A bit from last night’s Countdown that I hope nobody missed —
OLBERMANN: The filibuster threat here is partially Senator Shelby’s of Alabama and I’m missing something in this equation. Alabama has given more in tax subsidies per job for non-union jobs at foreign automakers plants in Alabama than Detroit is asking to save union jobs for American auto manufacturers. I’m missing something here.
[CHRIS] HAYES: Well, you’re not missing anything. I mean, this is the worst kept secret in Washington when you talk about the auto bailout. Every time you see Carl Levin and see Janet Granholm or any Michigan politician, there’s an implicit understanding and there’s a treatment from the press that they are representing distinct and, sometimes, narrow geographical interests of the people they represent.
The same, though, is true of a lot of the politicians from the southeast, particularly Alabama. The largest industry in Alabama is the car industry. And, you know, we’re talking about, you know, throwing taxpayer dollars at the Big Three. Well, they’ve been throwing taxpayer dollars at Toyota for years in Alabama, and no one raises a stink about that.
OLBERMANN: And to what degree also is in this an opportunity that the Republicans see for kneecapping a big union?
HAYES: Yes. I mean, at the level of power politics, I think that’s a huge part of it, and you see it in terms of you read the conservative press. People are obsessed with the erroneous number that is somehow $70 an hour in labor. We know that’s not true. David Leonhardt had a very good piece from “The Times” on that today.
I believe this is the David Leonhardt piece referred to. You can watch the entire segment here:
This is nothing short of economic treason. Selling out American industry to kneecap a large union. Who benefits? Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, etc. “Buy American or its bye bye America” I used to have that bumper sticker on my 1975 ford maverick back in 1975. Who knew?
This is nothing short of economic treason. Selling out American industry to kneecap a large union. Who benefits? Toyota, Nissan, Subaru, etc. “Buy American or its bye bye America” I used to have that bumper sticker on my 1975 ford maverick back in 1979. Who knew?
I love the intertubes, heres a picture of the bumper sticker, it was sold at a great little bar in chicago:
http://chicagoist.com/2005/09/09/the_legacy_of_the_bucket_osuds.php
Can every one say, “Union busting.” That’s what this is all about.
These idiots are willing to bust an economy to bust a union. Now, the only hope is GWB?
I’m at a complete loss for words…
Senate Republicans Screw The Auto Rescue Bridge Loan
Looks like we might actually get to a full scale Depression after the Senate Republicans, led by southern senators with foreign car companies based in their states, shot down the $14 BillionBig 3 bailout.
Richard Shelby of Alabama cried the crocodile tears for the Repubs saying that the Big 3 didn’t know how to be competitive any more and that bailouts don’t work.
GM and Chrysler will probably go bankrupt and restructure…but this will put thousands, or hundreds of thousands, of people on unemployment for short or long terms.
The anti-union stance of the Republicans will come back to bite them in the ass… the fact that Mitch McConnell and his buddies don’t realize this is a sign that the change we have all wished for with Obama will have considerable, short-visioned competition from the old guard right.
So have a Merry Christmas, autoworkers. We’ll get back to you in January.
Under The LobsterScope