McCain suddenly decides he’s opposed to bailouts
posted at 1:54 pm on December 19, 2008 by Allahpundit
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A crowd-pleasing awakening, just six weeks too late. To quote Sandler, this information really would’ve been more useful yesterday.
I regret the President’s decision to give away over $17 billion to the domestic automakers. Just last week, the Senate rejected a bailout plan because it failed to provide assurances that the domestic manufacturers would fundamentally change the way they do business to ensure their long-term viability. I find it unacceptable that we would leave the American taxpayer with a tab of tens of billions of dollars while failing to receive any serious concessions from the industry.
He must be telling the truth because this sure doesn’t fit the new and improved centrist Maverick image he’s been cultivating lately. I don’t fault him for supporting TARP — I did so myself — but I’m wondering what “serious concessions” he thinks he extracted from Wall Street in that case. The GAO admitted two weeks ago that there’s been basically no oversight of the funds by Treasury; reporters can’t even get Paulson to tell them who got money and how it’s being used. Beyond that, McCain’s guilty here of the same sin that’s been plaguing other GOP bailout opponents — asserting that action is too expensive without the barest attempt to explain why inaction will be less so. If protecting jobs until the larger economic threat subsides isn’t worth doing, fair enough; just describe why. Here he is back on September 29 warning of an “hour of crisis” and the dire risk to families and small businesses from the credit crunch absent state intervention. Does he think the crisis is over now, or does he not think GM’s failure would do much to worsen it? Answers, please. Exit question: At least he’ll be back in Joe the Plumber’s good graces, though, right?
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ryandan on December 19, 2008 at 2:41 PM
McCain lost because Republicans…Republicans, not conservatives, and Independents don’t trust him not to change course when the wind blows. Sure he can stand firm in Iraq. It wasn’t his policy that was being questioned. But when it comes to conservative judge appointments and tax policies we prefer, he sides with Dhimmicrats who want to raise taxes, because it was against what George W Bush stands for, and he could attempt to capture the votes of liberals by doing so. Wrong is wrong.
Loyalty and Integrity mean something here, buddy. McCain is loyal to his country and himself, but not the Republican party. McCain says he is for lower taxes and spending, but he sides with Dhimmicrats on most compromises in these areas and on judges.
Don’t come in here and tell me I have to like voting for him. He ran a stupid, but not a crooked, campaign. The crooked campaign won because he refused to fight them on their Integrity. He lost, not because of Palin, but because he can’t have the same opinion on things from one month to the next, and he had no Loyalty to the VP he himself chose when she ended up campaigning better than he did.
Those of us he owed don’t find his disparagement of George W Bush, or yours for that matter, particularly loyal, inspiring, or good for the Republican party.
Stabbing in the back the Man who kept us safe and made the right decisions in wartime isn’t the way to earn our trust and confidence, especially when he threw his VP nominee under the bus when things got inconvenient, not because she did anything wrong, but because the press lied through their teeth about her positions. The troops, and conservatives see that crap and know they won’t follow a Man like that, no matter how long he was tortured by the VietNamese. He was entirely honorable and had the guts to stick with unpopular positions in those days. When has he done that for the conservatives he asked to support him? I love the Man for his service under fire, and I gave him the benefit of the doubt until he proved he didn’t deserve that trust. And that is exactly what happened to Sen McCain.
Piss off, boy. I don’t like your demands for loyalty to a politician who had none of that loyalty to the folks he asked to vote for him.
Subsunk
Subsunk on December 19, 2008 at 5:43 PM
Frack! What “serious concessions” could they want? Killing the UAW? Making stupid tiny cars no one wants? Total government ownership?
Sales are down almost 70% over a year ago.
Let that sink in.
Now, what’s all this crap about concessions? Screw you, McCain! You’re from an anti-union state and that’s all this is about. Just go away if you’ve got nothing important to say. I voted for you but I’m almost glad you didn’t win. Obama (God help us) is making more sense than you are.
Viscount_Bolingbroke on December 19, 2008 at 6:23 PM
You don’t get it “THE ONE” is gonna “save” Detroit by picking up the tab for the out of control union pensions and healthcare.
It’s bullsh*t, screw the UAW their retirees are gonna get better benies on the government ie “our” dime than my active duty Ar,y family.
The UAW and their fans can go to hell and I hope there is secession if we let the UAW implode our freemarket economy through their greed.
sven10077 on December 19, 2008 at 6:40 PM
One word: Senility
madmonkphotog on December 19, 2008 at 6:48 PM
+100. Couldn’t have said it better.
McCain. Please STFU!
HornetSting on December 19, 2008 at 6:49 PM
I’ll take pleasure when Toyota starts putting the screws to you. They will and have already indicated it. They don’t necessarily want to just take the unions down, they(and others of the “compacts except for the few” crowd) want free reign to shove their brand of golf carts down folks who don’t care either way about unions.
Be sure to pull the transplants into Congress and ask them what their post-Big Three plans are. Then start asking about things such as what Toyota’s plans are and why they want to go that route. Ask Hyundai why they copy off of every single other manufacturer. Ask Honda when the Civic has more than an I-4 and how it could be made for well under $30000. Ask MB and BMW about getting some larger muscle as the lower-end, not compacts. Ask the others what their lineups are and how they could be made more Detroit-like in power/price. Grill them as much as the Big Three were for money – except to find out how much greens they’re feeding folks like Sanford of Sellout Carolina.
Enjoy your golf carts, I’ll be too busy with picking which GM/Ford/Chrysler land yacht to pass you with. I’m no environmentalist, and I don’t want someone who’s bent on unionbusting take Detroit metal down with them.
sethstorm on December 19, 2008 at 9:50 PM
I drive a dodge truck, thanks and it is likely my last Chrysler/GM purchase ever.
