Comments on: More reader mail on bailout-mania

By: When Unions Attack | BipolarNation.com

When Unions Attack | BipolarNation.com — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:16:01 +0000

[...] than they did producing actual labor, and that current UAW labor is paid whether they work or not. (Link [...]

By: battleaxe

battleaxe — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:10:58 +0000

I’d like to apply to be an illegal alien…err…undocumented worker, so I can get 3 of the last 5 years tax payments back. In addition, I’d like to apply as a bank so I can get my handout…err…bailout. To whom do I send my bribe?

By: bolivar

bolivar — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:14:46 +0000

Avi Green

But really, VW’s engines are awful, and both the “Beetle” and the Transporter were some of the ugliest vehicles I ever saw, too.

The VW beetle engine is NOT awful – it is one of the most durable, easy to fix motors ever made. Souping them up was a cinch and parts were not exhorbitant. You need to remember these cars were totally different and ugly does fit the bill. They were never intended to be attractive. Ferdinand Porsche’s design was 1930’s vintage and never really changed. It worked in spite of being ugly – chicks loved it and thought it “cute”. My wife would drive one today if her shoulder would allow her to shift the 4 speed.

By: Avi Green

Avi Green — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:19:54 +0000

Important rule: if you want to buy a European car, don’t EVER buy a German one. I’m shocked that after all these years, almost every German company with the exception of Opel and M.A.N, still sells in the US, because IMO, their motors are terrible. But I have a good idea why they got in to begin with: if the info I found on Wikipedia is correct, during the 60s, anti-warrists and counterculturalists were responsible for making Volkswagen’s monstrosities a success. But really, VW’s engines are awful, and both the “Beetle” and the Transporter were some of the ugliest vehicles I ever saw, too.

Related note: I regret ever having seen “The Love Bug” and its sequels when I was a kid. That Disney movie was little more than a propaganda machine for promoting a piece of junk.

By: graysonret

graysonret — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:51:18 +0000

Reader Bill, best car I ever owned was a slant-6 Plymouth Valiant. It could take a lot of abuse, and keep running. I also owned a Buick LeSabre. Ran very well. Over the years, I’ve owned 4 foreign cars…a VW Bug that was in the shop more than the road, a toyota Celica with the same problems, and 2 Hyndais that had the worse transmissions I’ve ever seen. Right now, I have a Chevy Monte Carlo. Good car. Maybe it’s just my luck, I suppose. Others swear by their foreign cars.

By: There's My Two Cents

There's My Two Cents — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:33:35 +0000

Bailout Bait And Switch…

Here are several stories that provide some updates for recent economic/bailout news.

First, Hot Air has a great example of what we can expect in terms of fiscal responsibility from the Obama administration and the current crop of Dems (as if we ha…..

By: wrcnossen

wrcnossen — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 01:31:29 +0000

The bail outs are bad enough, but there is never any plan to fix the cause of the problem. If there is no proposal to fix the auto industry so that they won’t be back with their hands out in 6 mounths, not one dime.

By: Freddy

Freddy — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:48:23 +0000

The problem with the US auto makers is neither the size or the quality of their products.

The problem resides in both corporate and union management. NO amount of cash can fix these problems.

Chapter 11 is the ONLY solution.

By: ArizonaNeanderthal

ArizonaNeanderthal — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:23:39 +0000

DO NOT LET PRESIDENT BUSH, Pesident-elect Obama, Paulson, Dingy Harry or Screeching Pelosi see this Headline:
U.K. Facing Sperm Donor Shortage
May need bailout
—
Celebrate Diversity:
Carry a Revolver and an auto loader-you too ladies.
America First
America Alone
Americans Come Home

By: The Irascible Chef » Oil, Oil, Toil, and Trouble

The Irascible Chef » Oil, Oil, Toil, and Trouble — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:16:07 +0000

[...] More reader mail on bailout-mania By Michelle Malkin [...]

By: Marc

Marc — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:53:45 +0000

There is enough blame to go around. On the Democrat side, Chris Dodd (D-Countrywide) made sure that nothing got in the way of Countrywide doling out subrprime “stated income” mortgages. It was no accident that Dodd was a certified “friend of Angelo”. And the audacity of Kent Conrad to have Jim Johnson, a Fannie Mae CEO call Angleo Mozilo to arrange for a low interest low closing costs mortgage was disgraceful. The SEC should never allowed the capital requirements of investment banks to be lowered so drastically that these investment banks like Lehman could get into the CDOs and other exotic but disastrous investments. Lehman CEO Richard S. Fuld, Jr. and Merill Lynch dope Stanley O’Neal were both incompetent. And the shareholders have to pay for their incompetence. There is no glory here. Dodd is at the epicenter of the mortgage meltdown although CNN and MSNBC protect Dodd, Conrad and Frank.

By: FuriousMob

FuriousMob — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:42:08 +0000

“To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his fathers has acquired too much, in order to spare to others, who, or whose fathers, have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, the guarantee to everyone the free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it.”

-Thomas Jefferson

By: hawkeye54

hawkeye54 — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:18:24 +0000

“…First, Congress and Mr. Obama will need to decide what they mean by ‘the auto industry.’…”

What they really mean is “UAW” and “Executive” bailout. Can’t have the employees, retirees, or executives suffer any loss or reduction of salary and/or benefits and bonuses.

Now can we?

By: Ken M.

Ken M. — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:08:20 +0000

Agreeing with everyone here; regardless of the pain and suffering, we must let them fail now, for future recovery and success.

From an article yesterday in the WSJ:

“America has two auto industries. The one represented by GM, Ford and Chrysler is Midwestern, unionized, burdened with massive obligations to retirees, and shackled to marketing and product strategies that have roots reaching back to the early 1900s.

The other American auto industry is largely Southern and non-union, owes relatively little to the few retirees it has, and enjoys a variety of advantages because its Japanese, European and Korean owners launched operations in this country relatively recently. Their factories are newer, their brand images and marketing strategies are more coherent — Toyota uses three brands in the U.S. to GM’s eight — and they have cars designed for the competitive global market that exists today.”

There’s a lot more in the article, worth reading …

“…First, Congress and Mr. Obama will need to decide what they mean by ‘the auto industry.’…”

By: tpitman

tpitman — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:47:27 +0000

“And won’t they be disappointed when Dear Leader proves to be human and completely unable to heal all wounds both physical and economic”

Their mouths will hang open and they’ll all cry boo-hoo . . .

the Grinch