No more. No more. No more. Why should my TAX money pay for the big 3 bailout when I did not have anything to do with there problem's. They did it to there selfs and should deal with it. Wake up America. I will ask all of you who read this. How much off the price of a new truck are you going to get if you walk into a dealer and say I support the BAILOUT...NOT DIME. Wake up people. And Chrysler should get money from there parent company and not from a us. If the big 3 have to file bankruptcy do you think they will stop making car's and truck's? NO they will not. Look at Delta and Northwest and United. they all filed bankruptcy and still had plane's take off and land every day. No to the BAILOUT is the only way to make the big 3 to sit back and say you know what we did this and it is not right to ask somebody who can not even buy a new car or truck becouse we have out priced ourself's.

1. The UAW IS a leech killing its host, killing itself.
2. There won't be less cars on the road, just better cars as the other companies pick up the slack.
3. Of course CEO's CAN work for $1 a year as they rake in $20 million in bonuses and options.
4. How many lib politicians are willing to take a wage cut to help their voting masses? My bet...none.
5. Where can I get a job banks job for doing nothing for most of any salary?
6. Will Peloser start taking Amtrack cross country to save money and to be more green?

Please let God bless America.

I mean really. If the automakers do not get the money, do they honestly think that they will stop immediatly making cars?! Hell no! Wachovia filed for bankruptcy, did they go away? No, Wells Fargo paid $15 billion for them. Seriously, these unions need to stop peeing on our legs and telling us it's raining. They know if the automakers file bankruptcy, they are toast....which is exactly where they should be! Gone.

It's kinda ironic that the wealth envy that got the democrats elected is giving them trouble nowadays. Just goes to show you can't fool them all the time (unless you use the same spiel)

By Sherlock @ 12/04/08 12:18:07 PM

AKA Boortz, funny how right wingers think liberals exist in a minority, guess you fellows miscalculated that one on the election results!

I have an idea. Instead of giving GM, Ford, and Chrysler a bail out of lots of tax payer money, why not send every tax paying American household a cash voucher that can only be used to buy a new car from one of those three companies!! It helps the domestic economy and it will increase the revenues of the car companies without putting our children's children in debt for the rest of their tax paying life.

I have an idea. Instead of giving GM, Ford, and Chrysler a bail out of lots of tax payer money, why not send every tax paying American household a cash voucher that can only be used to buy a new car from one of those three companies!! It helps the domestic economy and it will increase the revenues of the car companies without putting our children's children in debt for the rest of their tax paying life.

Was in the Chevy dealership yesterday to buy a simple plastic hose connector. $42.

While there, overheard employees talking about the GM plant that closed in Oklahoma City. Apparently, they closed the plant, but because of Union contracts they cannot actually lay off workers. So all the employees show up in the morning to clock in. Leave and spend their day doing whatever. Then go back just to clock out. And this contract is good through 2011.

An entire manufacturing plant's staff and workers who show up only to clock in, clock out and get their paycheck. And they get this arrangement all the way through 2011.

Talk about "Four More Years!"

People seem to think that collapse of the major auto companies will create a huge smoking hole in the ecomnomy. And it likely will for at least a little while.

But it will also create a HUGE market for others to step into who might do a better job, and would have sooner if the Big Three hadn't the stranglehold on the market that they've had.

Creating a hole THAT large will create enormous opportunity for new car companies to step in and fill, and thrive, and perhaps bring all the "innovation" everyone's been waiting for from the Big Three.

All the infrastructure, resources, and human resources are already there. A fire-sale of auto industry assets might be just the "leg-up" some up-n-comer auto entrepaneur needs to start a car company that really does the job right.

Kirby L. Wallace
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Sure, but that's not what it is about. It is really about buying votes in future elections... think about it... the political version of 'Pay It Forward'.

wow, welfare sponsored by the Big 3.

Like the Big Brother brand, why get a job, when you're getting paid to do nothing? I wish my morals were jacked up enough to let me get away w/that.

Wow, 17 lines of text without punctuation. Is that because if you stop typing you'll lose your train of thought? Not able to remember all those talking points you're quoting from the leftie blogs? I looked for you yesterday on Neal's feel-good bike giveaway story and you were nowhere to be found. Just as I expected.

boortz jr.,
Losing your job is not so bad. Look at Al Gore, he was the first person to lose his job in 2001 and look at all the good he is doing for the world now. Give me a break, go hang out with Al Frankin- loser. BTW, FM stations are not broadcasted nationally- 104.1 is useless for the rest of us.

Ok, Unions had there place at the turn of the 19 th century. When there were no age and safety regulations and people were losing their arms, legs, and heads in industrial equipment. Unions were there to help the little guy. NOW, 2008 unions are unnecessary. Unions are going to be the death of the auto industry- no doubt. Look at the auto manufactures in the southeast- they’re making money hand over fist. Know why??? No Union strongholds. In addition, look abroad- GM and Ford abroad is making money too, know why??? No Union. The economics is simple- if you pay someone $40/hour to put a lug nut on a car that is going to bring up the price on the finished good (Not to mention, every employee you lay off, you have to give a $100,000 severance package) your business is going to fail. This union crap had got to go and I wish that one of the Big 3 CEO’s would just stand up and say, “Look, these damn unions are killing us! We can’t change our business model because it will cost us more to layoff some of these workers than to keep them.” They know they are producing way too much supply for the demand of their goods, but they have to keep their union ee’s working or otherwise they have to pay them an EXIT BONUS. Come on CEO’s, it’s time to stand up and grow a pair.

