By Caitlin Taylor

Mar 30, 2009 8:09am

The Note, 3/30/09: Driving the Lane — Obama puts new stamp, spin on bailouts

By RICK KLEIN The era of big government handouts is over. Welcome to the era of lean and mean — maybe with an emphasis on the mean, so far as the lean guy is concerned. President Obama’s first sale of the week starts with a fresh incentive: GM CEO Rick Wagoner is tossed under the Yukon, and his company and maybe Chrysler could be headed there with him. It marks a new phase in the Obama administration’s turnaround efforts — a carefully calibrated, starker-than-expected move that the president owns completely. The president is integrating some tricky moving parts here — there’s a critical piece of the US economy, public anger over bailouts, and battleground-state politicians who want to save a domestic industry that cannot save itself. (And the president has a wide variety of buyers to sell to this week: the American public, on help for automakers; members of Congress, on a budget that looks better than it sounds; residents of an upstate New York congressional district, in a special election that gives them way too much say in judging a presidency; and — almost an afterthought until the auto announcement comes — the world community as Obama heads abroad for a summit-filled week.) The automakers announcement, coming Monday at 11 am ET, marks “one of the most dramatic government interventions in private industry since the economic crisis began last year,” Neil King Jr. and John D. Stoll report in The Wall Street Journal. “In a summary of its findings, the task force added that it doesn’t believe Chrysler is viable as a stand-alone company, and suggested that the best chance for success for both GM and Chrysler ‘may well require utilizing the bankruptcy code in a quick and surgical way,’ ” they write. “The move also indicates that the Treasury Department intends to wade more deeply than most observers expected into the affairs of the country’s largest and oldest car company.” Plus: “The ouster by the government of General Motors Corp. Chief Executive Rick Wagoner could put pressure on the Obama administration to deal more aggressively with the management of banks receiving federal aid,” King and Naftali Bendavid write. The surprise was part of the play: “The decision to ask G.M.’s chairman and chief executive, Rick Wagoner, to resign caught Detroit and Washington by surprise, and it underscored the Obama administration’s determination to keep a tight rein on the companies it is bailing out — a level of government involvement in business perhaps not seen since the Great Depression,” Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Bill Vlasic write in The New York Times. “In deciding to urge Mr. Wagoner to step down, the Obama administration seemed mindful of the public’s growing outrage over bailouts of private companies, as well as the bonuses paid to employees of A.I.G.” “U.S. Shreds Auto Plans,” reads the banner in the Detroit Free Press. “The do-or-die ultimatums delivered today to two of Detroit’s pillar companies come with promises of additional aid, including up to $6 billion for a Chrysler-Fiat partnership,” Justin Hyde and Tim Higgins write. “But senior administration officials also say even successful plans could require a so-called quick rinse in bankruptcy, and warn that without Fiat, Chrysler will get no aid in or out of court.” “If the viability plans that General Motors and Chrysler submitted to the Obama administration in February were cars, they would be — at least as far as the president is concerned — Edsels,” ABC’s Jake Tapper and Charles Herman report. “In neither instance — GM or Chrysler – would the administration specify how much capital it might entail to keep the companies going for another 30-60 days.” George Stephanopoulos is wondering which storyline will take hold today. Precisely how the White House wanted this to be viewed: “Wagoner doesn’t get to be the boss anymore because the President of the United States acted like one and fired him,” Mike Lupica writes in the New York Daily News. But why Wagoner and not, say, bank CEOs? “Can anyone explain the differing treatment of auto companies and Wall Street firms?” David Sirota asks at OpenLeft.com. “Is it just that there are far more Wall Street worshipers like Tim Geithner and Larry Summers in the Obama administration than auto industry representatives? Or is it something else?” Will Congress be on board? “The White House held a Sunday night conference call with members of Congress from auto-producing states, and the lawmakers were far from satisfied,” Mike Allen and Josh Gerstein report for Politico. ” ‘Tough love hurts,’ said a source familiar with the discussions. ‘The members received the briefing with a sense of anxiety.’ The source said the timeline and funds to be announced Monday are ‘not good enough.’ ” “President Barack Obama held a 30-minute conference call Sunday night with Michigan’s two senators and its two senior House members. Michigan members held conference calls late into the night trying to figure out a response but held off at the White House’s request,” David Shepardson reports for the Detroit News. Said Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich: The announcement “sends a very ominous signal that this administration believes the existing viability plans aren’t painful enough.” More on the topic and the rest of the day’s politics Monday at noon ET, with the debut of ABCNews.com’s “Top Line,” a daily political Webcast hosted by Rick Klein and David Chalian. First guest: Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., on the administration’s bailout efforts and the first 10 weeks of the Obama presidency; Politico’s Jonathan Martin joins us in the back half to preview the politics of a busy week. One impact that can’t/won’t be avoided: “Rescue or no rescue, the Detroit Three are going to keep getting smaller. That means more layoffs in parts of the country that are already suffering,” The New Republic’s Jonathan Cohn writes. Softening the blow: “The Treasury Department plans to sponsor a program to insure the warrantees on any new GM or Chrysler car purchased during the restructuring period, even if the companies collapse,” writes Time’s Michael Scherer. “In a Monday morning speech, President Obama is also expected to announce the appointment of Edward Montgomery, a labor economist, as the new Director of Recovery for Auto Workers and Communities to help direct government aid to those areas most effected by the fallout, from plant closings to salary and benefit cuts.” It’s more than just a blow: “In laying out his strategy for addressing the challenges facing America’s automakers, Obama is standing up for an industry that is as huge — with 240,000 automaker employees in the U.S. and many times that in companies such as parts suppliers — as it is unpopular among critics from all sides of the political spectrum,” the Los Angeles Times’ Ken Bensinger and Jim Puzzanghera report. “And though the president’s plan is decidedly tough, it also displays a deep desire to keep the industry alive and avoid the economic calamity that could come from its collapse, despite the increasingly long odds against it.” Checking those foreign tracking polls: “Stocks fell sharply in Europe and Asia on Monday, amid fears that the Group of 20 meeting this week will fail to come up with a plan to restart global growth and signs of chaos in the auto industry,” per The New York Times. Per Dow Jones wire (can this help a merger?): “Fiat SpA (F.MI) shares tumbled in Milan Monday after the U.S. government’s surprisingly tough assessment of Chrysler LLC’s standalone survival prospects made Fiat’s planned investment in the U.S. automaker look a bit riskier.” The next very big worry? “Just months before the start of last year’s stock market collapse, the federal agency that insures the retirement funds of 44 million Americans departed from its conservative investment strategy and decided to put much of its $64 billion insurance fund into stocks,” Michael Kranish writes in The Boston Globe. “The [Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation] refused to say how much of the new investment strategy has been implemented or how the fund has fared during the downturn. The agency would only say that its fund was down 6.5 percent — and all of its stock-related investments were down 23 percent — as of last Sept. 30, the end of its fiscal year. But that was before most of the recent stock market decline and just before the investment switch was scheduled to begin in earnest.” He’s still got a budget to sell, too: “This week’s congressional budget fight will reveal a lot about how Congress is likely to proceed this year on President Barack Obama’s agenda,” McClatchy’s David Lightman reports. “As long as Obama remains popular, most Democratic members of Congress will likely be loyal and only occasionally show flashes of independence, while most Republican lawmakers will be shut out of any meaningful role.” The Washington Post’s Lori Montgomery provides a budget-watcher’s guide: “Reconciliation is probably in the cards. Though Senate leaders have yet to officially declare their intention to use reconciliation, all but a handful of Senate Democrats support using the maneuver for health-care reform, as do senior administration officials. The powerful procedural maneuver creates a privileged bill that cannot be filibustered in the Senate.” The polls aren’t looking so great on the policies the president is pushing — and that’s with the sales job. “Imagine what could have happened to U.S. public opinion on the president’s budget if he hadn’t invested all that salesmanship,” Andrew Malcolm writes on his Los Angeles Times blog. “Can he keep it up? And is some public caution creeping in?” The administration tone: “I think Americans should be optimistic about the future of this country,” Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner told George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week.” “We are a strong, remarkably resilient country. We are still the most productive economy in the world by many measures. We have a university system that is the envy of the world. People with an idea still want to come to the — America to grow business, build on that idea. That’s a great source of strength for our recovery. But we need this government, though, to do a better job of doing what governments have to do.” Bloomberg’s Al Hunt predicts that Geithner stays: “Imagine Obama facing today’s crisis without a Geithner or [Larry] Summers. Whatever mistakes were made, they bring unsurpassed credentials to deal with the worst financial meltdown since the Great Depression. . . . Even with the political pounding Geithner has taken, he commands loyalty from those around him, who praise his work habits, demeanor, personal grace and calming confidence.” Then there’s the world stage: “The president plans to push for a new approach to the war in Afghanistan, aggressive action to stop the proliferation of weapons and a more united European effort to combat the global recession,” Michael Shear writes in the Sunday Washington Post. “But if the U.S. president thought his popularity would cause foreign governments to fall quickly into line behind a new American leadership, experts warn, he could be in for a rude awakening.” “This time, no one will accuse Barack Obama of acting like Paris Hilton,” John Harwood writes in The New York Times. “Mr. Obama returns to Europe this week as president, against a backdrop of crisis. He has no alternative but to try coaxing partners in the Group of 20 industrial and emerging market nations to help stimulate the global economy and to assure them he is shoring up an American financial system that shoulders substantial blame for the damage. Add the challenge of promoting a new strategy for the war in Afghanistan, and political strategists say there is no danger that Americans will confuse this trip with an escape from Mr. Obama’s principal responsibilities.” Said David Axelrod: “The world has a lot of problems right now. It’s much more than a political event.” No time for “Wally World”: “White House press secretary Robert Gibbs jokingly referred to President Obama’s trip to Europe for the G-20, NATO, and EU summits as ‘our European vacation,’ and it’s clear that little soothing or relaxing awaits the young president as he prepares for his flight to London,” per ABC’s Jake Tapper. Los Angeles Times headline: “G-20 Summit Could Mean 19 Headaches.” Judging his sway in the world: “These days foreign leaders are in no mood to be lectured by American officials, even when — as in this case — the Americans are right,” Paul Krugman writes in his column. “The financial crisis has had many costs. And one of those costs is the damage to America’s reputation, an asset we’ve lost just when we, and the world, need it most.” Judging his sway in upstate New York: “Democrat Scott Murphy and Republican Jim Tedisco attempted to energize their political bases Sunday in the sprint before Tuesday’s special election to fill Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand’s 20th Congressional District seat,” per the Albany Times-Union’s Lauren Stanforth and Scott Waldman. “The race is being viewed as a political gauge that may indicate if Republicans can regain strength or if Democrats are still riding the momentum of President Barack Obama’s election.” Obama is playing — but his army isn’t. “The president is hanging back in the game,” John Fund writes at WSJ.com. “Should Republicans win, he will try to chalk it up as no big surprise. If Democrats prevail, you can bet the White House will herald it as evidence of grass-roots support for its agenda. What’s strange is how little confidence the White House seems to have in a Democratic candidate tailor-made for a district Barack Obama carried just five months ago.” “The DNC spent a meager $10,000 on the ad [for Murphy], according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission — a pittance in the world of political television. So very few actual voters in the Albany media market will ever see the Obama ad,” Chris Cillizza writes in The Washington Post. The insight that will be ignored in the post-election analysis: “Given the compressed schedule of the race and low turnout common to special elections, organizers on both sides say get-out-the-vote efforts will be the determining factor in the race,” CQ’s Emily Cadei writes. Did Vice President Biden just put himself in the 2016 mix? “We’re not ruling anything in or out,” Biden spokesman Jay Carney tells The New York Times’ Mark Leibovich. “I can’t believe that he won’t think about it,” said Sen. Ted Kaufman, D-Del. Should this make Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., nervous? (And is he the only one who should be nervous? “[Paul] Magliocchetti’s generosity is coming to an abrupt halt: his firm, the PMA Group, is closing its doors next week, after reports that federal prosecutors had recently raided his office and his home,” David Kirkpatrick and Charlie Savage write in The New York Times. “And many on Capitol Hill, recalling the scandal that mushroomed around the lobbyist Jack Abramoff, are wondering who else will be ensnared in the investigation as prosecutors pore over the financial records and computer files of one of K Street’s most influential lobbyists, known both for the billions of dollars in earmarks he obtained for his clients and for his open hand toward those he sought to influence.” Very much related: “A trickle of defections has Democratic House leaders wondering how long they can hold off calls for an investigation into the PMA Group and its ties to Pennsylvania Rep. John P. Murtha,” Politico’s Patrick O’Connor and John Bresnahan report. Monday marks the debut of “Top Line,” the new ABCNews.com and ABC News NOW political Webcast, weekdays at noon ET. Hosted by Rick Klein and ABC political director David Chalian, if The Note’s your breakfast, this should be served before lunch. Be part of the conversation at Twitter: http://twitter.com/thenote The Kicker: “I didn’t see it, but my kids saw it. They thought it was pretty funny.” — Tim Geithner, on being spoofed by “Saturday Night Live.” “Never make it in the major leagues.” — Dick Cheney, assessing President Obama, in private communications with the Israelis, according to Seymour Hersh in The New Yorker. Follow The Note on Twitter: http://twitter.com/thenote For up-to-the-minute political updates check out The Note’s blog . . . all day every day:

