[QUOTE=c.captain;125052]John…you’re completely contradicting yourself here. First you say you and gCaptain cannot become or even sponsor a professional association that will have a political function and then in the next paragraph you’re telling us that you know what to do. You are the single man in the US (short of maybe Tony Munoz) that has the clarion voice that would be heard in Washington. You have already formed that association here with the sizable loyal gCaptain membership and believe most here will contribute to the cause if we knew it had viable leadership which is your lone distinction. I will become your major domo and chief of staff to gather intel and point you at the enemies but the general needs to be a man roundly respected by all the troops. Become the face and voice of all of us here…I am close to getting on my knees and begging you to (since I have nothing to use as a noisy stick to point at your head)!
Think that such an association could someday become something with its own mass and momentum…wouldn’t that be a legacy you would like to leave? Think a future MarAd Administrator’s job!
so I simply must say…LET’S DO THIS THING![/QUOTE]
Well said. I can’t think of anybody more trusted than you John. Perhaps you could endorse a candidate, coming from you, he/she will most likely win approval here.
[QUOTE=Flyer69;125054]How much money are we talking about here? I can fire off $100 without batting an eye. And I am just one guy. If this gets rolling there is more where that came from.[/QUOTE]
Before John replies, I think he needs to review the mission statement of gCaptain.
Is it to serve the interest of the US maritime industry or is it an unbiased news blog serving maritime interests worldwide? If you want to promote the US Maritime industry, do you want to set up a PAC or register as a Lobby group. I just Googled the regulatory requirements and they are not insignificant.
Since gCaptain is an English language blog, it would be fair to say it’s predominant audience is from the English speaking world with a default main demographic consisting primarily of Americans. (John - easy to confirm your actual demographics via your website analytics)
It’s not a contradiction… Yes I know what to do. No we don’t have the time or resources to pull it off.
I’m did not say that gCaptain wouldn’t sponsor an effort or that I wouldn’t provide some level of leadership… I’m just saying that I can’t collect the money and provide the logistics directly. And the organization you describe needs to have it’s own corporate entity apart from gCaptain so when/if it gets sued it doesn’t take gcaptain down with it.
You could get initial funding by hosting a conference (somewhere nice that people would want to travel too but not too expensive) and recruit speakers. The focus of the event should be something of interest to all US mariners, not just Jones Act supporters (Tony already has tried that and few people signed up). I’d be happy to speak at the conference and help promote it.
Then use that money as a seed to fund a larger organization and campaign.
I’d start by hiring a freelance journalist to write a series of investigative articles that digs into the problems at MARAD. We can get (and would need) someone with Pulitzer level experience and a wide range of connections in Washington. This is the moste expensive type of journalism and the cost would be about $2 per word or $20,000 for a Washington Post Magazine style featured article. It would also take about 4 months to investigate and write.
Run 4 campaigns like this per year and you’ll start getting the right people’s attention.
Publish one of these articles every month and heads will begin to roll.
but you miss my point John…any organization needs effective and outstanding leadership which is articulate, knowledgeable and highly respected. I would try myself but I am a realist and know my negatives are too great which would quickly lead to myself becoming an easy target of the entrenched opposition. We need a man like you to provide that unassailable role of major general and you know well that I have implored you for many years to take up the mantle if you believe in the cause. If you feel there is a better man then put a name forth so we can discuss them here. What was this attempt by Tony Munoz you speak of? I don’t recall any effort by him to form an association?
Hell, just get the association down the ways and then once underway you can turn it over to another man to command but all of us here need you to launch this new ship.
[QUOTE=Kraken;124906]It is time that someone teaches you how shipping works in the 21th century!
Skål! Store blå tar alt![/QUOTE]
MAN! I cannot believe I missed this one earlier! A Norske coming here and telling us how to run the US maritime industry? Of course you would want to see the Jones Act go away. Lot’s of opportunities to capture more work in the GoM for you and your companies. I am sure you believe that is only fair since there are so many American vessel operators over in the North Sea? Sure there are and I have $40M in a Nigerian bank account I need to get into the Norway in case you can help me?
btw, what the hell does “Cheers! Big Blue takes all” supposed to mean?
[QUOTE=john;125061]It’s not a contradiction… Yes I know what to do. No we don’t have the time or resources to pull it off.[/QUOTE]
I’m beginning to feel that you need to have more ambition John. Afterall, if a sub-humanoid like David Matsuda can be MarAd Administrator then you can go as high as you like in Washingtoon…
DARE I SAY IT?
DOH! Wrong candidate but I’m sure you get my meaning John…
[QUOTE=c.captain;125063]but you miss my point John…any organization needs effective and outstanding leadership which is articulate, knowledgeable and highly respected. I would try myself but I am a realist and know my negatives are too great which would quickly lead to myself becoming an easy target of the entrenched opposition. We need a man like you to provide that unassailable role of major general and you know well that I have implored you for many years to take up the mantle if you believe in the cause. If you feel there is a better man then put a name forth so we can discuss them here. What was this attempt by Tony Munoz you speak of? I don’t recall any effort by him to form an association?
Hell, just get the association down the ways and then once underway you can turn it over to another man to command but all of us here need you to launch this new ship.
That’s the spirit![/QUOTE]
Fine, I’ll take accept the leadership position @ MARAD but only if I can wear my flippy-floppies and a Hawaiian… and only if all meetings are held aboard the presidential yacht. (Does Obama even have a yacht?)
More seriously, I already said yes to leadership but I would need something to lead. Build me a ship (an organized and funded association) and I’d be happy to take command of her…
[QUOTE=c.captain;125071]I’m beginning to feel that you need to have more ambition John. Afterall, if a sub-humanoid like David Matsuda can be MarAd Administrator then you can go as high as you like in Washingtoon…
DARE I SAY IT?
DOH! Wrong candidate but I’m sure you get my meaning John…
HARRUMPH![/QUOTE]
I could but then again it didn’t end so well for the honorable governer, did it?
Mel Brooks’ movies all sucked after the Producers, Young Frankenstein & Blazing Saddles. Did you find any of them nearly as humorous? I thought they were all too forced.
Updated - - -
of course, we all have to build this great ship together as a team yet it takes one man with the vision to lay the keel. That’s your role and legacy if you choose to accept it Jim…
Where’s Henry J. Kaiser when you need him?
hard to believe that this once really happened right here in the US of A!
[QUOTE=c.captain;125104]hard to believe that this once really happened right here in the US of A![/QUOTE]
The way our very own Neville Chamberlain just signed off on the modern annexing of the Sudetenland we may not have to wait long before we see something like the mass production of Liberty and Victory ships again.
[QUOTE=PaddyWest2012;125106]The way our very own Neville Chamberlain just signed off on the modern annexing of the Sudetenland we may not have to wait long before we see something like the mass production of Liberty and Victory ships again.[/QUOTE]
