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I've been saying for a couple of months how I want to buy a new car, but my biggest fear is that my income would drop to the point where it would be crazy to have the car payment. Lots of people feel this way as proven in the following article: Quote:
GM, Ford, Chrysler, Honda, Toyota and Nissan sales dive, Hyundai promotion leads to sales gain
Posted by Robert Schoenberger/Plain Dealer Reporter February 03, 2009 14:04PM
CLEVELAND -- Fear of a weak economy drove the auto sales market in January.
Despite continued price slashing, almost every major automaker posted a huge sales decline for the month. Chrysler led the downward slide with a 55 percent decline.
The only company to post a significant gain was also the only manufacturer to try to address consumer fears over taking on car payments during a recession - Hyundai Motor Co.
Last month, the company began offering its assurance program - a pledge to let buyers return their cars and stop making payments if they lose their jobs within the first year of buying or leasing a new Hyundai.
"In less than a month, we've already seen the assurance program being listed as one of the top three reasons for shopping a Hyundai," Art Spinella, president of CNW Marketing Research in Bandon, Ore., said. Spinella surveys hundreds of car buyers every month.
He attributed the program to the company's 14 percent sales increase in January, and Spinella said other manufacturers would probably follow with their own versions.
John Ashby, general manager of Crestwood Hyundai in Brunswick, said January was a good month for his dealership.
"It's definitely helped us in putting deals together," Ashby said, adding that consumers feel safer knowing that they won't ruin their credit if they can't make car payments. "It's been a good closing tool, and people have been asking about it."
Hyundai's sister company Kia posted a much smaller gain for January, something that research company Edmunds.com attributed to heavy discounting. After cash-back deals, the average Kia cost about 17 percent less than the number listed on the window sticker.
Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC all offered less in cash-back deals in January than they did in December. Ford sales analyst George Pipas said the company didn't see much point in slashing prices below where they were last month.
As Spinella put it, consumers aren't avoiding lots because cars are too expensive. They're avoiding lots because they can't get financing or they're scared to buy.
The biggest losses at Ford, GM and Chrysler came from fleet buyers - rental car companies, government agencies and large businesses that buy hundreds of cars at a time. All three companies have been trying to reduce fleet sales in recent years.
Fleet customers tend to buy vehicles at cost or even under cost, so there's not much profit there. Even worse, rental companies historically use their vehicles for a few months before dumping them on the used-vehicle market, depressing prices for used cars.
Pipas estimated that in January, fleet customers made up about 10 percent of the market, down from 23 percent a year ago.
GM sales vice president Mark LaNeve said his company has been raising its prices to fleet customers for years. That forced sales down, but the sales it did make were profitable. So GM isn't celebrating the loss of the once money-losing sales.
"Rental-car companies are holding their vehicles double to triple what they were a year ago," LaNeve said.
When it comes to retail sales to individual buyers, both GM and Ford said they gained market share. Chrysler also blamed poor fleet sales for its massive sales decline, but it also said its retail sales were weaker than its competitors.
Chrysler said it believes Americans could buy as few as 10 million cars this year, a huge decline from 2008's 13.2 million-vehicle pace. In reports to Congress last year, the company said it expected U.S. sales to be 11.1 million this year.
Chrysler executives continued to blame poor credit availability for sales woes.
Although dealers say they can find lending for most buyers, Chrysler sales vice president Steven Landry said, "Many more consumers wanted to buy a vehicle than could qualify for financing under the current credit conditions."
The government loaned Chrysler $4 billion last year, but the company says it needs another $3 billion to finish its restructuring plan. GM got $13.4 billion in loans. Ford did not take out loans but said it may need help if the market continues to decline.
http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2009/02/ford_sales_plunge_in_january.html
Last edited by Damanshot; 02/03/09 06:50 PM.