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User Comments

Hold on a cotton pick’n minute!!
I was told Obama would save us. Our union told us to vote for him becsause he would be the one that would save us.
What on earth happened??

Posted by: Kell | March 30, 2009, 8:30 am 8:30 am

Very good. Let’s CONTINUE to bail out the auto industry, so they can CONTINUE to hold us hostage to the oil industry. The American Auto Industry are traitors!

Posted by: mojo | March 30, 2009, 8:31 am 8:31 am

Why would Italian company, Fiat, want a failure like Chrysler?? It would mean that Obama could have leverage against them in the future and demand their executives be fired or “no more bailout for their Chrysler division.” They would be stupid to let Obama control them.

Posted by: Mockingbird | March 30, 2009, 8:42 am 8:42 am

This is both right and wrong at the same time.
While companies, even giant companies, can and do typically emerge from a chapter 11 filing leaner, stronger and a much more efficient company than when they entered. And the fact that from a elementary level, the executive management @ most of these large/huge corporations have been collectively tone deaf for years with respect management 101, and watched there competition move light years ahead of them in just about every area of there business.
Additionally, these businesses, at this level, (just barely below that of AIG in scope) and there intrinsic connectivity throughout there own segment(s) as well as touching many other business segments can and do have the ability to act/effect many others like domino’s, both upward, positively, as well as downwardly, can drive (take down) many other “good standing” businesses with them.
The checks and balances of our free market system have been perverted by these same individuals to distract/reflect/redirect any accountability at all………and here we are! Adding there relative size/scope of influence within there respective peer group and the potential systemic harm they could cause to many ancillary business segments collectively, it is prudent not to restructure as typically would scrub the balance sheets into a viable competing business.
So, to have a restructuring at these companies executive levels is absolutely necessary/required, and while we are at it, get to the root, common denominator, the boards & “compensation committees” that have laid the foundation for this entitlement these “executive managers” have stood on to rape there very companies as well as the rest of us.
That said, the government is inherently a very poor judge of how to manage anything in the free market environment. So we all need to make sure/demand that if and when these extraordinary steps are taken to correct the ships course’s that any stipulated insertion is short lived (one qtr or less) and singular in scope.
Take a step back for a minute.
Obama is nothing if not calculating, and he has surrounded himself with some of the brightest people in and out of DC.
He also knows that he take a much larger risk loosing more than gaining and a roughly 50/50 chance of this move producing positive results, but he does it anyway. Why? Because he knows that it is what is needed, both to accelerate bringing about the type of change that is desperately needed in this specific case but also sending several messages to the rest of the business community.

Posted by: Darryl the Contractor | March 30, 2009, 8:45 am 8:45 am

This country is going down the tube at warp speed. If you have any savings withdraw them and have a good time because this poor sick Republic won’t be around much longer.

Posted by: rplat | March 30, 2009, 8:46 am 8:46 am

Mojo, people like you and BO are what’s wrong with this country. Go live in anoter country and take him with you.

Posted by: Fiveftfuty | March 30, 2009, 8:49 am 8:49 am

Excellent. Couldn’t happen to a more deserving person than Wagner. What an obnoxious, arrogant pig. If he had anything in the way of brain matter, he should have known this was coming. After all, when you arrive in DC to face Congress because YOU have derailed your company and helped derail the whole country, you should NOT arrive in your own corporate jet. This is outrageous. Should have happened sooner. Now make him give back ALL the money he and the company got. I am sick and tired of people deciding it is this administration’s fault. It is WHOLLY on the shoulders of the last 8 years. Fortunately there is now someone in charge who actually HAS a brain and who is not afraid to try and undo all the wrongs. Get real people. WAKE up. Either be part of the solution or get the hell out of the way. Either works for me!

Posted by: durrs | March 30, 2009, 8:52 am 8:52 am

The big three have no control over the mess they are in. In the days when buisness was good and there were all the baby boomers, the big three employed a ton of people that are now cashing in on pensions at a time when the car industry isnt making money.Its that simple. In order for the companys to stay in buisness they have to be making huge profits to support the billions they are forced to pay out each month. Everything happening in Deroit so far has served as a forcaster for the rest of this nation,, because slowly the rest of the nation has caught up with them. And with social security in the shambles its in this issue is going to wipe out more than just the auto industry. People need to be a bit more sympathetic over what that city is going through.

Posted by: detroitdan | March 30, 2009, 8:53 am 8:53 am

Lean and mean huh? Certainly mean. Every industry that has gone into bankruptcy has packed up and shipped out. How does Obama propose his deep intervention will even keep this industry in the US? Also, why hit the autos this hard? The government has basically been bending over with their pants down for the banking industry. What the heck???? When will they force out bank CEO’s and get really involved in that industry? It is not the poor leadership that is dragging out the auto woes right now. It is greed, corruption and lack of oversight that has lead to the worst financial crisis in decades that is preventing any recovery in the auto industry. What misguided intervention. Lets tackle the secondary problem hard but not the primary (banks). This will be one HUGE failure for this administration. The last major manufacturing that this country can take any pride or claim in is about to be decimated. You can’t exist if you don’t make anything. We can’t be a country of consumers.

Posted by: MF | March 30, 2009, 8:57 am 8:57 am

The Auto industry cannot expect the Federal government to continually give them billions without attempting to fix the problems within. I dont know if Wagner should had been fired atleast now, but it sends a serious message to the industry.
The unions best attempt to negoitate their contracts if they want to keep their jobs. When Toyota and other foreign makers’ employees make less and produce better cars, it sends the wrong message and its not come to reality.
I have 05 GM car, and love it despite the 510.00 price to replace a part and constant brake repairs. The car runs fine.

Posted by: nubiangent08 | March 30, 2009, 8:57 am 8:57 am

Mockingbird,
What you say makes no sense at all. Fiat has been in talks with Chrysler for months, before Obama took office.
Also I believe that if GM wants more of OUR money, even if it is a loan, then the government has every right to ask for the resignation of the failed leadership of that company, it would be different if they weren’t taking money from the tax payers. Finally if the unions want the automakers to be saved they need to give something up, they are part of the problem, it’s and all or nothing sort of thing for the union, they want it all, but to get it all they will end up with nothing!

Posted by: dc | March 30, 2009, 8:59 am 8:59 am

Another Obama SHOW.. Last week Obama was “outraged” with AIG bonuses. But, the same week he appointed Martin Feldstein to the Task Force on Tax Reform. Mr. Feldstein is on the Board of Directors of AIG. The same board the gave the bonuses.
Wagoner is an excuse for Obama to give the auto makers more taxpayers dollars. Outrageus!!

