So Ford was successful without TARP. How ironic Obama claims victory at Ford...he had zip to do with it...

Obama's victory tour? He needs to be apologizing to the American people for doing such a lousy job as president. When something's going good, he did it and takes the credit, and when something's going to hell, Bush is blamed!

"victory tour"... get real, this is another "sell it" campaign, just like healthcare, stimulus, etc...

It was a victory only for those who recieved the "too big to fail" title... everyone else got screwed.

$15,500.00

whats another word for tturd??? "BS", that what obummer is spewing and thats what you're spewing... pretty creative though.

Nice spin there turd ! I mean, it really SOUNDS impressive !

There's only one problem with your logic...........all of the "right things" were done by Ford's President Alan Mulally LONG BEFORE OBAMA WAS ELECTED !!! William Clay Ford hired him specifically because of his reputation as a TURNAROUD SPECIALIST. Mulally earned that distinction after helping turn around BOEING in Seattle.

And your comment, "If you don't believe me, then ask yourself then what did the previous administration do to help or hurt FORD?" Well, George W. Bush DID NOT BAIL-OUT Ford Motor Company's competitor........you know, the one now called Government Motors.

So there you have it, we can BLAME IT ON GEORGE BUSH !!!! .........I mean, after all turd, if you libs seek to blame Bush for everything, you must blame Ford's turnaround without government money on him also !!! Nice try, but your logic is weak !!!!!!!!!

OK now this ones just funny. Ford gave Obama the big stiff arm regarding their bailout. They blew the top off of Chrylser and GM since. If that doesn't show how asinine the bailouts were I dont know what does. Proof positive. I wonder how he'll give himself credit for this one.. and a "solid b+" and a pat on his own back

HAHA buffoon

HAHA Turd (appropriate)... how typical, throw out the facts and only consider the hypothetical. Ridiculous.

Ah the left, only getting more desperate.

Yet, it would've been better to do nothing? Is that the answer by the far right to all the country's woes? TARP will be paid back, jobs saved and added, and a plan to expand exports. Seems like a success story only the negative minded can find problems with.

I guess it would've been better to build more roads, schools, and hospitals in Iraq, as Bush did!

This fool of a man has the gall to claim victory, in a plant he had NOTHING to do with, all the while his wife is galavanting in Spain, at TAXPAYER expense, using Air Force2, spending $2500 a night per room x 60.

These people are so out of touch as to make Republicans blush.

Nancy spending six-figures on her private jet on booze and food, while more Americans lose their jobs.

The only people the democrats represent are Union and Government workers.

Yeah, employment is booming in DC, while here in Central California we are still seeing 17%+ unemployment.

The man-child will be a 1-termer if we have anything to say about it.

The CEO of Ford told Congress that they did not need money a year ago, because they still had half of the $25 billion they borrowed by mortgaging the whole company the previous year. He told them he might need it later, because you never know how far down the crash will go.

I too am curious why he would go to Ford to give the speech...after all, wasn't it Ford that went with a more capitalist (or self-reliant) approach to solving their problem instead of relying on a governmental handout to try and "save the day"?

It seems that it would have made more sense to go to a GM plant to give a speech about how the bailout saved the auto industry.

Not being negative...just saying.

Turd,

Do you seriously believe the scene created regarding Toyota was complete to the T? I believe it was to provide pressure on the #1 foreign auto maker to reduce their imports...I love this comment you made.

Our government planted all the defects in Toyota's because of their stake in GM. Even the recent recalls of 412,000 vehicles made in 2000 thru 2004 were planted by the government, they were already planning to take over GM at this time. They MADE Toyota wait 6+ years to announce this recall until after they took GM over. It is all part of the grand scheme to own ALL the American auto companies and drive the foreign ones out. You are right it is all a big government scheme and they are not done with Toyota yet, they are going to keep this up until ALL Toyota problems are recalled and until they own all the American auto companies. The news about the public offering of GM stock is to throw us all off their master plan. All reports of GM paying back GOV loans are lies, reports that the taxpayers will make a profit on the GM loan are lies.

By the way TURD is the government sitll out to get you? Are you still hearing the voices in your head, or did they let you out of the mental ward?

Nothing like take credit where credit isn't due! One thing working well right now and obadman had little to do with it. He has the opposite of the Midas touch, instead of turning things to gold he turns them to smit when he touches them!

The friggin chutzpah of this guy makes my blood pressure explode. He gives himself credit for Ford's ability to succeed on its own and without accepting his expensive bail-outs? WTF did he ever do for Ford? On the other hand, Chrysler will certainly fail, and Government Motors can wait before I spend $40,000 on a Volt. End of story. Talk about chutzpah!

How can I allow anyone with the name "turd" to get to me? His post is just that. Bird-turd.

So who will be buying all these vehicles that will make the American auto industry "number one" again? Not the millions & millions of unemployed Americans out of work and no jobs in sight.

So he boasts about his auto maker bailout at "Ford" ...which did not take any bailout money...but the article states that his main job out in the Midwest is campaign fundraising.

Do 'we the people' pay for the entire costs of his trip, simply because of his stopover at the car plant ???...when most of his time is spent raising money for political ends ???

Am I tired of having this cash-devouring political bozo spend my money on his travels on a weekly basis ??? Yes I am.

Say Obama dumb ace Ford did it without you or any part of the $60 billion the only place you could go that is doing well, I didn't see anything when you went to GM. Too bad Ford union locals didn't get a dime from the Gov. you must be slipping Roy. By the way don't take credit for the $3.1 billion loans for exports that was on Bush's watch not yours.

see i told ya so long ago; he would make it as a Car Salesman......LOL

Yes Tony, all on our dime. And did you see where his wife took a vacation to Spain on our dime as well? Here is a short description of her agenda....

