This blog is no longer active as of October 31, 2011
This is an educational or as some would call company propaganda film… The Sound and Video sync is horrible. But it give a glimpse into the past here in the Detroit Area; before the black Liberal establishment took over the city.
It is in three parts:
As I am sure you all know Sarah Palin wrote in the Washington Post, an Op-Ed about the purposed Cap and Trade legislation.
Government Palin Writes:
There is no shortage of threats to our economy. America’s unemployment rate recently hit its highest mark in more than 25 years and is expected to continue climbing. Worries are widespread that even when the economy finally rebounds, the recovery won’t bring jobs. Our nation’s debt is unsustainable, and the federal government’s reach into the private sector is unprecedented.
Unfortunately, many in the national media would rather focus on the personality-driven political gossip of the day than on the gravity of these challenges. So, at risk of disappointing the chattering class, let me make clear what is foremost on my mind and where my focus will be:
I am deeply concerned about President Obama’s cap-and-trade energy plan, and I believe it is an enormous threat to our economy. It would undermine our recovery over the short term and would inflict permanent damage.
American prosperity has always been driven by the steady supply of abundant, affordable energy. Particularly in Alaska, we understand the inherent link between energy and prosperity, energy and opportunity, and energy and security. Consequently, many of us in this huge, energy-rich state recognize that the president’s cap-and-trade energy tax would adversely affect every aspect of the U.S. economy.
There is no denying that as the world becomes more industrialized, we need to reform our energy policy and become less dependent on foreign energy sources. But the answer doesn’t lie in making energy scarcer and more expensive! Those who understand the issue know we can meet our energy needs and environmental challenges without destroying America’s economy.
Job losses are so certain under this new cap-and-tax plan that it includes a provision accommodating newly unemployed workers from the resulting dried-up energy sector, to the tune of $4.2 billion over eight years. So much for creating jobs.
In addition to immediately increasing unemployment in the energy sector, even more American jobs will be threatened by the rising cost of doing business under the cap-and-tax plan. For example, the cost of farming will certainly increase, driving down farm incomes while driving up grocery prices. The costs of manufacturing, warehousing and transportation will also increase.
Of course, as if right on cue, every liberal in America is laughing at her and is saying that she is an idiot; and that she is trying to stay in the spotlight and so forth. Well, guess what? Not too long ago; on March 5, 2009. My own home paper, The Detroit News, wrote a similarly written editorial, basically saying the SAME THING. The Article itself is now offline, and you have to pay to get it. But luckily for me; I blogged about it. The Article says and I quote:
President Barack Obama’s proposed cap-and-trade system on greenhouse gas emissions is a giant economic dagger aimed at the nation’s heartland — particularly Michigan. It is a multibillion-dollar tax hike on everything that Michigan does, including making things, driving cars and burning coal.
The president is asking for a system of government limits on carbon emissions. The right to emit carbon would be auctioned off to generate revenue for more government spending programs.
The president’s budget projects receipts totaling $646 billion through 2019 from the sale of these greenhouse gas permits.
The goal, according to the president’s budget outline, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide to 14 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.
Doing so will drive up the cost of nearly everything and will amount to a major tax increase for American consumers.
Such a tax will hit the Midwest particularly hard, which is why House Minority Leader John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, told the New York Times, “let’s just be honest and call it a carbon tax that will increase taxes on all Americans who drive a car, who have a job, who turn on a light switch, pure and simple.”
The carbon tax will be paid by energy companies, manufacturers and public utilities, who will pass the cost on to their consumers. Michigan will be especially targeted. It gets 60 percent of its electric power from coal plants, and the state’s economy is still reliant on heavy manufacturing such as car and truck assembly and auto parts production.
Michigan will lose as carbon tax money is shifted to states with a greater presence of high-tech and service businesses.
The proposed tax would take effect in 2012 and has the very real potential to throw the nation back into recession, if indeed the expected recovery has arrived by then. It’s impossible to raise costs for such basics as manufacturing and energy production by more than half a trillion dollars over a decade and not have the effects felt across the economy.
The nation’s gross domestic product contracted at an annualized rate of 3.8 percent in last year’s fourth quarter — the worst economic record in nearly three decades. Is this really a good time to be talking about a carbon tax? How will such talk impact investment decisions?
Obama promises to use some of the revenues for tax relief for certain workers and some of the rest for subsidies for alternative energy. But that won’t make up for the damage this huge new tax will do to the economy, especially in Michigan.
So, maybe, perhaps maybe, Sarah Palin is not as stupid as these liberals want to make her out to be. At least, she right on point about this Cap and Trade Legislation. It would raise taxes and be a job killer for Michigan and yes, for the rest of the Country.
Others, Yes, Including idiot liberals who are mocking her: The Fix, The Atlantic Business Channel, The New Republic, The Huffington Post, Washington Wire, The Daily Dish, The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room, Ezra Klein, Boston Globe, Hot Air, Right Wing News, PERRspectives, PoliGazette, The Strata-Sphere, Wake up America, Moe Lane, The Note, The Daley Gator, Democratic Strategist, Zandar Versus The Stupid, NY Daily News, The Politico, The Swamp, NewsBusters.org, No More Mister Nice Blog, Gawker, Gathering of Eagles: NY, Sister Toldjah, YID With LID, Macsmind, Classical Values, GOP 12, Stop The ACLU, TBogg, American Power, Real Clear Politics, Green Inc., Gateway Pundit, Cold Fury, PoliBlog, Balloon Juice, Latest Open Salon Blog and Left in the West
The Synopsis of this video:
This is a video of David Wood and Nabeel Qureshi asking questions at Arabfest, Dearborn. The date is June 21st, 2009. There was a booth at the festival which had a banner titled “Islam: Got Questions? Get Answers.” From their table, we picked up a pamphlet claiming that Islam promotes peace. We noticed that it was full of poor logic and errors, so we decided to make a video refuting it. We went to the booth that gave us the pamphlet to give them the opportunity to defend their claims. Security, however, stepped in and forced us to turn off our camera.
