Paging Lee Fisher...
Governor Ted Strickland on GM's plans to close domestic plants and import cars from China, South Korea, and Mexico:
Governor Strickland is strongly opposed to General Motors' plans to increase the number of imported cars it makes in China, South Korea and Mexico.
He said that's not what the Federal government's bailout money is intended to further.
"I would object to that strenuously. What's important are the jobs, the communities affected. The goal should not just be to save the company. But to do it in a way that workers and communities do not have their lives devastated."
Secretary of State/'10 Democratic candidate Jennifer Brunner on the issue (no link because it was received in the ol' e-bag.):
When America’s taxpayers are footing the bill to the tune of billions to keep these car giants afloat, they deserve to know how and why the money is being spent. While cuts may be inevitable in the process, decisions to manufacture cars overseas and sell them in the U.S., while cutting jobs at dealerships who sell them, may be just short of ludicrous to American taxpayers,” Brunner said. “GM should be using stimulus money to invest in fuel efficient car manufacturing here in the U.S. to create new jobs for American workers and meet one of the stimulus goals of greater energy independence. And both GM and Chrysler should be disclosing to the American public why certain dealerships are closing and more jobs are being lost,” said Brunner.
“The U.S. and especially Northeast Ohio has thousands of skilled, experienced auto workers ready to go to work, and more than enough idle auto plants for American workers to retool those plants and build cars for Americans right here in America. As long as any manufacturer is taking bailout money, they must agree to use that money in a way that will protect American workers and American jobs. ”
Brunner praised Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown for being among the first to speak out against the GM plan, pointing out that Senator George Voinovich and former U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman have so far remained quiet. “Ohio needs two Senators who will fight for jobs and the working families of our state and nation. I know as Secretary of State and the licensor of all corporations doing business in Ohio that the leaders of any corporation are afforded personal immunity from liability, because their corporation becomes the person under the law who is responsible for the company’s activity. It’s time for all Americans, individual and corporate alike, to stick together to help put our country back on its feet. GM and Chrysler need to step up and do their part while the taxpayers have done their part to keep them alive,” Brunner said.Brunner has been endorsed by national and local labor unions for her commitment to labor issues and working families. She is currently running in the May 2010 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate to replace retiring Senator Voinovich. Brunner and her husband own a GM truck and a Chrysler car.
Lt. Governor/former Ohio Department of Development Director/'10 Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Lee Fisher on the issue:
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Former Bush Trade Representative/'10 Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rob Portman on the issue:
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Republican U.S. Senator George Voinovich on the issue:
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That's some fine company Fisher finds himself in...
Gee what do China, South Korea, and Mexico all have in common?
What ever could it be?
China-men? Kore-ans? Mexic-ans?
OOoooh uni-ans.
GM should be using stimulus money to invest in fuel efficient car manufacturing. Snap out of it.
3 years ago the "Go Green - Live Yellow" Ohio campaign, GM was promoting it's E-85 tour. Mayor Coleman and Ted Strickland were running around the state to Kroger E-85 fuel stations, announcing that Brazil had solved the pollution issues with ethanol. GM has 2.5 MILLION E-85 flex-fuel cars on the road TODAY. They have vowed to make 400,000 more in the next few years.
Where is the political support for GM today? Get the GM E-85 FACTS here.
Lee Fisher, Jennifer Brunner and Ted Strickland combined cannot change that GM jobs are going to China, South Korea, or Mexico or keep any jobs from leaving Ohio or Michigan BECAUSE POLITICIANS CANNOT CONTROL UNION LABOR DEMANDS.
If government REALLY wanted to protect jobs and workers, then labor agencies similar to OSHA would be developed to protect workers and cut out the middlemen, high wage union bosses, with legislation that actually works. (Unlike mandatory sick leave legislation)
Look at every Union enclave. Detroit (cesspool), Flint Michigan, (shit hole) Few places like Las Vegas are actually Union strong cites that are prospering.
So there is no need to discuss GM's Active Fuel Management (variable displacement) technology or the fact that OSU engineering students already work closely with GM engineers to develop newer tech, these just further show how out of touch politicians are with actual events or VOTERS. A Public university receiving public funds that should know first hand what collaborations are formed and what tech is being developed.
I don't really expect the Secretary of State to know all the things GM is doing to cooperate with progress, but it is almost like politicians expect manufactures to produce cars that PEOPLE don't want and stay in business.
You cannot legislate consumer demand and GM has been very forward thinking with engineering cars and spent BILLIONS on E-85, reducing energy dependence on foreign oil and Active Fuel Management only to have the media and politicians, blame E-85 for worldwide fuel shortages and increased food (corm fed cattle, beef & milk) prices. (Most politicians are in the tank for natural gas conversions of fuel cars)
Nancy Pelosi (and many others) supports "Picken's Plan" she is a stock holder.
Legislation KILLED GM's electric EV1's electric car and a thousand of them had to be recalled when permission from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, on a test program, would not be extend so safety trials could be concluded, even though there was a waiting list of over 5000. Parts manufacturers discontinued production from low demand and fueled concerns of vehicle safety maintenance, producing concerns of road safety.
If you want to know why fuel efficient cars are not produced, look to the energy/oil-influenced/ politicians we are electing, NOT to GM.
NO ELECTRIC CAR CAN MEET CURRENT SAFETY STANDARDS.
