The Worry in my Father’s Eyes (A Personal GM Posting)

As many of you know, I am the son of a retired General Motors worker.  Ironically, I am also a Conservative.  No, I am not a Republican; or even a formal Libertarian.  I am someone that believes that the less Governmental interference in my life, the better.   However, there is a place, where my politics ends and a genuine concern for my family begins.

I see that General Motors is going to be taking more money from the Government, and is desperately trying to salvage what is left of that company:

Quote:

General Motors Corp. will get up to $5 billion and Chrysler LLC $500 million in short-term aid, according to a 250-page government report obtained Monday by The Detroit News.

The Detroit News reported Friday that GM would get about $5 billion and Chrysler $500 million, citing an Obama administration official, which prompted a denial from the White House.

The short-term aid figures are disclosed in the report from the Treasury Department’s Inspector General on the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program.

The report was obtained from a congressional source late Monday.

Meanwhile General Motors is is doing its damnedest to rid itself of waste:

General Motors Corp. has started notifying about 1,600 white-collar workers — most of whom work in southeast Michigan — that they will lose their jobs this week as the cash-strapped automaker cuts costs that could help the automaker qualify for up to $16.6 billion in additional federal aid.

The announcement was made by GM North American President Troy Clarke in an e-mail sent to employees today, spokesperson Tom Wilkinson said.

“This is part of really restructuring the company to a smaller, leaner company, one that can, as the (Obama) administration requested, be profitable on an ongoing basis,” Wilkinson said.

While this might be a good thing, there are those out there that believe that this is too little too late:

It’s ironic enough that Italy’s Fiat Auto could end up being the savior for Chrysler. After all, former Chrysler President Bob Lutz once likened Fiat to a dead bride when his old boss, Lee Iacocca, wanted the company to join up with the Italian carmaker. Now, Lutz is at General Motors until he retires in December, and Fiat may help his current employer.

Yes, the Italian carmaker is reportedly in talks with GM about forming a partnership with its European and South American businesses, says Automotive News. How ironic is that? Well, in 2000, GM bought 20% of Fiat Auto for $2.4 billion. Back then, GM was healthy and Fiat was in serious financial trouble. The Italian company was wracked by quality issues. It was so bad that GM actually paid another $2 billion a few years later just to avoid a put option that would have made GM the sole owner of Fiat. GM’s board didn’t want that kind of headache.

But now, after Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has fixed the company, he could help save Chrysler in the U.S. and GM in Europe. GM lost $1.5 billion in the Olde World last year, with its Opel and Vauxhaul brands suffering mightily with too many factories. GM is actually doing very well in Latin America, where the auto giant earned $1.3 billion last year. Fiat is pretty strong there, too, so they could make a powerful pair down there. The only catch is that Fiat doesn’t have any cash either. But the alliances will help be getting each company jointly-engineered vehicles and sharing parts.

The bottom line: Fiat is not a great carmaker by any stretch. But Chrysler and GM are in so much trouble that anyone could help at this point. Even Fiat.

Which brings me to my point; have any of you really looked at your Father?  I have.  I see worry in his eyes.  I see worry in both my parents eyes.  The questions my parents are facing, as they enter into their golden years are unfathomable, for someone my age.  Will my parents lose everything that my father worked hard to obtain?  We are talking 31 years worth of blood, sweat, and tears.  My Father earned every damned last penny.  I dare some idiot beltway type to say otherwise.

I have been a critic of the Obama Administration for much, as of late.  However, I will give him credit for one thing.  The President is looking out my Father.  I just hope he does not throw my Father under the bus, as he has many others in his short time in the White House.

Some of you might look at this posting and call me some sort of a hypocrite.  That is your right as an American.

However, if you could only see my Father’s eyes; you might just might be able to understand.

The left says that the Tea Parties are just angry white protesters

I normally do not send traffic to idiots like this, but this one caught my eye.

