Posted on 12/12/2008 7:04:08 AM PST by meandog
Bush changes mind, may save auto giants
Facing the potential bankruptcy of iconic American firms, President Bush on Friday abandoned his longstanding objection to using using the Wall Street bailout fund to help save G.M., Ford and Chrysler.
A frustrated Republican congressional official said: "If only they had said this last week, we could have saved ourselves a full week."
Ten hours after the Senate rejected a separate lifeline for the automakers, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said in a statement it would be "irresponsible" to let the companies crash. So she said Bush will "consider other options," including the $700 billion Troubled Assets Relief Program that Congress created for the Treasury Department in October.
"Under normal economic conditions we would prefer that markets determine the ultimate fate of private firms," Perino said in a statement. "However, given the current weakened state of the U.S. economy, we will consider other options if necessary including use of the TARP program to prevent a collapse of troubled automakers. A precipitous collapse of this industry would have a severe impact on our economy, and it would be irresponsible to further weaken and destabilize our economy at this time."
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Sorry...
... bad CREDIT risk.
A lot on the Right want his head too.
After he finished whining, he opened it up to the press for some canned questions to further stick it to the Pubs who opposed the bailout.
I’m in the bankruptcy before bailout camp, but I think a couple of things should put this into perspective. We’ve already swallowed the camel of a $700 billion bailout in which the Treasury Secretary has unbridled authority to loan the money, buy assets, or take equity stakes in banks. That should have been the point where Senate Republicans made their stand. The $13 billion loan to GM & Chrysler is choking on a gnat by comparison.
Furthermore, if we’re going to flush the $13 billion down the toilet, I’d much prefer we just give them a loan on favorable terms through the already appropriated TARP allocation, than have Congress appropriate $13 billion in NEW money, and set up another layer of government beauracracy to try to run the car companies.
I think you hit the nail on the head.
And I said months ago that a wholsesale dumping of UAW retirees off the Big Three pension and medical insurance rolls was going to be Priority #1 in the new administration.
And this was before I had any idea WHICH candidate would win in November.
“Ok FReepers, now is the time to write the White House and voice your opposition to a Bush big 3 bailout.”
Talk about spitting in the wind. I think the question is whether Bush has the legal authority to use TARP to bail out the automakers, and if not, who has the legal standing to sue him and stop him.
Yes, it has restrictions.
No more socialism. Impeach him if he spends your money on the big 3.
OK, so let’s say he goes ahead and lends them the 15 billion. What will happen when they come back next time with their hands out. Shall we keep lending them money until the economy comes back.
And it’s absurd to think that the heads of the Big 3 are going to just let the companies go belly up because they have to file for Chapter 11.
And another thing: we’d probably have a much larger manufacturing base if our taxes were lower and the envirowhackos weren’t running rampant in this country.
NO-O-O-O-O!
RE :Are there anymore Bushbots out there?
YES, ‘suziq’ just pinged me with this, you BDSs (LOL):
“He may have been a disappointment to you, but he’s clearly NOT disliked by everybody. He still has personal approval ratings in the 80’s from Republicans. He’s done quite a few good things while in office, it’s just that those with BDS can’t see them. “
‘outlawjake’ is trying to defend him, but is sinking in GWB quicksand fast.
One of my best friends was banned from FR because he called him “Jorge Bush” during the immigration reform sham.
Maybe FR can reinstate some of these people who called it as they saw it on W.
RINO bastard...again, why did I vote for him-—TWICE?
“Compassionate” trumps “Conservative” once again....
There is no way for anybody to look good in this mess. It is not that the cars are not evirofriendly or they do not get enough mileage. Nobody can buy a car. People are way overupside down in car dealer deals of the last ten years and maxed out of credit. Forget it. They won.t need even half the cars made. So they won’t need the union employees. These companies will have to downscale bigtime and make fewer cars.
Wait and see, he’ll use that extra-Constitutional mechanism called an ‘Executive Order’.
I’ve been convinced for at least the past six months that Bush is back on the sauce. There’s no other reasonable explanation for how wrongheaded and erratic he’s been with his thinking for a while now.
Of course it’s a good time to be an auto mechanic, as people keep their cars longer.
On the other hand, I seem to remember that the owner of this site wasn't in the Bush corner back in late 1998 when the GOP primary season was gearing up for the 2000 election. There was a lot of rumor about W's bad habits with substance abuse then...
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