haypops

I heard that that is so for Hyundai, but it certainly isn't so for Toyota.

President Bush and Treasury Secretary Paulson own the financial bailout plan; not Dodd.

The government can stimulate vehicle purchases by changing the taxing and insurance regulations. One way to lower gasoline consumption in this country is by encouraging people to use the right sized car for the job. Generally people by the largest vehicle they expect to need. Think summer vacation time here. If instead of repeating that purchase once a decade, more American used their larger vehicle less and bought smaller ones for routine commuting/sharping, then the industry would sell more and the price of oil could remain low. Specifically sales tax and yearly registration should be based on the largest vehicle in a family's fleet, not all of them. Likewise insurance regulators should insist insurance companies charge for liability insurance on just one vehicle per registered driver. There is no reason we must may liability insurance for cars that sit in the driveway unused. I admit these are small matters, but we need to start somewhere easy and technically feasible.

Tariffs won't work well against Toyota and Honda since so much of their cars are built here. Those that are actually made in Japan could well be a thing of the past as the financial crisis has evolved to raise the value of the yen.

I don't think that it is unreasonable for an administration with so little time left to "kick the can down the road".

thank goodness.

The bad boys that we were talking about use the profits of 150/barrel oil to buy off other trouble makers and make themselves popular with their own people. The lower oil price is just all good. Many economist say that the recession will be busted more by the low oil prices than by government bailouts of AIG, etc.

Some of the oil producing countries that are hurting include Russia, Iran, and Venezuela. Russia is somewhat protected as at least half their petroleum production is natural gas which is not dropping it's price in the same manner. I don't see the downside to this.

The cruize (sp) sounds first class. I wish that it, instead of the Volt was being rushed to production. I felt that way before the precipitous drop in gasoline prices too. I understand everyone's excitement about the volt, but I just see it differently.

Bookmarked and thank you. from NBC

If those people in high places you mentioned include our congress critters, then filling out this petion thing may have some small effect on them. http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/Lp1KVap1Nu-R/

In defense of VT hokie, I don't think he is arguing against performance or SUV vehicles, but rather he is upset that he can no longer purchase what he found to be to his liking. My experiences with Saturn are similar to his, my conclusion about other GM vehicles much different.

Good point!

I just read of another new bailout. However, again the auto industry is left out. The proposal is the feds issue 3% bonds to investors and turn around and off 4% mortgages to consumers. This would stimulate the housing market which in turn would stimulate the economy. This isn't too bad of an idea but once again the auto industry is left out. I wonder if auto loans were included in the proposal, and if the southern state manufacturers were included too, if there might not be enough political support to get at least that much help.

I have seen a number of "experts" on TV and they all say GM and Ford have future products, but few see Chrysler making it through this "sh*t storm".

I think so too. Does nay one know if there is a list of which representatives support or reject which proposal. The idea to use the "CAFE" money instead of Wall Street money obviously means less total. Just venting, but it would be an interesting show of force if the UAW workers started the unemployment compensation paperwork in mass numbers.

The Saturn concept that you all are so happy to see go was to build a high quality small car with very high American content by UAW workers that exchanged the worst of poor work rules for a share of the responsibilty and the profit. The 40 mpg accomplishment was ahead of its time too. I share some of VThokie's disapointment. Where I disagree with him is that I am more than happy enough with my second choice (GM).

thanks for this. I need to go post at some political forums. BTW the link is: click here

The old S series Saturn had some of the highest U.S. content of any vehicle. That and it's polymer panels were the two must quoted reasons for purchase among many Saturn fans. These cars sold well and at a higher transaction price than other small cars.

article link

I am not sure it is limited to a green initiative as infrastructure and education are frequently mentioned. However, nothing is more of a green initiative than a strong Detroit since by necessity a large portion of our energy utilization is for transportation. Although I am pretty optimistic by nature, I do fear that on one end the help may come just a little too late for GM. On the other hand i fear that Chrysler isn't positioned as well as Ford and GM to survive from the nature of the probable offer of help.

As a life long Democrat who never voted for President Bush let me add that there is a world of difference between his first and second terms. The second term has risen to "typical" of a Republican administration and the worst of the problems in the second adminstration were consequences of mistakes of his first administration.

I got into some interesting discussions discussing the GM, etc. bridge loans. Two GM brands came out time and again. HUMMER - This brand is the opposite of a halo car. I was surprised how much hatred it carries with it. I calmed the waters by posting a picture of a post delivery vehicle and explaining that AM General not GM made the H1. BUICK - A number of posters commented what great gas mileage they got in their Buicks.

Lorenzo's article would have more heft if it included information pertaining to President Bush's insistence to veto the bailout and the math of the Senate favoring the Republican's minority position not to fund the bridge loans. Following is the letter stating the position of the Democratic leadership. I think that it is a very optimistic read.

The new administration has promised to SAVE or create 2.5 million new jobs. I think the auto industry bridge loan program is a sure thing.