She is on a four-day visit and will be staying at the five-star Villa Padierna, rated as one of the world's top 30 hotels, with 40 friends. The party has reserved 60 rooms.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1300240/Michelle-Obama-goes-walkabout-Marbella-racist-Spaniards-gaff.html#ixzz0vlciUG4I

USED CAR SALESMAN, JEEESUS. You know the type; buy here, PAY here.

Pairing an official event such as the Ford plant visit with political appearances allows the White House to bill taxpayers rather than the Democratic Party or individual candidates for most of the president's travel costs.

Better print more money, it's travelin' time again...

Interesting link Close the Borders!. I note the racial uniqueness in her entourage of friends also. I also thought she was planning on vacationing in Gulf Shores, AL.

So can we conclude Pres O went to Ford thinking he was at a plant that took his Fed funds and that Mrs O thinks she is in Gulf Shores? Both are clueless and lost.

Doesn't take long for the Bush haters and Looney libs to come out. D-Nice why don't you crawl back in your hole and wait for 6 more weeks of winter? The only loser is you and your lib buddies my friend.

They are obviously NOT your friends. They associate with rational people.

dnice: He (OB) said it created 1200 jobs, Not ford.. Stated Ford added another shift, has nothing to do with Fed stimulas unless you want to cosider the tax breaks for the rich! Talk about trolls!!!!!!!!!!

you right wingers are no different than the congress, patting each other on backs and collapsing comments. "let's hide the left's responses" how grown up of you all. I don't think any of you read articles, anything about Obama you all get on here and type a bunch of buzz words.

Here are two buzzwords for you .

November. election

Apparently President Obama is the one who is Transparent. The majority of Americans can see through the spins and coverup talk he is throwing at us.

No one believes him anymore. It is to his benefit to chirp about all the "non-successes we know that haven't come to fruition. Obama thinks they are successes in his mind. Politics.

Ford? Really? He was responsible for Ford's Success? Ford did it all on their own, with the previous ex Boeing President Mulally of The Commercial Airline Division. It is now Chief CEO Mulally who gets the credit. They never accepted any Stimulus Money.

Mulally is the success to this story.

The GM Division and Chrysler Carmakers have not turned a profit yet. They will still owe money back to the Government, for the Stimulus Packages they were given. Also, GM and Chrysler have not received all of the Stimulus money as yet. Ask the Car Makers what they know. Have they returned to complete employment numbers at the car factories? What is Detroit like?

He is misleading America all the way on all points.

This country is slowly turning around after the diaster Bush left it in. 19 months later the right wingers here expect roses and wine for all Americans, Get real. Obama has had no help from Republicans on any issue at all and No being their only answer to everything has definately made this recovery slower than it is.

I really feel sorry for Obama because he was dealt a really $hitty hand. As far as the auto bailout goes I'm glad America's auto industry was not allowd to be split up and sold to the the Communists like so many of my country"s businesses. I take pride in my American cars as I drive old Ford, Lincoln Town cars, Both of them run great and are trouble free. 247,400 on one and 223,050 on another.. Pretty damn good to me.... oh yeh, I just bought another newer one with 61,000 miles on it and sold the first one.....

Buy American, America needs your support. Thanks

John A, your assessment represents an interesting opinion and that's about it. It would not be given much thought in economic circles. You can claim his actions brought the economy back from the brink of failure, but since there is no proof, you claim does not carry much weight. The same thing goes for jobs saved, there is no measurement no real metric that has any meaning.

Now lets to the crux of the matter. Obama did not inherit the current economic condition he and the rest of his cohorts in Congress created the economic situation. Remember, the Congress (specifically the House of Representatives) owns the purse. Nothing gets done, not one bill is paid without Congress spending the money. As a sitting Senator (although admittedly he wasn't in Washington very much) Obama voted for legislation that spent the money. In effect, he is more responsible for the economic conditions then President Bush, who signed the spending bills into effect. The idea that he has successfully been spinning the "Bush did it" routine is both wrong and childish. He wants people to forget that he was a senator and voted for spending programs that hurt the economy.

Ford did not benefit from TARP, and probably did benefit marginally from cash for clunkers, (although Toyota was the primary beneficary). Ford made some hard decisions beginning in 2002 seeing the hand writting on the wall. GM and Chrysler saw the same writting but chose to ignore the warning signs. I doubt seriously if the economy would have risen or fallen on the bankrupcy of both of those enterprises. They should have been allowed to fail, gone through Chapter 11 restructuring and come out on the other side much stronger competitiors with a new business plan.

These two companies have not improved their bottom line. They owe the government and the tax payers billions of dollars that will not be paid back in the near term. Real profits will not materialize for dozens of years if ever. They will fail again, they can't help themselves unless they get control of their cost stream. The only thing that has happened is that Obama bought the unions some time.

Ford redid their own plants long ago to use methane for energy. Ford builds a great product and did not accept bailout money. Why did Obama come to the Ford plant???

Pairing an official event such as the Ford plant visit with political appearances allows the White House to bill taxpayers rather than the Democratic Party or individual candidates for most of the president's travel costs.

I am not a Democrate and my tax dollars should not be paying for his political appearances.

If this is done all the time by all parties it needs to stop.

Everett:

Bush again, 2 years ago--long ago. When is President Obama, who wanted to be President and is President going to take charge of deep issues in this country. Unemployment in the Car Factories, back to full capacity.

No more excuses, please. Please accept the fact that all US Presidents come into office to correct the last President's gaffes. Americans expect after 2 years in office for things to change, not making a collage of all unimportant subjects to be tackled first.

Everett, listen to me, get with the Program. His Presidential Responsibility is being threatened by the Majority of Americans not voting for him again, because of the lack of no solid decision making on anything.

For what other reason, did the Majority vote Bush out, or any other US President in their first Term?

Hawaii2,

When Obama took office this country was losing 780,000 jobs a month because of the policies of Republicans, not Democrats. and that was 19 months ago, not 2 years ago as you might wish. You have to admit Obama was handed a $hitty hand by Bush and it will take more than 19 months to get it cleaned up.

This country is turning around, I am a small business owner who is doing fairly well and just hired another employee as I am seeing more work coming and hope it goes that way for everyone. Republicans don't want to help and have done nothing to help Obama except say No to everything. Hell they even stopped a bill for loans for small busineses like mine this week from going through after they gave 780 billion dollars of TARP money to the Bankers and Wall Street. That's obstructing all small busineses, my business that are the backbone of this country, while they claim otherwise.

All they are doing to Obama and America is destroying the middleclass working man for their good of their Rich Wall Street friends and Bankers.. They even filibuster a jobs bill America desperately needs etc.

The tax cuts they created for these Rich friends, [might I add during two wars they started] are about to expire and they are now claiming Obama is going to raise my taxes ??? Now that a good one!!!, when they wrote this damn law themselves.

Personally I don't make over $250,000 a year, so letting these tax cuts for the super rich go back to where they were seems like a good idea especially since they have added trillions sdollars to the National Debt and they sure as hell did not create any jobs in America, maybe China...

Everett:

When a candidate runs for the most important job in the world, President of the United States, they are more than willing to fix the problems. That's why they get elected by a majority who are disatisfied with the last Administration.

Now, Everett, no where in US History has another President ever blamed the "Last Administration" for what they chose to deal with. President Obama has been in office for almost 2 years. That already is half his first Term. The 2 years is enough time for the private sector to know which way the country is going. Everyone is feeling it in their economic and financial losses. Nothing is getting better.

Why isn't President Obama quick to recognize and get experts together to fix the economy, Massive Unemployment, the worst since the Great Depression, no credit for the average "Joe" in the US. It is mostly impossible to buy a house now, with the regulations that have been put on the banks. Foreclosures, the worst in recent history.

I am glad your business is successful. It is the big business person who makes thousands of jobs for other people. Obama is attacking and the Government is buying up all big Corporations. This is bad. Government workers, low pay, and living below their possibility to make a high wage.

You are a small employer. It really doesn't count as far as draining the swamp of all the unemployed. How many thousands of people can you help employ? They need big businesses to give them benefits, jobs, and high morale.

If it weren't for the rich, most people would be out of a job. They make jobs.

Taxing the rich is self-defeating. It will kill all business. Do you get it?

We are doing much outsourcing for more profits. China, yes. Most Americans can't afford to buy American made goods. They simply do not have the money.

You don't understand the 'rich category" and how it works for you.

The middle class will no longer be here. It will just be the poor and the rich. We want to keep the middle class, by giving them jobs.

Please don't be naive. Obama wants to keep people "down". It is his plan.

Obama should be award the salesman of the year award by Ford.... after all who has done a better job at pissing off the American public with the GM/Chrysler cra.p and sent them to the Ford show rooms?

I stopped in to look at cars at the GM/Chevy dealer the other day.... when the salesman asked if he could help me and if I had any questions. I said, "yes.... has GM paid back every last penny they borrowed"? His jaw dropped and said no at which time I told him then no they couldn't help me and left..... FO! GM, Chrysler, and Obama till every last sent is paid back and you have documentation to show me that it has.

I understand that GM, which is 60% owne by the government - thanks to Obama's sweetheart deal with the unions, and throwing the former creditors and stockholders under the bus, is now making political contributions to Democratic causes, and of couirse the autoworker's union also gives directly to Democrats.

Somehow, this smacks of a conflict of interest - using taxpayer money to "buy" a company, and then using that company's money to make partisan political contributions.

Isn't it interesting how "creative" the Democrats can be? And aren't we glad that Nancy Pelosi has "drained the swamp", except, of course, for Charlie Rangel and Maxine Waters.

Ford leveraged / mortgaged the kitchen sink to stay afloat. Call that a victory, but its days are numbered in America. All cars will be manufactured outside of the US, because competition and labor will dictate where Ford places its factories.

And Everett is clearly a groupie for the rich. The balance between employer and employee is way more complex than stating that the rich create jobs. And as for the rich, they currently are creating jobs outside of American soil. Your argument defeats itself, champ! Bottom lines, on paper, black and red, P&L's- that's what the calculating rich look at when decisions are made. Regs keep them honest. Protectionist ways keep them home. A move away from the Trickle Down- Corporate First agenda makes them accountable. You give away any power when you state that the rich hold your own welfare (in summary) in their hands. Equally dangerous and foolish of you to admit. Pawn.

Roscoe, Jim041424, Mixman34, Paul F, Wizard, WaterDog49: You guys really need to read or to watch some of the transcripts of when the Auto CEOs were infront of the Congress. Ford pretty much laid out their $ source from the very beginning. If FORD did not leverage the year before, they would have been in the 2nd worse position.

I guess you are the type that judge the book by its cover, hence your support for Sarah and Michelle? I must congrat you guys your knowledge and sense of entitlement. You guys didn't even know how and where Ford Cashflow was coming from!!! hahaha.

I assume you guys haven't learned that we still have not paid for the last GWBush tax cut for the rich. Oh, and you chumps are now paying for all those American corps that reside outside of US (on the islands). Yes, chumps like you still thinks that closing the corporate loopholes are bad!!! because, Ronald Regan promised that they will trickle down to us!!!!! hahaha all the way to the bank.

good for you Everett. Hawaii2, I don't think you are answering Everett's points. You are simply changing topics as Everett address each and every point you made earlier.

The way you swithc topics reminds me of the Republican Politicians who previously supported CA Prop 8. Where are they???? The religious groups are still there (proud that they are standing for what they believe in). The haters are still there as expected. But where are the Rep/TeaParty Politicians that swore by Prop 8?

The Export bank has been around for years this is not an Obama idea. These are also just guarentees not actual loans. Allows Ford to reduce interest expense. This is similiar to SBA loans.

