The HALL of BAHL

Sports is and always has played a significant role in my life. I have found that most all of life's lessons are learned between the lines. Discipline, individual responsibility, teamwork and sportsmanship are among many opportunities presented within the games that offer guidance to prosper in life.

Over the years, there have been many individuals associated with sports that I have looked up to, been a fan of, owned a jersey of or just pulled for. These are my guys, and although it has not always been a road without bumps for many, these are my guys. In an effort to recognize these folks, I have formed The Hall of BAHL. Individuals making this list may or may not be the greatest ever players, coaches or ambassadors, but they are my favorites.

Each year, I will induct a new class members into The Hall of BAHL. In honor of my good buddy and sportsman Big Ole BudFeiser, who we lost in 2011 and who I grew up playing sports with, each class will annually be announced on his birthday, June 13.

The inductees for the 2021 Hall of BAHL class are listed in no particular order below:

SALVADOR PEREZ

Kansas City Royal catcher Salvador Perez is a fan favorite for Royals fans, considered one of the best overall catchers in the league. Salvy, as he is affectionally known, is very valuable to the success of the Royals.

Salvy is exceptional on the defensive side,  winning multiple Gold Gloves, but his bat has quite a pop as well, with Perez know for some big time timely hits, including a huge one in Kansas City's 2015 World Series Championship.

Perez is the quarterback of the ball club, handling the pitchers and defensive alignments throughout the season. As such, he is a team leader in the clubhouse. But more importantly, Salvy has a deep love for the game, and his positive attitude and determination is infectious, bringing out the best in all those who are blessed to play with him.

Salvy awards players of the game the Salvy Splash, where the Gatorade jug of water is dumped on the head of the player of the game. It is great fun and is a favorite among Royals fans. Having attended many Kansas City Royal games both in Kaufman Stadium and on the road in Atlanta and Tampa Bay, we have had many occasions to interact with Salvy, and every single time he has greeted us with his wonderful smile.

We are so pleased to welcome Kansas City Royal catcher Salvador Perez to The Hall of BAHL!

TONY STEWART

I became an instant fan of Tony Stewart when he came over to NASCAR from IndyCar to pilot one of Joe Gibbs Pontiacs.  In fact, Stewart would step into the Cups series in a Gibbs Pontiac with sponsorship from The Home Depot, one of my larger stock holdings and a company I frequently support.

Stewart was very competitive in the series right out of the gate, and went on to win three Cup Series Championships.  Stewart left Gibbs to form his own team, teaming with Gene Hass. Stewart finished driving career with 49 career wins as a driver, finding great success on the superspeedways and road courses. His first win was a Richmond International Raceway, a track he scored many wins on. We used to say that that out on the track, if Tony hit you, you needed hitting. 

These days, Stewart Hass remains quite successful, continuing to stack up wins with a trio of Ford teams, lead by former Cup Series Champion Kevin Harvick.

Stewart has racing in his blood. He has formed a new racing series, similar to the old IROC series, which will have drivers from all series of racing competing. This series will no doubt very interesting, and great fun.

We will continue to watch and cheer the contributions to racing by one its greatest ambassadors, Tony Stewart. We welcome Tony Stewart to the 2021 class of The Hall of BAHL!

DALVIN COOK

Former Florida State running back Dalvin Cook was one the best at his position to ever play for the Seminoles, and he was simply incredible to watch. He got loose with the best of them, and when he did, he most often found paydirt!

A product of Miami Central, Cook not only excited with his blazing speed, but he broke tackles with the best of them. For Seminole fans, we were particularly pleased that Cook had some of his best performances against our hated rivals.

Always displaying a fun demeanor, Cook was a great teammate for the team, counted upon often to lead FSU to victory. Cook left Florida State with 4464 yards rushing and 48 total touchdowns.

We saw Dalvin around town on occasion, and he was always friendly placing his big smile on display. 

In the 2017 NFL Draft, Cook was selected in the second round by the Minnesota Vikings. What a steal! Although he has had some injury issues, Cook has exceled with the Vikings and is considered without question one of the best running backs in the NFL, and a favorite of fantasy football players nationwide.

It is exciting to welcome former Florida State great Dalvin Cook to The Hall of BAHL!

Answered Prayers

Ryan Newman awake, speaking after Daytona 500 crash

Hail To The Redskins

The fact that the world is on fire matters not to a powerful ruling class, who know they are on the verge of major gains in their attempt to turn America into a tyrannical oligarchy.  The scandals, are not really scandals, as they are a means to an end to crash the system as defined through the Cloward and Piven strategy.

You would think our President would be spending most waking moments dealing with the potential loss of Iraq, and the consequences there of.  No, he is golfing, and fundraising, and amidst all the chaos, has escalated his effort to transform America.

Case in point; the ruling yesterday by the US Patent Office, without question at the direction of President Obama, cancelling the trademarks of the Washington Redskins of the National Football League.   The Redskins, who have their own fight song, are among the most established, traditional and lucrative brands around.

