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The lame excuses provided by the head of the UAW for bailing out the US auto industry proves once again organized labor has no shame and even less credibility which demonstrates its waning role in American life for decades. Most people may have held this view since it became difficult to distinguish organized labor from organized crime. From noble beginnings as a champion of the plight of ordinary workers to holding the country hostage with nationwide strikes and a string of financial scandals featuring pension funds and mob bosses, unions have rendered themselves just another corrupt special interest group clinging to self-serving agendas.

With one Democrat quoted in the article below supporting the most recent in a long string of bailouts and the history of ‘labor’ support for liberal politicians, specifically Dems, it is clear the socialist tendencies are alive and well on the left. The one Republican quoted expresses the practical viewpoint that the auto industry should seek the protection of Chapter 11 as is customary in such matters to restructure debt in an effort to turn the industry around rather than receive a government handout.

It would be better to hear the auto industry either emerged from Chapter 11 in a stronger position or has failed and been sold off to competitors than more news of the taxpayer being stuck with another Washington ripoff.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

U.S. Auto Union Chief Pleads for Government Aid

Democratic leaders are demanding blueprints from Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. before they will schedule votes on any new federal aid.

The head of the United Auto Workers union made a public plea Sunday for government help for U.S. carmakers as the Big Three put the final touches on stabilization plans to submit to Congress.

“We cannot afford to see these companies fail,” said Ron Gettelfinger, the UAW chief, calling on Congress to approve the aid during a special session the week of Dec. 8.

Gettelfinger said a $25 billion rescue plan for the carmakers is “not a bailout, this is a loan — a bridge loan — that will get us through until we can take a longer-term look at exactly what needs to be done in the industry.”

Democratic leaders are demanding blueprints from Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. before they will schedule votes on any new federal aid. The plans, due Tuesday, are to be scrutinized at a Senate hearing Wednesday and a House hearing on Friday.

If lawmakers like what they see, Congress may reconvene the following week to consider the auto bailout.

The report below suggests use of the word ‘global’ when referring to current economic troubles around the world not only describes the geographic nature of the problem but geopolitical as well. German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s concern of money going to US automakers from US taxpayers putting German automakers at risk provides a substantially humorous face on this reverse order of trade subsidy worries. How many foreign countries place barriers to US goods all the while accepting US corporate outsourcing to spur growth in their own economies?

The early promise of ‘a new direction’ in France with the election of Nicolas Sarkozy may be giving way to the honeymoon is long over and the French are scurrying back to their old ways of sending up flares of impending doom and expecting external concessions. This blog’s suggestion that the best thing about Sarkozy leading France was the opportunity for more photo ops of Carla Bruni may end up being less comedy relief and more political reality.

Russia seems to be the only country in this report which relies greatly on the other part of the auto industry equation, energy. The recent dive in the price of oil from its July record highs leaves the nation with the split personality between cold war demon and new world democracy with a severe reversal of fortune in petro dollars.

The only thing missing from all this international intercourse is the predictable hope for world peace and global tranquility. The only common ground here is that all concerned are on equal footing when it comes to playing the game, ‘blank’ on your neighbor. But it is reassuring that good and evil in international politics is equally balanced among the nations described in the report. And that is only because the likes of Iran and similar nations are not noticeably involved. Maybe they are a little less noisy with the fall of oil prices too.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

European officials are taking a close look at how the United States is helping its ailing auto industry.

President George W. Bush welcomes Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany to the Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008, at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. White House photo by Chris Greenberg

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she wants to make sure aid to the U.S. auto industry will not put Europe’s own auto companies at a competitive disadvantage.

Merkel’s comments came at a news conference Tuesday in the northern Italian city of Trieste with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Carmakers in both the U.S. and Europe have been asking for government help, with French automaker Peugeot, Europe’s second largest car company, warning the global auto industry is in danger of a collapse.

Meanwhile, France wants to see a stronger international response to the global financial crisis.

In a statement released today, French President Nicolas Sarkozy says France will host a summit in January because world leaders must show they can offer “concrete solutions.”

