'Crimes Of Fashion' Blogger Revelas Hidden Talent
NYFW Dispatch: J. Crew
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Ask Autoblog: Why doesn't my guzzler qualify as a clunker? {Autoblog}
Aug 14th 2009 1:31PM This program is so stupid its criminal.
Using borrowed money that the gov't doesn't have in order to bribe people into debt to buy cars they don't need or else don't need help buying. Leverage anyone? Sort of like giving mortgages to people who don't qualify.
Since thats not destructive enough, we'll also destroy the availble pool of cheap transportation for the working poor and students. Destroying assets to create wealth.
Just brilliant. This nation is doomed.
Review: 2009 Ford Edge Sport offers big wheels, key improvements {Autoblog}
Jul 10th 2009 12:13PM I could not agree more. Why no wagons? I realize most 'mericans just won't buy them, but it makes no sense. The CUV craze is nuts and I don't get it. They all look the same, plus they're bigger but rarely any better. More mass, more fuel, more cost, etc, when an awd wagon works fine.
I really want to support ford at this point, but a flex is way too much car for a 3 person family, and the edge is bloated, even if it is one of the better looking CUV's in my opinion. My wife refuses any kind of sedan/trunk because she is now so used to having wagons/hatches.
Allright Mr. Mulally, I would like a 4 cyl boosted awd fusion wagon, please. Good commuter, good ski wagon, etc. Otherwise I'm stuck keeping the volvo for a long time.
REPORT: GM tells TN state officials it needs $200M to keep Spring Hill plant open {Autoblog}
Jun 12th 2009 1:19PM Once again reality is being ignored, and we all get to watch as the the economic is replaced with the political.
This magical pixie-dust creating small car will be another failure (GM's specialty). Building small cars stateside with UAW labor is close to impossible. This is not a new revelation. GM is deciding what to build based on political wish lists, then plans to go find the needed consumers later. Success is just around the corner, I can feel it.
The taxpayers of TN should not be compelled to fork over another welfare check for these incompetent boobs. The political winds will change, as they always do. There will be more pain to come when this zombie of a corporation is finally put out to pasture. Uncle Barack's welfare teat will go dry at some point.
Trash Corker all you want, but he opposed all the bailouts. Including wall street. If only all politicians could be so consistent.
Lastly, if other firms can build cars in TN without the UAW (and I'm assuming the wages in Spring Hill would generally be in line with the transplants) what the hell is the UAW offering again? The UAW can finally die now, they won. All the evil capitalists in detroit have been neutered and are welfare queens, just like the unions. Except Ford of course, but thats just a matter of time.
Rush Limbaugh calling for boycott of GM products {Autoblog Green}
Jun 9th 2009 10:41AM Watching the heads explode over Rush is pretty funny. The dems actually have to commission polls on the guy. That must be bothersome to people who constantly spout how irrelevant the guy is. And the drivel about his dropping rating are just laughable. The man has more listeners in one day than all left wing talkers combined. He does better in time like this (remember clinton?).
People like myself were planning on boycotting GM/Chrysler long before he said anything. GM produces shit, and has been for years (I own an 06 Malibu; its a pos). Their cars are garbage, and they belong in bankruptcy court while they are liquidated. They failed over 30 years ago. The boycott will take the shape of smart consumers who don't want to drive trabants. The UAW should just declare victory; they finally won.
And yes, W kicked the can down the road for the new guy. But Obama was going to inherit a propped up company or one being liquidated. Either scenario is a mess, and obama has already proven he would prop them up, no differently than bush. By dictating to the bk court how it will proceed, he has swallowed up this problem whole and owns it.
Someone asked where the volt would be without our support? It would be f'ing dead, in a trash heap next to the aztek where it belongs. It will cost nearly $50k, and uncle barack has to bribe you with $7500 just buy it. Sounds like a very sound path to profitablility.
Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy {Autoblog}
Jun 3rd 2009 10:48AM Notyou is spot-on here.
As much as I sincerely hope Ford comes out on top after this, they are toast. The Feds will not let them succeed at the expense of GM/Chrysler, this is just a simple political reality (which is what detroit has become, nothing more than one political decision after another). It is a massive race to the bottom and exercise in punishing success.
Ford is now competing with firms that have had most of their debt removed and are financed by an entity who can literally print all the money they need. The Feds have made it clear they will continue to dump money into these two no matter how inept/insane the mgmt and union behaves.
I admire Mulally, but don't forget he went up to congress and jumped on board the bailout wagon. Pick your poison; they will regret that decision. At some point Ford will realize BK is just much easier and will fall in line.
Are GM, UAW close to concessions agreement... or are they at odds over China? {Autoblog}
May 18th 2009 12:49PM The clock is ticking on the corpse that is the UAW. If they can't deliver better compensation for their members, they have no logical reason for existing.
They can't protect your pay, or your benefits, or your retirement. But they can sure collect dues from your check. Even the most hardened union supporter/worker will be forced to confront this reality. What exactly are you paying for?
And this is to say nothing of the absolute sh*t that will be coming out of the GM/Chrysler factories here very soon. If anyone thinks these companies had quality issues before, wait until federal and UAW goons are running the quality control programs.
Unfortunately, the sad fact is the jokes on us. We the taxpayers will be pumping many tens of billions into these zombies until they are properly euthanized a few years from now, and contract law is again recognized as an important aspect of our capital markets. No one will be lending these companies any money, no matter how much they improve (which is pixie dust fairly tale land).
These firms will not have access to any capital other than what is bestowed upon them by politicians. And we know how fast that can change.
GM future hinges on success of new debt-for-equity swap offers {Autoblog}
Apr 27th 2009 1:03PM The feds and the UAW owning 89% of GM. What could possibly go wrong with this picture? They'll be banging out class beaters in no time.
Its sad how people are actually concerned that GM might go bankrupt. GM is bankrupt; has been for a while. We have the bankruptcy code for a reason, and GM needs to use it.
We are throwing good money after bad, and this is the economic road to hell. Once you start bailing out investment bankers, its easy to argue that everyone deserves gov't help.
Federal loan conditions: UAW can't strike against GM {Autoblog}
Jan 9th 2009 3:56PM Sure. Obama is also going to make you taller, better looking, and rich.
Reality is a bit@h, get ready for some. The dems in congress will surely try to make the bailouts (sorry, "loans") sweeter for the unions. But even obama knows there will be hell to pay if workers are striking while these completely insolvent firms are being propped up by taxpayers.
GM is going to require years of gov't money to stay afloat. The days of the UAW as we all know it are numbered.
12% of the working population is not going to get much sympathy from the rest of the working public, especially in a nasty recession.
Federal loan conditions: UAW can't strike against GM {Autoblog}
Jan 9th 2009 3:29PM I'm just curious how the UAW can justify its existence in this industry any longer. It has to be near-death at this point. They can't deliver higher wages or benefits, and now the rank and file can't strike (without guaranteeing their unemployment, at least).
Why would anyone allow them to skim their paycheck at this point?
GM/UAW concession talks commence {Autoblog}
Jan 6th 2009 5:20PM "Why pay union dues if everybody makes the same amount and has the same benefits?"
That about says it all. The UAW now has to defend their worth, when the golden goose can't lay any eggs. If they can't deliver higher wages (and very soon, they won't), then why allow them to skim your paycheck?
The next question: how long for the average line worker to figure this out? Tick-tock.......
