I Agree with GWB

[belpejic]

Strangely, acutally immensely and almost disturbingly strangely, I found myself in agreement with two things the Chimp said this week. First is that Detroit automakers need to make products that are relevant rather than seek a bailout. The fact that their vehicles suck is glaringly obvious. It's not the fault of the people who work there, but it is the fault of management.

Second, the Chimp acknowledged that democracy worked for the Palestinians, even if the result is something that most of us (certainly me) worry about deeply.

I'm a bit confused by this extreme dissonance. Any advice on how to resolve it? I'm deeply disturbed when I find that the Chimp actually makes some sense to me...

[blm]

1. What did you DISAGREE with him about this week?

.

[belpejic]

3. Everything else, as usual. nt

[FreedomAngel82]

4. Like what for example?

[belpejic]

8. Don't have much time

But I'll try to make a start.

First and foremost I disagree with every position he has on the environment. I don't want to get into arguments right now about the merits of international agreements on emissions, but there is so much we can do nationally in terms of conservation, emissions reductions from power plants and cars, etc. that we could make a huge difference on our own, with marginal additional cost to consumers. Furthermore, I'm massively pissed that this administration is squandering what I think is one of our true competitive advantages in the global sphere -- technological expertise -- to not develop a rich economy of environmentally beneficial technologies. Instead they've apointed the head of a railroad company as our commerce secretary. How nineteenth century is that. Someone is going to take the lead in this technological race, which will become increasingly important over time, and I wish it would be the US.

OK. Just a start to my rants. Engage me, and I'll elaborate on as many as possible arguments that I have with the Chimp. The roster is vast.

[Warpy]

2. A stopped clock is right twice a day

and the law of averages says even Stupid will get it right once in a blue moon. After all, nobody can manage to be wrong 100% of the time, it takes too much research to keep up.

[Angry Girl]

7. Even freepers can get it right every blue moon n/t

[MichiganVote]

16. George Bush is NOT right about auto manufacturing

Factually, he doesn't know a damn thing about any of it. He says whatever he is supposed to say like to the good for nothing puppet he is.

[Warren DeMontague]

5. I think everyone here believes in Democracy. Unfortunately

rather than trying to export the Halliburton-KBR 'version' of it at the end of a gun barrel, we should be re-invigorating OURS here at home, reclaiming it from the corporatists and theocrats who have diminished it through their disregard of the constitution, and by stealing the last few elections.

[Catchawave]

6. I surprised he didn't blame the unions.

I thought that was the biggest RW cop out excuse for all major corps financial problems ?

[sweetheart]

9. Naahhh!! Bail them out.

I think the military should bail them out, iraq style. The 82nd
airborne should be sent in to kill all the management, and then after
the slaves have been freed, all the employees fired and all the factories
burned, they deserve some taxpayer largessse to clean up another iraq mess.

Gosh, we need the military to do its job and fuck things up.

[MichiganVote]

10. Uh...about the cars being made better, I'll tell you what,

let's make sure that the airlines build better planes b/f we give them another cent. And about those oil companies, I'm not sure I like the color, let's make sure its red and no longer an environmental hazard. While we're on the subject, those small businesses in NY that Michigan voters bailed out after 911, I'd like to know if they made a better bagel. Like to get my money's worth you know. As far as gulf coast, same thing. Unless those homeless, out of work people can ensure they'll stand up to the crooked gov't we have and build a better levee system--let's just give it up.

American workers make good cars regardless of the designs. This is a manufacturing issue and it involves trade, not style.

I am not in favor of bail outs in general. I am in favor of fair trade and believe me, Americans would drive a bucket over nothing anytime, anywhere.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

12. Indeed, American workers do make good cars.

Has anyone driven one in the last ten years?

I've got a Ford that has 225,000 on it--same engine and tranny as it left the factory with in '94. It has never had any annoying quirks, either, like some US cars did in the eighties. And I'm not the only one. Several people in this working-class neighborhood have high-mileage Fords, Dodges, and Chevvies. Maybe it isn't the styling that people want, but they do run well.

Carry on.

[belpejic]

14. No disagreement here

Boeing sucks. Not because the people who work there don't execute designs with extreme competence, but because management forces bad designs down their throats. Same with Detroit -- the people on the line do a superb job of executing the designs, but the designs suck. I'm all for the people in the US who actually make stuff, but I don't think we've done a good job of making sure their managers are accountable.

[blm]

19. Gore made a 1999 deal with auto/truck makers to increase fuel efficiency.

When Bush took office, the manufacturers said they didn't have to stick to the agreement and Bush was fine with that.

Then BushInc's propaganda machine ratcheted up post 9-11 and dumb people were cheerleaded into believing that buying SUVs and trucks were their patriotic duty.

Pretty bizarre, considering that MORE OIL needed really meant MORE BLOOD needed.

BushInc is responsible for alot of the crap that has happened to these firms and the poor working stiffs who can't afford to fill their gas tanks anymore, anyway.

[edhopper]

11. Look,

"W" says a lot of things you can agree with. But it's all talk. After Katrina he made a big issue over the poverty that existed in N.O.. Then he supported budget cuts in social services. Sure, he's right about the car makers. But has he done one thing about fuel economy standards. And you can rest assured that what he said about Palestine is all talk and no cow (or whatever that cowboy expression is)

[Gatchaman]

13. So...

Detroit makes fine, affordable automobiles, and the Palestinian elections were a sham because we don't like the results. All because a broken clock is right twice a day?

FWIW, I think the quality/value of foreign cars v. domestic cars is highly overrated, and I don't know enough about the palestinian mindset to comment on their elections.

[MichiganVote]

15. The day George Bush calls himself an asshole I'll agree with him

[madokie]

17. and not one second before either

[MichiganVote]

18. That's right.