TURNS OUT, it is easy to get American automakers to change their ways. All you have to do is ask.
But first, as in the old joke about farmers and mules, you have to get their attention.
President Barack Obama, after firing the chairman of General Motors on Sunday, now can be presumed to have the automakers’ attention. The auto industry bailout, which was beginning to look like a one-way street for taxpayers’ money, now looks like serious business.
Chairman Rick Wagoner was booted out the door with soft words from Obama, but the message to the rest of the industry was clear: If you want the money, you will play by our rules or we won’t play with you.
Obama gave GM another 60 days to come up with an acceptable plan for its survival. Chrysler, in even deeper trouble than GM, got a shorter deadline — 30 days to form a partnership with Italy’s Fiat. If GM’s plan is not acceptable or if Chrysler still finds itself struggling on alone, the flow of government money will stop.
The goal, the president said, is not to nationalize the auto industry, but to force changes that will allow the companies to survive as independent businesses.
“These companies — and this industry — must ultimately stand on their own, not as wards of the state,” Obama said.
To get to that point, the auto industry is going to have to take painful steps — steps that will affect manufacturers, suppliers, auto unions and dealers. If the administration’s plan works, the American auto industry a few years from today will look nothing like the cumbersome industrial giant that has evolved over the past 100 years. If the plan does not succeed, the industry may look like nothing at all and the United States will have ceded a large chunk of its economy to Japan and South Korea.
Now that the White House has GM and Chrysler’s attention, the consequences of failure may begin to be clear in the boardrooms and executive suites of U.S. automakers.
Patrick S. Kelley
Editorial Page Editor
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Kill...
Who Killed the Electric Car? A very insightful documentary.
March 31, 2009 at 1:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
Yeah, you may think that is where you call to get any and all things fixed right now. But I can tell you from on the inside who REALLY fixes it alot of the time. They just get the credit because corporate America has decided that is where the credit will go, even when it doesn't, because it's cheaper.
Ok, totally off the subject. Just don't get me started. I'm already steamed enough I'm getting away from the computer for awhile.
March 31, 2009 at 4:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
Well, to all those that said let them fail, you just might get your wish. Socialism indeed.
March 31, 2009 at 4:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
allintogether (anonymous) says...
Did it really cost us several billion dollars just to get this clown fired? Obozo and congress "bailed out" GM and Chrysler. That massive infusion of cash only prolonged the inevitable bankruptcy of GM...by a couple of months. Politicians refuse to follow the process. They don't care about well established processes when institutions fail. They don't care about well established immigration and naturalization laws. They don't care about the constitution and they don't give a hoot in hell about us. Their track record is well established and it is a disaster.
Now the Barrackalypse is turning his attention to healthcare. You think Healthcare is hard to come by now? Just wait until Spendy McSpenderton gets through with it. You'll be waiting 6 months for a chest x-ray. It will be "free" but by then you might get over pneumonia on your own, still in the hospital or will have departed.
Tell you what Mr. President. You cut 10% of defense spending and you can have National Healthcare. Why is it that spending cuts or reallocating tax revenue is never an option for Harry Reid, the speaker that could haunt the house or any other politician in Washington DC? Sorry, politicians make my blood boil.
March 31, 2009 at 4:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pizza (anonymous) says...
And just where did this bozo president get all his knowledge about running a car company? He knows nothing but sure likes to spout off about all "his" money that he is hoping to borrow. Unbelievable.
March 31, 2009 at 9:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tbluma (anonymous) says...
Mr Kelley I resent your comment about farmers and mules. If it wasn't for farmers and ranchers this town would probably not exit. To even mention them in the same sentence with barrry is an insult. They are the only people who pay what they are asked for their inputs and sell their product for what they are told it's worth. They feed more people per capita than anyone else in the world can even claim to help. Yet the gazette through out history as chosen to ridicule them. However I might agree with you on one point the consequences of failure may loom but people like you afford this bailout to begin with.
Who the hell gave barry the right to fire anyone unless they work for the government? I think I'll call him up and see what he thinks about your job.
Oh wait a minute, I forgot you and your boss (owners) are on his side'
March 31, 2009 at 9:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
I was just trying to imagine how President Ronald Regan might have responded if he was told that only 21 years after he left office, an American President would fire an industry chairperson.......legally. I can't imagine he would believe it, but on the off chance one could have convinced him of it, I think he would have been devastated. I know I am. All the hard work and sacrifice of so many generations of patriots, politicians and soldiers alike, "Gone in 60 seconds." It is very hard no to feel defeated right now--on their behalf as well as my own........................................................................................
March 31, 2009 at 10:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
The potus firing people from private companies............ that's some scary stuff right there. Perhaps if these well educated company execs and bankers had been taught morals at some point in their lives it never would have come to this.
March 31, 2009 at 10:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
He is not doing anything that a normal lender would not do, see it for what it is, he did not think the plan they laid out was viable ergo he told them that unless changes are made that they would receive no more taxpayer money. Banks do this everyday to businesses they think are unwise to invest in. He is not "running" anything, just making a decision not to invest further in the industry if they stay on their current path.
Whether or not they should have received bailouts in the first place is another issue, and I would bet the farm the incumbent would have bailed them out as he did Wall Street. The auto bailout is nothing compared to the TARP fiasco.
April 1, 2009 at 12:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I agree, goodoleboy. "On December 19, 2008, President Bush used his executive authority to declare that TARP funds may be spent on any program he personally deems necessary to avert the financial crisis, and declared Section 102 to be nonbinding. This has allowed President Bush to extend the use of TARP funds to support the auto industry, a move supported by the United Auto Workers" (Wikipedia).
Must have been unconditional. Just open a tap and letterrip.
April 1, 2009 at 8:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
I think we need the following:
1. Return to the gold standard.
2. Senate term limits
3. Accountability of government, at ALL levels
4. Minimal government (the less the better)
5. A Federal surplus, every year. (can't afford it, don't get it)
6. A balanced budget, every year.
7. A return to Constitutional Values (we are a Republic, not a democracy)
8. Get rid of all the useless government programs.
9. Remind the government they work for the people, not the other way around. Period.
10. Revolution
April 1, 2009 at 8:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
I wonder how many of the other " GREEDY " giant wealthy corporations and their ceo's, stockholders, etc. have suddenly set up and taken notice that the current president has served notice that " business as usual " will no longer be tollerated, and that greed will no longer be the standard operating proceedure.
Is this president really doing anything drastically different than FDR did to get this country back on its feet ? And does anyone believe that the mess that this country was or is in would have fixed itself without some sort of intervention, government or otherwise, and I don't mean throwing mountains of money at an already corrupt corporate and business world who have stolen and raped this country into the current mess it is in . The mess this country was or is in currently had been headed to its current predicament for several decades now, because of deregulation, corrupt corporate ceos' businesses and politicians greed !
April 1, 2009 at 9:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
"President Barack Obama, after firing the chairman of General Motors on Sunday, now can be presumed to have the automakers’ attention."
Can banks really fire people from companies that they lend money to? And when will we be able to have any critical thought about our current President without someone bringing Bush into it? I guess the current President gets a free ride because Bush sucked. For the last several years all thoughts about the president had to be negative or else you were ridiculed and now they have to be positive or you get more of the same. Rediculous!
Matt(josiesbar) is 100% correct. Viva la revolution!
April 1, 2009 at 9:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
I was never happy with the bailouts. I sat on the fence some at the very beginning, but was very uneasy about it, and have definitely been against them as they snowballed. HOWEVER, much like the war in Iraq, however much against it you may have been in the beginning, (and you had that right), once it is done, the best thing to do is try to figure out the BEST way to get the job done/finished & get out (and NO, I'm not talking cut & run). That said, I don't believe in handing out the taxpayers money with no strings attached. If you want gov bailout money, then you play by the lender's rules, else you are free to refuse the money & go it on your own. And goodoleboy is right - banks routinely place restrictions & controls on those they lend money to when the lendee is NOT in a sound/stable situation. I'm not sure I agree with firing the CEO, though - surely there were other ways/stipulations they could have put on it. If THAT is the case, then I would like to see Obama fire some other incompetents, like Pelosi, Frank, Reid, etc...... what about it, Barry? My faith in the governement to run ANYTHING these days is pretty much at an all-time low....l
Lets also remember that Bush did not intend to ask for the 2nd half of TARP (350 billion) UNLESS Obama asked for it. And, Obama asked for it. So don't keep throwing all of TARP at Bush's feet, if you are honest.
Did Obama make these moves to keep the auto industries from declaring bankruptcy? Which would have forced a restructuring of the union contracts? Which he is beholden to? Just thinking out loud.....
April 1, 2009 at 9:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
Senate term limits, I've been harping for that forever. Maybe a few more tea parties/revolution is truly needed.......
We've been over this a zillion times.... but 6 years into it, FDR's own treasury secretary says it failed, it did not work, FDR's own library says the war is what really ended the depression, half of the economists think his policies prolonged the depression..... so anytime I see the other view presented as fact, I have to speak. Maybe "FDR's policies MIGHT have gotten the country back on its feet".... (after 10 years, and a looming war)...... or maybe you agree with the Gazette article writer who claimed that during the Depression "almost everyone who wanted a job could find one"........
