Auto bailouts

November 4, 2012 — Paul Mirengoff

22,000 deserving “favorites” the government decided not to pick

Featured image As discussed in the post below, the auto industry bailout is a classic case of crony capitalism, and one which has not accomplished its stated goal of putting General Motors on a sound footing. Nonetheless, the Obama campaign has made the bailout the centerpiece of its efforts to hold the electoral votes of the crucial states of Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The web ad below, by American Future Fund, counters »
November 4, 2012 — Paul Mirengoff

The auto industry bailout — a classic case of crony capitalism

Featured image Peter Schweizer, in the Washington Times, helps expose the auto industry bailout for what it was — “a classic tale of cronyism, in which the well-connected sped away with big bucks.” In this instance, the “well-connected” can be found mainly in the world of Big Finance: In his recent book “Bailout,” the former special inspector general for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, Neil Barofsky, points out that when it came »
October 15, 2012 — John Hinderaker

Why the Auto Bailout Was No Success

Featured image The bailouts of GM and Chrysler, along with the killing of Osama bin Laden, comprise the Obama administration’s very short list of alleged accomplishments. It is therefore important to understand why the auto bailouts were anything but successful. This video by the Center for Freedom and Prosperity explains, in a simple but effective manner, why the bailouts were a failure that should not be repeated: »
April 16, 2012 — Steven Hayward

William Niskanen, A Life Well Lived

Featured image Back in October I noted here the passing of William Niskanen, the distinguished economist and long time chairman of the Cato Institute.  (It was his passing that touched off the current fight between the Kochs and Cato’s president, Ed Crane.) Now, Cato is out with the following 12 minute video tribute to Bill.  (Hat tip to Cato’s Caleb Brown.)  I turn up very briefly at about the 9 minute mark, »
March 6, 2012 — Steven Hayward

See This Video Quick! [Edit: fixed]

Featured image See this splendid spoof of the Chevy Volt before GM’s lawyers have a chance to remove it from the internet. Credit to Ben Howe, who created the video. His Vimeo profile page is here. »
February 2, 2012 — Scott Johnson

That revolting Volt, cont’d

Featured image The situation with GM’s (and the taxpayers’) Volt is a good news/bad news story. The good news is that Volt awareness has gone up over the last two months. The bad news is that Volt awareness has gone up in the wake of publicity over the government’s investigation of the car’s potential safety hazard. The Detroit News reports that the Volt had its worst sales month since August, as negative »
September 28, 2011 — Scott Johnson

As the ad rotates…

Featured image Earlier this month we noted Ford’s Drive One series ad featuring Chris (video below). Chris explained why he chose to buy the Ford F-150 pickup truck. In a mock press conference setting, Chris was asked why buying American was important to him. Chris responded: “I wasn’t going to buy another car that was bailed out by our government. I was going to buy from a manufacturer that’s standing on their »
September 17, 2011 — Scott Johnson

Built Ford tough

Featured image On yesterday’s show Rush highlighted an ad from Ford’s Drive One series (video below) in which buyers are thrust before cameras to explain why they picked Ford. The ad features Chris, a buyer of the Ford F-150 pickup truck. In a mock press conference setting, Chris is asked why buying American was important to him. Chris responds: “I wasn’t going to buy another car that was bailed out by our »
August 5, 2011 — Scott Johnson

Overhauling America

Featured image In the post “Chrysler’s resurrection” I wrote about James Stewart’s New York Times puff piece portraying the new Chrysler as a great success story. The Obama administration’s treatment of the auto companies and ongoing deceptions regarding the financial success of the treatment deserves more attention than it has received. In the Age of Obama, the enormities accumulate so quickly it’s hard to keep up. Steven Rattner was the Obama administration’s »