RCH 913656,

You are right !! William Clay Ford had the foresight years ago to RECOGNIZE he needed help. He brought in Alan Mulally to turn the company around. Mulally closed a few plants, he offered early buyouts to reduce their work force, he eliminated some slow-selling models,he arranged long-term financing to finance the turnaround plan and he PUT MONEY BACK INTO PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. He also cut unnecessary costs wherever possible.

Barack Obama did nothing to help Ford's turnaround. The turnaround was ALREADY IN PROGRESS before the anointed one was even elected !!!!!

"The White House says that's possible in part because of $400 million in new Energy Department loan guarantees for companies that redesign their plants to make more fuel-efficient vehicles."

While Ford is responsible for its own success, Obama is responsible for several steps that boosted that success. First, his "cash for clunkers" program allowed Ford in particular to move a huge piece of inventory when the collapsed auto market threatened to derail Ford. Second, the bailouts for Chrysler and GM preserved the very large, intricate supplier structure on which Ford relies as much as the other two companies.

Then there's the overall effect of not only the bailouts, which preserved massive numbers of jobs well beyond direct auto industry firms affected, but also the stimulus program. Without these efforts, the total collapse of the U.S. economy would have simply swamped Ford, too.

The narcissism and omnipotence of this liar in chief is nothing short of astounding.

John A, What a great post!

John, Cash for Clunkers WAS A CLUNKER ! It was a short-term "fix" that caused a very TEMPORARY spike in car sales, mostly from individuals ready to buy anyway. For several months after this program was over, sales of new vehicles were noticeably DOWN.

It was kind of like a junkie getting his "fix" only to come down later.

For the dealers, it also caused significant cash-flow problems for some time because the government was ill-prepared to handle the volume of reimbursements ........not to mention the Barackracy of red tape required to GET REIMBURSED !

Spot On Jim...many didn't get reimbursed, and those that did waited and waited...while unable to replenish any inventory because of cash flow problems. I know of a huge local dealer who opted out of the program almost immediately. Guess what folks...if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

How many of the people driving a clunker were doing so because the couldn't AFFORD A NEW CAR?? How many of them will default on Auto Loans...watch, we'll have a mini housing meltdown in the auto market. Groundhog's Day? No...just another stupid Democrat giveaway program. Did none of these people complete first grade math?

Hey John, what auto maker sold the most cars during cash for clunkers? I believe it was Nissan.

Ford actually did well during the "cash for clunkers" program, but so did many other automakers. The entire project had many definite flaws, although not so bad as doomsayers claimed at the time. And a large majority of the buyers were folk who COULD afford the cars, had either available credit or cash reserves on hand, and were motivated by this limited-time opportunity to buy. It was something of a "booster shot" for the industry, not a long-term cure. Dealers who qualified for reimbursement under the program, which indeed for a number of weeks was badly clogged by demand, eventually got their money. A bunch of crooks and slicks who tried to cheat didn't.

Folk don't realize that a fat inventory of unsold cars on dealers' lots as well as in manufacturers' and distributors' hands, ties up so much capital that it practically stalls the entire industry. What this project did was to pull that particular plug out so that business could fl9ow again at a very critical time for the entire industry.

John - "While Ford is responsible for its own success, Obama is responsible for several steps that boosted that success."

Wake up John, if not for the bailouts GM and Chrysler would cease to exist, Ford would dominate the domestic market through its own good business practices... instead taxpayers were used to keep Fords competitors afloat after they failed thereby costing Ford the true success that they earned.

If the government gave hundreds of billions to Pepsi to keep it alive would you also call that "boosting the success" of Coke?

pjam09 wrote:

if not for the bailouts GM and Chrysler would cease to exist, Ford would dominate the domestic market through its own good business practices... instead taxpayers were used to keep Fords competitors afloat after they failed thereby costing Ford the true success that they earned.

The "sink or swim" concept of untrammelled market competition really could never have applied to the conditions of the time. As I mentioned above, the collapse of both Chrysler and GM would have completed the economic disaster afflicting the country, eventually taking down Ford, as well. The magnitude of social, political, and economic consequences of the entire failure of the auto industry in the U.S. would have been beyond reckoning - and the depression to follow would have made that of 1929-1940 seem like "good old days."

"Free market dynamics" that have animated much American business policy since Ronald Reagan have been proven a complete failure. There is a REASON an economy exists, and frankly it is NOT to ultimately produce a few dozen Warrent Buffets owning monopolies in every indsutry, controlling all the wealth, and looking down at a nation filled with ant-like workers barely scraping by (and hordes of homeless not making it at all). That was the logical endpoint of the economic policies Bush Jr. was following, and in his eight years he managed to multiply the ranks of homeless by even more than Reagan did (Ronnie more than doubled that lovely statistic), and depressed the overall well-being of middle-class and lower workers.

The economy exists for many reasons, and one of them is to engage in it the people who make its products, sell its goods, consume its goods, and strive by means of economic activity to advance in life, whether by modest means or great. It's not "socialistic" to see that the BENEFITS of a healthy economy accrue to those who create that economy - but it is entirely oligarchic and fascistic to funnel the same benefits to a favored few and depress everyone else.

After all, Ford needed a marketplace of middle-class car buyers to sell to. Without the bailouts, that was quite likely not going to be much of a marketplace, while with the bailouts, Ford enjoys advertising to people with jobs, savings and a desire to take a Sunday drive. Ford has greatly benefited from keeping people employed making cars. Not every Chrysler plant employee drives a Chrysler, for example. And most likely, fewer suppliers to Chrysler drive those cars - Ford has done well competing for our domestic market share.

