I get your points, Russ, and I agree that qualifications and past behavior should count. But I think you missed something: The whole point of Trump’s and Musk’s schtick is to shake up the status quo. Rep. Graves’s qualifications are indeed impressive, but they are qualifications fit for a status quo government. Even you note that Graves would resist the very efforts Trump and Musk intend; to reign in the exorbitant costs and regulation inherent in hidebound government agencies. The more hidebound an agency, the larger the wrecking ball, and there are few government agencies as hidebound as the FAA.
Leaving the politics out, I agree that Graves would make a decent DOT Secretary, but it’s unlikely to happen. I just hope Graves continues doing what he’s been doing (at least on the aviation side - there’s plenty of room to argue over other policies he may be for or against, but I’d like to think in this “room”, we all have common aviation policy goals).
Interesting how you and others in your corner try to reduce every discussion you don’t like to an “attack piece.” It’s not that easy. This isn’t the second grade. The time for two-or three-word dogwhistles is over.
Not sure what “corner” you’re referring to, seems you’ve made a pretty damn quick assumption about me with no factual basis.
It is neither “second grade” level or a “dogwhistle” to expect accurate NEWS reporting from an aviation NEWS source rather than targeting someone for their past employer. If the editor wants to elevate the discourse on his site, he should consider setting an example rather than perpetuate attack journalism.
In fairness, this is not a hard news article. Note that it falls under the ‘Aviation Insider’ banner - which is more OpEd than unbiased reporting. See AVweb Insider Archives - AVweb for past pieces.
Was it not just last week that Mr. Niles was decrying EAGLE? If ever there was a man who could fulfill Mr. Niles wishes it would be Mr. Musk and his DOGE. In fact EAGLE is the very kind of target for which DOGE was created. Junkyard dogs are useful at times, don’t dismiss them.
Unfortunately, history has shown that when politicians talk about “cutting government waste”, what they often really mean is cutting programs that they don’t specifically benefit from and expanding ones that they do benefit from. And other laudible goals like “cut two regulations for every one added” often cause unintended (or sometimes intended) negative consequences.
It would be nice if I’m proven wrong on this, but I suspect if EAGLE is cut as a result of “DOGE”, it would also include cutting any support for G100UL or 100R, and I really would like to be able to fill my tanks with unleaded 100 octane avgas for all the benefits it affords, re: extended oil changes and reduced plug fouling to name two.
That’s actually how that column started out. We’ve had a number of suggested targets for DOGE and I was going to write about that and then I found the stuff on Graves and Michael and switched gears. Stay tuned.
This is probably as good a time as any to realize that society has come to abuse the words Liberal and Conservative by implying them to identify tribes rather than to define policy. What is conservative about anarchists shaking up status quo, and what is liberal about trying to maintain but improve current institutions rather than obliterate them?
Thanks to Russ, I now know who Emil Michael and Sam Graves are.
Here’s my summary: Michael is a “management by flamethrower” guy. Graves is careful to not screw stuff up.
I am sofa king sick of the idea that you can make things better by having the flamethrower types “shake things up.” How many workplaces have been ruined by that simplistic thinking?
Real improvement can only happen in a workplace where you trust your boss. If you think your boss is going to make opportunistic nonsense out of any candid comments you offer, you won’t be candid.
Russ Niles is actually a real journalist, who spends time researching, thinking about, writing, and editing his posts and articles. And the people who comment here generally think that they can just spout off opinions and have equal weight. You are disrespectful. I sure am tired of pilots who think they know it all and can’t resist telling everyone else how smart they are. Russ, I appreciate your work. But the comments section is a waste of time to read, and exemplifies everything that is wrong with social media. I won’t waste my time on it any more.
Yes John Schubert you may quote me except you might want to substitute the word “employing” for the word “implying” as it originally was till autocorrect “corrected” it.
Then why do you or your system delete so many responses especially when they are in reply to somebody who made inflammatory statements? Yet their post remains. Perfect example happened to me multiple times today trying to respond to inflammatory comments. Always loved avweb but the love is fading
Hang in there, Crista. It’s actually a lot better than it used to be but there are a lot of hot button topics this week. And thanks for the kind words.
It’s usually because a trigger word that we’ve set has been used and because I took a few hours away from the computer and haven’t checked the flags today. Let’s see what you’ve done:)
Russ, I appreciate the reply. The system blocked several of my responses to a fellow commenter who was posting some inflammatory comments. I thought my responses we’re warranted yet tame but they were immediately rejected. Oh well.
and not on the topic, which we’re trying to be better at.
Another staff member deleted a lot of the comments today and stuck mostly to the letter of our policies. I tend to be a little looser with what I allow on topics that are fundamentally political in nature. But as you say, water under the bridge. Nevertheless, please do contact me if you think you’ve been unfairly bounced. I’m trying to find the balance for comments and it’s necessarily a subjective call. If you think I’ve screwed it up, let me know.
