Comments on: Bailout Watch 227: Ford, Chrysler and GM Asking for $34b http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/bailout-watch-227-ford-chrysler-and-gm-asking-for-34b/ The Truth About Cars is dedicated to providing candid, unbiased automobile reviews and the latest in auto industry news. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:48:33 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: RetardedSparks http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/bailout-watch-227-ford-chrysler-and-gm-asking-for-34b/comment-page-1/#comment-1001402 RetardedSparks Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:01:20 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=173181#comment-1001402 Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see any plans, only good intentions. Guess they'll drive to hell in a hybrid on a road paved with those. Specifically, there is a lot of "seek"ing - to restructure debt, to renegotiate contracts, to reduce dealers - but no indication they can actually DO any of that. And if they don't - they're dead. I can make a "plan" to make a fortune by going back in time, too, but if I can't <em>actually</em> travel back in time, how does that constitute a plan, rather than just a wish? Maybe I’m missing something, but I don’t see any plans, only good intentions. Guess they’ll drive to hell in a hybrid on a road paved with those.
Specifically, there is a lot of “seek”ing – to restructure debt, to renegotiate contracts, to reduce dealers – but no indication they can actually DO any of that. And if they don’t – they’re dead.
I can make a “plan” to make a fortune by going back in time, too, but if I can’t actually travel back in time, how does that constitute a plan, rather than just a wish?

]]> By: jpcavanaugh http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/bailout-watch-227-ford-chrysler-and-gm-asking-for-34b/comment-page-1/#comment-1001322 jpcavanaugh Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:25:15 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=173181#comment-1001322 The 25 billion number seemed pretty arbitrary to me when it was requested a few weeks ago. "Lets see, 25 billion seems like a nice round number that we may have a prayer to get. Then we can divide it up by market share, and see what we can do with it." This is inexcusable, particularly as to GM , which really need the money right now. It should be mind-boggling to us all that Chairman Rick (who came up through GM's finance side) would not look at their figures, decide how much they really need, add it to the requests of the other contestants, and present a 34 billion plan. I mean the first time. Ford should take a little less heat on this one, because it seems to be at the trough only because the other guys are. An accurate plan from Ford would request that congress decide how much GM and Chrysler need, then award a fair share for Ford. Anyone with three children understands. Chrysler? Pick a number. Doesn't really matter. We all need to chew over the fact that the GM chairman looked congress in the eye (eyes?) and deliberately put out a lowball request that he KNEW (yes, KNEW) was not going to be enough. This is dishonest. GM management must be so used to giving everyone the mushroom treatment for so long, why should congress be any different. They need to go. Does someone have Jerry York's number? The 25 billion number seemed pretty arbitrary to me when it was requested a few weeks ago. “Lets see, 25 billion seems like a nice round number that we may have a prayer to get. Then we can divide it up by market share, and see what we can do with it.” This is inexcusable, particularly as to GM , which really need the money right now. It should be mind-boggling to us all that Chairman Rick (who came up through GM’s finance side) would not look at their figures, decide how much they really need, add it to the requests of the other contestants, and present a 34 billion plan. I mean the first time.

Ford should take a little less heat on this one, because it seems to be at the trough only because the other guys are. An accurate plan from Ford would request that congress decide how much GM and Chrysler need, then award a fair share for Ford. Anyone with three children understands. Chrysler? Pick a number. Doesn’t really matter.

We all need to chew over the fact that the GM chairman looked congress in the eye (eyes?) and deliberately put out a lowball request that he KNEW (yes, KNEW) was not going to be enough. This is dishonest. GM management must be so used to giving everyone the mushroom treatment for so long, why should congress be any different. They need to go. Does someone have Jerry York’s number?

]]> By: nudave http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/bailout-watch-227-ford-chrysler-and-gm-asking-for-34b/comment-page-1/#comment-1001231 nudave Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:10:59 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=173181#comment-1001231 The pundits were wrong.. It's not "25 billion now or 150 billion later." It's more like "40 billion now <strong>and</strong> 150 billion later." http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/tbr/img/07500.jpg The pundits were wrong..