We left the booth, received advice from police, and found out that the actions of the security guards were illegal. We went back to the booth to record a potential answer again. Realizing that the Muslims present had no answer, we left.
When we came outside, we were asked some questions by two young men, who had been sent by security to entrap us. While we responded to them, festival security started assaulting us, as you will see in this video. The conclusion of this video is a mob of festival security attacking our cameras, pushing us back, kicking our legs, and lying to the police.
We ask you, is it a coincidence that the city with the highest percentage of Muslims in the United States is the city where Christianity is not allowed to be represented (let alone preached) on a public sidewalk? Is it coincidence that in this city, people will say “No way!” when we say “This is the United States of America”?
Is this what will happen when Islam takes over the United States?
You see Ladies and Gents, THIS is what celebrating diversity does to you. It gets you attacked by Islamic terrorist THUGS! Rick Warren and his purpose driven life, “Let’s love everyone and not judge”, kind of Christianity is just that; it celebrates diversity. Islam, a religion of peace….. What a lie! 😡 This is why, if I ever was going to film, I would go armed. Any security person who approached me and tried to hurt me, would be killed.
Enjoy this video! (Via Gateway Pundit)
WAKE UP AMERICA to the LIE OF ISLAM!
In this music video, which features Mickey Rourke and Kris Kristofferson, you will see the plight of many in this area. In this Video are actors, But the situation being portrayed in this movie, is the reality of many in this area.
How anyone can watch this, and still say to themselves, let them fail. Does not have a damned soul.
They say, politics is local; That does not even begin to cover it. 😡
Enjoy the Video:
A pretty sad thing to wake up today. However, I am sorry to say this, but I knew it was coming. Chrysler never was able to get their act together; unlike G.M. and get a resolution together.
The Report comes via the Washington Post, I won’t quote the whole thing and I kindly ask that you go over and read the whole thing. But rather, I will give some my impressions from the interesting stuff.
My impressions:
The Obama administration last night planned to send Chrysler into bankruptcy, replace chief executive Robert L. Nardelli and pump billions of dollars more into the effort, all in hopes the company can emerge from court proceedings as a reenergized competitor in the global economy.
Government officials clung to 11th-hour hopes last night that bankruptcy could be averted, but talks broke down with Chrysler’s creditors. A bankruptcy filing could happen as soon as today.
The U.S. government’s attempt to save the automaker amounts to another extraordinary intervention in the economy and a landmark event in the history of the American auto industry.
Under the administration’s detailed court strategy, ownership of Chrysler would be dramatically reorganized, the leadership of Italian automaker Fiat would take over company management and the U.S. and Canadian governments would contribute more than $10 billion in additional funding.
Company and government officials had feared that a bankruptcy would stain the brand, shake customer confidence and erode sales, but the administration said it would seek to use the process to create a new Chrysler company. Its ownership would be divided, with the company’s union retiree health fund receiving a 55 percent stake, Fiat would claim as much as a 35 percent share and the United States would take 8 percent. The Canadian government would receive two percent.
Basically this is what General Motors did voluntarily. Minus the Fiat equation, of course. It is a tough break that the creditors, bond holders, and company management could not come together to an agreement. The main and good thing is, that the automaker, itself, will be saved, and that American jobs will be saved.
Now comes the part that will make people like Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin, and the rest of the far right wing people howl at the moon:
The automaker’s current majority owner, the private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, would have its holdings wiped out.
Now, to be fair; I will report the truth about this holdings company. This company, from what I have read and have been told; is notorious for buying up struggling companies, like Chrysler and shutting them down and selling off the assets to make money. They have done this in past, from what I told. So, while I hate to see anyone lose their money. I actually am glad to see Chrysler being taken away from this company.
Let me also say this. As an Conservative, who believes in “America First”, and believes that business sometimes have to fail; I am not exactly jumping for joy, when it comes to fact that this auto company is having taxpayer dollars being pumped into it. Nor am I happy at the fact, that a US automaker is having a foreign auto company’s management taking over its operations. However, I believe we must be realistic about such matters. We are not living in the 1950’s any longer, we are in a economic recession of monumental proportions, and if we do not drastic measures quickly, we could see a total collapse of the American auto industry. I also know that there is a undeniable truth that “as Detroit goes, so goes America.” Pat Buchanan and I, have been saying this all along; if allow the big three or in this case, the big two to disappear our Nation’s economy would go into free fall. I shudder in absolute horror at the thought of the far reaching implications of such an event.
I will say, as a devout Paleo-Conservative; If we would have rejected the globalism of the Rockefeller-type conservative types and would have imposed strict trade restrictions on Japanese and other such foreign automotive products, these auto companies would not be in the position that they are today. It is because of the Rockefeller-type, Madison Avenue, Neo-Conservatives, whose mantra is “screw the American middle class”, is the reason we are in this position today. Further more, it is the reason that the world is also partaking in our recession as well. Perhaps President Obama will see the state of our globalist economy and will rethink his position on NAFTA and TAFTA and the rest of those toxic free trade agreements that are in place; and impose strict tariffs on imports that are bleeding our economy dry.
Realistically however, I highly doubt that President Obama will do any of that, because he is trying to run as a centrist, or as I like to call it; he is sucking up to the Neo-Conservative right, as they are his biggest supporters, strangely, after trying so very hard to defeat him in the election. Of course, we Paleo-Conservatives know why this is; because the only difference between a Neo-Conservative and a Democrat is the letter next to the name.
A very sad, but, very real movie about my city.
Detroit Wildlife from florent tillon on Vimeo.
As many of you know, I am the son of a retired General Motors worker. Ironically, I am also a Conservative. No, I am not a Republican; or even a formal Libertarian. I am someone that believes that the less Governmental interference in my life, the better. However, there is a place, where my politics ends and a genuine concern for my family begins.
I see that General Motors is going to be taking more money from the Government, and is desperately trying to salvage what is left of that company:
Quote:
General Motors Corp. will get up to $5 billion and Chrysler LLC $500 million in short-term aid, according to a 250-page government report obtained Monday by The Detroit News.
The Detroit News reported Friday that GM would get about $5 billion and Chrysler $500 million, citing an Obama administration official, which prompted a denial from the White House.
