Comments on: McCain miffed about auto loan

By: martinobeano

martinobeano — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:42:20 +0000

Look at Cuba. Up until 1960, their country imported
big ol American cars that have somehow lasted through the years. It is unbelievable that they can make a car last that long. Look at any car this day in age, 15yrs, and 250k is about the max.

By: Pleefer

Pleefer — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 09:08:58 +0000

I find it funny that most folks think all of the money shenanigans happened over the last 10 or 15 years. It began on December 23, 1913. The Federal Reserve Act was signed, but never truly ratified (yes, yes, you’ll say that it was, but it wasn’t). It was signed and put into “law” by corrupt bankster’s that used the age-old tradition of fractional-reserve banking, when corrupt bankster’s decided to bet on the same dollar 1000 times over. When they decided that (against our US Constitution) they would and could print their own money and use it first when it was worth something. And leave us holding the bag. Hell, over half of this dumbed-down country still believe that The Federal Reserve is a government body. NEWSFLASH: It’s private and has never claimed to be either, federal or reserved. The root of the problem is an apathetic and unaware populace.

By: Newt

Newt — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 05:12:00 +0000

F-150 is number one. I guess the big three do build what Americans want to buy
_________________________________________________

What some need to remember, is Ford has said they do not need any money. GM and Chrysler are the ones in trouble

By: RoaCH

RoaCH — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 04:47:41 +0000

Writedog asks: But how can they keep the workers working and building cars if the cars do not sell?

——————–

The answer is – they don’t. The union has negotiated an arrangement that the employees get laid off, but continue to receive 95% of the salary they received when they were actually working.

In other words, the company pays them to sit at home and watch their favorite NFL and basketball games while their company goes broke.

And liberals are o.k. with that.

By: Predestined

Predestined — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:44:02 +0000

Was Michigan where McCain pulled his campaign? I tend to forget the things I should remember and remember the things I shouldn’t. :(

By: Phantom

Phantom — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:25:42 +0000

Mccain’s just another obstructionist who has no answers himself (although I’m sure he’d be the first to tell you, not only does he know how to get Osama, but has the solution for the economic crisis).

By: Phantom

Phantom — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:22:55 +0000

The imports, except for maybe kia are priced right alongside the domestic manuf.
For that matter toyota’s sales have dropped off consistent with the overall market too.
As for big dog, I believe the sell customized cycles, and probably do not compete in the same market as Honda.

By: Wiseman

Wiseman — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 21:23:53 +0000

I have not analyze the auto industry situation deeply enough yet but is there any possibility that they have done reached their apogee in pricing?
Surly everyone loves to have a new car but realistically their prices do not inspire a sell.
Take as an example Big Dog motorcycles and Honda motorcycles.
BD is in the $30 thousand range and they are laying off and cutting back but Honda are in the $6 thousand range and selling so good that they can not keep up with the demands.
Now for the last decade how many cars that the big 3’s have produced that is affordable for the lesser income demographic?
Take as another example, I am mechanical inclined and for $6 thousand, I can rebuild a car back to its original state or better then what the big 3s can produce.
There is a big industry in after market and repairing.
The point that I am try to say is the big 3s have been operating out touch with the public in its marketing and out of sync with the public’s economics.
It is not what the public is willing to buy but what is being offer to them that they can afford.
And btw AmericanBridge, the F-150’s and Chevy Silverado’s is a favorite of the illegal immigrants, which might explain some those figures.

By: JMWalker

JMWalker — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:55:53 +0000

#
AmericanBridge
Posted December 20, 2008 at 12:59 pm | Permalink

The Ford F-150 and the Chevrolet Silverado are the two best-selling vehicles so far in America this year. The pickup trucks, the F-150 from Ford, 473,933 buyers this year. That’s number one selling car for 2008. The Chevrolet Silverado, 431,725 buyers. They’re pretty close here, but the F-150 is number one. I guess the big three do build what Americans want to buy.
=====================================================
Which is why they’re at the door with hands out.

By: beber

beber — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:23:11 +0000

Good posts Mr. Bridge. You’d think with a half million truck sales a profit could be made somehow.

