Michelle Malkin » An ‘As Caterpillar Goes, America Goes’ Update

An ‘As Caterpillar Goes, America Goes’ Update

By Doug Powers • March 26, 2011 06:58 PM

**Written by Doug Powers

In 2009, President Obama pitched the porkulus plan at a Caterpillar plant in the company’s home state of Illinois, claiming it would allow the company to rehire thousands of laid off workers (which Caterpillar’s CEO said wasn’t the case). Obama also said “you can measure America’s bottom line by looking at Caterpillar’s bottom line.”

Just a couple of months after that, Caterpillar posted its first quarterly net loss in 16 years — and America’s bottom line was off and running.

Fast forward the tape to this week. Caterpillar is now saying the company may be forced to pull out of The One’s home base altogether — a hopenchangus-interruptus of huge proportions — in order to to seek more welcoming business climes:

Caterpillar Inc., suggesting that it could shift jobs out of Illinois, is prodding its home state to cut government spending and roll back tax increases.

Doug Oberhelman, chief executive officer of the giant Peoria, Ill.-based maker of construction and mining equipment, protested against the state’s tax and spending policies in a March 21 letter to Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat who took office in January 2009.

In the letter, first reported Friday by the Lee Enterprises newspaper chain and provided to The Wall Street Journal Saturday, Mr. Oberhelman said other states have stepped up their efforts to lure Caterpillar.

Indiana has been smelling blood in the economic waters of Illinois for some time now, and Oberhelman’s email box is no doubt overflowing with serious offers from other states trying to hand a dozen roses and a box of chocolates to a shrugging Atlas.

If Caterpillar’s CEO is looking for a massive tax break for his company, forget about lobbying the state of Illinois — the first thing he should be doing is positioning himself to someday replace Jeffrey Immelt as the head of the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.

You know, I thought the economy of Illinois would be doing a little better due to the recent Wisconsin fleebagger stimulus their hotel industry just received, but obviously that didn’t make enough of a difference.

**Written by Doug Powers

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Posted in: Barack Obama,fiscal stimulus

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#101

On March 31st, 2011 at 11:34 am, ramblingman said:

On March 31st, 2011 at 12:09 am, OK_Loyalist said:
I want a smaller government, you don’t.

I have no idea where that came from, but it’s just plain asinine to proclaim that I don’t want a smaller government just because I don’t agree with you that entitlements can be ended immediately AND the entire tax structure can be changed (something you yourself now say you don’t agree with).

I keep trying to point out that we both want pretty much the same thing but have minor disagreements on how we think they should best be achieved.

I guess everyone who does not agree completely with you on changing over to corporate taxes and dumping all entitlements is just a big government proponent. (note – this last part was typed with the sarc font)
#102

On March 31st, 2011 at 6:50 pm, OK_Loyalist said:

I keep trying to point out that we both want pretty much the same thing but have minor disagreements on how we think they should best be achieved.

I don’t call a lack of adherence to an originalist interpretation of the United States Constitution a minor disagreement.
#103

On March 31st, 2011 at 7:21 pm, OK_Loyalist said:

And finally, in this thread you have said my points are moot, I act like chap and now I’m asinine. Well, I’m here to tell you, if you want to be treated like a troll all across this board, keep it up. (note – this is typed with the I Promise You font).