Archive | autos RSS feed for this section

Not a blank check

Here’s the President on the Michael Smerconish radio show today:
THE PRESIDENT:  The auto interventions weren’t started by me — they were started by a conservative Republican administration.  The only thing that we did was rather than just write GM and Chrysler a blank check, we said, you know what, if you’re going to get any [...]

Read more

Government Motors discussion on Fox News Sunday (continued)

In an earlier post I attempted to correct Dr. Austan Goolsbee’s incorrect and inflammatory statements about President Bush.  I would like here to add my views to one additional question on the auto industry discussion on this morning’s edition of Fox News Sunday.
Host Chris Wallace moderated a discussion this morning with:

Dr. Austan Goolsbee, Member of [...]

Read more

Dr. Goolsbee gets it wrong on the auto loans

This morning on Fox News Sunday, host Chris Wallace moderated a discussion about the auto industry.  One of his guests was Dr. Austan Goolsbee, who is a Member of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers and chief economist on the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board.
I want to focus on some incorrect and inflammatory statements by [...]

Read more

Understanding the GM bankruptcy

Many of you are new to this blog since I wrote extensively about autos six weeks ago.  As background, I coordinated the auto loan process for President Bush last fall as the Director of the White House National Economic Council (the position now held by Dr. Lawrence Summers).  I wrote a series of posts on [...]

Read more

Basic facts on the General Motors bankruptcy

In a few hours I will offer my thoughts and reactions to the General Motors bankruptcy filing and the President’s noon announcement.  For now, here is what I have been able to figure out from the White House fact sheet and secondary source reporting through CNBC and the Wall Street Journal.  I assume that both [...]

Read more

Understanding the President’s CAFE announcement

(Editorial note:  I was doing so well moving to shorter posts.  I fail miserably in achieving that goal here.  I went the comprehensive route instead.  I promise to return to shorter posts in the future.  Buckle up – this is a long ride.  I hope you find it’s worth it.)
(Update:  There’s an important correction in [...]

Read more

Responding to Chrysler comments

As a novice blogger I have been repeatedly surprised and humbled by the thoughtful comments posted on this blog.  I want to thank all of you who are contributing to a civil and thoughtful discussion.
At the risk of offending some of you, I am going to push back on some of the comments to yesterday’s [...]

Read more

Mixed results on the Chrysler announcement

The President’s Chrysler announcement last Thursday produced mixed results.
The agreement among Chrysler, Fiat, UAW, the Administration, and the large banks appears to increase the probability (from almost zero) that Chrysler will survive for the long run, albeit as a part of Fiat.  This is clearly a good thing. Is it worth the cost to taxpayers [...]

Read more