The short-term aid figures are disclosed in the report from the Treasury Department’s Inspector General on the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program.
The report was obtained from a congressional source late Monday.
Meanwhile General Motors is is doing its damnedest to rid itself of waste:
General Motors Corp. has started notifying about 1,600 white-collar workers — most of whom work in southeast Michigan — that they will lose their jobs this week as the cash-strapped automaker cuts costs that could help the automaker qualify for up to $16.6 billion in additional federal aid.
The announcement was made by GM North American President Troy Clarke in an e-mail sent to employees today, spokesperson Tom Wilkinson said.
“This is part of really restructuring the company to a smaller, leaner company, one that can, as the (Obama) administration requested, be profitable on an ongoing basis,” Wilkinson said.
While this might be a good thing, there are those out there that believe that this is too little too late:
It’s ironic enough that Italy’s Fiat Auto could end up being the savior for Chrysler. After all, former Chrysler President Bob Lutz once likened Fiat to a dead bride when his old boss, Lee Iacocca, wanted the company to join up with the Italian carmaker. Now, Lutz is at General Motors until he retires in December, and Fiat may help his current employer.
Yes, the Italian carmaker is reportedly in talks with GM about forming a partnership with its European and South American businesses, says Automotive News. How ironic is that? Well, in 2000, GM bought 20% of Fiat Auto for $2.4 billion. Back then, GM was healthy and Fiat was in serious financial trouble. The Italian company was wracked by quality issues. It was so bad that GM actually paid another $2 billion a few years later just to avoid a put option that would have made GM the sole owner of Fiat. GM’s board didn’t want that kind of headache.
But now, after Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has fixed the company, he could help save Chrysler in the U.S. and GM in Europe. GM lost $1.5 billion in the Olde World last year, with its Opel and Vauxhaul brands suffering mightily with too many factories. GM is actually doing very well in Latin America, where the auto giant earned $1.3 billion last year. Fiat is pretty strong there, too, so they could make a powerful pair down there. The only catch is that Fiat doesn’t have any cash either. But the alliances will help be getting each company jointly-engineered vehicles and sharing parts.
The bottom line: Fiat is not a great carmaker by any stretch. But Chrysler and GM are in so much trouble that anyone could help at this point. Even Fiat.
Which brings me to my point; have any of you really looked at your Father? I have. I see worry in his eyes. I see worry in both my parents eyes. The questions my parents are facing, as they enter into their golden years are unfathomable, for someone my age. Will my parents lose everything that my father worked hard to obtain? We are talking 31 years worth of blood, sweat, and tears. My Father earned every damned last penny. I dare some idiot beltway type to say otherwise.
I have been a critic of the Obama Administration for much, as of late. However, I will give him credit for one thing. The President is looking out my Father. I just hope he does not throw my Father under the bus, as he has many others in his short time in the White House.
Some of you might look at this posting and call me some sort of a hypocrite. That is your right as an American.
However, if you could only see my Father’s eyes; you might just might be able to understand.
I normally do not send traffic to idiots like this, but this one caught my eye.
Over at the Marxist Liberal Crooks and Liars; Barack Hussein Obama’s water carrier, John Amato yowls:
To Reynolds “real Americans” kind of look like him and smell like him. That’s true Americana. Can you imagine if Tom Daschle, Paul Begala, James Carville and the late Paul Wellstone twittered and blogged and wrote op-eds for the NY Times, while Nancy Pelosi appeared on CNN and put out the call to arms as the Situation Room, Countdown, Rachel Maddow and Anderson Cooper promised everyone air time on their shows if they make sure to come on down to “the protests” they will be covering live, up close and in person? And it was funded by millions of dollars of the richest of the rich?
Lou Dobbs mocked the criticism of the tea baggers, saying that special-interest groups started war protests just like the New Santellis. Does he really believe that Newt Gingrich and Karl Rove are considered “grassroots” activists?
So typical, when the left is loosing the battle, they do what most Liberals do. They play the race card. Gee, I was not aware that race hustling Al “Interloper” Sharpton was looking for help.
Doug Powers, who’s also tangling with some moronic liberal as well, counters this stupidity:
Not by name or inference. As a matter of fact, I went out of my way to point out that these problems have been perpetuated by both parties, but these kinds of knee-jerk pinheads see what they want to see. If racism doesn’t exist, they’ll see to it that it does by the time they’re finished — all in the name of ending racism.
I’m also racist because I wrote that Detroit has gone down the toilet thanks to the same liberal policies, both state and federal, that are being rolled out on a national level, and I compared the city to Bangladesh (which made me racist against “South Indian Immigrants” — I kid you not).
So, for the Detroit comparison I’ll go ahead and offer a sincere apology… to Bangladesh.
Who’s the racist here, anyway? Tubman’s the one who runs with the assumption that Detroit was ruined by blacks. I never wrote that or even implied it, because I don’t believe that to be the case — it was ruined by liberals with the same philosophies as Carl Levin, Debbie Stabenow, Jennifer Granholm, David Bonior, et al — all of whom, by the way, are currently un-black.
I could not have put it better. Even now, Detroit’s school system is failing, the biggest arena in Detroit; Cobo Arena is facing closure, because a group of race hustlers on the Detroit city council resent the fact that some white people from the suburbs want a stake in running the Arena, in return for paying off some of Arena’s debts. Not to mention the decay of the neighborhoods; the businesses that have left that city, because of the corrupt Government in that city. Is it a black thing? Not necessarily. It just happens that the Liberals running that cesspool of a city ARE black. But when anyone, like a white man, like me, brings that up; we are smeared as racist bigots.
This is why anyone, that had any sort of money, left that city. Like my parents and myself. Because of the lack of police protection. You call the police or dial 911. You’re lucky if they show up, maybe four hours later. This is why two detectives; Walter Budzyn and Larry Nevers were basically lynched by a racist black Mayor, Coleman A. Young, for essentially doing their jobs. Malice Green was a crackhead who refused to show those two fine officers what was in his hand, he basically attacked them, which resulted him getting busted in the head. The Liberal media in Detroit basically convicted those two men. They’re out of jail, after basically getting a new trial. But it basically shows you that absolutely insane mentality that has taken over that cesspool of a city.
