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posts about #firewagoner more → 
The Case For GM CEO Rick Wagoner
Detroit, 10:30 AM
Tue Dec 8
26 posts in the last 24 hours
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The Case For GM CEO Rick Wagoner |
Original material is licensed under a Creative Commons License permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution.
12/08/08
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This slob stinks of SUVs and bad sedans.
I don't need to see any more of that garbage. And people make out the auto industry to be some kind of Gordian knot that only the people currently in power can figure out.
BS!
You could probably get a CEO from the clothing industry to do as good or a far better job!
12/08/08
For government to overrule the shareholders and usurp the shareholders' right to make decisions for the company they own should be chilling. Wagoner's no saint, but congress is trying to wield absolute power. And while power corrupts (Wagoner) absolute power corrupts absolutely (congress). Pick your poison.
12/08/08
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Me think that big, or even not so big, corporations should have plans B an C at least.
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unless they nationalize the "Big" 2.5, they need to shut up and either make the loan, or not... and deal with the consequences.
12/08/08
Everyone can claim to know what cars should be built.
12/08/08
Rent Carlos Ghosn from the cheese-eaters.
Let him clean house.
Start making money again.
Jebus, is it really that difficult?
12/08/08
Congress needs to push them yes. But if congress tries to legislate the free market this is doomed to failure. Congress can not legislate customer preference (demand) so they should not impinge on the automakers product mix (supply) anymore than they already have (CAFE).
Further, on Legislator compared meeting CAFE standards to putting a man-on-the-moon. This is a bad analogy. The government was the customer and supplier of that product. Unless congress would like to legislate all 10 million to 17 million new car purchase any interference with the free-market is doomed to hurt either customers or manufacturers.
On the other hand, the above statement is not entirely true. Congress can impact the mix of cars being sold without putting conditions on the "Bridge Loans". But don't expect that answer to be palatable. Much higher gas taxes.
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HAHAHA. So, congress is not responsible for anything, but Big 3 mgmt is responsible for things that are CLEARLY far beyond their control. What a strange view.
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So you think he actually is Frank or Dodd than?
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The not so big three haven't attracted the best and brightest for the past quarter century - the best and brightest minds have gone into industries with potential for growth.
Wagoner is about as good as it gets. How's that for a vote of confidence?
12/08/08
Then again, the auto industry could do without Halberstam's "best and brightest."
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Bingo.
I find it hard to believe that congress would be able to evaluate anything related to running a business, particularly one in an industry so complex, better than a board of directors who are succesfull in their own right, and at least somewhat informed of this industry.
12/08/08
What are you, some sort of Libertarian?
;-)
12/08/08
I may have some libertarian tendencies, or I just don't think anyones smarter than me and should tell me what to do???
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12/08/08
Wagoner is a money guy. A pencil pusher. He is not a car guy. We've heard reports of horrible managerial structure with in GM, they continue to stick it out with the 50 year old mantra of "a car for every purse and purpose." We'll guys, that is no longer efficient. GM must work with the government to trim brands and fat, non-needed labor and corporate bureaucracy. The UAW should be forced to ACTUAL concessions, not quid pro quos. Brands must be slashed, product that are not selling must be axed or hugely reduced, and smaller, better cars, like the Cruze, must be brought to marked much quicker, hopefully with the help of the government. GM needs to be streamlined. Big can work (Look at VW Group), but the inefficiency and mismanagement, and big time lack of innovation, that GM has shown in the last, oh, 15 years, well, that sort of stuff is not going to fly.
In a perfect world, the Government would work with the EU to allow smaller, fuel efficient cars (And diesel) cars produced in Europe to America.
But in reality, the fact isn't just Detroit's bad product and horrible corporate structure. It's the miserable state of our economy. And that's why I think some sort of Government assistance is required. However, I am more in favor of some sort of "Purge" of GM leadership, along with a new supervisory board, with clear, strict objectives. Members of the board of do-nothings and of Wagoner, and perhaps of other Execs that would be deemed as part of the problem.
So, in closing to Ray, yes, Wagoner is a scapegoat. However, with power comes responsibility, and the higher they are, the more likely they are to fall. CEO's get fired all the time.