Posted on Monday, 30th March 2009 by Roland_Melnick

Posted in Home | Comments (26)

26 Responses to “Who Do You Know Wants to Buy a New G.M. …err… O.M. Car?”



  1. folkbum Says:
    March 30th, 2009 at 4:14 pm

    Yeah, I bet a Republican administration would never demand the ouster of CEOs of private companies asking for bailouts …



  2. gus Says:
    March 30th, 2009 at 4:32 pm

    Folktunes, this is about saving union hacks like you. A power grab by the big eared diwmit and a sop to unions. I’m not surprised that you are too stupid to see it, as we’ve seen your results over your tenure as a union hack.



  3. HeatherRadish Says:
    March 30th, 2009 at 4:41 pm

    He can’t even run a Treasury Department.



  4. big_hairy_bubba Says:
    March 30th, 2009 at 5:01 pm

    I’m waiting to see what kind of rebate I can get to go along with my tax break on the new Obamamobile.



  5. GOPgal Says:
    March 30th, 2009 at 5:38 pm

    If I had known this was going to happen to GM I would not have bought my new car last year. I would have gotten a Toyota.



  6. dad29 Says:
    March 30th, 2009 at 7:11 pm

    Heh.

    Geithner found jobs for all his ex-banker buddies-they can be parts managers for Obama dealerships.



  7. Glenn D. Frankovis Says:
    March 30th, 2009 at 8:20 pm

    Today GM, tomorrow MPS.



  8. Bruce Says:
    March 30th, 2009 at 9:27 pm

    I wouldn’t count on it, GDF. :)

    I was getting my oil changed at my dealership this afternoon here in Madison. The government-driven, recession-proof economy actually had cars flying off the lot as I waited for my car.

    Something tells me that me and my little ‘ol POS car will weather the storm.



  9. Dan Says:
    March 30th, 2009 at 9:39 pm

    Uhh, Jay, Fannie and Freddie are both organizations chartered by Congress and is a government sponsored enterprise. Bush had every right to call for their ouster.



  10. MjM Says:
    March 30th, 2009 at 10:21 pm

    It seems to me that this takeover just forces the demise, as in “Who the he(( is going to buy a GM now?”

    Up until today I was contemplating replacing the 8-yr old PU with another Chevy. Ain’t happening now. With Obamamama at the helm, they are all going to be drab olive, with black vinyl seats and no A/C.

    Hell, there probably won’t BE any trucks.



  11. Martin Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:31 am

    Well, I know what American car brand I won’t be buying. Ever!

    Unfortunately, I have a bad feeling that the planned Fiat/Chrysler merger will be FUBAR after this smooth move by the chosen one. Which is too bad, Chrysler would get some cars that would probably save whats left of Chrysler that Damlier-Benz didn’t destroy.

    Hell with it, I’ll just buy Fords from now on.



  12. folkbum Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 4:08 am

    Actually, Dan, they were run as private companies with boards of directors and shareholders like any other publicly-traded company. Management was not subject to administration interference prior to 2008.

    If that example is not good enough for you, there’s also the fact that the Bush treasury department ousted the CEO of AIG in 2008 when the bailouts began there.



  13. Glenn D. Frankovis Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 5:31 am

    Answer this folkbum. How did you feel about what Bush did then and what Obama has done now if they are so similar to you?



  14. Ron Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 6:24 am

    AIG chief Sullivan is Ousted

    ahhh, again with the Bush….
    Folkbum, I think you’re getting your stories convoluted. It was Democrat Eliot Spitzer that wanted to clear the decks of any big-time conservative backers (in his life-long run for NY governor) that led to the ouster of Hank Greenberg. So, Spitzer trumped up some threats, the board got skittish, and the man that built the company over 40 years was out.



  15. Ron Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 6:29 am

    Ohh WTF…time to get some new blog-ware, Patrick ;)

    Hyperlink fixed….~Roland



  16. Roland_Melnick Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 8:35 am

    I don’t believe the Fannie/Freddie situation is/was the same as the GM/Chrysler situation. Folkbum…still suffering from Bush Derangement Syndrome…is stuck in the old “but Bush did” rut. He also wants to build up a straw man here…after all…someone in his circle coined the phrase “Look Over There!”

    But this isn’t a Democrat/Republican issue. My father teaches business and management at a Pennsylvania college. He also worked 15 years at a company that built powertrain components for Jeep/Chrysler. I called him up yesterday to get his input on the Obama Motors story.

    He told me that, two years ago, he had assigned a group of senior business management students a term project of researching and analyzing General Motors. One of their primary findings was that Rick Wagoner had to go.

    He agreed that the Obama Administration made the right decision in that respect. But he qualified that by saying, “Obama’s walking a fine line. It depends on how long he stays in the board room.”

    I asked him, “Isn’t it worrisome that politicians will be infusing their agenda into a private corporation?” He said, “Yes…but these aren’t normal times. It’s not normal to have private corporations beg for government money…not to say that it’s unheard of…but in a business sense, it’s not normal. Much of corporate America has been irresponsible for many years.”

