Obama The Car Salesman

When people describe the sleaziest workers they usually mention a used car salesman or a snake oil salesman (of which Obama is both). Looks like Obama has made the government the new car dealers for America. The government has so much interest in two of the big three that Obama basically fired the head of GM and most of the board. I am not saying they did not have to go but the government should not be in this business. BTW, did Obama fire any leaders of the UAW? Bet that will never happen.

The government involvement in the auto industry is troubling. We have forked over billions of dollars and now the sainted one says he is Ok with them going into bankruptcy. They could have done that last year and saved us billions of dollars. It would also have brought about renegotiation of the union contract. That is something that needs to be done. Everyone should be feeling the pain at the automakers.

Obama laid out a bunch of things with regard to how the automakers would run. It seemed to me that he was in charge of the companies instead of the country. Oh yeah, the country is in charge of them because we own part of them. I hope this enlightens other companies that are considering asking for taxpayer money. If you don’t want Obama and the government in your knickers just say NO.

One of the most troubling parts was when Obama said:

It is my hope that the steps I am announcing today will go a long way towards answering many of the questions people may have about the future of GM and Chrysler. But just in case there are still nagging doubts, let me say it as plainly as I can — if you buy a car from Chrysler or General Motors, you will be able to get your car serviced and repaired, just like always. Your warrantee[sic] will be safe.

In fact, it will be safer than it’s ever been. Because starting today, the United States government will stand behind your warrantee[sic]. UK News Yahoo

This is troubling in two areas. One, have you ever known the government to run anything well? They are backing warranties and have no idea about what is involved. Under the Socialists in the Obama administration the backed warranty might mean you get a new car every time some little problem occurs.

The second issue is when he says the government will back the warranties. No, the taxpayer will back them. If this involves any money then that money will come from the taxpayer.

Not only are we paying for banks, insurance companies, Wall Street, reparations studies, rebuilding Gaza, Palestinian training camps, everyone’s health care, other people’s houses, other people’s children’s college education, and abortions around the world, now we are going to pay for warranty work done on cars manufactured by automaker employees who are members of the UAW.

Talk about incentive not to do a great job.

What else will the taxpayer have to pay for Mr. Obama? What else will we guarantee? How stinking far into our pockets are you going to reach?

One day you are going to reach too far and that hand is going to be removed.

Forget throwing tea in the harbor. Let’s throw all the politicians in the harbor.

Better yet, let’s throw them in the ocean with lead filled life vests.

Related:
Wall Street Journal

Big Dog

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Maybe They Should Have Invited Congress To Play Golf

The Big Three automakers went to Washington to ask for bridge loans so they could make ends meet. There are quite a few Americans who do not want to lend this money to them and the left is bonkers over the idea that the Big Three could fail. There are a lot of union workers at the auto companies and the Democrats are indebted to them.

The UAW would not make immediate concessions and opted to give in a few years from now. This put an end to the deal from Congress but President Bush helped them out with some of the bailout money. The UAW figures it only needs enough to get by until Obama takes office and there are bigger majorities in the House and Senate. Then they will start cashing in IOUs.

The Big Three have shut down operations for various amounts of time to help get rid of existing inventory and to defer costs. The union employees will be paid 95% of their salaries to stay home so they got a paid vacation through the Christmas holiday season.

The union made sure to keep the deed to its $6 million golf course which is part of a $33 million retreat in Michigan. Too bad they were told to stay home with pay during the winter or they could have gotten some time in on the golf course. Hell, they should have invited the members of Congress to play a few rounds and maybe they would have gotten their handout.

Is it any wonder why the companies are doing badly? UAW members pay dues and the UAW uses them to buy golf courses. Truth be told, it is probably not the rank and file that gets to use it on a regular basis. But they are getting 95% of their pay to do nothing so it is not all bad for them.

The companies are taking it on the chin but this is what happens when they enter into contracts that give the world to the workers.

My friend Don Surber mentioned that Toyota posted a loss for the first time in its history and then asked if it meant that they make crappy cars that no one will buy. That has not been the issue with the Big Three and if anyone thinks that then they are mistaken.

For the most part the American companies make good cars. The labor costs to build them are higher and that is why it is hard for them to compete.

Maybe they could sell that golf course and use the money to offset the labor costs associated with the cars. Perhaps they could turn it into a profit maker (they lose money on it now) and use that money to pay employees who are not working.

Whatever happens, it is hard to have sympathy for CEOs who fly in on private jets to beg for money for workers whose union owns a $6 million golf course.

I guess they won’t have to worry for long. Obama owes the union so that golf course will probably be his new Summer retreat. He can sign the papers giving them the money right from the 19th hole.

Source:
Fox News

Big Dog

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No Fiesta for UAW

Ford Motor Company announced that it is building a global car, a car that is fuel efficient, easily made and can be marketed anywhere in the world and that it is going to produce them in Mexico. Ford will begin making the Fiesta in Mexico and this will create nearly 30,000 jobs (no indication if they are all in Mexico). The United Auto Workers Union is very upset with Ford because the union wanted the company to invest in American plants and make the car here. The problem is, if Ford wants to make an inexpensive car they cannot have the union involved.

The major American auto manufacturers have real financial problems and those problems keep getting worse. The unions have been one of the reasons for some of the financial problems for years. Union rules about who can work where and do what, pay demands, benefit demands, and any number of other things have driven costs up and profits down. There are union workers who get paid to do nothing when there is a slow down all because of some union rule. Ford decided to go to Mexico where it would not have to worry about union costs. The irony is, Ford went to Mexico to get workers to do jobs Americans were willing to do. Another irony is they will be making the Fiesta in Mexico…

Ford might actually be thinking of other cost savings as well. About 10% of the Mexican population already lives in the US. Maybe some of them will go back home to get a job making cars. But, the big issue is that instead of trucking the cars north Ford can just let illegals drive them on in. They can pick up some extra cash dropping cars off in America and then they can just stay here. This will save us a lot of money because there will be no need for the fence that they are not going to build anyway. If we don’t have to worry about illegals crossing the desert on foot we can save millions of dollars not building a fence.

Ford is another company that sent jobs out of the country (ooh and on Bush’s watch) but what choice do they have? With all the global warming fanaticism and the government regulations as well as the burden of the union the company would never make money. By making cars in Mexico they are able to skirt some of the burdensome rules imposed on comanies doing business here.

Source:
Washington Post

Big Dog