Speaking of regulation, check out the Glass-Steagall act which FDR put into place to regulate banks. It was repealed in 1999, another domino that helped bring about the current financial crisis. And before anyone starts screaming about it being a Republican Congress at the time, (yes, it was sponsored by Repubs) the final vote was.... 90-8, House was similar... signed into law by Clinton.... from Wikipedia, a direct quote: "President Barack Obama believes that the Act directly helped cause the 2007 subprime mortgage financial crisis" (If only he would realize or admit his work to force banks to give unsecured loans was part of it too)....
2 cents worth - before the coming inflation, once we ramp up the presses to pay for all this...... probably 1/2 cents worth after that....
April 1, 2009 at 9:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
I forget, but who was it that told Sebilius to check her taxes when she was nominated to Obama's cabinet? We have a PROPHET among us!!!! LOLOLOL
April 1, 2009 at 10:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
Two more:
1. Mandatory drug test before you get a welfare check.
2. Prison reform. (see also Maricopa County, Arizona)
April 1, 2009 at 10:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
I'd also like to see
1) E-Verify
2) Employers that employ illegals cracked down on.
Well, darn, both of those just got reversed by Obama.
Well, all that stimulus money to build infrastructure has to go SOMEWHERE...... since that's who will get those jobs....
At least we're going to do a good job of stimulating..... someone else's economy..... :). Maybe we could just do a President swap for a while? As part of a good-will gesture to help strengthen good relations between countries? LOL
April 1, 2009 at 10:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
28 Illegal aliens recently nabbed in a raid (they used fake documents to gain employment). INS released them per directions from our new Homeland Security leader & let them go to return to their jobs.
What is rarely mentioned, is that during the week they were gone, over 200 Americans applied for their jobs.
Is this the Change we voted for? Anyone?
April 1, 2009 at 10:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
Just a few of the national headlines…
"President Barack Obama holds a healthy 66 percent job approval rating in the latest national ABC News/Washington Post poll."
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepoli...
"Eight in 10 Americans are confident Obama will represent the U.S. well to the world."
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/3...
"Poll Shows Anger at Business, Strong Support for Obama."
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/04...
"Poll: Obama not blamed for sour economy."
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/03/3...
"USA TODAY/Gallup Poll: Obama steady; lawmakers from both parties down."
http://content.usatoday.com/communiti...
Comparing these recent nationwide polls to the consistent gripes upon the website of The Emporia Gazette, one might deduce that Emporians are in the minority with their disapproval of President Obama's work performance.
Brian Protheroe
San Francisco, CA
April 1, 2009 at 11:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
77flint (anonymous) says...
HERE! HERE! BRIAN!!!!!
April 1, 2009 at 12:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Yes. So let's just tell the minority to shut up. Is that it? I'll bet if Brian is in some sort of group that's not in the majority he wants his voice heard regardless. It sure is funny how that works.
April 1, 2009 at 12:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
As much as some would like to compare the president’s actions to socialism, it is not. You would have more success throwing magnets at cardboard and hoping they stick.
President Obama is using taxpayer money to bail out the poster children of American business. Had the president not intervened, these auto manufacturers would be, if not hemorrhaging, already taken off life support. Cardiac arrest for Detroit? And, each of you would be complaining that the president did nothing to help, and thus selling out America to foreign competitors. Damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t. Well, I for one am proud that he did.
President Obama wants America’s auto makers to be competitive, just as much as you do, and that is why he has bailed them out. But, American auto manufacturers have not been competitive for years. Decades, even. Who doesn’t acknowledge that fact?
I admire President Obama for the courage to tell Detroit what we all have been thinking for years; straighten up and fly right. The bail out funds that Washington is giving to Detroit is conditional. Detroit is overdue for restructuring. It’s time for Detroit to follow the 20 year successful and efficient lead set in place by the auto manufacturers of Asia and Europe – fuel efficiency, compact cars, higher safety standards, innovation, etc.
In my opinion, it's better that he did intervene, or else the Camaro might one day wear the Toyota emblem upon it’s hood.
Brian Protheroe
San Francisco, CA
April 1, 2009 at 12:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Right on, Brian!!!
Obama did not create all this debt, but now that he is in office he is suddenly blamed for it. I'm glad that someone intelligent and quick to communicate with the American people is finally in office. I welcome his taking on the debt in order to do something about it, but he did not create it.
April 1, 2009 at 12:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Who exactly is blaming President Obama for the debt? I've seen people lay the blame for things solely and squarely at past presidents feet but who is doing that now?
