Behold: An “auto czar”
Photoshop credit: The People’s Cube
The Master and Overlord Obama is ready to appoint an Auto Czar.
And the lame-duck George Bush is going along.
God save us from bipartisanship.
The troubles of the ailing auto industry are quickly becoming a major focus for President-Elect Barack Obama’s young administration. As Congress and President Bush debate an industry bailout, sources indicate that Obama may favor creating a White House office, headed by an “auto industry czar,” to oversee reforming the troubled American auto industry.
The Detroit News reports that both “Bush and Obama are signaling they may favor appointment of an auto czar to oversee the government’s efforts to funnel emergency assistance to automakers.” Congressional leaders and members of both the outgoing and incoming administrations have all said that automakers might receive federal aid only on certain dictions, including efforts “to further improve fuel efficiency and show that they have a plan to return to profitability. Automakers could also be required to give the government preferred stock in the companies and accept government representatives as board members. As in the 1979-80 Chrysler bailout, workers may have to make wage concessions.”
The press was unable to get direct confirmation of the plan yesterday. John Podesta, the former Clinton administration official heading Obama’s transition team, told the Washington Post “When we have an announcement about that, we’ll raise it.”
You will be ruled.
***
Commenter Cameron: “Czar has been overused though. We need Dukes, Knights, Earls, etc. I like the idea of ‘Knight of Autos.’ It will look great on business cards.”
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I think we need a Czar of Bosco! Too many imitators.
Misscheryl:
About 20mpg on the highway in the truck. I don’t know about the car. That truck also hauled our furniture around when we moved. It also pulled a trailer with my tractor on it halfway to Tulsa. That’s when a tire came off of the trailer.
If you like your VW, fine. But, if your job disappears, then, remember, it might have been your job that was saved by supporting American industry.
I said this earlier, but let me repeat my crazy thought-
Maybe America doesn’t need Three Big automakers. One can simply shut down, and while import purchases might go up a tad, I’d guess most of the business would go to the surviving Big Two. Which might just save their bacon.
Or, one or more files bankruptcy, and revises union contracts that pay exhorbitant wages to generally low skilled UAW workers, and trims back their medical insurance to something more resembling what most of us get. They can shutter poorly performing plants, shut down pointless product lines like Pontiac and Buick, maybe come back as a new GM or Ford, or whatever, or be auctioned off, with the remaining profitable plants coming back.
I’d prefer that, say, Toyota, doesn’t buy the Chevrolet brand, as I drive a Chevy, and I prefer to buy American, but if that is how the free market shakes out, I can deal with it.
What’s the difference?
You would think the head of GM could figure this out. I’m sure there are turf wars that end up wasting billions. “Shut down Pontiac, why not Chevy?” “Chevy, what about Buick?” “OK, we’ll keep them all, now work smarter, think outside the box, look for synergy, blah, blah…”
This guy is not even President yet and he is screwing the pooch as it has never been screwed before. Can you imagine the landscape in 24 months?
A hundeed years ago it was the promise of a “Two Holer for every house” (that’s an outhouse with two seats)
NOW? Its a Czar for every business.
We’ll have more Big Brothers than Acorn has
nutsvoters.That worked out well….
Sorry Tre – my loyalty to American manufacturers went by the wayside when their craftsmenship and service went down the drain. When they start putting customers first again instead of the all mighty dollar at any cost, I’ll put them first. Until then, I’ll buy what suits me best.
#103:
The weaker of the three seems to be Dodge/Chrysler. It would be okay with me if they went bankrupt. The Jeep division could be sold off to someone who could bring back the quality and reputation.
However, most “imports” are assembled domestically while “domestics” are assembled in Canada or Mexico. In either case, there are thousands of people employed by car manufacturers starting with the assemblers to truck drivers to dealerships to parts stores to repair shops to used car stores.
I’m on my third Honda and second Nissan. I always buy 9slightly) used and drive for several years. When I’m done, they still have value. Can’t say that about any one of the big three.
