who gives an Obama about Government Motors.
LOL!
Posted on 06/14/2009 6:17:03 AM PDT by reaganaut1
With all the rubbernecking surrounding GM's bankruptcy, you'd think that more time would have been spent considering the most critical part of the deal -- what's left. Which of GM's famous brands are being kept, which are being thrown out and which are being sold? Many won't know that these questions have already been answered by top GM executives and the White House automotive task force. Fewer still will realize that the decisionmakers have erred badly, succumbing to the same mix of internal power politics, protectionism and aversion to engineering risk that set GM on its downward spiral almost 50 years ago.
There's a reason why finding buyers for the carmaker's German Opel division and domestic Saturn brand has been easy: They're the most promising divisions GM owns. Getting rid of them was dumb and pretty much seals the company's fate.
It's no wonder that sophisticated investors have stepped up: racing legend and Smart car distributor Roger Penske in the case of Saturn and billionaire Canadian auto parts magnate Frank Stronach planning to buy Opel. For Americans -- each one of us now fractional shareholders in the new "GM Lite," thanks to the government's 65 percent stake -- the question is: Why are we letting them go? (The case for selling Hummer, also on the block, makes better sense.)
The underlying politics are clear. In a prepared statement, the United Auto Workers said that if GM is going to receive government assistance to facilitate its restructuring, it should be required to maintain the maximum number of jobs in the United States. The union, which now owns 17.5 percent of the company, has accepted huge job cuts and lower pay and has agreed not to strike until 2015.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Excuse me, you must have mistaken me for someone who gives an Obama about Government Motors.
It obviously hasn’t occurred to the article writer that maybe an American corporation’s interests or America’s interests in general aren’t what Obama wants.
GM, Ford & Chrysler all went “Japanese” in the 80’s. Front wheel drive egg shaped underpowered utilitarian vehicles. You can’t out Jap the Japs. They should have given us choices like strong engines and rear wheel drive. Every sports/racing/luxury car, with few exceptions, is rear wheel drive. Every wonder why?
Screw them all and I won't miss them a bit.
GM would do better to just buy the rights to the $2,000 car from India and manufacture it here.
My wife’s 94 Buick Roadmaster gets 26 MPG on the highway with a big 350 LT engine that has all the power anyone could ever need.Seats 6 people too
My sister bought a new 2008 Buick Lucerne that gets 24 MPG highway.Sits only 4 , wouldnt pull the hat off your head.
Thats really coming ahead isnt it?
You know, those are about my sentiments. I am(or was rather) a big Chevy guy. I absolutely refuse to buy one now.
At this point though, arguing over what GM brands to keep is arguing over what to serve on the Titanic.
Classic...
This would be natural selection of a business. I am all for it. I say that every them the government bails out or subsidizes a business.
My philosophy for having a successful business is the following:
1. You have to provide a product or a service that people are willing to pay money for.
2. After everyone is paid there is money left over.
Without those 2 things it really doesn’t matter what else you do, you will eventually fail.
“GM would do better to just buy the rights to the $2,000 car from India and manufacture it here.’
It would wind up at a MSRP of 22500.00 with out air.
I’m putting away a bit each month for my next vehicle, (for which I’ll pay cash) and Hyundai is looking better and better.
Dear GM:
Build this car again, exactly the same. Upgrade the engine and electronics and suspension to 21st century standards. You will not be able to keep them on the lot.
My dream!!!!!!!
I wouldn't buy one but you are absolutely right.
Wise choice.
Exactly. Why is’nt the lazy Compost asking this question to Obama?
My Toyota is front wheel drive and is plenty peppy for me. I think it registers 110 on the speedometer, I'd have to go look to be sure but anyway, I don't need racing speeds and that front wheel drive really helps in the snow and ice.
A generation ago they would have called that car a “Pacer”.
Well if Jamie thinks Opel and Saturn are the salvation of GM then GM truly is in bad shape and needs to accept bankruptcy and shut the doors post haste.
Rear wheel drive is superior 98% percent of the time. I don't want a car designed for 2% weather conditions. Germans are smart enough to realize this, that is why there are few front wheel drive cars there even thought it snows there heavily. To each his own.
I would like a choice and not have to spend $40,000 for a car.
Rear wheel drive is superior 98% percent of the time. I don't want a car designed for 2% weather conditions. Germans are smart enough to realize this, that is why there are few front wheel drive cars there even thought it snows there heavily. To each his own.
I would like a choice and not have to spend $40,000 for a car.
The family has owned 7 Caveliers over the years. My 04 has 198K and still running strong. Ya, I would buy another Chevy. I think I understand the mind set of wanting government motors to fail but there are lots of hard working people in Michigan that will loose if that happens. So for all you nasayers out there, 40%+ of the people of the State of Michigan did NOT vote for Jenny or Obama.
Although I like Ford's I may buy my next car from whichever company uses the least union labor so I won't be supporting those crooks.
My parents have a Solstice. I have driven it, and it’s awesome. If GM gets rid of that car, they are very stupid. That’s exactly the kind of car they need to be making.
