Governor of South Carolina Relents on Rejecting Jobless Funds
Top of Form
Adam Nossiter
Published: December 31, 2008
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Just hours before the unemployment benefits fund was to run out in South Carolina, the state with the nation’s third-highest jobless rate, Governor Mark Sanford relented Wednesday and agreed to apply for $146 million in federal funds to top it up, after weeks of refusing to do so.
The governor’s position had drawn rebukes even from fellow Republicans in the legislature, one of whom denounced him as “heartless.” Newspaper editorial pages in South Carolina questioned why he was adding to the anxiety of the state’s 77,000 unemployed residents. Legislators here said they could recall no governor ever refusing to ask for unemployment funds.
For weeks Mr. Sanford, known for a philosophy in favor of a free market and against government aid, stuck to his stand, questioning the probity of the South Carolina Employment Security Commission and demanding an audit of the agency. He has said in that past that he did not trust the agency’s calculation of the state’s unemployment rate.
Its executive director warned that the agency would have to stop issuing benefit checks to the jobless after today if the governor did not back down and ask the federal government for the money.
Finally, on Wednesday morning, Mr. Sanford said at a news conference in his office at the state house that he would request the money. “We will not punish the unemployed for this agency’s incompetence,” he said. But the governor continued to insist that he would demand an audit of the unemployment office, though one prominent legislator, senate president pro tem Glenn McConnell, also a Republican, questioned the need for one, in an interview.
My Comments:
Nation’s third-highest jobless rate, even with all of the Federal jobs in South Carolina? How does this guy get elected? It's the South Carolina Employment Security Commission's fault that people are out of work?
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
HIGHER EDUCATION
Bristol Palin Baby Son Tripp Born
The Huffington Post
Rachel Weiner
December 29, 2008
Bristol Palin Could Earn $300,000 For Baby Pics
MSNBC is reporting that the Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston may receive up to $300,000 for the first pictures of their son Tripp. The price didn't soar immediately, according to the sources, because Sarah Palin stories just didn't sell all that well for the weeklies on newsstands.
The drug-related arrest of Johnston's mother, however, caused the price tag for the photos to go up.
Bristol Palin, the 18-year-old daughter of former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, gave birth on Sunday to a healthy 7 lb., 4 oz., baby boy in Palmer, Alaska.
"We think it's wonderful," said Colleen Jones, the sister of Bristol's grandmother Sally Heath, who confirmed the news. "The baby is fine and Bristol is doing well. Everyone is excited." The baby's name is Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston, according to Jones.
Bristol is taking correspondence courses to obtain her high school diploma. The baby's father, Levi Johnston, is training to be an electrician. The couple has been together for three years.
My Comments:
Bristol is 18 and the couple has been together for three years? The baby's last name is Johnston and they aren't married? A high school corresponence course? Is that like by mail, a couple of blocks from the school?
The Huffington Post
Rachel Weiner
December 29, 2008
Bristol Palin Could Earn $300,000 For Baby Pics
MSNBC is reporting that the Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston may receive up to $300,000 for the first pictures of their son Tripp. The price didn't soar immediately, according to the sources, because Sarah Palin stories just didn't sell all that well for the weeklies on newsstands.
The drug-related arrest of Johnston's mother, however, caused the price tag for the photos to go up.
Bristol Palin, the 18-year-old daughter of former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, gave birth on Sunday to a healthy 7 lb., 4 oz., baby boy in Palmer, Alaska.
"We think it's wonderful," said Colleen Jones, the sister of Bristol's grandmother Sally Heath, who confirmed the news. "The baby is fine and Bristol is doing well. Everyone is excited." The baby's name is Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston, according to Jones.
Bristol is taking correspondence courses to obtain her high school diploma. The baby's father, Levi Johnston, is training to be an electrician. The couple has been together for three years.
My Comments:
Bristol is 18 and the couple has been together for three years? The baby's last name is Johnston and they aren't married? A high school corresponence course? Is that like by mail, a couple of blocks from the school?
Monday, December 29, 2008
Virginity Pledge Doesn’t Stop Teen Sex
Teenagers Who Take Virginity Pledges No Less Sexually Active, More Likely to Forgo Birth Control, Condoms
By Jennifer Warner
WdbMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Dec. 29, 2008 -- Teenagers who take virginity pledges are no less sexually active than other teens, according to a new study.
But the results, published in the journal Pediatrics, suggest that virginity pledgers are less likely to protect themselves against pregnancy or disease when they do have sex.
Researchers say the findings suggest that virginity pledges may not significantly affect teenagers' sexual behavior. Instead, they may decrease the likelihood of teenagers taking precautions, such as using a condom or using birth control, when they do have sex.
Virginity Pledge May Lead to Risky Sex
Researchers say the federal government spends about $200 million annually on abstinence promotion programs, which include virginity pledges. Two previous studies have suggested that virginity pledges can delay sex, but researchers say those studies did not account for pre-existing differences between pledgers and non-pledgers.
In this study, researchers compared the sexual behavior of 289 teenagers who reported taking a virginity pledge in a 1996 national survey to 645 non-pledgers who were matched on more than 100 factors, such as religious beliefs and attitudes toward sex and birth control.
The results showed that five years after taking the virginity pledge:
82% of pledgers denied ever having taken the pledge.
Pledgers and matched non-pledgers did not differ in rates of premarital sex, sexually transmitted disease, and oral and anal sex behaviors.
Pledgers had 0.1 fewer sexual partners in the past year but did not differ from non-pledgers in the number of lifetime sexual partners and the age of first sex.
The biggest difference between the two groups came in the area of condom and birth control use. The study showed that fewer pledgers used birth control or condoms in the past year or any form of birth control the last time they had sex.
Researcher Janet Elise Rosenbaum, PHD, of Harvard University, says the findings suggest that health care providers should provide birth control information to all teenagers, especially virginity pledgers.
By Jennifer Warner
WdbMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Dec. 29, 2008 -- Teenagers who take virginity pledges are no less sexually active than other teens, according to a new study.
But the results, published in the journal Pediatrics, suggest that virginity pledgers are less likely to protect themselves against pregnancy or disease when they do have sex.
Researchers say the findings suggest that virginity pledges may not significantly affect teenagers' sexual behavior. Instead, they may decrease the likelihood of teenagers taking precautions, such as using a condom or using birth control, when they do have sex.
Virginity Pledge May Lead to Risky Sex
Researchers say the federal government spends about $200 million annually on abstinence promotion programs, which include virginity pledges. Two previous studies have suggested that virginity pledges can delay sex, but researchers say those studies did not account for pre-existing differences between pledgers and non-pledgers.
In this study, researchers compared the sexual behavior of 289 teenagers who reported taking a virginity pledge in a 1996 national survey to 645 non-pledgers who were matched on more than 100 factors, such as religious beliefs and attitudes toward sex and birth control.
The results showed that five years after taking the virginity pledge:
82% of pledgers denied ever having taken the pledge.
Pledgers and matched non-pledgers did not differ in rates of premarital sex, sexually transmitted disease, and oral and anal sex behaviors.
Pledgers had 0.1 fewer sexual partners in the past year but did not differ from non-pledgers in the number of lifetime sexual partners and the age of first sex.
The biggest difference between the two groups came in the area of condom and birth control use. The study showed that fewer pledgers used birth control or condoms in the past year or any form of birth control the last time they had sex.
Researcher Janet Elise Rosenbaum, PHD, of Harvard University, says the findings suggest that health care providers should provide birth control information to all teenagers, especially virginity pledgers.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Arizona, The Enforcement State
Police Forces Gird For Opening of Light Rail System
The Arizona Republic
by Lisa Halverstadt - Dec. 24, 2008
Anyone who plans to ride the light rail for the first time Saturday will be hard-pressed to avoid police officers, security guards and volunteers, no matter which stops they visit.
For months, the Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa police departments have been working with Metro Light Rail to plan for at least 150,000 people and the security concerns that inevitably follow.
