30 plus years of smut for children

I came across a folder of letters today and found one I'd written to Chrysler in December 2009 praising my new Town and Country. But that wasn't the point.  I was chastising the corporation/group/CEO for being a donor to GLSEN, an organization for LGBTQ+ children--or pushing and promoting the gay lifestyle to children. So, you see, this corruption of our children goes way back. GLSEN was about 20 years old by then (created by teachers). My specific complaint to Chrysler was that GLSEN "produces a list of pornographic recommended books for children. I've read some excerpts on the internet, and it's truly disgusting. Do you really think fisting and fellatio need to be part of elementary school education?" I then included the internet link. Apparently, it flew out of my mind, and my next van was also a Chrysler!

I looked at GLSEN's front page today (carries a warning) and didn't see Chrysler, but I did see Walt Disney, Target (of course--it's been a real leader in attacking all manner of values and traditions), Wells Fargo, Pet Smart, Gucci, YouTube, New Balance, Amazon and many others

Remember please, those children GLSEN was corrupting with the help of major corporations for the last 30+ years are the adults now occupying jobs in academe and the corporate world. Which is why there is such a tsunami of this nonsense.

My Sirius 3 month freebie

My new car comes with a 3 month free subscription to Sirius.  I’d really like to try it, but all the ways they have for getting me set up involved a smart phone. I’ve got my ID number but it won’t work.  So when the chat lady signs in I pull the old, “I’m 80 years old and I don’t text” routine.  I also don’t carry my computer in the car with me to follow their over complex on-line instructions.

I need someone’s 12 year old grandchild.

This should be taken care of before you leave the lot.  That’s a tip.

I’m enjoying the keyless entry and start.  Wish I could do that for the front door when I’m carrying in groceries.

More on the auto bailout

"U.S. Treasury Department boosted its estimate of government losses in the $85 billion auto bailout by $170 million.

In the government's latest report to Congress this month, the Treasury upped its estimate to $23.77 billion, up from $23.6 billion.

Last fall, the government dramatically boosted its forecast of losses on the rescues of General Motors Co., Chrysler Group LLC and their finance units from $14 billion to $23.6 billion.

Much of the increase in losses is due to the sharp decline of GM's stock price over the last six months.

GM was trading at noon today at $24.24. It's down 35 percent over its 52-week-high of $37.23, but the Detroit automaker has rebounded from a low set last year of $19.05.

The Treasury, [that's us, folks] which initially held a 61 percent majority stake in GM, now holds a 26.5 percent share, or 500 million shares in GM. To break even, the government would need to average $53 per share for its remaining stake."

Detroit News

Caught Between empty and a flat tire

A new 2009 or 2010 Dodge mini-van might have been in our future (assuming we could even find one on a lot), but not now, now that we know for certain that neither the government nor Chrysler will honor their agreements. There's nothing wrong with my 2002 van--but it won't be long before the government declares it is a "clunker." The new plan to get less fuel efficient vehicles off the road by offering a cash incentive of $4500 to purchase something with better mileage is of little value to people who can't afford or can't get the credit to purchase a newer, more expensive, smaller and more dangerous vehicle. Remember, not only have we bailed out Chrysler and GM, but we've destroyed the pension and investment account values because once the government can renege on those investors, it can do it to any. In other words, those of us in the lower income group will be hurt the most. That's why all these government plans whatever their good intentions for green spaces, for cholesterol, for cigarettes, for safe toys, for clean air, always hit the pocket books of the poor and fixed income seniors first, and then work their way up the pay scale.

Also, that's our tax money, that $4500 the government will reimuburse the automaker, which is really reimbursing the labor unions, the guys whose pensions Obama is trying to save because they so generously helped him buy the Presidency. We've already given the unions and automaker CEOs billions, but Obama's whiz kids are saying they still can't build a good car unless they get this ridiculous offer. An offer which most people with old cars can't afford, so there will be plenty of scammers running around buying up old cars from people who won't be able to replace them at any price. Next, they'll cap the pay of whatever executive was dumb enough to stay and not flee to another field, leaving the company with more Obama appointees. Besides, if Chrysler won't honor its agreements with the local dealers, some in business for generations, then why should it honor its agreement with me, the buyer, who buys bundled with that car the warranty on the various parts, the service agreements, and the supposed resale value, all of which is built into the cost of a new vehicle. No, I see no reason I should trust either Obama or Chrysler to give me a good deal.

Detroit has been pressured to build more fuel efficient and safer cars for 30 years; and for the most part, I think many of these regulations and laws have succeeded. Even so Americans burned 39% more gasoline in 2007 than they did in 1975, according to Energy Department figures, because more people hit the roads and drove more miles. My 2002 van (my third Chrysler mini-van) is an outstanding product and much better than my first one, a 1989. On the highway it gets around 27-28 mpg if there are no dead deer, semis or head winds to fight. In the city, not so great--maybe 19. But I'm sure the Obama car czar, who probably is too young to even drive and has never held a real job, will look at some sort of average for a 2002 mini-van made in the USA, and within a year or two, I'll be clunker driving. When I don't trade it (new it was about $19,000) with a voucher in hand for $4500 on a $50,000 model, I'll probably be cited for driving illegally, and told to take public transportation.

