U.S. Automakers Turn to Dems for Help

AP Via Fox News ^ | 11/08/2006 | By TOM KRISHER, AP Business Writer

[Red Badger]

DETROIT — They won't celebrate in public, but the Big Three domestic automakers are hoping that Democratic control of the U.S. House and perhaps the Senate will bring a government that's more responsive to their plight as they fight for business with Asian competitors.

Top U.S. auto executives have grown increasingly frustrated with the Bush administration and the Republican-controlled Congress on energy policies, health care costs, currency manipulation by other countries and protection of intellectual property.

After months of trying, leaders of the Big Three are scheduled to meet Tuesday at the White House with President Bush, White House spokesman Tony Fratto said Wednesday.

No one is expecting major changes with Democrats holding only a narrow majority in the House, but still, changes could be coming.

"None of this is a slam-dunk for anyone, but I think our prospects on the issues ... are a lot better,"said Alan Reuther, legislative director for the United Auto Workers union, which has sought incentives for flexible-fuel vehicles and help for manufacturers on health care costs for retirees.

Industry-friendly lawmakers already are preparing to push legislation that will help General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group.

"I think there's a greater recognition here that our manufacturers are not just competing with companies overseas. They're competing against countries that support their manufacturing,"Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich, said in a conference call with reporters."We're going to have to be a much stronger partner with our auto companies and with our other manufacturers if we're going to stem this loss of jobs."

Democrats say nearly 3 million manufacturing jobs have been lost since Bush took office as companies continue to move production to low-wage countries, driving up the trade deficit.

[Red Badger]

Help from Dems?...............Like a fly asking help from a spider.......

[Red Badger]

Rest in Peace, old friend, your work is finished.......

Diesel "Ping" List: If you want on or off the DIESEL "KNOCK" LIST just FReepmail me........

This is a fairly HIGH VOLUME ping list on some days......

[rightinthemiddle]

"I think there's a greater recognition here that our manufacturers are not just competing with companies overseas. They're competing against countries that support their manufacturing,"Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich, said in a conference call with reporters."We're going to have to be a much stronger partner with our auto companies and with our other manufacturers if we're going to stem this loss of jobs."

________

The Soviets made some damn fine automobiles.

[KarlInOhio]

The car companies' costs would drop if socialized medicine is passed and they can dump all of their employees and retirees onto the dole. The taxes will probably be much less for the car companies than their current insurance payments are.

[Madeleine Ward]

I guess they have to ask the Federal Government because the state of Michigan is courting Japanese manufacturers like Toyota and Nissan.

I don't live in MI, but was recently doing some economic development research on Michigan.

The governor there is a Democrat.

[rightinthemiddle]

[Red Badger]

The Soviets made some damn fine automobiles.

For what? Use as bad examples?.........

[rightinthemiddle]

sarcasm, RB.

[pnh102]

The Big 3 need to look in the mirror if they want to figure out why they are having so many problems. I personally think it is too late for Detroit, as many people have been forever turned off to ever buying an "American" car because of the continuing problems with basic things like reliability, workmanship and overall quality.

The Big 3 still fail to understand that for most people, a car is a major investment of money. Unfortunately, with the precedent set by the Bush administration (helping out airlines after 9/11), I can already envision more of our money being wasted on propping up these dinosaurs.

[Red Badger]

They were good for that, too.........

[Prime Choice]

The automakers can see that the unions (which are squarely in the Dhimmicrat corner) are going to squeeze their nads, so they're doing a pre-emptive surrender to the Dhimmicrats.

[Dems_R_Losers]

I wonder if Nancy Pelosi's ethics crusade will include John Dingell whose wife, Debbie, still works for General Motors.

[anymouse]

The Soviets made even crummier Fiats (Ladas) than the Italians did. I had a couple of old Fiats in my college days back in the 80s. Later when I first visited Moscow, I was shocked to see a sea of taxis that looked just like my old Fiat.

The Soviets got the Fiats. The Cubans got the Chevies. And the Mexicans got the VW Beetles. Not sure which got cheated more in their deals. ;)

[Red Badger]

When they say "ethics" they mean yours, not theirs.......

[Marathoner]

The car companies' costs would drop if socialized medicine is passed and they can dump all of their employees and retirees onto the dole. The taxes will probably be much less for the car companies than their current insurance payments are.

Bingo! That's exactly what they're looking for.

[kinghorse]

Oh I think you are wrong. They will prop up our inferior companies with massive bailout money. It'll be a winner for them in the Midwest when Bush vetos.

[the_Watchman]

energy policies??????

What has this guy been smoking? The Dems are the ones who ratchet up the pollution and gas consumption requirements on the manufacturers that result in higher costs and fewer cars sold.

[MrRights]

Here come the paybacks... beep beep ... beep beep !!

[elkfersupper]

It sure didn't take the beggars long to start lining up.

[Alberta's Child]

"I think there's a greater recognition here that our manufacturers are not just competing with companies overseas. They're competing against countries that support their manufacturing," Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich, said in a conference call with reporters."We're going to have to be a much stronger partner with our auto companies and with our other manufacturers if we're going to stem this loss of jobs."

I call "bullsh!t" on this one, Mr. Levin. You're simply representing a state where the economy has been in the sh!tter for a long time -- for reasons that have very little to do with trade policy, currency manipulation, etc.

I read an article recently in which various U.S. economic figures (unemployment rate, poverty rates, etc.) were posted, and then calculated for the entire nation without Michigan included. I was astonished to see the drag that the dysfunctional rat-hole known as "Michigan" puts on the entire country.