Grim Local News – GM, Chrysler seek more money and will cut more jobs…

Kind of a depressing local story for me:

Video:

The Story:

Billions of dollars in government loans to prop up General Motors and Chrysler won’t be enough. The companies, which have received $17.4 billion so far, filed plans with the government more than doubling that request to a staggering total of $39 billion.

The requests, made in government-required restructuring plans filed Tuesday, were accompanied by plans for thousands more job cuts, slashing of models and brands, union concessions and the prospect of even further expense cuts.

In a dramatic acknowledgment that conditions in the U.S. auto industry have grown significantly worse in just two months, GM alone said it would cut 47,000 jobs globally by the end of the year — 19 percent of its work force. It also said it would close five more U.S. factories, although it did not identify them.

Chrysler said it will cut 3,000 more jobs and stop producing three vehicle models.

The grim reports came as the United Auto Workers union said it had reached a tentative agreement with GM, Chrysler and Ford Motor Co. on contract changes. Concessions with the union and debt-holders were a condition of the government bailout.

GM said it could need up to $30 billion from the Treasury Department, up from a previous estimate of $18 billion. That includes $13.4 billion the company has already received. The world’s largest automaker said it could run out of money by March without new funds and needs $2 billion next month and another $2.6 billion in April.

“We have a lot of work to do,” General Motors Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Rick Wagoner said. “We’re still going at this with a great sense of urgency.”

via The Associated Press: GM, Chrysler seek billions more, to cut more jobs.

I think I’ll just refrain from public commentary on this one. There’s family, my family involved here; so, I’m totally biased. I just do not think those Conservatives who opposed this money to these companies really get it. All I am going to say. Anyone that’s read this Blog, or wants to know what I think. Do a search on “Tarp Loans” and you’ll see why I feel the way that I do.

Local News – ACORN to Sponsor Detroit Mayoral Candidates Forum Tonight

Acorn, much noted for their voter fraud, is sponsoring a Forum for the Detroit Mayoral Candidates.

As Detroit gets closer the Feb. 24 mayoral primary election, the candidates are getting another opportunity to put their ideas before voters.

The community group ACORN is sponsoring a forum on foreclosures at St. Paul AME Church on Hunt Street in Detroit tonight at 6.

All candidates are expected to be there — except Detroit businessman Dave Bing, who said he has a scheduling conflict.

via Detroit Mayoral Candidates Forum Tonight – Detroit Local News Story – WDIV Detroit.

Hmmmm… I just wonder, will ACORN allow the voter fraud in the Detroit Mayoral Election like they did in the election of B. Hussein Obama?

Notice also, that WDIV never mentioned the voter fraud at all? Now, why I am not surprised. 🙄

Breaking Local News – G.M. to offer buyout packages to all union employees.

This is interesting…:

General Motors Corp. will offer buyouts to all of its hourly employees, a spokesman confirmed Tuesday, as the troubled automaker continues to slash costs.

GM spokesman Tony Sapienza said the buyouts will mainly target GM’s 22,000 retirement-eligible hourly employees, though any union employee can take the offer.

News of the buyouts first broke on Monday. A union official told The Associated Press then that GM would offer $20,000 in cash and a $25,000 car voucher for workers who retire early and those who simply leave the company. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because workers were not yet notified of the packages.

via GM To Offer Buyouts To All Hourly Employees — WDIV Detroit.

Just another sign of the times. For the record, G.M. has done this in the past, when times were bad. Hopefully some of the guys that have been with the company and are about ready to retire will take this buy out. Hopefully, this will help the problem and G.M. will become viable.

Shocking Opinion Piece of the Day

I must confess; when I read this, my jaw about dropped to the floor. 😮

Quote:

I propose that, from this day forward, we stop telling the tale of two Americas and instead document and celebrate the full and storied, multicultural and multidimensional story that is America in all of its colors, geographies and passions, in all of its ups, downs and exhortations.

I propose that, for the first time in American history, this country has reached a point where we are can stop celebrating separately, stop learning separately, stop being American separately. We have reached a point where most Americans want to gain a larger understanding of the people they have not known, customs they have not known, traditions they have not known.

I propose that this month. 142 years after Congress passed the Reconstruction Acts of 1867 that allowed for the Southern states to be re-admitted to the Union, we adopt our own personal reconstruction goals to admit into our lives people who are different, people whose origins differ from ours, people who can teach us so much if we listen.

