Save the Delta Queen: A private initiative to save the steamboat Delta Queen A private initiative to save the steamboat Delta Queen
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Save American Jobs, Save American Cultural Heritage, Save the Delta Queen!

Jan 31, 2008

Today Joe Ueberroth, President of Majestic America Line and Chairman/CEO of Ambassadors International Inc. is sending out the following message to all supporters of the Delta Queen. We consider this as an important milestone in the fight to save the Delta Queen. After months of behind-the-scenes activity, Majestic America Line is now also approaching the public directly, emphatically and emotionally to save our beloved steamboat Delta Queen!

Along with the message comes a comprehensive Delta Queen Whitepaper with some eye-opening facts. Read it and send it to your Representatives, Senators, Presidential Candidates!

 

Dear Delta Queen Supporter: 

 

As we have discussed, saving the Delta Queen is a non-partisan issue – she is a U.S. flag vessel, with an all-American crew, she is U.S. owned and pays U.S. taxes. She is a registered historic treasure of the Department of the Interior and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, she is a National Historic Landmark and also a member of the National Maritime Hall of Fame.   Since 1968 her operating exemption  acknowledging her wood super structure has been granted 9 consecutive times by both democrats and republicans, she was good enough and safe enough to host three presidents and a princess.   Despite all this, the Chairman of the Senate Commerce and Transportation Committee and the Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee won’t even let the Delta Queen extension go to a vote.  However, Congress did find the time to exempt a foreign owned cruise line, with foreign built ships from the Jones Act, passed in 1886, which protects American maritime jobs.  Due to Congress’ exemption, the United States Coast Guard estimated that 900 – 1,200 foreign workers will be employed by that cruise line in 2008.  In contrast, if nothing is done for the Queen then on November 1, 2008 more than 120 American jobs will be lost (directly and not including the revenue she brings to many small towns in a dozen states) and we will all lose a little bit of our cultural heritage. 

 

I have personally walked the halls of Congress to gain support.  The company has hired consultants and lobbyists to gain support.  Thousands of Delta Queen loyalists have sent e-mails to Congress to garner support.  To date, all to no avail.

 

As we are hearing from our Presidential candidates in speeches across the country, "Washington is broken and the country requires a real change."   When we look at the circumstances surrounding the Delta Queen, it symbolizes what is wrong in America.  I ask myself, what has America come to when unions are actively fighting against American jobs?  What has America become when our politicians are not fighting to protect our history and traditions?  What has our Congress evolved to when committee chairs are so powerful that they, at their sole discretion, will not let legislation that has passed 9 times even reach the floor for a vote?

 

At the same time, I know that in America, when enough people care, we can overcome great odds, right wrongs, and act in the best interest of the people and the generations to follow.  I also know that the Delta Queen is worth fighting for and that there are so many people that are passionate about protecting her ability to operate for future generations.  It has become obvious that we need our fight to "Save the Queen," to elevate her cause into the national discussion and there is nothing as powerful as talk radio in order to achieve this end.  In order to save the Queen we need a voice that can be heard in Washington.  It is my sincere hope that the power of talk radio can make our Presidential candidates take a position on this issue, bring change in Washington, and preserve a national treasure for future generations as well as its American jobs.

What you can do!  

 We need a strong, immediate, focused grassroots effort to do the following:

1)    E-mail the radio shows below and tell them how important saving the Queen is to you.

2)    E-mail the candidates urging them to take a position on saving the Queen.

3)    Pass on the White Paper attached to friends and fans of the Queen and ask them to do the same 3 steps.

 

Thank you for your support.

 

Joe Ueberroth

President, Majestic America Line

Chairman and CEO, Ambassadors International, Inc.

