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 Lyon on Politics
"Can We All Get Along?"... Nope
By Fred Lyon, The Lyon Firm
In the wake of the riots that ensued after the acquittal of the Los Angeles police officers accused of beating him, Rodney King pled to one and all, “People, can we all get along?” If there is one thing that can be said with certainty as a result of this bizarre and unprecedented campaign, it is, "No, we all can’t get along – not then, not now, and most likely not in the future."
This has been the vilest and vitriolic presidential campaign in American history. Each party nominated a historically unpopular candidate with the inevitable polarization which again is the most pronounced in the 228 years of our constitutional republic. The partisans on both side are quick to blame the other side for the acrimony. Truth is, however, that there is more than enough blame to go around. Using the phrase of former New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, deviancy has been defined down and I fear that the tone of this election will be the new normal for American politics no matter who wins.
There will be ample opportunity when (if) the election is over to post mortem the reasons for this debacle. Certainly the internet and cable TV have had an impact in creating the rancorous atmosphere. But I marvel – in 1992, Bill Clinton was asked during the campaign whether he wore “boxers or briefs.” When he actually answered the question, I fumed about the damage he had done to the dignity of the office (little did I know then what he would prove capable of). Now we have a campaign that features substantive discussions of both male and female private parts. This is not progress, folks.
A political science graduate thesis could be written arguing that the conduct of Bill Clinton in the White House led directly to Donald Trump, which if nothing else would deserve an A for irony. To impute to Hillary the sins of her philandering husband is unfair but in all probability she would be running today against Jeb Bush but for the antics of Bill.
Two months ago, I wrote that both Clinton and Trump had 40% support among their partisans to whom nothing that their candidate did and said mattered. They would vote for them regardless. The election was about the 20% to whom something mattered. Whoever energized that 20% would win the election.
Since August, Trump has done nothing to alienate or lose his base. He still has his 40%. But he also has not been successful in adding voters to his bloc. He has not made a pivot to a more temperate presidential style, he has not provided more substantive detail that might have engaged the Something Matters crowd.
Not that Hillary has done much to invigorate them. It is more that Trump’s uneven debate performances, his Twitter rants, and his Access Hollywood quotes have prevented him from making inroads among the 20%. Just today George Will characterized Trump as the “GOP’s chemotherapy, a nauseating but, if carried through to completion, perhaps a curative experience.” And Glenn Beck said that a vote for Hillary was “a moral and ethical choice.”
Four weeks until the election which if it were held today, Hillary Clinton would win, the Democrats would regain the Senate, and get close to the 30 seats they need to recapture the House of Representatives. But the election is not being held today and given its crazy, unpredictable nature to date, I suppose things could change.
For Trump to win, it will require a major October surprise. Not just more talking points about e-mails and Benghazi. Something totally shocking and unpredictable. And even then, he would have to moderate his tone to convince the 20% that he has the temperament to hold the most powerful political office in the world. And this assumes there is no more stuff coming from the Apprentice.
Four weeks to go and then it will finally be over. Nope. The Clintons and now Trump remain as (I have so often said to ABMA during the last 16 years) like an LSD flashback, a constantly recurring toxic nightmare from which we will never escape. Supposing the likely Clinton victory on November 8, does anyone really think that Trump is going to concede graciously? The election fraud lawsuits will be so widespread that we will yearn for Florida 2000 and the simplicity of hanging chads.
Are we having fun yet?
Opening Doors & Sharing Innovation on Manufacturing Day
ABMA members Robinson Fans, Superior Boiler Works, and
Nationwide Boiler opened their doors and hosted events on Manufacturing Day, Friday, October 7.
Nearly 300 visitors attended, including elementary and high school students, local officials, manufacturing peers, and families of employees. Everyone attending these events left with the same message: Manufacturing is alive and well in the United States, and the boiler industry impacts their lives.
 At Robinson Fans, more than 100 participants learned about the essential functions of fans in industrial products. Employees led participants through tours of the manufacturing process and helped them understand the technology that goes into each product. At the close of the tour, Nancy Staible shared Robinson’s rich history, including the company's founding by her great-great grandfather Samuel Robinson almost 125 years ago.