;>)
Insulting Homer Simpson or GM?
If they can't, that might be a teaching moment. Oh, wait, liberals are incapable of learning. Forget I said that.
My bet is that after about 5 or ten years of total goobermmint misfeasance, Tata Motors will buy GM.
Ford should buy Chevrolet from GM! The TV commercials would be a hoot!
I’m going to make one positive comment with respect to GM. “If” they can design a car that will partially power itself with built in solar panels on the roof tops of vehicles then even I would consider buying one. Anything short of that is a waste of time and money.
GM - they weren't even original...
;>)
Sell them all so they will continue to be made and let GM make obama motorized skateboards for envirofreeks.
I appreciate your concern about those who will suffer if GM fails. No doubt that concern is driving the government's bailout attempt. However, there are three points to consider:
First, bankruptcy does not necessarily mean the company is gone forever. A company (or parts of it) can emerge from bankruptcy in a stronger position to compete in the market.
Second. even billions of taxpayer money cannot guarantee that GM will succeed. Indeed, with the government and unions controlling the board of directors, failure is more likely.
Third, government takeover of automobile companies sets a precedent that would be disastrous for the entire nation—including the hardworking people of Michigan.
No company, no matter how large, is worth saving if it means the imposition of fascism on the country. For that reason, I am hoping that the Obama's efforts to revive GM and Chrysler fail and fail spectacularly. Like many others here, I will never purchase a GM or Chrysler product.
The government and unions making cars that no one wants to buy...that's whats left!
It's not about racing; it's about the way it drives. Front wheel drive results in torque steer, where if you accelerate in a turn, you get oversteer. The driving characteristics of a front wheel drive vehicle are all wrong. Yes, it generally works, especially when you're just cruising down the freeway, but it's definitely inferior, and doesn't respond the way it ought to when you really need it.
And while having all the weight over the wheels can be an advantage in snow on a flat roadway, that advantage quickly becomes a disadvantage when attempting to go uphill. The weight shifts away from the drive wheels, as opposed to the weight shifting toward the drive wheels on a front engine, rear wheel drive car.
Front wheel drive has become the default configuration for one reason: cost. It's slightly cheaper to build a front wheel drive car than a rear wheel drive car. Also, it saves 50 lbs. or so, which is important when trying to meet CAFE standards (although this advantage is usually nullified by a heavier automatic transmission).
It is encouraging that Hyundai has seen the light on this, and is offering car buyers the choice of rear wheel drive in a reasonably-priced car.
My sister bought a new 2008 Buick Lucerne that gets 24 MPG highway. Sits only 4 , wouldn't pull the hat off your head.
All of this in the name of environmentalism, a phony science and exaggerated fear. Drill here, drill now, and let the market take car of the rest. The solution is easy and obvious.
What more proof do we need that the current Democrat politicians and the media are intent on destroying our country by preventing us from utilizing and enjoying our bounty. Why? To gain complete control over us to implement their historically failed policies.
Politicians and strategists praise Patrick Gaspard highly, although he stays away from the limelight.
"Patrick is the best political mind of his generation in New York and maybe the nation," says Kevin Sheekey, who as Michael Bloomberg's right-hand-man has frequently worked and battled with Gaspard.
"I wouldn't dispute that," said David Axelrod, Obama's chief strategist and Gaspard's cohort on the campaign trail. When reminded that such a title could be bestowed on Axelrod himself, the strategist said he was "happy to cede that" to Gaspard.
The Washington Post, among others, has announced that a longtime labor operative of Barack Obama's, Patrick Gaspard, will be named Obama's White House political director.
Gaspard served as national political director for much of Obama's general election campaign and was named deputy director of personnel for the transition effort. Prior to his work with Obama, Gaspard was the lead political operative for the 1199 branch of the Service Employees International Union, a huge and hugely influential union representing health care workers in New York. He spent the 2004 general election as the national field director for America Coming Together.
Gaspard was featured prominently in Ryan Lizza's recent New Yorker piece detailing how Obama won. Of his job interview with the Illinois Senator, Gaspard recalled Obama saying: "I think that I'm a better speechwriter than my speechwriters. I know more about policies on any particular issue than my policy directors. And I'll tell you right now that I'm gonna think I'm a better political director than my political director."
Over a “few” beers the other evening, several pals and I were mumbling on about the current state of GM and one of the discussion topics was that we all agreed on was that as a vote against the government takeover of GM and Chrysler we would NEVER buy their vehicles.
I suspect a lot people feel the same way and it won’t be long before the idiot Obama will be offering cash and tax incentives to buy them.
How about those Peugeot diesels? They came in and dominated, after Audi had done the same last year.
I watched Le Mans too and it is a sad day that this program will now be teminated.
I thought it was pretty cool that they hussled the Vet to the garage and washed it a couple of laps before the finish.
Even after running into each other in the pits early in the race. Had to replace the whole left rear on the one that got hit.
Pretty amazing that the last time Peugeot won Le Mans with with an older Brabham.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.