He could have so easily tagged them for taking a Gulfstream instead of something more functional. At any rate, the whole attack was completely unfair because he knows that no matter what they said in their defense, it would have made them look worse. He and they are trained by the same experts on how to handle those attacks. He and they both know that he used a tactic that should be completely out of bounds.

Next time, they will now have to bring a staff of 24 people along so that they can show how they saved money by bringing their own jet. Or they will fly commercial, which is just stupid at their level. Or they will sell those planes off at bargain basement prices (assuming they own them).

Congress people constantly have to vote in ways that many of their constituents don’t understand and can’t be explained in a sound bite. Their opponents then use it against them come election time. As far as I am concerned, the gloves are completely off for this idiot. He can bet that the aviation alphabet groups (AOPA, NBAA, etc.) have already set aside funds for his opponent in 2010. If he thinks he is going to get any slack, he is wrong. There are less than a million of us, but we happent to be smarter than he is.

1) Everyone acknowldges that the private plan issue is symbolic, nevertheless, you’d have to have truly no sense of interactions with other people to come asking for money in such a way. “Insular culture” is the apt phrase here.

2) No one (that I have read) says corporate executives shouldn’t have private planes simply not ones from virtually-bankrupt companies asking for a gift. (i.e. Toyota execs “fly to your heart’s content, you’ve earned it”)

3) You are watching Congress making legal sausage, look away if you have a weak stomach!

I suppose it would look good for these guys to have flown commercial. It may have been the right decision from a PR standpoint. However, the congressman that pulled that stunt needs to go back to Cali and go back to smoking weed and impressing young girls of whatever little games he likes to play rather than playing at leading our country.

Business jets are not just a perk. They are a productivity tool. Government officials of much less importance than these CEO’s use private planes every day, at our expense, and with the approval of congress.

If Senator Obama REALLY intends to change Washington, he should call this Congressman on the carpet for a public dressing down. While there are lots of people living parasitically off of domestic car and airline businesses, the general aviation people have been producing value, innovating, and leading the world in their industry.

We lost the yacht business when these disgusting little power freaks went after them. Hundreds of businesses were destroyed. An entire industry died. What did a bunch of guys in Wichita, KS, who build airplanes for a living, do so wrong that this slime ball thought he should attack their livelihood? Why can’t we elect anyone to Congress with any sense? When can we have our politicians lead us rather than REALLY stoking up hate?

While all those GS employees are sucking at the federal teat,

Wow, such vitriol for Federal employees!

The web site you posted says Federal employees receive such great benefits as Social Security, a 401k-type retirement plan, and (oooh, look)Medicare part A. Wow, sign me up!

While all those GS employees are sucking at the federal teat, congresscritters get free travel (anyone want to calculate how much Biden’s daily commute on Amtrak costs taxpayers?):

The rules for congressional travel on military aircraft are contained in Defense Department Directive 4515.12.

Such flights are one of Congress’ cherished perquisites, providing lawmakers a chance to visit foreign lands at government expense. Official duties are often mixed with sightseeing and fine dining.

If I’m right, Mulally deserves quite a bit more than lousy 20-30 mil. Ford should pay him a hundred million a year, gold-plate his jet and start weekly sacrifice of mid-level executives at his doorstep, for he might very well be saving them countless millions for every word he says at that bailout meeting.

I think you are exactly right. There will be winners and losers here; not all three Detroit companies will simply disappear. Ford will survive, and possibly thrive, since a lot of the people who would have bought a GM or Chrysler product will buy a Ford product after one or both ot them go Poof! and disappear. It is probably in Ford’s best interests to sabotage the bailout and any other plan to keep GM and Chrysler solvent.

Would you show up at traffic court to fight a DUI dressed in a beer-stained, smelly t-shirt? I can just see the judges reaction.

The pols may have all long since sold their own souls to the devil, but even the devil knows that appearances are important. If you go begging, it helps to be sufficiently contrite, to kiss ass without reservation, and not look like you just stepped off the cover of GQ.

I think Mulally’s comments on his salary may have torpedoed any deal for all three, but maybe he did on purpose. Ford seems to be in the best shape.