Posted by: CW | March 30, 2009, 9:00 am 9:00 am

I would also like to add, that in all realness, bankruptcy for a company on that scale: (loss in tax money, paying out unemployment, and government take overs for pension and medical insurance) would cost this country WAY MORE than short term bailouts to keep them up during this pitfall. It isnt as easy as letting them go under, thats why the government hasnt yet.

Posted by: detroitdan | March 30, 2009, 9:01 am 9:01 am

Ah, I see now. According to what I heard, Fiat already owns 35% of Chrysler. So Fiat would need to take Chrysler or lose its investment completely. Fiat is going to be stuck with Chrysler unless they can afford to dump their investment.

Posted by: Mockingbird | March 30, 2009, 9:01 am 9:01 am

The automakers have been mired in inept mediocrity for decades. Good move – clean them out.
Wall streeters showed some value in the past, so I understand hitting them second. But there are solid pockets of incompetence that deserve the broom there too.

Posted by: jhw539 | March 30, 2009, 9:04 am 9:04 am

I like what I see. This is the first time the President’s Administration has had a good grasp a situation and the answer was direct “restructure” or fail. The banks, we (including me) must remember the President has only be in office 90+ days. From this move, I think these banks and business’ will be next and get the message. Get rid of the pork and come up with a way to do business and make a profit or just “shut it Down”, “Shut It Down”…

Posted by: SD | March 30, 2009, 9:06 am 9:06 am

Durrs, what do you mean “helped derail the country”? GM did not derail the country. You can thank your crappy financial system for that. GM is now affecting the economy belatedly due to the financial system’s MAJOR derailment of our economy. GM has for all of eternity been at a disadvantage on the global auto making playing field. Every other country has subsidized the development, production or sales of cars. Most other countries auto industries don’t pay pensions and health care to employees. That is all tied into the cost of American autos. It is not lack of leadership affecting the big three, just a serious lack of money due to paying out pensions and health care while people are not buying cars and no banking institutes are lending (go figure! The real crisis). Also, why complain about the big three and corporate jets at this late date? Do you think that bank CEO’s came to Washington in horse drawn buggies? Give me a break.

Posted by: MF | March 30, 2009, 9:07 am 9:07 am

Very good. Let’s CONTINUE to bail out the auto industry, so they can CONTINUE to hold us hostage to the oil industry. The American Auto Industry are traitors! >>>>>>> This is the problem with any bail out. We already bailed out FAILURE on Wall Street and out own regulators to regulate Wall Street. Now they tie GM to jobs and pensions and people and it gets real messy. The company as you said has been great for OIL and for great for the reapir and parts. Thats how they can loose money on a car (still wondering if thats true) and stay in business.
The entire Bailout mistake is just bad all the way around.

Posted by: ChicagoBob | March 30, 2009, 9:07 am 9:07 am

Yes UAW have already made concessions but the biggest issue isnt the uaw its the retirees and medical insurance. People want to focus on the uaw men. Im in law school while my dad is a non union supervisor for a supplier to the big 3. the union guys are already being forced to play stupid games on claiming unemployment durring temporary layoffs.

Posted by: detroitdan | March 30, 2009, 9:07 am 9:07 am

WHy not send them into Chapter 11? In stead of cotinuing this joke. GM came and said we only need 25BILLION etc. Now they are back? How can that be? Something is wrong

Posted by: ChicagoBob | March 30, 2009, 9:09 am 9:09 am

Put both companies in bankruptcy court, where they belong, and get back to governing.

Posted by: ChainsUCanBelieveIn | March 30, 2009, 9:09 am 9:09 am

Bailout Economics is a boondoggle. The American people know it. The fat cats in the Union and in Management have always known that if they couldn’t agree to sustainable solutions, Washington would take from the taxpayer. And, the taxpayer doesn’t even want their cars. Debt-burden and Bailouts are burying us.

Posted by: sarahsmile | March 30, 2009, 9:10 am 9:10 am

Fiat is stuck, if they do not buy the controlling majority then Chrysler will likely fail and Fiat will have lost their investment. When the talks between the 2 companies started it was agreed that Fiat would buy 35% and later down the road buy the remaining 55%, right now Fiat doesn’t want to buy the remaining amount and take on Chryslers debt, but the government want’s them to make an agreement, which I think is fair, would you rather the money to help Chrysler come from Fiat, or come from us? I personally think no matter what happens Chrysler will fail, I think GM will get help and pull through but be a much smaller company, and Ford will become the top US automaker.

Posted by: dc | March 30, 2009, 9:13 am 9:13 am

SD, from this move banks and businesses will be next? The banks ahould have received the hard line first. Their greed and terrible business practices took us right into this financial crisis. The issues with the auto industry are merely a sideshow to the main event. Why shut down a parking lot circus when the big top circus is where the trouble and corruption lies?

Posted by: MF | March 30, 2009, 9:13 am 9:13 am

Nothing to fear now that we have an experienced community organizer to make the decisions at one of the largest companies in the world.

Posted by: TJ | March 30, 2009, 9:14 am 9:14 am

This is wrong. Don’t give them the money but the government should NEVER be able to tell a company who can run it and who can’t. We are headed to socialism with Obama and we may well be on our way to communism if he continues.

Posted by: Irishrose | March 30, 2009, 9:19 am 9:19 am

Are you kidding me? Obama gets to fire the president of GM? When Obama and his minions have this kind of pwer and demonstrate their absolute willingness to wield it, we’re all in big trouble. Do you think other businesses aren’t watching this and making their plans to move their corporations elsewhere? We’re turning into Zimbabwe. That used to be a properous country; then the government seized the private firms. Now it’s a disaster. If Obama can dictate who runs GM, what’s to stop him from “nationalizing” Microsoft or any other company? Your small business? What’s to stop him from telling me I have to give my hard-earned money to lazy idiots. Oops, he already did that, didn’t he.

Posted by: mokat | March 30, 2009, 9:22 am 9:22 am

If Obama were to bail them out he’d be called a socialist and soundly criticized. If Obama decides not to bail them out he’s criticized for letting them go under. His job is hands down, the worst job anybody could have.

Posted by: Eric | March 30, 2009, 9:26 am 9:26 am

……..We are headed to socialism with Obama and we may well be on our way to communism if he continues.
Posted by: Irishrose | Mar 30, 2009 9:19:42 AM
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
You know what, I think you’re on to something here. If we continue reading your posts we might be headed to infinite stupidity.

Posted by: D. | March 30, 2009, 9:26 am 9:26 am

All you yes we canners did this. We are now a socialist nation with one leader. Obama will now try and change the term law for president and announce he is King for life.

Posted by: Jim Rod | March 30, 2009, 9:28 am 9:28 am

President Obama is expected to make a formal announcement today about his plans for the companies…
THIS SHOULD be enough to scare everyone. The President is going to decide what HIS plans for GM are. CAN ANYONE say SOCIALISM NOW? HE is deciding that the CEO must go? WHO THE H&^* does he thing he is? Let GM go to Chapter 11 as was advised LONG ago.

Posted by: ChicagoBob | March 30, 2009, 9:29 am 9:29 am

Let’s face it, some people are going to criticize Pres. Obama no matter what he does.
That said, it is about time someone did something about the greedy auto makers. They were given bailout money and it’s the same old, same old…now they want more. When they start making reliable cars, not suvs and gas guzzlers, people will start buying american again. Pres. Obama did the right thing!

Posted by: Barb | March 30, 2009, 9:30 am 9:30 am

And what is wrong with the president getting rid of this guy? If he doesn’t it will just keep going on and on. If companies like this can’t control themselves and are spirialing out of control, someone has to step in. they want bailout money so the government should have some say.

Posted by: Barb | March 30, 2009, 9:32 am 9:32 am

Ummm…Barb – GM had the MOST cars getting over 30 mpg of ANY CAR MAKER last year. Get your head out of the SAND!

Posted by: NPage | March 30, 2009, 9:33 am 9:33 am

Barb, the government needs to do something about greedy bankers first. The difference between what the autos have received in ‘loans’ compared to what the banking industry has received in “bailouts” is trully astounding. The autos do make good and reliable cars. What do the banks make???

Posted by: MF | March 30, 2009, 9:37 am 9:37 am

Good point NPage. Barb, did you know a Buick car just received the top car award from JD Power, not a foreign car.

Posted by: MF | March 30, 2009, 9:39 am 9:39 am

Get lean and mean – how about applying that to Congress and the Adminsitration – how could this Administration and this Congress lecture anyone on money management.

Posted by: jamescbuilder | March 30, 2009, 9:41 am 9:41 am

Kell I sincerely hope that you’re a non-union member making a sarcastic post. Just wait until he tries to take on education! Whoah baby, that’ll be better than XMAS, NEW YEARS, AND THE SUPERBOWL all rolled into one lol

Posted by: HAH! | March 30, 2009, 9:42 am 9:42 am

RIGHT??? NOT!!!! Notice Obama and Geithner go after the auto makers who actually make something but don’t go after the CEO’S and executive conmen and thieves who make NOTHING but congames to fleece America!!! Talk about the GOOD OLD BOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: lovingpolitics | March 30, 2009, 9:42 am 9:42 am

I just read that Michigans Governor – Jennifer Granholm- is enraged over this. HMMM seems the Gov forgot that she was an avid supporter of the Messiah and she was out here chanting like the rest of the cult members for this change that you cannot believe in. To you autoworkers and union members who were told to vote for Obama because he would “save you ” you’ve been HAD !!!!!

Posted by: jimbo | March 30, 2009, 9:42 am 9:42 am

Remember that ‘socialism’ is just communism forced on you by a government. The CEO of GM stepped down so what that doesnt mean they deserve billions to make the same overpriced cars that arent good on gas. You know the minute they get their hands on bailout money they will find a way to funnel it to the CEOs anyway and maybe even eliminate the unions all together. Thats what socialists do they smash unions.

