----------------
If you would read the article about HP's earnings fully...you'd see that these were one-time fees. Had these not been incurred, they would have made money.
----------------
Yep, I understand that. And would you like me to recite for you all of the quarters and annuals where TWA would have "made money" if not for "one time fees"?? That was the story every other time they announced their numbers.
It apparently wasn't a lack of earnings that put TWA under, it was those pesky "one time fees".
[:bigsmile:] [:bigsmile:]
I dunno, maybe there's something to it. What other airline besides TWA flew for over a dozen consecutive money losing years? And then when the end came, they had to scramble to spend their money so that AA could use the "failed company" defense with a semi-straight face when they got to BK court, the DOT, the Senate and the DOJ.
The bottom line is that HP LOST over $2 Billion. Why, is not particularily important. That's $2 Billion bucks they had before Carly decided to play footsie with Compaq. But it wasn't her money, so what does she care? It was the stakeholder's money -- you know, the folks she has a fudiciary responsibility to look out for before anyobody else. My elderly parents have quite an investment in HP stock as part of their retirement portfolio. They've gotten screwed since she took over. Just like you have with your ESOP, now worth a couple bucks a share. She's Goodwin with a skirt.
Does any of this ring a bell??? Didn't Goodwin do the same thing at UAL? First with US Airways, at $60 a share no less! What's it worth today? Pennies?? Then there's his great Avolar plan.
I think you ALPA guys (I'm assuming you're a pilot) ought to make a move on UAL while the stock is in the toilet and you can pick up the whole damn joint for the cost of a used 747. I have much more confidence in the financial wisdom of the pilots then I do in the so called experts who have put United in harm's way. Heck, you guys don't even need to stop flying. Just put it on auto pilot and hash out a recovery plan between point A and point B. [:bigsmile:]
You know, sometimes I'm convinced that us "little guys" have more common sense and business practicality in our little fingers than all these hot-shot CEO's have combined.
I hope the CEO announcement comes soon, and I would be very encouraged if it were someone who knows how to drive a plane.
Take care and the best of luck to you all,
Marky