At least we know we TRIED! (if something happened......the hotels will have a bit of blood on their hands for declining)

(although, I have some theories that perhaps this is just a setup for to scare us real bad.....then have an attempted hijacking, and Bush will save the day......and be both knighted by the queen of England and given sainthood by the Pope for saving the day. He needs a "I am the Security President" plug for the elections. That was their ONLY platform issue for the 2002 elections, and THEY WON! But who knows what they are up? they are MADMEN!)

So....let's thwart whatever sick plan they have........

See my letter below........

[Stephanie]

10. Ah...

Go for it.

You right really good letters.

[DagmarK]

11. Well, Steph, I am a little intimidated writing to JIMMY CARTER......

A draft is below.....

What do you think? (be honest)

Carter doesn't have to do it the way I suggest......but it will get him thinking...and he has to be connected to GOOD PEOPLE....who knows, he may run with it some unexpected but wonderful way.

[sandnsea]

15. A staffer reads it...

A regular person, just like you. That helps me overcome that intimidation thing. If it works for you great, if not, forget I said it!

[DagmarK]

16. Nah, that doesn't work for me.......

mainly because of my head in the sky fantasy life about the world and how it works. Deep down......I see Jimmy getting my nice letter...sitting down for some iced tea with Roz......and reading out loud to her.....and them discussing it. Then calling Amy to see what she thinks....... and on and on and on it goes!

Till the next thing I know......I am moving to Plains, GA to be Jimmy's new assistant!

Welcome to my strange mind world!!! LOL

[sandnsea]

22. Must be your high self-esteem!

As opposed to my low self-esteem and deeply cynical mind.

My letter goes to the letter reader who sees some billiant ideas. He/she obediently hands it to the staffer who works my brilliant ideas into the notes and position statement for the politico. The politico sees it, loves it and gives the staffer a promotion! And I'm still here trying to make burger taste like steak!

(Once I actually did get a personal response from a very important NYC campaign fundraiser who wanted to send my letter to her NYTimes connections and loved my ideas. That was a good day indeed.)

[DagmarK]

7. Well, here's a draft of a crappy letter -- my brain is dead

**I figure anyone on DU who wants their name signed to a letter to Jimmy Carter can have their name attached......

**Here's a description of what the AHLA is. Does it seem like a good point of contact to have important calls trickle down to the hotel CEOs?

AH&LA is a trade association that represents the lodging industry's business interests on Capitol Hill. AH&LA is not a consumer organization and has no regulatory powers over the operating practices of individual lodging properties.

**Please critique this letter, if you will:

President James __ Carter
_________
_________, Georgia _________

Re: Solution to federal budget cut resulting in air marshals being pulled from all overnight flights beginning August 1, 2003

Dear President Carter:

We are writing today to ask for your urgent help in a matter that we consider a grave national emergency. You may have heard that the Federal Aviation Association has been forced to pull all armed air marshals from US flights when that travel route requires an overnight stay. The reasoning for this cut in our air security program is simply due to the cost for the overnight hotel stay. This is a very disturbing development, particularly in light of the sudden heightened risk for a terrorist attack by commercial airlines.

We determined that there may be an easy solution to this. The airport hotel chains could surely donate room and board for air marshals for a short period of time (a month? Six weeks?) while our government finds the funds to resume the expense payments.

This would be a win-win arrangement for the hotel industry because they would directly benefit from this kind, patriotic gesture in terms of great public relations, but also because with the added sense of security, many people will continue to travel and stay in their hotels.

On a practical level, the hotel industry surely has a vested interest in keeping our skies safe. The cost to them in the long-run were something terrible to happen would be immeasurable.

We think that if you contact the right people at the American Hotel & Lodging Association that perhaps phone calls will take place among the airport chain hotel board members. As the capitol hill trade association for hotels and lodging, the AH&LA has been working very closely with homeland security to thwart any threats, and it seems that a charitable corporate gesture such as this would support their mission to ensure security.

Michael Handlery is the Executive Chairman of the AH&LA and perhaps he can help. The phone number in D.C. is 202-289-3100. (We think he will take your call!)

[Stephanie]

12. excellent, but maybe too subtle

How far do you want to take it? Do you want to take it to the point where hotels are actually signing up? Because they WILL sign up once this letter makes the rounds.

[DagmarK]

17. OMG, STEPH.......you are a genius.........

Ya think a copy of the letter would circulate?????? Hmmmmmm. which means......the PRESS could get a copy (somehow...... LOL). Which means......pressure for the hotels to be PATRIOTIC in these "war torn times." Hmmm, how would it get circulated? From Jimmy? Or us, showing that we sent it to Jimmy? ????

To answer your question, I want the hotels to fight each other to give rooms away!!!!!!!! What angle do you see that that could be effected? (as in not being subtle in what way?

[sandnsea]

14. Sign my name

I think you have it. And while we're at it, Carter for President!!!! He's only served one term, he actually could run if he wanted to! And oh wouldn't he just wipe Georgie's face with it!

[DagmarK]

18. Ha! If carter ran in GA............LOL

Those fraudulent voting machines would STILL put DEM no matter what!!!

[Alexander]

20. Carter's middle name is "Earl".

If you're going for the real professional angle, put "James Earl Carter, Jr.", since that's his full name.

Although I'm guessing he likes "Jimmy" better.

[DagmarK]

9. Here;s an idea from the other thread: The DEM Party pays for hotels...

JohnOneillsMemory Response to Reply #13

47. Better yet, get the Democratic Party to pay for air marshalls. Show


the Amurican sheeple that Bush's Republinazis are trying to get them killed while Dem's are trying to save their asses. Couldn't be anymore anti-'9/11'. And it illustrates a truth that will bring in crossover voters: White House Republinazis are partners with killers around the world who threaten US security. DEM'S MUST USE 9/11 TO ILLUSTRATE HOW BAD BUSH & CO. ARE FOR AMERICAN SECURITY!



*******Dag's comment: Wouldn't it be funny if different entities did like an Adopt a Marshal program, each for a week? The DNC for the 1st week; a hotel assn for the 2nd week; the 9/11 victims assn for yet another week. Oh boy......

[sandnsea]

13. Tourism is my livelihood, I'll kick in!!!

I think the Terror Market Trades will take the top shock slot for this Administration for a while, but this Air Marshall plan is pretty high up there! I just do not understand what the hell they're thinking about. The idea is supposed to be to have a plan that can't be figured out, not one that invites terrorists!!!

I have a few contacts I've written, maybe something besides shit will float to the top for a change. Is it possible?

[DagmarK]

21. Heck, I am not vested in any one way to handle this.......

I just pulled this idea from a hat..... At least do something.....and try to get help from someone powerful and kind......and that means (outside WASH DC!).

Whatever you think sandnsea.......whatever you think......

[dusty64]

23. This ought to make

chimp's plan a little harder.
:kick: