Romney: Let Detroit go bankrupt
posted at 12:20 pm on November 19, 2008 by Allahpundit
Or, if you prefer the way Democrats will be spinning this, “Romney to Detroit: Drop Dead.” You’ve read the op-ed, now see the video. Should an unprofitable, uncompetitive industry be forced to restructure or should the feds dump a few billion more into the national money hole? Mitt’s squarely within the conservative mainstream on this one (which wasn’t true of his position on the financial bailout), but when a would-be party standard-bearer whose family made its name running an auto company pipes up, it carries a little extra weight. At least, it does on a slow news day.
Exit question: Can we reach any conclusions about his intention in 2012 from this? Supporting a bailout would have exploded his economic cred within the party, but he could have chosen to simply duck the issue lest he alienate Michigan voters. As it is, given the Republican orthodoxy on this subject to which he’s lending his name, the state’s a mortal lock to go blue again in four years no matter who the nominee is.
Blowback
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He sais during the primary that current auto industry jobs in Michigan would be protected, and not only that but they he would return the jobs that had been lost to foreign manafactures.
kcewa on November 19, 2008 at 2:28 PM
kcewa on November 19, 2008 at 2:28 PM
He said he would fight for them. Read his plan, if it works, it WOULD return a lot of jobs already lost.
thecountofincognito on November 19, 2008 at 2:29 PM
This is why Republicans are going to keep losing. The recession isn’t over yet and Americans are anxious about jobs and the overall strength of the economy. Proposing “let them fail and rebuild” will work among those who feel secure in the economy, but LOTS more Americans outside of Detroit rely upon the auto industry for an industry, particularly in the midwest. How on earth do you ever expect to win Ohio, Michigan, Minn or Wisconsin if you’re out there bashing unions and bashing the auto industry. It will not work.
DeathToMediaHacks on November 19, 2008 at 2:30 PM
I strongly believe that we should NOT bailout the auto industry. It is the proverbial “crossing of the Rubicon”, there will be no turning back. More and more industries will come screaming for help, and we cannot surely be able to rescue all of them. “Survival of the fittest” holds true as much in the business world as it does in the animal world (even though I am not sure how popular that view is over here).
Cheers,
The Family Guy.
peter_griffin on November 19, 2008 at 2:31 PM
Well, sure. Just add it onto the other bailouts. Full faith and credit sure ain’t worth what it used to be.
Seriously, my pension as a member of PBGT might be paid out in the future at 60 cents on the dollar or worse, depending upon how many firms go under and if my company can afford the premiums to stay in the PBGT over my working life.
Vashta.Nerada on November 19, 2008 at 2:31 PM
Mitt Romney was literally foaming at the mouth and drooling trying to get the bailout passed.
Thank God that lunatic won’t ever get anywhere near the whitehouse.
SaintOlaf on November 19, 2008 at 2:33 PM
I don’t see the validity of your argument. When the airlines filed bankruptcy, none of the airlines disappeared off the face of the planet. Sure, there were mergers/acquisitions, but people still flew with them.
And they were still able to get the necessary parts and supplies to keep flying.
cjs1943 on November 19, 2008 at 2:34 PM
SaintOlaf on November 19, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Literally? Really? Do you understand the meaning of that word? If not, I question your understanding of a lot of things.
OK, I admit, I already question it.
thecountofincognito on November 19, 2008 at 2:34 PM
We already crossed the Rubicon. Any republican who is for wall street socialism and against automaker socialism is a massive hypocrite.
lodge on November 19, 2008 at 2:34 PM
You’ll get $1 for $1 payout, you’ll just have to pay a 90% marginal tax rate on it.
phronesis on November 19, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Yep.. a bachelor degree and public accounting jobs require a CPA, which is an additional year of school.
Illinidiva on November 19, 2008 at 2:36 PM
Brilliant
Vashta.Nerada on November 19, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Evidence please?
I don’t pretend to be an expert on bankruptcy filings and how it affects stock prices, but I don’t know that Phronesis is entirely correct. Here is a link to the 10 year stock price for Delta airlines. They declared bankruptcy on 9/15/2005 but as you can see the stock went from a low of $1.01 a share back up to a high of $21.10 at one point, until high fuel costs reared their ugly head again.
They’re now set to merge with Northwest which should do a lot to improve the stock price in the long run.
Buy Danish on November 19, 2008 at 2:38 PM
It is one thing for the gov’t to do research into new weapons systems or new cancer fighting techniques. It is quite another thing to help T Boone Pickens make another billion dollars on his innane windmill scheme. What Mittens was for in the primary was something similar to what Pickens is proposing than any traditional DOD research or cancer drugs.
Illinidiva on November 19, 2008 at 2:40 PM
Hey, can you show us the picture of this? Don’t keep it all to yourself. No doubt Huck would love to have that taped to his refrigerator.
Thanks in advance!
Buy Danish on November 19, 2008 at 2:41 PM
As a Michigan voter, I say no bailout or loan guarantees for the big 3. At all.
The big 3 lobbied the crap out of washington for all sorts of fuel economy and emissions exemptions for years for their suv, truck, and big car lineup which made them uncompetitive in this climate. They asked for it.
The big 3 refused to stand up to the continuous r@ping the unions gave them (under table dealings FTW) which made it impossible to maintain a decent profit margin even in fair economic times, and still they refuse to take a hard line against the union thugs. Now is the time. They asked for this.
Time to let them chapter 11. It wouldn’t be the end of the industry, what would come out the other end MIGHT be an industry worth supporting if they started producing vehicles actually worth owning (hydrogen powered vehicles anyone?) and the union was brought in line with reality.
Meanwhile, the CEOs, CFOs, VPs, and Directors all get their cushy salaries and bennies while retirees get shafted more and more every year. We should bail them out for more of the same? HELL NO.
In fact, I want ROMNEY for Governor of Michigan in 2010. Everyone write him and ask him to run against Granholm, the biggest P.O.S governor we’ve had since Blanchard. I’ve already written him practically begging him to run. We need some fiscal sanity in this messed up state and we need it now.
Spiritk9 on November 19, 2008 at 2:43 PM
How do i get a bailout. I want the gov to pay my SMUD PGE house payment as well as water and sewage bills. Please if anyone could assist me as to how I can get in front of Congress to ask for my share please respond.
Irvin88 on November 19, 2008 at 2:44 PM
This is why Republicans are going to keep losing. The recession isn’t over yet
The recession will NOT stop on the bailouts. it will deepen and grow worse. If the government gets their dirty little hands out of the pot and let’s business learn a few lessons, we can move on that more quickly.
Noelie on November 19, 2008 at 2:45 PM
A different set of shareholders, I believe. Existing shareholders were canceled during bankruptcy. This is a pretty good article.
phronesis on November 19, 2008 at 2:45 PM
Irvin88 on November 19, 2008 at 2:44 PM
Well, first you will have to fly to Washington, D.C. in your private jet…
thecountofincognito on November 19, 2008 at 2:46 PM
Exactly. But look on the bright side…perhaps a total meltdown in those three states will also stimulate a rewrite of all of the State and local government employee contracts, teacher contracts, pensions, and benefits just like the hated UAW! Nobody will have a job anywhere…it’ll be great!
Youngs98 on November 19, 2008 at 2:48 PM
This is what Republicans said during the Depression and FDR’s work progress admin proved them wrong.
DeathToMediaHacks on November 19, 2008 at 2:49 PM
How on earth do you ever expect to win Ohio, Michigan, Minn or Wisconsin if you’re out there bashing unions and bashing the auto industry. It will not work.
DeathToMediaHacks on November 19, 2008 at 2:30 PM
The Big Three have hundreds and hundreds of billion of debt and tens of billions of losses this year alone. Giving them $75bn will give them a little bit of liquidity so their suppliers don’t stop shipping to them for the next quarter, but will solve nothing. They are insolvent! It’s game over.
The only way those companies can be even remotely restructured is to go through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, or through some cockamamie mechanism akin to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. And in order to do that, the unions have to release their death grip on the industry and allow (1) massive concessions (ala United Air Lines) on pensions and related legacy costs and (2) union contracts. Frankly the union contracts will also have to be renegotiated with the Tier 1 suppliers as well in order to get component costs more reasonable.
You can’t just pass a freaking law and poof, the Big Three are ok again. It’s well past that point now.
Outlander on November 19, 2008 at 2:50 PM
DeathToMediaHacks on November 19, 2008 at 2:49 PM
That or World War 2, I always get them confused…
thecountofincognito on November 19, 2008 at 2:51 PM
You beat me to it. Well done.
Greetings to a fellow Whovian!
CantCureStupid on November 19, 2008 at 2:54 PM
There are two different issues here. One is unfunded government mandates, like CAFE Standards; the other is giving money to universities and the like for research.
In any case, building windmills are not an essential part of this country’s energy future, as there are plenty of alternatives. Moreover, if the windmill business were to collapse tomorrow it would have a negligible effect on the nation’s economy. The same cannot be said for the auto business.
To the best of my knowledge, nothing that Mitt said during the primaries contradicts his current position. If you disagree, please link to something specific instead of making broad statements which are not supported with evidence.
Buy Danish on November 19, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Oops, thecountofincognito beat me to it. Apologies.
CantCureStupid on November 19, 2008 at 2:54 PM
CantCureStupid on November 19, 2008 at 2:54 PM
Once it gets a few pages in, everybody gets beaten to every point. Just go with it.
thecountofincognito on November 19, 2008 at 2:57 PM
It’s almost exactly the same. During the primaries (particularly in MI) he was proposing billions in R&D funding for the auto industry. That he didn’t use the word “bailout” doesn’t change the fact that the current bailout is being pitched the same way- money to develop and build more fuel efficient and electric cars.
The only difference is semantics- it’s still tens of billions of taxpayer money handed over to the failing auto industry. A dollar is a dollar, no matter if you call it an “investment” or “bailout”.
Hollowpoint on November 19, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Thanks.
Buy Danish on November 19, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Actually, FDR’s gov’t programs were only nice window dressing. They did nothing to end the Depression. WWII ended the Depression.
Illinidiva on November 19, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Hey I say let the oil tycoons save them. Reciprocate that money!
johnnyU on November 19, 2008 at 3:01 PM
Wow, I didn’t think anyone out there still believed FDR ended the great depression. Do you also believe in Santa Claus?
angryed on November 19, 2008 at 3:02 PM
angryed on November 19, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Correction. President-Elect Santa Claus!
thecountofincognito on November 19, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Are you kidding me? AP, your memory is waaay too short. Yet another flip-flop-flip by Mitt Happens. He ran on and won the Michigan primary promising a huge bailout. The guy is three-faced.
Debbie Schlussel on November 19, 2008 at 3:06 PM
If the auto industry gets the bailout without condition to pay it all back with interest and penalty for being stupid, then I’ve bought my last car from Detroit. They can either earn my money or take my money. They don’t get to do both.
beatcanvas on November 19, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Debbie Schlussel on November 19, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Seems you spend as much time reading the comments as you did reading the Mitt’s op-ed.
thecountofincognito on November 19, 2008 at 3:07 PM
thecountofincognito on November 19, 2008 at 3:07 PM
- the
thecountofincognito on November 19, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Hollowpoint on November 19, 2008 at 3:00 PM
I agree that the auto industry shouldn’t be given any money…but at the same time they shouldn’t have to deal with federal mandates either. If the federal government is going to demand something, they should pay for it. Romney would have hit a home run with me if he said that back in Jan. Instead he is hitting first base with his op ed and media appearance.
He didn’t flip flop, he is being consistent…but in plain speak, a dollar is a dollar, so I can see why there is confusion. I just prefer we praise him where he is right, and help him understand where he is wrong instead of claiming character flaws.
Conservative Voice on November 19, 2008 at 3:09 PM
Personally, I don’t believe anything Mitt says anymore. However, after reading the big 3 FAT CATS flying to DC in $36 million corporate luxury jets costing $20,000 round trip asking for handouts to help bail-out their companies? Hell no, I don’t think so…this is your problem, you caused this mess making too many mistakes over the years and it’s not our responsibility to pay for your sorry mistakes. I say sell all your jets, take a huge cut in pay, start over from the bottom just like everyone else. What a bunch of selfish whining crybabies asking for our taxpayer money…just so unreal. Get a spine and face up to your responsiblities. How much more is this country going to take?
corvettelady on November 19, 2008 at 3:20 PM
What?! A look in the mirror is in order for you. I wasn’t responding to “the comments”, nor did I read them. I was responding to AP’s post. And I skimmed through his flip-flopesque op-ed, which is the exact opposite of the stuff he said here in Michigan up to the date of our primary earlier this year. Get a clue. Romney was 100% for a bailout–or so he claimed. Now he wants “assisted bankruptcy” and not a bailout. He’s two-faced. Again, get a clue.
