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  • Tim Baxter

    Nov. 14, 2008 12:40 p.m. Tim Baxter Online Editor

    This kinda gives me the heebie-jeebies: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081113/POLITICS/811130411

    Just not sure who he'd pick who won't be just a shill for the auto companies themselves, the unions, or the environmental lobbiests.

    But what do ya'll think?

    I do know if I had to pick someone, I'd pick Wally, just because he'd give the most awesome press conferences.

    "Sure we're giving them 50 billion, but starting in 2009, all US-made cars will smell like funnel cakes"

  • aircooled

    Nov. 14, 2008 12:52 p.m. aircooled Dork

    Whoever it is should really just hunt down and kill all of the Bolsheviks because you know they are just going to cause trouble in the future.

  • neon4891

    Nov. 14, 2008 1:07 p.m. neon4891 Dork

    If it was one of us,

    ford would only be allowed to make P71s and bring over the euro models

    Chrysler would have to resurect the neon and kill off most jeep models

    GM, im not sure...

    edit GM, kill Hummer, consolidate the truck lines

    And discontinue all 'crossovers'

  • Dr. Hess

    Nov. 14, 2008 1:32 p.m. Dr. Hess UberDork

    The Obama transition team hasn't identified who the car czar would be, but the president-elect has three auto advisers. They are economic adviser Jason Furman, Georgetown University law professor Dan Tarullo and Joshua Steiner, a former Clinton Treasury official

    OK, Lessay you're President. You want someone to oversee the automotive industry. Do you pick: An economist, a lawyer, or a tax man?

    Why does this sound like SUCK? I mean, how about a successful business person (if such exist?) I can just see one of these people coming out and forcing GM to make The Homer:

  • ClemSparks

    Nov. 14, 2008 1:47 p.m. ClemSparks UltraDork

    But we really do need rack and peanut steering...you can't argue with that.

    And if you do...I'll put you in the separate kid canopy in the back!

    Clem

  • Tim Baxter

    Nov. 14, 2008 1:55 p.m. Tim Baxter Online Editor

    mmmmmm peanutty goodness

  • P71

    Nov. 14, 2008 7:54 p.m. P71 HalfDork

    ThunderCougarFalconBird...

  • Wally

    Nov. 15, 2008 8:31 a.m. Wally UltraDork

    I'd hire a lawyer and sue the other car companies out of existance. That seems to be the best way for the government to accomplish anything.

  • Brust

    Nov. 16, 2008 12:33 p.m. Brust New Reader

    Dr. Hess wrote:

    OK, Lessay you're President. You want someone to oversee the automotive industry. Do you pick: An economist, a lawyer, or a tax man?

    Why does this sound like SUCK? I mean, how about a successful business person (if such exist?)

    Sure seems like the "successful businessmen" have run the U.S. auto industry into the ground by putting all their proverbial eggs into the bed of a fullsize truck or SUV. They say to have a balanced portfolio you need to diversify. I'd like to let the "free market" take care of these guys. It's about time we had some new ideas and stopped supporting bloated companies. This would also break the UAW's hold on who builds what where. I haven't seen the domestic automakers build a decent/exciting/interesting economy car. If they manage to build one mechanically sound, their hopelessly outdated interior designs/ergonomics spoil the whole experience.

  • AngryCorvair

    Nov. 16, 2008 7:11 p.m. AngryCorvair Dork

    we've already got too many MBAs and not enough gearheads. berkeleying government clowns. and what's with all these czar titles anyway?

  • byron12

    Nov. 17, 2008 4:16 a.m. byron12 New Reader

    I heard one of those shiny happy person college professors from the article on npr today talking about how evil the and unnecessary the corvette was citing its 3.5 second zero to sixty time as evidence. Democrat appointed car czar equals the suck...

  • Nov. 17, 2008 6:56 a.m. SVreX UberDork

    neon4891 wrote:

    Chrysler would have to ... kill off most jeep models

    I thought Chrysler already did that...

    ...imagine, a modern automobile with a suspension designed for off-roading in 1942. Whooda thunk?

  • Stuc

    Nov. 17, 2008 7:37 a.m. Stuc HalfDork

    Jay Leno

  • Jensenman

    Nov. 17, 2008 8:56 a.m. Jensenman UltimaDork

    The last government designed car:

  • JmfnB

    Nov. 17, 2008 9:17 a.m. JmfnB UltimaDork

    AngryCorvair wrote:

    we've already got too many MBAs and not enough gearheads. berkeleying government clowns. and what's with all these czar titles anyway?

    Go3s vit der socialism, eh comrade?

  • NYG95GA

    Nov. 17, 2008 9:28 a.m. NYG95GA Dork

    Stuc wrote:

    Jay Leno

    X a gazillion.

  • JohnGalt

    Nov. 17, 2008 10:17 a.m. JohnGalt New Reader

    Why not Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm? After all her qualifications include running a state into the ground.

  • GameboyRMH

    Nov. 17, 2008 12:01 p.m. GameboyRMH SuperDork

    Yep Jay Leno sounds good!

  • EricM

    Nov. 17, 2008 12:45 p.m. EricM Reader

    Me, it should be me, where do I send my application?

  • Strizzo

    Nov. 17, 2008 12:50 p.m. Strizzo Dork

    JohnGalt wrote:

    Why not Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm? After all her qualifications include running a state into the ground.

    while we're flipping through the list of governors, how about Palin? i hear she can overspend a state into deficit with the best of em

  • integraguy

    Nov. 17, 2008 12:51 p.m. integraguy Reader

    Hey, Tim,

    while I'd be tempted to run right out and buy a new car...just for the funnell cake smell, I think a better new car smell is chocolate chip cookies. Imagine how that would be, every time you used the heater/defroster.

    I'm not sure there needs to be a car czar...look how well it worked when we had (still have?) an Energy Czar or a War on Drugs Czar.

  • Xceler8x

    Nov. 17, 2008 1:49 p.m. Xceler8x HalfDork

    byron12 wrote:

    Democrat appointed car czar equals the suck...

    I think we can all agree that if the wrong guy gets appointed by any political party, and for the wrong reasons like say nepotism or cronyism, everyone will suffer with Michigan first in line.

    I don't like the idea of politico's designing cars but I do like the idea of there being an auto manufacturing savvy watchdog being put in place. I'm still skeptical that we'll see a return on investment for auto bailout money but I'm hoping for the best.

    I agree with your point about the 'Vette. The car will not sell as many units as a well appointed, reasonable, and reliable gas sipper but it will bring prestige to the company that makes it. Prestige will bring more folks into the show room.

  • pinchvalve

    Nov. 17, 2008 3:33 p.m. pinchvalve UltraDork

    I don't know about the Homer, but I would vote for Margie to the the Czar!

  • JohnGalt

    Nov. 18, 2008 10:23 a.m. JohnGalt New Reader

    Strizzo wrote:

    JohnGalt wrote:

    Why not Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm? After all her qualifications include running a state into the ground.

    while we're flipping through the list of governors, how about Palin? i hear she can overspend a state into deficit with the best of em

    I doubt that Palin is on the short list. Granholm was suggested in the story.

 

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