The United States from the Reagan Regime forward seemed bent on shedding its productive capability and cutting employment rolls:

• Manufacturing shipped overseas.
• Manufacturing shut down entirely.
• Competitive, strong old companies suddenly broken up for piecemeal sales to "create shareholder value" - driven by incentives for short-term stock market profits created as a result of Reagan-era tax policy changes.
• Jobs shed by the millions (Bush's regime lost more jobs in the first two years than were ever created, however temporarily, after 2002).
• Long-term employees fired because they had too much time on the job and earned too much - hire the kids instead at half the wage and the hell with the ruin those policies wrought on people.
• Full-time employees fired and replaced with "permanent temporary" workers who despite years in the job never got so much as one paid sick day or any other benefits (another gem created by Reagan era labor law reforms).

Your view of "competition" and its rewards is too narrow and uninformed. Ford in fact has reaped rich rewards in goodwill, enhanced product respect, and market share. And the United States was drawn back from the brink of absolute ruin.

Cash for Clunkers is your claim to fame? This is how he "helped"?

This idiot and his merry band of morons transferred billions of taxpayer dollars / debt for the sole purpose of saving Union jobs, while us non-union people lost their jobs, and are now saddled with additional debt to pay these morons and you call this a success...

On top of which, the program encouraged people to GET INTO MORE DEBT! Taxpayer funded debt, to encourage private debt. Wow. Just how stupid is the left.

Paul F. - You really didn't read my posts very closely. Give it a try, there's a lot that should make you think again.

In general, "Cash for Clunkers," as also another writer here pointed out, did not encourage poor credit risk buyers to go out and end up being a taxpayer burden later. By then, you might know, credit was nearly IMPOSSIBLE to get if you HAD good credit. Rather, it largely enticed people who were in the market in a longer-term sense to decide to buy then.

And just in general, the bailouts did their job. Sorry you never joined a union - as are many other folk, too. But the bailouts barely saved all-union jobs, since firstly, the carmakers still chopped their workforces for a time and absolutely renegotiated their union contracts. And secondly, the secondary tier of jobs saved - with suppliers, with dealers, and so forth - are nearly all NON union.

The painful truth about cash for clunkers is that US taxpayer money helped Toyota sales more than any of the big 3 but you sure won't hear Obama say that! Cash for clunkers should have applied to vehicles made in this country ONLY! Regardless of the manufacturer, so yes Toyota still would have had a few models that would apply but doing it his way would have been a much bigger boost for our country instead of a boost for Japan.

I know I am crazy for thinking this way, if the government did things like this and also demanded fair trade instead of "free trade" (free for all other countries that is) then there would be no deficit, and no need for more taxes and more government...it will simply never happen, not with our politicians.

"But most of the president's time in his hometown of Chicago Thursday will be spent raising some of the millions of dollars that Democrats need as they campaign to keep control of both houses of Congress in the fall elections."

Concerned Citizen, read a little closer to get the REAL PICTURE. It's all a dog and pony show to maintain his POWER !

Not his power, his ego. He's a rock star on the world's center stage and we're all paying to see him perform whether we like it or not.

Truly the most unpresidential president ever witnessed, and one who will only do long-term damage to the nation and to liberalism itself.

1.) One word for Ford: F-150. W/O its sales, Ford wouldn't even have been a major player in this debacle. It's kept this company afloat for several yrs. now. (Source: Edwards & CNBC)

2.) Cash for Clunkers? Really? Then how come I know someone who traded in his 1995 Chevy Silverado for a NEW Chevy Silverado? How, you ask, since the original "idea" was to get more good milage cars on the road? Simple; this NEW Silverado gets "3 M. P. G." BETTER than his old 1995 one.

You can fool some of the people All the time & you can fool.........................you get the idea~! Or what we used to call Ford way back in the 60's: "Fix Or Repair daily!"

concerned citizen:

I for one wouldnt "talk about the President like a dog" as you put it...

My dog deserves better than to be compared to our current president...

Just my two cents... I fully believe that GM and Chrysler took those small amounts of money in the beginning thinking they could still pull out on thier own. Then they took more, probably under duress from the administration. Then, after all that BS, they had to BK anyway.

So, here we are in BK for 30 days...why then did both not blow out the unions and renegociate? that would have been the best thing they could do. but nooooo, they got strong-armed by obummer to keep unions intact... so now both are controlled by obama and the unions.

Big F'ing take over and big F'ing favor to the unions from obummer to take over GM and Chrysler. Ford did it right, they saw it coming. Even a high school economics student could see this playing out.

Then they're taking control of health care, took control of college loans, soon to regulate and tax gold transactions, now they can shut of the web if they want.

Are conservative the only ones that see the big picture here? I don't think any traditional democrats wanted ANY of this, only the lunatics on the far left like any of this sh!t, and lets hope the centrist dems come to their senses and the loonies are small in actual numbers.

God help us, for we made a BIG mistake

"The narcissism and omnipotence of this liar in chief is nothing short of astounding." - colleen

Get it right colleen, it's not astounding...it's "audacious".

Re: Cash for Clunkers: apparently the leading global automotive research company believes it was a success. Read the study they conducted: http://www.maritz.com/Press-Releases/2010/Maritz-Research-Findings-Cash-for-Clunkers-More-Successful-Than-Previously-Reported.aspx

Or.... you can believe what Fox tells you.

Thanks John A,

Great post that I have know for years.. I just don't understand how average the middle class American cannot see what Republican policies have done to destroy manufacturing in America. Apathy and Stupidity are alive and well here in America..

DrDrGimmetheNews, Shocking that Meritz Automotive Group, a company that is paid huge amounts of money by the auto manufacturers to do their bidding has found that Cash for Clunkers was actually good! Simply SHOCKING!!!!

John A.-400474 What a great set of posts! It is such a breath of fesh air to read a well thought and reasoned explanation instead of such ignorant blathering from a bunch of right-wing losers! But - I believe you're banging your head against the wall to try and school the right (I mean NUT) wingers on business. Remember the regressive right are whiners with no business sense AND most Billionaires support President Obama! When schooling those simple low-life right-wing boneheads you have to dumb it down because most of them know nothing about business or economics and have loads of tattoos, cigarettes, and credit card debt!!

pjam09 IF you were smart you would listen to John, You really want to compare the soft drink business to the auto industry?? Way too simple-minded analogy.