Superior Boiler Works' Manufacturing Day tour focused primarily on educating high school students about today’s manufacturing, with  almost 100 students from local area schools in attendance, as well as local officials and manufacturing peers. Participants observed all areas of their manufacturing processes: plasma cutting steel plate, rolling steel plate into pressure vessels, code welding processes, tube rolling, metal fabrication, final assembly, and painting. Employees enjoyed taking questions directly from those on the tour and took pride in explaining their skill as it pertained to a particular process.
At Nationwide, participants learned about the unique nature of the boiler rental business and observed the sophisticated rental fleet. Participants also gained understanding of the critical services boiler rental companies provide to address emergency needs when boilers break down.
ABMA is thrilled to support Manufacturing Day and we aspire to growing our members' presence in 2017.
Last Chance to Advertise in the ABMA Buyers Guide
If you want to place an ad in the 2016-2017 ABMA Buyers Guide, contact Alex Lovely immediately. The deadline has passed, but if we receive your advertisement in the next few days, we can slip it in before the Buyers Guide is sent to the printers.
View the 2016-2017 Advertising Rate Card
View the 2016-2017 Advertising Specs Sheet
Please contact Alex Lovely at [email protected] to reserve your ad space or with questions.
ABMA 2017 Annual Meeting - Hotel Room Cut-Off December 7
It's the perfect time to start planning for the 2017 ABMA Annual Meeting, which will be held January 13-16, 2017 at the tropical Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort in sunny Bonita Springs, FL. Hotel registration is open and we encourage you to book now as the block will fill up fast.
Hotel registration cutoff is December 7. We have arranged a special conference rate of $299/night, which includes resort fees, free wi-fi, two bottles of water daily, unlimited local calls, and ferry transportation. To book your room, call 888-421-1442 or click on the ABMA online hotel reservation link.
Meeting registration opens October 26 -- look for an email coming soon with registration information. For now, take a peek at our preliminary schedule of events and speakers.
ABMA would like to thank the following companies for their support of the 2017 ABMA Annual Meeting. Sponsorship opportunities are still available -- reserve yours now!
- Cleaver-Brooks
- Nooter/Eriksen
- Robinson Fans
- Victory Energy
- Sellers Manufacturing
- E-Tech
- Honeywell
- Warren Environment
- Cust-O-Bend
- Clarage
- Vapor Power International
- Chanute Manufacturing
- Clark-Reliance Corporation
- NIUPLE
- Vector Systems
- Webster Combustion Technology
- Superior Boiler Works
- Ware
- Sterling Deaerator Company
- ValvTechnologies
- The National Board of Pressure Vessel Inspectors
- NTFB Combustion
- Group Simoneau
For questions about the Annual Meeting, contact ABMA Director of Meetings Cheryl Jamall at [email protected].
Join ABMA at 2016 POWER-GEN - Dec 13-15
ABMA and many of our member companies will be participating at 2016 POWER-GEN International, taking place December 13-15 at the Oralnge County Convention Center in the North and South Halls, in Orlando, FL. This event is your opportunity to network with leaders in this sector.
When you attend, visit ABMA at booth 3573. Click to receive a free pass!
Again this year, ABMA will distribute its Passport Book of exhibiting member companies. This year's book will also feature enhanced advertising opportunities.
Learn more about the show and contact Alex Lovely at [email protected] for Passport Book advertising.
Upcoming Industry Events
Participate in Middle East Power Tech Trade Mission
The United States & Foreign Commercial Service and the International Trade Administration are offering a fantastic opportunity for you to participate in a US government-supported event assisting with and promoting US companies to key public and private sector officials in the Saudi Arabian and UAE electric power generation sector.
This trade mission will take place from March 12-16, 2017, and includes stops in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, and Dhahran, where US company executives can obtain first-hand market intelligence, participate in site visits, a power generation conference, one-on-one meetings with potential business partners, and meetings with key public sector officials. US Embassy and Consulates in these cities will be hosting this trade mission, and the goal of the mission is to introduce US companies to the emerging opportunities in these countries resulting from increased demand of electricity, the program to privatize of portions of this sector, and the focus on renewable energy and smart technology solutions, and help US companies connect with partners for market entry or expansion.
