Plus that cool NW terminal in Detroit.

These execs clearly don't get it.  Sadly, I think they will get their bailout, and then they'll be back in 6 months asking for more.  The case for some sort of bankruptcy seems to be pretty strong.  Mitt Romney had a pretty good article in the NY Times about it:

www.nytimes.com/.../19romney.html

Say what you will about Matinee Mitt, but his business acumen is sound.

I think you are right on this.  They ought to at least have shared a jet so as not to leave themselves so vulnerable to an easy attack.

But, next time a movie start comes out and tells everybody to ride a moped, I want you there pointing at their Gulfstreams.

Chan,

The obvious difference between the two in this case is the cost of the subject's hypocrisy to taxpayers and shareholders.

There, there Jon.  You did your best.

ritebrother writes, "The obvious difference between the two in this case is the cost of the subject's hypocrisy to taxpayers and shareholders."

Yes.  But the movie stars' idiocy is noticed by more people than will this incident be.  Why should the Democarts be complicit in it and make themselves look like they are insincere about the environment by scolding only the rest of us, but never their Hollywood supporters.

I'm confused.  Is Hollywood asking for a bailout now?

Chan - When and if Paramount comes looking for a bailout, I'll take you up on that.

Meantime, I see that Bob Nardelli hasn't learned much since he ran Home Depot into the ground and walked away from the wreckage with $215M.

asistos writes, "...I'm confused.  Is Hollywood asking for a bailout now?"  And others express similar.

Uh, it's actually the opposite.  The Democratic Party frequently turns to Hollywood for "bailouts".

Hence, exposing its own hypocrisy in not calling Hollywood on its hypocrisy in regards to Greenieness.

In short, quit asking us to do green shit until Dem politicians and high profile Dem supporters are willing to do the same.

People get bored with the bullshit.

P.S. although the chief execs of Detroit are the ones officially asking for the bailout, it is the auto unions that the Democrats care about.  And the reason they are entertaining the question at all.

What is needed is some sort of combination of bankruptcy and government cushioning to protect auto pensioners and the economy in general.

Detroit companies need massive restructuring, new union contracts etc in order to compete with the Japanese and Germans who compete quite well making cars in the United States.  Although, nowhere near Detroit.

When I was doing corporate training (teaching the Chinese management to shuo yingwen) for Shanghai GM ten years ago Wagoners arrogance even then was legendary, and he wasn't even head boss then. When he came to China he was treated like a head of state, police motorcades, etc. Even the elevator in his hotel was reserved for him, with a staff member sent ahead to hold the door open for him. Personell were instructed not to talk to him, or even look him in the eye, unless spoken to. He is a serious asshole. I only hope that he is shown the door. Being a contract employee I never met him, but the Chinese there hated him. On the other hand there were plenty of bosses from other American firms who were great and who the workers liked and admired. The Mars brothers were very down to earth (go figure)

blackie, great and interesting insights about Wagoner.

GM has been badly lead since the 70s.  For a long time they were dominated by a beancounter mentality.  They could give a damn about making decent cars.

I have noticed, in very recent years, the cars getting better.  But, too little, too late.

I am quite certain Detroit and GM have the talent and infractructure to compete with the world in car building.  But their top leadership has been clueless forever.

A big for instance:  we got a wakeup call about energy prices 35 years.  But Detroit has hardly done diddly about it.  Then they complain they were blindsided earlier this year with skyrocketing gas prices.

And a second for instance, Toyota, Nissa, and Honda have all been making an excellent living for more than a quarter century making high quality, smaller cars.  GM didn't notice?

Just a major joke.