Comments on: Bailout Watch 244: The Man With The Plan? http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/the-man-with-the-plan/ The Truth About Cars is dedicated to providing candid, unbiased automobile reviews and the latest in auto industry news. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:56:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: no_slushbox http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/the-man-with-the-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-1011921 no_slushbox Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:14:13 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=176271#comment-1011921 <em>windswords:</em> One of Corker's number one demands is that the UAW make concessions so that the big-3s' labor costs are the same as the transplants. That would make the big-3 <em>more</em> competitive against the transplants. He's just looking out for taxpayers. But he's not doing a good job of it by letting this pour over into the new administration, where any conditions that are currently placed on the bailout will mean nothing. On the government dole the big-3 are going to slowly die (like British Leyland) and the transplants are going to slowly gain more and more market share. This is actually much better for the transplants than if the big-3 restructured and became lean competitive companies under Chapter 11 or liquidated under Chapter 7. windswords:

One of Corker’s number one demands is that the UAW make concessions so that the big-3s’ labor costs are the same as the transplants.

That would make the big-3 more competitive against the transplants.

He’s just looking out for taxpayers. But he’s not doing a good job of it by letting this pour over into the new administration, where any conditions that are currently placed on the bailout will mean nothing.

On the government dole the big-3 are going to slowly die (like British Leyland) and the transplants are going to slowly gain more and more market share.

This is actually much better for the transplants than if the big-3 restructured and became lean competitive companies under Chapter 11 or liquidated under Chapter 7.

]]> By: glenwood http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/the-man-with-the-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-1011071 glenwood Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:02:28 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=176271#comment-1011071 Corker ran a sleazefest of a senate campaign. He's also had several notoriously corrupt real estate dealings when he was the mayor of Chattanooga. So basically, he's a politician. And the fact that Nissan and VW have, or will soon have, operations in TN does make his motivations questionable. However his analysis is spot-on. That being said, he did a great job turning Chattanooga into a much nicer city than it was when he started (see www.worstmayorever.com for news on his successor). Corker ran a sleazefest of a senate campaign.

He’s also had several notoriously corrupt real estate dealings when he was the mayor of Chattanooga.

So basically, he’s a politician. And the fact that Nissan and VW have, or will soon have, operations in TN does make his motivations questionable. However his analysis is spot-on.

That being said, he did a great job turning Chattanooga into a much nicer city than it was when he started (see http://www.worstmayorever.com for news on his successor).

]]> By: jnik http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/the-man-with-the-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-1010841 jnik Fri, 05 Dec 2008 04:21:27 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=176271#comment-1010841 Windswords, don't forget the (former) Saturn plant in Spring Hill that makes the Chevy Traverse. Windswords, don’t forget the (former) Saturn plant in Spring Hill that makes the Chevy Traverse.

]]> By: windswords http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/the-man-with-the-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-1010662 windswords Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:38:27 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=176271#comment-1010662 "Senator Corker is from Tennessee, home to Nissan’s North American headquarters in Nashville and a large, non-union Nissan facility in Smyrna. Volkswagen is building a new billion-dollar assembly plant in Chattanooga." Yeah I guess he is a paragon of vitrue in this situation - just like Senator Shelby of Alabama with his Mercedes, Hyundai, Honda plants. “Senator Corker is from Tennessee, home to Nissan’s North American headquarters in Nashville and a large, non-union Nissan facility in Smyrna. Volkswagen is building a new billion-dollar assembly plant in Chattanooga.”

Yeah I guess he is a paragon of vitrue in this situation – just like Senator Shelby of Alabama with his Mercedes, Hyundai, Honda plants.

]]> By: Adub http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/the-man-with-the-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-1010641 Adub Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:34:38 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=176271#comment-1010641 Pity that a man as sharp as Corker needs to be 10x sleazy to actually chair the committee. Oh, and here's a link to the campaign ad vis. Harold Ford that some people are whining about. Watch the ad yourself and make up your own mind. Personally, I think it is hilarious. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vZF5ZTu2Go Pity that a man as sharp as Corker needs to be 10x sleazy to actually chair the committee.

Oh, and here’s a link to the campaign ad vis. Harold Ford that some people are whining about. Watch the ad yourself and make up your own mind. Personally, I think it is hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vZF5ZTu2Go

]]> By: Conslaw http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/the-man-with-the-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-1010572 Conslaw Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:17:25 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=176271#comment-1010572 The irony is that it's Senator Corker that want's to revoke "Dean Bob" Nardelli's charter, AND Neidermeyer's already on it. The irony is that it’s Senator Corker that want’s to revoke “Dean Bob” Nardelli’s charter, AND Neidermeyer’s already on it.

]]> By: jnik http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/the-man-with-the-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-1010301 jnik Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:09:49 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=176271#comment-1010301 He was the guy who won the Tennessee Senate race two years ago wuth that blonde bimbo ad against Johnny Ford. But he redeemed himself today with his grilling of Nardelli! I had hoped someone would ask him those questions about Cerebrus! Brilliant! He was the guy who won the Tennessee Senate race two years ago wuth that blonde bimbo ad against Johnny Ford.
But he redeemed himself today with his grilling of Nardelli! I had hoped someone would ask him those questions about Cerebrus! Brilliant!

]]> By: alexeck http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/the-man-with-the-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-1010282 alexeck Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:00:28 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=176271#comment-1010282 I didn't know anything about Corker before this whole mess, but he seems pretty dammed sharp. Nice to see he has a real business background as well: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Corker I didn’t know anything about Corker before this whole mess, but he seems pretty dammed sharp.

Nice to see he has a real business background as well:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Corker

]]> By: Joe ShpoilShport http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/the-man-with-the-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-1010161 Joe ShpoilShport Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:19:30 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=176271#comment-1010161 Huh. An intelligent synopsis of the situation from a member of my government. Refreshing. Words. Actions? Huh. An intelligent synopsis of the situation from a member of my government. Refreshing.

Words. Actions?

]]> By: Motormouth http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/the-man-with-the-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-1010112 Motormouth Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:07:45 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=176271#comment-1010112 Guyincognito: I enjoyed watching the Master stare into space and go "acckkkk.....acccckkkkk". How could he have not seen that coming???? Tomorrow they get beat up by Congress. Five bucks says they get minimum cash necessary to make it the Dems' problem. Any takers???? Guyincognito:

I enjoyed watching the Master stare into space and go “acckkkk…..acccckkkkk”. How could he have not seen that coming????

Tomorrow they get beat up by Congress. Five bucks says they get minimum cash necessary to make it the Dems’ problem.

Any takers????

]]> By: guyincognito http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/the-man-with-the-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-1010092 guyincognito Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:01:14 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=176271#comment-1010092 Please post the video of Nardelli facing Corker's question regarding Cerberus' ability to invest in Chryler. Please post the video of Nardelli facing Corker’s question regarding Cerberus’ ability to invest in Chryler.

]]> By: dwford http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/the-man-with-the-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-1009982 dwford Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:10:21 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=176271#comment-1009982 Corker hit the nail on the head with Chrysler. Corker hit the nail on the head with Chrysler.

]]> By: no_slushbox http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/the-man-with-the-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-1009891 no_slushbox Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:50:18 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/?p=176271#comment-1009891 He was. No longer. The automakers are laughing at him for letting this stretch into the next administration. GM stock is up after close, for good reason. Hopefully the House members will remember that they are up for election in two years. He was. No longer. The automakers are laughing at him for letting this stretch into the next administration. GM stock is up after close, for good reason.

Hopefully the House members will remember that they are up for election in two years.

]]>