Roy Helu, JR. of the Washington Redskins

Shall we back up and follow the trail, Indian style, on how this orchestrated event came to pass. Make no mistake; it is on the command of the Obama regime.

Late last fall, as reported by The New York Times, President Obama weighed in claiming "legitimate concerns over Redskins name".  TheTimes noted that in response to a letter presented by 10 congressional members that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote back saying the Redskins name was “a unifying force that stands for strength, courage, pride and respect.”

A month or so ago, 49 members of the US Senate, all Democrats, wrote the Roeger Goodell urging the league to endorse the change of the Redskins' name.  Democrat Florida Senator Bill Nelson, who as far as I know has not lifter finger to earn the release of Sgt. Andrew Tahmoorhessi, one of his constituents, from captivity in Mexico, took time to write his own letter as he was unavailable to sign with the other members.

Meanwhile, the 2014 College Football National Champion Florida State Seminoles, although having presented several dates for consideration, have been unsuccessful in the planning the traditional nation champion visit to the White House.  As an alumni of Florida State University, I am fine skipping an afternoon with Obama, but the inability for the White House to make this tradition happen, given the attack on the Redskins name, raises the eyeballs.

Last week, again with the middle east on fire, President Obama made a rare presidential visit to an Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota, telling those gathered his "administration is determined to partner with tribes".

Then came the bombshell announcement by the patent office, catching most everyone by surprise.

Redskin owner Daniel Snyder, who reportedly contributed to the Romney campaign in 2012, is in the cross hairs of Obama for steadfastly denying any and all request to consider changing the Redskin name.

The ruling was supposed levied due to the Redskin name being viewed as disparaging by some and considered a racial slur of Native Americans.  This is quite ridiculous, as Oklahoma means "red people" and I don't hear a peep about changing the name of the Sooner state or universities within the state.

In fact, the Redskin name came from an effort to honor their inaugural head coach, who was Native American. Opponents of the Redskin name are now calling Lone Star Dietz an "impostor", aiming, to discredit and destroy any and all traditions that get in the way of their objective.

Many sportswriters across the nation have jumped on the bandwagon, with some vowing to not use the Redskin name in their work.  This includes longtime NFL writer Peter King and The Kansas City Star newspaper.

George Diaz, of the hometown Orlando Sentinel, penned an utterly ridiculous editorial, which clearly exhibited his liberal bias.  While he find the Redskin tradition a relic of the past that needs to be buried, although I champion his right to pen it, I found his column offensive.

Forget the Redskins.

If President Obama was so inclined, perhaps buoyed by a small vocal group, perhaps financially compensated,  might he direct the patent office to cancel the trademarks of The Coca Cola Company (KO:NYSE) or the McDonalds (MCD:NYSE) corporation because the First Lady finds their product contributes to obesity?

Although a historical hoax, will President Obama, peeved by the nation continuing to buy SUV's, direct the patent office to cancel the trademarks of Ford and General Motors because they continue to make vehicles that, according to the global warming crowd, are significantly contributing to the demise of the world?

Where will one throw anchor on this slippery slope?

Obama is crashing the system in an effort to gain power over the people.  Part of the effort is, as Michelle Obama worded it in 2008,  "we're going to have to change our traditions, our history; we're going to have to move into a different place as a nation."

Will the history or traditional a powerful elitist from the ruling class want to change be one you value?

Before you join in the celebration of the government, on a whim, leveling attack on private property, you may want to think twice, for there may not be anyone around to protect the tradition you hold dear when the deem it inappropriate.

Hail to the Redskins!

Robert Griffin III of the Washington Redskins

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

Super Sport G8

General Motors is really in a world of hurt these days.

Troubles for the company became highly visible during the financial crisis of 2008, where obligations the company had, most notably poor union contracts not remotely associated with reality, were "discovered" as unsustainable.

Both George W. Bush and then candidate Barack Obama thought it prudent to offer the company bailout money, which GM gladly took.  Once Obama took office, after evaluation, his team orchestrated the making of a new GM and made "recommendations" for the company, which most notably included the elimination of the proud Pontiac Motor Division. 

In addition, bailout monies failed to make their way to the appropriated parties as outlined in 200 year contract law, with union partners and political partners reaping cash benefits.

GM, under the "direction" of the administration and viewed by most as "Government Motors" embarked on effort to produce high mileage low powered cars which were beneficial to environmental concerns.

In recent months sales are reported to have been slightly increasing.  However, as reported by ZeroHedge, reported actual sales "were largely irrelevant" due to channel stuffing of inventories with 805,769 units in inventory at months end in February of 2014.

Issues surrounding a faulty ignition switch has resulted in massive recalls and has company executives testifying before Congress. While the issue not restrictive to just one model, the Chevrolet Cruze appears to have, by far, the most noted cases, with tens of deaths having been reported.

In anticipation of a barrage of lawsuits as a result of the ignition defects, because the sales of most of the affected models took place before GM's 2009 bankruptcy, the company has filed a motion in US Court to bar lawsuits on pre-bankruptcy sales.

Shares of General Motors, GM:NYSE, closed at $34.48 per share, down almost 20% from its 52 week high achieved in mid December.