I propose that this month we become not the America of Rush Limbaugh or the America of Al Franken, but to become an America where all opinions matter and hope trumps hate.

I propose that this February, we become not an America of black or white or Hispanic or Asian but an America of black and white and Hispanic and Asian, an America where each of those heritages is a mandatory part of school curriculums. We don’t need more amendments to the U.S. Constitution; we need more amendments to our own personal behaviors, beginning with changing how we treat each other.

Where did I see such a thing?

In some newspaper in the south? On a White Nationalist Website? Nope. In the Detroit Free Press.

Color me shocked.

Someone needs to tell that this to Rev. Joseph E. Lowery; that post race racialism is wrong and should stop.

In case you forgot:

Now, who’s the real racists? 🙄

Memo to America: Michigan Winters Suck!

I have been reading with mild amusement and slight concern about some other Bloggers adventures in dealing with the wonderful white stuff in the cold north that we call snow.

Yeah, I know, I linked to Ed, even if he did insult my dad. 😡 But it’s a new year, and I am not one to hold a grudge for long.

Anyhow, I just got back in from driving around the corner to get some hamburger buns for supper; I might be a recovering liberal, but I like my beefy hamburgers. Anyhow, I was out there, let there be no misunderstanding; it is freaking COLD here in Michigan! (Currently 14 Degrees!) My Dad, whom has a heart of pure gold; (although he drive me nuts at times!) let me borrow his big coat and gloves, I wore my trusty dusty, Handy Dandy, Chevrolet cap on the ol’ bean. I looked like the Great Nanook of the North out there! 😆

Anyhow, I did have a bit of misfortune. I was trying to release my windshield wiper from my frozen windshield with my ice scraper, so, the wipers would work, and prompty broke the stupid thing. Smooth move there. 🙄

Thankfully, the wiper was on the passenger side of the car. I did make it around the corner, and got said buns, and got my rather frozen hairy behind back in the warm house.

Al Gore can kiss my rather obese, hairy, happy-go-lucky, white behind! Next time I hear a damn Moonbat liberal opining about Global Warming, I’m just gonna pop him in the mouth. Come live in Michigan right and talk that idiot crap. I dare ya.

It’s going to be one long winter season, and I’m already tired of it. Oy!

Local News: Michigan's Government continues to grow

This is what happens when you allow Liberals to run your state.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm - Communist Liberal Michigan Governor

Via WDIV-TV:

LANSING — Gov. Jennifer Granholm is continuing to sign a slew of bills passed in December by the Michigan Legislature.A new law signed Friday requires certain drunken drivers to use an ignition interlock device aimed at stopping repeat offenses. Another law prohibits stores from sending wine directly to customers. The wine law comes after a federal court ruling saying Michigan’s old law was unfair to out-of-state stores. Also Friday, Granholm signed a law aimed at punishing store owners caught with tobacco smuggled from around the country. Another new law removes sales taxes and fees from the gross receipts portion of Michigan’s new business tax that took effect in 2008. Critics had pushed to eliminate the so-called “tax on a tax.”

This is nothing more than a witches brew of unreasonable laws on morality and a direct attack on capitalism. Of course, this is what happens when you elect anti-capitalist communist-minded Liberals in your state to rule it. They always overstep their authority. Should not stores be allow to get tobacco where they wish? Should wine sellers be able to ship their wine directly to their customers, if they so choose to? As for the dunk driving laws, while I am sympathetic to those killed in drinking related crashes; the truth is that this law totally voliates one’s consitutional rights as an American citizen.

Sad News: Ron Asheton Original Guitarist and founding member of the Stooges — Dead at 60

This is just horrifically bad news. Sad

Ronald Frank Asheton

July 17, 1948 – January 1, 2009

Via Spinner:

Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton was found dead at his Ann Arbor, Mich. home Tuesday morning. The official cause of death is not yet known, but it is believed the Asheton suffered a heart attack. Police discovered Asheton’s body on a couch after his personal assistant had been unable to reach him for several days. He was 60.

"I am in shock," Stooges frontman Iggy Pop said in a statement. "He was my best friend."

Asheton, along with his brother Scott on drums, Pop and original bassist Dave Alexander, formed the Stooges in Detroit in 1967. They released two albums, ‘The Stooges’ and ‘Fun House,’ before Ron Asheton took over bass duties. As a guitarist, he created a bevy of iconic riffs, including those for ‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’ and ‘TV Eye.’