Police say they expect the light-rail kickoff to be a fun day with few problems but just in case something does happen, they must expect the worst. They've spent months planning for it.
So before the event ever begins, bomb dogs will sniff around the light-rail cars and planned party locations. Teams from the Transportation Security Administration, some of them armed, will arrive to assist officials in Phoenix. Arizona's Department of Liquor License and Control will prepare to be on the prowl. Police in Mesa, Phoenix and Tempe will be prepared to communicate with one another throughout the entire event. An estimated 700 to 800 volunteers will ready themselves to spend hours answering questions about the light-rail system.
Meanwhile, a large number of officers across the Valley will suit up for a long day on the job at a time when city budget crunches are leading to overtime cuts at police departments.
Still, the department will assess staffing needs hourly to determine if those working overtime can be relieved by those who would normally be on duty or by TSA teams provided free to the city, said Phoenix police Lt. Adrian Ruiz of that department's Transit Bureau.
My Comments:
Cops everywhere? Bomb-sniffing dogs? Armed TSA (U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security) teams? Arizona's Department of Liquor License and Control? Will you have to take off your shoes? Strip searches? Racial profiling?
Should be a fun time, if there is any room for the public.
The Arizona Republic
by Lisa Halverstadt - Dec. 24, 2008
Anyone who plans to ride the light rail for the first time Saturday will be hard-pressed to avoid police officers, security guards and volunteers, no matter which stops they visit.
For months, the Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa police departments have been working with Metro Light Rail to plan for at least 150,000 people and the security concerns that inevitably follow.
Police say they expect the light-rail kickoff to be a fun day with few problems but just in case something does happen, they must expect the worst. They've spent months planning for it.
So before the event ever begins, bomb dogs will sniff around the light-rail cars and planned party locations. Teams from the Transportation Security Administration, some of them armed, will arrive to assist officials in Phoenix. Arizona's Department of Liquor License and Control will prepare to be on the prowl. Police in Mesa, Phoenix and Tempe will be prepared to communicate with one another throughout the entire event. An estimated 700 to 800 volunteers will ready themselves to spend hours answering questions about the light-rail system.
Meanwhile, a large number of officers across the Valley will suit up for a long day on the job at a time when city budget crunches are leading to overtime cuts at police departments.
Still, the department will assess staffing needs hourly to determine if those working overtime can be relieved by those who would normally be on duty or by TSA teams provided free to the city, said Phoenix police Lt. Adrian Ruiz of that department's Transit Bureau.
My Comments:
Cops everywhere? Bomb-sniffing dogs? Armed TSA (U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security) teams? Arizona's Department of Liquor License and Control? Will you have to take off your shoes? Strip searches? Racial profiling?
Should be a fun time, if there is any room for the public.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Winter Is Arriving On The Great Lakes
From boatnerd.com News Photo Gallery
December 21, 2008
Photos by Stephen Hause of the Frontenac
upbound on the Saginaw River in ice.
(click on images to enlarge)
December 21, 2008
Photos by Stephen Hause of the Frontenac
upbound on the Saginaw River in ice.
(click on images to enlarge)
A bald eagle sails low above the ice near the ship.
Eagles are a common sight along the Saginaw River.
Line handler goes ashore.
A fun job on a cold winter day.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Nice Day To Be Out On Lake Superior
The current temperature in Duluth is about 2 degrees, it is snowing, the wind is blowing 22 mph out of the northwest, and gusting to 33 mph. It’s going down to –7 degrees tonight. Nice day to be out on Lake Superior.
Several boats are departing for the lower lakes, and several are expected to arrive today and in the next few days to load. Two boats, the Great Lakes Trader and the Lee A. Tregurtha are expected to arrive at Duluth Christmas Day to load iron ore pellets.
Link to arrivals and departures schedules: http://www.duluthboats.com/schedule.html
Several boats are departing for the lower lakes, and several are expected to arrive today and in the next few days to load. Two boats, the Great Lakes Trader and the Lee A. Tregurtha are expected to arrive at Duluth Christmas Day to load iron ore pellets.
Link to arrivals and departures schedules: http://www.duluthboats.com/schedule.html
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Republican Senator Blames Democrats
Senator Huppenthal Charged With Theft, Blames Democrats
The Arizona Republic
by Edythe Jensen - Dec. 19, 2008 03:43 PM
State Sen. John Huppenthal R-Chandler has been charged with criminal misdemeanors for cutting down an opposition campaign sign on Election Day. He's accused of theft and altering or destroying a political sign. A conviction could send him to jail for up to six months.
The charges stem from a confrontation Huppenthal had with Ruth Levin, a 78-year-old Democratic activist who told reporters and police that the senator cut down the sign then struggled with her over it before driving off in a Lexus SUV.
The nine-term state lawmaker called the charges "a continuation of the sadistic and vindictive smear campaign by the Democratic Party".
The Arizona Republic
by Edythe Jensen - Dec. 19, 2008 03:43 PM
State Sen. John Huppenthal R-Chandler has been charged with criminal misdemeanors for cutting down an opposition campaign sign on Election Day. He's accused of theft and altering or destroying a political sign. A conviction could send him to jail for up to six months.
The charges stem from a confrontation Huppenthal had with Ruth Levin, a 78-year-old Democratic activist who told reporters and police that the senator cut down the sign then struggled with her over it before driving off in a Lexus SUV.
The nine-term state lawmaker called the charges "a continuation of the sadistic and vindictive smear campaign by the Democratic Party".
Friday, December 19, 2008
Toyota Will Post Loss
Toyota May Report 2nd-Half Operating Loss, Asahi Says
Bloomberg
Dec. 13
Excerpt:
Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's largest automaker, may report an operating loss of at least 100 billion ($1.1 billion) in the fiscal second half as a global recession and a strengthening yen crimp sales, the Asahi newspaper said.
GM, Chrysler seen near loan deal; Toyota loss looms
Reuters 12.19.08By
Kevin Krolicki and John Crawley
Excerpt:
No automakers have been spared in the brutal global sales slump.
Japan's Toyota Motor Corp could report its first annual parent-only operating loss in 71 years in the year to end-March, and may issue a profit warning at a scheduled year-end news conference on Monday, Japanese media reported.
Toyota, which declined to comment on the reports, last posted an operating loss in its first year of operation in 1937/38.
Shares of Toyota lost 2 percent.
Reports: Toyota vehicle operations to post loss
TOKYO (AP) 12.19.08
By YURI KAGEYAMA
Excerpt:
Toyota Motor Corp., which makes the popular Camry sedan and Prius gas-electric hybrid, has never reported a full fiscal year loss since it began disclosing operating profit in 1941.But Japanese automakers — which had until recently avoided the serious problems of their U.S. rivals — are getting hammered by plunging auto sales in the key U.S. market and elsewhere.
Bloomberg
Dec. 13
Excerpt:
Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's largest automaker, may report an operating loss of at least 100 billion ($1.1 billion) in the fiscal second half as a global recession and a strengthening yen crimp sales, the Asahi newspaper said.
GM, Chrysler seen near loan deal; Toyota loss looms
Reuters 12.19.08By
Kevin Krolicki and John Crawley
Excerpt:
No automakers have been spared in the brutal global sales slump.
Japan's Toyota Motor Corp could report its first annual parent-only operating loss in 71 years in the year to end-March, and may issue a profit warning at a scheduled year-end news conference on Monday, Japanese media reported.
Toyota, which declined to comment on the reports, last posted an operating loss in its first year of operation in 1937/38.
Shares of Toyota lost 2 percent.
Reports: Toyota vehicle operations to post loss
TOKYO (AP) 12.19.08
By YURI KAGEYAMA
Excerpt:
Toyota Motor Corp., which makes the popular Camry sedan and Prius gas-electric hybrid, has never reported a full fiscal year loss since it began disclosing operating profit in 1941.But Japanese automakers — which had until recently avoided the serious problems of their U.S. rivals — are getting hammered by plunging auto sales in the key U.S. market and elsewhere.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Honda cuts profit forecast by 62%
International Herald Tribune
By Bettina Wassener
HONG KONG: Honda cut its full-year forecast for net profit by 62 percent on Wednesday, the latest sign of the dramatic drop-off in demand that has hammered the global car industry and has sent U.S. manufacturers scurrying for state aid.
