GM's Bob Lutz - Global Warming Is A "Total Crock of Shit" - He Wants A Federal Bailout? Please.

[Median Democrat]

The U.S. auto industry is on the verge of bankruptcy, yet they still stubbornly oppose any efforts to increase fuel efficiency standards. Indeed, will a bailout save GM from the kind of anti-science stupidity spouted by GM's Bob Lutz. My take is that is that we condition the bailout on an agreement to dramatically increase fuel efficiency, thus people will actually buy the cars produced by the automakers. Oh, and in GM's case, they have to fire Bob Lutz.

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN2237297620080222

/snip

DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Corp Vice Chairman Bob Lutz has defended remarks he made dismissing global warming as a "total crock of s---," saying his views had no bearing on GM's commitment to build environmentally friendly vehicles.

Lutz, GM's outspoken product development chief, has been under fire from Internet bloggers since last month when he was quoted as making the remark to reporters in Texas.

In a posting on his GM blog on Thursday, Lutz said those "spewing virtual vitriol" at him for minimizing the threat of climate change were "missing the big picture."

"What they should be doing in earnest is forming opinions, not about me but about GM and what this company is doing that is ... hugely beneficial to the causes they so enthusiastically claim to support," he said in a posting titled, "Talk About a Crock."

GM, the largest U.S. automaker by sales and market share, has been trying to change its image after taking years of heat for relying too much on sales of large sport-utility vehicles like the Hummer and not moving faster on fuel-saving hybrid technology.

"My thoughts on what has or hasn't been the cause of climate change have nothing to do with the decisions I make to advance the cause of General Motors," he wrote.

/snip

[GodlessBiker]

1. Usually, what you believe in helps drive your decision making. If what he believes in doesn't drive

his decisions, what does?

[Lumpsum]

2. So you use leverage to MAKE him believe in global warming.

Want some money to bail your poorly managed company out? Change your tune on global warming and make your cars reflect it.

[Median Democrat]

4. Lutz Sounds Like A Lost Cause - GM Should Fire Him

GM should have used the profits from SUVs to research and market fuel efficient cars. However, they feared that marketing fuel efficient cars would undercut their market for huge gas guzzlers. So, they are now in the predicament they are in of opposing fuel efficiency even on the verge of bankruptcy. Lutz has to go.

[Mz Pip]

3. How about decreasing

our dependency on foreign oil? I certainly don't want a bailout for an industry that refuses to meet the needs of the 21st century.

Americans will buy anything if it is advertized properly. Build a high fuel efficient car and promote it well and people will buy it. Good grief, the auto industry was able to pull off selling Hummers and Tahoes in spite of rising fuel costs. I don't see why it can't do it with a fuel efficient car.

I would love to buy an American made car. Our mini van is 11 years old and we'd love to get one that gets better mileage but no one makes one.

[NoGOPZone]

5. Evidently, Lutz failed both his science AND business courses. nt

[gratuitous]

6. Okay Mr. Lutz, have it your way

But I still don't see any environmental groups running to the government for multi-billion dollar bailouts of their flawed business plan.

[Median Democrat]

9. HuffPo - Automakers Should Drop Lawsuits Against Fuel Efficiency As A Condition

Here is a great article about requiring automakers to drop their lawsuits against State fuel efficiency standards:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laurie-david/adding-teeth-to-a-detroit_b_142839.html

/snip

The Big 3's greed and lack of vision led them to the cliff's edge where they stand today, facing financial implosion unless the federal government swoops in to prop them up. These companies invited their impending destiny, and some have argued they ought to face the consequences of the market without federal intervention. But the fact is that America can't afford to lose the millions of jobs Detroit provides and the opportunity to lead on a manufacturing product that will see explosive foreign sales in the near future, especially in China and India.

So it's time for some tough love. What would you say to your kid who came to you looking for a handout after he or she had been warned repeatedly? Would you fork it over, no questions asked? Is that the life lesson you would pass on to your child? No way.

If Detroit needs more taxpayer bailouts to survive, we ought to demand some serious and real concessions in return, starting with an immediate cease-and-desist order for Detroit to drop its lawsuits against California, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Mexico and any other state that passes clean cars legislation requiring more efficient, less polluting vehicles. Enough already, Detroit. Stop fighting and start building clean cars now.

/snip

[Clovis Sangrail]

7. GM unfortunately *deserves to fail

they've been making asinine decisions for years - the only reason they haven't gone under so far is govt support they've gotten over the years.

Just about any moron could see 8 years ago what was coming down the road for automakers.
GM stubbornly continued to dump money into making huge gas guzzlers instead of getting out in front of the COMPLETELY PREDICTABLE greening of America/rise in oil/etc etc

If ANYBODY in the company leadership had half a fucking clue they would have seen the response to the 1st generation Prius and to plowed massive R&D money into getting something better and cheaper to market ASAP.
Instead they sat around with their collective thumbs up their asses until the SUV and luxury sedan market - PREDICTABLY - collapsed and now they want a bailout.

I say if the govt bails them out we get to FIRE the entire company leadership and choose their replacements.

[Median Democrat]

8. The Feds Should Only Bailout The First Two Automakers To Agree To Fuel Efficiency Standards

The Feds should do it as a plea bargain. Here is the bailout and conditions. The first two automakers to accept the conditions get the bailout. Let the last one who is dragging its feet on fuel efficiency fail.

[Clovis Sangrail]

10. and give the govt the rights to hire/fire higher ups

otherwise they'll just try to do the same stupid shit and will end up in the same predicament again.

If they weren't so important to the economy my vote would be to let them sink.

[crazylikafox]

12. That's perfect! I LOVE that solution.

[crickets]

14. Good one! -nt

:thumbsup:

[wtmusic]

11. Great Bob, arrogance is a wonderful strategy to pursue at this moment

in GM's history.

These entitled bastards need to work on an assembly line.

[jjanpundt]

13. The more I read about GM the more I think they shouldn't be

bailed out. I really detest their arrogance of their management. The only problem is I don't want to see thousands more unemployed, or pension payments stopped.

If they are bailed out it all of top management has to go, or at least anyone not on board for fuel efficient autos. The company should forced to re-tool immediately for smaller, hybrid, electric, solar powered, magnet powered, hamster powered, or whatever powered cars. I can't believe that our auto designers and engineers are so incompetent that they can't come up with a fuel efficient, AFFORDABLE car. Doesn't do any good to make the car if the average person can't afford it.