Is there a 1-800 number I can call? I'd like to contribute!

The WH is going to have the same problem the Senate had. That is, what concessions are the unions willing to make? Without a formal agreement on that issue, giving money to the auto makers is nothing but a waste of time and money.

Anyone truly believing Bush will have anything useful to say (about pretty much anything) is pretty much delusional these days.  He is counting down the remaining 38+ days more than anyone else.
^^^^^^^^
Judy, PA (Sent Friday, December 12, 2008 11:55 AM)  You make Jerry/Corpus Christi seem like a genius - comparatively speaking.

What you wrote earlier is one of the most ludicrous things I've ever read on FR.  You just said the Executives were willing to give up their incomes - so the UAW workers should be willing to take a cut, also?  WTF?  Are you saying that people who have gilded parachute pay scales (22,000,000/year) and can afford to forego ANY salary should be treated identically to someone making 60,000 a year?

What does pay parity mean to you?  I think we could reduce the cost of a car by $2,000/vehicle if we cut $21,000,000 in salary to the CEO - that would help 10,500 car costs.

The southern folks who are literally being pissed on by their representatives need to remember this moment when the next election rolls around in 2010.  These are the same folks who vote time and time again against their economic interests because they share the same 'values' with their representatives.  People have got to wake up and smell the coffee.  That stanky, warm wet is NOT a summer 'shower'.  It's a shower, all right - just a little more golden than you bargained for.

PS.  When Chrysler received their loan in the 80's, the country actually made a profit on the payback.  If current CEO's are retained with salary or not, it would be a travesty.  These people continued down a stubborn path, taking bonuses along the way - without any plan for the rainy day.  This is bad management, not bad workers.

I am really shocked that the entire Board of these companies think these idiots are best suited to do their glad handling for them.

Wow Georgie boy, you finally got off your knees, put your bible down, and heard the word. Now, you get it!  It's not a gift it's a loan.
It's nearly a bit late; but, your pen can do it.

I'm so glad do want families, this nation and the global community to fall further apart. That's the spirit.

Maybe if GM, Ford, and/or Chrysler agreed to relocate their factories in the southern states, states where the opposing republican senators are from, watch how quickly the bailout would pass.  

I had been a faithful MTP fan for years.  I miss Tim extremely bad.  I wanted to give MTP a chance and continue to watch the show.  

But, with David Gregory as the host; I can't.  I just don't like his style and his questions that are asked with a hint of the answer he want in it.

He is not right; Tim was neutral, we need that too continue.  MSNBC - you guys are not always neutral but at least you did try most of the time.

I don't have anything against David Gregory personally.  I just think he is not the person for this job.

The black lady you guys have on with Chris Matthews (sorry I wish I knew her name; brain crap right now).

But, she would be great; she smart, young, great political mind and beautiful or like I mentioned before; Chuck Todd.

Come on guys - think about it.

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

Given the senate's complete and utter failure on this issue (primarily the southern GOP senators), we're left with the WH having "some creative thinking to do." I don't have a lot of hope, but maybe they'll surprise me.

What is it now, 39 days left? January 20 can't come a moment too soon for me!

Good thing the WH is still hard at work. Looks like Barry Obama is busy trying to put out a firestorm in his own backyard. Of note in the Chicago Sun Time:

During the governor’s [Blagojevich] reelection campaign in 2006 – with press reports swirling about a grand jury investigation into Blagojevich’s alleged jobs-for-contributions scheme – Obama praised the governor as a leader “who has delivered consistently on behalf of the people of Illinois...”

Obama was also Blagojevich's lead advisor during the governors 2006 election. Sounds like they were pretty chummy to me.

giving the big 3 a temp. loan may or may not be a good thing. Not giving them the loan to punish American auto workers for voting for democrats is real BAD thing

To hell with the bailout,all of them. To hell with the politicians, all of them, including the new "same old,same old" President. To hell with the American government in the form it has taken. Lets go back to the Constitution and Gold. CFB III

The last episode of "creative thinking" from this administration led to the deaths of over 4,000 servicepeople.

This was a done deal until the Fu***** unions decided they wouldn't take a cut, not one dime I think they said.  They really represent well don't they?  They'd rather see all their folks out of work that give one inch.  Oh but they win right...

I AM AGAINST UNIONS, I BELIEVE IN RIGHT TO WORK.  WHAT IS THE LEADER OF THE UAW GOING TO TELL HIS WORKERS THAT NO LONGER HAVE JOBS IF THE DOMESTIC CAR COMPANIES GO BELLY UP.  IS HE GOIN TO TELL TEHM WE MADE NO CONSESSIONS OR SORRY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A JOB.  THEY AND THE AUTO COMPANIES HAVE TO BE COMPETATIVE WITH THE IMPORT AUTO COMPANIES, MID RANGE NOT HIGH COST TOP END. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN LAID OFF FROM A JOB IN THE AUTO BUSINESS SINCE AUG I WOULD WORK FOR LESS THAT I WAS MAKING TO WORK INSTEAD OF POUND THE PAYMENT AND DRAWING UNEMPLOYMENT. THEY NEED TO MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHICH WAY THEY WANT TO GO.

As far as I know, not one member of Congress has taken any responsibility for the economic crisis.  Yet they sit in judgement of the auto industry.  Go figure.  

You gave AIG 2 major bailouts and in the case of Citi, you did not even ask anyone.  There are no stipulations.  These people have issued dividends, had massages at luxury hotels, give bonuses and retention bonuses and you GOP Republican idiots are focusing on salaries of the Auto workers which make up 10% of their debt.

