Contract
Five days ago Mitt Romney wrote a N.Y. Times Op-Ed that made great sense, saying in essence that the Big 3 Detroit car manufacturers have to do a major overhaul (including the removal of General Motors' Richard Wagoner, Chrysler's Robert Nardelli and Ford's Alan Mulally) before the government can begin to think about helping out.
I was amazed to find myself in total agreement with Romney of all people, who had done nothing but anger and irritate me all through the primary campaign season. He basically said the auto industry needs to hire some Steve Jobs-type guys to streamline and revamp, and that means the Big 3 dickwads need to go.
And once it became known that Wagoner, Nardelli and Mulally had flown to Washington, D.C., in three separate corporate jets, I channelled Frank Pentangeli in that Lake Tahoe scene in The Godfather, Part II. "I want those Rosotto brothers dead," he told Al Pacino's Michael Corleone. "No," snapped Pacino. "Morte," Pantengeli said again.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 23, 2008 at 9:01 AM
comment #1
astrophore
says ...
I agree that the auto industry requires a major overhaul. Have them merge or file for Chapter 11. The bankruptcy laws give companies the ability to work through their problems in an orderly fashion, and both the unions and management need to be under the gun. Consumers will get comfortable that there will be parts for their cars in the future -- they aren't going to run away from buying American cars just because the companies are in Chapter 11, especially if there are good deals to be had.
And if a revitalized management can trim costs and produce cars that people want, all will be forgiven.
(But the corporate jet issue is a red herring -- of course executives should fly on private jets. The security issue is one thing, but the convenience is just as important. I don't want a CEO to cool her heels all day at LaGuardia because the flight to O'Hare is terminally delayed. That's a waste of time. Whether a CEO pays for a fractional membership, buys a plane outright, or uses the corporate jet, I don't much care. This is a tail-wagging-the-dog thing.)
Posted by astrophore
at November 23, 2008 10:20 AM
comment #2
BurmaShave
says ...
Yeah I found myself in the same quandary. That's the big thing with Romney- he's a total sleaze, but he's also wicked smart.
"(But the corporate jet issue is a red herring -- of course executives should fly on private jets. The security issue is one thing, but the convenience is just as important. I don't want a CEO to cool her heels all day at LaGuardia because the flight to O'Hare is terminally delayed. That's a waste of time. Whether a CEO pays for a fractional membership, buys a plane outright, or uses the corporate jet, I don't much care. This is a tail-wagging-the-dog thing.)"
This is pretty insane, astrophore. You're like an economic battered wife. And even if I agreed with your position, they took three separate private jets. If they were going to the same place to ask for the same things, why not one?
Posted by BurmaShave
at November 23, 2008 10:37 AM
comment #3
astrophore
says ...
Burmashave -- I agree that they could have saved costs by jetpooling, but in the grand scheme of things, they wouldn't have saved that much (fuel from Detroit to DC, pilot expenses). With a $25 billion bailout on the line, a few thousand dollars of aircraft costs would have been a symbolic gesture. Not that those are completely without value -- I'm just not moved by this particular symbol.
Posted by astrophore
at November 23, 2008 11:19 AM
comment #4
nemo
says ...
I'm glad Romney is not president, but he does know a thing or two about business.
If you're going to come beg for the taxpayers' money, symbolism counts for a lot. Those Big 3 douche bags should have driven in a car-pool from Detroit to DC.
There was some ruler of the Holy Roman Empire in the Middle Ages who came to beg the forgiveness of the pope by walking barefoot through the snow. There was a guy who understood how political symbolism works.
Posted by nemo
at November 23, 2008 12:21 PM
comment #5
ZayTonday
says ...
As others have said, while Romney has that far-right "social conservative" craziness to him (just check out his RNC speech for evidence of that) and the used car salesman sleaze, when it comes to business the dude is as smart as they get.
Posted by ZayTonday
at November 23, 2008 12:59 PM
comment #6
SpinDozer
says ...
I'm not sure this should be classified as wicked smart ... I'm thinking 'stating the obvious' is more accurate.
Posted by SpinDozer
at November 23, 2008 2:29 PM
comment #7
DaysOfTaste
says ...
These politico-Godfather comparisons have quickly become some of my favorite posts from you Wells.
PLEASE, keep it up, make it a... thing.
You hear what Romney said about homosexuals on The View?
Posted by DaysOfTaste
at November 23, 2008 6:52 PM
comment #8
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at March 5, 2010 9:24 PM
comment #9
janee
says ...
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Posted by janee
at May 19, 2011 1:56 AM
comment #10
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says ...
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