If GM goes Chapter 11 (or worse…), it would be in part because they are HQed in Detroit, where no one can afford to tell the king he has no clothes on. Moving the HQ to NYC (or better yet, car crazy LA) would do wonders for the corporate culture.

alex_rashev :If I’m right, Mulally deserves quite a bit more than lousy 20-30 mil. Ford should pay him a a hundred million a year, gold-plate his jet and start weekly sacrifice of mid-level executives at his doorstep, for he might very well be saving them countless millions for every word he says at that bailout meeting.

Thank God I wasn’t drinking when I read that! Beautiful.

We have to stop thinking about these companies like they are the same just because they are in the same city. Honda and Isuzu are both Japanese. Follow?

Big Al gave up a great position to try and do a very tough, perhaps impossible job. That deserves respect and, yes, big-time compensation.

Bunter

2. The UAW don’t want to make any changes.

3. The dealers don’t want to make any changes.

They just want business as usual, and for the government to keep supporting their habit and the tax payers to be their enablers.

It therefore appears to me that the primary reason for Mulally to be there together with the other two is to ensure that NOBODY gets a bailout. All the BS about “failure of competitors being catastrophic for us” is exactly that. Mulally doesn’t want them to get the bailout, it seems.

Hence the “I’m fine where I am” stance. He IS fine where he is, and so is Ford. By sabotaging the bailout meeting, Mulally ensures that Ford will be the only US manufacturer standing by the time Obama gets in the office. From that point on, Ford can enjoy retooling loans, hybrid tax credits, and a whole lot more money for nothing, without having to share.

If I’m right, Mulally deserves quite a bit more than lousy 20-30 mil. Ford should pay him a hundred million a year, gold-plate his jet and start weekly sacrifice of mid-level executives at his doorstep, for he might very well be saving them countless millions for every word he says at that bailout meeting.

http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/devil_ball_golf/post/J-P-Hayes-is-as-honest-as-we-like-to-think-we-a?urn=golf,123304

Wow.

I understand the frustration with thinking the focus on flights is the wrong thing. I don’t hear anyone saying that is the reason why the D3 are in the mess they’re in. RF’s point (I believe) is that the arrogance, inflexibility, deflection of blame and the inability to sacrifice one nickel of their millions they earn every year to demonstrate they’re committed to winning is reflective of the bigger problem with the D3 cultures. They want something for nothing – they want taxpayers to fund their business functions and executive perks that have not been earned through solid performance, but are a factor of having friends in high places.

For taxpayers that have seen their retirements, college savings, savings for a first home, etc. cut in 1/2 over the last year, the D3 leadership attitude is 100% unacceptable.

If you’re on the taxpayer dole, as these guys want to be, you play by different rules. Why should our representatives give them any of our money if it’s just business as usual?

“Private Jets Against Global Warming!”

Sure its all symbolic by symbolism matters (and they could have jet-pooled.)

OK, I take back anything nice I ever said about Mulally.

I like Stu Sidoti’s idea, and am pained that none of these multi-million dollar per year men could see fit to do it. I think the Detroit gang figures that since AIG is getting so much money (another issue, but an infuriating one) that they should be an easy shoe-in for a little of the same. They seem to have missed the contrary lesson of Lehman Brothers, sometimes the gov’t doesn’t step in to bail out big boys.

There is an old principle that you had best make friends and build your reputation in the good times, because when things get really bad and you need the support of your friends … they aren’t going to be there if you have been a jackass to them in the past. Detroit has routinely treated customers, employees, taxpayers and elected representatives with glib disdain for decades. What is amazing is that even now when they are in fact going to Washington hat in hand they still are the very models of hubris and disdain. Basically they are threatening further economic Armageddon if they don’t get what they want and on their terms. Does anyone disagree with me now that they guys are idiots? I’ve taken a bit of heat for calling them that in the past, but is there anyone who still wants to paint Red Ink Rick as a wise and brilliant leader?

I can’t believe how bad both sides look. Just a dog and pony show for congressmen who’s main job is to do nothing and waste trillions on things they know nothing about.

I can’t believe this whole thing might hinge on their GD jet flights. Way to see the big picture everyone.

It will be very interesting to see what each automaker does from here. GM in particular would seem ripe for some quick staffing changes. Ford? Come on, Mullaly, you need to give blood. Take a pay cut, dude.