Just Good Ole Boys, Never Meaning No Harm

Just good ole boys; never meaning no harm.

The Dukes of Hazzard

Several years ago, I remember Glenn Beck saying that in a few years, you will not recognize your country. We have arrived at that destination in a thunderclap of wreckage not witnessed since the Bandit ran through a funeral procession while Buford T. Justice was in high speed pursuit.

In the aftermath of some asshole racist punk murdering some of America's finest citizens in Charleston last month, the left has seized the opportunity to take political correctness, as they see fit, to mind boggling levels. With their main goals set at, as Michelle Obama stated, at changing our history and traditions, the Confederate Flag, or some semblance of it, has now been banned everywhere.

And with political correctness completely run amok, Viacom has pulled the classic favorite "The Dukes of Hazzard" from rerun circulation on channels they own, most notably TV Land and CMT Television.  Fans of the show, those who support free speech and folks who have had it to their eyeballs with political correctness, are seething.

Viacom can show hour after hour of television that is offensive to many, with sexual situations, murders, conspiracy and hours of endless reality shows, but for the love of Pete, The Dukes of Hazzard is much too offensive with that flag on the roof of the car.

Actually, Viacom can show whatever they want on their network, and they can be as politically correct as they wise. However, I can choose not to watch their product, or invest in their company (VIAB:NASD), whose stock price is challenging yearly lows.

The General Lee

Although the show was very successful,  both during the initial CBS run and in rerun circulation, even though it had a hot chick and a fast car, two of my favorites, I was never a big fan. The chick, Catherine Bach, was nothing short of fantastic and the car, The General Lee, a 1969 Dodge Charger, was a hot rod to be sure.

I hardly ever caught this show on reruns.  However, the removal of "The Dukes of Hazzard" from the airways is symbolic of the absolute ridiculousness of the level of political correctness in this nation at the moment. You might say folks have lost their mind, but you must recognize this is an effort by the progressives to remove any traditional items from the marketplace and change our history, moving us to a different place they, not you, deem appropriate.

Even NASCAR, home to the real good ole boys, is running scared and has asked those attending the Coke Zero 400 on Sunday to leave their Confederate Flags at home or exchange them for an American Flag at the World Center of Racing on raceday.

Just good ole boys, never meaning no harm, which is no matter to the progressive left, who think they know what is proper for us to consume.  I do not plan to let them steal my rights without a fight.

Penalty Served

Throughout my driving career, I was thrilled to have been fixed firmly in the seat in the camp of General Motors. 

Outside of a Jeep Cherokee I purchased in 1992, my garage has been filled with Pontiac Grand Prix GXP's and Chevrolet Trucks.  Notwithstanding current recall issues, the GM products I have owned have been outstanding.

However, GM, with deep financial issues as the 2008 financial crisis hit Uncle Sam, the company made decisions which I strongly opposed.  There were three main issues that were prominent in my disgust, and they are as follows:

*  GM embraced the decision to take government funding, fully understanding the conditions that were associated with the acceptance, which centered around green energy initiatives based on global climate change, which is the greatest hoax of all time.

*  GM made the decision to jettison the proud and iconic Pontiac Motor Division. ending production in 2010.  The decision was heavily influenced by a young team assembled by President Obama ill-equipped for such consult.  These folks, who would not know a Grand Am from a Dodge Dart, had little appreciation for the American muscle car history and were economic imbeciles.

2009 Pontiac G8 GXP

*  Having put themselves in a poor position, the company had little choice than to play a role as a campaign supporter for President Obama, who was actively plotting against the long term success of the company by forcing the company to meet energy standards that limit the long term profitability of the company.  Remember Osama Bin Laden is dead but General Motors is alive?

Well, this longtime GM customer is not going to take that lying down.

What little hair I have left remains on fire over the demise of Pontiac.  In addition, any company supporting the most destructive President in the history of America must be penalized, and the revenues for that penalty must be financial.

A numerical figure for the penalty I have assessed General Motors is approximately $35,000.  It is levied in the form of a 2014 Ford Explorer XLT.

2014 Ford Explorer XLT

The Rest of the Story

As an avid football fan, although I much prefer the collegiate game, I have never missed the Super Bowl, and this past Sunday was no exception. Although much of the country becomes immersed in watching and grading the commercials, this have never been more than a passing fancy for me, save the time my wife was featured in the local NBC affiliate commercial during the 1990 game.

