Would It Have Killed Them to Fly Commercial?

Barnie Frank is right that the response to the idea of bailing out the auto makers involves a prejudice against blue-collar workers (let them eat food stamps) as opposed to bailing out AIG (they must continue to reward their great performers.
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This was an incredibly stupid move on the part of clueless management.
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Jeffrey Sachs says that the Detroit automakers (or at least one - can't remember which, in all honesty) are poised to overtake the Japanese automakers in green technology beginning with the 2010 models. I'd bet on Jeffrey Sachs. So I'm hoping somebody figures out how to cut the managerial abuses out immediately and then puts together a package to bridge Detroit to a green future.

Re: Broder. Costanza Principle.
http://www.michaelport.com/blog/posts/the-costanza-principle.html

"The Big 3 became complacent." Heck, the whole country's been complacent. Who's going to bail US out?

Barney Frank is backing Dingell over Waxman. He is being part of the problem.

Heck, the whole country's been complacent.
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Which explains why people keep buying trucks and SUVs while the ice caps melt. It's not the Big 3's fault that SUVs and trucks were still popular all the way up to $4 a gallon. Now that it's back down, my commute has become a bit more crowded.
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Think about it this way: is the consumer of fast food responsible for his obesity, or is the fast food company responsible for not offering healthier alternatives? It's the same thing with car companies.

"CNN is pushing the corporate agenda. They said that the execs had no choice. Corporate policy is that they fly in the corporate jets for "their safety"."
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Dee,
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Funny how its the rest of their corporate policy that sends them to DC hat in hand. Clueless much.

Kathy, I agree - much as the "rescue" is for banks not borrowers. I think it is, in essence, union busting. Unions have been demonized so much, it is so hard for people to muster sympathy for unionized employees, even the people of Congress. On the scale of bad words, union is better than atheist but worse than liberal - maybe close to communist?

trifecta - Barney could well have a positive influence here (or not) but I don't think that backing Dingell automatically makes him part of the problem. The problem is so large that the people who eventually move this forward in a positive way may - in fact almost certainly will - disagree with us on some aspects of this.

calkate. socialist at least

Okay this is way too funny. Wonkette on the NRO begging for money and getting slammed for taking a cruise just before the begging.
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Cruising [Kathryn Jean Lopez]
I'm getting a number of e-mails from people who complain that we have some nerve asking for money after spending on a cruise last week. I totally understand how that looks bad. But here's what you need to know: The reason we do these cruises is they bring in money. It's another fundraiser. And rather than tanning in the Bahamas, we do work — panels, interviews, dinner, lunch, and other discussions. I tell you that not to whine — its a nice thing to work with a little sun in the cabin window vs. the usual Lexington Avenue noise. But we don't do these as staff vacation perks. The time spent is an investment in the conservative future — because it supports NR and because real conversations happen, with policymakers, with young people, with supporters.
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And like I said in my pitch today, National Review in all its forms has always and I suspect will always, rely on readers. Thank you again.
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Wonkette has a lot more of the begging so go check it out.
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http://wonkette.com/404484/a-childrens-treasury-of-corner-posts-in-which-k-lo-begs-for-money#more-404484

I assume this is for his safety, too...
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Ford CEO Mulally's corporate jet is a perk included for both he and his wife as part of his employment contract along with a $28 million salary last year. Mulally actually lives in Seattle, not Detroit. The company jet takes him home and back on weekends.

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..because its just not safe to be in Detroit on the weekends.

gysgt - so the cruise is...corporate policy?
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NR people maybe aren't safe if they hold their conversations in normal public places rather than on cruise ships populated with fellow conservatives.

Okay so we have pots and kettles and the rest of us are just hanging out in the fire.

My pledge to the employees of Ford Motor Company: For $1 million dollars next year, I will lose the same amount of money Mulally would have, and split the $27 million difference with each and every one of you in return. No, really. It's my pleasure. I'll sleep in the office.

I saw the words 'Johah Goldberg' and 'cruising' and I thought of something entirely different.

Oh, and we'll raffle off the jet and then have a potluck. There's probably some stuff in the office fridge.

The bailout of the auto industry is doomed for failure, just as the financial bailout will soon prove as well. Saving several thousand union jobs, who are just as responsible as the Corporate execs will undoubtably bankrupt the US of A.

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Deflation has now set in, and if you think the auto-union jobs at stake are risky to loose, you have not seen anything if deflation takes a grip on our country. But, a correction to our economy is at hand, and no one will stop it. I predict in 6 to 10 months you shall see the greatest cry from starving Americans you have ever witnessed. People on the streets begging for a dime to buy a burger at McDonalds.
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Yes, I am glad that Obama won this election, because in four short years he will be reviled, and go down in history as the worst President, ever. Obama's plan to tax the rich will certainly doom what small chance we have in preventing this economic crisis.

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Bailout General Motors, and you will never see a sustainable enconomy for yourself and your children the rest of your life.

You know, if RustyP@ssy were a Senator....I'd say he's bucking to get into the Democratic caucus.

So basically, Rusty, you're saying that we're screwed already - "Deflation has now set in." In which case, who cares if there's a bailout or not?

rusty! Hahahahahahaha.
*points finger*

I think rusty has developed a twitch.

Poking. The. Troll.
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Must. Not. Start. Poking. The. Troll.

"People on the streets begging for a dime to buy a burger at McDonalds."

OK, I'm breaking my own rule, but the last time a burger at McDonald's cost a dime was like 1968. I'll be so desperate I have to hit a whole busload of people for a dime each? That's not change we can believe in, my friends.

I love my country and am truly in awe of the way it was constructed. But the more I hear from the GOP the more I think we should have a provision for voting them off the island.
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These people have learned nothing from the last 8 years and are implementing a scorched earth strategy (bankrupt the auto industry put 3 million workers at risk) just so they have a platform for elections in 2012.
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Have these people no shame? And is thee a savvy lawyer among us that could make a credible case for treason?

Rusty,

And the option is to kill off American manufacturing jobs and then endure a depression.

The automakers and their associate businesses represent millions and millions of jobs. Let's not forget some of those manufacturers who go out of business also provide parts to Toyota, Honda and Nissan plants in America. Which means those plants go idle too, causing more unemployment.

When the big three go out of business that also means a limited amount of parts for the millions of GM, Ford and Chrysler cars on the road. When they run out, people will be leaving them on the side of the road. Not only that but when they go out of business all the warantees become worthless.. your car breaks down you pay for it.

Lets not forget the drastic reduction in tax dollars, large US cities like Detroit go bankrupt, states go bankrupt and all the associated businesses also go bankrupt. Wave after wave after wave of businesses going under followed by cities and states..... and finally the US government.

Sounds like your kind of future Rusty.