If Pelosi et al were on the side of the people (which they are clearly not) they would destroy the unions and pursue criminal charges for extortion against them. The 'job banks' program is a joke that pays workers not to work. We aren't talking small money here, we're talking millions per year of workers being paid not to work. I heard a woman call into a local talk show who talked about her dad, a lifetime employee of one of the big 3. When he got his job, he took lower pay than he could have gotten elsewhere because the unions promised him lifetime employment, benefits, healthcare for life, and steady raises that would leave him making close to $80 an hour (eventually). He turned down better paying jobs to work for the auto maker - and why shouldn't he expect to make money not to work, earn massive benefits, have a lucrative pension program (the likes of which simply isn't available to any other laborer in the world), and lifetime health insurance? Folks like that make me furious. When I entered the workforce, I expected to have to earn every penny I made. Every retirement dollar, I knew, had to come from my hard work. I never expected the company I work for to float me forever, give me steady, regular raises, provide health insurance for life, or set up a pension fund. This guys got an enforceable contract. Moving forward, no employee of the big 3 should get similar compensation packages. The unions bankrupted the big 3. They should be the one's being held accountable for this disaster.

I just heard Sen. Dodd talk about how they (the Senate banking cmte.) just don't trust the auto execs to make the right decisions. Sounds to me like an overture to having some government oversight committee running the auto industry. Would that make the UAW folks governtment employees? Remember - "You don't professionalize unless you Federalize" Oh, and the unions? They can go to blazes. If the Big 3 DO finally declare bankruptcy, the unions will be the main cause, just like with Eastern Airlines (brought down by the Baggage Handlers Union).

I just found out that the average union auto employee makes $30.00+ an hour. Consider what it is with the add in of vaction/sick time and no co-pay medical coverage. Also, consider that they have employees sitting on their butts make 93% of this wage, it is infuriating! When are they going to understand it? There will come a time when the wage they extort becomes so ridiculous to the extreme that something eventually has to give. The golden goose will eventually run out golden eggs! They you have upper management of these companies who should return their checks because they are doing an awful job of running the companies. The big 3 are not making money they are losing it. Why are they getting paid big bucks when they don't produce results? Don't be fooled about the "other businesses" that will be in trouble too. Guess what, the automakers make guite a few of their own parts. Different divisions, same madness. My father was an american made auto man for years! When he lost his job, we did what he had to and went to work for Toyota. And guess what? He had to admit the cars are manufactured better. If you take care of it, they run forever. The customer service is leaps and bounds ahead of the american counterparts because they cares about having a satisfied customer!

The UAW says: "The United Automobile Workers union said Wednesday that it would make major concessions in its contracts with the three Detroit auto companies to help them lobby Congress for $34 billion in federal aid.

The surprising move by the U.A.W. could be a critical factor in the automakers’ bid not only to get government assistance, but also to become competitive with the cost structure of nonunion plants operated by foreign automakers in the United States.

At a news conference in Detroit, the U.A.W.’s president, Ron Gettelfinger, said that his members were willing to sacrifice job security provisions and financing for retiree health care to keep the two most troubled car companies of the Big Three, General Motors and Chrysler, out of bankruptcy.

“Concessions, I used to cringe at that word,” Mr. Gettelfinger said. "But now, why hide it? That’s what we did." "

Walter must be revolving in his grave. Nevertheless these Chrysler execs did a great job of due diligence when they bought the company from Daimler. Let them eat cake while we suffer through the coming depression.

I nearly fell out of my chair when I red about the Job Banks program. Until yesterday, I had never heard about it. To add salt to the wound, I was amazed that the UAW leadership (if that’s what they should be called) are only considering modifying the program. In a capitalist society, such a program should be illegal. They should be taking it off the table entirely if they really want to salvage their own future. It never ceases to amaze me that union members will force their employer out of business while trying to force demands upon them. Don’t they realize that when their employer goes under, they will no longer be employed at all? It's not wonder the US automakers are so far behind the foreign manufacturers. The unions make it absolutely impossible for them to compete. If we could disband the union and implement the Fair Tax, maybe they could be profitable and produce an affordable, quality product at the same time. Maybe then, I’ll trade in my Toyota pick up and buy a Ford or Chevy product.

OK how do we stop out politicians from bailing out the Big 3 (and their UAW "partners"). ?

I have written congress more than once but it really seems futile based on what happend with efforts top stop the TARP plan.

http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2008/12/stop-auto-bailout-campaign-phase-three.html

Being a basically positive kind of guy, I'm thinking it might not be the worst thing for America to enter an economic depression. It would be blamed on Obama and the democrats, and, perhaps the American people would wake up and elect a Libertarian government in time for my grandchildren to enjoy the benefits.