90 % of there debt which should be evaluated, you do not care about because you really have a personal agenda.  You do not care about the American people.  You want to try and damage the Democrats and the American Auto Industry, at the expense of the American  people, because, after all that has been what you have done the past 8 years which incidentally got us in the bad position.  I vote we get rid of everything GOP Republican forever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   You refuse to care about American families and jobs, we refuse to care about and vote for your ignorant trifling personal destructive agendas !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday's drama between the GOP Senators and the UAW was a demonstration of the difficulties a lowly car czar will have in formulating a "viable" industry.  This needs to play out in our judicial branch, absent the politics that are inherent with an executive appointee or congressional oversight.

If salaries is 10% of the debt of the Autoworkers, why would the GOP focus on salaries as a way to resolve the Auto Industry. 10% IS SALARIES and 90% IS OTHER DEBT NOT RELATED TO SALARIES. The GOP Republican senators should all be ousted. They are risking destabilizing the economy worse than what it is now, for a personal AGENDA. The crooks still have a few weeks before some of them are out of office and making it Impossible for AMERICANS and their families.  They do not care about anybody but their own interests.

Get ready for the worst. Bush is not capable of compassion or logic.

i find it funny how the government has no problem giving money to wal-mart..a company who in turn has caused so many small business owners to close up shop..yet they are so intent on the auto companies paying back this bailout...and sure maybe the workers do make alot of money ...but they also provide 7 spinoff jobs to every 1 automakers job, they pay excessive taxes and support their communities...the results of a non-bailout will be devastating not only to the union workers but to everyone..

also people should think twice before buying foreign vehicles ....as the free trade agreement that the government signed is what put us into this whole mess to begin with..korea, japan and china can ship their vehicles to us for free but we have to pay a huge tariff to ship our north-american vehicles to them what is that???

it's time to see the big picture people

I can't believe what I've been reading.  Do any of you watch the news for facts?  Or are you naturally so bitter?  First of all, I'm a proud UAW member. The fact is that we only make up 10% of GM's cost that leaves 90% of the probem GM.  I worked over 30 years for GM, and I have taken concessions when times were hard for GM.  Is it fair to allow GM to make billions of dollars through out the years give their executives milti million dollar salaries and let's not mention the bonuses worth millions and then give us peanuts.  We got what we have because we worked hard for it.  GM is in trouble because they made poor management decisions, but as usual they like other corporations and the government want the little guy to pay for it.  Rick Wagner can afford to work for $1 especially since he made $22 million last year.  If 3million people are laid off it doesn't just affect the auto industry and it suppliers.  It will affect everyone.  If no one has money to shop with how can JC Penny make money?  Who will be eating out?  who will be sending their children to college?  Eventually most businesses and services will have to cut back on their employees. In Michigan, the UAW rallied at the Capitol in support of increasing minimun wage and I was proud to rally and spport those people.  We fight and support the injustice of the working people all over the world, and not just issues that relate to pay.  The UAW strongly oppose the aparthfied in South Africa.  I agree corporations shouldn't be rewarded for bad behavior.  However, it's the working people that will so the suffering.  Just think the heads of AIG have millions in their savings account even though they have broke the country.  I'm not looking for a handout.  I only want what I am entitled to.  Am I willing to take a pay cut on my benefits?  Yes, I will if it will help my brothers and sisters.  However, I will do it in 2011.   If we are forced to take a pay cut prematurely (without being able to make the necessary adjustments) or GM goes bankrupt this country will see more foreclosures.  How long do you think unemployment will last with millions of people unemployed.

Clara:

While I wholeheartedly agree that salary reductions for executives is completely in order for symbolic purposes, the dollars saved are a drop in the bucket, almost insignificant.  Also, Lee Iacocca had been fired from Ford before coming to Chrysler.  Another significant difference is that Congress only guaranteed the loans, they didn't advance them directly from the treasury.  Iacocca had been at Chrysler more than two years at the time of his "bailout" and was retained throughout.

GM alone had 123,000 US workers at the end of September.  Obviously this is going down, so let's be conservative and use a baseline of 100,000.

You indicated $60,000 as a salary for an average worker.  We could be more conservative than that but let's use that figure.

Based on those numbers, that's a $6 billion payroll, just in the U.S.  A 5% salary adjustment for all workers (not suggesting that, just illustrating) would save $300 million.

Those 100,000 $60,000 dollar workers could theoretically save 5,263 $57,000 jobs by taking a $3000.00 pay cut.

I'm simply arguing that an all-in approach is appropriate here and that the UAW should be just as creative and willing as anyone else.

That being said, I support helping out with a loan package, $14 billion or $20 billion.  I like the idea of finding banks (multiple participation) to loan the money with guarantees.  

I also believe that the Republicans' demands are reasonable and look out for all of us in the long run in this case.  As I said, all-in includes the UAW and its members.

Absent that, I guess they'll do it from TARP. Second best choice but acceptable if TARP doesn't increase to $714 billion.

I've had great experience with American made cars.  I want my next one to be one.

Most members of Congress (especially Senators) just don,t seem to "get it" that millions of people will be adversely affected by failure of the Big 3! The Oklahoma Senators used to come to our plant in OKC begging for our votes.  Now that our plant has been closed by GM they just don,t care! (Jim D. - retired)

Foreign auto manufactures with factories in the South have received around $3.5 billion in a variety of tax breaks over the years to build there factories there.  Most of these companies are still relatively young and are only now beginning to have retirees.  But being in the South and without unions, the companies probably don't have a pension plan for them.  It is hard for anyone to compete under those conditions, especially when these companies are also protected by their native country's government.  Our government should require that Japan import and sell one American car for every Japanese car that comes to this country.  That would be fair trade and level the playing field.

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