For additional information on specific products and projects in each country, please view the Federal Register Notice. Space is limited to 15 US companies -- register soon to reserve your spot!
Annual Update Conference on Export Controls and Policy
The Annual Update Conference on Export Controls and Policy gives the exporting community the opportunity to learn first-hand from senior US Government officials about current issues and trends in export control policies, regulations, and practices. Update 2016 will take place October 31 - November 2, 2016 at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC.
This major outreach activity draws business and government representatives from around the world to learn and exchange ideas about export control issues. It provides attendees with the opportunity to network with colleagues in the export control industry, interact with US Government officials, and learn about programs and services offered by US Government and industry exhibitors. It is one of the Department of Commerce's most notable international trade events.
For additional information on Update 2016, please contact BIS’s Outreach and Educational Services Division or register here.
Discover Global Markets: Building Smart Cities
Join the US Commercial Service and the Illinois District Export Council for Discover Global Markets: Building Smart Cities, November 1-3, 2016, in Chicago, IL. This conference brings together trade experts, industry professionals, and US commercial diplomats via panels and executive meetings to address opportunities and demand for new technologies to make cities more sustainable. Your firm will leave this conference with the critical next steps needed to transform market potential to market success in markets of interest across the world.
For more information please contact Richard Carpenter. To register please click here.
Industry News
Superior Boiler Works Celebrates Safety Milestone
Superior Boiler Works, Inc., recently celebrated the company and its employees achieving 1,000 consecutive days without a lost-time accident, a milestone achieved as of Sept. 13, 2016. The company’s safety and insurance partner, IMA of Wichita, Kansas, treated employees to a cookout.
As a company and as a leadership team, Superior has emphasized and prioritized safety over the past several years. The implementation of working committees involving all areas of the company has contributed substantially to the safety program’s success.
“This is a significant milestone for any manufacturer,” said Superior Boiler Works CEO Doug Wright. “I’m extremely proud of the accomplishment for our company because it takes all employees being focused on the overall safety objective to make it work and be successful.”
Superior holds monthly safety training sessions and maintains a safety committee comprised of a key group of employees who provide valuable input every month.
International Exposition Co. Announces 2017 AHR Expo Innovation Award Winners
International Exposition Company announced the winners of the 2017 AHR Expo (International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition) Innovation Awards.
The annual awards competition honors the most inventive and original products, systems and technologies showcased at each year’s AHR Expo in the categories of: building automation; cooling; green building; heating; indoor air quality; plumbing; refrigeration; software; tools & instruments; and ventilation.
Award winners will be recognized in a formal ceremony during the 2017 AHR Expo, which takes place January 30 to February 1, 2017, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, NV.
For a list of winners and more information on the 2017 AHR Expo, visit ahrexpo.com
Register Now for World’s Largest HVACR Marketplace
 The International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo), which began more than 85 years ago as a heating and ventilation show, has grown to become the world’s largest HVACR event. The 2017 event will be held January 30 - February 1 in Las Vegas, NV.
Held annually in key markets and major cities across the U.S., the Show hosts more than 2,000 exhibitors from around the world and attracts crowds of 60,000 industry professionals from all 50 states and 150 countries. Providing a unique forum for the HVACR community to come together and share new products, technologies, and ideas, the event is co-sponsored by ASHRAE and AHRI, and is held concurrently with ASHRAE’s Winter Conference.
For more information and to register, visit www.ahrexpo.com
Save on Freight Shipping with ABMA and UPS Freight®
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As an ABMA member, you qualify for exclusive savings on a wide range of UPS Freight less-than-truckload freight services, including LTL freight, cross-border shipments to and from Canada and Mexico, and Trade Show Services.
Sign up today at ltl.upsfreight.com/Enroll/ABMA or reach out to the dedicated team of customer service representatives who are ready to answer your questions every step of the way. For more information, call UPS at 866-443-9303 or email [email protected].
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