Posted by: obamaisbad4u | March 30, 2009, 9:47 am 9:47 am

How can you fire Wagoner and not fire any bankers or Wall street thugs that stole our savings?
Obama is picking and choosing who will run this countries maunfacturing, while also picking who runs the banks, this is DEMOCRACY?
No more bailouts let them declare bankruptcy like the rest of us have to do. Congress will pay the price in the midterm elections.

Posted by: vnvet69 | March 30, 2009, 9:47 am 9:47 am

53% say “I’m finished with American cars” in a recent poll on MinionMonitor.com, a site for people who don’t make six figures. Wagoner didn’t create the problem but people need a new regime.

Posted by: MinionMonitor | March 30, 2009, 9:49 am 9:49 am

Ummm…Barb – GM had the MOST cars getting over 30 mpg of ANY CAR MAKER last year. Get your head out of the SAND!
—————————————
Not the point – the company that SOLD the most cars is the point. GM also made the Aztec.
The head of AIG was “fired” last year before they got bailout money.
If a company were to go to a bank for a 25 billion dollar loan, you can bet all of it that the bank would fell (and be) justified in saying “not a chance as long as that guy is running the company”.
Socialism my butt – you same people screaming about “socialism” would be screaming louder if GM got bailed out while the same people remained to waste our money.

Posted by: Steve From NH | March 30, 2009, 9:50 am 9:50 am

I agree with ChicagoBob, people are so afraid that they’re willing to hand over their liberties. This is how Hitler brought the Nazi’s to power. No member of the gov. has any business making plans for an auto company or firing anyone. This administration is taking advantage of the situation to gain influence. Let them go into bankruptcy please for the love of God! Get rid of the unions, hire some new young blood, and give the consumer what they want at a competitive price! It isn’t rocket science!

Posted by: HAH! | March 30, 2009, 9:53 am 9:53 am

The Dow is down 230 points on this news.
Still think your MESSIAH knows what he is doing?

Posted by: vnvet69 | March 30, 2009, 9:53 am 9:53 am

The era of big government handouts is over. Welcome to the era of lean and mean — maybe with an emphasis on the mean, so far as the lean guy is concerned? Well, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the billions given to this industry was not going to work, and that cutting back and adjusting to this economy would be the answer! Too bad it took Obama making that huge mistake and throwing away billions on this before he found out it didin’t work (at our expense), but then what do you expect from a rookie thats grasping for straws? By the way, Mr Obama, many people still lost their jobs??? WHERE DID THE BILLIONS GO??? WHO’S ACCOUNTING FOR IT???

Posted by: brannigonforall | March 30, 2009, 9:54 am 9:54 am

So who is going to hire/appoint a replacement for him. Our government has no place running “private” industry. What next, they’ll be telling us we have to buy a GM car and can’t buy a Ford. Perhaps what’s even scarier are the number of people who are okay with this. There should NOT have been a bailout in the first place.

Posted by: nomomoney | March 30, 2009, 9:54 am 9:54 am

Posted by: Poge | March 30, 2009, 9:54 am 9:54 am

Obama has opened himself up to criticism of both too much government oversight of private industry by ousting Wagoner and a misstep in rebuffing more efforts to save GM and Chrysler. This is a very bold move.
http://www.political-buzz.com/

Posted by: matt | March 30, 2009, 9:56 am 9:56 am

How long will Obama still be able to blame this on the Bush administration?

Posted by: Mike Jones | March 30, 2009, 9:56 am 9:56 am

GM and Chrysler is in trouble, but the biggest problem is Obama and his hoodlums and mafia members.

Posted by: Barley Joe | March 30, 2009, 9:57 am 9:57 am

OK let me put it to you this way can an unemployed person buy lease or finance ANY new car or take out a loan? Should they? Do they take out loans? Why is Obama ‘helping’ the auto industry instead of letting the strong honest companies survive? Why isnt he helping the unemployed and force the private sector to create jobs? Would you buy a new Chevy Camaro if you though GM might go out of business tomorrow or a new Lexus if you had money to burn? The auto industry isnt hiring unless your in a union.

Posted by: paulieshere2 | March 30, 2009, 9:57 am 9:57 am

I don’t know if I agree with the POTUS pressuring execs to leave companies. That might be a little out of his lane. But, I can actually agree with him turning off the bailout spigot for the AUTO companies if he is serious. We’ll see in 30-60 days where we go from here. Of course, we should do the same for the banks as well. Let them file for Chapter 11.

Posted by: NO MORE BAILOUTS | March 30, 2009, 9:57 am 9:57 am

Posted by: Barb | March 30, 2009, 9:57 am 9:57 am

Time for a recall election and get this joker out of office. NOW

Posted by: Barley Joe | March 30, 2009, 9:58 am 9:58 am

The Auto LOAN is a drop in the bucket compared to the Financial bailout.
This is the end of the country I love.

Posted by: uisignorant | March 30, 2009, 9:59 am 9:59 am

A bunch of CEO’s from GM in a board room sat around and said ‘oh yeah how can we get bailout money from Obama’ and they said lets fire the CEO and then maybe they will give it to us. Then we can funnel it to our executives but dont call it a bonus for gods sake!

Posted by: obamaisbad4u | March 30, 2009, 10:00 am 10:00 am

Smart move, Obama. These are CRAPPY cars – they can’t compete in terms of longevity or reliability – so let them clean house and see if they can come up with a product to be proud of (now don’t all you old jeep owners start screaming – wouldn’t you like it if your car went for 250,000 miles and had less problems?).

Posted by: sevresblue | March 30, 2009, 10:00 am 10:00 am

I read that GM employs 96,000 but they pay pensions and healthcare to 1 million. Anyone can do the math and see that this is not sustainable. It is this problem that should have been addressed long ago between the company and the unions.

Posted by: NoMoreMr.NiceGuy | March 30, 2009, 10:02 am 10:02 am

GM is used to insulting our intelligence with the cars they have been making lately. Why wouldnt they fire their CEO to try and get government money and deny it?

Posted by: paulieshere2 | March 30, 2009, 10:08 am 10:08 am

VE VILL TAKE YOR BUSINESS>>YOU VILL OBEY DE OBAMA
SEIG HEIL>>>SEIG HEIL

Posted by: Obama and his party of clowns | March 30, 2009, 10:11 am 10:11 am

I love my car. Never breaks down and runs like the wind, and is a great ride, unfortunately it is a model GM doesn’t make anymore but if they did I would buy another one in a second.

Posted by: NoMoreMr.NiceGuy | March 30, 2009, 10:12 am 10:12 am

Wow, not many here see the real problem. GM goes under… big deal. It’s not the end of the world. What is scary is that you are told the world will end if they do go under and the government again tries to run the free market. I don’t care if it’s Barry or Bush, the government should stay out. Let’s look at all the well run government companies/programs. Medicare, Medicade, Social Security, Fannie, Freddie, the IRS, and now they want us to think they can run the largest automakers, the largest insurance companies, and the largest banks. soon comes airlines and energy. To think most of you are going to and fro over Fiat. This is bad.

Posted by: stickman | March 30, 2009, 10:14 am 10:14 am

Right, the ‘government should stay out’ of private business. They should take their money and just get the hell out!

Posted by: Mockingbird | March 30, 2009, 10:16 am 10:16 am

OBAMA TO THE UNIONS “”"SCREW YOU” AND THANKS FOR THE VOTE SUCKERS H HA HAHAHHHA

Posted by: Obama and his party of clowns | March 30, 2009, 10:23 am 10:23 am

it’s a good thing that we get rid of GM CEO who’s been leading a failing auto business. but it’s certainly not enough, and GM and Chrysler need Chapter 11 bankruptcy now (actually long time ago when last time they asked for government money) so that the real restructuring their business can begin.
furthermore, Obama should also demand congress cut their member salaries as well, since many companies are cutting salaries of their employees while Congress keeps giving themselves a fat raise every year. it’s time for the Congress to show that they share the pain that most American people are feeling. start from Nancy Pelosi please!

Posted by: cellisis | March 30, 2009, 10:23 am 10:23 am

I have to say I’m impressed. President Obama has never owned or operated a business of any kind and does not have a business degree yet he evidently knows more than people with Master’s degrees and years of experience. We should all be grateful that the chosen one is among us.
Giving money to a company does not provide incentive to keep the business afloat or to keep workers working. It provides incentive for executives to take the money and run. AIG should have taught us that. Securing our borders will require cars, trucks and equipment. Rebuilding our infrastructure will require trucks and equipment. When people work they buy cars and trucks.
Auto makers who are selling cars and trucks make money and employ workers. Those who don’t sell cars will lay off workers and the economy continues a downward spiral. Instead of spending money on useless pork our president and his congress should have used the pork bill for things we needed anyway. Those things would have provided jobs, kept industry operating and provided the things our country needs.
Obama’s worshipers are beginning to backslide and lose their faith in the messiah. This is happening quicker than I thought it would. I really thought I would have to wait a year or two before I could say “I told you so”. Evidently I don’t have to wait. “I TOLD YOU SO!”

Posted by: Oonogil | March 30, 2009, 10:28 am 10:28 am

Obama really give it to the unions. They are shocked that he is not for them. He is just a socialist and using you and I.
Oh Lord give me another chance and I promise I will not vote for him again.

Posted by: Barley Joe | March 30, 2009, 10:28 am 10:28 am

I promise he will not get my vote again. I regret ever voting for him. I’m a Democrat not a socialist or communist.

Posted by: Barley Joe | March 30, 2009, 10:31 am 10:31 am

One by one the private corporations will fall under government control. The community organizer will control us all. Funny, the same people who griped about Bush’s expansion of Executive powers don’t seem to have any problems with this!

Posted by: nomomoney | March 30, 2009, 10:36 am 10:36 am

The Dow is down 230 points on this news.
Still think your MESSIAH knows what he is doing?
=============================================
The DOW was up 500 points when Geithner announced his plan for the Banks. What did you have to say about that. The DOW has gained for the past 3 weeks straight.
I have confidence in our president.