#GMSTRONG
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Damanshot
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A few of us have stated on here, and been mocked for it, that consumer confidence is a HUGE factor in influencing the market... tell people things are getting bad, they stop spending money, and voila, things are getting bad... it's like a self-fulfilling prophecy.
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Yep, and it's getting old quickly when you run a retail business.  I really wish the media would stop trying to terrify everyone. Just remember: In every moment the only choice we make is love or fear. Be still and observe your choice.
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The funny thing is that for those people that are able to survive the recession with their jobs....if they are scared to spend $$$, they end up in better shape than they were in at the start becfause they are either saving $$$ or at least not adding debt.
So, when people start saying it's safe to spend $$$ again, they find they are in a prime position to do it and the economy recovers very quickly.
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Being on the outside looking in : I thought one of the biggest problems ( States ) was getting credit to buy New ?? I remember a post by GM a while talking about an older reited couple that even owned their own home ( and so on ) but got turned down for a loan ???
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Quote:
A few of us have stated on here, and been mocked for it, that consumer confidence is a HUGE factor in influencing the market...
I can't remember the thread it was on, but I made the comment that I believe that only 50% of the news about our economy is bad,, the other 50% of bad news is media driven....LOL I got ripped for it.. that's for sure.
#GMSTRONG
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Daniel Patrick Moynahan
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Damanshot
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What your saying is true NO Logo... I hope to be one of them...LOL
Water, yeah, GM works as a finance guy at a GM dealer in the area. getting financing is a problem,, but it can be done. Serpentini Chevy around the corner from my place is STILL saying they can get you financed in 30 minutes or less.
The media has TOOOOOO much power when it comes to shaping public opinion. All we here is doom and gloom.
How many people are out of work,,,,8% of those capable and wanting to work.. Doesn't that mean then that 92% are employed?
How come they don't talk about that!
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
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What happens to the car when the buyer stops making payments?
Do they not then repo the car?
If so...what is the "assurance" plan? A marketing ploy to make you "feel" better?
If you buy a car from GM...then later stop making payments because you lose your job...don't they repo the car?
So...what is the difference?
My guess is that this is a brilliant marketing ploy by Hyundai to make you think their "deal" is different, when it is no different than if you bought the car from some other company.
I could be wrong because I haven't looked at the details...I'm guessing the throngs of new buyers didn't look at the details either.
My buddy and a client own a Hyundai and they both love them.
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Quote:
The funny thing is that for those people that are able to survive the recession with their jobs....if they are scared to spend $$$, they end up in better shape than they were in at the start becfause they are either saving $$$ or at least not adding debt.
So, when people start saying it's safe to spend $$$ again, they find they are in a prime position to do it and the economy recovers very quickly.
Except that inflation will finally kick in and the money that has saved won't be worth much.
The Dems have finally won because they promise money to people without.....how do you not vote for that if you are lazy, stupid, or unlucky?
JMO
I will add idealist to appease.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn. GM Strong ![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/small-gator-chomp.gif)
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Willie,, No, it's not a repo. it doesn't show up on your credit as a repo.. what you lose is any down payment you may have put down on the car.. they take it back as if it was a lease. Point being, if within a year of purchase, you lose your job and can no longer make your payments,, you call them up and bring the car in... you wash your hands of the car... done,, and over with.. no residual effect on your credit. All it is is comforting. Now,, lose your job 13 months after purchase and your stuck buddy 
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
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Quote:
The Dems have finally won because they promise money to people without.....
Hmm, they haven't promised me a damn thing.... I still get up every morning, I still trott down the hall to my home office, I still check my email, I still make sales calls, I still drive the business everyday..
In other words, not a damn thing has changed for me other then it's harder to find business then it was three months ago and some of the business I had went away with Layoffs.... is that the dems fault also?
What else do you want to blame on Dems...
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
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So the only difference is they don't put it on your credit? Sounds like GM/Ford/Chrysler should copycat...no? I wonder how many people think they still get to keep the car. 
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Quote:
What else do you want to blame on Dems...
OBama and Biden keep talking about this huge crisis we're in, only fueling the media to get behind it.
How about this stupid stimulus bill with all the pork in it. Why can't they make a pure stimulus bill and a pure spending bill? Can't Washington leave the lobbyist, special interest, junk aside and make an honest bill? It seems simple enough to me.......
Chris Dodd certainly wasn't helpful in this housing crisis............
UCONN HUSKIES 2014 Champions of Basketball
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Quote:
How many people are out of work,,,,8% of those capable and wanting to work.. Doesn't that mean then that 92% are employed?
How come they don't talk about that!
Because that would be a lie.
You see, when your benifits are exhausted, you no longer qualify as "unemployed". So what the REAL % of unemployed people are is never truely reflected.
Our own government has done this to create "positive spin" by doing this.
But I don't see anybody on this thread complaining about that.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
#gmstrong
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Quote:
Quote:
How many people are out of work,,,,8% of those capable and wanting to work.. Doesn't that mean then that 92% are employed?
How come they don't talk about that!
Because that would be a lie.
You see, when your benifits are exhausted, you no longer qualify as "unemployed". So what the REAL % of unemployed people are is never truely reflected.
Our own government has done this to create "positive spin" by doing this.
But I don't see anybody on this thread complaining about that.
You must not read very carefully. I've mentioned it numerous times over the past 8 months or so.
I'm a pretty sharp guy whether you care to admit it or not. And I'll say it again here, our reported unemployment rate is no where near what the true unemployment rate is.
Still doesn't mean jobs aren't available though. Jobs that paid what an unemployed person used to make? Those are much tougher to come by.
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Quote:
I'm a pretty sharp guy whether you care to admit it or not. And I'll say it again here, our reported unemployment rate is no where near what the true unemployment rate is.
I believe you're a VERY bright guy Arch. Just because we disagree on many issues doesn't mean I think you're stupid Arch.
But you are right, I've been avoiding many of these debates and even avoid reading many of these threads lately.
Why? Because I can pretty much predict the bulk of their content without having to waste my time reading them. I'm a pretty sharp guy too. Wheather you admit it or not.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
#gmstrong
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Quote:
So the only difference is they don't put it on your credit?
Sounds like GM/Ford/Chrysler should copycat...no?
I wonder how many people think they still get to keep the car.
The article eluded to Ford, GM and Chrysler doiing thier own version of it.. But no details.
As for how many think they get to keep the car,,, god only knows, but I bet more than 1 will get that impression...
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
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Quote:
You see, when your benifits are exhausted, you no longer qualify as "unemployed". So what the REAL % of unemployed people are is never truely reflected.
Being inthe employment business, I"m pretty aware of that fact Pit. But what you find more often than not is that once or close to once the uemployment benefits are exhausted, many people take jobs that are less than they would accept otherwise.
So the unemployed become, to some degree, the UNDER EMPLOYED. The mechanical Engineer running a McDonalds as a trainee kinda thing.
Or they work under the table. I remember when my father was laid off from GM from time to time,, since he had a shoe repair business (in moms name) he could collect something called Sub Pay... not sure what that was. But he had extra time on his hands... so he'd help people build things. Turns out dad was a helluva carpenter.
He'd help his friends in construction put in kitchens or bathrooms or finish off basements or build garages. Dad used to laugh that when he was laid off from Fisher Body (GM Div) he could actually make more cash cause some of it was under the table thus non taxible.
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
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All Pro
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Quote:
Quote:
The funny thing is that for those people that are able to survive the recession with their jobs....if they are scared to spend $$$, they end up in better shape than they were in at the start becfause they are either saving $$$ or at least not adding debt.
So, when people start saying it's safe to spend $$$ again, they find they are in a prime position to do it and the economy recovers very quickly.
Except that inflation will finally kick in and the money that has saved won't be worth much.
