Analysis: Obama tougher on autos than banks

[IrishBuckeye]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama is dealing with the beleaguered auto industry more sternly than he has with bailed-out banks and insurers as he takes the nation another step into uncharted government regulation of industry.

The administration is tightening its oversight of bailed-out financial companies, too, but it has generally been more lenient in terms of time, personnel and other factors. Nor has Obama demanded that financial-sector workers and unions make more "painful concessions," although that sector is far less unionized than the auto industry.

Union contracts, it appears, are not as sacrosanct in the administration's opinion as the one it has left intact at AIG, which provided politically radioactive retention bonuses to employees.





Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/obama_autos_analysis

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Well no surprise, it's easier to fk with blue collar workers than the suits who line the pockets of our political leaders. Somethings never change despite catchy logos and promises.

[Tansy_Gold]

1. Wow! What a concept! Who woulda thunk it!!???!!!

:sarcasm:

[Skittles]

2. just like repukes

[DJ13]

3. The decision could leave a lasting mark on his presidency, for good or for bad

....in ways reminiscent of Ronald Reagan's battle with air traffic controllers or Harry Truman's showdown with striking steelworkers.


Harsh, but accurate.

Im really getting tired of the dichotomy between the way our politicians treat the wealthy and the working classes.

[BeatleBoot]

4. Reaganomics is dead.

The only silver lining in this whole mess that the republicans got us in to.

Obama's dealing with both the banks and the auto industry better than the friggin' retard, George W. Bush whose deregulation policies got us into this mess.

That's for sure.

We are witnessing the aftermath of 25 to 30 years of Ronald Reagan.

[jefferson_dem]

5. AP is really really concerned...

Why the fuck did this great wire service expand beyond the news gathering and reporting bizz anyway and into ... "analysis"? We have enough chatterboxes telling us what to think about the news already.

[girl gone mad]

8. Typical "kill the messenger" response.

What do you have to say about the content of the article?

[jefferson_dem]

9. I say the content is full of the sort of conjecture and half-baked "analysis"

we've come to expect from Fornier, Babington and the rest of the hack shit stirrers at the political division of the AP. Here's a hint: scroll through this opinion piece and count the qualifiers (i.e. "appears", "seems", etc.)

Yes, I would love to kill this messenger. The AP used to be the industry standard. They are working hard to tarnish the reputation they spent a century and a half nurturing.

Comparing the administration's "bailout" proposals for two completely different industries - the financial sector and the automakers - is dodgy to begin with but it's totally irresponsible to make snap judgments at this stage. We've had one day's worth of discussion regarding the automakers. There will likely be more executive heads to roll in the banking sector. We'll see where things go...

[Skittles]

10. it's clear that money was handed to banks with no demand for oversight

no accountability whatsoever - that you cannot disupute

[Igel]

6. It's the first-child syndrome.

First children usually have it easier than second and third children. They are allowed to make all the mistakes--gives the parents a chance to work out their parenting style, learn what doesn't work (if they're going to learn).

In a few cases the first children have it rougher. Usually not.

It's not the first time this applies. Geithner's tax problems? Eh. Daschle's and those following him? A big deal.

What's bad is approaching what should be financial solutions as though they were political solutions. It's one good reason for politicians to avoid getting involved with business. Regulation? Sure. But actually stepping in and "owning" decisions? Nuh-uh.

[chuckrocks]

7. union

Where would the average moran be without the unions? Never in a million years would I believe that it would be a Dem that busts the unions. My grandmother worked for Leir Seigler, my father is a retired pipe fitter. My uncle worked for the GM plant in Wyoming MI. Does it not seem like this was coming back in the * years? When they start talking about reorganization I hear at will termination. When they say sacrifice and compromise I hear cutting wages instead of taking bailout money. Cutting them in half, by 75% even. Who will stop them after this precedent? And if this costs the Dems the labor workers and their families, when the thugs are in control, how will they reduce the debt? By finishing off health care? SS? IMHO this is worse than Reagan, because the next round of politicians and their "troubled economy" aren't going after my taxes. The CEO's will be free to pay whatever, the hardware store, the discount tire, drug store, will there be a living wage anymore? a minimum? I don't see one if this is how the worker's end of this is going to go. Talk me down! A new favorite phrase. Obama is doing a LOT, I understand, I have so much respect for an intelligent Prez. I can only hope this is someone else's idea to ignore the obvious repercussions.
Is there going to be a half-assed back step when the public is outraged like the bonus fiasco? It'll be too late to close the barn door by then. This isn't bonus money, this isn't tax money or my kid's debt. If companies can arrange themselves to make more by paying less to employees, it won't be an issue of paying taxes for my boys, it's going to be feeding their kids. I'm sorry, messing with labor so much lately, and by lately I mean the last 9 years- It worries me.