Posted on 07/31/2007 11:26:37 AM PDT by CutePuppy
Link only due to copyright restrictions
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070731/METRO/707310344&imw=Y&template=printart
1. It doesn’t take much to PO the unions, I think they’re in perpetual PO’d state to begin with.
2. To say that someone can’t say something horribly true about Detroit’s and Michigan’s government because there are some negotiations between some [rapidly shrinking] employers in Detroit and some [rapidly shrinking] unions in Detroit would mean picking the subject based on some strange exogenous calendar and is not at all realistic. It’s simply a diversion from real issues facing auto industry in Detroit. As a matter of fact it might turn the spotlight on and show Detroit’s denizens what the real problems are with the city, and it’s not their “greedy” employers, it’s their greedy and corrupt government.
Though I appreciate your personal sensitivity to the matter, because (I assume) you are in the thick of it, let me assure you that what Newt has said about Detroit’s failed governance (which, of course, in large part depends on union’s fundraising and voters) will have absolutely no bearing on the labor negotiations and their outcome... however I expect it could be one more thing to lay at Newt’s feet and blame him for, one more inane excuse if union doesn’t get all the concessions that they want - which make Detroit auto industry so uncompetitive even relative to foreign manufacturers producing cars in US.
Yes, the bonehead management of major US auto makers does its part as well, but Chrysler couldn’t shed red ink even with German management and engineering contributions, though that might change now.
First, it isn’t some “strange exogenous” calander. The labor negotiations occur every three years and the contracts are always due in september of the negotiation year. Second, the union folks that I know and the reports that I had been reading had every indication that the union was resigned to making several concessions back to the manufacturers. Third, Newt directly called the UAW out, during the negotiation, which has resulted in a total turn of the reports and the attitudes of the folks that I know.
The fact is that Newt is a very polarizing figure and is very hated by the left. I respect him for that. However, I would have preferred that he kept his mouth shut during such an important negotiation. This contract could be the last piece of the puzzle in a very long road to recovery for the US auto makers, or it could be the final nail in their coffin.
Would you want Newt to come to MI in an election year pushing the GOP candidate? I wouldn’t. It could very well fire up the socialists to turn out in higher numbers. Newt is to the left what Hillary is to the right.
Looks like Detroit has been Katrina’d by multiple generations of Democratic Party domination of local politics.
Anybody thats actually driven through downtown Detriot knows this is true.They used to always make a special point of securing the road between Fort Cobo and Fort Westin during the SAE Show.
One year, a black woman was acquitted of beating a white woman at a fireworks display. The attack was videotaped and several co-conspirators pled guilty. It turned out the mayor at the time helped pay for her defense.
The verdict was announced during SAE and the phrase "reverse Rodney King" instantly invented. (but no one rioted)
-Eric
If there is any doubt about Newt’s opinions, go to Detroit and see just how screwed a major American city can get with the nutcases elected to office.
Albany New York is becoming another Detroit, crime riddon, failed public schools etc. The ONLY reason it wemi-survives is because it is the capital of New York and gets extra funding to keep it afloat.
Attention Newt and staff: Check out this website for Brighter Choice Charter Schools in Albany.
http://www.brighterchoice.org/
It is a remarkable success story and charter schools should model after this. Yep, it's non-union and it actually teaches kids the 3 R's without all the left wing pap. It holds students and parents accountable.
Oh, did I mention that the results are a million times better than the teacher union plagued Albany government schools.
Sad, but I’m not surprised at all.
A national salvage yard would be more appropriate.
That's what I was referring to, you're too close to situation. Newt is being a convenient scapegoat for Democrats and unions to do what they want to do and say what they want to say to justify what they do. To say that what Newt said about Detroit's government and UAW (not for the first time and not for the last one, I hope) should affect the and crucial negotiations between the union and employers in the essential industry dependent on this for its survival and that happen once every three years is silly and simply sounds like a convenient political excuse for their position in negotiations... It's not going to do diddly squat because he is not part of negotiations and has nothing to do with auto industry, anymore than Jesse Jackson or others commenting on these issues are... but I can understand using him as negotiation tactic to justify whatever position is taken, no matter how childish this behavior looks - "Oh, Newt dissed us, you'll pay for this, no more concessions - no justice, no cars".
