Bailout Watch 198: Levin Throws Wagoner Under the Bus

by Robert Farago

Published: November 16th, 2008

bailout watch 198 levin throws wagoner under the bus

From the “with friends like these” department… The Detroit News reports that Michigan Senator Carl Levin met the press and announced his willingness to sacrifice GM CEO Rick Wagoner to get The General the bailout billions it needs thanks to Red Ink Rick’s myopia, intransigence and incompetence. “I’d be happy to tell (GM CEO) Rick Wagoner that he ought to consider resigning if that is the difference between getting this kind of support and not,” Levin said. So far, so good. And then… “The Detroit Democrat said the government ‘should have more than a say’ in management through an oversight board that would oversee the $25 billion in loans…” That’s just what GM needs to be more competitive: an oversight board beholden to politicians. Imagine what Toyota could do with one of those! Meanwhile, GM spokesman Greg Martin “declined to comment directly” on Levin’s remarks. “The global economic crisis that has put this industry in its current precarious position far exceeds any one individual.” Uh. Greg, you missed a few words there. Anyone care to help him out?

Robert Farago

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4 of 31 comments

Jackc10 on Nov 17, 2008

AG: Just another post for accuracy. You post above: "There are only 22 right-to-work states and they’re almost all located in the confederate states." That is not true. You can look it up. http://www.nrtw.org/rtws.htm Now if you meant to say the former Confederate States are RTW states, you can try again.

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Windswords on Nov 17, 2008

jackc10, If Kentucky is a "Forced-Unionism" state as the site you linked to says, why is Toyota in Georgetown not a unionised plant?

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Bozoer Rebbe on Nov 17, 2008
Bozoer, do you honestly think teaching just another job? Its the kind of job where failure to put in 110% can seriously ruin people’s lives. Near as I can tell, a large chunk of the NEA/AFT membership, at least from how their unions act, treat it like just another job. If they were serious about quality education, the unions wouldn't fight tooth and nail to keep incompetents on the job - they'd let management fire them. A teacher doesn't need to put in "110%", though many are incredibly dedicated. In general, they are well compensated compared to other professionals.

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Bozoer Rebbe on Nov 17, 2008
IMHO Selling Detroit Diesel to the Truck group of Mercedes was a good move. I meant it was a mistake for Penske and that he should have retained an ownership interest. I'm sure it was a good deal for Mercedes. Keeping a good relationship with Daimler, though, hasn't hurt Penske. His company is handling the distribution of the smart brand in the US for M-B.

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