Drew Dowdell

No, not all CEOs are bad, but of the bad ones few, if any, have taken any responsibility for their company's actions. If they do leave the company, it's usually with a handsome bonus. As far as paying down credit debt and changing spending habits.... these are good things in a vacuum, but it will end up dragging this depression out longer. I've maintained for a while that instead of giving all of this money to the banks, the government should have just given everyone in America $10,000 with the stipulation that it be used to pay down debt first. It would have immediately recapitalized the banks while also wiping out the debt of the American consumer so they could start buying again. If you're going to inflate the currency anyway, at least do it in a way that benefits the most people.

I'll see that and raise you a "Golden Parachute"

They've already done a bang up job with Chrysler.

Watch the politics. You have no idea if the administration was even involved in the decision.

I happen to agree with him whoever he was. There is ZERO responsibility at the executive level at these banks. Just the other day there was an article where some bank exec was complaining that because he went to a fancy college he should get to collect a high salary regardless of what the economy or his company are doing.

Now if BMW had to tackle this same issue, they would have installed special computer controlled resonators on each caliper to counter act the forces causing any squealing. There would be a 10,000 mile service interval, but it would only be able to be performed at the BMW dealer since only they have the magic computer interface. If Honda had to tackle the issue, they would have redesigned the headlights to look more like a Pokemon character and then issue a press release on how the squealing helps to scare off furry forest creatures so they don't get run over. If Toyota had to tackle the issue, they would have denied it was an issue till there were enough angry customers to form a class action suit. In response to the suit, they would remove the caliper completely without replacing it. If Chrysler had to tackle the issue, they would have needed to issue a recall to which the MSM would plaster "Chrysler recalls elevinty gazillion cars for brake squealing" as the main headline, with the "Chrysler: Putting your down syndrome child and their shelter adopted puppy at risk?" prime time special on 60 Minutes airing right after an Obama speech. If Chery had to tackle the issue, they'd say "Is no problem! Is feature!"

GM isn't really giving up presence... they are just shedding redundant brands :AH-HA_wink: Chevy is growing rather well in Europe.

Not as much anymore... at least not in Europe. The Corsa, Astra and Vectra are fairly popular and if nothing else, well respected. However, ask a non-enthusiast German what they think of Opel and they'll tell you that the new ones are great but the old ones were terrible. Opel is/was pulling off a VW or Nissan style renessance over there..... pity it only really mattered in Western Europe. The recent Opels we got here are fine as Opels but not great as Saturns. If you look at what they did with Saturn it's just Oldsmobile part zwei. 1. Change all the names (Cutlass Surpeme->Intrigue, Toronado/Ninety Eight->Aurora, Cutlass->Alero) v. (SL/SC -> Ion -> Astra, LS -> Aura) 2. Change the target market (Midmarket cushy cruisers to midmarket sportish cars) v. (basic, fuel efficient, dent free transportation -> SUVs, Roadsters, and mid-pack MPG sedans/hatches) 3. Attempt to move up market (Aurora and Intrigue trying to move into Infiniti and Lexus territory) v. (a brand that 10 years ago maxed out at $20k now only 1 vehicle bases under 20k, most base around 24k, two base above 27k and can be optioned up to around 40k)

It's the attitude that they are so much better than GMNA or Holden or GMDAT. Up until very recently Opel has been an also ran in Europe with about as much brand cache as Skoda. They come up with the Vectra(epsilon) and the Astra and BAM they think they are gods gift to GM. Supposedly we are to forget about stuff like the Omega(Catera) and old Vectra(Saturn LS) and Kadett (Chevette). We're supposed to turn away from excellent platforms from Holden for no reasons Opel cares to explain. We're supposed to fawn over the Insignia, which I'll admit is a very nice car, but it's no Lacrosse.

definitely a case of you get what you pay for.

Japan's Trade Surplus Vaporizes The Business Insider Talk about cliff diving. Japan, which at one point was synonymous with phrase 'trade surplus', is now a net importer. The country's trade surplus collapsed a staggering 99% in March, as a sharp dropoff in imports was not matched on the other side. The collapse means Japan ran a deficit for the year -- its first in 28 years.

..and such.

1. Who said the game is over? 2. Toyota has 3 brands in the U.S. 3. The Terrain and the Buick "Vue" would be substantially different vehicles. 4. Have you looked at Toyota's sales lately? They are tanking just as hard as the domestics... they just had a cash horde to help them through.

GM as Chevy, Pontiac/Buick/GMC, Cadillac makes sense and easy to reduce/eliminate model overlap.

No no... I can post pics.

suction out the fat to make biofuel. "Honey! The Suburban is below a quarter tank. Have a double whopper with cheese and hook up the shop vac!"

Don't I know it.

comes spittle.

I'm not in favor of taking choices away at all. I just want the costs to go up.

Even if they are born that way, we can change them, we'll just have to put them into special camps and make them pray a lot.

So is shoving greaseburgers down your throat even after you can no longer fit in an airline seat.

*still holds the keys to the server* Actually, I think Walt would appreciate it.

Plenty at my local dealers.

Happy Birthday dear leader. *really wishes he had a pic of Walt so he could turn it into an Obama style poster*