Just like with Murdoch's takeover of Dow Jones - first thing they tried to do was find someone to bid higher. As soon as that failed, all they could do is put a fig leaf of "editorial integrity" and sic the New York Times and other media on "evil" Murdoch and put out stories about possible competitive bidding by different liberal billionaires (Geffen, Burkle, Greenspan etc.) to try and get the price higher... That's what it really was all about finally, not "integrity" or anything else - outcome was in no doubt based on price and price alone, not any peripheral or ego issues though they were used as negotiation tactic and prove to their liberal base that they did everything possible not to "give" or "sell out" to evil Murdoch valuable Wall Street Journal and other very valuable DJ assets.
I can assure you that nothing will change in UAW negotiations due to Newt's comments, they will make the concessions they were prepared to make, they just need to raise the heat for their brainwashed union base... Union folks now depend on the union for their paycheck and benefits and are talking to you from position of their wallet right now. Actually maybe some union people that either you don't talk to or will not tell you or anybody else about this, can see that Newt is actually right about things in Detroit and will vote next time differently or with their feet.
Would you want Newt to come to MI in an election year pushing the GOP candidate? It could very well fire up the socialists to turn out in higher numbers.
Yes, I would invite him first. Republicans tried to run and hide in last elections, it failed miserably like it always does. Newt can explain conservative positions better than anybody, and really fire up not only the base but also conservative "Reagan Democrats" to come out and vote, which didn't happen in 2006. Socialists don't need to be fired up, they always are and others will be bused to the voting polls.
Newt is to the left what Hillary is to the right.
Then we should nominate Bob Dole or one of "his good friends"...
``My heart has always been with my good friend John McCain,'' said Dole, former Senate majority leader and Republican presidential nominee. ``But it's just not happening, the buzz is gone,''
People in Congress who most undermined Newt's "revolution" in the 90's, because they wanted power and glory to themselves, turned out to be lazy, crooked or incompetent and rudderless, without leadership.
Lol...
It’s what happens when you don’t use toothpaste...
Or floss...
http://www.forgottendetroit.com/toc.html
Try this one - Forgotten Detroit. Also sad.
I went to UM A2 from ‘71-’75 and used to go to Cobo and other places for rock concerts. A lot of the white Detroit kids I knew actually had moved to the suburbs after the riots and From what I could see, even back then, Detroit seemed to be going downhill fast.
It is sad to think of the wonderful architechture and the jobs that have just dissappeared.
My dad’s grave is right near the city airport.
That bomb would pretty much wipe it out.
I am sure Newt knows it.
Newt has hit on the great strategy for 2008 elections, running against systemic corruption in government, particularly the disasters in states and large cities - which have overwhelming effect on people’s lives - habitually and almost permanently run by Democrats. A lot of people in these cities are suffering despite great economy in the nation in general. People in these cities or states don’t even know that the nation’s economy is good because they judge it by what they see, and Dems are always blaming “the evil Republicans” for their troubles, with the help of the media. What they see is the worst of US, and how good life and free healthcare in Cuba is, based on “Sicko”-type propaganda.
Newt rips off that mask and turns their attention to local and state governments.
Try this links of largest US cities and count the number of Democrat mayors, compared to Republican mayors and the state of their cities... Bloomberg just did us a favor of changing parties...
Top 50 Cities in the U.S. by Population and Rank —
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0763098.html
Top 100 Biggest Cities -
http://www.city-data.com/top1.html
Wow, facinating and very sad.
Thank you for that link.
maybe it was you who posted on another Detroit thread years ago “all them other Santa’s were fakes!” People cheered when they blew up Hudsons but then you could see people crying once the smoke cleared.
Detroit is the only urban metropolis that I’ve been to where you can actually see halfway across the city... entire neighborhoods are GONE.
There is at least one upside to the state of modern Detroit: If John Carpenter and Kurt Russell ever decide to make another Snake Plissken movie, they have a location ready to use as is.
Up in your neck of the woods - ping!
Newt has nailed the whole Detroit School System mess. They just "lost" 46 million dollars.
Google the story about the retired cement block mogul (from Canton MI?) who wanted to donate 100 million dollars to build Charter Schools in Detroit a few years ago and the Detroit Teachers Unions shut down the schools and protested for a day in Lansing!
After that stunt, the Mogul took the offer off the table....
I saw that website some time ago. Just makes you sick.
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