Then there is the personal aspect of it. My Cousin, Michael Hill was shot and killed in cold blood, by two black and one Mexican corrupt Detroit cops. To be fair, my cousin was doing something incredibly dumb, he was selling a handgun to a friend, over in the Delray district of southwest Detroit and he test fired the gun into the ground. Some idiot neighbor heard the gunshots and called the police. That is when all hell broke loose, the police showed up, my cousin, who had a probation rap on his record, tried to flee, but couldn’t jump the wooden fence behind the house. Those cops came in with guns blazing, he had something in his hand; a beer bottle…. and the police thought it was the gun, they gunned him down and basically allowed him to die, in the backyard of that house. I will be the first to admit, Michael should not have run, nor should have he been testing that gun, in the city. But he was gunned down like an animal.
The real kicker? You think the liberal media, back in 1990’s, touched that story an exposed the Detroit police for the corrupt department that it is? Are you kidding? They did not want anything to do with it! Want to know why? Because my cousin was white and the cops doing the shooting were black and mexican, that’s why! Not one of the Liberal media outlets in the Detroit area covered the true story. Just the bullshit story given by the police, when the shooting happened. My cousin was portrayed by the liberal media as some crazy person who tried to have a shootout with the police. (Thank you WXYZ-TV and Bill Bonds…) That’s because the story did not fit the agenda of the liberal narrative. Which is so typical of the Liberal media.
So, Doug, I know how you feel man, we’re both just sane people in a world gone insane with liberal socialism.
Please Go here to read about it.
The man was a Detroit legend. 🙁
I was not going to blog about this, because I did not want to see this become another one of those “Crazy gun” stories, but seeing CNN is reporting it, I will:
Two people were shot and killed Friday at a community college in Dearborn, Michigan, in what police believe was a murder-suicide, an official said.
The Henry Ford Community College campus in Dearborn, Michigan, was locked down after the shooting.
Henry Ford Community College - Arts Building
A man and woman were found dead in a classroom building on the campus of Henry Ford Community College, Dearborn Deputy Chief Gregg Brighton said.
Investigators believe the man shot the woman but would not provide further information, Brighton said.
A shotgun was involved in the incident, which occurred in a classroom that was not being used, he said.
“We’re in the very preliminary stages,” Brighton said. “We’ve just made the scene safe. The crime lab is on the scene with detectives.” Video Watch Brighton describe the scene »
Police responding to a report of gunfire at the school had entered the south hallway of the Fine Arts Building when they heard another gunshot, Brighton said.
“We were in the building when we heard the shotgun blast, and when we finally got to that room, we had two deceased parties,” he said at a news conference. “We believe this is a murder-suicide.”
The campus was briefly in lockdown and will remain closed for the rest of the Friday, a school official said.
Needless to say, I was quite shocked that this happened. I have been to Henry Ford College before. For a testing session for my Technician Class (now called Tech Plus, I think…) License. For those that do not know, I am a licensed Amateur Radio Operator. (or Ham Operator…) I am not active at the moment, I need a new H.F. Antenna. But Anyhow, I have been to that college once for a testing session. Also, A friend of mine went to Henry Ford College for Automotive training. Henry Ford Community College is exactly 7.32 miles from my house, according to Mapquest. I do not have any details on the shooting, other than what the local media is reporting, that the families and police are searching for answers (Via WXYZ-TV):
(Via WXYZ-TV)
Also, the victims family is speaking out, this via WDIV-TV in Detroit:
Friday night, Asia McGowan’s family spoke.
McGowan is described as an inspiring actress, singer and dancer.
“That was her favorite thing, dancing, singing and film,” said McGowan’s mother Pamela Peterson. “She wanted to do it all, she had nothing but life in her and I don’t understand how it was snuffed out today.”
“That’s one thing that I admire about my cousin, she very, very ambitious. If there wasn’t a way, she was going to make it happen. I’m at a loss for words,” said cousin Rashida Morris.
“She was beautiful, an aspiring actress and dancer,” said Turahn McGowan, who added that his daughter had planned to try out for the Fox network’s “So You Think You Can Dance” talent competition.
Peterson said her daughter was not romantically involved with Powell.
Investigators said that it appeared Powell made several advances but was turned down each time.
Police said McGowan was rehearsing a scene in the empty room at Henry Ford Community College when Powell barged in.
My heart goes out to this family, and my prayers go out as well. My the Lord help to try and make sense of this kind of an awful tragedy.
This for all those who believe that the police are our enemies:
The Video:
The Story via WXYZ-TV:
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) – Talk about a close call. A police officer raced into action and made a daring rescue to save a man from a burning car. And, just seconds after the man was pulled from the vehicle, flames devoured it.
Thursday morning Clinton Township Police Officer Mark Krutell noticed smoke billowing from outside Tower Automotive on Groesbeck south of Hall Road. At about the same time, a 911 call was placed that a man fainted inside his locked 2002 Ford Escort that was partially on fire in the parking lot.
When Krutell arrived, bystanders were trying to break open the window with rocks. The officer ended up smashing the glass with his flashlight, opening the door and dragging the unidentified man to safety. Seconds later, fire engulfed the car. All of this was captured on Krutel’s dash-cam video.
The man in the car apparently had some type of medical condition and passed out with his foot on the accelerator and the accelerator pushed to the floor. The car overheated and caught on fire.
The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries. Inside the hospital, officers say he shook Krutell’s hand and thanked him for his actions.
This man is a hero and should be treated as such. I post this here because as of late the police have been getting a horrible rap for a few bad apples. This man went well beyond the call of duty and should be commended for it.
Full Disclosure: My Father is a Retired General Motors Worker and U.A.W. Member.
——-
It sure as heck looks that way to me here.
The reason I ask this question is because a new report from CNBC that the new C.E.O. of GM is essentially saying that bankruptcy is the only option:
General Motors’s new chief executive told CNBC that filing for Bankruptcy may be the best option for the struggling automaker.