Debbie Schlussel on November 19, 2008 at 3:24 PM
I think you have the wheels on the wrong side of the car. With the 12 inch wheels on the left and the 19 inch wheels on the right, he can drive in a leftward circle forever.
cjs1943 on November 19, 2008 at 3:25 PM
Debbie Schlussel on November 19, 2008 at 3:24 PM
I refer to my former statement. Its a shame about skipping the comments, you were already debunked before you posted.
thecountofincognito on November 19, 2008 at 3:31 PM
This isn’t about government mandates. CAFE standards did not render the Big Three insolvent. Union thuggery and government molly-coddling over the past decades rendered them unable to compete in the marketplace. The chickens have now come home to roost.
Something will have to be done about the Big Three. The smartest plan is a Chapter 11 to give them an opportunity to reorganize under competent management and, hopefully, free of idiotic legacy costs and thuggish union contracts. If the government has to act as the DIP financier to do it, I might be able to get behind that. But fundamental change MUST accompany the money. Merely handing the car companies $75 billion (which is what they want) is beyond insane. It’s literally lighting a match to $75 billion.
Outlander on November 19, 2008 at 3:47 PM
So what if he’s “two-faced”, Debbie? He’s absolutely spot on today.
BacaDog on November 19, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Outlander on November 19, 2008 at 3:47 PM
The CAFE standards were in regards to Romney’s position to partner with the auto industry in regards to research and development.
And the CAFE standards and other government mandates they didn’t pay for is another hurdle that foreign companies didn’t have to deal with.
Are there other issues at play? Like poor management and over zealous unions? Yes. But the federal government is not blameless on this one.
Conservative Voice on November 19, 2008 at 3:55 PM
I have a question. Since the UAW is the main reason the “Big 3″ are becoming bankrupt, why don’t they just fire every last one of those workers and hire only non-union people? (Sorta like Reagan did with the Air Traffic Controllers) Is it literally the fear of death? I could see how the CEO’s would be afraid of being the target of a mob hit.
teffertoes on November 19, 2008 at 4:00 PM
So I wonder….
What is the UAW doing to help save the auto industry now that they had a part in bankrupting them?
Are they lobbying Congress or holdong demonstrations to champion the auto industry?
When will unions learn the most basic fact that workers and those that hire them are inextricably linked and quit working to destroy their own interests?
Unions never seem to compromise or concede anything.
Goodeye_Closed on November 19, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Mitt has more to say, but he first is going moose hunting, then makes a statement supporting drilling in Anwar, and needs to find out whether it is alright to be a “Maverick Mormon”…after his voice lessons from his Alaskan voice coach…now where is that Cabella’s catalogue?
right2bright on November 19, 2008 at 4:09 PM
FDR’s policies extended the Depression for 7 years.
Oathkeeper216 on November 19, 2008 at 4:09 PM
I think the cars are more competitive than are the benefit legacies.
They’re ridiculous.
drjohn on November 19, 2008 at 4:15 PM
I wonder how many different ways are there to paraphrase a simple message…NO BAILOUT!
I agree with Mitt on this one. The Big 3 should be allowed to go bankrupt so they can have a more competent and a competitive management team in place. The labor agreements need to be renegotiated and the American auto industry needs to be retooled and overhauled. Throw those bastards out. Burn the bloody tea rooms. Auction those Corporate choppers and jets. No Performance = No Pay.
Mitt should run in 2012 or 2016. Just keep Palin locked up in her igloo with her telescope to spy on the Russians.
jacobnyc on November 19, 2008 at 4:29 PM
It is at best curious that you did not support your characterization of what Mitt said back in January about the auto industry with an exact quote. Had you done so, you would have realized that what he said directly contradicts your position:
“I am not open to a bail out, but I am open to a work out. Washington should not be a benefactor, but it can and must be a partner.”