The Dems have finally won because they promise money to people without.....how do you not vote for that if you are lazy, stupid, or unlucky?
JMO
I will add idealist to appease.
Peen, your posts lately are pretty hateful.
I'm a Democrat, I agree there are some that want free things for doing nothing, but don't group us all together.
Play nice.
How in the world can you fix something...
If you don't know how it's supposed to work?
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Yes,
Consumer confidence is a huge factor in the economy but this isn't some media driven event that is going on. We have lost over 1 million jobs from various companies and that is not the media driving down consumer confidence. If people have jobs, and are able spend the extra money they have, the economy rolls along. When people are losing jobs, they will not spend their extra money. That coupled with the huge debt people and companies were accumulating leads to the economy slowing to a crawl. Add in the crap from the banking industry, now we have a global recession. This is more than media driven for sure!
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These problems have been going on for a while. No one panicked until the media started making a big deal out of it.
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Quote:
These problems have been going on for a while. No one panicked until the media started making a big deal out of it.
I'm still not panicing and I'm in computer sales.. and I have a lot of things coming up in the future that I will need a job for.. But I don't see any big reason to panic..it's still not as bad as everyone is making it out to be.. people are still buying... yes they are still a little scared to do so, but I think like what is being said here is being driven by the media.. Yes my job just let someone go, but they haven't been performing since they got into sales.. and everyone else's numbers are about the same. I just don't see it beyond a few comments from people stating how "bad" the economy is...the only real people to worry are those who are retiring now.
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](http://i.imgur.com/FUKyw.png) "Don't be burdened by regrets or make your failures an obsession or become embittered or possessed by ruined hopes"
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Quote:
A few of us have stated on here, and been mocked for it, that consumer confidence is a HUGE factor in influencing the market... tell people things are getting bad, they stop spending money, and voila, things are getting bad... it's like a self-fulfilling prophecy.
AMEN
I AM ALWAYS RIGHT... except when I am wrong.
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Quote:
Peen, your posts lately are pretty hateful.
I'm a Democrat, I agree there are some that want free things for doing nothing, but don't group us all together.
Play nice.
I thought I did....you should have seen it before I deleted a few adjectives and decided to add idealist.
No problem JC....hate isn't in the mix.....my words can be aimed at many republicans as well.
I am tired of the greed.
I am tired of moral decay
I am tired of criminals
I am tired of the continued loss of rights and many seemingly OK with that.
I am tired of people no longer working for a common goal....shoot, you can't even put together a decent neighborhood watch without people bickering over stupid stuff let alone agree on national issues.
Oh..I am tired of my NFL team sucking while others find ways to win every once in a while.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn. GM Strong
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JC..
I'm pretty sure there are jobs out there, maybe not the jobs some people "think" they deserve or should have to do, but when it comes to feeding and caring for my family I'm not to proud to take something to tide me over.
I look at the ads in the paper everyday, and there are plenty of job listings.
We don't have to agree with each other, to respect each others opinion.
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
The funny thing is that for those people that are able to survive the recession with their jobs....if they are scared to spend $$$, they end up in better shape than they were in at the start becfause they are either saving $$$ or at least not adding debt.
So, when people start saying it's safe to spend $$$ again, they find they are in a prime position to do it and the economy recovers very quickly.
Except that inflation will finally kick in and the money that has saved won't be worth much.
The Dems have finally won because they promise money to people without.....how do you not vote for that if you are lazy, stupid, or unlucky?
JMO
I will add idealist to appease.
Peen, your posts lately are pretty hateful.
I'm a Democrat, I agree there are some that want free things for doing nothing, but don't group us all together.
Play nice.
What's hateful about them? He's giving his opinion, just because you don't like agree with it and he's possibly pointing a finger at your side doesn't mean it's "hateful" or wrong.
Truth hurts sometimes. 