Posted by: Norm | March 30, 2009, 11:00 am 11:00 am

Kell:”I was told Obama would save us. Our union told us to vote for him becsause he would be the one that would save us.”
I have a young friend (20 some years old) who was diagnosed with cancer and the doctor told him he would save him. He’s now almost deaf, infertile, and working off a pain med addiction, but he is alive, in remission, and thankful for it.
There is something called the Nirvana Fallacy: The reasoning that a solution is bad unless it is 100% perfect. Most Americans accept that a ‘lean mean’ auto industry is better than the Republican alternative ‘no auto industry.’

Posted by: jhw539 | March 30, 2009, 11:02 am 11:02 am

“I read that GM employs 96,000 but they pay pensions and healthcare to 1 million. Anyone can do the math and see that this is not sustainable. It is this problem that should have been addressed long ago between the company and the unions.”
================================
NoMoreMr.NiceGuy,
Obviously Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid & Barney Frank could not see this last year!

Posted by: Mike_C | March 30, 2009, 11:03 am 11:03 am

Barley Joe:”Obama really give it to the unions. They are shocked that he is not for them. He is just a socialist and using you and I.”
Wait – the unions are being screwed by a “socialist or communist” President? Those words… I don’t think they mean what you think they mean…

Posted by: jhw539 | March 30, 2009, 11:03 am 11:03 am

Obama is not an Ideologue but a very pragmatic person.
If he is taking heat from Dems, Repubs, wall street and UAW then he is certainly doing the right thing. There has to be some level of sacrifice. It too more than 30 years to get into this mess. It will not take 60 days to end it.
Obama believes this is not the time for petty politics. I have confidence in our president.

Posted by: Norm | March 30, 2009, 11:06 am 11:06 am

Congrats! Obamas small brain and big mouth strike again!

Posted by: Barley Joe | March 30, 2009, 11:09 am 11:09 am

It had to be done. Also, this is a message across the bow to bank management as well. The American auto industry has been mismanaged for years. They have received multiple taxpayer-funded bailouts over the years and nothing, I repeat nothing, has really changed. Obama is signaling that finally enough is enough. You get aid, but with conditions. Now, I truly believe bank executives will look and see that if they don’t get their books in order and risk FDIC-takeover, the Administration will do what their corporate boards have failed to do. I think Obama is getting fed up about not getting concessions in return for these bailouts.

Posted by: Laura Brown | March 30, 2009, 11:09 am 11:09 am

We go along letting the “BIG MONEY” people get away with what they want.Giving the Big Bonuses to the Politically-in-Line people and then try and make it look like none of “OUR LEADERS” knew it was coming.They set back and call each other names and blame each other and still those people have the money. Now we must cut the wages of the everyday working people or we can not help the Auto Industry. They give $13.00 a payday to the working class and “Millions To Executives”. They try to take away 2nd Amendment Rights of the people and then release and support known “TERRORIST FROM GITMO” into Our Country, because, these poor guys are not excepted by their own Country’s as they are such a threat.These Terrorist have vowed to destroy the United States Of America and now we have them living amongst us.We are cutting the benifits of the American working people and giving it to known TERRORIEST because, we must show them that we are a carring Nation. Wake up America we are steadly going down the tubes.Don’t you see that these Politicians only care about you at “Income Tax” time. I have not seen one of them “GIVE ANYTHING” to anyone, but, we are all expected to “GIVE A LITTLE” which means Health Care, Pensions, and Social Security. We are hearing that the cause of the drug war on the Mexican Boarder is a result of the easy access to guns in the United States. The problem is “OUR GOVERMENT” is allowing all of these “ILLEGALS” into the Country thru “swinging doors”. They come and go as they please and no one stops them. We are even giving the Mexican Goverment money to keep them in Mexico. They don’t even have to come here to get a welfare check if they don’t want to.We just send it to them along with money to pay their Health Care. How can we even believe what we are being told about the “Health Care” being the biggest problem we are facing in the United States, when, we are giving Health Care to half of the world,while, taking it away from the people who are paying for it. I will repeat one more time. Our Leaders are NOT LOSING THEIR HEALTH CARE. They have a different plan than we do and they will be “KEEPING THEIR PLAN”.The only ones “GIVING A LITTLE” is once again the people paying for all of this.

Posted by: Don Park | March 30, 2009, 11:12 am 11:12 am

Don Park, You wrote a very good article and proud of you. Just wish everyone would listen to you. I may not agree with you on everything but I do when you write about our leaders giving foreign people more than us. We shouldn’t give them anything. Also Congress should not have full health insurance. They should be paying to Social Security for pensions and go on Medicare when they retire.

Posted by: Barley Joe | March 30, 2009, 11:20 am 11:20 am

Oonogil | Mar 30, 2009 10:28:24 AM
“Oonogil” you said; … “I really thought I would have to wait a year or two before I could say “I told you so”. Evidently I don’t have to wait. “I TOLD YOU SO!”
_____________________
If you don’t get a warbler to harmonize with your “Off Key” song, you may stop singing! (It looks like the uneducated & ill-informed may have ‘passed’ on this ‘lesser volatile’ topic, so you may lose on this one! Such a shame.)
Posted by:

Posted by: bobj72 | March 30, 2009, 11:40 am 11:40 am

Great move Obama! It appears that you are beginning to get it. Those companies in trouble that have received millions and billions of dollars should not receive another bail-out until they prove that they can survive. Make sure that they have restrictions and regulations to adhered too.
If not, they should file Chapter 11 or at the very least, fire those top executives that are bleeding this country and there businesses dry. Its wonderful to hear that Wagner is stepping down, its about time.
The next best thing that you can do, is make good on your promise to give a tax credit of $3,000 to employers that hire the unemployed. However, don’t forget to put guildlines and regulations — because there is so much greed out there. Some companies may just hire an unemployed worker or workers to get the tax credit and within a few months they may terminate those employees or employee without cause. Therefore, its a MUST to attach those guildlines and regulations.
I believe, you may just have a chance, if you continue to make those BOLD moves and listen to the people.
Tackle that unemployment and you will be on your way, because everything else will fall in place (i.e., Economy, Wall Street and the Real Estate market)will all start moving forward.

Posted by: Correct247 | March 30, 2009, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm

Hey, lets remember, Auto makers manufacture and actually make a product..go ahead and kill off the auto industry in america…the foreign auto makers have no incentive to stay in this country with out competition…so they move to china or india to produce the cars and ship them back here and sell at higher prices…and whats to stop them with no competition..use your whole brain…it affects steel companies here(what few we have left, auto parts electrical, tire co. electronics ect…for crying out loud …get over it..why keep putting our manufacturing base out of business??/ We will never recover if we don’t start building our own products again. Did they make bad business decisions..yes..they should have gomne to small cars…but what do we want to buy??? SUVs, hummers and pickups…so include yourself when you pile it on.

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm

someone correct me if I am wrong..but wasn’t the last time they asked for money when Ioccoca took over and got chrysler back on its feet???? seemed like it worked alright…You want to see america survive this…buy american and quit your whining…If a chinease clothspin won’t hold together…can you imagine the problems associated with driving a chinease car??? you might not have any choice in the matter…use it once and throw it away…if it doesn’t kill you first…

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm

I am lobbying for the government to get into the business of credit cards..interest rates at 5%, compete with these banks raping americans on credit..the government uses the profits to pay off the national debt…we get a reasonable rate..will kill the credit industry with good old capitalism..or they will have to lower their rates..get banks back to a time when they just made loans and took deposits..a way to pay off government debt without taxing the american people twice…anybody on board????

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 1:04 pm 1:04 pm

Cowgirl, isn’t Toyota and Honda and several of the others American made. I have a car by the name of Toyota and I think it was made in Indiana or Tennessee or somewhere in this country. At least they last. If they are made overseas I call them foreign made but if they are made in this county I call them American regardless of who started the company. Half the Toyota stock is owned by Americans.

Posted by: Barley Joe | March 30, 2009, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm

First off, I am sorely tired of President Obama’s comment about what he ‘inherited’. If I am not mistaken Mr. Obama applied for the job of President, campaigned for the job of President (in fact he is hasn’t realized he was given the job as he is still campaigning) and he was given the job of President. If he is surprised by what the job actually entails he should step down and let someone else do the job, just not Joe Biden. Also, Mr. Obama was a Senator before becoming President so he was part of the administration which CREATED this situation or allowed it to grow. So Mr. Obama did not inherit anything that he should not have been aware of before applying for the job of President. That being said.
Where was he and his DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS when the banking industry came with their hands out. They did not require those folks to drive to Washington or provide “VIABLE BUSINESS REVAMPING PLANS” our DEMOCRATIC Congress opened our pockets and gave away our money. Now they have the audacity to blame their incompetence on anyone and everyone else. If you cannot do the job like an responsible adult without whining then step down and let someone who CAN do the job take office.
Additionally, I agree with the previous bloggers. Congress, President, elected officials, WHEN are YOU going to start sharing the taxpayer’s pain and reduced income and reduced benefits. We need you to start by giving back the PAY RAISE YOU RECENTLY ACCEPTED and the pay raise you recently voted yourself in the future, in the PORK BILL. We need to revamp your retirment package, your healthcare packages and expense accounts to reflect appropriately the lifestyle of the taxpayer of this country. It is time you, our elected officials and their staffs, do the job you were elected to do, start earning your pay check or else you may be unemployed with NO RETIREMENT PACKAGE AND NO 100% paid healthcare package. We the citizens of this country CAN and WILL BE HEARD IN THE UPCOMING VOTING BOOTHS OR MAYBE BEFORE!

Posted by: amIsurprised | March 30, 2009, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm

am lobbying for the government to get into the business of credit cards..interest rates at 5%, compete with these banks raping americans on credit..the government uses the profits to pay off the national debt…we get a reasonable rate..will kill the credit industry with good old capitalism..or they will have to lower their rates..get banks back to a time when they just made loans and took deposits..a way to pay off government debt without taxing the american people twice…anybody on board????
Posted by: cowgirl | Mar 30, 2009 1:04:59 PM
**************************************
Great suggestion an outsanding plan. I hope someone in one of those powerful decision making positions read you post.
They would really learn something from original thinkers.