Honda's vehicle sales in the United States, its main market, plunged 32 percent in November from a year earlier, the most since 1981, and sales in Europe slumped 34 percent.
Toyota, the world's largest carmaker, will hold its year-end press conference on Monday and is widely expected to cut its 2009 sales forecast by at least one million vehicles, analysts surveyed by Reuters said. Toyota is also likely to follow suit with added savings measures, like shelving or canceling one or more of its dozen or so production projects.
By Bettina Wassener
HONG KONG: Honda cut its full-year forecast for net profit by 62 percent on Wednesday, the latest sign of the dramatic drop-off in demand that has hammered the global car industry and has sent U.S. manufacturers scurrying for state aid.
Honda's vehicle sales in the United States, its main market, plunged 32 percent in November from a year earlier, the most since 1981, and sales in Europe slumped 34 percent.
Toyota, the world's largest carmaker, will hold its year-end press conference on Monday and is widely expected to cut its 2009 sales forecast by at least one million vehicles, analysts surveyed by Reuters said. Toyota is also likely to follow suit with added savings measures, like shelving or canceling one or more of its dozen or so production projects.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Update to ‘Over 40,000 Speeding Tickets Issued…’
The Arizona Republic is reporting today that an irate driver was caught bashing a speed-enforcement camera with a pickaxe.
Toyota Puts New U.S. Plant on Hold
Excert from The Wall Street Journal
December 15, 2008
By Kate Linebaugh
Detroit -- Toyota Motor Corp. said Monday it is suspending preparations of its newest U.S. plant in Mississippi, citing the steep decline in the auto market.
The company said it would complete construction of the building but would hold off on installing equipment, delaying the start of production that was slated for 2010. "Due to the uncertainty of the market, it is impossible to say at this time when production will begin," the company said.
The decision was reached at a meeting in Japan and is part of the company's efforts to adjust production to match sales. Toyota has already extended non-production days at its U.S. factories in a bid to align supply and demand, after the company's sales in the U.S. fell 34% in November from the same month a year before.
December 15, 2008
By Kate Linebaugh
Detroit -- Toyota Motor Corp. said Monday it is suspending preparations of its newest U.S. plant in Mississippi, citing the steep decline in the auto market.
The company said it would complete construction of the building but would hold off on installing equipment, delaying the start of production that was slated for 2010. "Due to the uncertainty of the market, it is impossible to say at this time when production will begin," the company said.
The decision was reached at a meeting in Japan and is part of the company's efforts to adjust production to match sales. Toyota has already extended non-production days at its U.S. factories in a bid to align supply and demand, after the company's sales in the U.S. fell 34% in November from the same month a year before.
Sanford Blasts Bush Plans On Bailout
The Politico
By Manu Raju
Dec 15, 2008
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is warning President Bush to back away from using the $700 billion Wall Street bailout for ailing Big Three automakers, saying doing so would fundamentally alter the nation's economy.In a letter sent to the White House on Monday, the Republican governor says Bush would be committing a "very great mistake" that would "open the floodgates to federal monies for every distressed industry across this country -- and there will be many in this economic slowdown."Sanford, a potential 2012 contender for the GOP nomination, is siding with the anti-bailout wing of his party that is furious with Bush for trying to prop up the Detroit automakers and help distressed banks. He also is siding with his fellow Southern politicians who have sparred with Northern Republicans who hail from manufacturing states that are heavily unionized and have a significant Big Three presence.
This is really something - the Governor of one of the most heavily subsidized States in our Country warning the President not to loan money to the U.S. auto companies.
By Manu Raju
Dec 15, 2008
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is warning President Bush to back away from using the $700 billion Wall Street bailout for ailing Big Three automakers, saying doing so would fundamentally alter the nation's economy.In a letter sent to the White House on Monday, the Republican governor says Bush would be committing a "very great mistake" that would "open the floodgates to federal monies for every distressed industry across this country -- and there will be many in this economic slowdown."Sanford, a potential 2012 contender for the GOP nomination, is siding with the anti-bailout wing of his party that is furious with Bush for trying to prop up the Detroit automakers and help distressed banks. He also is siding with his fellow Southern politicians who have sparred with Northern Republicans who hail from manufacturing states that are heavily unionized and have a significant Big Three presence.
This is really something - the Governor of one of the most heavily subsidized States in our Country warning the President not to loan money to the U.S. auto companies.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Out of Touch Congressmen
Letter to the editor of a West Virginia newspaper
It's good to be armed with these facts
Written by Elkins Fordland (a Ford dealership owner).
Editor:
As I watch the coverage of the fate of the U.S. auto industry, one alarming and frustrating fact hits me right between the eyes. The fate of our nation's economic survival is in the hands of some congressmen who are completely out of touch and act without knowledge of an industry that affects almost every person in our nation. The same lack of knowledge is shared with many journalists whom are irresponsible when influencing the opinion of millions of viewers.
Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama has doomed the industry, calling it a dinosaur. No Mr. Shelby, you are the dinosaur, with ideas stuck in the '70s, '80s and '90s. You and the uninformed journalist and senators that hold onto myths that are not relevant in today's world.
When you say that the Big Three build vehicles nobody wants to buy, you must have overlooked that GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the U.S. and Ford outsold Honda by 850,000 and Nissan by 1.2 million in the U.S. GM was the world's No. 1 automaker beating Toyota by 3,000 units.
When you claim inferior quality comes from the Big Three, did you realize that Chevy makes the Malibu and Ford makes the Fusion that were both rated over the Camry and Accord by J.D. Power independent survey on initial quality? Did you bother to read the Consumer Report that rated Ford on par with good Japanese automakers.
Did you realize Big Three's gas guzzlers include the 33 mpg Malibu that beats the Accord. And for '09 Ford introduces the Hybrid Fusion whose 39 mpg is the best midsize, beating the Camry Hybrid. Ford's Focus beats the Corolla and Chevy's Cobalt beats the Civic.
When you ask how many times are we going to bail them out you must be referring to 1980. The only Big Three bailout was Chrysler, who paid back $1 billion, plus interest. GM and Ford have never received government aid.
When you criticize the Big Three for building so many pickups, surely you've noticed the attempts Toyota and Nissan have made spending billions to try to get a piece of that pie. Perhaps it bothers you that for 31 straight years Ford's F-Series has been the best selling vehicle. Ford and GM have dominated this market and when you see the new '09 F-150 you'll agree this won't change soon.
Did you realize that both GM and Ford offer more hybrid models than Nissan or Honda. Between 2005 and 2007, Ford alone has invested more than $22 billion in research and development of technologies such as Eco Boost, flex fuel, clean diesel, hybrids, plug in hybrids and hydrogen cars.
It's 2008 and the quality of the vehicles coming out of Detroit are once again the best in the world.
Perhaps Sen. Shelby isn't really that blind. Maybe he realizes the quality shift to American. Maybe it's the fact that his state of Alabama has given so much to land factories from Honda, Hyundai and Mercedes Benz that he is more concerned about their continued growth than he is about the people of our country. Sen. Shelby's disdain for "government subsidies" is very hypocritical. In the early '90s he was the driving force behind a $253 million incentive package to Mercedes. Plus, Alabama agreed to purchase 2,500 vehicles from Mercedes. While the bridge loan the Big Three is requesting will be paid back, Alabama's $180,000-plus per job was pure incentive. Sen. Shelby, not only are you out of touch, you are a self-serving hypocrite, who is prepared to ruin our nation because of lack of knowledge and lack of due diligence in making your opinions and decisions.
After 9/11, the Detroit Three and Harley Davidson gave $40 million-plus emergency vehicles to the recovery efforts. What was given to the 9/11 relief effort by the Asian and European Auto Manufactures? $0 Nada. Zip!