At a meeting of industrial and developing countries last week in Washington, leaders only managed to agree on a set of principles to prevent the global economy from getting worse.

The Paris summit will be co-hosted by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and will include world leaders as well as Nobel prize-winning economists.

Reuters news agency reports International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn says the list of countries asking for help is growing every day. And Russian President Dmitri Medvedev says his government may need to spend another $180 billion to stabilize the Russian economy.

Russia has already spent almost $200 billion on a series of measures to counter the economic meltdown. The World Bank today cut its growth forecast for the Russian economy in 2008 and 2009.

India is also worried about the effect of the global financial crisis on its economic growth. Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said Tuesday the government should cut interest rates. He also called on businesses to cut prices and accept lower profit margins to help stimulate the Indian economy.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says the financial crisis is having an impact on donations from wealthy nations.

And migrant workers from the Philippines tell VOA the financial crisis is having an impact on how much money they are able to send to their families back home.

In 2007, Filipino migrant workers sent more than $14 billion to the Philippines, equal to 13 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP.

GOP bailout stooge to Cavuto: “It’s not your money” (Michelle Malkin) 

How does that common politician’s disclaimer read? In the interest of full disclosure is the phrase being borrowed here. This blog has expressed on more than one occasion that our current favorite in the 2008 field of candidates is Mitt Romney. No need here to explain why other than to say you should know that when reading a post here about Mitt Romney.

If Mitt Romney’s opposition can only come up with religion as a central theme to use as ammunition against him, then everyone should have a reason to develop a more favorable opinion of this candidate. The notion of any candidate being criticized for their choice of religious faith should have been disposed of after the Presidency of John F Kennedy. It was a thinly disguised fear tactic then and should be completely exposed by now for what it is. A characteristic or personal detail that is of little importance in politics. Even an article in WaPo in 2004 suggested that President George W Bush while endorsing faith in general is rather vague about his own personal beliefs. That is the way a personal issue should be handled. Using it as a thumbs up or down decision is as ridiculous as those who encourage its political use.

GOP debate may hit on Romney’s religion

By Lisa Riley Roche
Deseret Morning News
With Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith in the news, his beliefs are likely to be questioned during the second Republican presidential candidate debate tonight in South Carolina — and his answers could be a test of whether he can win over evangelical voters.

It may have been done but we haven’t seen one. That would be a brief review of some past Presidential religious affiliations. From Eisenhower forward there are some contrasts and similarities as one might expect. But first this excerpt from the White House docs on past Presidents.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Bringing to the Presidency his prestige as commanding general of the victorious forces in Europe during World War II, Dwight D. Eisenhower obtained a truce in Korea and worked incessantly during his two terms to ease the tensions of the Cold War. He pursued the moderate policies of “Modern Republicanism,” pointing out as he left office, “America is today the strongest, most influential, and most productive nation in the world.”

That was the preface to our Presidential review of religion as follows:

President Eisenhower (Presbyterian)
President Kennedy (Catholic)
President Johnson (Disciple of Christ)
President Nixon (Quaker)
President Ford (Episcopalian)
President Carter (Baptist)
President Reagan (Presbyterian)
President Bush 41 (Episcopalian)
President Clinton (Baptist)
President Bush 43 (Methodist)

There are associated anecdotes that come with some accounts of Presidential religion. The achievements of Dwight David Eisenhower were preceded by an early life experience with Jehovah’s Witness. He officially became a Presbyterian after the beginning of his first term and no one seemed to care. Gee Dubya reportedly followed a rather common practice to observe his spouse’s denomination as Methodist. The point in all of this being to reinforce the idea that religious affiliation should not play a big role in selecting a President.

And we have already anticipated some of the remarks that might be forthcoming and decided not to address them. Your comments are, as always, welcome under the assumption of no spam and no outrageous antics in bad taste or form. Thanks for reading.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

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Ford Juggles Job Cuts and Manager Bonuses
As Ford Motor Co. reports big losses and slashes thousands of jobs, executives consider paying bonuses to managers who control costs. The move could be another public-relations headache.

