Obama Prods Bush to Aid Detroit

Wall Street Journal ^

[Sub-Driver]

Obama Prods Bush to Aid Detroit Cordial White House Meeting Included Discussion of Auto Makers' Condition By JONATHAN WEISMAN and JOHN MCKINNON

President-elect Barack Obama met at the White House Monday with the man he will succeed in January, and pressed President George W. Bush to take immediate action to help stave off the collapse of the U.S. auto industry and to aid the economy more broadly.

Mr. Obama's focus on the auto industry came as fellow Democrats on Capitol Hill started moving on their own to help Detroit gain access to federal rescue funds allocated for the financial sector. Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan said Monday that he is drafting legislation, aimed for quick passage, that would free up money from the $700 billion Wall Street rescue for Detroit auto makers careening toward seeking bankruptcy protection.

Mr. Obama and his wife, Michelle, pulled up to the White House's diplomatic entrance in an armored black limousine, a more formal transport than his usual sport-utility vehicle. They were greeted by the president and first lady Laura Bush. The current and future first couples shook hands and smiled for the cameras. Messrs. Bush and Obama walked together through the West Colonnade flanking the Rose Garden, then into the Oval Office.

President Bush and first lady Laura Bush greeted President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, at the South Portico of the White House.

Mr. Obama's transition chief, John Podesta, held a separate meeting with White House Chief of Staff Joshua B. Bolten.

[Sub-Driver]

Ok. I'm a bit cranky today.....but as Gerald Ford said to New York - Drop Dead......

Sorry if I'm harsh but you failed.....

[DBCJR]

Lots of union jobs at stake that gave him battleground states

[TomServo]

Save your own base, Obummer..

[teletech]

Bush should not so gently remind Obama he isn’t in power until January 20th!

[infowarrior]

If "the one" wants Detroit 'saved', then "the one" can do it. Why should Bush?

the infowarrior

[hgro]

This would be a bailout of the UAW. Let them get real jobs.

[Chet 99]

These automakers need to go BK. The Japanese have figured out how to make cars with American labor that are profitable and people actually want to buy.

[Army Air Corps]

What is the point of a buying a new car if Odumbo wants to restrict petroleum exploration?

[Carley]

Bringing in the trash to our White House. What a shame.

[soupcon]

I thought most of the recent layoffs have been from the corporate side...

[DBCJR]

Have the econometrics people calculated the inflationary impact of every billion dollars of bailout? The devaluation of the dollar is inevitable. To date, the dollar has risen vs Euros, etc because other currencies are falling faster. But our continued bailouts can change that.

[EDINVA]

This can’t wait till January 20, 2009?

If I were Bush, against whom Obama ran so hard and viciously, I’d let him do it when he has the reins of power and live with the consequences. They have ALL the power come January .. let them do as they will.

[PhilDragoo]

Glenn Beck had figures showing GM union employees costing three times as much as Toyota employees.

If Hussein wants to aid Detroit he could quit hanging with its felon mayors.

He could shut his mouth about "we can't drive our suvs".

He could quit starving America's oil supply.

He could do a lot of things--explain how he who is a closet Communist and who has never earned an honest dollar can possibly advise the engine of the amazing American prosperity of the last century.

Or, he could just stick a head of arugula in it and stay in workers' paradise Chicago next year.

Maybe he and Bill Ayers can coauthor their next Little Red Book.

[Jeff Chandler]

I predict that Bush will do as he’s told.

[Frantzie]

The Japanese do not have the high wage costs, the UAW and the UAW legacy costs. The UAW has thugged GM, F and Chrysler the same way we are about to get thugged by Obama.

[kittymyrib]

And what, pray tell, does Pres. Bush owe the UAW and the state of MI? They are run by Democrats. It should be Utopia.

[weston]

Why does he want Bush to do his dirty work? It's a trap, of course. Either way, any consequences will be “Bush's Fault”.
He should tell Bambi to go to hell. 2 months is not going to make any difference. This is only a headline to make Bush look bad.
If the bill comes to his desk, Bush should veto it, loudly proclaim the pork amounts and name the Senators who added the pork!

[JustaDumbBlonde]

"Sorry if I'm harsh but you failed..... "

We've lost a great part of what made America the great country that she once was when failure is no longer allowed. The welfare and 'disability' system have become career choices and big business can't fail no matter how poorly run.

[elkfersupper]

The only things that would help Detroit would be to get rid of all the union thugs and then go about building one decent automobile.

[rfp1234]

What’s next? Detroiters are depressed, so let’s have the Gov’t nationalize the NHL, and just award the 2009 Stanley Cup to the Red Wings. There will be a parade this coming Saturday.