This posting is dedicated to all the men and women serving America abroad. Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, State Dept. and anyone else out there who is working to protect our freedom and interests. Thank You Very Very Much!!!


The week before Christmas 2008
(for Detroit and D. C.)

T'was the week before Christmas and all through the plants,
not a creature was stirring, not even the ants.
The assembly lines were shut down with great care
In hopes that Uncle Sam would soon bring repair.

From politicos in D. C. there rose such a chatter,
"We cannot allow Detroit's factories to be battered!!!"
The Motor City Magi hopped in their private jets
and flew to D. C. to beg for as much money as they could get.

They went to Congress with visions of C-notes in their heads
but were admonished "you should have driven instead!!!"
Back to the Motor City the Magi's chariot's did fly,
all so heartbroken they could have cried.

"Who are these wise-arses to treat us in this manner?
Fannie and Freddie prove us managers much better.
If we could only get back our campaign contributions
that would give us true problem resolution!"

The magi gave a collective shrug and dejectedly sighed
"It's back to D. C. we all must fly.. make that drive!!!"
They ordered their lackeys to acquire them good wheels.

"Get a Ford!! Get a Chevy!!!
Get a Chrysler! Get a Buick!!
No Navigators! no Suburbans!
No Vipers! No Vettes!!!
especially no Camry or Civic!"

The Magi dashed landward to the East this time
Hoping their gestures would work just fine.
Democrats vowed taxpayers they would protect
and still save the industry from its own neglect.

Republicans responded with "wait just a minute,
we can't protect taxpayers without taxation limits!!
We're not Santa Claus, nor the Easter Bunny
The taxpayers just don't have that much money!!"

This put the hot potato in the President's lap
He told the magi" this is the time to act.
I will authorize $14 billion to you.
In return this is what you need to do."

"By march 31 2009 you will have a plan in place
to reverse 30 years losses in the market share race
You must get all your stakeholders to work together
to make your companies a whole lot better."

The magi did thank him for the multitude of bucks
"It's nothing" he said "as Pres I'm just a lame duck.
This time next month you'll deal with a new president
who wants to spread the wealth to all US residents."

This thought made Mr. Bush look forward to Texas
and getting away from the city of taxes.
He was overcome by a flood of so much good cheer
He proclaimed "Merry Christmas and a happy new year!!"

The End (finally)

Why a car czar creeps me out.

During the oil embargo of the early 1970s, President Nixon appointed James Love as Energy Czar to head the newly formed Federal Energy Administration. Now we are stuck with a cabinet level agency, the Department of Energy in its place. Did we really need another bureaucracy in the first place? I don't think so.

My concern is a Car Czar will transform itself into another large bureaucracy. Thank goodness President Bush did not appoint a Czar for 31 days, he just left the responsibility with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. The Treasury Dept. is funding the auto bailout so they should oversee the use of the funds.

My advice for President Elect Obama is this. Make a list of all the government agencies that GM Ford and Chrysler have to deal with now. I'll get you started with the obvious, departments of Labor, Commerce, Transportation, EPA. These are just a few cabinet level federal agencies. Don't forget the various and sundry state and municipal governmental entities they deal with. Is another large bureaucracy going to make the Big 3 manufacturers into instant turnarounds? No, it will only strain their ability to turn a profit, the basic ingredient of a viable recovery.