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What Gives Obama The Right To Ask GM CEO To Step Down?
http://conservativexpress.blogspot.com/2009/03/what-gives-obama-right-to-ask-gm-ceo-to.html ^ | 3/28/09

Posted on 03/29/2009 3:00:21 PM PDT by DrGop0821

Look, I've been against the auto industry bailout since the beginning.

These companies DO NOT deserve tax payer money. These bailouts are nothing but attempts at nationalization which ooze socialism.

Politicians have benefited from Unions for decades. Placating union bosses has been a windfall campaign finance tactic for a number of members of Capitol Hill. And that is the real motivation behind trying to "save" Detroit.

Indeed, the economy has seen better times but Honda, Nissan and Toyota are not panhandling on the steps of the Capitol. Somehow, they are managing to build, sell and profit from selling cars in America.

The biggest reason these automakers are in trouble is simple: It costs the Big 3 an average of $30/Labor Hour (or 60%) MORE to produce a car than competitors like Nissan, Honda and Toyota who build cars in United States plants as well. At 40 hours per week, the average UAW member makes over $150,000 annually in benefits and compensation. Does anyone else think that's a bit much to screw some tires on a car?

What about the so-called "job banks" where laid-off UAW members can collect 95% of their income by doing nothing more than watch TV and drink coffee. The Big 3 will not discuss the exact details of these job banks, citing they are not public information.

How many businesses in this country would succeed by paying 60% more than a competitor to produce a product? How many would succeed by paying people who don't produce a single asset?

Certainly, Rick Wagoner has not performed well as the head of GM, but what gives the President the right to ask a private company executive to step down?

If GM's board of directors made this decision, I would have no problem with it. The Obama Administration is yet again over-flexing its political muscle with respect to private industry.

If Congress and The White House want to put stipulations and regulations on companies receiving Federal aid, fine. But no where in the Constitution does it grant the Executive Branch this kind of control and coercion over private industry.

Tim Geithner unveiled a plan last week, designed to give Treasury Department the ability to take over financial institutions at the Secretary's choosing.

All of this continues the Obama Administration's war on Wall Street. It's a power grab to redistribute wealth, penalize the successful and establish a communistic "equality" among Americans.

Regulation = control and power.

Team "O" wants to destroy free market capitalism. There is ample proof of Obama's war on investors. Welcome to The United Socialist States of America (USSA).

POLITICO reports:

The Obama administration asked Rick Wagoner, the chairman and CEO of General Motors, to step down and he agreed, a White House official said.

The White House confirmed Wagoner was leaving at the government's behest after The Associated Press reported his immediate departure, without giving a reason.

On Monday, President Obama is to unveil his plans for the auto industry, including a response to a request for additional funds by GM and Chrysler.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: automakers; bho44; chavez; generalmotors; nationalization; nationalsocialism; obama; obamunism; socialism; wagoner
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To: Big_Monkey

That’s not what I meant, but u take it any way u like.

They don’t agree with the bailout, but Obama doesn’t want GM advertising on talk radio. This was Wagoner’s cardinal sin in Obama’s view.


61 posted on 03/29/2009 3:47:28 PM PDT by prismsinc (A.K.A. "The Terminator"!)
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To: TornadoAlley3
"armour"?

What's that? Some form of Spam? LOL

62 posted on 03/29/2009 3:55:32 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Big Ears + Big Spending --> BigEarMarx, the man behind TOTUS)
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To: Paladin2

Obama’s Gramp’s middle name was ARMOUR:)


63 posted on 03/29/2009 4:08:47 PM PDT by TornadoAlley3 (Obama is everything Oklahoma is not.)
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To: DrGop0821
The Big 3 will not discuss the exact details of these job banks, citing they are not public information.

I'll bet it is now that your tax money is paying the thieving parasites.

Lawyers?

64 posted on 03/29/2009 4:09:27 PM PDT by MS.BEHAVIN (Women who behave rarely make history)
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To: MS.BEHAVIN
Dear Ms.,

I've heard that wild wymyn don't get the blues.

;-)

65 posted on 03/29/2009 4:12:36 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Big Ears + Big Spending --> BigEarMarx, the man behind TOTUS)
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To: GRRRRR

What can we do? Our congresscritters don’t listen to us and neither will Zero.


66 posted on 03/29/2009 4:13:32 PM PDT by Marysecretary (.GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL)
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To: trumandogz

It started with FDR, if I recall correctly.


67 posted on 03/29/2009 4:14:54 PM PDT by Marysecretary (.GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL)
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To: DrGop0821

Should be titled, “Barack I-am-not-a-socialist Obama takes control of GM.”


