Auto Czar

This kinda gives me the heebie-jeebies: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081113/POLITICS/811130411

Just not sure who he'd pick who won't be just a shill for the auto companies themselves, the unions, or the environmental lobbiests.

But what do ya'll think?

I do know if I had to pick someone, I'd pick Wally, just because he'd give the most awesome press conferences.

"Sure we're giving them 50 billion, but starting in 2009, all US-made cars will smell like funnel cakes"

Whoever it is should really just hunt down and kill all of the Bolsheviks because you know they are just going to cause trouble in the future.

If it was one of us,

ford would only be allowed to make P71s and bring over the euro models

Chrysler would have to resurect the neon and kill off most jeep models

GM, im not sure...

edit GM, kill Hummer, consolidate the truck lines

And discontinue all 'crossovers'

The Obama transition team hasn't identified who the car czar would be, but the president-elect has three auto advisers. They are economic adviser Jason Furman, Georgetown University law professor Dan Tarullo and Joshua Steiner, a former Clinton Treasury official

OK, Lessay you're President. You want someone to oversee the automotive industry. Do you pick: An economist, a lawyer, or a tax man?

Why does this sound like SUCK? I mean, how about a successful business person (if such exist?) I can just see one of these people coming out and forcing GM to make The Homer:

But we really do need rack and peanut steering...you can't argue with that.

And if you do...I'll put you in the separate kid canopy in the back!

Clem

mmmmmm peanutty goodness

ThunderCougarFalconBird...

I'd hire a lawyer and sue the other car companies out of existance. That seems to be the best way for the government to accomplish anything.

Dr. Hess wrote: OK, Lessay you're President. You want someone to oversee the automotive industry. Do you pick: An economist, a lawyer, or a tax man? Why does this sound like SUCK? I mean, how about a successful business person (if such exist?)

Sure seems like the "successful businessmen" have run the U.S. auto industry into the ground by putting all their proverbial eggs into the bed of a fullsize truck or SUV. They say to have a balanced portfolio you need to diversify. I'd like to let the "free market" take care of these guys. It's about time we had some new ideas and stopped supporting bloated companies. This would also break the UAW's hold on who builds what where. I haven't seen the domestic automakers build a decent/exciting/interesting economy car. If they manage to build one mechanically sound, their hopelessly outdated interior designs/ergonomics spoil the whole experience.

we've already got too many MBAs and not enough gearheads. berkeleying government clowns. and what's with all these czar titles anyway?

I heard one of those shiny happy person college professors from the article on npr today talking about how evil the and unnecessary the corvette was citing its 3.5 second zero to sixty time as evidence. Democrat appointed car czar equals the suck...

neon4891 wrote: Chrysler would have to ... kill off most jeep models

I thought Chrysler already did that...

...imagine, a modern automobile with a suspension designed for off-roading in 1942. Whooda thunk?

Jay Leno

The last government designed car:

AngryCorvair wrote: we've already got too many MBAs and not enough gearheads. berkeleying government clowns. and what's with all these czar titles anyway?

Go3s vit der socialism, eh comrade?

Stuc wrote: Jay Leno

X a gazillion.

Why not Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm? After all her qualifications include running a state into the ground.

Yep Jay Leno sounds good!

Me, it should be me, where do I send my application?

JohnGalt wrote: Why not Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm? After all her qualifications include running a state into the ground.

while we're flipping through the list of governors, how about Palin? i hear she can overspend a state into deficit with the best of em

Hey, Tim,

while I'd be tempted to run right out and buy a new car...just for the funnell cake smell, I think a better new car smell is chocolate chip cookies. Imagine how that would be, every time you used the heater/defroster.

I'm not sure there needs to be a car czar...look how well it worked when we had (still have?) an Energy Czar or a War on Drugs Czar.

byron12 wrote: Democrat appointed car czar equals the suck...

I think we can all agree that if the wrong guy gets appointed by any political party, and for the wrong reasons like say nepotism or cronyism, everyone will suffer with Michigan first in line.

I don't like the idea of politico's designing cars but I do like the idea of there being an auto manufacturing savvy watchdog being put in place. I'm still skeptical that we'll see a return on investment for auto bailout money but I'm hoping for the best.

I agree with your point about the 'Vette. The car will not sell as many units as a well appointed, reasonable, and reliable gas sipper but it will bring prestige to the company that makes it. Prestige will bring more folks into the show room.

I don't know about the Homer, but I would vote for Margie to the the Czar!

Strizzo wrote:

JohnGalt wrote: Why not Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm? After all her qualifications include running a state into the ground.

while we're flipping through the list of governors, how about Palin? i hear she can overspend a state into deficit with the best of em

I doubt that Palin is on the short list. Granholm was suggested in the story.