- Mitt Romney as quoted 01/15/08 by National Review Online.
See http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YTA5MmVmZmE5ODhhMjVkM2YyYjYzYmY0NjZhOThiYmM=
NOW who is the one who needs a clue?
OneVision on November 19, 2008 at 4:31 PM
You’re kidding right? Pull up the numbers of the 30s sometime… especially the steep downturn in 1938.
FDR got unemployment down to a low of 14% in the mid 30s before it shot back up again to almost 20% in the 1938 depression… it only started coming down drastically when WW2 started and manufacturing was booming again.
FDR also left us the great sinkhole of Social Security.
Chuck Schick on November 19, 2008 at 4:37 PM
I don’t believe we should bail them out either. Where and when does this bleeding stop? If the auto industries must do it then they should file bankruptcy just like I would have to and start over. It will give them a much cleaner slate to start with and they can work out some of the kinks they have needed to work out and couldn’t.
They won’t be getting rid of all of their employees because they won’t be going out of business.
SgtRed on November 19, 2008 at 4:38 PM
Mitt Romney is the “Republican” Bill Clinton(minus the sexual predator issues).
Before he says anything he checks the polls and finds out what to say today…regardless of the fact that he said the exact opposite of it yesterday.
SaintOlaf on November 19, 2008 at 4:45 PM
Understand that the only way a bankruptcy can work is if the Big Three get DIP financing. Most likely, Uncle Sam will have to be the DIP financier, which sort of smells like a “bailout.” But it’s a bailout done right, because it’s a bailout done as part of a serious restructuring through an orderly process to get the Big Three free of bad management, bad unions, and crushing legacy costs. Handing out money (what both the Big Three and the unions want) is freaking stupid.
Outlander on November 19, 2008 at 4:48 PM
A sad reminder that history has a liberal bent.
Start really learning.
fiscallyconservative on November 19, 2008 at 4:52 PM
SaintOlaf on November 19, 2008 at 4:45 PM
That’s hilarious coming from a supporter of the man from Hope, who’s a former Arkansas governor with ethics issues and gets by with the “feel your pain” act.
thecountofincognito on November 19, 2008 at 4:55 PM
What a tool. Romney, with all his weaknesses, makes financial decisions based on reality. But an oaf like you wouldn’t consider his track record in financial matters before letting the diarrhea spew from your pie hole.
csdeven on November 19, 2008 at 5:16 PM
csdeven on November 19, 2008 at 5:16 PM
What part of a vote for Satan don’t you understand!
/sarc
thecountofincognito on November 19, 2008 at 5:17 PM
Yes, that I can agree with.
Willard Romney is a total fraud RINO.
I would say he’s a liberal but who really knows what Romney believes about anything…basically he’s a liar who will say anything to get power. He’s an evil dangerous man.
SaintOlaf on November 19, 2008 at 5:31 PM
I wouldn’t be so sure. 3 reasons:
1) Jennifer Granholm has run the economy into the ground and is quite unpopular. If we get a Republican Governor in 2010 and the economy improves the state will trend more red.
2) If Obama does to the economy what Carter did, pretty much every state will go red.
3) If the big three go down so does the UAW and thus the biggest supporter of the Michigan Democrat party gets flushed down the tubes.
Micheal on November 19, 2008 at 5:37 PM
Huh? Where exactly did you get that? He promised 20 billion in energy research at the university level and told Detroit it would help the car industry. That’s not a bailout by any standard. It’s University R&D
hanzblinx on November 19, 2008 at 5:39 PM
SaintOlaf on November 19, 2008 at 5:31 PM
The only thing we know for sure is he believes Jesus and Satan are brothers. That and he’s evil. Not like our paragon of virtue and truth, Mike Huckabee!
thecountofincognito on November 19, 2008 at 5:40 PM
I know, it’s all the the book that you can own for $19.95, call now the number on your screen and get a free copy of “Stop being a fat Pig, I did and you Can Too” with your Huck-o-rder.
hanzblinx on November 19, 2008 at 5:48 PM
The difference between uckabigot and Mitt is that Huckabigot is a bigoted “Christian” who is a democrat sympathizer.
