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Return to Article: Texans mount campaign to keep Army truck contract

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  I went after Texas because George was from there but thats not fair. You guys are right the north has always been corrupt with politics and unions. And recent Govenors that are being jailed shows America nothing has changed but I will have to say one thing has changed the unions view on who really has the power. They are on their knees all across this nation selling out the youth everytime they come to the table. How did our leadership ever think sending our industrial base to other 3rd world countries would be good for any of us. Yes in the mid west in the late 70s you had guys running a lathe that lived like the CEO not saying that was right but to ship everything off is criminal where are the kids going to work so they can achieve the dream. We cant compete with people who live in mud huts Americans will have to give up to much but all of us from Texas to Wisconsin need to keep an eye on where this is going. We cant be fighting over a few jobs when the big picture should really be all of us united and bring our industrial base back so we all have jobs. If you say that cant happen then it wont but if you believe in the power of the people and not politics it can happen and our children just may be able to achieve the dream and not have to live with their parents forever or in mud huts one day. This country is a mess right now we are busy helping eveyone but ourselves not sure what the answer is but fighting over a few jobs that we feel belong in a geographic area is not it. We have let our political machine over the past 30 years destroy the American way of life so a few could profit we need to turn the corner on that I think the unions get it i think industry gets it we can be re born just depends on how bad Americans want it. And yes to all about Illinois and its corruption I am ashamed but if you watch the news my new leadership is proud of their corrruption thats obvious. I think I should move before Chicago machine takes all the money.

  LC Posted November 18, 2009 1:38 PM
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  Dale,

  You are incorrect. Oshkosh has a requirement for their heavy vehicles (HEMTT and PLS) for 15,000 mean miles between hardware failure. They currently exceed this.

  Scott Posted November 9, 2009 4:48 PM
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  For all those heroic contractors, and their patrons in Congress, think of what you have turned defense hardware contracts into: a jobs program. So there is scant thought about military need or saving the taxpayers some money. And in the case of BAE and these vehicles, the politicians would rather foist questionable vehicles on the troops than get a good buy from a legitimate contract winner. Way to go.

  Brat Wurst Posted November 5, 2009 7:26 PM
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  Jeff, Oshkosh only gaurentee 's their vehicles reliability 7,000 miles before a major hardware failure / replacement. The FMTV by BAE gaurentte's is 14,000 miles for LTAS FMTV and 20,000 miles for standard FMTV plus a warranty bumper to bumper for two years. So tell me, Who builds a better value. Also all the Oshkosh adds for the LTAS FMTV you see in the media are using BAE LTAS CABS. The Oshkosh doors open to the back while the BAE LTAS CAB Door's open forward. So far, Oshkosh has not built a compete truck from their own parts. You can keep your CHANGE and go back up North! Your UNION Brothers are calling.

  Dale Posted November 5, 2009 4:50 PM
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  About this mention of clout and secession, I did reside in Texas from 1978-1981, and I recall someone telling there me that, because Texas joined the US by treaty (i.e. merger)rather than conquest or purchase, it retained the right to either secede or divide itself into 5 states , with a total of 10 US Senators. Is anyone familiar with that, and whether it is true?

  Mr. Sy Posted November 5, 2009 1:44 PM
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  Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles. Is this the truck that was made by S&S with which the Army originally had all the transmission problems?

  Lane Narrows Posted November 5, 2009 10:15 AM
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  Let's talk about the real issue, the equipment our tax dollars provide to the warfighter. Osh Kosh has, in my professional experience, fewer problems providing aftermarket spares, fewer problems with part numbers and technical manuals, and their vehicles are more reliable than BAE equipment. A prime example is BAE's RG-31 MRAP program. The equipment is made overseas, and the parts flow through the Federal Supply System is broken. Let's not even talk about the price we're paying for the parts we do get. I say Osh Kosh is the way to go. People can move to Wisconsin if they really want a job. For the amount of time BAE has furnished government equipment, they should have their processes fine-tuned by now.

  Jeff Posted November 5, 2009 9:48 AM
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  LC - agree w/ a whole lot of your comment, but a state w/ as high as taxes as IL, your employment is only going to top 12 or 13%, despite your BOY being in the white house. You did get 20 more months of unemployeement pay for your cup cakes.ENJOY!

  grunt Posted November 5, 2009 9:09 AM
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  You have to feel sorry for the Pentagon. They are challenged at every decision, even when they want to cut a program or move it to a company that can produce at a lower price or a better product.

  These challenges are beginning to smell a lot like earmarks.

  Charlie Posted November 5, 2009 9:08 AM
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  To LC, it seems strange that "Illinois is the most corrupt state in the country...and now we have someone from this state running the show." How did that happen?

  Common sense Posted November 5, 2009 9:05 AM
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  There is a move in Texas and elsewhere to secede because Washington is so out of touch with the people. When your central government is no longer seen as having the same goals and policies that you support, what else do you do? A state like Delaware or Rhode Island has the same power in the Senate as a state like Texas or California, kind of out of balance. I know that the house is supposed to relly make up the difference but it just doesn't work out that way.

  Bob Posted November 5, 2009 8:13 AM
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  It was Governor Perry who mentioned secession, but not any of the Texas Congressional delegation. Know your news better, Kurt!

  William Posted November 5, 2009 7:28 AM
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  It seems strange that a state that wants to secede from the union would want government contracts from that very government.

  Kurt Posted November 4, 2009 2:09 PM
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  Decisions are made on the basis of who has the power in Washington we all know that it has never been about saving taxpayers money thats the spin the boys put on it. Its all about your buddy in DC go ahead and protest it wont change a thing. Heck look at this BRAC situation it has been shown that not one dime is saved a matter of fact all this is going to cost the taxpayers money this was shown 3 years ago but you see them speeding forward still wasting millions of the taxpayers money because certain geographic areas with political power will gain. Politics has always ruled who gets what its not right it is part of the corruption we have dealt with for years coming out of Washington. And remember Texas! your boy isnt in the White House anymore so this wont be the last industry you lose. Your cities in Texas have been the fastest growing cities in the US for the past 6 or 7 years imagine that!! I am from Illinois the most corrupt state in the country heck my last few Governors are in prison or going there. And now we have someone from this state running the show maybe Illinois will benefit I sure hope cause we cant take much more job loss then we have had over the past 30 years in this state.

  LC Posted November 4, 2009 12:21 PM