However, I am a fan of Chevy, I’ve owned several. The only ones to hold some value are the large trucks. Can’t say that for the rest of the line.
a Czar? Isn’t that what communist countries have? Oh, I forgot, Obama is our next president.
Bet you liked the global warming Czar too – algore of course. Who else?
If import owners are out of work and they and their family are starving, let them eat their imported cars.
Daimler realized what a lemon they had and unloaded Chrysler onto a private company called Cerebrus, IIRC.
I try to buy American, I got my 2007 Impala at a good price, and it has been a good car so far. But if the best car for me next time is a foreign nameplate or owner, (preferably built in the US like many Hondas and Toyotas), I’ll buy it.
The point is, UAW salaries are way out of line with what most similarly skilled workers make, and the Big 3 either have to charge more money than the market will bear or sell the cars at such a small margin, any economic slowdown at all means losses.
Let the Big 3 file bankruptcy, and shed the UAW contracts, and come out in much more competative shape.
Or, let the UAW volunteer for some benefits and wage rollbacks, like American Airlines pilots and mechanics did, and maybe the Big 3 won’t even have to file bankruptcy. The jobs the autoworkers save may be their own.
Of course, with Dear Leader Obama and his not particularly conservative predecessor Bush offering guarantees against bankruptcy, there is no incentive for the UAW to re-negotiate their contracts.
American manufacturers went by the wayside when their craftsmenship and service went down the drain because the contracts forced down their throats by the unions prevent them from firing incompetent workers, force them to put vast resources into worker social programs, prevent them from automating many processes to improve quality, etc…
And,now, GE joins the mess:
GE
We’re fast getting into a position where the government is paying people in corporate America to sit on their asses.
I’m gonna incorporate as a bank!!! oh yeah I need a bailout!!!
where’s MY MONEY!!!!????
I can solve the problem 5 words…
GET RID OF THE UNIONS
They are killing the Auto, Airline, and Education industries!!!
…There. I’m your “Omni-Czar” – although with his supernatural powers, you’d think Obama would just snap his fingers or merely proclaim that the industry was fixed and it would be.
A picture is worth a thousand words
Perish the thought that the $30/hr janitor at the GM plant can’t afford to buy a new bass boat or RV this year. You are not entitled to my business just because you can stongarm Detroit into paying you more money. But good luck with that next UAW contract just the same. Welcome to the real world jacka**es. Brought to you by your beloved Democrats in Congress. When are you going to wise up?
Stock market is REALLY tanking now. Investors are waking up to the fact that MORONS like Nancy Pelosi et al are actually abandoning the very thing that made the USA the greatest country on earth – CAPITALISM.
Will they wake up enough to elect enough conservatives to take over Congress in 2010?
BTW, can a US president be recalled?
#118′s link to the wages graph is dead-on accurate.
I know what the union’s argument is, but I just don’t see how they think it’s best for their bread and butter to be in the shape they’re in. Don’t they think it will die at some point and then where will they be? It’s like their own Atlas Shrugged!
No jobs = No members = No dues = No union
American Express is now asking for billions from the American taxpayer.
Before I start wanting to hurt working Americans… how much money would we save if we stopped paying for the non-working losers that sit and suck off the taxpayers tit?
I try to follow the Auto industry news as much as I can.
But in reality as we discuss these problems with the auto industry it is extremely important to remember the entire Auto industry is a drop in the bucket compared to the disaster looming in the home mortgage debacle.
The numbers in that mess are awful.
If everything could be properly steered and all the pieces would begin to fall in to place it might still be 2011 to work that out.
However everyone who thinks the pieces are going to fall into place neatly raise your hand.
For sometime now I thought 2010 might be enough time, but as each day passes nothing arrives to give me confidence.
If circumstances change I will update my prediction. However for now I think I will go with mid-2011 for the economy to begin to rebound.