We live in a world of free trade, world economy and we have not been able to produce products as cost efficiently. While the governments of other auto producing nations subsidize their automakers, our government may be ready to force its demise. While our automakers have paid union wages, benefits and legacy debt, our Asian competitors employ cheap labor. We are at an extreme disadvantage in production cost. Although many UAW concessions begin in 2010, many lawmakers think it's not enough.
Some point the blame to corporate management. I would like to speak of Ford Motor Co. The company has streamlined by reducing our workforce by 51,000 since 2005, closing 17 plants and cutting expenses. Product and future product is excellent and the company is focused on one Ford. This is a company poised for success. Ford product quality and corporate management have improved light years since the nightmare of Jacques Nasser. Thank you Alan Mulally and the best auto company management team in the business.
The financial collapse caused by the secondary mortgage fiasco and the greed of Wall Street has led to a $700 billion bailout of the industry that created the problem. AIG spent nearly $1 million on three company excursions to lavish resorts and hunting destinations. Paulson is saying no to $250 billion foreclosure relief and the whole thing is a mess. So when the Big Three ask for 4 percent of that of the $700 billion, $25 billion to save the country's largest industry, there is obviously oppositions. But does it make sense to reward the culprits of the problem with $700 billion unconditionally, and ignore the victims?
As a Ford dealer, I feel our portion of the $25 billion will never be touched and is not necessary. Ford currently has $29 billion of liquidity. However, the effect of a bankruptcy by GM will hurt the suppliers we all do business with. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy by any manufacture would cost retirees their health care and retirements. Chances are GM would recover from Chapter 11 with a better business plan with much less expense. So who foots the bill if GM or all three go Chapter 11? All that extra health care, unemployment, loss of tax base and some forgiven debt goes back to the taxpayer, us. With no chance of repayment, this would be much worse than a loan with the intent of repayment.
So while it is debatable whether a loan or Chapter 11 is better for the Big Three, a $25 billion loan is definitely better for the taxpayers and the economy of our country.
So I'll end where I began on the quality of the products of Detroit. Before you, Mr. or Ms. Journalist continue to misinform the American public and turn them against one of the great industries that helped build this nation, I must ask you one question. Before you, Mr. or Madam Congressman vote to end health care and retirement benefits for 1 million retirees, eliminate 2.5 million of our nation's jobs, lose the technology that will lead us in the future and create an economic disaster including hundreds of billions of tax dollars lost, I ask this question not in the rhetorical sense. I ask it in the sincere, literal way. Can you tell me, have you driven a Ford lately?
Jim Jackson
Elkins
It's good to be armed with these facts
Written by Elkins Fordland (a Ford dealership owner).
Editor:
As I watch the coverage of the fate of the U.S. auto industry, one alarming and frustrating fact hits me right between the eyes. The fate of our nation's economic survival is in the hands of some congressmen who are completely out of touch and act without knowledge of an industry that affects almost every person in our nation. The same lack of knowledge is shared with many journalists whom are irresponsible when influencing the opinion of millions of viewers.
Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama has doomed the industry, calling it a dinosaur. No Mr. Shelby, you are the dinosaur, with ideas stuck in the '70s, '80s and '90s. You and the uninformed journalist and senators that hold onto myths that are not relevant in today's world.
When you say that the Big Three build vehicles nobody wants to buy, you must have overlooked that GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the U.S. and Ford outsold Honda by 850,000 and Nissan by 1.2 million in the U.S. GM was the world's No. 1 automaker beating Toyota by 3,000 units.
When you claim inferior quality comes from the Big Three, did you realize that Chevy makes the Malibu and Ford makes the Fusion that were both rated over the Camry and Accord by J.D. Power independent survey on initial quality? Did you bother to read the Consumer Report that rated Ford on par with good Japanese automakers.
Did you realize Big Three's gas guzzlers include the 33 mpg Malibu that beats the Accord. And for '09 Ford introduces the Hybrid Fusion whose 39 mpg is the best midsize, beating the Camry Hybrid. Ford's Focus beats the Corolla and Chevy's Cobalt beats the Civic.
When you ask how many times are we going to bail them out you must be referring to 1980. The only Big Three bailout was Chrysler, who paid back $1 billion, plus interest. GM and Ford have never received government aid.
When you criticize the Big Three for building so many pickups, surely you've noticed the attempts Toyota and Nissan have made spending billions to try to get a piece of that pie. Perhaps it bothers you that for 31 straight years Ford's F-Series has been the best selling vehicle. Ford and GM have dominated this market and when you see the new '09 F-150 you'll agree this won't change soon.
Did you realize that both GM and Ford offer more hybrid models than Nissan or Honda. Between 2005 and 2007, Ford alone has invested more than $22 billion in research and development of technologies such as Eco Boost, flex fuel, clean diesel, hybrids, plug in hybrids and hydrogen cars.
It's 2008 and the quality of the vehicles coming out of Detroit are once again the best in the world.
Perhaps Sen. Shelby isn't really that blind. Maybe he realizes the quality shift to American. Maybe it's the fact that his state of Alabama has given so much to land factories from Honda, Hyundai and Mercedes Benz that he is more concerned about their continued growth than he is about the people of our country. Sen. Shelby's disdain for "government subsidies" is very hypocritical. In the early '90s he was the driving force behind a $253 million incentive package to Mercedes. Plus, Alabama agreed to purchase 2,500 vehicles from Mercedes. While the bridge loan the Big Three is requesting will be paid back, Alabama's $180,000-plus per job was pure incentive. Sen. Shelby, not only are you out of touch, you are a self-serving hypocrite, who is prepared to ruin our nation because of lack of knowledge and lack of due diligence in making your opinions and decisions.
After 9/11, the Detroit Three and Harley Davidson gave $40 million-plus emergency vehicles to the recovery efforts. What was given to the 9/11 relief effort by the Asian and European Auto Manufactures? $0 Nada. Zip!
We live in a world of free trade, world economy and we have not been able to produce products as cost efficiently. While the governments of other auto producing nations subsidize their automakers, our government may be ready to force its demise. While our automakers have paid union wages, benefits and legacy debt, our Asian competitors employ cheap labor. We are at an extreme disadvantage in production cost. Although many UAW concessions begin in 2010, many lawmakers think it's not enough.
Some point the blame to corporate management. I would like to speak of Ford Motor Co. The company has streamlined by reducing our workforce by 51,000 since 2005, closing 17 plants and cutting expenses. Product and future product is excellent and the company is focused on one Ford. This is a company poised for success. Ford product quality and corporate management have improved light years since the nightmare of Jacques Nasser. Thank you Alan Mulally and the best auto company management team in the business.
The financial collapse caused by the secondary mortgage fiasco and the greed of Wall Street has led to a $700 billion bailout of the industry that created the problem. AIG spent nearly $1 million on three company excursions to lavish resorts and hunting destinations. Paulson is saying no to $250 billion foreclosure relief and the whole thing is a mess. So when the Big Three ask for 4 percent of that of the $700 billion, $25 billion to save the country's largest industry, there is obviously oppositions. But does it make sense to reward the culprits of the problem with $700 billion unconditionally, and ignore the victims?
As a Ford dealer, I feel our portion of the $25 billion will never be touched and is not necessary. Ford currently has $29 billion of liquidity. However, the effect of a bankruptcy by GM will hurt the suppliers we all do business with. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy by any manufacture would cost retirees their health care and retirements. Chances are GM would recover from Chapter 11 with a better business plan with much less expense. So who foots the bill if GM or all three go Chapter 11? All that extra health care, unemployment, loss of tax base and some forgiven debt goes back to the taxpayer, us. With no chance of repayment, this would be much worse than a loan with the intent of repayment.
So while it is debatable whether a loan or Chapter 11 is better for the Big Three, a $25 billion loan is definitely better for the taxpayers and the economy of our country.