Over at the Marxist Liberal Crooks and Liars; Barack Hussein Obama’s water carrier, John Amato yowls:

To Reynolds “real Americans” kind of look like him and smell like him. That’s true Americana. Can you imagine if Tom Daschle, Paul Begala, James Carville and the late Paul Wellstone twittered and blogged and wrote op-eds for the NY Times, while Nancy Pelosi appeared on CNN and put out the call to arms as the Situation Room, Countdown, Rachel Maddow and Anderson Cooper promised everyone air time on their shows if they make sure to come on down to “the protests” they will be covering live, up close and in person? And it was funded by millions of dollars of the richest of the rich?

Lou Dobbs mocked the criticism of the tea baggers, saying that special-interest groups started war protests just like the New Santellis. Does he really believe that Newt Gingrich and Karl Rove are considered “grassroots” activists?

So typical, when the left is loosing the battle, they do what most Liberals do. They play the race card. Gee,  I was not aware that race hustling Al “Interloper” Sharpton was looking for help.

Doug Powers, who’s also tangling with some moronic liberal as well, counters this stupidity:

Not by name or inference. As a matter of fact, I went out of my way to point out that these problems have been perpetuated by both parties, but these kinds of knee-jerk pinheads see what they want to see. If racism doesn’t exist, they’ll see to it that it does by the time they’re finished — all in the name of ending racism.

I’m also racist because I wrote that Detroit has gone down the toilet thanks to the same liberal policies, both state and federal, that are being rolled out on a national level, and I compared the city to Bangladesh (which made me racist against “South Indian Immigrants” — I kid you not).

So, for the Detroit comparison I’ll go ahead and offer a sincere apology… to Bangladesh.

Who’s the racist here, anyway? Tubman’s the one who runs with the assumption that Detroit was ruined by blacks. I never wrote that or even implied it, because I don’t believe that to be the case — it was ruined by liberals with the same philosophies as Carl Levin, Debbie Stabenow, Jennifer Granholm, David Bonior, et al — all of whom, by the way, are currently un-black.

I could not have put it better. Even now, Detroit’s school system is failing, the biggest arena in Detroit; Cobo Arena is facing closure, because a group of race hustlers on the Detroit city council resent the fact that some white people from the suburbs want a stake in running the Arena, in return for paying off some of Arena’s debts. Not to mention the decay of the neighborhoods; the businesses that have left that city, because of the corrupt Government in that city. Is it a black thing? Not necessarily. It just happens that the Liberals running that cesspool of a city ARE black. But when anyone, like a white man, like me, brings that up; we are smeared as racist bigots.

This is why anyone, that had any sort of money, left that city. Like my parents and myself. Because of the lack of police protection. You call the police or dial 911. You’re lucky if they show up, maybe four hours later. This is why two detectives; Walter Budzyn and Larry Nevers were basically lynched by a racist black Mayor, Coleman A. Young, for essentially doing their jobs. Malice Green was a crackhead who refused to show those two fine officers what was in his hand, he basically attacked them, which resulted him getting busted in the head. The Liberal media in Detroit basically convicted those two men. They’re out of jail, after basically getting a new trial. But it basically shows you that absolutely insane mentality that has taken over that cesspool of a city.

Then there is the personal aspect of it. My Cousin, Michael Hill was shot and killed in cold blood, by two black and one Mexican corrupt Detroit cops. To be fair, my cousin was doing something incredibly dumb, he was selling a handgun to a friend, over in the Delray district of southwest Detroit and he test fired the gun into the ground. Some idiot neighbor heard the gunshots and called the police. That is when all hell broke loose, the police showed up, my cousin, who had a probation rap on his record, tried to flee, but couldn’t jump the wooden fence behind the house. Those cops came in with guns blazing, he had something in his hand; a beer bottle…. and the police thought it was the gun, they gunned him down and basically allowed him to die, in the backyard of that house. I will be the first to admit, Michael should not have run, nor should have he been testing that gun, in the city. But he was gunned down like an animal.

