Kudlow Lashes Out at Bailouts in Wake of Autos/Bush Proposal

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Feeling a little bailout fatigue? Tired of the assault on the taxpayer from the federal government to pacify those influenced by the United Auto Workers? CNBC's Larry Kudlow feels your pain.

Call this red meat for the troubled anti-bailout soul. Kudlow, now performing a role as a co-host on CNBC's mid-morning program "The Call," blasted the Union Auto Worker, President George W. Bush, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and anyone else associated with $17.4 billion in loans for auto companies announced earlier today on Dec. 19.

"This is a full-up pooper scooper for the American taxpayer, which now owns General Motors," Kudlow said. "We're going to have a GM cabinet. Barack Obama is going to be the new car czar because Bush basically pushed this pooper scooper his way."

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The host of the 7 p.m. hour of "CNBC Reports" singled out the several key points the Bush bridge loan offered lacked.

"[I]f anybody reads this goofy document, the absolute essential issues in this - the wages, the compensation, the work rules, the debt restructuring are non-binding targets," Kudlow said. "[N]on-binding targets - that is a total outrage for the American taxpayer, and we are looking at putting more - shoveling poop, hell - we're going to be shoveling taxpayer money for years and years because there is nothing in here that is specific, and tough, and enforceable."

One of the knocks on the entire process from politicians and conservative pundits is that the influence of the United Auto Workers has been too obvious, especially with this latest edition of the auto bailout saga.

"It's not just the car companies that got what they wanted, which is to say money - it's the UAW that got what it wanted," Kudlow said. "[T]he UAW opposed the [Sen. Bob] Corker amendment because he had tough clear binding conditions. It was essentially a government-sponsored Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This is just a bunch of words on a piece of paper that has no meaning. And the worst part of the story is taxpayers are going to be left on the hook. We are going to own General Motors for years to come."

An animated Kudlow made the case that the taxpayers' interests were ignored by President George W. Bush.

"The argument is, from the taxpayers' standpoint, from the possibility of serious structural reform where their hands are tied, from the substantial - having an adult monitoring this - some kind of car czar or bankruptcy judge - this Bush deal strikes out," Kudlow said. "[M]r. Bush caved in," Kudlow continued. "He just wanted to get rid of it and kick this pooper scooper down the road. That's all he wanted to do."

According to Kudlow, the Dec. 19 proposed bridge loan would do nothing to improve the standing of the American auto manufacturers or the American economy.

"And I regret to tell you who was not in this document," Kudlow said. "And I regret to say this to Mr. Bush and Mr. Paulson, you blew it because you didn't protect the taxpayers and you're not protecting the long-run health, either of the American car business, which needs this radical restructuring or the American economy."

On Dec. 16, Bush admitted in an interview for CNN that he had "abandoned free-market principles to save the free-market system." That was absolutely an incorrect move according to Kudlow.

"President Bush says, ‘I've had to forfeit free-market economics in order to save the free-market economy.' That is wrong. That is a very bad idea, Mr. President. With all due respect, I've supported him on many issues in the last eight years - this is a lousy way to go out of office with these kinds of statements and apologies and no defense of the taxpayer."

Out of frustration, Kudlow announced the unveiling of a new executive branch department for General Motors (NYSE:GM).

"It's a GM cabinet office," Kudlow continued. "Let's appoint somebody in the Obama news conference today and just be done with it and acknowledge the U.S. taxpayer now owns General Motors."

With all the strong rhetoric from Kudlow, CNBC Washington correspondent John Harwood improperly interpreted Kudlow as being a proponent of liquidation for the beleaguered automakers. But the former associate director of the Office of Management and Budget for the Reagan administration fired back at Harwood.

"I am opposed to liquidation," Kudlow said. "This Herbert Hoover stuff is a straw man John. It is a red herring. I wanted a tough-minded, clear ... I've lost this round. I've lost every round on bailout nation in the last six months, but I don't want liquidation or I don't even want a court-ordered Chapter 11. I wanted a federal government-run bankruptcy with a strong car czar with clear conditions that were enforceable and binding."


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I was furious this morning

I was furious this morning when I woke up and heard this news...I still am.

When is this ever going to end...I have never seen anything like this.

What is happening to our country is past sad...it is now spooky.

I am so disgusted with President Bush has done with all this bail-out BS from the beginning that I am beside myself...this for me has all been so unbelievable...I cannot get past the point of believing this is the same man I voted for, twice.

Btw...Speaking of Paulson, if nobody knows about this, his relationship with Gore and others...read it...this is a great link too

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

This ain't just a pooper scooper

its a super dooper pooper scooper and it stinks to high heaven.

We're being sold down the river at a cut rate price.

Bush is a Socialist Maniac = Worst President in US History

I would never in a million years believe Bush to become a socialist. He is effectively destroying the economy by privatizing profits and socializing losses. The damage he is doing will take years to recover from, if at all. Bush has now become the worst president in American history.