This year, I found most were rather stupid, ineffective or downright offensive. I did like the Budweiser ad, and loved the NFL network ad featuring former Florida State star Deion Sanders. But far and away, the ad that I found most compelling was the ad for Dodge Trucks featuring longtime ABC Radio announcer Paul Harvey, a great American.

Take a listen:



I am sure you found the ad as powerful as I did. Farmers are getting the backside slap in this country today in a variety of ways, from price fixing to regulatory action, including at local levels and property rights. Some sensible measures are being taken to protect farmers, including caps on rising property tax rates.

In this environment of government encroachment advancing along seemingly every avenue of approach, I have often said owning land outright, both improved and vacant, is the best protective measure of capital.  Farming is tough; not for the faint of heart.  And while the average age of the farmer is increasing, opportunities have been presented, and famed investor Jim Rogers is and has been most bullish on the sector.

Harvey and his commentary was a favorite of many an American in the last half century, seemingly part of the fabric of our nation as media outlets grew.  Harvey's daily commentary was syndicated to over 1200 radio outlets.  People took his messages of old fashioned common sense thought to heart.

While many became acquainted with Harvey is this most recent ad, Paul Harvey had many messages for the American citizens he loved so much.  One such message, presented in 1965, is prescient today.

Take a listen:


Our country is in fact in peril.  The government is being run by individuals drunk on power, who are not honest brokers, who have little respect for the rule of law.  While many instances are small in significance, such as President Obama failing to present a budget in a timely manner or having the Senate fail to do so at all even though legally bound, the aggregate of these instances is significant.

Propaganda is rampant, as a complicit media is in fusion with an oppressive government allowing the political ruling class to enact laws without comprehending all the intended and unintended consequences.  Operating outside the Congress, with our government implementing the global transformation of wealth, inclusive of a reduction in liberty, and attacking the Constitution and religion, the government has flamed class warfare and has placed a record percentage of our citizens into dependency.

If I were the devil, and I wanted to rob the citzenry, who are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pusuit of Happiness, of their identity, I would be acting in concert with the actions of the progressive, ruling class leites that are running the country today.

Paul Harvey tried to wake America up.  Attributed to Davy Crockett but certainly spoken by Gerald Ford, "Remember that a government big enough to give you everything youwant is also big enough to take everything you have."

Don't think they won't, as history shows they will.  What say you?

Tastes Great

In the NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase final race, with five time champion Jimmie Johnson having some mechanical issues, Brad Keselowski drove his #2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger to the 2012 Sprint Cup Championship.

This was the first championship for Keselowski, who now joins 2000 Sprint Cup Champion Bobby Labonte as the only drivers to win both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Championships.

Brad is a neat guy and well deserving, as is his car owner, Roger Penske. Close many times, particularly with Rusty Wallace as a driver, this is the first NASCAR championship for the Captain.

The #48 Lowes Chevrolet team of Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus were very gracious in defeat.

Congratulations to Roger Penske and Bread Keselowski!

Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski/photo @Kenny_Wallace

See you at Daytona in February!

Failing to Dodge a Bullet

Back last June, President Obama informed America that his administration has created hundreds of thousands of jobs and that the private sector is doing fine.

A great storyteller (liar) of our time, while the administration has created thousands of jobs, more folks have quit looking as the number of employed citizens has spiraled downward under his watch.

Although, for the moment, our economy seems to have stabilized with the help (?) of over 5 trillion in stimulus, there is no doubt, with increasingly handcuffing regulation and suffocating taxation, the private sector is not doing fine.  With apologies to Ted Nugent, who was in town Sunday night, the Obama economic policies have us in a stranglehold.

For the most recent case in point, I direct you to the announcement yesterday in Detroit that Fiat owned Dodge will cease participation in NASCAR at season end, some 12 years after their triumphant return to the sport.

After absorbing all the seemingly legitimate reasoning behind he decision, one thing is clear: this is not good news for the auto industry, Dodge and certainly NASCAR, where even the most casual observer is noticing the large number of empty seats around the Sprint Cup Series circuit. While participation of the major auto manufacturers in NASCAR is a small part of the overall business, it is a significant association. 