By: okobserver

okobserver — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:17:22 +0000

Linda many are saying that same thing about Obama today. Guess they are after all just politicians and we were all fooled.

By: Monkeyhawk

Monkeyhawk — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:08:06 +0000

“Glang” –

“…$69 dollars per hour after benifts…” is simply a lie.

By: AmericanBridge

AmericanBridge — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:59:01 +0000

By: lindainks55

lindainks55 — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:40:49 +0000

“I seem to recall during the presidential campaign that Senator McCain loved the auto workers of Michigan.” — AmericanBridge
——-

ONE of the many reasons McCain wasn’t elected. We never knew what deeply held conviction he would hold on any given day. I wasn’t ever able to tell conclusively if that was because he couldn’t remember or plain ole pandering.

By: AmericanBridge

AmericanBridge — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:39:33 +0000

During the debates leading up to the Detroit automaker bailout, politicians and pundits kept pointing to Toyota and asking “Why can’t you be more like them?” Well, they are… sorta. It’s looking increasingly likely that Toyota will post an operating loss for the 2008 fiscal year that ends March 31, 2009. The last time Toyota lost money over an entire year was its first 365 days of operation back in 1937/38.

Toyota has apparently been slashing budgets across the board in recent months as sales have dropped by more than 30% in the US and in other parts of the world. At the same time, the value of the dollar against the yen has also dropped, meaning that Toyota is losing out on the currency exchange. Toyota (and Honda and Nissan) are navigating the same severe rapids as Detroit, they just started further upstream. The company has slashed production, canceled a diesel engine program for its big trucks and halted construction on a new factory in Mississippi. A profit warning announcement is expected from Toyota on Monday.

By: AmericanBridge

AmericanBridge — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:34:29 +0000

Gee I seem to recall during the presidential campaign that Senator McCain loved the auto workers of Michigan. “We are not going to leave the workers here in Michigan hung out to dry while we give billions in taxpayer dollars to Wall Street,” said McCain. “It is time to get our auto industry back on its feet. It’s time for a new generation of cars and for loans to build the facilities that will make them.” Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis said “McCain is on the side of the auto idustry and his campaign visits to Michigan auto plants are proof.”

By: Glang

Glang — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:09:19 +0000

I wouldnt have approved a dollar to these guys without the Union agreeing to a pay cut. I know it should fall on the workers but at the same time these people make an average of 69.00 per hour after benefits. I know alot of people that work for much much less, in fact here in Wichita you could employ 3 people very happily with that one persons wage.

By: Phantom

Phantom — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:22:52 +0000

It appeals to mccain’s base (middle income/lower income repubs) to lament helping out the white collar worker.

By: Newt

Newt — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:19:42 +0000

Has McCain figured out why he lost the election yet? He “suspends” his campaign to rescue Wall street, wall street gets their “gift” from the US govt. with little more than a phone call to the president. The big three are summoned before congress to beg for a loan that is 1/14th the amount, and congress whines about use of the corprate jets. His contempt for American workers is old news. He is a fossil.

By: Phantom

Phantom — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:18:05 +0000

The U.S. needs to find a way to unwind the shadow banking industry, or regulate it and require the insurance sellers have to have ample reserves for their bets.

By: Glang

Glang — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:16:29 +0000

Kinda makes me want to buy a Honda right now! I think Bush was too quick to pull the trigger on this deal.

By: Phantom

Phantom — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:46:22 +0000

I believe while the senate was voting to block it, mccain was making his appearance on Letterman.

By: Phantom

Phantom — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:45:20 +0000

It’s my understanding that mccain skipped the senate vote on the auto rescue bill, apparently he wasn’t too concerned.
What’s funny is the same repubs that voted it down were pissed at bush for making them vote on it when he could have used the tarp money. Now that he has, they can’t wait to bad mouth the use of the tarp money!
It’s political, they’re thinking mid-term elections.

By: Phantom

Phantom — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:21:07 +0000

I heard something about european countries have a mandatory turn in of older cars periodically. Not sure how that works, might be something to consider.

By: Phantom

Phantom — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:15:34 +0000

Hell yes, he’s upset, this is the same guy that wants airbus to build our tankers!
Re. the bailouts, repubs demonstrate they’re penney wise and pound foolish, all the time.