 

In addition, I will be starting the campaign by being on the Jason Lewis show, Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 6:30 CST on Minneapolis FM 100.3 KTLK 

 

The following are the targeted radio talk shows programs:

 

Glenn Beck  – 818.377.5300 me@glennbeck.com  

 

Neal Boortz  – 404.897.7500 go to www.boortz.com 

 

Alan Colmes  – 212.301.3000 colmes@foxnews.com 

 

Mike Gallagher  – 972.831.1920 go to www.mikeonline.com  

 

Bill Handel  – 818.559.2252 bill@kfi640.com  

 

Sean Hannity  – 212.613.3800 seanshow@abc.com 

 

Rush Limbaugh  – 212.445.3900 rush@eibnet.com 

 

Bill O’Reilly  –  212.641.2000 oreilly@foxnews.com 

 

Michael Savage  – 541.664.8827 michaelsavage@paulrevere.com 

 

Ed Schulz  – 701.237.5246 vern@edschultzshow.com 

 

National Public Radio – go to www.npa.org/contact/

 

 

Send your comments and the attached Delta Queen whitepaper to each of the presidential campaigns:

 

Mike Huckabee (800) 781-6302

Pressroom@explorehuckabee.com

Contacts:  Kristen Fedewa (202) 365-6936

Alice Stewart (501) 324-2008 or (501) 658-1654

 

John McCain

Mscholz@mccain08hq.com

Contacts: Brooke Buchanan (703) 650-5550

Meg Schultz (703) 650-5578

 

Mitt Romney

Contacts: Kevin Madden or Alex Burgos (857) 288-6390

 

Hillary Clinton

Press@hillaryclinton.com |(703) 875-1271

Contact:  Mark Daley (515) 491-8703 or mdaley@hillaryclinton.com

 

Barack Obama

Contacts: Jen Psaka (312) 819-2423 media@barackobama.com

Katie Hogan (312) 819-2423  

 

Ron Paul

Contact:  (703) 248-9115

volunteers@ronpaul2008.com

4 Comments »

4 Responses to “Save American Jobs, Save American Cultural Heritage, Save the Delta Queen!”

  1. Neal Kapp Says:
    January 31st, 2008 at 9:27 am

    OOORAAHH!!!!
    Sounds like the MARINES have landed and are poised to begin the offensive,on our side of the fence. Faxes are being created and sent, they will be on their machines waiting for them with their morning cup of coffee!!!
    Neal

  2. Neal Kapp Says:
    January 31st, 2008 at 2:00 pm

    Ok I have burned all the midnight oil I can here, I faxed and emailed all those listed, I also added Laura Bush, Paul Harvey, Larry Elder, Al Fraken, Stephanie Miller, and Rhandi Rhodes, as well as an updated message to my senators and representatives. Here are some updates/corrections to the list.

    You have to susbscribe to Rush in order to send email @ $6.95 per month- that email was returned, so I guess we need to get on the “open line Friday” show.

    Michael Savage- my have the same deal, as I was an “invalid subscriber”, email returned.

    A direct fax # for Mike Gallagher 800-821-6453
    Glen Beck’s fax # is as posted.
    The rest I had to go to the hosts website and cut n paste into their email, as the numbers listed were direct lines into the stations, most were recording, our normal busines hours are…
    Lastly the NPR is website is NPR.com, not NPA.com.

    Hope that helps, brew up a pot of coffee, put another log on the fire, and get those faxes and emails going…
    Good night, or good morning now I guess

  3. Jennifer Lemmon Says:
    February 1st, 2008 at 6:20 pm

    I am one of those workers on the Delta Queen. In June of last year I was hired to work on the DQ as the Relief Tour Manager and Gift Shop Purser. When I return to work in April, I will be coming back as the full time Tour Manager which was my dream job when I went to work for Majestic.

    I really did not know what to expect when I went to work on the Queen. My background is in business and accounting. I was a paper pushing desk jockey. It did not take long for me to fall in love with the Queen, the crew, the river and of course, the PASSENGERS. I absolutely love all the people who come on board this vessell. I watched week after week as total strangers became family in 7 days time. It is the Queen and the magic of her atmosphere. She is something that needs to be a part of our future, not just a distant memory in the past. Please help save the Queen.

  4. Dave Vrooman Says:
    February 4th, 2008 at 10:37 pm

    Many thanks, Mr. Ueberroth. For 3 months, some of us have wondered what you would reveal yourself to be once you were rid of the problematic Mr. Giersdorf. Now we have our answer: you are one of the good guys.