The manufacturers gained from participating on many levels, including engine research and development, a testing ground for innovative products and of course, advertising. Win on Sunday, show on Monday was a catch phrase back in the day, but with NASCAR going to the car of tomorrow, the personalities of the makes lost presence. While that is changing in 2013 in a effort to recapture the similar stock look, it is too late for Dodge.

It was unfortunately George W. Bush that began the process to bailout the car companies, a move that coupled with Obama taking advantage of the engagement, has severe repercussions affecting all those associated with the auto makers, and us taxpayers, to this day.  The actions taken by the Obama administration upon taking office, created significant issues, some bordering on criminality, plaguing efforts at achieving profitability.

The GM bailout is particularly troubling, with bondholder positions being placed behind union interests, dealership owners being targeted due to political association, the jettisoning of the iconic Pontiac brand and the government utilizing its ownership position to advance green energy vehicle initiatives. With the government in control, the old GMAC financial arm, a top player in the mortgage meltdown, has emerged renamed and is back to the old tricks with subprime used car loans,  a highly risky roll of the dice, this time with taxpayer money.

While Obama claims he saved the car companies, GM requires a stock price in the low 50's to make itself whole.  GM closed today at 20.38 per share, and the true costs of the bailout is staggering, In addition, the criminality associated with this takeover is now beginning to unravel.  Ford did not accept money, but Chrysler also was partially bailed out and has since been sold to Fiat.

The car companies were not saved.  The preferred route for them would have been a structured bankruptcy.  Obama has wasted untold trillions of dollars, and after this huge expenditure, the automakers are still having major trouble.  Similar to the housing industry, the industry needs the job market to improve significantly for these sectors to return to health.

For a company like Dodge to exit the friendly confines of NASCAR, take it as the harbinger it is, one signaling an unhealthy economy which is major trouble.

God & NASCAR Country

Christianity is being assaulted on a daily basis throughout the world. Just today, several large media outlets tried to tag the evil orchestrator of the Norway massacre a Christian. The left frequently mocks Christianity, and come this Christmas, we will hear the annual cries to take down those offensive nativity scenes.

Against all the negative backdrop, there is a safe haven: The thunderous tracks of NASCAR, where devotion to Christianity and Partiotism is celebrated. If you are offended, please feel welcome to carry you and your britches elsewhere. NASCAR is all about God & Country.

During each race, as part of the pre-race ceremonies, an invocation is presented. While the Sprint Cup Series took the weekend off, the Nationwide series took center stage last Saturday night at the running of the Federated Auto Parts 300 at Nashville Speedway.

During the evenings invocation, after thanking God for all the blessings, Pastor Joe Nelms went off on nothing short of a classic tangent. Take a listen:



GM Performance, Goodyear Tires, smokin hot chicks! Throw in a couple of cold ones the rolling thunder of the good ole boys and God Bless America indeed.

See ya at The Brickyard on Sunday!

Faith, Freedom and Fast Cars

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Happy Birthday America!

H/T Common Cents Blog

Buy American

By now, you have probably seen this very entertaining "advertisement" about the Big 3 bailout. Certainly, rewarding bad management and non profitable companies is not prudent, and I have outlined the problems the automakers face in a previous post. The top of the add proclaims that Americans will not "buy our shitty cars" is not true as GM outsells all carmakers, but the perception of the Big 3 making shitty cars is a reality in the minds of most Americans. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Now that the Bush Administration has given the Big 3 a life line with lost interest loans, it is time for Americans who are considering a purchase of a new vehicle to closely examine products from Ford, Chrysler and General Motors. I have done some homework for you, and will list a a dozen plus one that have my recommendations.

In terms of trucks, each of the Big 3 automakers grade strongly in this regard. The Dodge RAM trucks, the Ford F-150 and the Chevrolet Silverado are all outstanding products. Pictured above is the Cheverolet Silverado.


Looking for a sporty classic? Well, you can find it in the Ford Mustang. Ford was visionary in becoming the first automaker to "retro" the look of some of their models, and the Mustang is a huge hit and an outstanding option for a two door fun experience. You cannot go wrong here.










Buick is rebounding strongly, particularly overseas. Here in the US the Buick Enclave is representative of a top notch crossover vehicle fit for fun and/or family. A sporty alternative to the sedan is the Pontiac Solstice. A fast and fun to drive two seater is a head turner on the highway and superior to any foreign competitor in its price range.