68 posted on 03/29/2009 4:15:54 PM PDT by Brilliant
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To: TornadoAlley3
Stanley Armour Dunham

Strangest thing. You appear to be correct. Coincidence?

69 posted on 03/29/2009 4:16:09 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Big Ears + Big Spending --> BigEarMarx, the man behind TOTUS)
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To: Brilliant

American Leyland
the results will be similar to British Leyland

although when Baraq uses card check to unionize all the non US brand plants, their productivity will plunge also


70 posted on 03/29/2009 4:18:35 PM PDT by nascarnation
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To: TornadoAlley3

And their family’s been spamming us ever since.


71 posted on 03/29/2009 4:19:37 PM PDT by Marysecretary (.GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL)
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To: Big_Monkey

Can’t speak for Hannity, but I heard Rush on more than one occasion directly trash the bailout while addressing GM’s sponsorship. I’m sure someone with 24/7 could reference it for you.
He specifically stated that sponsors do not dictate his programming or what he says. Thank God, because we need more like him with ba -double hockey stick-s on our side!


72 posted on 03/29/2009 4:21:25 PM PDT by chipsahoy (I am second)
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To: prismsinc
"...That’s not what I meant, but u take it any way u like."

I had an idea that's not what you meant. But, I decided to run with it anyway.

I do think you're right with respect to GM advertising with Limbaugh and Hannity. That can't please Barry (Wagoner's personal financial support of the GOP and it's candidates probably didn't help either). But, I still contend that GM bought the silence, or at least quieted the discontent of Limbaugh and Hannity, but especially Hannity.

For several days surrounding the first "bailout", Limbaugh was strangely silent. And, when he did finally speak directly about the GM bailout, he said (loosely quoted) "Folks, it's going to happen no matter what I say. Either Bush does it, or Obama will do it on Jan. 20th."

Hannity DID support the auto bailout and used some lame excuse about GM being in the position because of the "CAFE Standards". Hardly. I'm not a fan of the CAFE standards, but they have virtually nothing to do with why GM, Ford and Chrysler are in the position they're in.

Anyways, JMHO.

73 posted on 03/29/2009 4:26:29 PM PDT by Big_Monkey
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To: Snickering Hound

is that david axelrod?


74 posted on 03/29/2009 4:27:24 PM PDT by hecht
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To: chipsahoy
"...but I heard Rush on more than one occasion directly trash the bailout while addressing GM’s sponsorship."

See my above response.

You're right to some extent, Limbaugh eventually did come out more forcefully against the bailout and he did address his sponsorship. But, he was a day late and little more than a dollar short.

Hannity, on the other hand, supported the bailout of GM and was painful, contorted and discomforting in excuse why.

75 posted on 03/29/2009 4:32:55 PM PDT by Big_Monkey
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To: DrGop0821

Lightning bolts and thunder from on high and GMC kneels!

76 posted on 03/29/2009 4:33:40 PM PDT by Young Werther (Julius Caesar (Quae Cum Ita Sunt. Since these things are so.))
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To: BornToBeAmerican
They are OWNED by the share holders, not Bambi

As soon as GM accepted the first welfare payment, it became the government's female dog. I would be protesting up and down if the government interfered in a real private business in such a manner, but GM is not a private company anymore.

To quote Barry the Baptist in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels "When you dance with the devil, you wait for the song to stop." GM, and every other company that took welfare, knew exactly what it was getting into when it got into bed with the government.

77 posted on 03/29/2009 4:56:11 PM PDT by pnh102 (Save America - Ban Ethanol Now!)
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To: DrGop0821


78 posted on 03/29/2009 5:45:06 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist - Obama is basically Jim Jones with a teleprompter)
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To: BornToBeAmerican
They are OWNED by the share holders, not Bambi

Not any more.

79 posted on 03/29/2009 5:49:46 PM PDT by Interesting Times (For the truth about "swift boating" see ToSetTheRecordStraight.com)
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To: Big_Monkey

I’m not putting talk radio under the same microscope as D.C. Whether or not talk radio was asked to stay quiet is another matter entirely.

Personally, I’m a capitalist through and through. I thought it was a wise idea, considering talk radio’s audience is where the last patriots in America reside. I’m critical of Chrysler for not doing the same thing.

I’m torn on this. I’m a Dodge man, you see, and while I still think the ‘Cuda, Charger, Challenger, and Ram are the greatest, classiest vehicles ever made, I also realize the unions have destroyed America. It is a bittersweet topic for me.

I won’t buy another American vehicle ever again, because I want the unions to fail. Unfortunately, I have give up on a brand new ‘10 Challenger.


80 posted on 03/29/2009 6:07:56 PM PDT by prismsinc (A.K.A. "The Terminator"!)
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