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Dog, I will concede to you that confidence is certainly NOT the only factor... but it is a big one. Corrections for overvalued stocks, corrections for an overvalued home market, (both of which by the way are fueled by little more than consumer confidence) ....oil prices, national security lots of stuff can affect the economy.... Quote:
Consumer confidence is a huge factor in the economy but this isn't some media driven event that is going on. We have lost over 1 million jobs from various companies and that is not the media driving down consumer confidence. If people have jobs, and are able spend the extra money they have, the economy rolls along.
This is my point because it is a circular argument.... why have we lost over 1 million jobs? In part because people were TOLD the economy sucks so don't spend any money. Even those whose income hasn't changed and whose jobs are fairly secure are NOT spending the same money they were before and that is snowballing the problem...
So it is media driven to an extent... there are underlying causes which may have caused a blip on the economic radar.. but the media takes that blip and turns it into a frenzy with reports of pending global disaster...
You watch Dog, over the next few months Obama is going to start enacting some policies and those policies will start to get touted as good... Once the "good policies" start to get some press things will start to improve... You will start seeing reports that we've hit bottom and are on the way back up....
What was the leading contributor the banking and stock market crash of '29? Panic.
yebat' Putin
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Quote:
I am tired of the greed.
I am tired of moral decay
I am tired of criminals
I am tired of the continued loss of rights and many seemingly OK with that.
I am tired of people no longer working for a common goal....shoot, you can't even put together a decent neighborhood watch without people bickering over stupid stuff let alone agree on national issues.
Oh..I am tired of my NFL team sucking while others find ways to win every once in a while.
Your turning into me 
Everybody back away from Peen's finger
I AM ALWAYS RIGHT... except when I am wrong.
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Quote:
You watch Dog, over the next few months Obama is going to start enacting some policies and those policies will start to get touted as good... Once the "good policies" start to get some press things will start to improve... You will start seeing reports that we've hit bottom and are on the way back up....
This is what I fear too ...
At what point do we start calling our media, "state run"? Maybe Baghdad Bob can get a job again? 
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maybe we should make a clear designation on what can be called a "News" outlet versus a "Media" outlet. Probably most of the local news shows would be relabeled. I mean come on, we just had a news story about some basketball coach wearing sneakers on the sidelines in support of some cause. Is that really news? Who the heck found that story, and who decided it was worth 80 secs of airtime? 
We don't have to agree with each other, to respect each others opinion.
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News hasn't been news since the show "Hard Copy" was broadcast. Now it's all fluff and spin. Pretty sad. No more Hutley and Brinkley's in the world. 
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
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Obama: Catastrophe coming if Congress doesn't act Wednesday, February 4, 2009 12:59 PM WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama said Wednesday the recession will turn into "a catastrophe" if the economic stimulus is not passed quickly, lobbying anew for the plan as its price tag climbed above $900 billion and drew more criticism. The president rejected several complaints about the plan, including arguments that tax cuts alone would solve the problem or that longer-term goals such as energy independence and health care reform should wait. Obama opposed such piecemeal approaches. Instead, he argued that recalcitrant lawmakers need to get behind him, saying the American people embraced his ideas when they elected him president in November. While urging members of Congress to act swiftly, he also promised to make changes to the legislation, which has been criticized as larded with spending that won't have an immediate impact on the economy. "No plan is perfect, and we should work to make it stronger," Obama told reporters at the White House. "Let's not make the perfect the enemy of the essential. Let's show people all over our country who are looking for leadership in this difficult time that we are equal to the task." Obama has sought each day to ratchet up the pressure on lawmakers, bringing different supportive groups to the White House, scheduling a series of TV interviews, even traveling to a charter school to tout one portion of the bill. "A failure to act, and act now, will turn crisis into a catastrophe and guarantee a longer recession, a less robust recovery, and a more uncertain future," he said. "That's why I feel such a sense of urgency about the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Plan." The Senate added money to its version of