    Then I asked, “If the goal here is to ‘fix’ GM so that it is an economically viable company that builds cars that people will buy, what would get us there? An organized, regulated bankruptcy proceeding…or a new office within the Office of the President entitled ‘Obama’s Auto Team?’” Dad replied, “that’s the fine line Obama’s walking. Whether he’s going to go over it will be interesting to watch. Right now, I don’t have a lot of confidence in Wagoner’s replacement, Fritz Henderson. He’s not a ‘car guy.’ GM needs a massive restructuring, I’m not sure a career GM guy with a background similar to that of the guy they just booted will get them there.”

    I’m skeptical of Obama’s emerging image of being a “tinkerer.” So far, they are showing that once you open the door, they’re in. Democrat Party philosophy dictates that government is the solution. They’ve also shown that no issue is beyond politics. With that in mind, I foresee Obama and the Dems milking this crisis for every bit of political advantage they can. Taxpayers and stockholders take a back seat.

    (Commentor’s Note: Regular readers may note that I’ve mentioned my father the cop, and now with this comment, my father the professor. My father the professor is my birth father. When I was 4, my parents divorced. When I was 8, my mother married my father the cop. I’ve been blessed to have two fathers active in my upbringing and adult life. They have both earned the title of “father.”)



  17. Dave_Sheboygan Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 9:08 am

    GM has been on the down slide for years. We shouldn’t be bailing out anyone. You can only use the “blame Bush” card for so long. At what point does Obama take RESPONSIBILITY for HIS actions?

    Obama knew the AIG execs were getting bonuses, they decided to ignore that and when it all came to light they did what…blamed AIG and the execs.

    Obama sticks his finger in the air and sees which way the wind is blowing. You people wanted change and you got it! Change from working to not working. Change from lower taxes to higher taxes. Change from someone who can speak w/o a telepromter to one who can not speak w/o a telepromter. Change from saving the unborn to killing those who were born by “accident”.

    Folktune…how long until you stop blaming Bush? 3 months, 1 year, 4 years? When will Obama act like an adult and take responsibility?



  18. folkbum Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 10:28 am

    Actually, Ron, I’m talking about Sullivan’s successor:
    As part of the deal, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson insisted that AIG’s chief executive, Robert Willumstad, step aside. Mr. Paulson personally told Mr. Willumstad the news in a phone call on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the call.

    Also, Glenn: Answer this folkbum. How did you feel about what Bush did then and what Obama has done now if they are so similar to you?
    I didn’t have a problem with what happened last year, and I haven’t had a problem with what’s happened this year. In other words, if you’re keeping score of posts complaining about executive influence over bailed out companies, the score is folkbum 0, Badger Blogger 1 (or more, I haven’t checked the archives).

    I think, Glenn, you need to ask Roland if he was okay with Bush’s meddling in bailed out companies last year. He’s the one who seems to be upset (”deranged,” you could call it), not me.



  19. Roland Melnick Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 11:15 am

    I don’t have a problem with limited meddling…”limited” being the key word. Our government plays a necessary role in regulating business and industry. Bush had less than a year left as President so by default his actions/intentions were limited. Obama only has little over two months on the books and plenty of time to tinker with things.

    I think, Folkbum, you need to re-read my comment above. The whole part about “walking a fine line.” What I’m “upset” about is that if GM can’t morph itself, with or without the government’s help, into a self-sustaining company that we will instead have “Obama Motors.” Personally, I don’t believe in un-ending life-support for ailing companies. Obama’s team should close the public pursestrings and move toward an orderly bankruptcy/restructuring if real substantive changes don’t occur.

    Will the UAW act responsibly during this time of transition and change? Why should they?

    Will Obama have the cojones to make tough choices with respect to labor? If Obama had more public service experience, perhaps we would know where he stands. His spread the wealth rhetoric and other experience staunchly suggest he won’t.



  20. Glenn D. Frankovis Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 11:45 am

    folkbum, don’t confuse me with your side. I don’t keep score. Hell, I never even visit lefty blogs. Every once in awhile somebody sends me a link to one of the lefty blogs. They’re too damn depressing. None of you guys has a sense of humor.



  21. gus Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 12:03 pm

    I’ve got a question for you Liberal Einsteins.
    Does Big Ears Obama get to run NEWSPAPERS should they accept government money.

    Think about it libs.



  22. zenracer Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 12:36 pm

    Don’t forget today’s news about GM making your payments when your unemployed. Question: If you are already unemployed can you still buy a car and have them make the payments for you?



  23. Glenn D. Frankovis Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 12:39 pm

    And what about MPS?



  24. gus Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 1:35 pm

    Glenn freedom of the press would be non-existant if newspapers were run by Dimwit Obama.
    What about POOP TO POWER????? Does that mean Marquette can no longer be JESUIT??



  25. gus Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 1:43 pm

    Roland, your father said it was okay for Obama to meddle because these aren’t normal times.
    Do you mean like spying on terrorists after the biggest attack on America in history? Because those weren’t normal times either.



  26. John Smith Says:
    March 31st, 2009 at 3:34 pm

    Omama is clearly a puppet of the Unions. Why didn’t the workers buy up the stock and run the company, if they wanted all the profits? Why didn’t they start their own company? These mafia unions tell them they deserve more, when they really don’t. They wrecked the company, voted and deserve to be jobless. Why didn’t they work hard to make a quality product cheaper? Cause that would be work, better to be entitled and jobless.

    And yes, I’ve witnessed your handy union protectionism crap first hand.

    Sincerly,

    John Smith, one check away from foreclosure, but apparently supporting a bunch of entitled union do nothings.

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