We're all pretty sure a bailout won't save the '3'. I think the CEO's know that and the only reason they are 'begging' is to save their sorry asses from unemployment. Let 'em feel the pain. Play the game just like the rest of us have to. Now with that said, goodbye UAW. Then the next that should go is the US Treasury. Then Nancy Pelosi. Then........

Why beleive the NBER? A recession is 2 quarters of negative growth, therefore we wont know we were in a reccession until the end of January. The media is just sensationalizing economic fear.

YEAH WE NEED ECONOMIC PREDICTIONS FROM A GUY WHO IS LOSING IS BUTT FROM BAD ECONOMIC DECISIONS. LAUGHABLE....

God forbid, a Depression by bailing out the auto makers? Puh-lease? Let's let them fall on their butts and let them take a year or two to re-tool and un-do all their dumb mistakes that they have made over the past decade and a half, by using their Cash Cow Stupid Useless Vehicles to stuff their wallets! If they can't turn things around (on their time and money), then let's sell the factories to Honda, Nissan, and Toyota, and let them do it RIGHT! If the workers want to keep their jobs, then they can kiss their fat unions good bye and work for a living like everyone else. I have no problem driving my 13 year old vehicle another couple years, why should anyone else?
Are you union people listening? Because this is America's answer to your self-brought demise!

Who elected Pelosi to decide what companies can declare bankruptcy and which ones can't.

The arrogance of these auto companies is far exceeded by that of Speaker Pelosi.

These CEO's should ask Pelosi when she was given control of their businesses.

I have been buying Chevy's since i was 16. My first car was a 72 Monte Carlo and i have loved Monte Carlos ever since. I have always bought Monte Carlo's(when they are in production) If anything they need to take some of the money going to the UAW and give it to me for a bailout now that im in troubled times. Bankrupcy apparently is and option for me.

Forget those car companies, whether they get the money or not, tons of people will lose their jobs. So I say lets take our changes and keep our tax dollars. Nothing we can give them is going to make them sell more cars, so they are destined for failure anyway. If your friend was a deadbeat and fell 3 months behind on his mortgage, would you loan him the money if you felt that he was going to lose the home anyway, or would you keep the money to save your own home?

Yes, the CEO was appealing to fear in order to put tax-payer money into his company, and I certainly don't think we'd see a depression "the likes of which this country has never seen" (or something like that); but an auto company going under certainly would have a huge effect on our economy. I don't support the auto bailout, but I would like to hear more (from someone without stock in the auto-makers) about what would happen if one of the big three goes down.

Hey Liberal007, you might want to take a downer or lay off the coffee. Ever heard of punctuation? No one ever reads mindless rants from trolls like you...I'm sure you can go join your buddies at HuffPost or the KosKiddies.

I find anyones doubting we might be going into a 2nd great depression as unbelievable, but then the right wing in white house denied we were in a "recession" for a long time, now we discover something us common folks have known for some time, we have been in a recession for over a year, guess that might blow Boortz's pro business leanings in his commentary out of the water, when a year after the 2nd great depression arrives he is forced to admit that with his buddies in the right wing, fiscal conservative wing nuts, I love the fact the last 8 years has been a republican hey day for them, total control of congress, senate, white house from 2000-2006, yes they lost majority in congress, but never really lost majority in senate, they had the democrat in sheeps clothing Lieberman whom really is a republican wolf in disguise, he was useful for them, when then needed him he was there, and when they needed him to sabotage any attempts by democrats he was there too, a double agent one might say, but if all else failed, they had the republican presidential veto power, to block anything, of course the democrats had the fillibuster, which is a meaningless tool, since it does not block anything, merely a delay of the inevitable, that was why I was so puzzled by the hullabaloo over the Chambliss election, he cannot block a vote of 51 majority, with democrats well over that number in 2008, with a democrat in white house, no veto is a issue, the real fear from the right wing is that their party has gotten the blame for this fiscal fiasco and mess we are in, as well as these bankrupting wars in middle east, and that somehow a Obama democratically controlled congress/senate might pull us out of it, and that would not bode well for the republicans, they are wishing for a failure, now how unpatriotic is that? It is funny how they pay lip service to patriotism, elect chicken hawks, draft dodgers to high office as heros, honor them and real war heros who served who happen to have a "D" in front of their name get denigrated and treated with disrespect. Yes they fit the "hypocrite" to a tee!I can guarantee one thing, if we do go into a 2nd great depression no one is buying that lie its the democrats fault, just like the 1st great depression being laid at Hoover {republicans} door step, it will be laid at Bushjr {republicans} door step, deja vu is what I see!

One of the big 3 going through Chapter 11 would be no different than the major airlines doing it over the past 20 years. Did people stop flying? No.

i think the bailout was promised to these CEOs sometime ago. but the dems in congress are making them put on this dog and pony show. it's like this: "we're going to let you guys have this money, but we're going to have to beat you up in public to make it look good".