I have owned GM products all my life, and have been very pleased with the products, which were generally Pontiac cars and Chevrolet trucks.  However, due primarily to the government takeover of GM, using bailout money and terminating the Pontiac Motor Division, I have opened up my candidates for a new vehicle outside of GM.

From an SUV perspective, I am looking at the Ford Explorer Limited.  With respect to a four door sedan, without Pontiac, the door has been kicked wide open.  Previously, the Pontiac G8 GXP would have been the choice. 

However, it looks like Pontiac G8 lives on in the form of the Chevrolet SS.  The SS debuted in 2014 to much fanfare, filling a need for a four door performance sedan Chevrolet has been missing for decades.  Lets check a review to see how they did:



It is not a Pontiac, but the reviews for the Super Sport Chevrolet cousin to the Pontiac G8 have been outstanding.  Not as flashy as its Pontiac predecessor, the performance and handling, a longtime Pontiac wide track feature, exceed expectations.  In addition, the interior in really impressive.

The SS does seem pricey, but vehicle inflation is in full swing, and when a comparable analysis is performed, it actually is a heck of a vehicle for the price, which is about $45K.

The price includes a gas guzzler tax, implemented by the Obama administration.  Eat my exhaust!

A few reviewers wondered why Chevrolet left the acclaimed Magnetic Ride Control system off the 2014 SS, but indications are it will on the 2015 models.

In keeping in the Pontiac family, it looks like an SS will be in my very near future.

Excitement Lost

As President Obama embarked on his new administration, many of us knew the avenues of approach on the road we were going to travel to fundamentally transform America from her exceptionalism and lofty position of prosperity in the world.

While this seems intolerable, and it is, in the aftermath of a financial shock, a seemingly orchestrated crisis, much of the citizenry seemed willing to almost blindly place allegiance behind a young GQ black Senator with little meaningful experience who vocalized an altered political arena and workable landscape for those noting reductions in their standard of living.

The financial crisis had placed much of America in a stranglehold, and hope for change was placed in the hands of our new president, although few would seek an opportunity to read the "fine print" regarding his plans for a new America, one based on fairness, embracing social justice and focusing on equal outcomes rather than equal opportunity.

One avenue of approach in the direct aftermath of the financial crisis was the government rescue of the large US automakers.  You see, given their financial constraints, they were unable to survive without government assistance. Except, while Chrysler and General Motors accepted governmental cash, Ford did not.

Those who could not stand on their own should have gone through the bankruptcy process, rather than having been bailed out.  The Wall Street Journal did not foresee the bailout as a worthy investment.

Ford has turned itself around quite nicely the old fashioned way, and for those who jumped in a $1 per share (F:NYSE), the current share price of approximately $17, it feels damn good to be an American.  With a distinct and measurable advantage of having borrowed from the government, both Chrysler, which since was sold, and GM have made significant gains.

The borrowing for GM can with a hidden cost; however, that most consumers were unaware of.

First, as an avenue to support the government sought after transition away from fossil fuels, Obama motors emerged building vehicles with energy sources whose supply failed miserably to match public demand.  Yes, due to global warming, nothing short of a vehicle for the transformation of wealth and the greatest hoax of all time, economic principles will be violated to advance a political agenda.  And due to GM accepting the cash, they were unable to deny the request, or mandate.

A second major decision, as it turns out, was also forced upon General Motors, and on a personal level, it is difficult for me to contain my rage on this one; the shutdown of the famed Pontiac Motor Division. GM did not want to go along with this, just having produced the Pontiac G8 Grand Prix sedan, which was a strong contender for Motor Trend Car of the Year in 2009.  But racy sport model sedans did not fit the agenda over at 1600 and the government forced GM to jettison the iconic brand. With no leverage against the government, who held the purse strings, the demise of Pontiac sadly became reality.



2009 Pontiac G8 GXP Grand Prix Sedan

VP Joe Biden, Pontiac Trans Am

So bent on advancing the alternate energy vehicles and working toward elimination of high powered V8 muscle cars, even Vice President Joe Biden, the owner of a classic Pontiac Trans Am, failed to take steps to thwart the shutdown. Shame on him.

Third, in a seemingly illegal action, those holding GM bonds were shut out in the reorganization, with the billions of taxpayer dollars going to the unions and political cronies along for the ride.

Fourth, the dealerships forced to close in the consolidation were overwhelmingly, over 80%, owned by GOP donors and or those owner-operators with vocal opposition to the agenda of the new administration.

While much of the automaker tale is classified by most as water under the bridge, it is worth noting that the administration agenda, one closely matching those outlined by Stuart Chase in his 1940's book "The Road We Are Traveling", is to achieve governmental control over significant engines of commerce, including transportation, health care, finance and communication among others.

Alas, there is good news reported by Pravda, oh excuse me, the mainstream media. GM, utilizing all that borrowed tax payer dollars, is "early chapters" of a comeback! However, don't get too excited about a return of all the lost taxpayer money.  It ain't gonna happen.

Time is said to heal all wounds.