Posted by: Correct247 | March 30, 2009, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm

A visit to a job center is hardly a scientific survey. The experiences of Juanita and Chris, along with those of other unemployed people I spent time with while in Philadelphia, may be purely anecdotal evidence. But they do raise questions about a subject of no small importance, and it’s not one you’re likely to read about in your daily paper — not yet anyway. If a deepening recession weighs down and threatens businesses, some of those businesses are undoubtedly also making convenient use of the times to do things they might have wanted to do, but were unable to do in better conditions.
In some cases, under the guise of “recession” pressure, they may be waging a secret war against their own workers, using even the most innocuous transgressions of workplace rules as the trigger for firings — and so, of course, putting the fear of God into those who remain. In this way, company payrolls are not only being reduced by mass layoffs, but workers are being squeezed for ever greater productivity in return for lower wages, worse hours and fewer benefits. The weapon of choice is the specter of unemployment, a kind of death by a thousand (or a million) cuts.

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm

am lobbying for the government to get into the business of credit cards..interest rates at 5%, compete with these banks raping americans on credit..the government uses the profits to pay off the national debt…we get a reasonable rate..will kill the credit industry with good old capitalism..or they will have to lower their rates..get banks back to a time when they just made loans and took deposits..a way to pay off government debt without taxing the american people twice…anybody on board????
Posted by: cowgirl | Mar 30, 2009 1:04:59 PM
**************************************
(Correction)
Great suggestion and an outsanding plan. I hope someone in one of those powerful decision making positions read your post.
They would really learn something from original thinkers such as yourself.

Posted by: Correct247 | March 30, 2009, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm

Barley Joe…you made my point…why do you think toyoto and honda moved some small operations to the US???because they were better able to compete with the big 3..they went into the SOUTH to build those plants so they could pay cheap wages..I certainly wouldn’t want that to be a model of our future…Without the big three..mark my words those plants close…they move to china or india where they can get workers for $1 a day, like your tennis shoes..They are assembling, not building cars here..its a joke..So we lose the big 3..the others pull up stakes, go back to the cheap labor..we can’t buy a car in america that doesn’t come from overseas…unless of course YOU are willing and can support your family on $1 a day…

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm

am lobbying for the government to get into the business of credit cards..interest rates at 5%, compete with these banks raping americans on credit..the government uses the profits to pay off the national debt…we get a reasonable rate..will kill the credit industry with good old capitalism..or they will have to lower their rates..get banks back to a time when they just made loans and took deposits..a way to pay off government debt without taxing the american people twice…anybody on board????
Posted by: cowgirl | Mar 30, 2009 1:04:59 PM
**************************************
(Correction)
Great suggestion and an outsanding plan. I hope someone in one of those powerful decision making positions read your post.
They would really learn something from original thinkers such as yourself.
What are you people talking about? this would be the exact opposite of capitalism. This is the exact problem with what is happening with GM,AIG,Freddie,Fannie,and the likes. With every passing day I feel less and less confident in our leaders and I hate to say it but our people.

Posted by: stickman | March 30, 2009, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm

cowgirl, if you go down south and check out all the plants, you will find out those guys make good money. They have good benefits, and their wages is really good. They have used common sense in dealing with the unions. I used to buy American cars and have to admit it was the years I bought but just could not purchase a car in the 70′s and early 80′s that was any good. Had two Olds that were lemons then a 74 Buick and 78 Chrysler that were lemons, and when I purchased my first Toyota and put 250000 miles on it and all I spent was gas, oil change, and two brake re linings. Also I visited a Ford plant for the company I worked with and there were over 50% of the cars in that parking lot that were made by Toyota and other foreign companies.

Posted by: Barley Joe | March 30, 2009, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm

Government is not the answer folks. When did the people of this country start depending on the government for everything? Jobs, Food, Healthcare, Housing, this is getting out of control. what ever happened to hard work and personal responsibility? Call it my ego but if my family had to depend on the government (long term) for their well being…. I don’t even know how to finish that thought, sadly I am sure plenty of people out there can finish that thought.

Posted by: stickman | March 30, 2009, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm

One (1) day late on a Credit Card payment and my Interest Rate was DOUBLED, with “No Questions Asked!!!” I obviously contacted the Bank and they willingly negotiated and agreed to reduce the Increase by 20%. So I end up with ONLY an 80% Increase. As soon as I can financially position myself to repay the total balance, I will pay it off and Close the account, permanently! These banks “Run Rough-Shod Over” the American Consumer!!! Their ridiculous Fees, Charges – for how you choose to pay them, I would add, and exhorbitant interest rates (that virtually challenge “Loan Sharking.”) This is a SPECIFIC AREA of our Financial System that Greatly Needs STRONGER REGULATORY CONTROLS (to protect the consumer!)

Posted by: bobj72 | March 30, 2009, 2:21 pm 2:21 pm

stickman | Mar 30, 2009 2:06:26 PM
“stickman”, you may not use credit cards at all. But I’ll guarantee you if you do, a one (1) day late on your payment, even if you do the wise thing and pay the balance within 30 days; Your Interest rate would also be increased dramatically. Both MasterCard and Visa explain that’s the contractual agreement on their applications. I guess you could reference such practices as; “Simple Greed” or “Equal Opportunity, White Collar Robbery!”

Posted by: bobj72 | March 30, 2009, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm

Next it will be the airlines, they have lost over 9 billion so far this year. And the little people get more credit card offers so we can get in more debt. God help us all.

Posted by: 3rd party | March 30, 2009, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm

bobj72: Yes I know what credit cards are and I have been through a nightmare with them. What about when your order is meesed up at the Mc Ds? Or when your plumber Charges you for a part you didn’t use or need? Or maybe you signed a mortgage that you should have never signed? Should the government step in and run everything? Be careful what you ask for you just might get it. Remember the grass is not always greener.

Posted by: stickman | March 30, 2009, 2:46 pm 2:46 pm

Barry O is a lying fraud who’s own liberal/entitlement view points have directly contributed to America’s potential downfall. He is the messiah of the welfare-recipients (black and white), and his anti-American views are manifested in nearly every decision he makes.
His anti-capitalism views are a direct reflection of rev racist’nutty teachings.
Impeach him now

Posted by: Impeach Barry | March 30, 2009, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm

This is anecdotal for certain, but I haven’t had an American car in years. They didn’t offer the deals, particularly the leasing possibilities, the Japanese offered. Not only that, their dealerships did not follow up on visits as did the other makers. When push goes to shove, the buyer is going to go for the most car for the money, plus he doesn’t like being ignored when coming into the showroom, either.

Posted by: sosupernova | March 30, 2009, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm

How has Ford escaped? I’m an old-line Republican who is completely disgusted with OneBigAssMistakeAmerica, and I tend to blame the UAW. Yet Ford is making it without a bailout. Why/ they have the UAW burden, like GM and Chrysler. Better cars? I doubt it. Better financial people? Better international operations and partners (Volvo, Jaguar)? The real story is in there somewhere if ABC News and others will concentrate on a success story in stead of wallowing in the failures.

Posted by: tom beebe | March 30, 2009, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm

How is it that the stock market recognizes an anti-American socialist far better then the obamabots?
It has been the worst post-election drop in the history of the market, and still his followers are showing up in droves to listen to his revival-like town hall meetings.
I need a new pair of shoes too, barry! I’m just not waiting for you to rob the rich to pay the poor to get them for me.

Posted by: Impeach Barry | March 30, 2009, 2:54 pm 2:54 pm

Repost: Wow, not many here see the real problem. GM goes under… big deal. It’s not the end of the world. What is scary is that you are told the world will end if they do go under and the government again tries to run the free market. I don’t care if it’s Barry or Bush, the government should stay out. Let’s look at all the well run government companies/programs. Medicare, Medicade, Social Security, Fannie, Freddie, the IRS, and now they want us to think they can run the largest automakers, the largest insurance companies, and the largest banks. soon comes airlines and energy. To think most of you are going to and fro over Fiat. This is bad.

Posted by: stickman | March 30, 2009, 2:55 pm 2:55 pm

My head is not in the sand. How many people do you know who own American Cars? Most people I know own foreign…they are better made..I had 3 Fords and they all broke down after 50,000. My Nissans were great. One I had for 13 years with well over 100,000 miles and I have had my other one for six years no problems.
And how come if the US cars are tops, they need MORE bailout? Something is not right. You wake up!
===================================
Barb,
It it possible for you to be any more ignorant than you are?
We have 2 vehicles in my family – BOTH American Made. The only forgein car on my street is one toyota pick-up!
While I agree that in general the American auto industry has royally screwed up, that does not mean that they have not produced viable vehicles.
I have owned 3 Dodge Caravans since 1992 and each went for well over 200,000 miles before I traded them in.

Posted by: Mike_C | March 30, 2009, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm

I have a chevy silverado dually pickup i have owned since it was brand new..over 850,000 miles..1 new engine, several transmissions, but then I have pulled a big horse trailer all over the us, and used it hard on the ranch..I want to be buried sitting in the frount seat of it..best friend i have ever had…

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm

by the way its a 1978, and gets terrible gas mileage so it stays parked where i can see it….

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm

stickman | Mar 30, 2009 2:46:30 PM
“stickman”, I respect your argument and I willingly respond.
“order is meesed up at the Mc Ds?” Yeah, anyone should be able to handle that.
“Your plumber Charges you for a part you didn’t use or need?” That could be Theft or Incorrect Billing, which is covered under “Dispute” with the C/C company.
But then WHY WOULD YOU include in the framing of your argument; “Or maybe you signed a mortgage that you should have never signed?” ??? There is Absolutely NO Relationship in these topics and this seems to me, an attempt to Influence Political Thought on the Topic of the Housing Crisis and its’ causal factors. Since I have an ‘up close and personal’ association with the housing industry, the suggestion that many homebuyers who bought owner-occupied property, signed mortgages they “could not afford”, is NOT borne-out, in fact. Seems we’re on different ‘sides’ on this issue.
I have real difficulty, in starting out on one (1) discussion and finding the individual I’m in discussion with has interjected a non-germane topic into the discussion.