The cap and trade hoax, of which this "cash for clunkers" and automaker/union bailout at taxpayers expense are a part, is just the newest version of the 1970s DDT ban which killed or disabled millions and millions of black Africans, mostly children, so that European and American liberals could feel smug and self-righteous and continue to worship their pagan goddess, Mother Earth.

No one calls this a scandal

“Between 2000 and 2008, the United Auto Workers (UAW) union” gave 23.7 million dollars to Democrats, including Barack Obama. “In return, the UAW received 55 percent of Chrysler and 17.5 percent of GM, plus billions of dollars.” Newt Gingrich pointed this out. Where are our investigative reporters who were glued to Bush's every misstep?

In a rigged proceeding in which the federal government disregarded bankruptcy law in favor of the political outcome it desired, the Chrysler bankruptcy laid the predicate for the much larger General Motors bankruptcy to come. Against law and precedent, the unions were moved to the front of the line when it came to who would benefit from the bankruptcy.

The Obama Treasury Department strong-armed Chrysler’s creditors into a deal in which the UAW was given 55 percent ownership of the company while Chrysler’s secured creditors – investors who would have received priority in a non-political bankruptcy proceeding – were left with just 29 cents on the dollar.

Indiana pension funds aren't the only ones getting hit. Even Democrats are invested in pensions. They should be very worried about what their president is doing to the rule of law in this country.

HT Recliner Commentaries

We're bleeding red, white and blue

For lunch today I served red, white and blue dessert--raspberry jello topped with blueberries, slathered with Cool Whip. This is to honor the USA’s survival of almost four months of the War against the Economy, War against the little guy, War against the hard working taxpayer and the War against the pensioner. Some of you are seeing this in terms of your grandchildren, but unfortunately, I don't have grandchildren. I don’t know where it stands today, but here’s what it was the first 6 weeks (Feb. 9), as reported in Bloomberg

"The stimulus package the US Congress is completing would raise the government’s commitment to solving the financial crisis to $9,700,000,000 (9.7 trillion) enough to give $1430 to every man, woman and child in the world. It is 13 times what the US has spent on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to Congressional Budget Office data, and is almost enough to pay off every home mortgage in the US, calculated at $10.5 trillion by the Federal Reserve."

Last night I noticed flipping through the channels Glenn Beck interviewing a Chrysler dealer. He's been in business almost 70 years (his father before him), and poof, thanks to President Obama, it's gone. About 20 people sent home to go on the unemployment rolls. I couldn't stand it. I kept flipping. You can only take so much stupidity, hurt and watching your country's economy be dismantled brick by brick, street by street, business by business, family by family.

You're a Democrat? A RINO? An FDR fan? So you're not worried. Hey--it only took 13-14 years the last time we did this, how bad can it get? Too many unsuccessful dealers--too many models? This guy's business was successful. You don't stick around 70 years if you don't have customer loyalty and you aren't providing a service. The Chrysler contract was given to another dealership two miles down the road. Ever wonder how much that guy donated to the 2008 campaign?

Go ahead. Claim paranoia. But next it will be your flower shop; dry cleaners; furniture store, craft outlet; printing company, book store; office supplier; sporting goods store; coffee shop; pharmacy. Obama, Micromanager in Chief, may decide you advertise too much, or there are too many of your kind in a 50 mile radius. And when your local tax bucket goes dry? Who's going to fill it? Higher property taxes? What if you don't own a business, you just supply a business sector. What if Obama decides you can only sell a certain amount of janitorial supplies (to save the environment and not hurt your competition); or that you've met your quota of jewelry designs to market to that new mall store; or No, you can't have a start up on the internet--there are too many now.

We've always (in my life time) had these rules at the local level. You don't build your bar next to a school or a church; you can't leave junk autos from your repair shop on the street; you must mow your lawn. But from Washington DC? Did you, Democrats and fraidy cat Republicans, you elected a man with no business experience and almost no time in the US Senate just so he could drive us over the cliff while reading a teleprompter scrolling words about not exporting American jobs? He's right in a way--there won't be any jobs to export because only those global companies with a base overseas will be profitable.

Disclaimer: I drive a Dodge van; my third Chrysler van; my brother does too--his second; my father had several; my sister as a PT Cruiser; my niece and nephew had Chrysler vans. I'm very sad that my 2002 van that gets 28-29 mpg on the highway may be my last.

Don't call my van "crap"

Sorry, Glenn, but my van isn't crap--I'd probably buy a 2009 if it weren't for the fact my 2002 runs nicely and gets 28-29 mpg on the highway. But all that other stuff? You're right on!

The cheapest car to drive

is the one you own (paid for). My 2002 Dodge minivan will do just fine, thank you. Even if I were to sell it, they go for about $6,000 now, and a new crossover or hybrid would probably cost about $35,000 and only get 4-5 more miles to the gallon. I'd have to be driving 10x more than I do now to ever make that pay. In 2006 I think Consumer Reports estimated 5-6 years before the additional costs of a hybrid could be made up in fuel savings. And yes, they factored in rising gasoline costs. Whether they factored in the loss on what else that money could be doing, I don't know. This is my third Chrysler van--I love them. The seats are a perfect fit for mine. Ford and GM have discontinued their minivans. I hope Chrysler doesn't.

My beloved van enjoying the summer at the lakehouse.