It’s not “25 billion now or 150 billion later.”

It’s more like “40 billion now and 150 billion later.”

http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/tbr/img/07500.jpg

]]> By: jkross22 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/bailout-watch-227-ford-chrysler-and-gm-asking-for-34b/comment-page-1/#comment-1000981 jkross22 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:45:26 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=173181#comment-1000981 Good idea. Let's give the junkies more money. Good idea. Let’s give the junkies more money.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/bailout-watch-227-ford-chrysler-and-gm-asking-for-34b/comment-page-1/#comment-1000962 Kevin Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:41:27 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=173181#comment-1000962 Have to say Chrysler is annoying me most of all. Not that I want to give anything to Ford or GM, but I can at least see why they go begging to DC -- no one else could or should give them the money. Uncle Sam is bailer-outer of last resort. But Chrysler's got Cerberus. Cerberus has money. $7 billion is chump change for them. If parent company Cerberus isn't willing to lend money it has to its own 80%-owned subsidiary, why the hell should the taxpayer do it instead? Have to say Chrysler is annoying me most of all. Not that I want to give anything to Ford or GM, but I can at least see why they go begging to DC — no one else could or should give them the money. Uncle Sam is bailer-outer of last resort.

But Chrysler’s got Cerberus. Cerberus has money. $7 billion is chump change for them. If parent company Cerberus isn’t willing to lend money it has to its own 80%-owned subsidiary, why the hell should the taxpayer do it instead?

]]> By: Hippo http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/bailout-watch-227-ford-chrysler-and-gm-asking-for-34b/comment-page-1/#comment-1000532 Hippo Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:36:54 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=173181#comment-1000532 Well, a exorcism is a intervention. Well, a exorcism is a intervention.

]]> By: guyincognito http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/bailout-watch-227-ford-chrysler-and-gm-asking-for-34b/comment-page-1/#comment-1000451 guyincognito Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:13:25 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=173181#comment-1000451 I know that the bailout was a sure thing even if Mullaly, Wagoner, and Nardelli faxed their business plans in on one side of a sheet of coporate single ply, but it takes some serious balls to ask for more than the $25 billion. I know that the bailout was a sure thing even if Mullaly, Wagoner, and Nardelli faxed their business plans in on one side of a sheet of coporate single ply, but it takes some serious balls to ask for more than the $25 billion.

]]> By: Conslaw http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/bailout-watch-227-ford-chrysler-and-gm-asking-for-34b/comment-page-1/#comment-1000361 Conslaw Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:33:35 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=173181#comment-1000361 Don't let her demeanor fool you. Anyone who thinks Nancy Pelosi is a softtouch has never felt her hair. Don’t let her demeanor fool you. Anyone who thinks Nancy Pelosi is a softtouch has never felt her hair.

]]> By: pnnyj http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/bailout-watch-227-ford-chrysler-and-gm-asking-for-34b/comment-page-1/#comment-1000292 pnnyj Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:06:48 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=173181#comment-1000292 Maybe Ford is over-thinking this one, but they do at least seem to be thinking. Maybe Ford is over-thinking this one, but they do at least seem to be thinking.

]]> By: Facebook User http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/bailout-watch-227-ford-chrysler-and-gm-asking-for-34b/comment-page-1/#comment-1000241 Facebook User Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:54:08 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=173181#comment-1000241 If Ford doesn't need the money...then they shouldn't be there. If Ford doesn’t need the money…then they shouldn’t be there.

]]> By: Facebook User http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/bailout-watch-227-ford-chrysler-and-gm-asking-for-34b/comment-page-1/#comment-1000212 Facebook User Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:47:59 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=173181#comment-1000212 Sounds more like enabling rather than an intervention is about to occur. Sounds more like enabling rather than an intervention is about to occur.

]]> By: tesla deathwatcher http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/bailout-watch-227-ford-chrysler-and-gm-asking-for-34b/comment-page-1/#comment-1000171 tesla deathwatcher Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:31:33 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=173181#comment-1000171 We need a Margaret Thatcher and we get a Nancy Pelosi. We need a Margaret Thatcher and we get a Nancy Pelosi.

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