Should the US bailout the big three automakers?

[ItsOnlyMoney]

Congressional Motors Announces

The First Car for 2012, The Pelosi


It's in the way you dress. The way you boogie down. The way you sign your unemployment check. You're a man who likes to do things your own way. And on those special odd-numbered Saturdays when driving is permitted, you want it in your car. It's that special feeling of a zero-emissions wind at your back and a road ahead meandering with possibilities. The kind of feeling you get behind the wheel of the Pelosi GTxi SS/Rt Sport Edition from Congressional Motors.

All new for 2012, the Pelosi GTxi SS/Rt Sport Edition is the mandatory American car so advanced it took $100 billion and an entire Congress to design it. We started with same reliable 7-way hybrid ethanol-biodiesel-electric-clean coal-wind-solar-pedal power plant behind the base model Pelosi, but packed it with extra oomph and the sassy styling pizzazz that tells the world that 1974 Detroit is back again -- with a vengeance.

We've subsidized the features you want and taxed away the rest. With its advanced Al Gore-designed V-3 under the hood pumping out 22.5 thumping, carbon-neutral ponies of Detroit muscle, you'll never be late for the Disco or the Day Labor Shelter.

Engage the pedal drive or strap on the optional jumbo mizzenmast, and the GTxi SS/Rt Sport Edition easily exceeds 2016 CAFE mileage standards. At an estimated 268 MPG, that's a savings of nearly $1800 per week in fuel cost over the 2011 Pelosi.

Even with increased performance we didn't skimp on safety. With 11-point passenger racing harnesses, 15-way airbags, and mandatory hockey helmet, you'll have the security knowing that you could survive a 45 MPH collision even if the GTxi SS/Rt were capable of that kind of illegal speed.

But the changes don't stop there. Sporty mag-style hubcaps and an all-new aggressive wedge shape designed by CM's Chief Stylist Ted Kennedy slices through the wind like an omnibus spending bill. It even features an airtight undercarriage to keep you and a passenger afloat up to 15 minutes -- even in the choppy waters of a Cape Cod inlet.

Available in a rainbow of color choices to match any wardrobe, from Harvest Avocado to French Mustard.

Inside, a luxurious all-velour interior designed by Barney Frank features thoughtful appointments like an in-dash condom dispenser. A special high capacity hatchback holds up to 300 aluminum cans, meaning fewer trips to the redemption center. And the standard 3 speaker Fairness ActoPhonic FM low-band sound system means you'll never miss a segment of NPR again.

Best of all, the Pelosi GTxi SS/Rt is made right here in the U.S.A. by fully card-checked unionized workers and Detroit 's famous visionary jet-set managers. Even if you don't own one, you can enjoy the patriotic satisfaction that you're supporting the high wages, good benefits, and generous political donations that are once again making the American car industry the envy of the world.

But why not buy one anyway? With an MSRP starting at only $629,999.99, it's affordable too. Don't forget to ask about dealer incentives, rebates, tax credits, and wealth redistribution plans for customers from dozens of qualifying special interest groups. Plus easy-pay financing programs from Fannie Mae.

So take the bus to your local CM dealer today and find out why the Pelosi GTxi SS/Rt Sport Edition is the only car endorsed by President Barack Obama. One test drive will convince you that you'd choose it over the import brands. Even if they were still legal.

[sparks]

even though I disagree on alot things said here, I think this is damn funny!

[Ron61]

Sparks,

I can certainly agree with you on that. But I sure hope that Pelosi doesn't see it. Or they will probably have a cheaper Boxer version for the bottom class.

Ron

[Rick Weber]

Hey, maybe they will resurrect AMC and we can all go out and buy the new Obamatador! Or for the tough economy minded, a Grim-lin.

Rick

[Dan40]

Is it true the Toyota and Chevrolet are teaming up to build the "TOYLET"?

Dan

[gsharapa]

Looks like Toyota is sinking also..........

NASHVILLE -- Toyota Motor Corp., with its sales plunging in the United States, is freezing its plan to build the Toyota Prius in a new plant near Tupelo, Miss. For how long? The automaker doesn't know.

Toyota's board in Japan reached the decision late today to halt the project "due to the steep decline" in U.S. sales.

Sales of the hybrid car have softened in recent weeks as gasoline prices dropped from a summer spike of more than $4 a gallon. The Prius sold 8,660 units in November, down from 16,737 in November 2007.

Total Toyota sales in the United States fell 32 percent in November.

This is the second time Toyota has changed plans on the $1.3 billion Mississippi project, which already has begun to draw component suppliers to the area.

In February 2007, Toyota announced it would spend $1.3 billion there to produce a new generation of Highlander crossovers. But after Toyota broke ground, SUV sales began to soften. In July of this year, Toyota said it instead would build the Prius there.

A spokeswoman for Toyota's North American manufacturing operations says the company will continue constructing the building, which is about 90 percent complete. The company made its decision today before it had begun ordering the equipment that would go into the plant.

Toyota has no timetable to resume the project, the spokeswoman says, but it will remain a Prius factory whenever the project restarts

[Dan40]

Fred Thompson splains it all!

http://blip.tv/file/1528079

[nevermind65]

I just visited a first tier supplier for Honda yesterday. By their predictions, they will be at 24 hours/week by the end of January. They will not lay anybody off.

Honda has some cars (Pilot) that have a 6 month reserve on the lots. Even the famed Accord has over 90 days inventory now.

It is getting ugly for them all.

[speed220mph]

David Cole lays out the cost benefit of "bailing out" the domestics on Autoline Detroit #1242. It's one of the best non-biased explanations of the consequences of Chapter 11.