I am glad you feel personal gratification at having taxpaer funding either pay your union’s retirement and healthcare or your family members.
In case you missed the headlines the folks wanting to legislate and litigate away full size vehicles are the political allies of the UAW.
I need to sharpen up my bloodsucking scavenger fan to English translation skills but I think what you’re saying is market forces be damned we the UAW are ENTITLED to artificial pay.
Well yeah Union campaign donations say you are ’til the whole system dies.
sven10077 on December 19, 2008 at 10:55 PM
Union busters aren’t the ones taking down Detroit. The UAW and Congress have done a pretty good job with that on their own. I just don’t want to have to pay for someone else’s overpriced wages and benefits packages. I’m having enough trouble keeping up my own.
ddrintn on December 20, 2008 at 12:01 AM
“BINGO, a Winner!”
Sapwolf on December 20, 2008 at 12:04 AM
What I am saying is that don’t let your hatred of unions kill off an otherwise good brand.
Have them make concessions. Have them drop the jobs bank. Have them try to make some smaller cars. But I doubt CAFE or other Detroit metal stifling regulations were of the UAW. Thank the environmentalist parts of the left-wing that have no issue with large cars from any manufacturer- yet they complain about their carbon footprint from some ski resort town in Colorado. You would only be helping them by aiming just at the unions. Those “environmentalists” would be pleased if you took the Big Three down.
Get rid of a lot of those environmental regulations, and have a ban on any new fuel taxes. Have that go as well as reforming the Big Three – it is a measure that all automotive manufacturers can use.
I wouldn’t be aiming at unionbusting so much as green-busting. Then you would be looking at the whole picture. Of course, it’s a bit harder to deal with people who mostly live in gated enclaves with large carbon footprints of their own. It’s not as if they’re concentrated exclusively in one state or one city. Greenbusting would require some of the same unionbusting tactics along with some proven scientific facts.
For the record, I drive a 2-door, Civic sized, V6 powered Buick. It won’t be the last Big Three vehicle I buy, but I know what I’m up for should I not keep up with maintenance. I’m asking to have it as an issue of all of the causes and interactions that got them to this point. Dig deeper than just unions, and start looking towards overzealous environmentalists.
sethstorm on December 20, 2008 at 12:12 AM
Ah, now he comes around. Would’ve been nice if he would’ve oppossed the original 800 billion dollar travesty.
Better late than never, eh?
therightwinger on December 20, 2008 at 2:07 AM
What’s up with McCain. Oh, that’s so easy. It is just McCain being McCain and he knows time is running out to get in an easy criticism of President Bush. He needs to remember that not only did President Bush beat him, but Obama did also. When is he finally going to criticize Obama? Or any Democrat?
Oleta on December 20, 2008 at 7:32 AM
What level of stupid are you on and have you been paying attention.
If McCain is a conservative then I am John Effing Birch and George Wallace’s love child.
DaveC on December 20, 2008 at 9:22 AM
I sold Dodge cars and trucks in the early 80’s. Then when we went tits up, I went down the road and sold VWs. I’ve been driving VWs ever since! Currently have a VW Passat 4 door with monster 3.6 liter 6 cylinder engine, paddle shifters, sport suspension. Blast to drive and never any service issues. Domestic producers can suck it!
sabbott on December 20, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Hey Fletch54 on December 19, 2008 at 4:25 PM re my December 19, 2008 3:12 PM post: If you want to disagree with me, fine. But how about making a rational argument instead of making a dumb wisecrack?
Do you disagree that opposing the auto bailout is the correct position, as I state? If so, say so; you aren’t being a conservative, but at least that would be honest. If not, then give McCain credit for taking the correct position.
Do you think that McCain should have not suppported the bank bailout, as McCain flirted with doing and as I say? If so, say so; you aren’t being a conservative, but at least that would be honest. Opposing the bank bailout would have made sense of suspending his campaign and would have distanced him in a good way from Bush.
Do you think that McCain’s historical economic positions have not been conservative? If you check the record, you will see that he has been. Phil Gramm would be McCain’s first witness to support the point.
Do you think that we won’t need every Senator we can muster to oppose Obama socialism? If so, then I think you are thinking about what is coming. If you do, then I think you need to check your dislike of McCain and focus on what we need to do in the days ahead.
Phil Byler on December 20, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Note to John McCain;
Sorry Captain RINO, we’re through caring a wit about you and your liberal mindset. We don’t care what bandwagon you jump on now, we done with you.
However, I want to thank you for your military service to this country and for getting Sarah Palin out into the national spot light. My hope is that she can someday undo all of the harmful crap you’ve done over the years (yeah, I’m looking at all of the Shamnesty backers and McCain-Feingold, McCain-Kennedy…..blech!). What Republican could ever look at themselves in the mirror if they co-sponsored any bill with those libtards?!?
Geministorm on December 20, 2008 at 12:25 PM
But I doubt CAFE or other Detroit metal stifling regulations were of the UAW.
Not per se, no.
But the UAW gives those folks campaign contributions, and recommends that the rank and file vote for them.
I’ll let you do the math.
And I’ll add that it’s the same UAW that is refusing to allow reserve Marines to park in their lots in Detroit if they drive a non-Big 3 car, or have a pro-Bush sticker.
Frankly, if that’s the way the treat the services, fcuk ‘em all and let G*d sort them out.
I R A Darth Aggie on December 20, 2008 at 12:48 PM
Additionally, I’ll note without comment that the politicals that the UAW support also tend to be against Drill here, drill now and think that $4/gallon gas was a good start it just happened too quickly.
I R A Darth Aggie on December 20, 2008 at 12:50 PM
not true.
mindhacker on December 20, 2008 at 2:59 PM
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