I'm sure that $1.278M number is not his W2, but includes a lot of the extras the President of ALPA is 'entitled' to, such as his DC apartment rent, lawn service back home, car service, life insurance, his retirement funding, his wine and dine budget, etc. but still, I'll bet his W2 is double what any normal line Capt. at the top ALPA negotiated pay rate is making.

The problem as I see it is, he has to make friends, not enemies in DC. Why? Because of the Middle East carriers wanting to get more access to the US Domestic market.

Remember back to right after 9-11, when UAL and AA were talking about going bankrupt? I heard John McCain answer a reporter's question:

Q. "What if the two biggest US Carriers go out of business?"

John McCain: "If they can't fly the routes and make money, I guess we'll just have to let the Foreign Carriers in to do it."

And remember when UAL Pilot talked about going on strike, to protect their pensions?

Shrub Bush said, "Not on my watch!"

The Big 3 have figured out they have to merge and stop undercutting each other's prices if they want to survive, long term. But remember that USA Today article last month (poster here somewhere) that was crying about the decrease in domestic airline competition, the increased air fares, and the huge earnings the Big 3 are (finally) making?

ALPA can't call an SOS now, because John McCain and his buddies in Congress will just open the flood gates to Foreign airlines, and you and I will be looking for jobs at China Southern.

That's why Lee is trying to make friends, not enemies, in DC, and trying to work WITH the A4A, vs. against them, to get our own elected douchebags to support a strong US Aviation Industry.