the bill for medical research and tax breaks for car purchases. The price tag could go yet higher Wednesday if a tax break for homebuyers is made more generous, even as centrists in both parties promise to clear away spending items that won't jump-start the economy immediately. In an interview on CNN on Tuesday, Obama signaled a willingness to drop items that "may not really stimulate the economy right now." He also signaled he'll try to remove "buy American" provisions in the legislation to avoid a possible trade war. In a victory for auto manufacturers and dealers, Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., won a 71-26 vote to allow most car buyers to claim an income tax deduction for sales taxes paid on new autos and interest payments on car loans. The break would cost $11 billion over the coming decade but could mean savings of $1,500 on a $25,000 car. "Just as we need to get the housing market going, we need to get auto sales going," said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. Wednesday's session could produce even more generous savings for homebuyers. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., is pressing for a tax credit of up to $15,000 for everyone who buys a home this year, at a cost of $18.5 billion. The pending measure would award a $7,500 tax credit only to first-time homebuyers. At the same time, centrist senators, including Ben Nelson, D-Neb., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, are seeking to cut tens of billions of dollars from the legislation. They're operating with the blessing of Democratic leaders, who hope a successful effort could attract some GOP votes for Obama's plan. Obama summoned Collins to a White House meeting Wednesday afternoon, a Collins aide said. Democratic leaders conceded they may soon be obliged to cut billions of dollars from the measure. "It goes without saying if it's going to pass in the Senate, it has to be bipartisan," said Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Democratic leader, adding that rank-and-file lawmakers in both parties want to reduce the cost of the bill. In a series of skirmishes Tuesday, the Senate turned back a proposal to add $25 billion for public works projects and voted to remove a $246 million tax break for movie producers. Both moves were engineered by Republicans who are critical of the bill's size and voice skepticism of its ability to create jobs.
But several hours later, GOP conservatives didn't contest approval of a $6.5 billion increase in research funding for the politically popular National Institutes of Health. That amendment, by Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, drove the price tag of Obama's plan just above $900 billion.Democratic leaders have pledged to have the bill ready for Obama's signature by mid-month. __________________________ This pork crap has got to stop! Why, oh why, can't they just put stuff in the bill for what it is about?!? Not that I agree with the bill, or think it will really do anything, but stop tacking stuff onto these things!
#gmstrong
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,248
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,248 |
I wish there was a way the citizens could pass a proposition into law, like you can on the state level. Excessive government spending will never go away unless a line-item veto is enacted or some sort of "pork-reform" law ... too bad the only way to pass that into law, is to go through Congress ... and they're not going to want to give up power like that. 
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 661
All Pro
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All Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 661 |
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Peen, your posts lately are pretty hateful.
I'm a Democrat, I agree there are some that want free things for doing nothing, but don't group us all together.
Play nice.
I thought I did....you should have seen it before I deleted a few adjectives and decided to add idealist.
No problem JC....hate isn't in the mix.....my words can be aimed at many republicans as well.
I am tired of the greed.
I am tired of moral decay
I am tired of criminals
I am tired of the continued loss of rights and many seemingly OK with that.
I am tired of people no longer working for a common goal....shoot, you can't even put together a decent neighborhood watch without people bickering over stupid stuff let alone agree on national issues.
Oh..I am tired of my NFL team sucking while others find ways to win every once in a while.
I'm telling ya, the Browns are doing it to everybody. Making us all angry that we stink and the stools win another Super Bowl.
How in the world can you fix something...
If you don't know how it's supposed to work?
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 40,399
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 40,399 |
Quote:
President Barack Obama said Wednesday the recession will turn into "a catastrophe" if the economic stimulus is not passed quickly, ...
Well at least he isn't using FEAR as a weapon to get his initiatives passed..... 
yebat' Putin
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 40,399
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 40,399 |
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This pork crap has got to stop!