In a taped interview to be aired tonight on NBC Nightly News, Fritz Henderson said that because of greater demands from the Obama administration to restructure, GM is considering the bankruptcy option. The auto giant previously had ruled out such a move, saying it would discourage people from buying GM cars.
Henderson’s comments came after President Obama bluntly rejected turnaround plans by GM and Chrysler and demanded that both companies make fresh concessions in order to get more federal aid.
Henderson, who was GM’s president and chief operating officer, was named the new CEO after the government forced the resignation of CEO Rick Wagoner on Sunday. GM’s board is also being restructured.
Henderson told reporters that the company would still prefer to restructure outside of court, but the level of support Washington is offering would help the company quickly restructure through bankruptcy.
Henderson says GM needs to work faster and go deeper to get more concessions from bondholders and the United Auto Workers union. President Obama has demanded that GM come up with a better restructuring plan in 60 days in order to qualify for more government aid.
I find it very interesting that President Obama, instead of doing the dirty deed himself, ousted the CEO of G.M. and basically has let the new G.M. head honcho be his fall guy for basically screwing the bond holders and also the unions. This way, Barry comes off clean. It is a strategy that is quite slick, quite risky; but none the less slick.
The Wall Street Journal has more:
Inside a windowless, ornate room Thursday just across from the Oval Office, President Barack Obama and a group of senior economic advisers began the job of remaking the American automobile industry.
The first order of business: Oust General Motors Corp. Chief Executive Rick Wagoner.
It “wasn’t the hardest decision,” said one government official.
Steven Rattner, a former investment banker who is heading the administration’s auto restructuring; chief economic adviser Lawrence Summers; and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner were among those gathered around the polished wood table of the Roosevelt Room in the White House’s West Wing. They were there to decide under what conditions the government would continue to prop up once-powerful Detroit car companies GM and Chrysler LLC.
In the post-World War II boom, they were at the pinnacle of a quintessentially American industry. At Thursday’s meeting, once the Obama administration concluded the pair were running out of money, their effective dismantling began.
Beyond seeking Mr. Wagoner’s resignation, the officials also gave failing grades to GM and Chrysler for the restructuring plans they submitted to the government Feb. 17. They also set a deadline — one month for Chrysler, two months for GM — after which the government might force a bankruptcy restructuring of both companies and break up two of America’s business icons.
Many of GM’s problems didn’t start during Mr. Wagoner’s term, and most predate the economic downturn that sent car sales slumping, such as union contracts and the costs of paying for retiree health care. GM made a bad situation worse with huge bets on trucks and SUVs that piled up on dealer lots amid soaring gas prices last year.
While I will be the first to tell you, that General Motors has had its own share of issues. What Barack Obama did to G.M. and by proxy to the Union members and Employees of the company; was just flat out cowardly. Instead of forcing General Motors into bankruptcy himself. Obama is allowing the new head honcho of the company and his Auto Czar; do it for him. This way Obama does not burn through his political capital as quickly and more or less comes out looking like the hero. Of course, President TelePrompter will say that he inherited this mess, and by rights he did. But to pass off the basic executing of a company and it’s people to someone else, is quite the cowardly move in my book.
Hey Barry, If you ever happen to read this; Grow some freaking Gonads,will ya? I mean, come on. If you going to screw the American worker; why not do it yourself? Instead of letting your damned patsies do it for you. Just a thought.
Full disclosure: My Father is a Retired G.M. Employee and a member of the United Auto Workers.
I have known about this for a while. I’ve just been waiting for as much info as I could get, before doing a post on it.
Originally Via the Politico:
The Obama administration asked Rick Wagoner, the chairman and CEO of General Motors, to step down and he agreed, a White House official said.
On Monday, President Barack Obama is to unveil his plans for the auto industry, including a response to a request for additional funds by GM and Chrysler. The plan is based on recommendations from the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry, headed by the Treasury Department.
The White House confirmed Wagoner was leaving at the government’s behest after The Associated Press reported his immediate departure, without giving a reason.
General Motors issued a vague statement Sunday night that did not officially confirm Wagoner’s departure.
“We are anticipating an announcement soon from the Administration regarding the restructuring of the U.S. auto industry. We continue to work closely with members of the Task Force and it would not be appropriate for us to speculate on the content of any announcement,” the company said.
The surprise announcement about the classically iconic American corporation is perhaps the most vivid sign yet of the tectonic change in the relationship between business and government in this era of subsidies and bailouts.
Reaction from the Conservative Blogsophere has been predictable negative. Also I have observed via the local media, that some auto workers are not happy about the President asking a C.E.O. to resign.
I have an opinion on this. It is simply this. I want to wait and see what happens. I do not want to pass judgment upon this until I see what is going to happen. This could be a bad thing and then again, it could be a very good thing. I shall, like many from this God-Forsaken part of the Country are playing the wait and see game.
Reaction to this from the Editorial board of the The Detroit Free Press is not a good one:
The risk was there from the start.
The federal money flowing to Detroit to help struggling automakers was always going to come with strings.
But there’s a fine line between holding General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC accountable for a pile of taxpayer cash and inappropriate government efforts to actually run the companies.
President Barack Obama’s Auto Task Force may have crossed that line over the weekend when it reportedly asked for GM Chairman Rick Wagoner’s resignation as part of a plan to get more aid to the struggling automaker.
It’s hard to see how canning the chief executive is far shy of actually running the company. And if that’s the case, if GM’s federal overseers are stepping up their efforts to actually manage GM through its restructuring, this sets an awful precedent, both on general principle and in this particular instance.
The principle at stake says government shouldn’t manage private businesses. GM has a board of directors that, no matter its many mistakes, is accountable for the company’s fate. The government should ensure the board doesn’t squander taxpayer funds, but that doesn’t include selecting the company’s leadership.
It didn’t for banks, mortgage companies or insurance outfits like AIG. Why should GM be treated differently?
Something tells me that there is going to be a huge blow back from this and it might just cost Obama a reelection, should be try and run in 2012.
Additional Coverage:
Blogs:
Truly some sad news from the local area here:
Bill Davidson, Managing Partner of the Detroit Pistons and 2008 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, has passed away at the age 86.
Memorial services are planned for noon on Tuesday at the Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield.
Davidson became the second owner in Pistons history in 1974, when he purchased the franchise from the late Fred Zollner.
Bill Davidson = 1922 - 2009
Davidson also had ownership stake in Palace Sports and Entertainment, the Detroit Shock, DTE Energy Music Center, Meadow Brook Music Festival and Guardian Industries, Incorporated, one of the world’s primary manufacturers of architectural and automotive glass.
During his tenure as owner, Davidson’s professional teams won seven world championships, three in the NBA, three in the WNBA and one in the National Hockey League. Palace Sports and Entertainment owned the Tampa Bay Lightning when that franchise won the Stanley Cup in 2004.
In addition to accomplishments as a professional sports owner, Davidson was one of metro Detroit’s most notable philanthropists, responsible for more than $200 million in donations to local and international charities and universities.
Organizations and municipalities that have benefited from his generosity include the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the University of Michigan, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovet, Israel, the Karmanos Cancer Institute and Children’s Research Center of Michigan, the city of Detroit’s Parks and Recreation Department, Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem and countless others.
In 1997, Davidson was honored for his philanthropy by the Council of Michigan Foundations and also named one of America’s most generous donors by the New York Times.
He will be missed. Condolences to the Davidson family and to everyone over at the Pistons. 🙁
I post this because I believe that it is interesting. Alex Jones has always struck me as a kook. Someone amongst the “Tin Foil Hat” crowd. However, it is something interesting to watch.
Enjoy…
What do you think? Do you think that there is any truth to this?
Here’s the Original Song:
History about the song and concert
New Lyrics:
Barry’s Farm
(Sung to the tune of Maggie’s Farm by Bob Dylan)
Written by Paleo Pat
I ain’t gonna work on Barry’s farm no more.
I ain’t gonna work on Barry’s farm no more.
Well, I wake up in the morning,
Fold my hands and pray that I might keep my gain.
I got a bill full of Taxes
That are drivin’ me insane.
It’s a shame the way he makes me tip the whore.
Naw, I ain’t gonna work on Barry’s farm no more.
I ain’t gonna work under Barry’s Law’s no more.
I ain’t gonna work under Barry’s Law’s no more.
Well, he hands you a Dollar,
Taxes you a dime,
Looks at you with a grin
While robbin’ you fuckin’ Blind,
Then he taxes you every time you open the door.
I ain’t gonna work under Barry’s Laws no more.
I ain’t gonna be a slave for Barry’s Government no more.
No, I ain’t be a Slave for Barry’s Government no more.
Well, he puts a Tax Bill
in your face just for kicks.
His White House
It is made out of Bricks.
The Secret Service stands around his door.
Ah, I ain’t gonna be a slave for Barry’s Government no more.
I ain’t gonna work for Barry’s Bitch no more.
No, I ain’t gonna work for Barry’s Bitch no more.
Well, she talks to all the people
About Equality and Race and Law.
All the while the workin’ people
Are payin’ for other peoples bad calls
She’s a lying thief, but she says her honesty stands tall.
Naw, I ain’t gonna work for Barry’s Bitch no more.
I ain’t gonna work on Barry’s farm no more.
I ain’t gonna work on Barry’s farm no more.
Well, I try my best
To do the best I can,
But everybody wants you
To pay thier bills for them.
They eat steak while you slave and I just get bored.
I ain’t gonna work on Barry’s farm no more.
Another smooth move from the Harlem Globetrotter Administration. This time towards Michigan, The Detroit News laments:
President Barack Obama’s proposed cap-and-trade system on greenhouse gas emissions is a giant economic dagger aimed at the nation’s heartland — particularly Michigan. It is a multibillion-dollar tax hike on everything that Michigan does, including making things, driving cars and burning coal.
The president is asking for a system of government limits on carbon emissions. The right to emit carbon would be auctioned off to generate revenue for more government spending programs.
The president’s budget projects receipts totaling $646 billion through 2019 from the sale of these greenhouse gas permits.
The goal, according to the president’s budget outline, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide to 14 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.
Doing so will drive up the cost of nearly everything and will amount to a major tax increase for American consumers.
Such a tax will hit the Midwest particularly hard, which is why House Minority Leader John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, told the New York Times, “let’s just be honest and call it a carbon tax that will increase taxes on all Americans who drive a car, who have a job, who turn on a light switch, pure and simple.”
The carbon tax will be paid by energy companies, manufacturers and public utilities, who will pass the cost on to their consumers. Michigan will be especially targeted. It gets 60 percent of its electric power from coal plants, and the state’s economy is still reliant on heavy manufacturing such as car and truck assembly and auto parts production.
Michigan will lose as carbon tax money is shifted to states with a greater presence of high-tech and service businesses.
The proposed tax would take effect in 2012 and has the very real potential to throw the nation back into recession, if indeed the expected recovery has arrived by then. It’s impossible to raise costs for such basics as manufacturing and energy production by more than half a trillion dollars over a decade and not have the effects felt across the economy.
The nation’s gross domestic product contracted at an annualized rate of 3.8 percent in last year’s fourth quarter — the worst economic record in nearly three decades. Is this really a good time to be talking about a carbon tax? How will such talk impact investment decisions?
Obama promises to use some of the revenues for tax relief for certain workers and some of the rest for subsidies for alternative energy. But that won’t make up for the damage this huge new tax will do to the economy, especially in Michigan.
I would be willing to bet that many people here in Michigan, who voted for the magic moon bat are having a bad case of buyers regret today. This is what happens when you run a Presidential Administration that caters to special interests on the far, far, left and basically tells the rest of the Country to go to hell.
The liberals once made a movie called “Who Killed the Electric Car?” Pretty soon those same Liberals will be making a movie called “Who Killed the Detroit Auto Industry?”
Kind of a depressing local story for me:
Video:
The Story:
Billions of dollars in government loans to prop up General Motors and Chrysler won’t be enough. The companies, which have received $17.4 billion so far, filed plans with the government more than doubling that request to a staggering total of $39 billion.