Will the De Lorean Motor Company get a check?
DeLorean was an American, but IIRC he built his cars in Ulster in the UK.
under barry O??? wishful thinking my friend!!!
I’m amazed anyone is still in the market…DOW 4000 next summer…boom…
R4L
I agree and think I said as much.
My mid-2011 prediction is best case scenario in my opinion.
My purpose in posting it is to encourage anyone thinking about the economy who may not have a strong understanding of economics some idea of when they can potentially see some upside
As to your DOW 4000.
You and I may be looking at the same data.
While I am not yet convinced that we will be that low by summer.
Anyone with money in the market right now in my opinion is speculating
A good indicator of the market numbers going forward will be what happens between now and the week before Christmas.
Then look at the week prior to Jan 20th and the week after.
If it goes as I think, there will be a minor sucker surge and then a free fall.
If Obama does not shut up his redistribution talk, which he is not going to, I could see 4000 to 5000 Dow by June.
Or less.
Hey, is anybody going to take any of this stuff to court to test the constitutionality? It certainly ought to be examined by SCOTUS, hopefully before Lord Obama gets a chance to put in some new kangaroo justices.
Just remember, according to Wallace Stevens,
“The only emperor is the Emperor of Ice Cream.”
Um, no offense meant there DW, but you seem to be operating under the delusion that this Auto-Czar will put profit at the top of the priority list. Name me just one government run enterprise that actually MAKES money. US Post office? Nope. Amtrak? Nope. How about Fannie or Freddie? HA! Nope and nope again. We (taxpayers) pay $500 for hammers, buy hand tools for the US Army motor pool that were made in China (unbelievable but true) and now the guv’mint wants to play automaker? People’s Car indeed.
Unless of course you were being sarcastic, in which case, nevermind.
Michelle…dear leader looks like he really really belongs in that outfit on the pic…truly scary stuff…
I’m quite certain that the liberals who hang on every word that drips off the lips of Obama and his droogs in the Senate and House (Pelosi, Reid, and Frank) will step up to the plate now to see that the American auto makers (and their unions) don’t fail by turning in their Volvos, Beemers and Benz’s to buy Chevys and Fords. Al Gore will be tooling around in his Chevy Cobalt coupe with the windows down to save gas by not running the A/C.
On November 12th, 2008 at 1:05 pm, granite said:
I guess, then, that it’s a historical shame that a horse-and-buggy czar was not appointed a century ago.
Give them 8 more years.
If the government becomes auto manufacturers then we’ll see the rise of “the new people’s car”,a little generic space egg looking thing available in any color……as long as it’s beige.
My Lord, the government getting into all businesses now. What will it be like in 4 years? Are we going the way of Chavez, Castro and nationalization? You can see how nationalization destroyed those countries. Government intervention in businesses has always been a failure, yet, now, the politicians want to do it again. And, yet again, it will be a failure…much to the demise of the American taxpayer. It was a failure in the 30s, in the late 40s (Marshall Plan) and it will be a failure now. Laissez faire policies have always been successful in dealing with a down economy, yet politicians, in a quest for more power, insist that it doesn’t.
A few more bailouts and inflation is going through the roof into the stratosphere.
Been there, experienced that, do not want another t-shirt.
On November 12th, 2008 at 1:11 pm, Southpaw said:
Oh great, government running the automobile industry. Can you say…Yugo.
Nail, head.
We need a Czar of “Rearranging Deck Chairs”
Yes the people who gave us Social Security, the bail out and Jeremiah Wright will design our cars.
Bailing wire and duck tape should be growth industries.
Yep cicerokid- Yugo,Yugo,Yugo You Go Yugo!
Pancho.
Bailing wire and duck tape should be growth industries.
That’s too funny. We had to use my cousin’s sock for a windshield wiper on a road trip to Kentucky!