1. It's not going to.
2. I'd rather give $100 Billion to NIH for research than $.10 to movie producers.
yebat' Putin
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,465
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,465 |
Quote:
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President Barack Obama said Wednesday the recession will turn into "a catastrophe" if the economic stimulus is not passed quickly, ...
Well at least he isn't using FEAR as a weapon to get his initiatives passed.....
It's a Bush League tactic.
Seriously, though...I know everyone expects me to be the pessimist around here...but Obama had stumbled out of the gates.
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 15,188
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 15,188 |
This is not a media driven problem folks .. its real and tangeant ... for many fundamental reasons that folks have ignored and not talked about for years ... its been coming for a long time ... this dilema were in now started about 2 decades ago ..... and U all can say what u want .... but the fact of the matter is were only at the tip of the iceberg ... its going to get alot worse and pretty quick ...
I read today that our gov't is going to sell more bonds in the first quarter of 09 than in anytime in history ... and my guess is that is going to barely make up for the loss in tax revenue there about to incur ...
I do not know what it is like where U are from ... but in my little corner of the world ... the state and local budgets are all ready getting slashed ... there talking about 5 - 10 % reductions in school admin/support and teachers in EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL DISTRICT ....
there talking about reduced services .. there talking about either mandatory days off and/or layoffs in local and county and state goverment agencies ...
by the end of this year I'm guessing at least 7 or 8 states will be in need of bailouts ... there going to run out of money ... and it would not shock me if the first one is before the 09/10 school year starts in Sept ...
the private sector is no better ..... My friends that work at companies that have had cutbacks out number my friends that work at companies that have not ... small/large ... local/national/global .. everyone is being affected ... most of the folks I know are not afraid cause of what the press says ... there afraid cause they've had co workers lose jobs .....
we can point the finger at whomever we want ... we can pretend it is not happening ... that will not help ... its not easy ... but the best thing u can do is try your best to COPE and PLAN for it ....
its gonna get ugly folks ... weather we want it to or not and weather the media continues to pound it home or not ... the media does not help ... but it is not the medias fault .... this would be happening without them ....maybe things are better where U all live .... but in my neck of the woods ... it ain't pretty ...
and Obama and anyone else that thinks this stimilus package is going to "save" us is just kidding themselves ..... were way way beyond that ....
the one thing I find fascanating and i am very curious to find out about .... is who the heck is the gov't going to sell all these bonds to .. I know I wouldn't buy one right now ... the US gov't is not a real good investment IMO ...
My how things have changed ...
Good Luck with it folks ... interesting times ahead ....
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Posts: 1,663
Dawg Talker
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Dawg Talker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,663 |
Diam, I'm not saying it's entirely media driven. But you have to acknowledge that the media has played a role, and a significant one at that.
That's not to say there are no problems that are facing us. Because there are. The media is preying on consumer confidence. The sensationalistic wording used in their nightly reports, the "WOW" factor they are playing up. It's all helping to erode consumer confidence which in turn is forcing bigger cuts.
For instance, I saw on one of the morning news outlets today that Walmart showed a INCREASE in sales for last month. It was on that scrolling line under the reporters. But all the reporters were talking about was the "HUGE increase in jobless claims". Not one word in over 45 mins of show about the increase in sales. There was talk about the declining number of sales from Chrysler and GM and Ford, but not one mention of Hyundai gaining 16%.
It's not so much what they report as what they leave out. When people only listen and don't read, they become lemmings and are ready to jump off the cliff because the media tells them the sky is falling.
KeysDawg
The fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. - Carl Sagan
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 15,015
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 15,015 |
Quote:
It's not so much what they report as what they leave out. When people only listen and don't read, they become lemmings and are ready to jump off the cliff because the media tells them the sky is falling.
The mothership is coming soon, would you like to join my close-knit group of friends as we prepare for her arrival to take us away.
We don't have to agree with each other, to respect each others opinion.
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Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum If this doesn't prove fear is our
enemy, nothing does
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