The real kicker? You think the liberal media, back in 1990’s, touched that story an exposed the Detroit police for the corrupt department that it is? Are you kidding? They did not want anything to do with it! Want to know why? Because my cousin was white and the cops doing the shooting were black and mexican, that’s why! Not one of the Liberal media outlets in the Detroit area covered the true story. Just the bullshit story given by the police, when the shooting happened. My cousin was portrayed by the liberal media as some crazy person who tried to have a shootout with the police. (Thank you WXYZ-TV and Bill Bonds…) That’s because the story did not fit the agenda of the liberal narrative. Which is so typical of the Liberal media.

So, Doug, I know how you feel man, we’re both just sane people in a world gone insane with liberal socialism.

Local News – Two killed in a Murder Suicide at local Detroit College

I was not going to blog about this, because I did not want to see this become another one of those “Crazy gun” stories, but seeing CNN is reporting it, I will:

Two people were shot and killed Friday at a community college in Dearborn, Michigan, in what police believe was a murder-suicide, an official said.

The Henry Ford Community College campus in Dearborn, Michigan, was locked down after the shooting.

Henry Ford Community College - Arts Building

A man and woman were found dead in a classroom building on the campus of Henry Ford Community College, Dearborn Deputy Chief Gregg Brighton said.

Investigators believe the man shot the woman but would not provide further information, Brighton said.

A shotgun was involved in the incident, which occurred in a classroom that was not being used, he said.

“We’re in the very preliminary stages,” Brighton said. “We’ve just made the scene safe. The crime lab is on the scene with detectives.” Video Watch Brighton describe the scene »

Police responding to a report of gunfire at the school had entered the south hallway of the Fine Arts Building when they heard another gunshot, Brighton said.

“We were in the building when we heard the shotgun blast, and when we finally got to that room, we had two deceased parties,” he said at a news conference. “We believe this is a murder-suicide.”

The campus was briefly in lockdown and will remain closed for the rest of the Friday, a school official said.

via Two killed in Michigan college shooting – CNN.com.

Needless to say, I was quite shocked that this happened. I have been to Henry Ford College before. For a testing session for my Technician Class (now called Tech Plus, I think…) License. For those that do not know, I am a licensed Amateur Radio Operator. (or Ham Operator…) I am not active at the moment, I need a new H.F. Antenna. But Anyhow, I have been to that college once for a testing session. Also, A friend of mine went to Henry Ford College for Automotive training.  Henry Ford Community College is exactly 7.32 miles from my house, according to Mapquest. I do not have any details on the shooting, other than what the local media is reporting, that the families and police are searching for answers (Via WXYZ-TV):

(Via WXYZ-TV)

Also, the victims family is speaking out, this via WDIV-TV in Detroit:

Friday night, Asia McGowan’s family spoke.

McGowan is described as an inspiring actress, singer and dancer.

“That was her favorite thing, dancing, singing and film,” said McGowan’s mother Pamela Peterson. “She wanted to do it all, she had nothing but life in her and I don’t understand how it was snuffed out today.”

“That’s one thing that I admire about my cousin, she very, very ambitious. If there wasn’t a way, she was going to make it happen. I’m at a loss for words,” said cousin Rashida Morris.

“She was beautiful, an aspiring actress and dancer,” said Turahn McGowan, who added that his daughter had planned to try out for the Fox network’s “So You Think You Can Dance” talent competition.

Peterson said her daughter was not romantically involved with Powell.

Investigators said that it appeared Powell made several advances but was turned down each time.

Police said McGowan was rehearsing a scene in the empty room at Henry Ford Community College when Powell barged in.

My heart goes out to this family, and my prayers go out as well. My the Lord help to try and make sense of this kind of an awful tragedy.

Awesome Local Story: Cop Saves Man from Burning Car

This for all those who believe that the police are our enemies:

The Video:

The Story via WXYZ-TV:

CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) – Talk about a close call. A police officer raced into action and made a daring rescue to save a man from a burning car. And, just seconds after the man was pulled from the vehicle, flames devoured it.

