Flash Backtime: Trickle Down Sequestration

As a frequent business traveler, I dreaded the (capital S) Sequester for how it would affect me - as if I was motivated by my own self-interests. But I'm not the only one. We are a nation of the "self-interested" and this a perfect example.

The considerable cuts and furloughs continue, with one exception: air travel. The FAA furloughs for air traffic controllers have been suspended by government intervention.

I expected something like this to trigger the end of the (capital S) Sequester, but those pesky congresspeople found a way around that too. They managed to get only this one element of the Sequester fixed, not many of the more important social programs (Head Start, Meals On Wheels, Cancer Research).

You know why? Because congressfolk need to get home to their states and districts. For that they could all agree to move the meter... Because they are the paragon of this self-interested nation.

As it turns out we were delayed 2 hours from Atlanta to Baton Rouge on this clear April Saturday, because of something called "maintenance." Conspiracy theorists populate my gate, although I didn't recognize a single politician.

March 4, 2013

The news outlets had been promoting the Sequester with a capital "S" for months. We had heard all about the draconian drama that was about to unfold before our eyes: Cuts, furloughs, closings, and more cuts. Yes, I was sure it was just another fire drill - until it affects you. And by "you" I mean me of course.

The FAA has been hacksawed into, which means fewer air traffic controllers, which means less air traffic control, which means less air traffic.

Homeland Security has been slashed as well. And while nobody is writing love songs about TSA agents, if their overtime gets cut and if they can't hire new personnel for a fairly high-turnover position, the process of airport security will be slowed down to a crawl.

If you make your living flying from place to place, this is very ominous. If you make your living connecting through a hub like Atlanta, O'Hare, or DFW, expect things to be a lot worse. Not only is the population exponentially higher than other airports, but double the headaches with the comings and goings of connecting flights.

So when I'm in ATL this coming Friday, on my 8th drink at Cafe Intermezzo, waiting and wondering how this all started, I thought I'd be sure what to tell my fellow refugees about why we're in this soup.

This is initially the Republicans' fault by ignorance, then the Democrats' fault for stupidity. The two are not the same.

In 2011, when the GOPs in Congress stubbornly blocked a perfunctory raise of the debt ceiling, all hell broke loose. Many of them did not know (or at least their constituents didn't) that the debt ceiling was there to pay off the country's standing debt, not raising the debt limit a la credit cards.

So a deal had to be brokered to keep the US in good financial standing. The Dems caved on a "sequestration" deal, which is what you see today with the massive cuts to essential programs. They never thought the Republicans would let it go into effect, which was a colossal miscalculation.

They thought this because the deal included major cuts in defense spending, a sacred cow on the right, while not cutting Social Security and Medicare, the equivalent on the left.

The problem is that hard-line military spending was the GOP platform of the neo-cons a decade ago, post 9/11. It's not the same in this decade, post-Tea Party. The party has transformed - now they'll cut anything and call it a win.

In the meantime hundreds of thousands of Americans will feel direct pain, and then so many more of us, like the business travelers will feel the residual effects. That's when this will reach a tipping point and Congress will have to act.

Would You Trade First Class For A Middle Seat To Get Home An Hour Earlier?

That's the decision that I was faced with today. There was a southeast storm system that caused residual delays throughout the area.

I know the ground shook overnight at the Yellowhammer Inn with some overnight thunderstorms. So my connection home was delayed but the previous flight was delayed as well, and had one seat left. Guess who was first on the list.

It was a 6 AM call time and not a great game in Tuscaloosa. Alabama easily handled Stanford to reach the NIT quarterfinals. It was bone-chilling cold and rainy in the morning and then after the game, the flight I tried to stand-by for in Birmingham was sold out. So I spent the time with some Good People at BHM.

The good news of the day was that I got the call to do one more game, a third in Tuscaloosa in an eight-day stretch, on Tuesday. An extra game this time of year is like a Christmas Bonus, hence the NIT "Victory Lap." An extra game pays one month's mortgage or two kids' summer camp.

But to answer the question posed in the title: definitely.

It's a short flight home, and time at home is precious this time of year. At least until the final leg of the Tuscaloosa 3-legged race.

Trickle Down Sequestration

The news outlets had been promoting the Sequester with a capital "S" for months. We had heard all about the draconian drama that was about to unfold before our eyes: Cuts, furloughs, closings, and more cuts. Yes, I was sure it was just another fire drill - until it affects you. And by "you" I mean me of course.

The FAA has been hacksawed into, which means fewer air traffic controllers, which means less air traffic control, which means less air traffic.