The 5000 PLUS electric cars GM would have made, to meet demand for the EV-1, would have more then set GM on its way to financial stability, and place it 's books closer to not needing bailouts. The automaker crisis, in part, was caused by politicians that wouldn't allow electric vehicles on roads to continue safety tests.
There was in 2003 a huge interest in electric cars. Politicians blocked EV-1's not only from concerns of battery safety but also because of concerns and fears that increase demand for electric cars would cause increase demand for COAL FIRED power (which it would have)
Mr. Strickland, just consider the GM bail-out compensation for blocking EV-1's. *as GM drives by Ohio, flipping the bird*
And in case Nick D. is reporting blog activity to the ODP, let Ted Strickland know that Ohio's economy is tanking and people out here are in need of jobs.
Strickland isn't making great decisions for Ohio's economy, I am not voting for Ted Strickland again if he doesn't allow gambling, or get high speed-rail going OR show support for something!
I am starting to feel as if Strickland is just another old guy, (supporting Lee Fisher) that doesn't want to change the status quo, and wants to keep "more of the same." (FYI - he didn't support Obama don't think Barry has forgotten that)
Strickland is all for telling us what we should want, MORE OHIO LOTTERY! Yeah!
More "car culture" Yeah! AND DO NOT FORGET that Marc Dan was Ted's boy and kicked him all kinds of campaign money when Dann didn't have enough of his own. We contributors to Ted's campaign haven't forgotten that!
Oh! Here is a great idea! You like new tech how about THIS?
Trackless Train technology. See there is new tech out there but once there is tech, politicians say, "It isn't proven" So don't ever expect any tech because Ohio has already shot this down. This won't ever materialize because the firm that invented it is from evil Republican Texas, not Ohio. Dubai and the Saudi Arabia will have high speed electric trains before Ohio.
The electricity will come from Iran's nuclear power plants.
Even as politicians go around the state looking for "shovel ready projects" Ohio "pay-to-play" poli-tricks as usual, won't fund the projects if their loyal democrat contributors aren't the ones chosen to build them. In other words, no stimulus money WILL BE PAID TO to firms that have not been historically supportive of democrats. Many of the best, brightest and successful engineering firms in the world are (sadly) supporters of republicans. So they won't be building shite and democrat firms will be so bloated with Unions that there will be cost overruns and take 2 times as long as scheduled to complete. (so why pay those firms when Ohio is so deep in debt anyways) Politicians can't win in either direction. Chose a republican firm to do a project and your democrat union support will fly out the window! (Who cares if union people get hire to do the laobr!)
It is a vicious cycle.
High-speed rail would bring millions of dollars to Ohio, and develop tech that could be EXPORTED all over the world. Local Ohio manufactures could be re-tooled to make the parts. Someone has to be first why not OHIO? Strickland is too worried about pleasing Ohio unions and "democrat" firms to take a risk. Strickland is risk adverse.
Maybe we need to elect NEW democrats that aren't old school politics, business as usual.
Maybe we need a grassroots campaign to oust Ted Strickland, that does nothing, promises change all day, is making our lives a loss too, AND STILL EXPECTING US to vote for him (and contribute to them)
Maybe we need to get rid of "Nice guy" Strickland, and if THAT is the case why vote for Lee Fisher OR Jennifer Brunner?
Get the message?
It's the REALLY the economy stupid!
Um, mental illness is no laughing matter.
Aside from that, I have to agree with some of Schmennis' comments he does have a few valid points about how there is political dualism and voters seem to have short term memory about issues.
There are also some good points about how the democratic party needs to hold onto supporters and this should be a concern for them in the 2010 election.
Thanks,
Dion
Ted Strickland, "Your Fired!"
GM Files for Bankruptcy Protection "Closed GM plants include assembly plants in Pontiac, Mich., and Wilmington, Del.; stamping plants in Grand Rapids, Mich., Indianapolis and Mansfield, Ohio..."
A quick Google of Ted Strickland under "news" shows Ted Strickland is talking about schools.
So Ohio's economy tanks and Ted wants to talk about education?
I can see the connection, better education = better jobs. No leap there.
Ok, Ted let's talk about, the lottery that "funds" Ohio Schools. Like this little gem.....director under scrutiny for equipment debacle. Since the Ohio lottery is supposed to fund our schools. A year ago, Ohio Lottery Director Michael A. Dolan persuaded skeptical lawmakers to buy $11.6 million worth of equipment to launch the state's new Keno game on a promise that the setup would still work after a year -- a premise that Dolan later admitted was false. Now, as Dolan prepares to ask the same legislative panel to approve a $41 million contract with a company to run Keno and other lottery games for the next two years.....
So Ohio lottery blows $71 million on equipment (that doesn't work) spends Ohio funds to lottery equipment companies for a lottery that doesn't PAY for the education that Strickland is bitching about WHILE HE REMAINS SILENT to the people of Ohio on the STATE OF THE ECONOMY! *Cue Crickets*
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, has met with GM to plead with it to maintain its current footprint in the state. The governor "remains committed to doing whatever is possible to keep GM jobs in Ohio," spokeswoman Amanda Wurst said.
So Ted is willing to do "whatever is possible" (no solutions) including begging, Maybe Ted should order some brand new GM fleet cars for Ohio Lottery Officials, or stand on the side of interstate at the borders of Ohio flying a sign that begs. "Ohio Will Work for Food." Well Ted, I can do THAT myself.
At THIS point I am camapigning, "Brunner for Ohio Governor!"