Bush: "I've abandoned free market principles to save the free market" (Video)

Big Three Bailout - Give Me a Break (Video) (5min) (John Stossel, 20/20)

Big Three Should Stand On Their Own Feet (ABC News)
Detroit Needs Drilling, Not Bailouts (FOX News)
Don't Bail Out the Big Three (The American)
Let Detroit Go Bankrupt (The New York Times)
Say No to the Auto Bailout (CNN)
There's nothing wrong with a "Big Two" (New York Daily News)
Why Bankruptcy Is the Best Option for GM (The Wall Street Journal)

Honda opens new U.S. plant as Detroit seeks bailout (Reuters)

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is Not Pollution

PT... I saw that

PT...

I saw that interview...it disgusted me....still does.

I can't go so far as to say President Bush is the worst President by a long shot...but heck, he's moving up there...fast.

It truly breaks my heart.

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

Should we rename it

Should we rename it the FAIL OUT!

I love my Hondas. I gave up GM because the Unions kept supporting politicians who did not share my values.

Just because they get bailed out doesn't mean I am going to buy a car from them.

Sacrifice, Oh dilligent

Sacrifice, Oh dilligent American you must.

For Forty-Dollars an hour, 22 and a half pounds of union member pork and the teat of my Union for our company we will not. Ever. Never ever. Not even to save the corporations that employ us.

That's your job, oh lowly average American citizen.

But please, pretty please, by all means, I'm begging you, still buy our cars.

Oh by the the way, make sure you also support the latest Congressional taxpayer funded raise, your comrades are counting on you, as are we.

 

 "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "

- Ben Kenobi on  Liberals, and the MSM.

" The Cake is a lie."   

→ $4700 raise

And this is a COLA raise, meaning the worse the economy gets, the higher the raise.

There are many things I could say right now, but you're probably thinking them too.

  • LYDSEXICS UNTIE!

I'm thinking them Cool.

I'm thinking them Cool. Sadly, instead of the pretty little cartoon bubbles over my head I find myself surrounded by gunpowder smokeclouds instead.

 

 

"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "

- Ben Kenobi on  Liberals, and the MSM.

" The Cake is a lie."   

→ I'll just say

For every government seat filled by deceit and fraud?  May God judge you with the fate of Herod.

  • LYDSEXICS UNTIE!

"For every government seat

"For every government seat filled by deceit and fraud?  May God judge you with the fate of Herod."

I have one better Cool.

 
May God judge you with the ferocity of a Saddam wood chipper........even if you didn't happen to throw the shoe, but just happened to be a very brave outspoken activist who never opened his trap while Saddam Hussein was in power, but just happened to be standing next to the guy who threw the shoe, at the guy who just gave you the freedom to throw that shoe.

 

"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "

- Ben Kenobi on  Liberals, and the MSM.

" The Cake is a lie."   

→ Herod

I'd prefer it be an act of God:

And
immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the
glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost
. - Acts 12:23

  • LYDSEXICS UNTIE!

Double Standard in Bailout?

I'm no big fan of the big 3 but if memory serves me correctly on the 1st tarp bailout it did not pass until the pork was put in.  How much was that? and was it equal to the amount being asked for by the big 3?  I also don't remember their being stipulations about givebacks and bonuses nor any oversight at all to the $700 billion towards AIG and the banks.  The TARP is done , I was not in favor of it.  I would not be in favor of the bailout to the big 3 if I didn't know that through their own stupidity and the ignorance to keep on producing cars that were'nt competitively fuel efficient they sunk themsselves. Or did they?  The politicians owned by foreign investors in this country is staggering.  Enough to go around on both sides.  Dem or Rep it does'nt matter just line my pocket and I'll do what you want.  No tarriffs on imports,, don't help the big 3 be competitive overseas and overregulate them to the point of disaster.  This is not one of those good guy bad guy issues, but their seem to be a lot more bad guys in the form of Senators looking out for the interests of foreign automakers and busting the UAW.  Without the manufacturing middle class in this country their is no hard economy and we will see it's consequences several layers thick, in the suppliers, the dealerships, the retailers who are supported by the paychecks of the aforementioned and many more.  I'm sure there are those who can adress  this problem and still make it a win for the American economy and it's people but it's got to be somebody pretty savy and uncorrupt.  Oh well there goes that theory.

Don't let the bastards grind you down." 

Red

When did you become a socialist?

Double standard? Who cares, there should be no bailouts regardless of the standards. What a bunch of crap - without the manufacturing middle class? The manufacturing middle class chose their own path by forming corporation destroying unions and they got what they deserved. So when did you become a socialist?

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is Not Pollution

Corporation Destroying Unions?

If the politicians on both sides of the aisle and the weak kneed corps had stood up to the unions then perhaps we wouldn't be in this mess.  However by calling me a socialist won't resolve the issue.   Without a manufacturing middle class in this country , this country will crash quicker than you could imagine. Unless you don't understand economics.  By the way the working middle class that you seem to despise helped out far more than any other in the manufacturing effort and the dying effor in the last 100 years. When this country was pushed into WWI--WWII--Korea and Vietnam.   But if calling someone a socialist makes you feel like your a tough guy , why not go a step further and tell them "let them eat cake."