Recently, Ken Blackwell, Senior Fellow of the Family Research Council and someone I respect and view favorably, asked Conservatives to rethink our animosity of GM.  It appears Blackwell subscribes to the axiom of George W. Bush of abandoning the free market system in order to save the free market system.  I do not.

As many of you may have previously read, my family has always driven Pontiac cars and Chevrolet SUV's and have always held the product in high regard.  That remains the case as this blogpost is written.

However, my Chevy Trailblazer is nearing 200K miles, and although in good shape, if global economic collapse can be averted next year, it likely will be time to make a move.

Due to GM associating with the regime, the closing of the Pontiac Motor Division, seemingly illegal targeting of political opponents, the rewarding of union cronies with taxpayer funds and my unwillingness to support socialism and the regime, a penalty will be levied and my next move will be the purchase of a 2014 Ford Explorer.

The regime should know cash is king. Pontiac built excitement, but thanks to the regime, that excitement is lost.

A Measure of Success

While literally in midst of another domestic terrorist attack in Washington, DC at the Naval ship yard, in what can only be described as a classless and appalling action, President Obama took to the podium in front of a staged crowd marking the five year anniversary of the financial crisis to take credit for saving America from a a depression.

The top priority since his tenure in the oval office began, Obama reiterated his intention of focusing like a laser beam in his effort in building our economy so it works for everyone and laying out a new foundation for economic growth and prosperity. Take a listen:



With an adoring mainstream media failing to once again to question the assessment of the president, the extreme lies and misrepresentations of this speech cannot go unchallenged.

Obama, through the passage of Dodd-Frank, has left most banks paralyzed, as he blames the money center banks for creating the housing crisis through unsavory lending and underwriting practices.  Never mind that much of the blame falls on the goings on surrounding the Community Reinvestment Act, which sought to provide loans to lower income individuals and families who under normal established guidelines would fail to qualify.  ACORN, a community activist organization Obama supported and worked with, threatened legal action and public ridicule through protest for those considered racist banks who refused to dismiss best underwriting practices and engage in lending to unqualified applicants.

Dodd-Frank also provides consumer protection for those engaging in commerce with banks, given the deemed incompetence of the consumer derived by the government.  Forget buyer beware, Obama and big brother are here to help, guiding (and restricting) what banking actions of commerce the consumer will be allowed to engage in. Dodd-Frank does nothing but restrict banking opportunities all while increasing costs of the consumers.  It is about nothing but government control, and limits the individual liberty and economic freedom of the citizenry.

In addition, while we are at it, the assault on property rights also adds costs and restricts freedom of property owners through EPA implemented regulatory action, restricted permitting and zoning regulations implemented under Agenda 21.  Has anyone replaced an HVAC system lately?

President Obama spoke of how his efforts jump started the flow of credit.  Through government entitlements, such as HARP, scores of homeowners have refinanced their mortgages at lower interest rates as banks beholden to the government have been directed to provide this opportunity.  The lost money is absorbed by the taxpayers.

Most property owners, due to underwater property values, facing restricted credit and unstable employment, are unable to qualify for loans without government assistance.  Credit for small businesses, and mortgage loans free from governmental intrusion, remain quite difficult to obtain.

Some thirteen trillions dollars have been spent, actually borrowed, to "stabilize the economy" and create jobs, and although Obama has no idea, this has been a colossal failure in large measure to his horrendous economic policies. Remove the FED buying bonds, begin some tapering, and see how stable the economy is.

While the administration trumpets a lowering unemployment rate, it should be noted that figure has been grossly manipulated.  Millions of Americans, unable to find work, have quit looking, and thus have fallen from being counted in the data sample, thus allowing the rate to fall.  The real story can be found by looking at the Labor Force Participation Rate, which tells us that the amount of our citizenry fully employed, not withstanding steady population growth, is at levels not seen since 1978.

 

The real statistics regarding the economy are staggering, and if the workforce was equal to when Obama was sworn in, the unemployment rate would be closer to 14%.  Among the jobs Obama has claimed to create, a mind boggling number have been part time, in large measure due to companies limiting the hours of their employees in preparation of the implementation of Obamacare.  Obama championed the flagship legislation he spearheaded in Obamacare, the current top ranked job killer in America. 

 

In a related statistic, ZeroHedge.com illustrates economic realities even the low information crowd can comprehend; reporting a record number of restaurant workers while restaurant companies report decreasing sales.  Something is wrong with this picture.

 

Obama noted an erosion of the middle class, unaware his policies are the culprit.  Families are working harder than ever for less as median family income is lower than when he took office, coupled with rising costs in health care, food and of course gas, which has been over $3 a gallon, in contrast to a cost of $1.83 upon him taking office, for over 1000 days.

 

In fact, Obama highlighted his efforts to insist on new technologies to end our addiction to foreign oil.  Given that commentary, it is puzzling that this included reducing domestic drilling where possible, with a byproduct of a reduction in jobs, and increasing purchases from foreign countries.  Obama proclaimed we sought to become Brazil's biggest customer for oil.  Cheers!

