FAA--Fouling American Aviation

American Airlines, at the order of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has canceled thousands of flights this week, inconveniencing many thousands of passengers and costing the company tens of millions of dollars.

So, what exactly was wrong with the MD-80s. One would think that the engines were about to blow up or the wings fall off or something equally dramatic. One would be wrong. The twist ties holding bundles of wires together are a quarter of an inch too far apart.

How much do you want to bet that if McCain and Bush are still buddy-buddy in October, that the FAA won't be enforcing rules this disruptively right before the election?