Mitt did what he did for the people of MA. He kept his promises and pushed conservative policies when he wasn’t restrained.
Give me a candidate that will keep his promises any day of the week. Huckabigot can go straight to hell with his bigotry.
csdeven on November 19, 2008 at 5:52 PM
hanzblinx on November 19, 2008 at 5:48 PM
If I give Huck all of my credit card numbers, do I win a prize??
thecountofincognito on November 19, 2008 at 5:52 PM
We don’t need Minn, MI, or Wisconsin, so let them keep screwing themselves with their pro-union, pro-Democrat policies. Ohio is different. We usually win them, even with our union bashing, and will win them again….IF we govern as Conservatives. If that happens, everyone benefits.
If the unions were busted and taxes lowered in MI, that state would flourish. If they want to keep doing things the way they’ve always done them,let them….but don’t ask me to pay for it.
If we have to become Democrats to win, what’s the point?
xblade on November 19, 2008 at 6:15 PM
The trickle up socialism bailout was a horrible idea.
After what the banks and AIG did with our money, it is insane to do it again.
getalife on November 19, 2008 at 6:42 PM
I’m so sick of worrying about unions…. those members, and I have friends who are just that, bleed the rest of us dry. The members are laughing at us at every turn. So turn the screws on the union AND the CEO’s.
MNDavenotPC on November 19, 2008 at 6:55 PM
No, but if you give those credit card numbers to Obamao, you can guarantee him the presidency.
With the Time (?) magazine cover featuring Obamao as the new FDR, promising a NEW New Deal, we can watch a recession become a NEW Depression. THE ONE and his party owe a lot to the UAW and the UMW. The leadership of both of those over-sized unions have done much harm to their rank-and-file, while they have increased their own power and perks.
onlineanalyst on November 19, 2008 at 8:23 PM
Chapter 11 may be the best thing ever for the Big Three. Maybe then they can oust the UAW and become competitive again.
Scott on November 19, 2008 at 8:30 PM
onlineanalyst on November 19, 2008 at 8:23 PM
Will he throw in free seats to the Parthenon?
thecountofincognito on November 19, 2008 at 8:32 PM
Mitt wasn’t only calling on givebacks of the bloated wages and benefits packages of labor. He called for a shakeup of ineffective management, too.
For those who didn’t actually read his editorial, he says:
Restructuring will require belt-tightening and deep scrutiny all around.
The Big Three weren’t bleeding dollars because they weren’t ecologically “green” enough. On the contrary, the mandates from DC were equally guilty in driving up the costs of the production. If Washington assists with loan support should the companies file for bankruptcy, Congress should not spoil the chance of success with pie-in-the-sky green technology demands.
onlineanalyst on November 19, 2008 at 8:39 PM
thecountofincognito: Laurel crowns for all!
Obamao, the NEW FDR, will have to start using a cigarette holder when he indulges in his shared habit.
BTW Another bleeder of profitability to the auto industries is the “jobs bank” where auto featherbedders report to the “job” and play cards all day while picking up a salary. Talk about corporate welfare!
onlineanalyst on November 19, 2008 at 8:48 PM
So tell me why, again, we ended up with McCain as our candidate? Oh yeah… this is why.
Romney will be our candidate in 2012, Palin will have come and gone by then. I like her, but she’s not presidential material. Romney has run businesses, run a state, and earned billions by actually knowing how to deal with economic issues.
cannonball on November 19, 2008 at 9:52 PM
Could we possibly stop talking about “retreads” for 2012.
Sloppy seconds, blech.
HornetSting on November 19, 2008 at 10:04 PM
HornetSting on November 19, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Reagan was a double retread.
thecountofincognito on November 19, 2008 at 10:35 PM
If we bail out the Big 3 I will never buy one of their cars again. Never. Plenty of great Japanese cars out there.
t.ferg on November 19, 2008 at 11:49 PM
Yea, I listened to a radio program the other day in which callers verified these very practices. Some of the “best ones” know how to leave the employer premises and go do whatever they want, and get paid overtime to do it!
Look forward to more of the same if the legislation is passed that gets rid of “secret balloting” when voting for union representation! It’s no wonder businesses in the USA is so concerned about union thuggery; between higher taxes and do-little-or-nothing union employees they will surely fold their tents.
electric-rascal on November 20, 2008 at 2:03 AM
“Survival of the fittest” is a Christian concept. It is the modern secular man who has redefined the word “fittest.”
