Comments on: 3 Ways Obama Can Save 3 Million Auto Jobs

By: fatjim

fatjim — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:17:39 +0000

In responce to Plunger’s first comment: federalise the Fed. Also, we’re already on the hook for most of the legacy debt through the PBGC. The the only way to possibly avoid assuming that burden is to print another $30 billion on top of the trillions we hosed onto Wall Street. Unctious Harry doesn’t get political theater. It ought to be an easy sell.

By: brandane

brandane — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 16:13:03 +0000

Thank god that Pelosi bill went down, it guaranteed the end of GM and the UAW, Gettlefinger was just on TV explaining the difference in pay scales of the foreign automakers and the UAW members while he was calling out Shelby, Corker, Demint, and the rest of the sleazy gang of five.

By: acquarius74

acquarius74 — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:35:57 +0000

Geitner to the banks… Sorry.

By: acquarius74

acquarius74 — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:33:56 +0000

Ian, I’m no pro at all this, but why choose one option? Why not immediately put all 3 actions you suggest into gear?

1) Could Chuck Hagel pass the news on to the senate repubs as to what they can expect?

2) Beitner to the bands as you state.

3) Rahm Emanuel to Bernanke, without gloves.

If Obama is going to have a prayer of turning this mess around he has got to quit slip slidin’ around.

Fire away, pups!

By: LeeNYC

LeeNYC — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:22:41 +0000

Great ideas. Play hardball. I like it. Does Obama have the intestinal fortitude to do it? I know Emanuel does, but will Obama let him do his thing?

Again, why wasn’t Harry Reid replaced?

By: merkwurdiglieber

merkwurdiglieber — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:02:52 +0000

Thanks for the link, the senate was designed as the third leg to support
slavery, the other two being the 3/5 clause and the electorial college. It
is time to break their little playhouse up.

By: Adie

Adie — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:54:05 +0000

Thank you for this post, Ian. A ray of hope on an otherwise dark day in our history.

My mind is reeling at the level of greed and power lust among supposedly competent republicans in the Senate and elsewhere.

Public service is an alien concept to republican leaders. They should hang their heads in shame for what they have done to this once proud nation and to the world in eight short years.

By: Mauimom

Mauimom — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:42:58 +0000

William Greider has an interesting article in The Nation citing the history of the filibuster, its use by Southern Democrats to block civil rights legislation, and the work of folks like Walter Mondale to change the vote required to cut off a filibuster from 67 to the current 60.

Current “events” make it clear that it’s time for another rule change in the “old boys’ club.”

http://www.thenation.com/doc/2.....eaccordian

By: Petrocelli

Petrocelli — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:29:04 +0000

My $0.02 is Obama should use this to play the Repubs against each other – to set them up for 2010 and 2012.

By: Crosstimbers

Crosstimbers — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:28:38 +0000

Somewhat OT: I don’t disagree, but you might want to read Bruce Chadwick, George Washington’s War. It argues that most executive branch powers were exercised by Washington during the Revolution and instructed the Constitutional Convention.