So I'll end where I began on the quality of the products of Detroit. Before you, Mr. or Ms. Journalist continue to misinform the American public and turn them against one of the great industries that helped build this nation, I must ask you one question. Before you, Mr. or Madam Congressman vote to end health care and retirement benefits for 1 million retirees, eliminate 2.5 million of our nation's jobs, lose the technology that will lead us in the future and create an economic disaster including hundreds of billions of tax dollars lost, I ask this question not in the rhetorical sense. I ask it in the sincere, literal way. Can you tell me, have you driven a Ford lately?
Jim Jackson
Elkins
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Toyota Motor Is Having Trouble
Business Week Magazine
December 4, 2008
The Downturn Makes Toyota Discount Desperately, Too
Overexpansion and plunging sales in North America have brought losses and deep discounts to Toyota Motor.
How do you know the auto industry is really in dire straits? When even mighty Toyota Motor is having trouble. Not only did the Japanese carmaker's U.S. sales plummet 34% in November, but they did so even as the company served up huge discounts. Tearing a page from General Motors' marketing manual, Toyota has been offering 0% financing on 12 models and $5,000 off its Tundra pickup and Sequoia SUV.
Toyota lost $330 million in North America during the quarter that ended Sept. 30. And analysts say those losses could grow in the months ahead.
Toyota has made some moves to build fewer cars. It shut down its two-year-old pickup plant in San Antonio for three months this year and restarted it in November with just one shift. But despite cutting North American production by 20% and importing fewer cars from Japan, Toyota says it has about 73 days' worth of unsold cars and 87 days' worth of trucks on dealer lots. It prefers to have 40 to 60 days' worth.
Link to article:
http://www.businessweek.com/print/magazine/content/08_50/b4112032124029.htm
December 4, 2008
The Downturn Makes Toyota Discount Desperately, Too
Overexpansion and plunging sales in North America have brought losses and deep discounts to Toyota Motor.
How do you know the auto industry is really in dire straits? When even mighty Toyota Motor is having trouble. Not only did the Japanese carmaker's U.S. sales plummet 34% in November, but they did so even as the company served up huge discounts. Tearing a page from General Motors' marketing manual, Toyota has been offering 0% financing on 12 models and $5,000 off its Tundra pickup and Sequoia SUV.
Toyota lost $330 million in North America during the quarter that ended Sept. 30. And analysts say those losses could grow in the months ahead.
Toyota has made some moves to build fewer cars. It shut down its two-year-old pickup plant in San Antonio for three months this year and restarted it in November with just one shift. But despite cutting North American production by 20% and importing fewer cars from Japan, Toyota says it has about 73 days' worth of unsold cars and 87 days' worth of trucks on dealer lots. It prefers to have 40 to 60 days' worth.
Link to article:
http://www.businessweek.com/print/magazine/content/08_50/b4112032124029.htm
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Over 40,000 photo speeding tickets issued in first 2 months
Excerpts from article by Lindsey Collom - Dec. 3, 2008 The Arizona Republic
The Arizona Department of Public Safety said Tuesday that it has issued 40,401 speeding tickets in the first two months of its speed-enforcement camera program. That's a windfall of at least $6.6 million for the state if all the violators pay up.
During eight hours on Nov. 26, cameras snapped photos of 505 motorists and ticketed more than 400.
If 40,000 sounds like a lot of tickets, know that the cameras have snapped even more photos. Drivers have activated the cameras 166,176 times on freeways statewide since the program began Sept. 26, state officials said.
Three out of four images captured by stationary and mobile speed-enforcement cameras this fall were discarded. Bart Graves, a DPS spokesman, said tickets are scrapped if they don't clearly show the driver or the license plate, and that happens frequently.
The disparity between activations and citations will lessen over time, Graves said. Contractors and DPS employees are still fine-tuning the system and adjusting camera angles.
About 60 cameras are in use. Across the state, they hope to have 100 cameras in use by February.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety said Tuesday that it has issued 40,401 speeding tickets in the first two months of its speed-enforcement camera program. That's a windfall of at least $6.6 million for the state if all the violators pay up.
During eight hours on Nov. 26, cameras snapped photos of 505 motorists and ticketed more than 400.
If 40,000 sounds like a lot of tickets, know that the cameras have snapped even more photos. Drivers have activated the cameras 166,176 times on freeways statewide since the program began Sept. 26, state officials said.
Three out of four images captured by stationary and mobile speed-enforcement cameras this fall were discarded. Bart Graves, a DPS spokesman, said tickets are scrapped if they don't clearly show the driver or the license plate, and that happens frequently.
The disparity between activations and citations will lessen over time, Graves said. Contractors and DPS employees are still fine-tuning the system and adjusting camera angles.
About 60 cameras are in use. Across the state, they hope to have 100 cameras in use by February.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Compuware Chief Takes on Detroit Three Senate Critics
By Peter Karmanos Jr.
November 19, 2008
U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Alabama, has emerged as the leading Senate critic of the proposed aid package for the Detroit auto industry. It's pretty clear Shelby has nothing but disdain for Ford, GM, Chrysler and the United Auto Workers, not surprising, considering he comes from a state with assembly plants for Mercedes-Benz, Honda andHyundai. Shelby is in a key position on the Detroit rescue as senior Republican on the Senate Banking Committee.
Wednesday, he continued his anti-Detroit rhetoric, saying he didn't think the U.S.-based industry was going to turn around without a bankruptcy and the ouster of its leadership. "I don't think they have immediate plans to change their model, which is a model of failure," Shelby said, dismissing the $25 billion in bridge loan being requested as "life support" for Detroit. "I believe their best option would be some type of Chapter 11 bankruptcy," Shelby said. "These leaders have been failures and they need to go."
Shelby actually ratcheted up his anti-Detroit campaign on the Sunday morning talk show circuit, which drew an interesting response from Motor City defender Peter Karmanos, chairman and CEO of Compuware Corp., which moved its headquarters into a new downtown building just a few years ago.
Here's part of what Karmanos said in a letter to Shelby:
"I watched with great interest Meet the Press, during which you and Sen. Carl Levin debated the merits of (or, concerning your position, the folly) providing financial aid to America's domestic auto industry.
I must admit that I was more than a little taken aback by how out of touch you really are about what Detroit's Big Three automakers have been doing for some time and continue to do to transform their businesses to both survive in today's debilitating economic climate and thrive in the future. The steps have been extremely significant and take it from me - someone who lives and works in the Motor City - incredibly painful as well.
I can only trust that you will take some time and conduct the proper due diligence before continuing to espouse your inaccuracies. At minimum, I believe the domestic auto industry (and its millions of hardworking, tax-paying employees), which helped make America great, deserve as much. Don't you?
The intent of this letter, however, is not to take you to task for the inaccuracy of your comments or for the over-simplicity of your views, but rather to point out the hypocrisy of your position as it relates to Alabama's (the state for which you have served as senator since 1987) recent history of providing subsidies to manufacturing. During the segment on Meet the Press, you stated that: "We don't need government - governmental subsidies - for manufacturing in this country. It's the French model, it's the wrong road. We will pay for it. The average American taxpayer is going to pay dearly for this, if I'm not wrong."
I trust it is safe to say that when you refer to "government subsidies," you are referring to subsidies provided by both federal and state governments. And if this is in fact true, then I am sure you were adamantly against the State of Alabama offering lucrative incentives (in essence, subsidies) to Mercedes Benz in the early 1990s to lure the German automobile manufacturer to the State.
As it turned out, Alabama offered a stunning $253 million incentive package to Mercedes. Additionally, the State also offered to train the workers, clear and improve the site, upgrade utilities, and buy 2,500 Mercedes Benz vehicles. All told, it is estimated that the incentive package totaled anywhere from $153,000 to $220,000 per created job. On top of all this, the State gave the foreign automaker a large parcel of land worth between $250 and $300 million, which was coincidentally how much the company expected to invest in building the plant.
With all due respect, Senator, where was your outrage when all this was going on? I certainly don't recall you going in front of the nation (as you did this past Sunday) to discuss what a big mistake Alabama was making in providing subsidies to Mercedes Benz. If you had, however, you could have talked about how, applying free market principles, Alabama shouldn't have had to resort to subsidies to land Mercedes Benz.
Competitively speaking, if Alabama had been the strongest candidate under consideration (i.e. highest quality infrastructure, workforce, research and development facilities, business climate, etc.), then subsidies shouldn't have been required.
The fact is that Alabama knew that on a level playing field it could not compete with the other states under consideration, and thus, to lure the German car builder to the State, it offered the aforementioned unprecedented subsidies. In effect, Alabama - your state - did exactly what you said government should not do: provide subsidies for manufacturing.
It's no great mystery why Alabama politicians went to such dramatic anti-free-market measures to secure Mercedes Benz - they did it for the betterment of their state through job creation and increased tax revenues.
And who could blame them? Is that so different than what would occur by providing financial aid to help rescue the domestic auto industry? Such aid would save millions of jobs and millions of dollars in lost tax revenue.
Additionally, unlike the giveaways Alabama bestowed upon the foreign automaker in question, United States tax payers would be reimbursed with interest (as they were when Chrysler received government aid in the early 1980s) for their investment in what is clearly a critically important industry for America's present and future".
Peter Karmanos, Jr. is Chairman and CEO of Compuware Corporation
November 19, 2008
U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Alabama, has emerged as the leading Senate critic of the proposed aid package for the Detroit auto industry. It's pretty clear Shelby has nothing but disdain for Ford, GM, Chrysler and the United Auto Workers, not surprising, considering he comes from a state with assembly plants for Mercedes-Benz, Honda andHyundai. Shelby is in a key position on the Detroit rescue as senior Republican on the Senate Banking Committee.
Wednesday, he continued his anti-Detroit rhetoric, saying he didn't think the U.S.-based industry was going to turn around without a bankruptcy and the ouster of its leadership. "I don't think they have immediate plans to change their model, which is a model of failure," Shelby said, dismissing the $25 billion in bridge loan being requested as "life support" for Detroit. "I believe their best option would be some type of Chapter 11 bankruptcy," Shelby said. "These leaders have been failures and they need to go."
Shelby actually ratcheted up his anti-Detroit campaign on the Sunday morning talk show circuit, which drew an interesting response from Motor City defender Peter Karmanos, chairman and CEO of Compuware Corp., which moved its headquarters into a new downtown building just a few years ago.
Here's part of what Karmanos said in a letter to Shelby:
"I watched with great interest Meet the Press, during which you and Sen. Carl Levin debated the merits of (or, concerning your position, the folly) providing financial aid to America's domestic auto industry.
I must admit that I was more than a little taken aback by how out of touch you really are about what Detroit's Big Three automakers have been doing for some time and continue to do to transform their businesses to both survive in today's debilitating economic climate and thrive in the future. The steps have been extremely significant and take it from me - someone who lives and works in the Motor City - incredibly painful as well.
I can only trust that you will take some time and conduct the proper due diligence before continuing to espouse your inaccuracies. At minimum, I believe the domestic auto industry (and its millions of hardworking, tax-paying employees), which helped make America great, deserve as much. Don't you?
The intent of this letter, however, is not to take you to task for the inaccuracy of your comments or for the over-simplicity of your views, but rather to point out the hypocrisy of your position as it relates to Alabama's (the state for which you have served as senator since 1987) recent history of providing subsidies to manufacturing. During the segment on Meet the Press, you stated that: "We don't need government - governmental subsidies - for manufacturing in this country. It's the French model, it's the wrong road. We will pay for it. The average American taxpayer is going to pay dearly for this, if I'm not wrong."
I trust it is safe to say that when you refer to "government subsidies," you are referring to subsidies provided by both federal and state governments. And if this is in fact true, then I am sure you were adamantly against the State of Alabama offering lucrative incentives (in essence, subsidies) to Mercedes Benz in the early 1990s to lure the German automobile manufacturer to the State.
As it turned out, Alabama offered a stunning $253 million incentive package to Mercedes. Additionally, the State also offered to train the workers, clear and improve the site, upgrade utilities, and buy 2,500 Mercedes Benz vehicles. All told, it is estimated that the incentive package totaled anywhere from $153,000 to $220,000 per created job. On top of all this, the State gave the foreign automaker a large parcel of land worth between $250 and $300 million, which was coincidentally how much the company expected to invest in building the plant.
With all due respect, Senator, where was your outrage when all this was going on? I certainly don't recall you going in front of the nation (as you did this past Sunday) to discuss what a big mistake Alabama was making in providing subsidies to Mercedes Benz. If you had, however, you could have talked about how, applying free market principles, Alabama shouldn't have had to resort to subsidies to land Mercedes Benz.
Competitively speaking, if Alabama had been the strongest candidate under consideration (i.e. highest quality infrastructure, workforce, research and development facilities, business climate, etc.), then subsidies shouldn't have been required.
The fact is that Alabama knew that on a level playing field it could not compete with the other states under consideration, and thus, to lure the German car builder to the State, it offered the aforementioned unprecedented subsidies. In effect, Alabama - your state - did exactly what you said government should not do: provide subsidies for manufacturing.
It's no great mystery why Alabama politicians went to such dramatic anti-free-market measures to secure Mercedes Benz - they did it for the betterment of their state through job creation and increased tax revenues.
And who could blame them? Is that so different than what would occur by providing financial aid to help rescue the domestic auto industry? Such aid would save millions of jobs and millions of dollars in lost tax revenue.
Additionally, unlike the giveaways Alabama bestowed upon the foreign automaker in question, United States tax payers would be reimbursed with interest (as they were when Chrysler received government aid in the early 1980s) for their investment in what is clearly a critically important industry for America's present and future".
Peter Karmanos, Jr. is Chairman and CEO of Compuware Corporation
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
email to Jim Cramer
Jim Cramer
Watched your show for the first time last night. Revelations. Great. Thanks.
Always went right by your program, based on a previous show you did with another guy (name ?) – that guy is rabid – the Democrats are not going to turn our country into another France.
Right on about GM and manufacturing being the backbone of our Country. Ditto about those hedge fund bastards.
I was in and around manufacturing for almost 45 years, and mostly involved with the auto industry. I have been an investor since sitting as a 12-year old with my grandfather watching the electronic board in Detroit. He was a financial man.
You are not correct about one thing. An auto worker would have to work a tremendous amount of overtime to ever make $70,000 a year. Don’t believe the GM Corp BS. The new hires are now at about $14 and hour. Of course, benefits add to that I guess, but they have been cut back considerably.
Blaming the Unions is just not right. I spent a lot of time in the Delphi plants. They were really an example of the worst possible management. I contend that if the Union guys and gals worked for nothing in those plants, Delphi could still not make a profit. This was generally typical of all GM plants. Management was the problem. I haven’t been in a GM plant lately though.
I worked for suppliers to GM. Most of us are gone now, squeezed out of business by GM and Chrysler. Now they have no one left to squeeze, and are having to deal with European suppliers. Too bad.
One more: One of the big suppliers was closing their plants and laying off workers till they got down to about 120 employees left – and they still had 26 vice presidents…
Thanks again, I enjoyed your show.
wot
Watched your show for the first time last night. Revelations. Great. Thanks.
Always went right by your program, based on a previous show you did with another guy (name ?) – that guy is rabid – the Democrats are not going to turn our country into another France.
Right on about GM and manufacturing being the backbone of our Country. Ditto about those hedge fund bastards.
I was in and around manufacturing for almost 45 years, and mostly involved with the auto industry. I have been an investor since sitting as a 12-year old with my grandfather watching the electronic board in Detroit. He was a financial man.
You are not correct about one thing. An auto worker would have to work a tremendous amount of overtime to ever make $70,000 a year. Don’t believe the GM Corp BS. The new hires are now at about $14 and hour. Of course, benefits add to that I guess, but they have been cut back considerably.
Blaming the Unions is just not right. I spent a lot of time in the Delphi plants. They were really an example of the worst possible management. I contend that if the Union guys and gals worked for nothing in those plants, Delphi could still not make a profit. This was generally typical of all GM plants. Management was the problem. I haven’t been in a GM plant lately though.
I worked for suppliers to GM. Most of us are gone now, squeezed out of business by GM and Chrysler. Now they have no one left to squeeze, and are having to deal with European suppliers. Too bad.
One more: One of the big suppliers was closing their plants and laying off workers till they got down to about 120 employees left – and they still had 26 vice presidents…
Thanks again, I enjoyed your show.
wot
Monday, November 10, 2008
Post Election Politics
So today it looks like DHL Express is ending it’s operations in the U.S. with a huge loss of jobs.
That should make the people of Wilmington, Ohio happy.
Anyone remember that John McCain and his campaign manager, Rick Davis were mainly responsible in DHL (a German company) taking over Airborne Express over the objections of many members of Congress and the other domestic delivery services such as American Express and UPS?
McCain was the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee and his campaign manager, Rick Davis, was a lobbyist for DHL. Davis and his partner got over $500,000 from DHL on the deal. Trent Lott was involved too. And the State of Ohio and some local governments came up with more than $400 million in incentives for road and facility upgrades for DHL in Wilmington, Ohio.
And Ohio almost went to McCain again.
Link to a good article by the Plain Dealer Politics Blog:
http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/08/dhl.html
Note all of the comments posted defending the whole mess.
That should make the people of Wilmington, Ohio happy.
Anyone remember that John McCain and his campaign manager, Rick Davis were mainly responsible in DHL (a German company) taking over Airborne Express over the objections of many members of Congress and the other domestic delivery services such as American Express and UPS?
McCain was the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee and his campaign manager, Rick Davis, was a lobbyist for DHL. Davis and his partner got over $500,000 from DHL on the deal. Trent Lott was involved too. And the State of Ohio and some local governments came up with more than $400 million in incentives for road and facility upgrades for DHL in Wilmington, Ohio.
And Ohio almost went to McCain again.
Link to a good article by the Plain Dealer Politics Blog:
http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/08/dhl.html
Note all of the comments posted defending the whole mess.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
US Healthcare
Forty million Americans have no health coverage. That’s 3.7 million more than when Bush took office.
You can end up paying off an appendectomy for as long as a college loan or a mortgage.
You can end up paying off an appendectomy for as long as a college loan or a mortgage.
US Dollar vs. Crude Oil
From the Wall Street Journal
Oil Tops $134 on Weakening Dollar By BRIAN BASKINJune 6, 2008 9:51 a.m.
Crude-oil futures jumped by more than $6, at one point passing $134, as the weakening dollar returned as a force moving energy markets higher.
Light, sweet crude for July delivery traded $6, or 4.7%, higher at $133.79 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude on the ICE futures exchange traded $4.70 higher at $132.24 a barrel.
Futures have surged more than $11 above Wednesday's settlement of $122.30 a barrel, with analysts citing the weak dollar as an excuse for investors who saw the downward correction as too deep to bid oil prices higher. The dollar fell Friday after the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. unemployment rate increased from 5.1% in April to 5.5% in May, the biggest monthly increase in 22 years. The euro recently traded at $1.5701, a seven-session high. Traders have bought oil as a hedge against the weakening dollar for months, though that trade had receded to the background in May, as the U.S. currency firmed against the euro. The dollar's dramatic move over the last two days has renewed the connection to oil, however.
"As has been the case for more than a year, a quick shift in the value of the dollar is capable of igniting a disproportionate swing in oil prices," wrote Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch & Assoc. in Galena, Ill.
Oil Tops $134 on Weakening Dollar By BRIAN BASKINJune 6, 2008 9:51 a.m.
Crude-oil futures jumped by more than $6, at one point passing $134, as the weakening dollar returned as a force moving energy markets higher.
Light, sweet crude for July delivery traded $6, or 4.7%, higher at $133.79 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude on the ICE futures exchange traded $4.70 higher at $132.24 a barrel.
Futures have surged more than $11 above Wednesday's settlement of $122.30 a barrel, with analysts citing the weak dollar as an excuse for investors who saw the downward correction as too deep to bid oil prices higher. The dollar fell Friday after the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. unemployment rate increased from 5.1% in April to 5.5% in May, the biggest monthly increase in 22 years. The euro recently traded at $1.5701, a seven-session high. Traders have bought oil as a hedge against the weakening dollar for months, though that trade had receded to the background in May, as the U.S. currency firmed against the euro. The dollar's dramatic move over the last two days has renewed the connection to oil, however.
"As has been the case for more than a year, a quick shift in the value of the dollar is capable of igniting a disproportionate swing in oil prices," wrote Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch & Assoc. in Galena, Ill.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Emails about Oil and other nonsense
email from Myrle: Subject: E85
Carmen filled her car with E85 which was about 12.5% cheaper than regulas gas. Dropped the mileage by about 23%, so not a very good deal based on sample of one tank full.
Re: Myrle’s recent email about E-85.
From the current issue of Business Week:
The high price of gas is the result of the high price of crude oil, caused by the worldwide high demand for diesel fuel. This is compounded by tighter diesel fuel sulfur standards in both Europe and the U.S., which reduces the amount of diesel that can be produced from a barrel of crude oil.
In the U.S., blending ethanol with gasoline means less gasoline is being refined, which reduces the hydrogen produced as a by-product of refining gasoline, so there is less hydrogen available to be used in producing low sulfur diesel...
Re: Myrle’s recent email about E-85.
From the current issue of Business Week:
The high price of gas is the result of the high price of crude oil, caused by the worldwide high demand for diesel fuel. This is compounded by tighter diesel fuel sulfur standards in both Europe and the U.S., which reduces the amount of diesel that can be produced from a barrel of crude oil.
In the U.S., blending ethanol with gasoline means less gasoline is being refined, which reduces the hydrogen produced as a by-product of refining gasoline, so there is less hydrogen available to be used in producing low sulfur diesel...
email to Beth, Subject: price of oil:
Some random comments about a very complicated subject - oil:
That email you received is typical of what is going on right now, mainly being pushed by conservatives. The line is that the Democrats and Environmentalists are stopping us from being energy independent ("we have lots of oil if we could only drill for it") and of course the security argument ("the Arabs are using our money to fund terrorism against us"). Another twist, even espoused by Hillary during her campaign, is that OPEC is responsible for the high prices.
There are also emails circulating not to buy Citgo because they are funding terrorism and Chavez is buying long-range missiles from Iran to aim at us. Everything wrong with that one. For one, Iran does not have long-range missiles. Also, the conservatives are not happy that Citgo is supplying home heating oil to needy homeowners in the U.S. (with Robert Kennedy Jr's help).
OPEC does not control the world price of oil, but they can influence it somewhat by increasing production, but supply is not the whole problem today. OPEC members are Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Emirates, and Venezuela.
For how OPEC really works, see http://www.eia.doe.gov/cabs/opec.html
Major oil producers that are not OPEC members are Canada, Russia, and Norway.
Canada is our largest supplier of crude oil and petroleum products, typically some 2.4 million barrels a day. Not many Americans realize this. See my email to you ‘petroleum imports’.
The high worldwide demand for diesel fuel is the cause for high gasoline prices now. See my email to you ‘fw: E85’.
Another reason for the high price of crude is that the world price is in U.S. Dollars, and every time the Dollar drops, crude goes up. We had a scare a few days ago when it looked like OPEC was considering changing to Euros – but it didn’t happen. If that ever happens we are really screwed.
As far as the Auto Industry goes, none of the Manufacturers, foreign or domestic, cares what the cars run on – they just want to sell cars. For example, in Brazil the major fuel is alcohol and the cars are made mostly by GM, Ford, and Volkswagen.
