The Story Behind The Story of Political “Volunteers.”
Talk to area citizens and the prevailing opinion is that Gallatin Airport Authority board members benevolently work for the good of the people. Even though absolute power will absolutely corrupt others, surely, these volunteers are immune from such temptations because they receive no pay for generously donating their time and talents.
The problem with such thinking is that these individuals are vetted by Gallatin County Commission, a political body. Commissioners are impressed with money and power and personality and campaign donations and political clout. Put such an applicant against a simple blue collar worker and who do you think will receive the appointment to the Authority?
This Newsweek article popped up during a search for other non-political aviation information. The reader comments provide interesting insight into the backroom deals and mutual back-scratching which infiltrate the appointment process. This individual’s attitude also dramatically displays how General Aviation can be mis-perceived by the non-flying public, and why we must insist on absolute openness and public participation in all our government aviation actions.
“Here an F.O.B., There an F.O.B.” by Michael Isikoff and Mark Hosenball. See: http://www.newsweek.com/id/105650/page/1
From reader comments:
Posted By: Gallatinone @ 03/04/2008 1:54:24 AM
Hillary’s new claim regarding “Homeland Security” is pretty funny. Bill’s new campaign spokesman is Matt McKenna. McKenna’s mom and dad suddenly have numerous positions with the government:
Daddy McKenna:
New York Life Insurance Agent (full time/mentoring 3 agents)
Federal Security Director of Montana (insurance agent to Homeland Security)
Appointed Gallatin County Airport Authority (not advertised to public: 2 ayes 1 nay)
RAF (Charity/Nonprofit): Acquiring land for his private CHARITY for the sake of pilots. Publicly seeking donations of property, money, life insurance policies, anything of value. Recently obtained property from an “elderly couple” who bequeathed their property to him for his RAF (Recreational Aviation Foundation). Read the bylaws! WOW…
Owns his own airport. Mc Kenna Airport Montana
Delinquint on his property taxes in Montana where he owns millions of dollars worth of property.
Matt worked on Governor Schweitzer’s campaign and Senator Jon Testor’s campaign.
Matt followed Conrad Burns around with a camera for weeks, accusing burns of corruption because of his connections to Abramoff. Yet, Testors campaign has been linked to Hsu…
Matt’s mommy is also a full time NY Life Agent.
She was rewarded by Governor Schweitzer for Matt’s nasty camera work, with an appointment to the DOT Aeronautical Division. (What a joke). But this will assist daddy McKenna with his Charity/Non-profit RAF in its effort to acquire property, and grants. He’s already acquired the Wolfe Grant.
Sister McKenna who happens to have just graduated from college two years ago has already received the PRESTIGIOUS NY LIFE LIFETIME AWARD for sales in Montana. Wow, only like 26 years old too! Recently appointed to the ???Board??? of Big Brothers and Sisters??? just like MOMMY. I doubt she has ever wiped a kid???s nose in her life.
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Posted By: Gallatinone @ 03/04/2008 2:01:44 AM
Senator Jon Testors and Senator Max Baucus’ schedules, full of appointments with Matt [McKenna]’s daddy and all of his friends including President of NY Life Insurance Sy Stenberg of New York. Flying all the way to the Big Sky State of Montana to meet with McKenna.
Also, a company in McKenna’s slum home town of Butte, Montana is a company named MSE. In 2000 MSE was found guilty by the Justice Department of “money laundering” and campaign fraud. McKenna, Baucus, Testor, and people from MSE who are now suddenly NY Life Agents all meeting in Montana. MSE is and has always been funded by federal money: pork and earmarks. FRAUD FRAUD FRAUD
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