After the Stooges’ initial split, Asheton played in several other bands, including the Wylde Ratttz, featuring Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, Mudhoney’s Mark Arm, Dinosaur Jr.’s J. Mascis and Mike Watt. Watt joined Asheton once more when the Stooges reunited in 2003, and Asheton returned to his original place as Stooges guitarist on 2007’s ‘The Weirdness.’

"We are shocked and shaken by the news of Ron’s death," a combined statement released by Pop, Asheton’s brother Scott, saxophonist Steve Mackay, Watt and the Stooges’ management read. He was a great friend, brother, musician, trooper. Irreplaceable. He will be missed. For all that knew him behind the facade of Mr Cool & Quirky, he was a kind-hearted, genuine, warm person who always believed that people meant well even if they did not. As a musician Ron was ‘The Guitar God’, idol to follow and inspire others. That is how he will be remembered by people who had a great pleasure to work with him, learn from him and share good and bad times with him."

It’s times like these when you really realize just how long ago the damn 1960’s were. All the great one’s, musically speaking, are simply dying on us. Such a tragic ending to a life with such talent. May he rest in peace. I don’t think that it would be out of place to say a little prayer for the family of this man tonight. Praying

…and for what it’s worth, I don’t know the politics of Iggy Pop or the rest of the guys, nor do I give two shits. This is not about that man. This is about the passing of a local Detroit area icon.

Some Videos in the Memory of Ron and the rest of those rowdy bastards.

I believe this video is from the Goose Lake Pop Festival of 1970.

And lastly, one of my favorite songs, “No Fun”. (Content Warning)

That’s what those guys were about, just having fun. It’s a sad loss for the Detroit Rock Music scene of the 1960’s and early 1970’s.

Technorati Tags: Music ,Detroit ,Michigan ,1960’s ,1970’s ,Iggy Pop ,Stooges

President Bush authorizes $17.5 Billion Dollars in low interest loans to Automakers

Better late than ever, I suppose. To listen to some Conservatives talk, the loans are open ended and there’s no accountability. Which is, of course, wrong. Waiting

From The Politico:

President George W. Bush stepped in Friday to keep America’s auto industry afloat, announcing a $17.4 billion bailout for GM and Chrysler, with the terms of the loans requiring that the firms radically restructure and show they can become profitable soon.

"If we were to allow the free market to take its course now, it would almost certainly lead to disorderly bankruptcy," Bush said at the White House, in remarks carried live by the national broadcast networks. "In the midst of a financial crisis and a recession, allowing the U.S. auto industry to collapse is not a responsible course of action. The question is how we can best give it a chance to succeed."

Bush said that "bankruptcy now would lead to a disorderly liquidation of American auto companies."

"My economic advisers believe that such a collapse would deal an unacceptably painful blow to hardworking Americans far beyond the auto industry. It would worsen a weak job market and exacerbate the financial crisis," he said. "It could send our suffering economy into a deeper and longer recession."

The money will come from the Wall Street bailout passed by Congress, a reversal for the White House. President-elect Barack Obama and Democrats had long advocated that course, and Bush had resisted it.

Of the total, $13.4 billion will be paid out in December and January, administration officials told reporters in a briefing. The last $4 billion is contingent on release of the second installment of the Wall Street bailout funds by Congress.

As you can see here, there is accountability, there are conditions on the loans, they are not open ended, and if the auto companies do not get their acts together, the loans will be recalled.

Of course, that is not good enough for some Conservatives like Michelle Malkin, who says that someone should sue the Government over the loans to the Auto industry. Yeah, Michelle, like that will really work. Rolling Eyes The Party that you are a cheerleader for, is already in the minority, has been driven to the wilderness; because of that beady-eyed bastard in the White House, why not just drive a damned stake through the heart of the party? I think Michelle needs to seriously look into going to the hospital, because I believe that "Sickness" that she has, is going to her brain. Silly

Yeah, I know, defend Malkin one day and whack her on the ass with a wet towel the next, it’s all about Equal Opportunity around this Blog. Tongue Winking

Anyhow, some also believe that this will soften Bush’s image a bit, The Moderate Voice’s Joe Gandelman Notes:

It will help add a positive note to the legacy of Bush who, at best, will be considered a highly flawed President and, at worst, rank as one of the worst in American history. The Republicans in the Senate, acting on ideology, regional politics and anti-union sentiment, had scuttled the bailout — giving the GOP an image once again of a party stuck on ideology.

