The Conservative Case for Duncan Hunter

TownHall.com ^ | 2/2/07 | John Hawkins

[Jim W N]

You would not be able to go out and buy a brand new HD today if Reagan let that company go "unprotected".

Why not?

[taxed2death]

Because HD would not have survived.

[Jim W N]

Because HD would not have survived.

Why not?

[taxed2death]

because the Japanese were flooding the market with 750cc+ bikes and AMF was building crappy bikes...

[Jim W N]

because the Japanese were flooding the market with 750cc+ bikes and AMF was building crappy bikes...

So the consumer doesn't lose when instead of the Japanese bike he wants, he's stuck instead with "crappy bikes"?

[taxed2death]

Nope, The tariff enabled Willie G Davidson the time and opportunity to buy back controlling shares of HD, and thus rebuild the company's reputation and bring it up to to it's position today.

Despite what you think, no one "suffered".

Amazing hugh?

Your formulaic approach and knee jerk reaction against a degree of protectionism for a specific time period shows that you "anti-tariff" people can't see the trees because of the forest.

When you factor in the hundreds of millions of dollars that the Registered Harley Davidson Brand sells each and every year in motorcycles, clothing, use of registered trademarks (Ford's Harley Edition pick up truck)....not to mention the tens of thousands of people employed worldwide making such products....any rational thinking human would have to agree that tariffs are indeed good and a useful tool in certain instances.

[taxed2death]

Nope, The tariff enabled Willie G Davidson the time and opportunity to buy back controlling shares of HD, and thus rebuild the company's reputation and bring it up to to it's position today.

Despite what you think, no one "suffered".

Amazing hugh?

Your formulaic approach and knee jerk reaction against a degree of protectionism for a specific time period shows that you "anti-tariff" people can't see the trees because of the forest.

When you factor in the hundreds of millions of dollars that the Registered Harley Davidson Brand sells each and every year in motorcycles, clothing, use of registered trademarks (Ford's Harley Edition pick up truck)....not to mention the tens of thousands of people employed worldwide making such products....any rational thinking human would have to agree that tariffs are indeed good and a useful tool in certain instances.

[MattinNJ]

So who are you backing?

[zbigreddogz]

I'm not 100% behind anybody right now, but I'm leaning toward Romney.

I'll assure you one thing: He won't have spent his entire adult life in Congress, he won't be a protectionist, and he won't have the chance of being elected as I do of being named Ms. Saudi Arabia.

[zbigreddogz]

You are making the incorrect assumption that nobody can do what HD does. In truth, lots could, and had we actually allowed the free market to operate, someone else would have stepped up and provided that need. It might have even been that some smart, rich investor would have realized that the HD brand name was still worth something, and saved it without government intervention that creates higher prices for everyone.

[Jim W N]

The tariff enabled Willie G Davidson the time and opportunity to buy back controlling shares of HD, and thus rebuild the company's reputation and bring it up to to it's position today.

How did the tariff enable this to happen? (Also, let's see if we can can have what at least I consider to be an interesting discussion without personal attacks.)

[taxed2death]

...by slowing down the flow of jap bikes (750cc+) flowing into the US. Again, can you point out a single consumer that was hurt by this?
Have you met one? I havn't and I've been in the Motorcycle business for about 20 years now...

[taxed2death]

"It might have even been that some smart, rich investor would have realized that the HD brand name was still worth something, and saved it without government intervention that creates higher prices for everyone."

or maybe not.

Witness Benelli, still floundering after "someone" bought the name"

Same with MV Agusta.

Same with Bimota

Same with Laverda.

or for a real laugh Indian motorcycles.

[taxed2death]

...or better yet...maybe we can get a wealthy American GROUP of investors say.... like TPG....to buy a controlling interest in a motorcycle company...like...ummm, Ducati !

Then we can watch them take a premiere marque, Mcdonaldize it, do away with it's distinctive corporate logo, change it to Helvetica Bold, hire a fooking FRENCH designer to take one of the most GROUNDBREAKING motorcycle designs ever (916)...and screw it up so bad (999) that they (Ducati) had to ship the leftover europen 998's back to the US to help with the downward sales that Ducati was suffering because of the French rolling abortion called the 999.

Then, let's split the market, confound the parts suppliers and flood the market with multi sequenced models of the SAME line (M-600, M-620, M-750, M-900, M-S2, S3 and finally S4) thus spreading themselves WAYYYYY to thin for the amount of POTENTIAL Ducati buyers out there.

In short, let's get some investors to destroy a great company.

Thank G_D the Italians bought back the controlling interest in Ducati.

The Italians KNOW one thing and one thing only... how to win races. If they (Ducati) win WSB and GP-1 races... their sales will flourish (like they did all through the 90's.
The Americans just think bass-ackwards and try to shove a Duck down everyones throat...try to do a slick Madison ave job...and ruin a company.

Thank God for the Italians and Troy Bayliss, they're setting things right again.

[MattinNJ]

Romney has no shot. By the time the MSM gets done with Mormons, they'll make Scientology seem like a main stream religion. I remember listening to Howard Stern interview Rickey Schroeder (kid star-NYPD Blue) who is a conservative Mormon. Schroeder admitted that Mormons wear holy underwear.

Rudy has the early lead but is too liberal for many conservatives. McCain is fading fast. Newt has personal image problems. Romney is unelectable.

I'll admit that Hunter is my favorite. I grew up around NYC and would have no trouble if Rudy got elected. I believe Newt is the most articulate conservative and would look forward to a debate between him and Hillary.

That being said, it seems like every GOP candidate has one leg of the stool missing.

[zbigreddogz]

In short, let's get some investors to destroy a great company.

Yah Goddamn it! F*&k free markets! The US government folks know it's a good company and it must be saved! Free markets be damned!

[zbigreddogz]

Fortunately for me, Americans aren't nearly as bigoted on religious matters as you seem to think they are.

[taxed2death]

hey....yap all ya want... it saved HD and there's no arguing that FACT.
:)

[zbigreddogz]

No, there is no arguing the fact.

That does not prove that it wouldn't have been saved anyway. It does not prove that the American public is better off because of it. And it CERTAINLY doesn't prove that even if they were better off in this unique situation, that it is the usual case.

Saying that protectionism did good once is like saying raising taxes was good once. Still doesn't mean it's a good idea 99.9% of the time, and I don't trust someone who does it. Protectionism is nothing but a hidden tax.

[MattinNJ]

A Catholic could barely get elected. What makes you think a Mormon could? I like Romney, could care less if he worshipped Zeuss, and think he would do well in Mass and Mich.-maybe not win, but make the Dems spend $ there. I just don't think a mormon has a shot.