Thursday morning Clinton Township Police Officer Mark Krutell noticed smoke billowing from outside Tower Automotive on Groesbeck south of Hall Road. At about the same time, a 911 call was placed that a man fainted inside his locked 2002 Ford Escort that was partially on fire in the parking lot.

When Krutell arrived, bystanders were trying to break open the window with rocks. The officer ended up smashing the glass with his flashlight, opening the door and dragging the unidentified man to safety. Seconds later, fire engulfed the car. All of this was captured on Krutel’s dash-cam video.

The man in the car apparently had some type of medical condition and passed out with his foot on the accelerator and the accelerator pushed to the floor. The car overheated and caught on fire.

The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries. Inside the hospital, officers say he shook Krutell’s hand and thanked him for his actions.

This man is a hero and should be treated as such. I post this here because as of late the police have been getting a horrible rap for a few bad apples. This man went well beyond the call of duty and should be commended for it.

Is the Obama Administration letting G.M.'s New C.E.O. do it's dirty work for them?

Full Disclosure: My Father is a Retired General Motors Worker and U.A.W. Member.

——-

It sure as heck looks that way to me here.

The reason I ask this question is because a new report from CNBC that the new C.E.O. of GM is essentially saying that bankruptcy is the only option:

General Motors’s new chief executive told CNBC that filing for Bankruptcy may be the best option for the struggling automaker.

In a taped interview to be aired tonight on NBC Nightly News, Fritz Henderson said that because of greater demands from the Obama administration to restructure, GM is considering the bankruptcy option. The auto giant previously had ruled out such a move, saying it would discourage people from buying GM cars.

Henderson’s comments came after President Obama bluntly rejected turnaround plans by GM and Chrysler and demanded that both companies make fresh concessions in order to get more federal aid.

Henderson, who was GM’s president and chief operating officer, was named the new CEO after the government forced the resignation of CEO Rick Wagoner on Sunday. GM’s board is also being restructured.

Henderson told reporters that the company would still prefer to restructure outside of court, but the level of support Washington is offering would help the company quickly restructure through bankruptcy.

Henderson says GM  needs to work faster and go deeper to get more concessions from bondholders and the United Auto Workers union. President Obama has demanded that GM come up with a better restructuring plan in 60 days in order to qualify for more government aid.

I find it very interesting that President Obama, instead of doing the dirty deed himself, ousted the CEO of G.M. and basically has let the new G.M. head honcho be his fall guy for basically screwing the bond holders and also the unions. This way, Barry comes off clean. It is a strategy that is quite slick, quite risky; but none the less slick.

The Wall Street Journal has more:

Inside a windowless, ornate room Thursday just across from the Oval Office, President Barack Obama and a group of senior economic advisers began the job of remaking the American automobile industry.

The first order of business: Oust General Motors Corp. Chief Executive Rick Wagoner.

It “wasn’t the hardest decision,” said one government official.

Steven Rattner, a former investment banker who is heading the administration’s auto restructuring; chief economic adviser Lawrence Summers; and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner were among those gathered around the polished wood table of the Roosevelt Room in the White House’s West Wing. They were there to decide under what conditions the government would continue to prop up once-powerful Detroit car companies GM and Chrysler LLC.

In the post-World War II boom, they were at the pinnacle of a quintessentially American industry. At Thursday’s meeting, once the Obama administration concluded the pair were running out of money, their effective dismantling began.

Beyond seeking Mr. Wagoner’s resignation, the officials also gave failing grades to GM and Chrysler for the restructuring plans they submitted to the government Feb. 17. They also set a deadline — one month for Chrysler, two months for GM — after which the government might force a bankruptcy restructuring of both companies and break up two of America’s business icons.