 

Higher education has been an item Obama has focused on, even having Sallie Mae taken over by the federal government,  Sadly, the cost of higher education has never been higher and issues abound.

 

Much of the stimulus money went to unions organization and green job initiatives, many of whom are now bankrupt. Bridges and roads earmarked for repair remain in need as the money went elsewhere.

 

Obama was thrilled to save Detroit, except he did not.  The city of Detroit has gone bankrupt, and General Motors has been unable to repay Uncle Sam for the bailout.  The famed Pontiac Motor Division fails now to exist, and green energy vehicles Obama forced GM to produce have not produced a profit.  In a brazen derailment from contract law, bond holders had their money stolen while auto unions were padded.  Dealerships that were closed were over 80% owned by GOP donors, a political hit.  Ford, meanwhile, turned down the bailout and is outperforming GM. 

When Obama adds it up, he sees a tremendous success. Given his ambition to fundamentally transform the United States of America, his presiding over our decline may be measured as such.  For those who appreciate free markets, individual liberty and economic freedom, his tenure has been catastrophic.

But the lies and misrepresentation did not end there.  Yet to come was the all too common bitterly partisan and divisive attack on those meddling kids, otherwise known as Republicans.



It is worth noting, again, that for the fist 18 months of the Obama administration, until the election in Massachusetts of Scott Brown, democrats held a super majority. Better stated, the republicans may as well have played golf everyday because they alone could stop no legislative action. Zero.

At this point, the GOP has the house, but the democrats still control the presidency and the senate. Furthermore, against rhetoric to the contrary, a long list of progressive GOP members refrain from contesting Obama on anything, even some having supported much of his plans, inclusive of Obamacare.

The economic chaos Obama speaks of has been caused by his wreckless spending, exploding entitlements and attacks on small business and free markets.  Keep in mind it is Obama and his party are and have been in control presiding in the decline of America.

With respect to those who are offering opposition to Obama and his collective ambitions, I joined millions of others in electing representatives charged with defeating his initiatives.  It is Obama who has tanked the economy, not a handful of GOP members who oppose his socialistic goals.

Obama is emphatic that he will not negotiate with the GOP on the budget issues, which is odd coming from a man who claimed he would negotiate with any terrorist on the planet.  The GOP always get hammered for not compromising, but it is Obama who will not negotiate.

Yes, when you add it up, freedom and prosperity has been lost under Obama's presidency.  Five years after he implemented his strategy, with limited elected opposition, the country is far from economically stable and cannot pay its bills.  Seemingly under control of the administration, the FED is monetizing our bloated debt, crushing savers and decreasing asset wealth in what has to be considered the reaching of Obama's goal of the transformation of wealth.

The media can cheer Obama on, but those of us in the middle class out here working know what the scorecard says.  The economic conditions as a result of the actions taken by Obama have significantly reduced freedom and prosperity, the opportunity to achieve it, and have decreased the standard of living for the greater majority of our citizens.

How is success measured in this case.  For Obama, presiding over the transformation of the United States is considered a rousing success.  I consider those actions unconstitutional, and therefore seek his impeachment.

Bailout Bull

Pontiac GXP

Few have been bigger supporters of General Motors over the years than yours truly. I have driven Chevrolet SUVs for decades and have had a racy Pontiac ever since I got my drivers license. The products have been outstanding, and I have until recently been a longtime cheerleader for Chevrolet and Pontiac over the years.

But my relationship with GM has soured considerably due to their relationship with President Obama, under whose direction came the closure of the Pontiac division.  Obama and GM are joined at the hip with the unions, not the shareholders, the benefactor of the bailout.

Regrettably, it was President Bush who got the ball running on the auto bailout. Chrysler, which took the bailout, is now owned by Fiat.  Ford, (F:NYSE), did not accept bailout money and is doing fine.

Under the bailout, President Obama did not follow protocol and left the preferred shareholders with nothing while funneling cash to the unions.  Obama's team punished dealerships who were republican donors while keeping open those who donated to Democrats.  With GM under foot, Obama forced them to focus on developing vehicles designed to accommodate green energy sources, rather than seeking a profit producing vehicles the market wants.

The auto bailout has become a significant topic of discussion during the campaign, and its very relevant in Michigan and the key swing state of Ohio.  Although the facts differ from the rhetoric President Obama has been delivering on the campaign trail, the issue has been favorable to Obama rather than Mitt Romney, whose father George Romney was formerly chairman and president of American Motors Corporation.

Obama touts General Motors (GM:NYSE) as bailed out and saved, but the stock price of GM would have to moue than double for the company to stand on its own with the taxpayers to be made whole.

There are many more troubling facts that those in Ohio, and across the nation, are likely not aware of.  Glenn Beck did an outstanding job covering the topic recently on his radio program.  This is important, so please take the time to listen in the entirety.



Sadly, the campaign rhetoric Obama is soaring with, on both the fronts of GM being solvent and who is actually shifting jobs to China, is alarmingly false. 

On the campaign stump recently, Obama says we know him, and can trust him.  Indeed, we know him as a liar on numerous issues and note we can always trust him to be not trustworthy.