Bailing out the auto industries is pure lunacy. Without overhauling their union contracts, there is no hope for real change that will make them competitive again. We’re in the same boat here in NY – large deficits are faced and the major unions have already stated that they aren’t going to change a thing. With the auto industries, a structured bankruptcy may be the only cleansing option.
The military version: BOHICA
BEND OVER, HERE IT COMES AGAIN!
We need an autoczar like a fish needs a bicycle.
The last American car I owned was a brand new 1972 Chevy Monte Carlo, my first car. My brother and I split the cost. The engine needed replaced after only 1200 miles!!! Bad valves. It took those union labor idiots 6 weeks to “fix”. I even offered to drive to Detroit to pick up the parts. Needless to say I have never owned an “American” car since. Once fixed, we traded it for a Fiat 124 Sports Coupe.
I have purchased Honda’s and Toyota’s as well. In fact, just this past September, after 12 trouble free years, I just traded my 1996 Toyota Tacoma extra cab 4×4 for a new Tacoma access cab TRD off road.
The American auto industry suffers from chronic bad management and militant unionized labor. There is no need to throw good money after bad. Let GM and Ford go under. It’s the market at work. Bad products do not sell. Good products do. It is as simple as that.
You can rest assured of one thing, the government is no Midas- everything they touch turns to rust, not gold.
However, they are great at taking other peoples gold and turning it to rust!
Electing the wrong man, at the wrong time, for the wrong reasons doesn’t give me hope.
Michael Steele for RNC Chairman!
I’m trying to keep my lips closed, and my typing fingers civil, but you know you’re a redneck…
What can I say? We mowed the yard last week and found a car!
Actually, have had good luck with American made. Keep the oil changed!
I guess only big, brilliant idea that conservatives have come up with after meeting and discussing the crushing presidential defeat is…
WE NEED TO GET OUR OWN TOKEN BLACK GUY!
That is what the liberals will say but
he is a true conservative and has the attitude I want.
I don’t care what his skin color is.
Why can’t the “Big 3″ reorganize under the bankruptcy laws like the airlines did a few years back?
If memory serves, there were some layoffs and cutbacks, but the airline industry didn’t fold like so many claimed they would.
It would give the auto makers an opportunity to retool and reorganize and actually make cars that people might actually want to buy….
I’m no economist, it’s just a thought I had….
I have purchased many different brands of cars and trucks over the years and when I buy a new car/truck I end up buying the one that generally is the lowest priced one.
My last 3 new cars/truck:
Chevy Citation – US made
Nissan 4×4 – Japan made
Chevy Aveo – Korean made
While 2 of these are from American companies, 2 of them were made outside the US.
Quality of the US cars/trucks is not the greatest. The US cars used to be some of the best in the world and since the 1970′s they have been going downhill. The main reason for this is the fact that the unions have been taking more and more while giving less and less. My uncle worked for GM over 30 years and before he took the buyout was making in excess of $65K a year working on the assembly line. Excuase me, but $65k a year seems to be a tad expensive for turning a wrench all day. Add in the medical and dental benefits and it gets obsene.
The UAW needs to be scrapped and the big 3 need to fail. Hell, by December every GM plant here in Dayton, Ohio won’t be around. All of those workers jobs went south of the boarder due to labors constant moaning about getting raises every single year. Well boys, you priced everyone out of a job. Now go off and die UAW!
I may be mistaken, but isn’t the word czar russian?
It has the same root as the German word Kaiser. That root is Caesar. The best translation would be “emperor.”
Strangely, the correct (latin) pronunciation of Caesar is KYE-sahr. Similar to the German – Kaiser.
Either way, it’s the guy who’s word is law. In other words, the anti-american guy.
The Insignificant 3 automakers need to tell their workers that their jobs will be lost as long as the union stays. It’s the truth.
The reason the democrats want to bail them out is so the union members keep paying dues and the union keeps supporting the democrats.
Simple explanations are the best.
An Auto Czar. Of course. Who else is going to remind us to inflate our tires?