April 1, 2009 at 12:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
About 7-in-10 said they blame .....the Bush administration for not vigorously regulating the financial industry.
Lets see, are those same 7-in-10 aware of who repealed the Glass-Steagall act? Have they even heard of that & what it is? Are they aware that Obama himself says that helped cause the current financial crisis? Are those same 7 aware Bush tried to add regulation in 2003? Are they aware Barney Frank & Company shot it down? Are those same 7 still big supporters for Barney that helped him easily win re-election?
In other words, are American voters/poll responders these days very informed?
Do you personally agree that 200 American workers should be turned away while the jobs are given back to illegals with forged documents?
As for GM not being competitive "for years, decades, even", hmm.... lets look into that just a bit....
GM was the global sales leader for 77 consecutive calendar years from 1931 to 2007. (But they regained the lead in the summer of 2007).
They turned a profit (globally) as recently as 2nd Qtr of 2007.
You make it sound as if they are tanking while everyone else is doing fine. Think the housing meltdown & finiancial crisis of the country might have something to do with people not buying new cars?
How about this news from Augutst, 2008: Toyota's North America operating profit plunged 98.9 percent to $15.2 million from $1.40 billion in the same fiscal quarter last year.
Hmmmm...obiously, following the reasoning on this thread, Toyota is every bit as bad as GM, right? They don't sound any more competitive than anyone else these days. Could it be the economy in general? Maybe Toyota's CEO should step down?
And besides, as usual, the true arrow of blame many times comes right back to......... we, the consumer. We WANTED those gas-guzzling SUV's, GM gave us what we asked for. Or would it be good management to produce a line of fuel-efficient vehicles that weren't selling well, and let all your competitors sell the gas-hogs like crazy? Should GM management have NOT given the consumer what it wanted? Did anyone predict last summer when gas was $4/gallon that in less than 6 months gas would be $1.29 & oil would be under $40/barrel? Now, I agree with efficient cars & weaning us off our Arab drug habit as much as anyone, but was this all the CEO's fault? Did their union worker demands figure in the equation anywhere at all? Since Obama is taking the union side on so many issues, would he have let GM's CEO keep his job if he had caved into every union demand, & say, the average GM worker was making over $100,000/year? (With the corresponding increase in car prices)? Anyone got all the answers to all this mess? Anyone?
April 1, 2009 at 1:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
I will DIRECTLY put 1/2 the blame for TARP at Obama's feet. He specifically asked for it. So make sure you figure at least $350 billion of that debt on his tab, when you look at the inherited deficit.
April 1, 2009 at 1:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Holy Cow ! People it took several decades and numerous Presidents, Congressmen/women and Congresses to place this Country in the mess it is currently in, along with wealthy individual and Corporate lobbyists and their bags of money to buy legislation and laws ! ( Corruption and Greed at the highest levels)
Now everyone, including me wants the fastest fix feasible for this mess. However it will definately take longer than 2, 3, 6 months to fix the mess, if it can be fixed. I believe that the current president and congress deserves a chance to try and fix the mess, with out pouring anymore money down a rotten, corrupt and never-ending rat hole !
April 1, 2009 at 1:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
Revolution
April 1, 2009 at 1:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubwLOC...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuHR8Z...
April 1, 2009 at 1:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
"And, each of you would be complaining that the president did nothing to help, and thus selling out America to foreign competitors."
But, Obama told Chrylser that they MUST do a deal with Fiat within 30 days.......
So what's the difference?
"American auto manufacturers have not been competitive for years. DECADES, even. Who doesn’t acknowledge that fact?"
Ford & GM both posted all-time record profits 10 years ago. Sounds like its been a little less than decades (plural) since they were at the absolute top, let alone doing well.
Just trying to give some accuracy here. Call it right-wing, call it left-wing, call it whatever you want. Is lack of spin spin itself when seen from the perspective of an object rotating at a high speed?
April 1, 2009 at 1:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
Maybe we should have never poured any money down the rathole to begin with, eh methusla? 5 years into the Iraq war, still heard that sentiment daily, so forgive me for voicing it a mere 5 months into it, ok?
What alot of us are worried about, is that this is a huge gamble, and not something we will be able to get out of easily. As I've said before, even though it would have been wrong in my opinion, we still could have physically just pulled out of Iraq in a matter of months. We aren't going to be able to just wipe out our debt and reduce our bloated government overnight if we choose to do so. I'm all for trying different kinds of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, etc to save the ailing tree. I'm willing to let a different lawn service come in and try their approach. I can always change my mind next election. But I am NOT willing to agree to chop the tree down yet and plant a totally different variety. No going back once that chainsaw gets through.