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.

Smoke Stands On It!

Lead, follow or get out of the way!

In what has to be one of the best races ever, Tony Stewart held off Carl Edwards to win the 2011 Sprint Cup Chase.

Congratulations to Tony Stewart, who drove the absolute wheels off his Office Depot Chevrolet Impala. Carl Edwards, classy in defeat in his AFLAC Ford, did everything he could but Smoke was not to be denied keeping the floorboard mashed all day. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

It was a great race put on by Edwards and Stewart; one for the ages!

Lead, follow or get out the way! Can't wait for the Daytona 500 on February 26, 2012!

First On Race Day

I have been a happy GM customer all my automobile driving life. Chevy Trucks and Pontiac cars, with the Wide Track Grand Prix my favorite. Currently, each of one of those sits in the garage.

Then Obama and his biblical wisdom came along, forming a team to bailout the car companies, violate the rule of law screwing the auto bondholders, funnel money to union supporters and end the long running historical Pontiac brand. On top of that, now that the Government controls GM, out comes production of "green initiative" vehicles, such as the Chevy Volt. The Volt, which was on the way to be a sporty success before Obama's team stepped in, is now a cost prohibitive joke.

Ford Motor Company rejected government assistance. Although I am sure they needed help, it seems CEO Allan Mulally knew the costs of teaming up with the government. Taking risk seeking reward without using the taxpayer as a crutch is what America commerce is all about. America knows it, and so does Ford.



Have you driven a Ford lately? I see it in my future.

Now that the government owns GM, also known as Government Motors, they don't take kindly to Ford slamming them and the government in a recent advertisement.

With his poll numbers on a ski slope, the Obama administration, thugs that they are, take action to silence critics, as evidenced by reports the administration has strong armed Ford to pull the ad. The Blaze has the full report, which originally came from The Detroit News.

Although Ford denies they removed the ad due to White House pressure, just like your transmission going south, when there is smoke there is fire. Make no mistake, Ford does not want to be in the cross hairs of the White House, for they punish opponents.

With the government involved in free enterprise, free markets become negatively impacted due to the artificial influence and fail to function at full efficiency.

Needless to say, I am sprinting to the voting booth in November 2012, but in the meantime, I will refrain from supporting companies associated with Obama, which includes GM. And while we are on the subject, my rental properties will be GE appliance free going forward.

Have you driven a Ford lately? First on Race Day!

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!

The New Heartbeat of America?

Simply put, Obama and his Czar's are completely out of control. Hopefully, it will hit home with America soon! It will hit NASCAR hard, no doubt.

I just cannot see Dale Earnhardt, Jr rolling up in the banking three wide in this Yugo style golf cart. Is this going to be Tommorow's Chevrolet?


This is incredibly sad and I am quite angry about it! Thankfully, we got our memories!

Have I driven a Ford lately? No, not yet!

The White Knuckle Highway

When the good ole boys hit the Superspeedway restrictor plate races at Daytona and Talladega, the races usually invovle a major accident, which is commonly referred to as the big one. Often, the big one has been followed by a late race accident involving cars getting airborne.

The reason NASCAR implemented the restrictor plate, a small plate placed over the carburetor which restricts the flow of fuel to the engine thus reducing horsepower, was due to the following crash in 1987 as Bobby Allison in his Miller High Life Buick almost entered the grandstands. Check it out:



The placement of the restrictor plate slowed the cars down about from about 210 to 195 and seemed to bunch the cars together for tight racing, but it did not stop the major crashes. Take a look at Neil Bonnett, who was returning to competition after a few years in the television booth in the Mom and Pops Chevrolet Lumina, a car owned by his buddy, Dale Earnhardt.



Bonnett would later lose his life in a practice lap in his Country Time Lemonade Chevrolet at Daytona in 1994.

Another nasty crash at Talladega found Rusty Wallace finishing the race in sixth place in his Miller Genuine Draft Pontiac Grand Prix barrel rolling through he air. Take a look at this one:



Other drivers who have had last lap flips at Talladega, otherwise known as the White Knuckle Highway, are Elliott Sadler in the M&M's Ford and Bobby Labonte in the Interstate Batteries Pontiac.

The running of the Aarons's 449 yesterday at Talladega Superspeedway had it all. We had the big one on lap eight and then a very scary incident involving Carl Edwards as his Ford Fusion, in an eerily similar crash to the aforementioned Bobby Allison crash, almost entered the stands. Eight spectators were injured, either from debris from Edwards car or from broken parts of the catch fence. Check out this heartstopper:



I have been attending races at Daytona since 1992 and the catch fence is quite imposing and obviously capable of prohibiting the cars from breaking through to enter the stands. You can see the fencing in this photo of Jeff Gordon in his Dupont Chevy at Daytona last year:

NASCAR has made great safety strides with the safer walls, the catch fencing, the restrictor plates, roof flaps, fuel cells, roll cages and the HANS device. I remember Ernie Irvan and Dale Earnhardt wrecking in front of me on the Daytona Superstretch in 1997 when Irvans hood flew up toward where we were sitting. NASCAR is an awesome thrill and I love the sport, but I am in those stands twice a year and find it amazing there have been very few spectator injuries. Maybe ISC (ISCA:NASDAQ) might want to consider raising the fence height about two feet or so after the events of this past weekend. NASCAR is reviewing policies.