I agree and I disagree; it might soften his image a bit amongst Independents and some moderate Democrats who did not like that guy, but amongst the hard left, I suspect that President Bush will be the most hated President ever.

Personally, I think Bush did what he felt was right, he put his Party politics aside for a change and did what was right, I commend him for it. I just hope that the auto industry uses this money for the proper purposes and gets their damned act together. Our Government has done the right and proper things, now it is time for the Auto Industry to do theirs. Many people are pessimistic about this; I, on the other hand, try to remain positive about this and hope like bloody hell that G.M. does get their act together. For the sake of the retirees, for the sake of all those who have families that work for those companies, for the sake of all the employees of the local and not so local suppliers and their families.

Local Good News: "Extreme Make Over" Family to get help….

Some Good News for a change…. 🙂

Via The Detroit News:

Several thousand dollars have rolled in for an Oak Park family who feared they were going to lose the home whose renovation was viewed by millions of TV viewers in 2004.

Judy and Larry Vardon say the money should help them avoid foreclosure on the Oakland County home that was refurbished to better accommodate their blind, autistic son. The deaf couple was featured on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

The Macomb Daily and The Daily Tribune report Sunday the couple didn’t request money, but donations started coming after media outlets this month reported on their plight.

The Vardons said they were weighed down by a mortgage payment that almost doubled since the makeover and medical insurance that hasn’t covered autism treatment for 16-year-old Lance.

I don’t much favor bailouts and the like. But this is one family that did really need the help. I am quite happy to see that good in Michigan come out for a change.

More Signs of the Hard Times Ahead

This is just not a good thing, at all. 🙁

Via the New York Times:

With unemployment claims reaching their highest levels in decades, states are running out of money to pay benefits, and some are turning to the federal government for loans or increasing taxes on businesses to make the payments.

Thirty states are at risk of having the funds that pay out unemployment benefits become insolvent over the next few months, according to the National Association of State Workforce Agencies. Funds in two states, Indiana and Michigan, have already dried up, and both states are borrowing from the federal government to make payments to the unemployed.

Unemployment taxes are collected by states from employers, but the rate varies from state to state per employee. In good times states build up trust funds so that when unemployment is high there is enough money to cover the requests for benefits, which are guaranteed by the federal government.

“You don’t expect the loans to happen this early in a jobs slump,” said Andrew Stettner, the deputy director of the National Employment Law Project, an advocacy organization for low-wage workers. “You would expect that the states should, even when they are not well prepared, to have savings.”

The Labor Department said last week that initial applications for jobless benefits rose to 573,000, the highest reading since November 1982. It is recommended that states keep at least one year of peak-level benefits in their trusts, but many have not, and already some states are far worse off than others.

Yet more of the ripple effect in the Nation’s Economy. Of course, I could sit here and blame the Democrats or the Republicans. But honestly, who is really to blame here? I personally think it is the fault of both parties really. First off, it is the fault of the globalist Neo-Cons who would rather ship jobs overseas for cheaper labor, than to keep the jobs here on Terra Firma. Second, it is the Democrats, with Bill Clinton putting pressure on the lending companies to offer high risk loans to those, who normally could not afford them. Put simply, it was a system that was set up upon risk and it ultimately failed.

So, now we’re stuck with states with extremely high unemployment rates and states who are having to ask the Federal Government for help to support these people. Now some of my more purist fellow Libertarians would essentially say, “Screw ’em! Let ’em suffer!” But seeing I am from the area, and I do admit to being more a moderate, I do not hold to such asinine views.

I personally think that the worst thing that our Government can do is throw up their hands and panic. Throwing more legislation and huge amounts of money at the problem will not work. The Wall Street Bailout proved that. I think, as a moderate, the best thing that the Federal Government can do is give the States that need the help the funds to keep the unemployment programs running and try the best they can to weather out the storm. The Economy is not going to stay horrible forever, we had a recession in the 1980’s, which was a result of some of the stupidity of the Carter administration. We weathered that storm out and recovered, I believe that we will do the same here. Yes, there will be hardships for a while, but in the end, we will prevail. We always have and will always will.