The requests, made in government-required restructuring plans filed Tuesday, were accompanied by plans for thousands more job cuts, slashing of models and brands, union concessions and the prospect of even further expense cuts.
In a dramatic acknowledgment that conditions in the U.S. auto industry have grown significantly worse in just two months, GM alone said it would cut 47,000 jobs globally by the end of the year — 19 percent of its work force. It also said it would close five more U.S. factories, although it did not identify them.
Chrysler said it will cut 3,000 more jobs and stop producing three vehicle models.
The grim reports came as the United Auto Workers union said it had reached a tentative agreement with GM, Chrysler and Ford Motor Co. on contract changes. Concessions with the union and debt-holders were a condition of the government bailout.
GM said it could need up to $30 billion from the Treasury Department, up from a previous estimate of $18 billion. That includes $13.4 billion the company has already received. The world’s largest automaker said it could run out of money by March without new funds and needs $2 billion next month and another $2.6 billion in April.
“We have a lot of work to do,” General Motors Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner said. “We’re still going at this with a great sense of urgency.”
via The Associated Press: GM, Chrysler seek billions more, to cut more jobs.
I think I’ll just refrain from public commentary on this one. There’s family, my family involved here; so, I’m totally biased. I just do not think those Conservatives who opposed this money to these companies really get it. All I am going to say. Anyone that’s read this Blog, or wants to know what I think. Do a search on “Tarp Loans” and you’ll see why I feel the way that I do.
Acorn, much noted for their voter fraud, is sponsoring a Forum for the Detroit Mayoral Candidates.
As Detroit gets closer the Feb. 24 mayoral primary election, the candidates are getting another opportunity to put their ideas before voters.
The community group ACORN is sponsoring a forum on foreclosures at St. Paul AME Church on Hunt Street in Detroit tonight at 6.
All candidates are expected to be there — except Detroit businessman Dave Bing, who said he has a scheduling conflict.
via Detroit Mayoral Candidates Forum Tonight – Detroit Local News Story – WDIV Detroit.
Hmmmm… I just wonder, will ACORN allow the voter fraud in the Detroit Mayoral Election like they did in the election of B. Hussein Obama?
Notice also, that WDIV never mentioned the voter fraud at all? Now, why I am not surprised. 🙄
This is interesting…:
General Motors Corp. will offer buyouts to all of its hourly employees, a spokesman confirmed Tuesday, as the troubled automaker continues to slash costs.
GM spokesman Tony Sapienza said the buyouts will mainly target GM’s 22,000 retirement-eligible hourly employees, though any union employee can take the offer.
News of the buyouts first broke on Monday. A union official told The Associated Press then that GM would offer $20,000 in cash and a $25,000 car voucher for workers who retire early and those who simply leave the company. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because workers were not yet notified of the packages.
via GM To Offer Buyouts To All Hourly Employees — WDIV Detroit.
Just another sign of the times. For the record, G.M. has done this in the past, when times were bad. Hopefully some of the guys that have been with the company and are about ready to retire will take this buy out. Hopefully, this will help the problem and G.M. will become viable.
I must confess; when I read this, my jaw about dropped to the floor. 😮
Quote:
I propose that, from this day forward, we stop telling the tale of two Americas and instead document and celebrate the full and storied, multicultural and multidimensional story that is America in all of its colors, geographies and passions, in all of its ups, downs and exhortations.
I propose that, for the first time in American history, this country has reached a point where we are can stop celebrating separately, stop learning separately, stop being American separately. We have reached a point where most Americans want to gain a larger understanding of the people they have not known, customs they have not known, traditions they have not known.
I propose that this month. 142 years after Congress passed the Reconstruction Acts of 1867 that allowed for the Southern states to be re-admitted to the Union, we adopt our own personal reconstruction goals to admit into our lives people who are different, people whose origins differ from ours, people who can teach us so much if we listen.
I propose that this month we become not the America of Rush Limbaugh or the America of Al Franken, but to become an America where all opinions matter and hope trumps hate.
I propose that this February, we become not an America of black or white or Hispanic or Asian but an America of black and white and Hispanic and Asian, an America where each of those heritages is a mandatory part of school curriculums. We don’t need more amendments to the U.S. Constitution; we need more amendments to our own personal behaviors, beginning with changing how we treat each other.
Where did I see such a thing?
In some newspaper in the south? On a White Nationalist Website? Nope. In the Detroit Free Press.
Color me shocked.
Someone needs to tell that this to Rev. Joseph E. Lowery; that post race racialism is wrong and should stop.
In case you forgot:
Now, who’s the real racists? 🙄
I have been reading with mild amusement and slight concern about some other Bloggers adventures in dealing with the wonderful white stuff in the cold north that we call snow.
Yeah, I know, I linked to Ed, even if he did insult my dad. 😡 But it’s a new year, and I am not one to hold a grudge for long.
Anyhow, I just got back in from driving around the corner to get some hamburger buns for supper; I might be a recovering liberal, but I like my beefy hamburgers. Anyhow, I was out there, let there be no misunderstanding; it is freaking COLD here in Michigan! (Currently 14 Degrees!) My Dad, whom has a heart of pure gold; (although he drive me nuts at times!) let me borrow his big coat and gloves, I wore my trusty dusty, Handy Dandy, Chevrolet cap on the ol’ bean. I looked like the Great Nanook of the North out there! 😆
Anyhow, I did have a bit of misfortune. I was trying to release my windshield wiper from my frozen windshield with my ice scraper, so, the wipers would work, and prompty broke the stupid thing. Smooth move there. 🙄
Thankfully, the wiper was on the passenger side of the car. I did make it around the corner, and got said buns, and got my rather frozen hairy behind back in the warm house.
Al Gore can kiss my rather obese, hairy, happy-go-lucky, white behind! Next time I hear a damn Moonbat liberal opining about Global Warming, I’m just gonna pop him in the mouth. Come live in Michigan right and talk that idiot crap. I dare ya.
It’s going to be one long winter season, and I’m already tired of it. Oy!
This is just horrifically bad news. 
