Auto Execs Fly Corporate Jets to D.C., Tin Cups in Hand

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by KappaKittyCat

I can't believe this, but I might actually be agreeing with KSig RC here.

Ha - I'd bet we agree on the vast majority of issues (I'm much more of a pussycat than you probably imagine), and disagree more on the presentation, but I strongly think this is an angle lots of people are ignoring, so it's good to get some "+1s" on this. I mean . . . AmEx is changing over to a bank after decades of resisting disclosure, just to get in on the money grab. It has to stop somewhere, right?

[epchick]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Do you really get one 'free' collapse before you're forced to insert controls to prevent MysticCat and epchick from having to pay your bills, sloughing through massive future debt because risk/reward ratios didn't need to care about the risk?

Hey hey hey....wait a minute!!! lol. Why me?? jk. I hope I don't have to pay anyone's bills, I don't have a job, I can't even afford to pay MY bills! lol

[UGAalum94]

Can I ask some dumb questions? How/why is the failure of the latest deal being assigned to Republicans, particularly southern Republicans? Certainly, the outcome most reflects their sentiment, but if you look at the composition of the vote and the Senate, it looks pretty much like a Republican breakdown, if you assume that Republicans' logical role would have been to oppose the bill.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/congress_autos
(read the whole article for the Republicans block angle, but here's the vote breakdown)

"The Senate rejected the bailout 52-35 on a procedural vote — well short of the 60 required — after the talks fell apart. Just 10 Republicans joined 40 Democrats and two independents in backing it. Three Democrats sided with 31 Republicans in opposition. Reid also voted "no" for procedural reasons."

Is this pretty much just self-serving spin for everyone so that people who want to be seen as pro-union or pro-US automaker can be, even though they didn't deliver any relief, and southern Republicans can spin it as delivering what their constituents wanted as well, even though if you really look at how the actual vote played out, it hardly seems like a Republican success at all? (if you start with 49 GOP members, and you lose 10 and another six or seven don't apparently vote. . . )

(And, hey Democrats, if you start with 48 members and keep them and get them all to vote and pick up 10 GOP votes and two independents, hey, guess what? you're at 60.)

But, apparently according to the media, the GOP only needs 31 people to hold the line to get what they want. I guess the recent Senate elections weren't as bad as reported for the GOP.

[PM_Mama00]

Don't think there's going to be a domino effect?

Campbell-Ewald to Slash 50-200 Jobs
Chevy's Advertising Company May Cut As Many As 200 Jobs, According To Executives

POSTED: Sunday, December 14, 2008
UPDATED: 9:18 am EST December 14, 2008



WARREN, Mich. -- Chevrolet advertising agency Campbell-Ewald will layoff 50 to 200 employees, as General Motors cuts costs.

A company spokesman would not confirm how many jobs would be cut at Campbell-Ewald's Warren branch.

The advertising company is one of Macomb County's largest corporate employers. It also has a branch in Los Angeles.

The spokesman blamed the current state of the economy for the cuts.

As of January 2008, Campbell-Ewald employed 1,300 people.


Copyright 2008 by ClickOnDetroit.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Kevin]

50 jobs barely merits a press release. It deserves, even less, to be mentioned in any major city's newspaper.

I personally don't think GM's choice to spend less money on ads is very intelligent. It would seem to me that at a time like this, they can least afford not to be advertising like crazy.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by Kevin

50 jobs barely merits a press release. It deserves, even less, to be mentioned in any major city's newspaper.

I personally don't think GM's choice to spend less money on ads is very intelligent. It would seem to me that at a time like this, they can least afford not to be advertising like crazy.

Isn't that the same thing? Less money on adds does equal not advertising like crazy.

50-200 jobs is a lot. Because it adds on to the thousands of other jobs that have already been lost.

Did anyone listen to Debbie Stabenow's speech that night?

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

... Really? You don't think anyone gets it?

I mean . . . losing a million jobs sucks, but it's not like the situation is "pick one: jobs or no jobs" or anything nearly that simple. Maybe it's not the best idea to have 299 million people fund an archaic industry with shitty management, poor direction and a decided lack of common sense, for the betterment of the other one million?

What's "about to hit us" other than unemployment? We can deal with unemployment - turns out, the skills needed to run an assembly line are similar to the skills needed to repair bridges so people don't die during the morning commute, and that sort of investment from the majority at least shows tangible promise of return, including materials etc.

Let's not get overly dramatic here - this is an absolute tragedy for the city of Detroit. That's a fact. Extending anywhere past that is just hyperbole.

Agreed.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by LionInMI

I found this link in my inbox from my Dad before we even read it in the paper this morning -- Mitch Albom, "Hey, you senators: Thanks for nothing": http://www.freep.com/article/2008121...13055/1118/RSS

Well, if you wondered before, this seals it: Mitch Albom is a hack, a mediocre writer with a preternatural talent to swing for the sympathy fences with untamed gusto and a complete lack of shame.

Wow: "America isn't America without an auto industry." Oh. IF ONLY THE SENATORS HAD KNOWN THIS KEY FACT!

[preciousjeni]

Why so much hate toward foreign automakers?

[Kevin]

der tekkin are jawbs?

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Well, if you wondered before, this seals it: Mitch Albom is a hack, a mediocre writer with a preternatural talent to swing for the sympathy fences with untamed gusto and a complete lack of shame.

Wow: "America isn't America without an auto industry." Oh. IF ONLY THE SENATORS HAD KNOWN THIS KEY FACT!

Plus he has plagiarized in the past - which, you know, is the mark of a really honorable journalist.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by Kevin

der tekkin are jawbs?

But their products are awesome! I will never willingly purchase an American made car for myself unless my choices are so severely limited that it's "do or die." I only buy Japanese vehicles. My husband, on the other hand, had a Ford and now a Pontiac. It's a house divided.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

But their products are awesome! I will never willingly purchase an American made car for myself unless my choices are so severely limited that it's "do or die." I only buy Japanese vehicles. My husband, on the other hand, had a Ford and now a Pontiac. It's a house divided.

Yep. I was thinking that when driving around today in my father's Denali. It's got 85K miles on it, has been immaculately maintained, they bought it new, and it's already having engine trouble.

My wife and I both have Hondas. We've been together now for gosh.. 6-7 years or so? Between the two of us, I think we've had my car in the shop once when the motor on one of my power windows gave out.

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

But their products are awesome! I will never willingly purchase an American made car for myself unless my choices are so severely limited that it's "do or die." I only buy Japanese vehicles.

Why? I currently have a german auto but I would buy a Detroit car if it was actually NICE. Like comparable to a BMW or an Audi in the sense of style, use of premium materials and overall drive of the beast. The new 2010 Mustang looks promising...

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by Kevin

My wife and I both have Hondas.

I'm sorry...