Many of GM’s problems didn’t start during Mr. Wagoner’s term, and most predate the economic downturn that sent car sales slumping, such as union contracts and the costs of paying for retiree health care. GM made a bad situation worse with huge bets on trucks and SUVs that piled up on dealer lots amid soaring gas prices last year.

While I will be the first to tell you, that General Motors has had its own share of issues. What Barack Obama did to G.M. and by proxy to the Union members and Employees of the company; was just flat out cowardly. Instead of forcing General Motors into bankruptcy himself.  Obama is allowing the new head honcho of the company and his Auto Czar; do it for him. This way Obama does not burn through his political capital as quickly and more or less comes out looking like the hero. Of course, President TelePrompter will say that he inherited this mess, and by rights he did. But to pass off the basic executing of a company and it’s people to someone else, is quite the cowardly move in my book.

Hey Barry, If you ever happen to read this; Grow some freaking Gonads,will ya? I mean, come on. If you going to screw the American worker; why not do it yourself? Instead of letting your damned patsies do it for you. Just a thought.

President Barack Obama asks G.M. CEO Rick Wagoner to resign

Full disclosure: My Father is a Retired G.M. Employee and a member of the United Auto Workers.

I have known about this for a while. I’ve just been waiting for as much info as I could get, before doing a post on it.

Originally Via the Politico:

The Obama administration asked Rick Wagoner, the chairman and CEO of General Motors, to step down and he agreed, a White House official said.

On Monday, President Barack Obama is to unveil his plans for the auto industry, including a response to a request for additional funds by GM and Chrysler. The plan is based on recommendations from the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry, headed by the Treasury Department.

The White House confirmed Wagoner was leaving at the government’s behest after The Associated Press reported his immediate departure, without giving a reason.

General Motors issued a vague statement Sunday night that did not officially confirm Wagoner’s departure.

“We are anticipating an announcement soon from the Administration regarding the restructuring of the U.S. auto industry. We continue to work closely with members of the Task Force and it would not be appropriate for us to speculate on the content of any announcement,” the company said.

The surprise announcement about the classically iconic American corporation is perhaps the most vivid sign yet of the tectonic change in the relationship between business and government in this era of subsidies and bailouts.

Reaction from the Conservative Blogsophere has been predictable negative. Also I have observed via the local media, that some auto workers are not happy about the President asking a C.E.O. to resign.

I have an opinion on this. It is simply this. I want to wait and see what happens. I do not want to pass judgment upon this until I see what is going to happen. This could be a bad thing and then again, it could be a very good thing. I shall, like many from this God-Forsaken part of the Country are playing the wait and see game.

Reaction to this from the Editorial board of the The Detroit Free Press is not a good one:

The risk was there from the start.

The federal money flowing to Detroit to help struggling automakers was always going to come with strings.

But there’s a fine line between holding General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC accountable for a pile of taxpayer cash and inappropriate government efforts to actually run the companies.

President Barack Obama’s Auto Task Force may have crossed that line over the weekend when it reportedly asked for GM Chairman Rick Wagoner’s resignation as part of a plan to get more aid to the struggling automaker.

It’s hard to see how canning the chief executive is far shy of actually running the company. And if that’s the case, if GM’s federal overseers are stepping up their efforts to actually manage GM through its restructuring, this sets an awful precedent, both on general principle and in this particular instance.

The principle at stake says government shouldn’t manage private businesses. GM has a board of directors that, no matter its many mistakes, is accountable for the company’s fate. The government should ensure the board doesn’t squander taxpayer funds, but that doesn’t include selecting the company’s leadership.

It didn’t for banks, mortgage companies or insurance outfits like AIG. Why should GM be treated differently?

Something tells me that there is going to be a huge blow back from this and it might just cost Obama a reelection, should be try and run in 2012.

Additional Coverage:

Blogs:

Sad News: Bill Davidson Owner of the Detroit Pistons has died

Truly some sad news from the local area here:

Bill Davidson, Managing Partner of the Detroit Pistons and 2008 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, has passed away at the age 86.