According the Christ’s concept of “the fittest,” greedy unions and incompetant, materialistic CEOs are assuredly not the fittest to recieve charity.
TMK on November 20, 2008 at 2:15 AM
Allah, your pimping for Romney couched in appropriately pessimistic verbiage is getting transparent. Maybe you should find a new shtick.
promachus on November 20, 2008 at 3:13 AM
Survival of the fittest is a secular view of the world and events. If it were a Christian concept, then how do you explain Christian charity and the view that all are equal in God’s eyes?
If you’re looking for a good read, I suggest “What’s So Great About Christianity?” by Dinesh D’Souza.
Rogue Traveler on November 20, 2008 at 9:03 AM
I love Mitt.
ErinF on November 20, 2008 at 9:28 AM
I’m surprised that you didn’t note that Romney agrees with Robert Reich on this topic:
When a conservative like Romney agrees with a liberal like Reich, it means either that it’s a good idea, or that it’s a sign of the Apocalypse. The fact that I agree with them both just underlines the gravity of the situation.
Paul_in_NJ on November 20, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Romney 2012. We let the Obamedia pick our candidates and let the RNC blow it this year, we can’t let it happen again.
Sorry, I don’t think his Mormonism should or will be a problem.
Christine on November 20, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Romney/Palin 2012.
Christine on November 20, 2008 at 3:06 PM
Me too. Romney is real. I am from Michigan, born in Detroit and most all my people are auto people. Romney is the type of guy to negotiate both sides of the auto world fairly
The op ed is in a class by itself
He doesn’t say bailout or disappear. He says go into reorganization or bailout and need a bigger bailout later
I wish they could put his op ed into a commercial now, before they start pumping a dry well
The RINOs hate and fear Romney
Some big shooters gave up their reputations to put him out in the primaries
What does that tell you?
entagor on November 20, 2008 at 3:24 PM
It is now, but you still don’t get who “the fit” really are.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
According to your selfish secualr view, the unions who greedily pinch and scrape for ever-more money and the CEOs who embezzle are “the fittest.” Why? Because they have cleverly gotten more resources for themselves and increased their odds of survival. But in your heart you know that what they do is wrong and will only lead to failure.
According to Christ, the fittest who will survive are not the strongest hunter-gatherers or craftiest thieves, but those who realize physical life is a vapor while the spirit life is eternal. You need to read the Bible, because it will tell you what’s so great.
TMK on November 20, 2008 at 7:48 PM
I don’t understand where the idea of Romney being a flip flopper ever came from. No one ever has any real evidence of it. Even Debbie Schlussel above there tells a story of how he flipped on the auto bailout but the links she posted do not provide any evidence of what she is saying. He was against a bailout then and now.
Looking back to media coverage from the primary is revealing. The media paints him as the inauthentic, funny seeing as how his position still has not changed. Mccain was more in favor of “green” research then Romney. You really have to look through a funny prism (which the media was all to glad to aid us in doing) to conclude that Romney was an inauthenyic conservative and Mccain was the straight talk solution.
Resolute on November 20, 2008 at 7:58 PM
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004127282_apondeadlinemichigan15.html
Resolute on November 20, 2008 at 8:00 PM
Oh, dear. U.S. consumers have already chosen the fate of Detroit’s auto manufacturing industry, yet, sure enough, another nanny state conservative prick comes to the rescue with a bag full of taxpayer lolly and government directives. Sheesh… Romney’s brand of “conservatism” is to the GOP what Detroit’s car manufacturing industry will be to U.S. Capitalism if Romney has his way; namely destructive and parasitic. Hey, Allahpundit and Ed Morrissey? Why are conservatives so intent on f*cking up U.S. capitalism with yet more “government’s help” and “government standing behind us”?
FierceGuppy on November 21, 2008 at 5:58 AM
I’m just thankful that the auto industry is not making “obscene record profits” like the evil oil industry; they’re going bankrupt like all patriotic companies should do.
Thanks UAW and Management!
mankai on November 21, 2008 at 9:25 AM
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