Major oil producers that are not OPEC members are Canada, Russia, and Norway.
Canada is our largest supplier of crude oil and petroleum products, typically some 2.4 million barrels a day. Not many Americans realize this. See my email to you ‘petroleum imports’.
The high worldwide demand for diesel fuel is the cause for high gasoline prices now. See my email to you ‘fw: E85’.
Another reason for the high price of crude is that the world price is in U.S. Dollars, and every time the Dollar drops, crude goes up. We had a scare a few days ago when it looked like OPEC was considering changing to Euros – but it didn’t happen. If that ever happens we are really screwed.
As far as the Auto Industry goes, none of the Manufacturers, foreign or domestic, cares what the cars run on – they just want to sell cars. For example, in Brazil the major fuel is alcohol and the cars are made mostly by GM, Ford, and Volkswagen.
From the EIA, Energy Information Administration, Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Government,
December 2007 Import Highlights: March 3, 2008:
"Canada remained the largest exporter of total petroleum in November, exporting 2.360 million barrels per day to the United States, which is a decrease from last month (2.431 thousand barrels per day). The second largest exporter of total petroleum was Saudi Arabia with 1.686 million barrels per day. http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/company_level_imports/current/import.html
Ineresting? Venezuela used to be number two, but Bush keeps pissing off Chavez, including behind the scenes backing trying to recall him from office a couple of years ago. So number two again is Saudi Arabia. See any connection there?
December 2007 Import Highlights: March 3, 2008:
"Canada remained the largest exporter of total petroleum in November, exporting 2.360 million barrels per day to the United States, which is a decrease from last month (2.431 thousand barrels per day). The second largest exporter of total petroleum was Saudi Arabia with 1.686 million barrels per day. http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/company_level_imports/current/import.html
Ineresting? Venezuela used to be number two, but Bush keeps pissing off Chavez, including behind the scenes backing trying to recall him from office a couple of years ago. So number two again is Saudi Arabia. See any connection there?
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Michigan Democratic Primary Re-Vote
Right wing radio, notably Rush Limbaugh, has been telling conservative listeners to crossover and vote for Hillary in the primaries, thinking that she will be easier for McCain to defeat than Obama.
Now, there is talk of a June Democratic primary re-vote here in Michigan, and the Republicans in the Legislature are going along with the idea. Wonder why the Republicans are so helpfull…
Who do you think will win? I’ll bet there will be a huge turnout for Hillary, especially in West Michigan.
This stupid Michigan Primary fiasco has cost the Democrats the White House.
This country can’t survive another eight years…and Bush will go into Iran before he leaves, just as Bush Sr. sent our Marines into Somalia December 9, 1992, after he had lost the election to Bill Clinton. Bush Sr. told us that the troops to be home by Clinton's inauguration in January. Right. What will Bush Jr. tell us?
Note - According to our Department of Energy analysis, Iran is OPEC's second largest oil producer and holds 10% of the world's proven oil reserves. It also has the world's second largest natural gas reserves (after Russia).
Now, there is talk of a June Democratic primary re-vote here in Michigan, and the Republicans in the Legislature are going along with the idea. Wonder why the Republicans are so helpfull…
Who do you think will win? I’ll bet there will be a huge turnout for Hillary, especially in West Michigan.
This stupid Michigan Primary fiasco has cost the Democrats the White House.
This country can’t survive another eight years…and Bush will go into Iran before he leaves, just as Bush Sr. sent our Marines into Somalia December 9, 1992, after he had lost the election to Bill Clinton. Bush Sr. told us that the troops to be home by Clinton's inauguration in January. Right. What will Bush Jr. tell us?
Note - According to our Department of Energy analysis, Iran is OPEC's second largest oil producer and holds 10% of the world's proven oil reserves. It also has the world's second largest natural gas reserves (after Russia).
Friday, March 14, 2008
January navigation on the Great Lakes
In late January the 112 foot tug John M Selvick, built in 1898, towed the 730 foot bulk carrier Algosteel from Chicago to Toledo, a distance of almost 700 miles, then returned to Chicago.
The Algosteel had a damaged rudder and was towed to Toledo for repairs and winter lay-up.
The Selvick and Algosteel were met above Port Huron Sunday morning, Jan 21, by the tug Manitou for assistance through the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, and the Detroit River, then across Lake Erie to Toledo.
Slowed by ice in Lake Erie, the Manitou towed with the Selvick running ahead to break ice. They arrived at Toledo late in the day Monday, Jan 22.
The Selvick left Tuesday for the return trip to Chicago.
Not bad for a 110-year old tug.
If you look around boatnerd.com you can find the story and some good photos.
The Algosteel had a damaged rudder and was towed to Toledo for repairs and winter lay-up.
The Selvick and Algosteel were met above Port Huron Sunday morning, Jan 21, by the tug Manitou for assistance through the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, and the Detroit River, then across Lake Erie to Toledo.
Slowed by ice in Lake Erie, the Manitou towed with the Selvick running ahead to break ice. They arrived at Toledo late in the day Monday, Jan 22.
The Selvick left Tuesday for the return trip to Chicago.
Not bad for a 110-year old tug.
If you look around boatnerd.com you can find the story and some good photos.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
From Bloomberg.com
Bush Crackdown on Illegal Aliens Stretches Marshals to Limit
By Jeff Bliss March 12 (Bloomberg)
Excerpt:
Two months after the Bush administration expanded a program to haul undocumented residents off to jail instead of shipping them home, the U.S. Marshals Service is overwhelmed. The 600 marshals stationed on the border with Mexico are dealing with as many as 6,000 new defendants a month. That's taking them away from other tasks such as capturing escaped prisoners and rounding up sex offenders, according to Justice Department documents obtained by Bloomberg News.
Bush Crackdown on Illegal Aliens Stretches Marshals to Limit
By Jeff Bliss March 12 (Bloomberg)
Excerpt:
Two months after the Bush administration expanded a program to haul undocumented residents off to jail instead of shipping them home, the U.S. Marshals Service is overwhelmed. The 600 marshals stationed on the border with Mexico are dealing with as many as 6,000 new defendants a month. That's taking them away from other tasks such as capturing escaped prisoners and rounding up sex offenders, according to Justice Department documents obtained by Bloomberg News.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Received an Email stating:
“5 would control 32% of the entire world’s wealth, and all of them would be US citizens”
Not true – Number 1 and 2 richest in the world are not U.S. citizens. From Business Week Magazine, November12, 2007:
“He's Very, Very, Very RichMove over, Carlos, you're no longer the wealthiest mogul on the planet. On Oct. 30 the title passed to Indian industrialist Mukesh Ambani, thanks to the bull run on the Bombay stock exchange. Ambani, the top shareholder in Reliance Industries, Reliance Petroleum, and Reliance Industrial Infrastructure, now boasts a net worth of $63.2 billion. Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim and Bill Gates find themselves relegated to second and third place, respectively, with about $62.3 billion each. Business Standard has Bill Gates at number 3, just a little behind a Mexican, Carlos Slim Helú.”
Mukesh Ambani is 50 years old and has a younger brother who also owns a lot of shares in Reliance too.
“5 would control 32% of the entire world’s wealth, and all of them would be US citizens”
Not true – Number 1 and 2 richest in the world are not U.S. citizens. From Business Week Magazine, November12, 2007:
“He's Very, Very, Very RichMove over, Carlos, you're no longer the wealthiest mogul on the planet. On Oct. 30 the title passed to Indian industrialist Mukesh Ambani, thanks to the bull run on the Bombay stock exchange. Ambani, the top shareholder in Reliance Industries, Reliance Petroleum, and Reliance Industrial Infrastructure, now boasts a net worth of $63.2 billion. Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim and Bill Gates find themselves relegated to second and third place, respectively, with about $62.3 billion each. Business Standard has Bill Gates at number 3, just a little behind a Mexican, Carlos Slim Helú.”
Mukesh Ambani is 50 years old and has a younger brother who also owns a lot of shares in Reliance too.
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