"Don't let the bastards grind you down."

Red

Do you support proping up failing businesses?

I call you what you are. If you support proping up failing businesses than you are socialist. All you platitudes about the middle class and fantasies about manufacturing are not going to be saved by government. Manufacturing in the future is going to be done by machines not assembly line workers, you better get used to that now.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is Not Pollution

The Perfect Storm

High oil prices, Sub Prime Mortgage rate debacle caused by social engineering and the failure of 3 of the largest manufacturers in the world.  Yes if  the big 3 were going to fail without the other above circumstances I would say "let them fail."  This timing along with the next wave of outstanding credit failures and the next 2 mortgage problems are going to be more than we as a nation will be able to bear economically.  Stick to your guns and failing to adapt "The fruits of your victory will be the ashes of a ruined nation."  It's great to always stick to your principles but when theres no food on the table I think your principles will be secondary.  "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." .  Don't bother replying if you don't see this as a one time economic event then your doomed to be right.

"Don't let the bastards grind you down."

Red

The last 12 months of Bush's presidency...

...are about to cancel out (if they haven't already) whatever good this man may have done in the previous seven years.

I believe the man has lost it, as things appear to me to be spinning out of control.

-Dave

This nation is about to be brutally raped by the socialists, and the MSM will be a willing participant.

 Bush, Obama and Congress

 Bush, Obama and Congress to the American people: EAT S**T ANY LIKE IT, YOU USELESS PIECES OF GARBAGE, YOU ARE HERE TO SERVE US!

Blatant Socialism

I was never under any illusion that Bush was a Conservative. On a few issues maybe. He's been big government from the beginning. This year is blatant socialism all the way. It's an embarrassment that it happened under a Republican president. I expect this from Frank and Dodd and the rest of their band of thieves, but what the heck happened to the Republicans lately? Are there any left?

Man oh man, you guys are

Man oh man, you guys are headed for a world of hurt. Bernanke cut your throat by giving your money away for nothing.  You can't even borrow for the rate he is giving it away at.  Japanese did the same thing today.  It's sad to see a superpower in the throws of decent.

These guys, these so called "experts" on depression who say they are going to do it different. Well they are.  They are making this one much worse than dirty 30's, except you don't have any savings or enough productivity to pay what you owe to China. Yet, these "experts" want to put you further into debt, by the trillions??? Yikes!!!!!

My advice - dump your US cash.  It would probably be a good idea to buy foreign currency with all your excess, use the US stuff for day to day purchases and GIRD YOUR LOINS.

 

Mr. Bush, Thank you for

Mr. Bush,

Thank you for leading the way on the War on Terror, and thank you for cutting taxes.

Now, please go to your ranch in Crawford Texas with the promise to never again return to political life.

Sir, I hope someday you truly understand how destructive your "New Tone" and "Compassionate Conservatism" were to your party! These two philosophies kept you from defending your own party...and Scooter Libby!

I guess to you, Compassionate Conservatism meant letting the Dems define you and the GOP, with not nary a word from you! Conversely, it must have also meant letting Ted Kennedy write the Education Bill, and "reaching across the aisle" (giving the Dems everything they want). I can't tell you how many times we in the conservative base have had to bend over and grab our ankles thanks to you and McRino reaching across the aisle to the Dems!

Now, you've once again acted contrary to the wishes of your own party (and many Dems) by strapping us with yet another billion dollar bailout...with NO clear definition of what this will actually entail?!?!

On Jan 20th, go back to your ranch, plan your new presidential library, and contimplate the destruction you've brought upon the GOP.

This bailout

And subsequent march towards government-owned industry will end up being Bush's legacy.  His last four years in office have been his worst, and it's largely self-imposed.

Bush is a morally decent guy who kept this country free of foreign attacks throughout his presidency.  But his decisions regarding school reform, illegal immigrants, and this bailout are why we as conservatives will likely never forgive him.

President Bush

I have voted for the man twice. I have defended him throughout his 2 terms and finally I have to shake my head in disgust. He had a closing shot to do the right thing and stand up with his party (who argued against and stalled the bailouts in congress). It seems to me that no matter what he does it is the opposite of what the people who put him in office wanted out of his presidency or even what his party wants. The only thing I can think of is he wants to be "liked" or worried about his legacy. A sure fire disaster in any politician.

I don't know why everyone believes that the bankruptcy of this decrepit non-competitive industry will push the country down the drain. I think the opposite. Let nature take its course. This government interference is just throwing too many variables and judgements into the mix. Why would you abandon free market principles to save the free market? That's a non-sequitor. Now it is not a free market and the free market now doesn't really exist.

How does anyone know that the bankruptcy of these 3 are will be bad. Who knows what will happen. Bankruptcy doesn't mean shuttering your doors but it could slap the silly unions and management back into some semblance of reality. This just prolongs the agony and when the loan fails and the money wasted because nothing has really changed in the management structure and union stranglehold are we going to bail them out again and again and again. Once again we are headlong now down the slippery slope.

Change: When the winds of change blow hard enough, the most trivial of things can become deadly projectiles. From a Poster