Your Chevrolet dealership has a top rated family sedan in the award winning Chevorlet Malibu while car entusiasts can grab the Chevrolet Corvette, which continues to add to the legacy of the two door speedster.









Are you kidding me? Talk about a couple of blasts from the past. Chrysler Corporations Dodge division jumped out a few years back with the redevelopment of the Dodge Charger and now has brought back the Dodge Challenger. Both retro looks are very cool. The Charger is a big seller.

I pilot around in a Chevy Trailblazer which I really like but the real SUV leader is the Chevrolet Tahoe, pictured at left. The media attempts to tell you that you do not want these types of vehicles because they are not "green friendly". You do want these vehicles and they have a hybrid Tahoe that is fantastic.

I test drove the GM Cadillac CTS and fell in love with it. This luxury vehicle is wonderful and rivals any luxury sedan out there. The performance is breathtaking as well. I dare you to test drive it.

And finally, the sleek 4 door sedan that is the best bang for your your buck going, The Pontiac G8 GXP, which is a high performance Grand Prix which will lay waste to any competitor in its class. Don't take my word for it, hear it straight from Motor Trend.



I disclose that I am an owner of products from General Motors Chevrolet and Pontiac divisions. Keep the shiny side up and stand on it!

NASCAR 2009 Recap

Congratulations to Jimmie Johnson for recording his third consecutive Sprint Cup Championship in his Rick Hendrick owned Lowes Chevrolet Impala SS. This is a very impressive feat, for sure.

It was not such a good year for my favorite driver, 2000 Sprint Cup Champion Bobby Labonte, pilot of King Richard Petty's famed #43 Cherrios Dodge Charger. Labonte scored only 1 top ten finish in '08, which is performance they cannot be proud of. Petty Enterprises is underfunded when compared with the mega NASCAR teams from Richard Childress, Jack Roush, Joe Gibbs and Roger Penske. Even so, I had hoped to see some improvement in 2008, but it never materialized. For 2009, Petty has lost Cheerios as it's sponsor and as of now there has been no news of potential new sponsors, and given the current economic climate, the prognosis for one is not good.

In fact, the current economic conditions cast doubt about what the automobile industry, let alone NASCAR, may look like in 2009. At this time (see previous blog entry), the Big 3 automakers are fighting for survival begging for cash assistance on Capitol Hill. One or more of the Big 3 may not survive, and from a NASCAR perspective, this would not be good.

Currently, Dodge, Toyota (TM:NYSE), Ford (F:NYSE) and Chevrolet (division of GM:NYSE) are the manufacturers competing on the circuit. I cannot contemplate NASCAR without Ford and Chevy competing out there on the high banks. Can you? In addition, suppliers to the Big 3 and NASCAR, like Goodyear (GT:NYSE), could be severely impacted to the negative.

NASCAR is doing what it can to lobby for assistance for the Big 3 by seeking public commentary from owners and drivers alike. NASCAR's most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., commented
“All I ever raced is Chevrolet. They’ve been with me throughout my entire career and have supported everything I have done. Now I want to do everything I can to support them. I have awesome fans and I hope they will reach out to our leaders in Washington to help Chevy and our other domestic car makers. There is nothing more American than Chevrolet and we need to make sure it stays that way.” Contrary to public opinion, many of the drivers are politically astute and have a handle on current events taking place in America. Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson were recently guests on CNBC's Mad Money with Jim Cramer.

Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Kevin Harvick, all Chevrolet drivers, have all issued public commentary on the subject, and many of the drivers and owners own car dealerships.

As the economic conditions in the country began to deteriorate, one could easily notice empty seats at tracks all along the circuit and television ratings were down significantly as well. International Speedway Corp., (ISCA:NASDAQ), owners of NASCAR, have seen their stock price cut in half over the last year, although they are in good company on the street. Thankfully, for once, I got out before the drop when I noticed the empty seats.

With the economic storm we are facing, there could be big changes in the NASCAR world by the time Speedweeks comes calling in February. I hear a meeting of NASCAR movers and shakers took place in Charlotte this week to discuss what may be on the horizon and how to deal with the changes. I am a stock market investor and I am astonished at the carnage we all are witnessing on Wall Street. This damage is one for the ages, and the unfortunate negative impact on things we all love, like NASCAR, may be lasting. Then again, I have no idea what I am having for lunch tomorrow, so things could turn around by next week.