Check out the discussion with John McElroy:
http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/show/1242?play

[Don]

An article in USA Today a few weeks ago mentioned the ports of Long Beach and LA had run out of room to store the number of imported cars that had been intransit.

Additional storage acreage was being rented. Adding to the overflow of cars was the Dealers stopping the transfer of the cars to their sites.

[CobraDan]

[will butterwort]

you are right on--this effort by the uaw if passed will give them direct access to the us treasury, the ultimate golden goose,.The uaw is and all american workers are competing in a world labor pool/market and some rethinking must be done by all of us. Two years ago when trade agreement came up with China,American Footwear industry wanted me to do an economic analysis of what we would loose if China was favored in that agreement.The study went to congress and American Footwear prevailed there when the agreement was renegotiated,but guess what, just yesterday one of our larger footwear manufacturers announced they were moving to Honduras.We are now competing in a world labor market and they are cheaper than we are. Will-alabama

[Dan40]

Originally Posted by speed220mph

David Cole lays out the cost benefit of "bailing out" the domestics on Autoline Detroit #1242. It's one of the best non-biased explanations of the consequences of Chapter 11.

Check out the discussion with John McElroy:
http://www.autolinedetroit.tv/show/1242?play

Maybe the people on that show truly believe what they are saying. Maybe they don't, I do not know. But I do know that the host AND the guests, 100% RELY on the AUTO INDUSTRY for their livelihoods. Thus their opinions cannot possibly considered unbiased. I'm not saying they are right OR wrong. But they are not unbiased.

Dan

[Don]

The cost reduction initiatives continue, but at some point in time a business needs to increase revenues, otherwise the downward spiral is only being delayed,......... note the last comment.


Source: Auto Week:

Despite adamant denials from General Motors road-racing boss Steve Wesoloski, anonymous sources insist that Corvette Racing will skip the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans as the operation looks to cut costs by focusing solely on its move to the GT2 class in the second half of next season.

Corvette Racing's original plan for 2009 calls for the team to race its two GT1-class C6.Rs at the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring to open the American Le Mans Series season, followed by appearances at Long Beach and Le Mans. The team would then contest select races in GT2 to finish the year, before a full-season GT2 effort in 2010. However, sources say that word came down recently to reduce the racing budget, and that cancellation of next year's GT1 outings is the solution.

But Wesoloski answered a call from AutoWeek on Thursday by saying, "It's not true" in response to the rumor, which was published first this week in the British racing magazine Autosport.

"We are still going ahead with our plans for a reduced program of Sebring, Long Beach and Le Mans," he said. "No one has come knocking to tell me otherwise.

"We are, of course, prepared for all eventualities. It all hinges on what happens in Washington [with financial bailout talks]."

At first glance, eliminating Le Mans from Corvette Racing's schedule seems unlikely. The team's budget is in place for next year, and contracts with sponsors and partner Pratt & Miller are in effect through 2010.

Wesoloski did not completely dismiss the possibility of pulling the plug on Le Mans--if indeed he is ordered to slash costs.

"[The 2009 GT1 operation] would be the place to start," he said. "[But] the difficulty is our sponsorship commitments. Due to the international exposure of Le Mans, it might end up costing us more not to do it."

Speaking at a GM press event in Detroit on Thursday, a high-ranking GM official said the company would quit NASCAR before it quit Le Mans.

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by Don

Speaking at a GM press event in Detroit on Thursday, a high-ranking GM official said the company would quit NASCAR before it quit Le Mans.[/i]

Can't blame them...no brand recognition with those "cars of tomorrow" that are a joke. At least at LeMans you can tell them apart (better).

Also, just because you have a budget for something doesn't mean you have the cash to SPEND on it.

[RedBarchetta]

NEWSFLASH

Did anyone else pick up on this?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/...bor/index.html

Undoubtedly chosen by Obama to watch the backs of the UAW. This nomination just pisses me off to no end. Our U.S.-based factories will NEVER be competitive on a global scale with this lady pulling the strings. This gal is THE Liberal poster child.

I'll go out on a limb and wager that the C7 (next gen) Corvette will not be built in Bowling Green...more like Beijing once this lady starts rattling everyone's cage about protecting this and protecting that. The Big 3 will never be cost competitive with Labor Secretaries like this at Obama's side.

Atta boy, Obama. You just prolonged the agony that a free market economy is more than capable of fixing on its own. Bad move.

[Jamo]

Tell me about it.

[PatBuckley]

Well, I see Stupid George has just decided to bail out the unions.

Is it too late to impeach the Bastad?

[What'saCobra?]

W is so bloody concerned about not leaving O'Bambi-shine (something like Sunshine) any "difficulties", he throws away our first opportunity to smack-down the UAW in over 50 years. Time and events will take these companies to "disorderly" re-organization under CH 11, soon enough. This is called, "kicking the can down the road".

Meanwhile, W continues to screw any new Republican leadership in the Congress and Senate and the People's Will, as expressed by that Congress and Senate.

W was no communicator, in almost every sense of the word, including a failure to use the internet to explain his detailed views, frequently expressed but not published by the anti-Conservative media.

i guess "compassionate conservative" meant moderate but big-spending Republican, pro-American but anti-confrontation at home. He threw away both houses and the Presidency. i thank him for his military leadership, but think he has completely knuckled-under to Wall-Street-Blues, much against free-market capitalism, pro-government control and intervention, but tread-softly on the Congress, lest they get angry.

Not unlike W's desire to rehabilitate Clinton by including him in all sorts of International events, all of which then paid BJ huge sums to his Lie-Bra-ry, expecting his wifey-dear to become Mrs. President (which has been unavoidably delayed).

i am so pissed i could spit, except this is another new keyboard.

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by What'saCobra?

Clinton... his Lie-Bra-ry...