Homeland Security has been slashed as well. And while nobody is writing love songs about TSA agents, if their overtime gets cut and if they can't hire new personnel for a fairly high-turnover position, the process of airport security will be slowed down to a crawl.

If you make your living flying from place to place, this is very ominous. If you make your living connecting through a hub like Atlanta, O'Hare, or DFW, expect things to be a lot worse. Not only is the population exponentially higher than other airports, but double the headaches with the comings and goings of connecting flights.

So when I'm in ATL this coming Friday, on my 8th drink at Cafe Intermezzo, waiting and wondering how this all started, I thought I'd be sure what to tell my fellow refugees about why we're in this soup.

This is initially the Republicans' fault by ignorance, then the Democrats' fault for stupidity. The two are not the same.

In 2011, when the GOPs in Congress stubbornly blocked a perfunctory raise of the debt ceiling, all hell broke loose. Many of them did not know (or at least their constituents didn't) that the debt ceiling was there to pay off the country's standing debt, not raising the debt limit a la credit cards.

So a deal had to be brokered to keep the US in good financial standing. The Dems caved on a "sequestration" deal, which is what you see today with the massive cuts to essential programs. They never thought the Republicans would let it go into effect, which was a colossal miscalculation.

They thought this because the deal included major cuts in defense spending, a sacred cow on the right, while not cutting Social Security and Medicare, the equivalent on the left.

The problem is that hard-line military spending was the GOP platform of the neo-cons a decade ago, post 9/11. It's not the same in this decade, post-Tea Party. The party has transformed - now they'll cut anything and call it a win.

In the meantime hundreds of thousands of Americans will feel direct pain, and then so many more of us, like the business travelers will feel the residual effects. That's when this will reach a tipping point and Congress will have to act.

Eating On The Fly

Part of the lifestyle of being a way important world traveler is the constant struggle to eat well on the road. On site, grabbing a "TV dinner" or late night drinks are a killer. But resisting the temptation to eat crap while killing time in an airport can be a challenge as well.

Anyone can pull up to the bar and grab a cold one and some bar food, there's a brand-name brew pub in every terminal. Finding the hidden gems takes a little luck and lots of experience because there aren't many. There are only three places I look forward to dining at on the layover.

First (above) is Cafe Intermezzo in Atlanta's B terminal. Really the perfect spot, the Eurpoean style cafe and wine bar with an eclectic menu...and a bookstore. In the mornings, you can get crepes and coffee. The rest of the day there's soup, sandwiches, pasta, pizza, and quesadillas; beer, wine, and cordials. It's a nice place to catch up on your reading or keep an eye on the game on the flat screens at the bar.

It's an oasis in a fairly depressing Atlanta weigh station. Detroit Metro is Camelot by comparison. It's bright and spacious and clean. And there's sushi in the A terminal.

Sora's wood/bamboo decor really makes you feel like you're in a Japanese restaurant rather than an airport. They've got creative rolls and good house sake. The TV behind the sushi bar is old, but they'll put the game on. You can get a high-quality meal for about $35.

That's it, that's the list. The other place I make time for isn't on the connection, it's at home (when I'm not running to catch my plane): The Dewar's Clubhouse at SAV.

I recommend the lime chicken and brie sandwich with roasted peppers and caramelized onions. And maybe you'll be fortunate enough to get the country's best bartender. Will will hook you up before you jet.

Rockin' the B Terminal @ ATL

As we close in on one year at Backtime, I get to travel around the country and talk to people (yes, plural) who like the blog. Some enjoy the opinion pieces, or at least enjoy disagreeing with them. Some enjoy the misadventures from the road. But rarely does anyone get any real useful information...until now.

If you happen to be stuck in Atlanta airport for 4 hours, then B Terminal is the place to be.

The first stop is the Sweetwater Draft House and Grill. Good beer selection, decent menu - chili and cobb salad were high quality, solid wines by the glass, and unlike most of Atlanta airport - excellent service with a smile.

It's a little cramped, but if you can grab a seat against the wall, you might be able to plug in your laptop and set up shop. But if you really want to jam on your work, the place to go is Minute Suites.

What it is essentially provides is a pod-sized hotel room at $30 an hour (or $15 for a half-hour)with high-speed internet service, a pull-out sofa, and a plasma screen. It's a brilliant idea and shhh....it's expensable.

Now I know what you all are thinking. Hotel room in an airport? Hourly rates? Sounds like a mile-high club at ground level to me, an and excellent business start-up plan for a well-connected pimp.

But seriously, it is a great place to get some work done or catch a quick nap without the rat race all around you.

Then maybe catch a Seattle's Best Coffee (Dunkin' Donuts is in terminal A if you still have time) before your next mundane connection.