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The Auto Bankruptcy Teeter-Totter
Paul Kedrosky's Infectious Greed —
People are neatly lining up on either side of this auto industry bailout subject, but most of them are ducking the core issues. If you’re pro or you’re con, here are some of the questions you have to answer to be credible. Pro. If you’re in favor of a bailout, you need to explain how the buck – literally – stops here. Why will capping salaries, for example, change diddly with respect to the U.S. auto companies’ competitiveness? Or are you merely arguing that this was a perfect storm – economic downturn, super-spike in oil, etc. – and so we should bail the auto companies out? (In which case, what about the airlines? Oh wait, they haven’t all ...
GM Tells Us Why They Need to Be Saved, on YouTube
naked capitalism —
It's the collateral damage... think of all those innocents who had nothing to do with GM's recidivist mismanagement who will nevertheless be hurt This probably will not go down as a classic (say, the Apple 1984 commercial or the "Harry and Louise" campaign that helped torpedo the Clinton health care plan). And there is a "it really isn't our fault, we spent billions on fuel efficiency" bit. Right. Half-heartedly and late. But this is nevertheless an interesting addition to the usual corporate PR campaign and does make its case succinctly. Via YouTube (hat tip ...
Bailout, new media-style
FT Alphaville —
Switch to the refreshed FT Alphaville FT Alphaville featuring the new Long Room. Try out our new beta version today. Skip to main content, accesskey 's' Homepage, accesskey '1' Advertisement Search Monday Nov 17 2008 All times are London time Search News in the FT.com site Search for Search Quotes in the FT.com site Quotes FT Alphaville, featuring the new Long Room - try it today FT Alphaville FT Alphaville is a 2008 Webby Award Winner Log in Register for free Username Password Remember me Jump to day The 6am cut - Alphaville by email Advertisement Most Popular Posts The ...
GM Declares Itself Essential to World As We Know It
Minyanville —
If General Motors ( GM ) marketed cars with the same smarmy skill it shows in begging Uncle Sam for a handout, it would kick the Japanese automakers back across the Pacific, and its stock price would be in triple digits. GM s message is simple: A $25 billion loan now will save a $398 billion hit to the US economy over 3 years. Maybe, but the 3-minute and 57-second video, featuring stark images and starker captions, certainly makes you question GM s assumptions. The video includes what s no doubt intended to be a haunting musical soundtrack and -- this is the real grabber -- no spoken words. Mr. Goodwrench, where are you? But the message is clear: Without the ...
Stop The Auto Bailout Campaign
Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis —
Enough is enough. Congress is about to waste more money attempting to prop up ailing dinosaurs GM and Ford. We need to do something about this and we will. Please read this and act. First let's go over the background information. Time is reporting Pressure for a New Bailout Grows. Executives of GM, Ford and Chrysler met with House speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate majority leader Harry Reid on how to increase the size of Washington's aid package to the Big Three. Though details are still being worked out, the push is for an additional $25 billion in federal loan guarantees for Detroit in addition to the $25 billion already promised to assist the ...
GM, Ford and Chrysler: Market Expects Bankruptcy
[ The Financial Ninja ] —
“Is $25 billion enough? Is this the end or just the beginning? A lot of people think you already failed, that your model has failed.” –Richard Shelby The market doesn’t believe GM, Ford and Chrysler will get a bailout without being forced into bankruptcy first. Both Republicans and Democrats were balking at bailout out these money ...
Aid for the Automakers? You Decide!
Robert Salomon's Blog —
For those of you who have been following this blog, you know where I stand on the proposed aid package for US automakers (see Preventing Moral Hazard in the Auto Industry for background). I am not opposed to aid for GM and Ford, provided that aid come with strict terms:
A moratorium on acquisitions (whether with Chrysler, or otherwise)
A rationalization of operations - a reduction in the number of brands/models coupled with plant closures
A renegotiation of employment terms with the UAW to make the US automakers more competitive with global competitors
Strong incentives to build more fuel-efficient automobiles ...
The Week That Was November 17 – 23, 2008
The Big Picture —
Words from the (investment) wise for the week that was (November 17 – 23, 2008)
by Prieur du Plessis
~~~
A new bout of fear gripped financial markets during the past week, causing the slide in global stocks, commodities and emerging-market assets to deepen. As investors’ angst escalated, positions in risky assets were liquidated in exchange for perceived safe havens such as the US dollar, government bonds and gold bullion.
“We have seen fundamental selling, technical selling, forced selling (deleveraging), short selling, capitulation selling and selling due to ennui,” commented David Fuller (Fullermoney).
Fueling the ...
