tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042042552998680556.post1907130756264077292..comments2024-02-02T08:15:38.747-08:00Comments on The Elephant in the Room: Who Should Get Credit for "Saving" the Auto Industry?LMEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18429716019519498131noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042042552998680556.post-87053178932848885832012-10-10T10:51:27.939-07:002012-10-10T10:51:27.939-07:00The republicans balked on the bailout because they...The republicans balked on the bailout because they wanted the GM management to reconfigure ALL union contracts - you know the way it would be done in ANY normal bankruptcy. The union flatly refused and the original bill didn't pass. Bush (and I'm still ticked off about this) went AROUND them and instead used monies 'leftover' from the first stimulus - which ALSO happened under Bush at the end of his presidency - another sore spot w/me. McCain even suspended his campaign to go back to D.C. to vote FOR the stimulus.<br /><br />I REMEMBER Obama, after he won the election, screaming, daily on t.v. that he 'needed that money' to 'save America.' <br /><br />Historically, government stimulus (QE whatever number this time) NEVER works and serves only to create inflation in the long run. The proof of this is now apparent in the current increase in grocery, gasoline, utility, etc. bills. IMO NO ONE should ever be 'bailed out' by our government (tax dollars).<br /><br />So - Bush did 'save' the auto industry (which I did not and still don't agree with - but it's done, and I moved on)... Bush also set the wheels in motion to 'get' Bin Laden. Pretty much buried by the MSM: Obama and his DOJ began (but later dropped) PROSECUTION attempts on those responsible for gathering the information that made it possible.<br /><br />And now that we know it was NO video that caused the attack on our Libyan embassy; that it WAS a PRE-PLANNED, Sept 11 terrorist attack... how come NO ONE mentions the FACT that EVERYONE at the DNC convention spouted the 'GM's alive and Bin Laden's DEAD' mantra - less than TWO WEEKS days prior. Obama himself bragged that HE put 'al Queida on its heels.'<br /><br />@RKen Ahem... I'm not a party 'hack'. I see good stuff and bad within both parties. No matter how you feel about them, in 2010 the Tea Party went after the R's with a vengeance - with a clear agenda of removing those who have been there so long they no longer remembered WHO the H*LL they work FOR. They sought, and for the most part succeeded in getting rid of the go along to get along bunch; those who's ONLY concern was their OWN next election. <br /><br />And I said 'for the most part'. Being from Nevada, I still have a GIANT sore spot for Palin's pushing of Angle, who - although I voted for her AGAINST Harry Reid, was IMO - well, pretty much nuts. I've lived here my whole life and I'd never HEARD of Sharon Angle! <br /><br />We HAD a better, albeit much more 'moderate' R candidate; whose name and reputation was well known statewide and who, I believe, COULD very well have put Dirty Harry Reid out to pasture where he belongs... AND had Whorehouse Harry been REMOVED from his high horse as Senate leader... who knows how this last two years might have gone - for the WHOLE country? Thanks to Sarah Palin AND the Nevada Tea Party - we'll never know.<br /><br />See - not a hack : ) Just a plain, old, constitutional/fiscal conservative... (operative word 'old'...lol)<br /><br /> <br /><br />Darahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10612923804586600664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042042552998680556.post-47500781321870208922012-10-10T07:23:56.527-07:002012-10-10T07:23:56.527-07:00It sucks that I'm super busy and I have to kee...It sucks that I'm super busy and I have to keep this short, but I do agree with you on the nature of information sharing, reporting, etc. This example, the democrats claiming "we saved Detroit" is just one of many. While it does happen on both sides, the slant of the media pushes one side's argument stronger. Last night, while watching Wolf Blitzer, which is very rare for me to watch cable news, he said something like "the fact that Obama saved the auto industry resonates with Ohio voters." I was very angry upon hearing this. While both sides push it, the media spreads it. LMEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18429716019519498131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042042552998680556.post-56574171358611436992012-10-10T06:20:11.077-07:002012-10-10T06:20:11.077-07:00This actually highlights what is one of my bigger ...This actually highlights what is one of my bigger problems with our political system and the atmosphere it fosters. This might not be a popular viewpoint, but I’ll elaborate.<br /><br />First, let me just say that what you point out here is absolutely correct LME. The auto bailout was started under Bush, and most of it had already passed before Obama even came into office. <br /><br />To make things even more complicated though, keep mind that it was passed by a Democratic Congress and was largely opposed by Republicans. But at the same time, Bush could have chosen to rally his administration against it and/or veto it, and did not. <br /><br />So in reality, no matter how you look at it, both parties had a fair amount of contribution towards the ultimate passing and results of this bill. Which, many people seem to ignore, is the case for the overwhelming majority of the bills/legislation. Patriot Act? Both parties. Deregulation of banks? Both parties. Wars in Iraq/Afghan? Both parties. Tax cuts? Both parties. Medicare? Both parties. Social Security? Both parties… etc. <br /><br />Yet, for the overwhelming majority of the cases where these issues are discussed in media, campaigns, and/or general politics… these bills are near-always attempted to be labeled as “Bush’s tax cuts” or “Obama auto bailout”, as if one single person (or even party) is fully responsible for a bill and its results in its entirety. But this is very, very rarely the true case here. <br /><br />That, is a major problem to me.<br /><br />But I’ll even go as far to say that this is merely a symptom of a bigger issue here, with this atmosphere encouraging the exploitation of both the political ignorance of the general populace in combination with many having passionate party loyalties. Many people wear their political party affiliation like it’s a badge as close to their heart as their religion or morals, but that is not and was never the intention of having a two party system. But this high sense of loyalty/pride fosters the idea that your party can do no wrong, and anything/everything bad that ever happens is 100% the fault of the other party, is not only incorrect but just ignorant of the reality of how the system works. <br /><br />These methods do far more to drag out/worsen our issues, hurt, and divide us than it does anything else. But, I unfortunately don't see it changing anytime soon (if ever). RKennoreply@blogger.com