Posted by: bobj72 | March 30, 2009, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm

Bebee..maybe the story on ford is..they packaged fleets to companies…went to a (white only) format…cheaper…ahead on gearing up for hybreds-is’nt the fusion supposed to get 700 MPG??/ GMC got stuck in the present building big vehicles, because thats what america was buying?? did’nt believe oil prices would finally go so high that americans would quit buying thiose big vehicles?

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm

I don’t own a credit card and cut mine up when i was in my 20s…as a matter of fact I have no credit debt at all…but that is my choice..everything runs on credit, business, mortgages, farmers, as well as the american consumer…so why shouldn’t the government capitalise on it..How can you be against paying down the debt while offering a service to the american public at a reasonable rate?

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 3:40 pm 3:40 pm

stickman | Mar 30, 2009 2:55:59 PM
Hey, if I had known you’d be going there; “Barry or Bush”, …
_________________
I would NOT be in discussion with you, since I’m naive enough to believe that bing in discussion with someone, “Lends credibility to the individual you’re in discussion with.” Therefore, I tend to avoid discussion with those who are so Politically Biased as to be Disrespectful of The Office Of The President of The United States. “Your Call!”

Posted by: bobj72 | March 30, 2009, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm

Stickman…now let me list some of those well run free market businesses…AIG, goldman saks, lehman bros,the 40 banks that the government let fail in just the month of march, Enron, all the airlines, maytag, levi,nike and all the other free market deserters that left this country to get higher profit margins, all the oil companies…small business is the only free markets i am championing…how could the government do worse?? Do you hear people screaming on here about their terrible performance and the consequenses to our economy? NO, they are screaming like its the governments fault..that free markets failed.

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm

Bobj72: I am sorry you take offense to my objection to “Barry”, but that is his name and he is doing things that warrant objection. I was simply trying to point out that where does the slippery slope stop? What industry is next? Which companies are up to “Obamas” standards to infuse with tax dollars? I live in Las Vegas, very hard hit, and I see plenty of small to mid size businesses taking a dirt nap. (Partly because of Obamas comments I might add) They are not getting help, nor should they. Should MGM the largest employer get a bailout? I know one thing for sure…. with all the money Bush and Obama have spent of my dollars, the 13 bucks a week I am about to receive is spit in my face. You and he may think he is smarter than everyone else…. I don’t buy it.

Posted by: stickman | March 30, 2009, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm

Vegas is high risk gambling…you live by the sword..you die by the sword..Our pensions and life savings are in the markets..when you bankrupt them..you bankrupt all of americans…you let them fail and the government is on the hook for the first 250,00 of depositers money..So hollering..let them fail…means ordinary americans fail..not a solution

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm

cowgirl: I wish we could sit and chat a few hours. Think about and look up what started this fiasco. It was NOT the free market. In fact if they would let all the garbage companies you mentioned go bankrupt guess what would happen? Well let’s roll play. GM first, do you think if they go under all the plants just go poof into thin air? Does the demand just go away? No. Other companies absorb, retool, and distribute. How about the banks? Credit unions and most state banks are doing fine, Why? Look up the community reinvestment act. You couple the CRA with greed and what do you get? A financial meltdown. Oil companies are doing fine and they are about the only thing in my 401k worth having. Nikes owner is a communist to begin with and I know nothing about Levi or Maytag. The fact is the strongest country in the history of the world was fueled by free thinking free markets. They have a natural chaos to them. It’s not supposed to be perfect. Socialism is “designed” to be perfect. Let them fail, others will do better. Don’t buy into this “If we do nothing we are going to die rhetoric” What a bunch of malarky.

Posted by: stickman | March 30, 2009, 4:08 pm 4:08 pm

Unions own Obama. Unions wanted Wagner fired. Unions want, unions get. SHAME!!
Obama is getting alot of funds from capitalists. Microsoft was one of BO’s largest contributors in the election. So was Warren Buffett at Hathaway. I wonder what he promised them?
Obama swore to uphold the Constitution
of the USA. He lied about that just like he has lied about everything else. Impeach him!!!

Posted by: annnort | March 30, 2009, 4:11 pm 4:11 pm

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Share Print CommentsDennis Kucinich sent out a round of letters to top Treasury officials Monday morning, questioning how much they knew about bonuses paid to Merrill Lynch executives that totaled $3.62 billion, nearly 22 times the total bonuses paid to AIG executives. The payouts made up more that 36 percent of the TARP funds the financial institution received from the Federal government.
Kucinich points out that unlike AIG, the bonuses were not locked in by preexisting contracts and were performance bonuses, as opposed to retention bonuses.

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm

Bonuses? Who cares about bonuses? Your president just spent TRILLIONS of your dollars and you are worried about bonuses? TRILLIONS OF YOUR DOLLARS. I forgot…. he knows best.

Posted by: stickman | March 30, 2009, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm

Stickman, i don’t know where you live, but across this country I see skeletons of manufacturing plants..that didn’t fail..they moved overseas, we are starting to live in the world of mad max..It is impossible to be a successful country as a consumer of products, rather than a producer..there is no successful economy without a middle class…ask china or india, there leaders know that…you have to have a middle class to consume products..that is why america is sliding downhill..Financial products are a misnomer..they are no product at all…manufactured in someones brain

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 4:24 pm 4:24 pm

Stickman…you seem to be “hung up” on this being this presidents problem..not a problem of the financial markets..is this by choice??? Your life wouldn’t be any better under Mccain in these circumstances

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 4:27 pm 4:27 pm

Loose the Gas Guzziling SUV Come up with Better Fuel Efficency Cars and Maybe you Wouldnt have these Problems!

Posted by: Angie In PA | March 30, 2009, 4:44 pm 4:44 pm

Hold on a cotton pick’n minute!!
I was told Obama would save us. Our union told us to vote for him becsause he would be the one that would save us.
What on earth happened??
Posted by: Kell | Mar 30, 2009 8:30:10 AM
**************************************
Next time don’t listen to your union, use your own mind!

Posted by: Correct237 | March 30, 2009, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm

stickman | Mar 30, 2009 4:08:44 PM
“stickman” whenever a neocon makes the statement; … “You couple the CRA with greed and what do you get?…”
______________
You just ‘gotta respond. What’s the implication? The CRA was enacted to “discontinue or outlaw RED LINING” in minority and other poor communities. Radical neocons would have you believe “The Government” enacted the law (the CRA) to ‘Force’ banking institutions to lend to “unqualified borrowers.” Probably the ‘biggest crime’ here is some folks are either sufficiently uninformed, or would like the LIE to be true. In any case, if you say it loud enough, and long enough you’ll get the illiterate, the uneducated and the uninformed to believe it. (And that’s a very ugly political strategy.)

Posted by: bobj72 | March 30, 2009, 4:57 pm 4:57 pm

Stickman
The bonuses have been the subject of MAJOR discussion for one reason only- to prevent the discussion of TRILLIONS of dollars from being scrutinized.
Barry and the rest of the socialist democrats are using this crisis (which they are 90% responsible for) to push through their redistribution policies.
I am constantly reminded of the land of OZ- pay no attention to what is going on behind the curtain!

Posted by: Impeach Barry | March 30, 2009, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm

cowgirl–so right!!! the rich (republicans) seem to forget that without good wages and benefits for us workingclass there will be a continued slide in our economy..ceo,s across this nation and all top exec,s have seen there wages go up by 300% in last 15 years why workingclass has seen there take home wages go down by 10% in same time…

Posted by: T | March 30, 2009, 5:04 pm 5:04 pm

annnort | Mar 30, 2009 4:11:45 PM
“HOW ASTUTE!!!” Bill & Warren REALLY need and are looking for a “Pay-Off.”

Posted by: bobj72 | March 30, 2009, 5:06 pm 5:06 pm

T
It’s people like you have who are completely ignorant of the facts perpetuating the propaganda of the “rich republican”..
More then 60% of the wealthiest members of congress are democrats.
Also, when Bush was elected in 2001, 300 private jets land in DC. When barry was elected in 2008, over 600 came to see him.
The rich elites want people like you to believe that YOU can’t do it on your own, and that you need their help.
Democratic motto- keep the masses down by convincing them that they are incapable of providing themselves a good life.

Posted by: Impeach Barry | March 30, 2009, 5:17 pm 5:17 pm

impeach barry—so why do republicans vote against any minimum wage raises and vote against any law that protecst teh workers? those are facts,and i know thousands of rich people and they all voted republican….yes you see the actors and musicians and a few rich industrialist that support obama… i would bet all i own that 75% of the rich and super rich voted mccain last fall…in my home town i drove around last fall in rich areas it was all mccain signs in poor and working class arears mostly obama…

Posted by: T | March 30, 2009, 5:25 pm 5:25 pm

also why so many people flew into washington was that the first ever non-white was elected..big event for us modern forward thinking people a bad time for all racist haters like you..

Posted by: T | March 30, 2009, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm

Chevron purchased the rights from GM for the battery technology for electric cars and then buried it..Chevron still owns those rights…all to keep the old free markets “gassed” up and ready to go…and while i am at it..what ever happened to drill baby drill…”we have to drill in order for fuel prices to come down”…republican free market strategy….

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm

It seems to me the time to have gotten tough with the automakers would have been before the bailouts. Then if they didn’t look viable then bankrupcy would be their option. It will be their option anyway as far as I can see. For any company to take any money from the gov’t now would be the same as turning control over to the gov’t. I would think bankrupcy would be the prefered option.
Posted by: Poge | Mar 30, 2009 9:54:59 AM
**************************************
It was all about greed. As long as the POTUS was giving out billions in bail-out money without any regulations, the Auto Industry just jumped on the band-wagon.
You are correct, in saying that those bail-outs should have been regulated from the very beginning. But, those mega industries are not as concerned about the financial security of this country as the average American.
The executives have millions of dollars individually to support themselves and their families, so they will take any unnecssary risks. Which, they have, already and the proof is in the pudding– which is the reason that they are in the situation that they are in today.
However, the unions are 50% just as responsible because they will bleed a company, organization or industry into the ground without guilt. Its all about greed, the more they get the more they want — and the little guy pays the price. The unions and huge companies are experts in putting fear in anything they do in order to get want they want.
Stop worrying about the auto industry going under. Because if they go under, I will gruantee you that another auto industry will arise — and it may be better and more financially sound.
Give up the fear of companies going under — sometimes things like that need to happen in order to teach those who are so greedy that they cannot continue to take uncessary risks without consequences.