Paul F - Such wisdom from a non-union low-wage loser! Republicans love people like you! Could you try and get a clue? If you don't have the sense to understand the self-screwing you want for yourself - I'm embarrassed FOR you!

because they want control of Ford too

Hey Bob, if they didn't save GM or Chrysler, Ford would have been forced to make twice as many cars and build more manufacturing plants which would have kept the suppliers and vendors afloat. If I recall, all of the companies were in the dumper and Ford took it upon themselves to fix their problems and financial woes and are the only company turning out a profit! Without a bailout.

Most of the same suppliers also sell to Toyota/Honda and other Asian manufacturers in the USA. Why is there always the assumption of a fire sale liquidation that would have happened had not THE ONE saved these company's? All he did was make sure the unions were put into an ownership role ahead of the legitimate bond holders.

DKWog Mike-397032

Do you folks ever listen, or are you just so filled with rage over the president that you can't?

Before president Obama was elected when the CEO's of the big 3 went before congress, Mr. Mulally , Fords CEO said that the suppliers would collapse if his competitors were allowed to. The heads of Toyota and Honda also contacted the governments with the same information. Unlike you two, these people deal with these companies, they know what is going on, they have some idea how much business they do with whom.

As for the idea that they would close and be liquidated, that is not just some idea, they said so loud and clear in congress, the CEO of GM went so far as to tell congress, that they would not be able to meet the payroll of December. When asked if was talking about a chapter 11 bankruptcy, he said no, we are talking about a chapter 7 close down of operations.

While I agree that a supplier would stock the parts of all the brands they could, i disagree that without the bailouts (plural) that happened around the world (including in Japan of both Toyota and honda) that the suppliers would have stayed afloat long enough to survive the downturn that would have come. Additionally I believe that the chain of business that rely on the sale of automobiles would have suffered irreparable damage from a major closing such that GM and Chrysler would have been.

Its also not a good assumption that FOrd would have picked up the sales of cars if GM or Chrysler. There is much competition in the market and Ford has no more opportunity than Toyota or Honda or any other brand to try to win those over. On the contrary i think it would have been easier for a consumer to justify switching to a foreign brand for fear of Ford going the way of GM. Let alone the assumption about unemployment.

Robby you are a fool for thinking that the suppliers would collapse, they may have had to temporarily scale back until the production at the remaining manufacturers caught up with the new demand, or the remaining manufacturers would have bought those operations under their own management. Either way the production and jobs would still exist today.

Why don't you post some supporting documents showing when and who made those statements??? it sounds an awful lot like fluff meant to make the rewarding of failures more palatable to the taxpayers who were forced to hand over the cash.

So some seem to think that a depression would have been unavoidable if 2 car companies had to go through bankruptcy? They both did go through bankruptcy anyway....

Only a truly ignorant person could believe that a major reset in the car manufacturing sector would cause a depression.

Look at housing - it is a disaster of an industry. And yet they are adjusting, even without more taxpayer bailouts. Sure some will fail. Big deal. Everything is overpriced in our economy - with Health and Government sectors leading the pack.

We must reduce our government costs by 30-50%. Housing must cost what people can afford to pay, because with no customers, nothing sells. Same for autos.

But with all of this fake (borrowed) money injected by our foolish government, prices continue to be artificially inflated. Doubt me? What happened to housing the minute the $8k tax credit disappeared? Housing took another dip and in our region continues to drop in value.

Sorry all you Obama / Big Government fans, your leader is destroying our nation while trying to prop up government jobs and union jobs. It is unsustainable, and will cause a real depression.

Such a joke and a lie that Obama saved the car industry. Obviously, Ford has done about as well as possible in this bad economy. Many of the car makers that have operations in non-union states are hanging in there.

Obama and the dems bailed out the bloated unions and their unsustainable pensions -- that is all. GM and Chrysler should have filed bankruptcy for a failure of BIG BUSINESS, reorganized into a leaner, more competitive company. But Obama wanted to pay off the unions. It is political corruption at the highest level to force the taxpayers into funding billions of payola $$ to save union pensions. When will Detroit and the unions learn that their historical business model is UNSUSTAINABLE. Either the wages/benefits need to be adjusted to worldwide market levels to compete in a worldwide market, or the companies can only be forced to pay more than market until it collapses. One or the other is inevitable.

Such hypocrisy by the liberals and Obama to rail at BIG BUSINESS and WALL STREET, while hanging the taxpayers with gigantic bailouts of a failed BIG BUSINESS just because it is union. CORRUPTION.

I guess we should expect to see him on Wall Street tomorrow talking about how he saved Goldman Sachs?

DKWOG,

Exactly how long does it take to build a new automotive manufacturing plant? I will tell you: many months if not years. Many of the suppliers would not have lasted.

While the suppliers may not have collapsed they would have laid off many more workers. Whole Michigan towns would have been deserted. I know this because I know many people that live in the Ann Arbor area. Why can't you people admit he helped save some jobs.

robby-1839487

DKWog Mike-397032

Do you folks ever listen, or are you just so filled with rage over the president that you can't?

Before president Obama was elected when the CEO's of the big 3 went before congress, Mr. Mulally , Fords CEO said that the suppliers would collapse if his competitors were allowed to. The heads of Toyota and Honda also contacted the governments with the same information. Unlike you two, these people deal with these companies, they know what is going on, they have some idea how much business they do with whom.

As for the idea that they would close and be liquidated, that is not just some idea, they said so loud and clear in congress, the CEO of GM went so far as to tell congress, that they would not be able to meet the payroll of December. When asked if was talking about a chapter 11 bankruptcy, he said no, we are talking about a chapter 7 close down of operations.