April 1, 2009 at 1:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
<<<< is putting on gloves, and looking for the chain oil.
April 1, 2009 at 3:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
Well, as I've said, if we're gonna keep shelling out money (looks like we are, regardless) - then I agree with restrictions. BUT - I also am going to be watching that we get BACK OUT when it is paid off. I alluded to my fears before the last election depending on who won, we shall have to wait & see.
But I'm not all that impressed with the restrictions yet. Congress/administration added the "restriction" that AIG execs would get their bonuses........... then they turn around & act all indignant about it. 7 out of 10 are probably blaming all that on Bush, too.
Haven't heard 1 peep of indignation about the 28 illegals story. Well, I guess I will willingly continue to remain in the "minority" about that. Great job of keeping American jobs in America, Mr. President. Thank you so much for your anti-illegal raids proclamation, while 200 legal taxpayers are turned away from those jobs. REALLY makes me have faith in you. What's your cure for outsourcing? Anything along the same lines? Going to start making it illegal to give any computer job to someone that is not from India? No - wait - I've got it. Every single person that is the recipient of an outsourced tech job will be given automatic US Citizenship (can't even call it amnesty) - therefore, the statistics will show that he put an complete end to outsourcing & kept those jobs for US citizens. What a guy!
April 1, 2009 at 3:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
open_eyes:
I agree with you on all points, I believe. To save our economy some drastic measures are needed, but it seems the tactics being taken are the polar opposite of what's needed. We are starting at the wrong side of the pendulum swing. What would have happened if all that stimulus money (from BOTH presidents requests) had been used to assist the auto-makers workers with mortgages, utilities and food for a specified period of time while the big company failed and closed down and the surviving auto makers bought up the factories at auctions and got them running again with those employees? What would have happened if the INS received a portion of the money as well to ship out non-citizen workers to free up those jobs for the few workers that maybe couldn't have been "taken back" by the buyout company? Surely, the auto demands wouldn't shrink to what everyone but GM makes now, so it stands to reason, they would need to expand to fill the market demands.
"The goal, the president said, is not to nationalize the auto industry, but to force changes that will allow the companies to survive as independent businesses.
“These companies — and this industry — must ultimately stand on their own, not as wards of the state,” Obama said."
Didn't we just take the long way around this while adopting a HUGE gamble that it will never return to the intended function...............much like Social Security?
April 1, 2009 at 4:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
Absolutely, oh4theluvof - put very well. But your mistake (and mine) is that we are THINKING. We don't have time to think. We're not allowed to read anything before we vote on it. Would have been nice if Congress had been allowed to read the fine print where AIG execs got bonuses before they voted on it.
Apparently that is our "new kind of Washington". It just boggles my mind that nobody was allowed to read the stupid bill first, and only "the minority" are complaining about that. There ARE alternatives, and the HAVE been presented. The response so far, has been, from Pelosi "we won, you lost, shutup & sit down".
Strap in. Nobody knows where this train wreck is going but it's going to be quite a ride.
Right now, I think I'll seriously explore renouncing my American Citizenship. I'll get free healthcare, free education, (all that for the kids too), and..... they'll give me your job. Sounds like a plan to me. OH, and you can't touch me if I commit crimes. Guilty as Hell, Free as a Bird, Ain't America Grand! (To borrow a quote from you-know-who).
April 1, 2009 at 4:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
LOL, open_eyes!
I really think the first thing the present day politicians need to read is a book explaining the free market principle. Second, they need to read a book explaining basic economics. Third, I would recommend a book explaining the different forms of government, and then, finally, a book that tells about the past experiences regarding those three subjects in many countries--a history book, if you will. I might call this process.....say........12th grade??
It really is a shame.....all that "education" and not much knowledge in current politics.
April 1, 2009 at 6:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Now we have 77flint telling people to "ZIP IT!!". Man, freedom of speech used to mean something in this country. Apparently not when it comes to discussing our current President and what's going on in the federal government. For the last several years people loved their freedom of speech that allowed them to voice their "disagreement" with that president but now it's somehow different. The loss of freedom of speech is not even close to the change this country needs. President Obama himself has said that he is willing to listen to those with views differing from his own. I guess his supporters missed that.
April 2, 2009 at 9:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
77flint (anonymous) says...
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
April 2, 2009 at 8:28 a.m. ( permalink )
77flint (anonymous) says...
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
April 2, 2009 at 11:20 a.m. ( permalink )
open_eyes (anonymous) says...
This comment was removed by the site staff for violation of the usage agreement.
April 2, 2009 at 10:39 a.m. ( permalink )
77flint (anonymous) says...
?????????????????????????????
April 3, 2009 at 4:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )