Topic starter
15/03/2011 2:07 pm
Unbelievable to say the least...
Great Lakes/Seaway Review Digital Dateline
Hopefully it won't sink!
15/03/2011 6:35 pm
You've got your special days mixed up, Pete
Today is the Ides of March, not April Fools, Pete!
Topic starter
15/03/2011 8:38 pm
Judy Patsch;24975 wrote: Today is the Ides of March, not April Fools, Pete!
"et tu Brute" could be the slogan of the Oberstar boat!
15/03/2011 10:27 pm
Said My Say...
Though I doubt it will do any good, but I sent this message where it said "Contact Us" on the GREAT LAKES SEAWAY REVIEW:
The naming of a Great Lakes Ship for the Hon. James L. Oberstar is of no joyous concern to those of us on the rivers who bemoan the fact that it was Mr. Oberstar who was responsible for the removal of the Steamer DELTA QUEEN from active service on the Inland Waterways. Not only were many American shipping jobs lost and tourist revenues removed from the many cities the DELTA QUEEN visited along the Mississippi River and tributaries, but our great country has been denied the historically-significant steamboat, DELTA QUEEN, on the eve of the bi-centennial of steamboating on the Western Rivers. Oberstar deserves no recognition from the Maritime Industry as far as thousands of former employees, friends, and fans of the DELTA QUEEN are concerned.
15/03/2011 11:48 pm
How interesting that the article calls him a "retired" U S Congressman. Seems to me that "fired" would be more accurate since the voters up there kicked him out of office.
-Jim Herron
16/03/2011 3:35 am
Sam,
I too, sent them a message, as follows:
Your Digital Dateline article, "Biggest honor yet for former Rep. Oberstar" mentioning the renaming of a ship in honor of Mr. Oberstar caught my eye. It mentions his "retirement" but actually he LOST his re-election. Partly because he single-handedly denied America of it's Steamboat heritage by refusing to allow the SOLAS exemption for the legendary Delta Queen steamboat out of his transportation committee. This has destroyed the only remaining overnight passenger steamboat operation on the American Inland waterways, throwing over 200 Americans out of work, and hurting the many river cities where the Delta Queen would stop with her passengers shopping in each town. For those of us who treasure this part of America's heritage, any "honoring" of this man ignores his true place in maritime history.
Sincerely,
David Dewey
16/03/2011 1:47 pm
This is not a first for the distinguished "retired" representative. Blessey Marine operates a twin-screw towboat of the same name.
16/03/2011 4:24 pm
Better contacts...
Contacting Great Lakes/Seaway Review is all fine and good, but the best people to contact would be Interlake themselves. I did some internet sleuthing and found a couple of emails with a simple Google search. Try sending your Oberstar info to these emails, and it might get some real attention:
[email protected], Mark Barker, President
[email protected], Robert Dorn, Sr. VP
16/03/2011 10:30 pm
DONE!
Done. Sent my message to both officials of Interlake. Hope more of you do the same.
16/03/2011 11:46 pm
Hope this vessel doesn't go the way of his career --- DOWN!
I think a strongly worded letter to the shipping company is in order. This is the most idiotic idea I've ever heard. At least the voters uprooted this job-killing bafoon. Not only did he put people out of work but ended the career of an American icon. Naming a vessel after him is the last thing this company should do.
17/03/2011 3:05 pm
*RE: Ship named for Oberstar*
Steamboating colleagues:
Many thanks for Pete Sisak's 'heads up' with link to the new INTERLAKE vessel on the Great Lake. Interesting...very interesting...and telling If curious just go on line and type in INTERLAKE on your computer search engine to read the history, profile of this large company. I'll reserve any comments on my part as one never knows what 'eyes' may be tuned in. Internet sites at times have links to key into web postings with key words. One mighty soap company here in 'Ragtown' does that all the time. I've been astounded to see/read comments from Steamboats.org on far and wide ranging sites--not that any of the big money interests care a penny. I worry not.
Being something of an Anglophile, I collect stories/anecdotes/history from my time in Great Britain and the Commonwealth. There's a telling one coming from the old British Admiralty. The lords of the Admiralty sat around their long mahogany table in London on day in wigs and full uniforms. "Well, gentleman, Lord ......... is now gone and out of our hair. What is your pleasure?" Lord so-and-so at the end of the table sniffed, cleared his throat and looked around. "My lords, I have the pefect solution to this dilemma. We shall petition His Majesty with a possible request for an honorary OBE [Order of the British Empire]. If not that, then we could name a ship after him." Cheers!
R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.
17/03/2011 6:20 pm
Write It...
Then write it. My sentiments were sent to the two gentlemen running the shipping company. Anything posted on here is classified under the heading, "Preaching to the Choir".
17/03/2011 9:17 pm
*RE: "Write it"/I agree*
Hi, Shipyard:
That was a 'goodie' for sure including "Preaching to the Choir." You know what they say about church choirs, don't you? Choirs are the "war zone" of the church. In time I'll dig around to see what the political leanings are for INTERLAKE STEAMSHIP. May take time but you can find just about whatever if you click, click, click. Amazing what you find out about yourself when you type your own name in and hit GO. Missed you posting of late but I was away on the rolling blue water. Cheers!
R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.
18/03/2011 7:55 am
My first thought was that BB Riverboats must have sold the SS Nightmare!
24/03/2011 4:20 am
Back in 1992, I had the opportunity to tour the M/V Charles M. Beeghley and meet the crew for a college research project on Great Lakes Transportation. Heck, Ed Brown, the cook, put me to work on meal prep in the galley and then invited me to have dinner with the crew. For a young college student, it was an incredible experience. I just fell in love with that boat.
For it to be called the M/V James Oberstar just taints that image. I'd rather keep it the Beeghley - especially since I personally have worked in numerous election cycles talking to a lot of voters in Minnesota's 8th District to get him out of office.
25/03/2011 4:09 am
I must confess, I also find this rather distasteful.. :/
Here is a amusing video I had in my U tube favorites for quiet some time ..
A farewell salute ?!?
YouTube - Paul Nielsen Greets the Charles Beeghly
25/03/2011 4:15 am
Beautiful video Dave. Thanks for sharing!
25/03/2011 4:28 am
Jeffrey, You are very welcome.. 🙂
Even though I'm a Whistle Lover and Builder, the sound of a big fat Horn holds it's place in history.. LOL