Ronald Frank Asheton
July 17, 1948 – January 1, 2009
Via Spinner:
Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton was found dead at his Ann Arbor, Mich. home Tuesday morning. The official cause of death is not yet known, but it is believed the Asheton suffered a heart attack. Police discovered Asheton’s body on a couch after his personal assistant had been unable to reach him for several days. He was 60.
"I am in shock," Stooges frontman Iggy Pop said in a statement. "He was my best friend."
Asheton, along with his brother Scott on drums, Pop and original bassist Dave Alexander, formed the Stooges in Detroit in 1967. They released two albums, ‘The Stooges’ and ‘Fun House,’ before Ron Asheton took over bass duties. As a guitarist, he created a bevy of iconic riffs, including those for ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’ and ‘TV Eye.’
After the Stooges’ initial split, Asheton played in several other bands, including the Wylde Ratttz, featuring Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, Mudhoney’s Mark Arm, Dinosaur Jr.’s J. Mascis and Mike Watt. Watt joined Asheton once more when the Stooges reunited in 2003, and Asheton returned to his original place as Stooges guitarist on 2007’s ‘The Weirdness.’
"We are shocked and shaken by the news of Ron’s death," a combined statement released by Pop, Asheton’s brother Scott, saxophonist Steve Mackay, Watt and the Stooges’ management read. He was a great friend, brother, musician, trooper. Irreplaceable. He will be missed. For all that knew him behind the facade of Mr Cool & Quirky, he was a kind-hearted, genuine, warm person who always believed that people meant well even if they did not. As a musician Ron was ‘The Guitar God’, idol to follow and inspire others. That is how he will be remembered by people who had a great pleasure to work with him, learn from him and share good and bad times with him."
It’s times like these when you really realize just how long ago the damn 1960’s were. All the great one’s, musically speaking, are simply dying on us. Such a tragic ending to a life with such talent. May he rest in peace. I don’t think that it would be out of place to say a little prayer for the family of this man tonight. 
…and for what it’s worth, I don’t know the politics of Iggy Pop or the rest of the guys, nor do I give two shits. This is not about that man. This is about the passing of a local Detroit area icon.
Some Videos in the Memory of Ron and the rest of those rowdy bastards.
I believe this video is from the Goose Lake Pop Festival of 1970.
And lastly, one of my favorite songs, “No Fun”. (Content Warning)
That’s what those guys were about, just having fun. It’s a sad loss for the Detroit Rock Music scene of the 1960’s and early 1970’s.
So much for that stupid Neo-Con line saying that the slump in auto sales is the automakers fault.
Via the New York Times:
TOKYO — Toyota Motor will idle its plants in Japan for 11 days in February and March to reduce output in the face of steeply declining global vehicle sales, the company said Tuesday.
The Japanese auto giant said the suspension would affect production at all 12 of its directly operated domestic plants, which include four vehicle assembly plants and also factories that make transmissions, engines and other parts. The closings are in addition to a three-day shutdown this month at these plants that Toyota had already announced.
The move is unusual for a company that just a few months ago seemed unable to keep up with voracious global demand for its fuel-efficient vehicles. But even strong players like Toyota have failed to escape the drastic slowdown in the global auto industry.
The company said it would idle the plants to reduce stocks of unsold vehicles amid a relentless slide in sales, particularly in the United States, its biggest market. Last month, Toyota’s sales there dropped 37 percent, a larger decline than at its struggling American rivals General Motors and Ford.
Plunging sales and a stronger Japanese yen, which reduces the yen value of overseas profits, forced Toyota to forecast last month its first annual loss in 70 years at its vehicle-making operations.
Toyota did not say how many vehicles would be affected by the suspension announced Tuesday. The company said its four domestic assembly plants produced 1.5 million vehicles in 2007, the most recent year for which the company has figures. Toyota-brand cars are also made by other companies in the Toyota group.
The company had already announced that it would shut down truck production at two United States plants for three months
Its American rivals — General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler — have also idled plants across North America in response to the slowdown.
For once, I am in agreement with a Liberal, and yes, it is the same knuckle-headed liberal that insulted Conservatives. Hey, I am one that praises when it’s due and bitches when it’s due too; At least I’m fair. 😉 😀 😛
Matthew Yglesias Weighs in:
This is the conceptual problem with efforts to “save” the car industry through bailouts or union busting or whatever you like. One assumes demand for cars will get higher than it is right now, but the industry has a whole just has more capacity to build cars than there is demand for new cars. Which is fine. When you look across the developed world and try to take stock of the medium- and long-run problems facing the OECD nations there’s just no way you’re going to reach the conclusion that an automobile shortage is a big concern. But obviously it’s not fine for the companies that make cars. There’s going to be a need for some shrinkage.
Yeah, I know, most likely some of the Conservatives who are basically scraping my blog for content are going to try and deride me as a fake conservative, because I stick up for the middle class and because I happen to be the son of retired General Motors Worker and U.A.W. member. Well, I got two words; screw you and the rest of the asshole Madison Ave. Conservatives. 😡
Anyhow, I happen to agree with Matthew here, I live here in the Detroit Area. If the auto industry dies, so does this area. That will cause my parents to suffer, they need the health insurance, as they are both diabetic and the amount of medications that they take is staggering. Anyhow, this article above disproves and basically strikes down the “Meme” that was going around in the Conservative Blogosphere that the issues with the auto industry was the fault of the automakers. Which I totally dismissed as abject bullshit of the highest order. It was the fault of President Clinton for putting pressure on the loan companies to give those toxic subprime loans to those who were considered high risk. That is what started this whole thing. Of course, equal blame can be given to the Republican Congress of 2003 for not changing the laws, after all, they were warned by the Bush White House to do something; and they did nothing at all.
Best thing they could do, was have a hearing, of which the CEO of Freddie Mac pulled the race card, and congress backed off. So, all the blaming of the Auto Companies was nothing more than a feeble attempt by the Republicans at scapegoating the wrong damned people.
Here’s hoping that Japan’s auto industry totally collapses and people, both American and otherwise, have to buy American products, for a change!
This was sent to me by the smartest Democrat I know………………My Mom. 😀