Memorial services are planned for noon on Tuesday at the Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield.

Davidson became the second owner in Pistons history in 1974, when he purchased the franchise from the late Fred Zollner.

Bill Davidson
Bill Davidson = 1922 - 2009

Davidson also had ownership stake in Palace Sports and Entertainment, the Detroit Shock, DTE Energy Music Center, Meadow Brook Music Festival and Guardian Industries, Incorporated, one of the world’s primary manufacturers of architectural and automotive glass.

During his tenure as owner, Davidson’s professional teams won seven world championships, three in the NBA, three in the WNBA and one in the National Hockey League. Palace Sports and Entertainment owned the Tampa Bay Lightning when that franchise won the Stanley Cup in 2004.

In addition to accomplishments as a professional sports owner, Davidson was one of metro Detroit’s most notable philanthropists, responsible for more than $200 million in donations to local and international charities and universities.

Organizations and municipalities that have benefited from his generosity include the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the University of Michigan, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovet, Israel, the Karmanos Cancer Institute and Children’s Research Center of Michigan, the city of Detroit’s Parks and Recreation Department, Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem and countless others.

In 1997, Davidson was honored for his philanthropy by the Council of Michigan Foundations and also named one of America’s most generous donors by the New York Times.

via Bill Davidson: 1922 – 2009 —  WXYZ.com

He will be missed. Condolences to the Davidson family and to everyone over at the Pistons. 🙁

An Interesting Movie

I post this because I believe that it is interesting. Alex Jones has always struck me as a kook. Someone amongst the “Tin Foil Hat” crowd. However, it is something interesting to watch.

Enjoy…

What do you think? Do you think that there is any truth to this?

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A New Parody "Barry's Farm"

Here’s the Original Song:


Update: It seems that some Fascist Socialist Liberal twit keeps going around getting my video yanked. No biggie, if they yank it. I will find it elsewhere and put it up. This is America and not fascist Germany and I have the RIGHT to express my opinions about the President and his fascist polices. You liberals don’t like it? TOUGH SHIT! 😡

History about the song and concert

New Lyrics:

Barry’s Farm

(Sung to the tune of Maggie’s Farm by Bob Dylan)

Written by Paleo Pat

I ain’t gonna work on Barry’s farm no more.
I ain’t gonna work on Barry’s farm no more.
Well, I wake up in the morning,
Fold my hands and pray that I might keep my gain.
I got a bill full of Taxes
That are drivin’ me insane.
It’s a shame the way he makes me tip the whore.
Naw, I ain’t gonna work on Barry’s farm no more.

I ain’t gonna work under Barry’s Law’s no more.
I ain’t gonna work under Barry’s Law’s no more.
Well, he hands you a Dollar,
Taxes you a dime,
Looks at you with a grin
While robbin’ you fuckin’ Blind,
Then he taxes you every time you open the door.
I ain’t gonna work under Barry’s Laws no more.

I ain’t gonna be a slave for Barry’s Government no more.
No, I ain’t be a Slave for Barry’s Government no more.
Well, he puts a Tax Bill
in your face just for kicks.
His White House
It is made out of Bricks.
The Secret Service stands around his door.
Ah, I ain’t gonna be a slave for Barry’s Government no more.

I ain’t gonna work for Barry’s Bitch no more.
No, I ain’t gonna work for Barry’s Bitch no more.
Well, she talks to all the people
About Equality and Race and Law.
All the while the workin’ people
Are payin’ for other peoples bad calls
She’s a lying thief, but she says her honesty stands tall.
Naw, I ain’t gonna work for Barry’s Bitch no more.

I ain’t gonna work on Barry’s farm no more.
I ain’t gonna work on Barry’s farm no more.
Well, I try my best
To do the best I can,
But everybody wants you
To pay thier bills for them.
They eat steak while you slave and I just get bored.
I ain’t gonna work on Barry’s farm no more
.