• 1

• !

#5.3 - Thu Aug 5, 2010 1:45 PM EDT

This is true. There were internal bulletins going out almost daily @ TMMI in our daily dispatches during the time of the bankruptcy/bailouts of GM in favor GM NOT failing because Toyota shares so many suppliers with GM and Ford along with others.

No. I will buy from whomever makes the best car at the best price. And there ain't nothing the communist and chief, you, and your union buddies can do to take that freedom away from me.

The way I see it, is that Gm, Chrylser stole from my children's future. They won't see one dime from me.

Hey shamwow dude, I bet you cried a lot as a baby because from the sound of it you haven't stopped yet.

I agree Steve, Some of the a$$holes here couldn"t give a damn about america until they need the government for something. You know, roads, schools, a free country, etc. etc.

"I agree Steve, Some of the a$$holes here couldn"t give a damn about america until they need the government for something. You know, roads, schools, a free country, etc. etc."

The roads should be taken care of by the states. In fact, they are. Interstate highways are subsidized by federal highway funds through the federal fuel taxes. But only after the Feds take their cut. If the Feds stayed out of it entirely, the states would have more money to do the work. State roads are paid for entirely by state funds. County funds pay for County roads.

Schools? Again, the States used to be responsible for their own schools. That was back when a public school actually taught students. Since the birth of the DOE under the worst magpie to ever call 1600 Pennsylvania Ave home(Jimmy Carter), the quality of education in this country has nosedived into oblivion.

Free country? The US isn't even at the top of the list anymore. It hasn't been for many years.

Show me in the US Constitution where the Federal Govt has the authority to do 99% of what it constantly does. It's pretty clear about just how limited the Fed is. That piece of paper hasn't been obeyed since Wilson.

Everett

I wish you would show any type any shred of evidence for your comments. The dems had congress for the last 2 years of Bush’s presidency. Prior to that unemployment was below 4% and the GNP was growing at one of the fastest rates in history. This recession was started by the housing crisis. Particularly by the policies of fannie and freddie. Can you say Frank and Dodd. Bush tried to reign it in but was put down. And if you think his tax cuts were only for the rich, you have a big surprise coming when they expire. It is going to hit you right in the wallet. And as far as you gripping about the rich – they earned their money. Have you ever tried working for a poor person? Fool!

false advertising = Obama promises = Obama health = Obama Wall street reform = death of a nation. I looked up in the dictionary the defination for political lie and the picture of Obama was the explaination. Those that were taken in by obama are not in revolt and want him GONE. His socialist/communist actions are against the American way/

Ray - Make up your mind. Obama can't be both a socialist and a communist at the same time. They are mutually exclusive. And "political lie," I think that picture was Bush and some WMDs.

"Make up your mind. Obama can't be both a socialist and a communist at the same time. They are mutually exclusive."

No, they are not. The difference between them is the same as "blind", and "legally blind". Either way, you cannot see anything.

And don't waste your time telling me "legally blind" people can see blurry objects really really close up. You still need someone who can see to help you.

Sorry Robert, but socialism has the distribution of wealth according to how hard or much a person works, while communism distributes wealth according to what a person needs. VERY different.

The blind/legally blind analogy only works in that both socialism and communism are doctrines that have to do with economies. But then, so is capitalism.

Jeff-493570

Use your toes or what ever you want, but see if you can calculate what 20% ownership looks like, that is what Fiat has. And why is that, because they bring what Chrysler needs, small engines and small platforms, that they will not need to design from the ground up.

The company is not Italian owned.

Toyota was found innocent in the accelerating problem by our own dept of transportation, but in Obama's haste to judgement he cost toyota much, and that is the only way he helped us auto makers. I believe he uses these tactics often, and they are evil

And now Ford is being targeted by the UAW for a big raise.

Actually Ford Motor does have a ton of cash something along the line of 22 billion with a total debt of about 25 billion.

DaveK - Where do you get this?: "The government put huge pressures on the banks to stop loaning money, which made it extremely difficult to get money at all for a period of time."

Very thorough analysis I'm impressed some one else can see the forest through the trees. And through these actions also caused the housing crisis to worsen by making money harder to get for perspective buyers. If money was available now buyers would be scrambling at these real estate prices no money no buyers.

Hold on there my friend. The Department of Transportation is not releasing a recent report that is more fovaorable to Toyota than the want it to be. Also did you know that due to the CAFE standards it is estimated that between 2,000-4,000 people die each year to achieve better gas mileage. Get real. Big business is not to blame its big government.

Hold on there my friend. The Department of Transportation is not releasing a recent report that is more fovaorable to Toyota than the want it to be. Also did you know that due to the CAFE standards it is estimated that between 2,000-4,000 people die each year to achieve better gas mileage. Get real. Big business is not to blame its big government.

hillarious lemming

Nice B.S. there Mark ! Ford's road to improvement began well BEFORE Barack Obama.

See my post at #3.2. PSSSSTTTT !!!! I own a tidbit of Ford stock and yes, I pretty much consider myself Republican. You see Mark, despite what Obama wants you to believe, PROFITS ARE GOOD.............they actually allow people to HAVE jobs ! Imagine that !

WTF Knucklehead? You post:

Republicans, who have been rooting against America ever since Jan 20, 2009

Which is opposite of what's happening. Republicans are rooting against the BS coming from the Dems.

FOAD!

JIM,

Where do you get these radical ideas from? Profits are good? They allow people to have jobs? Next thing you know you'll be suggesting that businesses and the people they employ actually pay the taxes that allow the governent to operate. You are obviously one of those whackos that think freedom and capitalism have made this the greatest nation on earth. :)

JC,

I guess you got me there buddy.......guilty as charged. I have a job today because my company made EVIL,EVIL profits in prior years giving us this horrendous thing called RETAINED EARNINGS. It has helped sustain us through two years of losses.