Posted by: Correct237 | March 30, 2009, 5:36 pm 5:36 pm

cowgirl—very true also back in 1976 i met a guy at county fair he had made a carb for a car that made that old 1973 oldsmobile 88 get 50 miles a gallon.on way to another fair grounds he was hit and run off a bridge..the guy over in sweden figured out cold fusion was gonna show the world two days later he showed up dead…i had a 1979 ford pinto that got 29 miles a gallon now with all computers and high tech fuel injection that is about what you get with a four cylinder car today…its all the big oil companies the only reason we are in iraq or middle east at all is oil…stop big oil(republicans) and we can repair america.

Posted by: T | March 30, 2009, 5:41 pm 5:41 pm

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 5:53 pm 5:53 pm

On the other hand, if we let financial institutions fail…pencil factories will close.,.and yes someone will step into the breech and take over…there are bunches of those kinds of businesses…all you need is a little smoke and mirrrors, and a good ponzi line and you are in business. doesn’t take a manufacturing plant to do that…just alot of overpaid crooks

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 5:59 pm 5:59 pm

cowgirl—they just donet get it do they because republican are rich and well to do..never had to work hard for liveing…

Posted by: T | March 30, 2009, 6:01 pm 6:01 pm

auto workers go to work everyday with a lunch pail, work hard until the whistle blows…never met a “rich” auto worker, but they were middle class thanks to the unions…but i guess you think unions make people RICH…think again bub…

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 6:03 pm 6:03 pm

cowgirl—the reason the republicans want american companies to failis then they with there vast riches can open a new car plant in mexico or india or china pay a few dollars a month and sell car for about what we pay now when workers get paid good wages…all about dirty filthy rich people.

Posted by: T | March 30, 2009, 6:04 pm 6:04 pm

With all the geniuses in this country biting each others asses over this economic mess, why the hell would any terrorist even consider attacking us? We are rapidly sinking the ship all by ourselves.
Have you noticed by any chance, the fantastic economic alternative plan that the conservatives have come up with? NOTHING, NADA, NICHTS

Posted by: Richard in Texas | March 30, 2009, 6:14 pm 6:14 pm

T
Republicans don’t vote against laws that protect the workers (please cite some examples) they just don’t support the unions because the unions have now become as corrupt as the people they initially began fighting with.
The UAW was a ridiculuos player in the collapse of the US auto industry. They had assembly line workers making 80k a year and pension plans that rival senators’. Whereas the chinese pay their workers 50 cents an hour, is it any wonder they can build a better car at a cheaper price?
I am not advocating the chinese wages, all I am saying is that forcing companies to GROSSLY overpay their employees would cause industry to fail.

Posted by: Impeach Barry | March 30, 2009, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm

never met a rich union worker—met rich union workers bosses though..ceo,s have seen there wages go up 300% in last 15 years why working class has seen there take home pay go down by 10% in same time…yet republicans want to see unions abolished and wages go down for working class,all why they say ceo,s should make whatever company will pay…very sad very wicked

Posted by: T | March 30, 2009, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm

impeach barry—so you are ok with ceo,s and top execs, makeing millions a year but 80,thou for a person taht works hard for a liveing is bad…lol lol you are wicked and god will judge your kind as such…
oh and in detroit a average three bedroom simple house cost 300,000 dollars, so workers need 80,000 a year just to own a simple american dream..

Posted by: T | March 30, 2009, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm

Correct..so you are saying the best thing to do..is throw 250,000 auto workers on unemployment..what does that cost the tax payer..lets see they are not paying income taxes…more mortgages default..no consumtion of goods..now thats not factoring all the people down the line who will lose jobs at tire co., battery co, auto suppliers, salesmen, and the list goes on..and how do you figure that is good for the economy…glad you are not in charge of the country..LOL
Posted by: cowgirl | Mar 30, 2009 5:53:08 PM
***************************************
I didn’t say that it was good for the country. However, there are millions that have experienced being unemployment and know one came to their rescue. We are all in this together and who determines who will make a sacrific and who will not.
Also, unemployment benefits are a paid insurance thats shared by the employer and the emnployee. The money comes out of the employee paycheck and a portion from the company, not your taxes.
In addition, if the industry decides to re-organized their debt, there is a strong possibility that none of there employees may loss their jobs. If they understand that putting a plan together whereas a part of it may include cutting salaries instead of laying off employees, thats much better than being unemployed. It has been done before by majore corporations without laying off employees. They just need to be creative and do more to help themselves than just sit around waiting for more bail-out money.
I understand, that the auto industry has not proven that they have done anything to improve their situation since receiving bail-out money and thats where the problem has comes in.
Something has to given and more bail-out money is not the answer. This country does not have it to give. We are broke. So where do the auto industry go from here?

Posted by: Correct237 | March 30, 2009, 6:23 pm 6:23 pm

“cowgirl” I wanted to share my experience and perception of a ‘Union Shop’ with you. Being from So. CA, I had never been associated with any union. In corp. America was asked to take on the assignment of Dir. HR Dept. serving 2,500 Union employees in a manufacturing plant. The Union President & his adversary (Indust. Relations Mgr.) both reported to me. Common Sense and what was in the best interest of the company, was our mutual objective. Together we reduced “Union Grievance cost” $100K in one (1) year and ‘sitting 2nd seat’ in a 3 Year Union Contract WE reduced a Union “Must Have” contract by $6M over the upcoming 3 Year period. I’m certain this is not what happens in ALL union workplaces, but I’m not a magician, or a ‘high-powered political player’, just a guy who believes in “what’s right, equal & fair for everyone involved”, WHILE protecting “the best interest of The Company.” Not too surprisingly, that’s exactly what those Bargaining Unit (Union) people were also interesting in.

Posted by: bobj72 | March 30, 2009, 6:24 pm 6:24 pm

impeach barry—also the reason america is so messed up is we let the chinese built 50 cent an hour crap in this country..the best wages in auto industry are in germany and italy…funny how they make best cars…and most jap cars are mostly assembled in america…cheap crap is made in countrioes were there are low wages…go to walmart and see hwo bad service is with low wages now go to target where they pay better and see how much better service is.. lower wages of auto workers and you will get crap cars—just like when food industry lowered wages all white people quite working for peanuts and we seen huge influx of illegal mexicans..

Posted by: T | March 30, 2009, 6:24 pm 6:24 pm

T. it just makes me crazy when americans don’t stand up for other americans..the selfishness and selfcenteredness of republicans is outrageous. And i am an independant..LOL

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 6:24 pm 6:24 pm

T | Mar 30, 2009 6:24:50 PM
“T” you said; … “just like when food industry lowered wages all white people quite working for peanuts and we seen huge influx of illegal mexicans..” …
_______________
Did you mean “just like when food industry lowered wages all LEGAL CITIZEN’S (quit) quite working for peanuts and we seen huge influx of illegal mexicans..” …??? (I hope this is what you MEANT, otherwise you’d be Infecting a political social sore.)
Posted by:

Posted by: bobj72 | March 30, 2009, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm

I am an independent voter but I do have a problem with a goverment firing an employee of a private corporation. I do like how he has said no to any more money. We should not have given them any in the first place.

Posted by: pmurphy | March 30, 2009, 7:06 pm 7:06 pm

pmurphy,
I have no idea what you are talking about! First of all, who said no to any more money? Secondly, the firing was not done by the government, it was done by GM, on the premise of wanting any more bail out. They could very easily have declined any more funds, accepted bankruptcy and retained their CEO. (PERIOD)

Posted by: Richard in Texas | March 30, 2009, 7:39 pm 7:39 pm

Who ever contributes the funding, has the say

Posted by: Richard in Texas | March 30, 2009, 7:47 pm 7:47 pm

The Bidens are snorting cocaine. The secularist are all into drugs. This country is headed for self-destruction if we don’t return to Christianity.

Posted by: John Applegate | March 30, 2009, 8:15 pm 8:15 pm

john applegate—unless we ditch all those old christain ideas we are doomed…time to let go of odlmyths and work together build a kind prosperous nation not the wicked place we have now with the flat out hate and anti-american crap comeing from the christains..

Posted by: T | March 30, 2009, 8:29 pm 8:29 pm

John applegate…if you were TRULY a christian..you would’nt be caught dead saying that garbage..you are one of those phony christians wearing pointy white hats…

Posted by: cowgirl | March 30, 2009, 8:47 pm 8:47 pm

Now that the President has solved the problems with the auto industry and put us back on the road to prosperity, will he finally find time to release a copy of his original birth certificate on file in Hawaii? Why would he send lawyers into court to block the release of this document? What could he be hiding?

Posted by: Terry | March 30, 2009, 8:58 pm 8:58 pm

agreed cowgirl..

Posted by: T | March 30, 2009, 9:02 pm 9:02 pm

terry—what?!!! give it up he has been fully vetted by the powers that be he is legal to be president..if the republican slime machine even came close to believeing he wasnt they would have tore him apart on it before election…move on your evil empire republicans lost, lets put back together what bush and republicans trashed .

Posted by: T | March 30, 2009, 9:07 pm 9:07 pm

dead tonight

Posted by: T | March 30, 2009, 9:29 pm 9:29 pm

Terry and John Applegate, you belong together, are you on the same dating service or something, hmmm

Posted by: Richard in Texas | April 1, 2009, 2:10 am 2:10 am

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Ann
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Posted by: Ann | April 6, 2009, 3:34 am 3:34 am

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