The old slogan, Ford has a better idea, might only apply to past events. Like the singular success of the Ford Escort or the F150 or the Mustang. Henry Ford had a string of successes but not without some controversy. Ford’s current better idea is to generate more controversy.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Toyota Reports Record Quarterly Profit

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota, hot on the heels of General Motors to become the world’s No. 1 automaker, reported a 7.3 percent jump in quarterly profit Tuesday on booming sales in North America and Europe that offset sluggish demand in Japan….

Let’s review. GM is in trouble. Ford is in trouble. In short, American automakers are crumbling. Not only Japan, but Korea and China are making cars as well as traditional competition from Europe and elsewhere. That is why the news story in the previous report was so laughable. Ok, it was actually sad.

C. Harris
MoreWhat.com

Officials: Ford to Resurrect Taurus Name

DETROIT (AP) — Ford Motor Co. will rename its slow-selling Five Hundred model the Taurus, a name Ford previously used for a car that became the nation’s top-seller, two company officials said Tuesday….

How stupid is this? Plan on NOT being able to “buy American” much longer. Get accustomed to names like Toyota, Honda, Subaru, Hundai, Kia. You say you are already? But that was by choice. If American automakers continue the trend it won’t be for long. And that Mercedes or other higher end vehicle will be outta reach too. Why? How are you going to buy it when all the jobs, pensions and social security are also, GONE!

C. Harris
MoreWhat.com

Another fantasy is revisited in Detroit this month with the opening of the North American International Auto Show displaying the pathetic decline of the American auto industry. Similar to the unholy alliance between the medical community and Big Pharma plus the FDA, there is the auto industry and Big Oil and the requisite government agencies, politicians and lobbyists. The United States was given a big wake up call regarding energy and oil shortages 30 years ago and the cavalier attitude of those not interested in noticing generated terms like tree hugger and belittled initial attempts to develop alternative energy sources. And now Detroit is promoting electric cars. That would simply prove how bleak the future looks in the motor city. In addition, the marketing strategies of the past, the public’s insatiable appetite for gas guzzling muscle machines and status symbols and the auto industry caving to the demands of once powerful labor union is responsible to the fix they are in now.

All of that plus getting in bed with the competition over the last 20 or 30 years will surely produce little or no sympathy from the public over the auto industry’s plight. The CEO of GM baking a cake and the claim of a car that gets 640 miles per tank is too stupid and too late to salvage an industry too ignorant, too lazy or too greedy to adjust to market forces or the reality of energy developments and difficulties. It must look incredibly easy to Toyota as they close in on becoming the top dog. This sad saga applies to more than the American auto industry. Change is necessary but won’t happen soon enough or solve the myriad problems allowed to continue within American business. The once dominant force in the world had better wake up. Simlar to what Yamamoto said, the sleeping giant had better wake up.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

President George W. Bush meets with, from left, William Clay Ford Jr., Chairman & CEO of
Ford Motor Company; Dieter Zetsche, President & CEO of Chrysler Group; and Richard
Wagoner, President & CEO of General Motors Corp., at the Ford Community and
Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, Mich., Monday, April 28, 2003.
White House photo by Tina Hager

Bush: Automakers Face ‘Tough Choices’

Meeting in the Oval Office, President Bush told top executives of
Ford, General Motors and DaimlerChrysler he recognizes they
have “tough choices” in a difficult global environment and
promised a continuing dialogue with the industry.

Do Toyota, Honda and others have the same “tough choices” to
deal with or is this only a problem for American and almost
American clones? Why were the various “partnerships” started
about 25 years ago between American and foreign car makers?
Was it a noble experiment to revolutionize the global market or
an economical entrance to the American market for some and a
bailout of sorts for mismanaged or incompetent manufacturers
in the U.S.? Why would you invite your competition into your
home territory? How bad did you need the engineering to sell
out your company for short term profits? Was it just easier to
cave into union demands only to nearly go bankrupt a couple of
decades later? Maybe the US starts outsourcing entire industries
and the forward thinking morons of the recent past get vindicated
for their rash strategy that we will become a service only economy.
Only to again be impaled in public debate for the self-fulfilling
prophecy.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com