JIM,

Shhhh. Don't spread that around too much. If they figure out that there are evil companies that still have Retained Earnings left they will come up with a new way to tax it.

I agree except for two things.Democrats have been rooting against Amercia since the Al gore and Bush election.Why do the people who want respect for Obama our president are probally the same who blasted Bush for 8 years.

I'm sending my bird on a victory tour later this month. He's done as much to help the economy as anyone in DC has.

He also refused to take any bailout money.

Let's not forget the fundraising circuit too! Was he also "surprised" at the increase of newly unemployed? If he was, he should sit his rear end down in DC, roll up his sleeves and get to work. He can go out to dinner with Oprah in 2013, when he is out of a job himself.

Even more odd was the fact that dealerships run by minorities and dealerships run by women were given preference. Closing dealerships was entirely unnecessary but was brought about by Obama's minions as part of the Bailout plan !!

It's called "Redistribution of Wealth".........just as Obama promised !!

No they didn't.

They said "save some for us because we may need it later on". They kept the option open for opting in.

And now they are taking advantage of government backed loans to expand.

Why can't you just stick to the actual real facts to make your argument?

Clarke, why can't YOU just face the fact that Ford's revival was put in motion by Alan Mulally long before Barack Obama was elected. See my post at #3.2 to understand the turnaround initiatives begun by Mulally BEFORE his election.

Obam taking credit for Ford's current profitability is a joke !!

I think the president said that the fact they were able to take advantage of government backed loans was allowing them to expand and create jobs.

That is the fact.

Mulally is now taking advantage of what the government will guarantee. It's a smart move.

I give Mulally all the credit in the world. But the fact remains that they are using what the government has provided for their expansion.

Stick to the actual facts, not your interpretation of them.

Loans are only good if you HAVE THE ABILITY TO REPAY. Ford HAS the ability to repay based on actions put in motion by Mulally long before Obama was elected.

Furthermore, just because the President wants to toot his own horn and claim Ford was able to take advantage of government-backed loans does not mean that Ford could not have done this on their own.

Stick to the facts Clarkey, Ford had arranged long-term financing for the turnaround LONG BEFORE Obama's election. With their return to profitability now PROVEN, what makes you think they couldn't have gotten expansion loans from the private sector ??

They DID get expansion loans from the private sector, through government backed loans.

Maybe Ford could have gotten private loans which were not government secured.

But they didn't did they?

Why can't you just come out and say that Ford is using the help that the government is supplying in order to expand?

Maybe Ford COULDN'T get a private loan which was not secured by the government. That part is all your speculation.

The fact remains that Ford is using a government program to expand.

The fact remains that the government bailed out Ford's competitor ! The fact remains that, in the process, the bondholders of GM got screwed royally in favor of Obama's special interest group...........the UNIONS. The fact remains that many GM franchises were forced out of business by Obama's minions..............when there was absolutely no sound economic reason to force them out of business. The fact is that such FORCING action put many thousands of people out of work.

Yeah clarke, real hope and change may begin on November 2nd at ballot boxes all across this great country. The most anti-business President in U.S. history will be neutered in the elections this fall. REMEMBER, NEUTER IN NOVEMBER !!!

Ford is using government secured loans to expand.

That is what this vine is about, you can't debunk it, and it infuriates you.

Bye, bye!

Ford/Government loan/ good stuff.

Buh bye, don't let the door hit you in the rear when you leave !! I guess you simply couldn,t handle a "somewhat broader" discussion of GM (Government Motors).

When G.M. finishes paying that off, you're going to look really silly. Nice try at changing the subject though.

LOL.

Will GM also pay back the bond holders that got screwed by Obama ??? ROTFLMAO !!!!

JIM041424

When people cite an article, they should post a link so others can see what they left out, like this

Ford, unlike Detroit rivals Chrysler and GM, also refused an initial offering of Troubled Asset Relief funds in December.

Now my memory is pretty good, and as I recall, we had another President at that time.

Also as clarke ong said, they did ask that some be left in case they would need it, but they felt at the time that they would not. This was all said in congress, and must be recorded somewhere, so please go look it up.

And yes, they have used government loans to do expansions and development, the DOE last year gave Ford a $5.9 Billion loan.

http://www.energy.gov/news2009/8023.htm

Uh robby old buddy, I am not aware of citing any articles today. Please be specific and show me where I have posted a link to any article. Put up or shut up.

Well, I guess robby shut up..........because he never "put up" even after 4 days !!!

Incorrect.

They are using government guaranteed low cost (because of the guarantee) loans to expand.

This is government help.

Does the government now control Ford's stock like they do with GM (Government Motors) ?

Wow, talk about CONFLICT OF INTEREST !!!!

What does that have to do with the subject JIM0?

That is a meaningless statement.

It's only meaningless to you clarkey, because you are still desperately trying to equate GM's massive bailout and takeover by the Federal Government, using significant billions, with a concept that Ford is now using loans to expand.

Talk about comparing apples to oranges !!!!!!!!!

I never mentioned G.M. at all, I don't equate it with this story in the least.

You brought it up.

Too funny!

clark: They are using government guaranteed low cost (because of the guarantee) loans to expand.

This is government help.

It's government help only if they need them to pay back the loan. Ford's interest rate was determined by their ability to pay back the loan not by a guarantee. It's the same as a mortgage like you sr someone else mentioned earlier.

We all realize that debating with you is futile anyway. As Obama's chief cheerleader he does walk on water in your eyes.

This is not a loan guarantee, this is a loan, $5.9 Billion worth of loan.

http://www.energy.gov/news2009/8023.htm

That is what they are using for the plant, the import / export thing is a loan guarantee.

Actually Chrysler is hiring a lot of engineers in Auburn Hills, MI

And GM hired back a lot of workers a few weeks ago.