A Criminal Enterprise?

The TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) is already, albeit very quitely, out of hand. Larry Kudlow of The Kudlow Report on CNBC has very interesting discussion of the subject with famed economist Arthur Laffer, co-author of The End of Prosperity, former FDIC chair Bill Seidman and Peter Morici, economics professor at the University of Maryland.

For those who are arm chair quarterbacking this whole bailout thing, this would be a great discussion to wet your whistle. It also illuminates the basis of the what would generate the tea parties, highlighting how the governmental strong arm takeover of the banks is not behaving as it was indicated to us taxpayers it would.

The discussion also touches on Detroit, and how the "takeover" of GM will provide a vehicle for government to issue some sort of mandate for the company to produce cars the government want us to drive, not those we want to drive. This will quickly make this lifelong GM guy ask himself if he has driven a Ford lately?

Can you imagine fraud in the Congress? The discussion also questions an editorial in the Baltimore Sun, where it is outlined that some 20 criminal probes concerning TARP have been opened.

Take ten minutes out of your day to listen to Kudlow lead this worthwhile discussion with three top notch guests:

Bobby Labonte Visits FOX & Friends

2000 Sprint Cup Champion Bobby Labonte stops by FOX & Friends to promote the 51st running of the Great American Race, the Daytona 500, and his new sponsor, Ask.com.

Shifting Seats For Speedweeks

Speedweeks has returned to the High Banks of Daytona International Speedway after a tumultuous off season. The economic downturn has hit the garage area hard and is also being strongly felt by track owners as ticket sales have plunged. Daytona International Speedway, owned and operated by International Speedway Corporations (ISCA:NASDAQ), has slashed ticket prices up to 50% to bolster sales.

Most notable for me in the garage area was the collapse of Petty Enterprises. Without a sponsor for the famed #43, Bobby Labonte was forced to divorce himself from the team in order to try to secure a quality ride for 2009. Petty Enterprises went on to merge with Gillet Evernham, and the #43 is now part of that group now called Richard Petty Motorsports. It is not the same thing as it once was, and everyone knows it. Kyle Petty, one of my favorite people, is out of a ride. He had Wells Fargo set to sponsor him, but the banking debacle has cancelled that potential deal.

Labonte found a ride with the famed Yates Racing Ford operation and will drive the #96 Ask.com Ford Fusion. At this point, I am glad Bobby found a ride. I am not a Ford guy, but prefer it by far to Toyota, and Yates has always had fast rides. After a season with Toyota, Tony Stewart formed his own team and is now back with General Motors fielding the Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolets for 2009. This is a bold move for Stewart, forming his own team. If you are a follower of my blog, you know I appreciate the type of entrepreneurial spirit. Good luck to my boys Bobby and Tony this year. Hope to see you boys in victory lane!

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.

Conditional Bailout Presents Rare Chance

The economic events of the last several quarters have been exhausting and have inflicted immense pain on many Americans, yours truly included. Obviously, although I am sure well intended, much of the governmental action, particularly in the form of orchestrating bailouts, has not been successful as Wall Street remains in freefall. Today's action suggest a very serious test of the recent lows and a break of those lows with any sort of conviction could send the DOW into the 6000's. Not pretty.

The issues facing the treasury and The FED are massive, and I recognize the simplicity of arm chair quarterbacking without keen insight to the information these agencies are dealing with. However, I would like to comment on the potential bailout the Big 3 automakers, GM (GM:NYSE), Ford (F:NYSE) and Chrysler. I will attempt to be brief, but it is an extremely complex problem.

First, almost daily on CNBC and FOX Business, I repeatedly hear a host or a guest fire the comment out that these firms do not make quality vehicles the public would want. This is total bullshit! I personally own a Chevrolet SUV and a Pontiac sedan and both are superb, particularly the Pontiac GXP. Both have over 60K miles and not withstanding the Goodyear (GT:NYSE) Racing Eagles I have had to replace, I have not spent over $1000 combined on these vehicles. Good God, I hope I did not just curse myself.
GENERAL MOTORS 2009 PONTIAC G8 SEDAN, MOTOR TREND CAR OF THE YEAR FINALIST

The problems the automakers face has nothing to do with a lack of product quality or vision for design and appeal of the current or future vehicles. In fact, outside of Chrysler's Bob Nardelli, who ran Home Depot (HD:NYSE) into the ground, the management is not all that bad in my view. The automaker CEO's do have a pink elephant in the room; the unions.


The automakers were running on the tightest of margins, hampered by governmental regulation, taxes, tariffs, global climate change initiatives (no, I am not kidding) CAFE and emission standards and union demands that are completely illogical and lack any sort of flexibility. They maintain the margins by relying on the consumer to continue turning over inventory every five years or so as outlined by analyst modeling based on long term data. BOOM, the housing market fell off a cliff and consumers got caught up in, with ironic apologies to The Motor City Madman Ted Nugent, a stranglehold.

