Not dissimilar to the regular 'guidance' that companies release for investors. Everyone understands that they are spinning and trying to put the best possible face on this.
I guess GM wants a better share price now, rather than when they post unexpectedly positive results at their official quarterly announcement. #newgm
I'm _not_ an accountant, and I vommited a little as I read that.
I wonder if GM has any idea of the numbers of consumers they alientated as a result of their essentially being taken over by the government and UAW. My guess is, a lot. I know several people who have promised to never buy GM again. I can forgive GM the Citation, the Pontiac 1000, even the Chevette. But this, this will not be forgiven. #newgm
All the comments on this thread are poignant and well thought.
I can add little to the conversation.
But its a sunday night, and I've been drinking so, you know what? GM, you are officially on notice. Don't fuck this up. Pay when you profit, I don't want to have to bail your ass out again.
Your brother Ford wouldn't do this to us.
But I guess we dropped Chrysler on their head too many times. #newgm
I can understand physics. I can understand general calculus (Hey, not bad for a Psych major!). I even have some inkling of an understanding of particle physics and string theory.
I cannot, however, wrap my mind around the concept of $50 billion dollars given to a single company.
I love you, GM, despite the massive pains you went through the the past thirty years. You have matured from a spunky start up, to a wild child 'tweener. And you are at last just barely emerging from a state of chaotic metamorphosis into the beautiful butterfly you were always meant to be with excellent cars.
But dammit, child, why the hell did that cost so god-damned much!?
I need to borrow $75 bucks to get my car out of the impound lot, so I'm going to really borrow $100 bucks from my brother and tell him I'll pay him back in a week.
Then after I get my car, I wait a day and give him $25 and say that I won't be able to get the rest until two paychecks from now. #newgm
This makes holding on to Opel sound like a much harder task than previously posed by GM.
Paying off the loans at an accelerated rate should boost investor confidence, and lower long term financing costs. But it also cuts into cash reserves and will affect any dividend payouts in the short term. #newgm
@Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet: Not only investor confidence, but to the lay person who casually pays attention to automotive news, the thought of a car company exercising fiscal 'responsibility' could potentially be enough to persuade dealership traffic. I'm being optimistic, but I would like to see my local Chevrolet dealership floorplan expand a little bit. #newgm
I'm waiting for the commercial that riffs on the old littering commercials. A hillbilly wandering through a deserted demo arena... walking down the street as an endless parade of new cars, stickers still in the windows roll past... Then a hauler loaded with old cars goes past, he turns to the camera, we see a single tear roll down his face. Then he takes a big drink out of his mason jar of hooch, and we get the 1-800 number for the National Demolition Recovery & Support System, or some such. #cashforclunkers
It's really funny because when I try to negotiate for a salary around 50k, I get frowned on and told that I seem "A little too motivated by compensation."
I'll take one for the team and settle for 500k any day. #edwhitacre
You can find top-level people who will work for minimum wage. I've had lunch with homeless doctorate bearers who were literally working for food.
So then, how much is Whitacre paid? It should be a matter of public record, considering how Uncle Sam is the majority shareholder, FIA and all that. And is he worth it? Could we get some kid fresh out of college with a BA in Business Management who could do, if nothing else, no worse than GM has managed to do over the past five years? If GM's executive offices closed for a year and the lines simply kept doing what they were doing, internal expenses would plummet, there wouldn't be anyone to bitch about pay caps (the UAW might, but that's another, different can), and I strongly suspect everything would get done with no problems.
It's like a cockroach. Cut off the brain and the body keeps going. #edwhitacre
10:08 AM
This is the only GM-related corporate news I care about.
Where my money at, bitch? #newgm
10:05 AM
I guess GM wants a better share price now, rather than when they post unexpectedly positive results at their official quarterly announcement. #newgm
10:01 AM
I wonder if GM has any idea of the numbers of consumers they alientated as a result of their essentially being taken over by the government and UAW. My guess is, a lot. I know several people who have promised to never buy GM again. I can forgive GM the Citation, the Pontiac 1000, even the Chevette. But this, this will not be forgiven. #newgm
08:27 AM
01:02 AM
I can add little to the conversation.
But its a sunday night, and I've been drinking so, you know what? GM, you are officially on notice. Don't fuck this up. Pay when you profit, I don't want to have to bail your ass out again.
Your brother Ford wouldn't do this to us.
But I guess we dropped Chrysler on their head too many times. #newgm
12:36 AM
I cannot, however, wrap my mind around the concept of $50 billion dollars given to a single company.
I love you, GM, despite the massive pains you went through the the past thirty years. You have matured from a spunky start up, to a wild child 'tweener. And you are at last just barely emerging from a state of chaotic metamorphosis into the beautiful butterfly you were always meant to be with excellent cars.
But dammit, child, why the hell did that cost so god-damned much!?
12:20 AM
I need to borrow $75 bucks to get my car out of the impound lot, so I'm going to really borrow $100 bucks from my brother and tell him I'll pay him back in a week.
Then after I get my car, I wait a day and give him $25 and say that I won't be able to get the rest until two paychecks from now. #newgm
12:08 AM
Paying off the loans at an accelerated rate should boost investor confidence, and lower long term financing costs. But it also cuts into cash reserves and will affect any dividend payouts in the short term. #newgm
12:11 AM
01:36 AM
07:54 AM
11/12/09
I spy a '58 Oldsmobile coupe.
/curls up into a ball in the corner #cashforclunkers
11/12/09
11/12/09
11/11/09
11/11/09
I'll take one for the team and settle for 500k any day. #edwhitacre
11/11/09
SHUT UP, ED WHITACRE, YOU COCK! #edwhitacre
11/11/09
It should read WTF?!
You can find top-level people who will work for minimum wage. I've had lunch with homeless doctorate bearers who were literally working for food.
So then, how much is Whitacre paid? It should be a matter of public record, considering how Uncle Sam is the majority shareholder, FIA and all that. And is he worth it? Could we get some kid fresh out of college with a BA in Business Management who could do, if nothing else, no worse than GM has managed to do over the past five years? If GM's executive offices closed for a year and the lines simply kept doing what they were doing, internal expenses would plummet, there wouldn't be anyone to bitch about pay caps (the UAW might, but that's another, different can), and I strongly suspect everything would get done with no problems.
It's like a cockroach. Cut off the brain and the body keeps going. #edwhitacre