With consumer expendable income squeezed dry, big ticket purchases are the first thing to be placed on the sideline. Demand for these items has not gone away, but quantity demanded has fallen off a cliff due to skyrocketing gas prices (which have since subsided but the consumer has zero confidence they won't soon return), uncertainty about the economic near term future and the extreme difficulty in obtaining credit, which is the lifeblood to our consumer driven economy. No consumers mean no revenue and with that comes the instant inability to reach those already razor thin margins, and it is not even close.

So, should they be left to wilt under fire and cease to exist, crushing thousands of jobs and creating a untold tiered ripple effect. Without some serious revisions to business as usual, yes.

However, we are presented with an opportunity at this time, and our representatives on the hill should take full advantage of it.

Organized labor under The United Auto Workers is the main culprit hampering the industry in the effort to be competitive with foreign automakers, particularly those with plants in the United States. Legacy costs create a burden that is estimated to represent over $2000 per vehicle in additional costs which in this extremely competitive environment is just a killer. Union contracts force the automakers to pay inflated wages which creates inefficient market conditions which are unsustainable. Blogger Mark Perry, Economics professor at The University of Michigan (Flint campus), provides a chart of the breakdown on his Carpe Diem blog.

Recent negotiations between the Big 3 and the UAW have planted mustard seeds as incoming workers are paid competitive wages while the legacy costs are estimated to fall off dramatically over the next decade. I did recognize that at the table before the congress along with the CEO's of the Big 3 was the UAW representative. It is not the Big 4, or is it? Against the backdrop of bankruptcy, the UAW rep really does not have dog in this hunt. Part of the existing UAW contracts indicate a certain level of paid hours of workers, regardless of fluctuations in quantity demanded and production levels. Would you run your bakery or hardware store like that? Should a bailout, or workout as former Mass Gov. Mitt Romney (R) puts it, move forward, major concessions should come from the UAW. In fact, they promote inefficiency, are unnecessary and should cease to exist in my view.

The government also places tariffs on intercontinental automobile trading, giving foreign competitors a significant competitive advantage. Since trade agreements must be adhered to until the time period of the agreement is exhausted, perhaps Uncle Sam should issue tax incentives to consumers who purchase US autos? This could work, but the issue of consumer credit must be solved or there will be no buyers to grab that incentive.

The government has already signed off to give the automakers 25 million to predominantly deal with the emission standards the government has placed upon the automakers. I know I will be labeled on par with a holocaust denier to speak out that global climate change is a farce, but in light of limited evidence to the contrary (record low in Orlando this morning), perhaps the government could suspend, or I may recommend, eliminate, these cumbersome regulatory restraints and directives? At any rate, with bankruptcy looming, they could use that money to stay alive.

All three US automakers are making impressive progress in fuel efficient vehicles, and most of the GM fleet gets over 30 MPG. The Chevrolet Volt, shown below, should be a huge seller.

GM INNOVATION IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES COMES TO THE CONSUMER IN 2010 WITH THE CHEVY VOLT

I had to laugh watching Chris Dodd and Barney Frank presiding over the hearings with the Big 3 CEO's. If the housing crisis did not unfold, the automakers would not be in the position the currently find themselves in, and Frank and Dodd were asleep at the wheel as that problem emerged (would the fine folks of Connecticut and Massachusetts please toss these corrupt idiots out of office?). Governmental regulatory intervention and organized labor eliminate any fighting chance the Big 3 have to competitively emerge from this debacle. These barriers to competitiveness should be eliminated yesterday.

Since the government contributed to the cause of the problems that saddle the Big 3, government should assist them in the way out, and then get the hell out of the way! The auto industry is not a normal business, and it's importance to America is quite significant. I think some sort of workout, either a bankruptcy with a partial governmental backstop or a bailout/workout with a conservator (Romney?) is necessary as I fear the aftermath and costs of complete failure significantly surpasses that of a workout.

But if the Big 3 are going to take the taxpayers money, they must adhere to conditions, and those would include but not be limited to elimination of the UAW, the restructuring and rewriting of current union contracts, elimination of duplicate models (Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice, for example) and the reduction in the amount of dealerships (which does not necessarily include the elimination of product lines). If bankruptcy is the option taken, the government should be cognizant of the effect on warranties (would require some sort of backstop) and the potential impact of the tiered suppliers which could be severely damaged or lost in the ripple effect, including companies like Johnson Controls (JCI:NYSE) and Lear Corporation (LEA:NYSE). Evaluating the landscape on this issue, I find a workout of some sort is critical to our economy at this time.

I find it poetic that during green week, partly because government has forced the industry to spend unnecessarily on green initiatives, we need to pass out armored cars full of greenbacks. A vicious circle indeed. It makes you want to pull the hair out of your head and set yourself on fire.

After that depressing commentary, for our listening pleasure I present Ford truck owner and Detroit native, The Motor City Madman Ted Nugent, with Stranglehold.