One wonders, indeed, how the government will manage warranty service if, as seems likely, GM goes through bankruptcy proceedings.

Presumably the same way warranty service is handled now, only the government will get the final bill rather than the car manufacturer.

I think Obama can ask quite a few people in government to resign, and they probably would.

Look, you know that Wagoner could have played chicken, right?

What was Obama going to do, fail GM and its autoworkers to get one guy? Call out the National Guard? Send him to Guantanamo? Of course not.

... as I said earlier, people are phonin' it in.

(I realize that the purpose of a conservative blog in times of Democratic administration is to have something to complain about every day, but geez.)

(I realize that the purpose of a conservative blog in times of Democratic administration is to have something to complain about every day, but geez.)

If you'll check my archives for Bush auto bailout, you'll be reminded that I've been pretty consistent on this regardless of which party controls the White House. Indeed, I think it reasonable to say I was harder on Bush.

OK, if you aren't just phonin' it in, what do you think a rational and conservative President would try in this situation? What could he get away with politically?

Let GM sink?

Bail it out without limit?

With lots of red tape, waiting, and delays. People get fed up, still need a car, get it fixed anyways, and then since there will likely be some technicality that is violated, void the warranty and not pay. Much like British health care for non-life threatening issues. Its brilliant really, it makes the Obamassiah look like a good guy and the bureaucrats will take the heat.

Am I too cynical?

With lots of red tape, waiting, and delays. People get fed up, still need a car, get it fixed anyways, and then since there will likely be some technicality that is violated, void the warranty and not pay.

How's that any different than GM warranty service now?

"One wonders, indeed, how the government will manage warranty service if, as seems likely, GM goes through bankruptcy proceedings."

Probably the same way all of the various sellers of extended warranties (and since I have a car whose warranty ran out in December, I have likely fielded several dozen calls on the subject in the last 6 months) do. Vanishingly few of them have their own repair shops, and instead they contract with repair shops to perform the work.

I think Obama can ask quite a few people in government to resign, and they probably would.

Only those he appoints and that is a tiny fraction.

OK, if you aren't just phonin' it in, what do you think a rational and conservative President would try in this situation? What could he get away with politically?

Nope, bail them out too. Democrats and Republicans, not even a dime's worth of difference, IMO. Which explains the vitrol. People who are miles appart in views rarely argue to the extent that Democrats and Republicans do. Small disagreements seem to produe the most heat.

How's that any different than GM warranty service now?

Dunno, I don't own a GM car, so I have no exprience with the warranty.

James, annoyed with Limbaugh? You aren't a conservative then, because all Rush does is espouse conservatism. I can see not listening to his show, but annoyed??? Guess you would have to be a liberal. We don't need any more moderates.

Amazing how people will throw away their values just based on what they think it takes to "win".

2 Predictions.

1. Used cars are going up in price relative to new cars.

2. Auto parts stores are going to see an increase in business.

James, annoyed with Limbaugh? You aren't a conservative then, because all Rush does is espouse conservatism.

Well that settles it.

See Tyler Cowen's "Words of wisdom" post today. I think it share my vibe to a good extent.

One wonders, indeed, how the government will manage warranty service if, as seems likely, GM goes through bankruptcy proceedings.

I think it's a done deal now...one thing I have not heard yet is if/when that happens....what's the spin from Washington for the near deletion of the Union guys?.

This will be very interesting and tight-ropish for this admin.

With lots of red tape, waiting, and delays. People get fed up

...kind of sounds like a prelude to nationalized health care...just sayin'.

...kind of sounds like a prelude to nationalized health care...just sayin'.

...or the way that HMOs currently operate...

For that matter, what good is a warranty if the car company goes out of business? It's not like a federally-backed warranty will spontaneously create replacement parts and dealer mechanical assistance.

It's not like a federally-backed warranty will spontaneously create replacement parts and dealer mechanical assistance.

Remember that most suppliers are now split off the manufacturers. I'm sure all would want to sell parts, though without new manufacturing they'd surely face downsizing.

Dantheman: My car's warranty ran out ten years ago and I still get solicited for after-warranty good deals. You've got a lot to look forward to!

yes, everyone knows the government can't do anything right. Just look at our pathetic military.

Oh, wait...

Maybe if you need warranty work they will just send you to Julio's Garage! In Mexico they teach him how to mix major components from different makes of cars!

Better yet, maybe we could get the D.O.T. bureaucrats to do the warranty work and finally make them useful?

Now when I want my Studebaker fixed....

yes, everyone knows the government can't do anything right. Just look at our pathetic military.

Oh, wait...

With one small difference: our govt's been in the military business for over 200 years. It's now been in the car business for 72 hours (unless we count all the regulations they've passed to help strangle the business, like CAFE).

And, last I looked, it's not like Obama has nothing else on his plate that might be:
1) a higher priority
2) actually what the govt is SUPPOSED to be doing
3) something he's actually capable of fixing (unless giving away the store to the unions and pouring our tax dollars into a losing business is a "fix")

what a jerk you are, anjin-san! why would you call our military pathetic? Look how so many have fought and died for our country and the cause of freedom. YOU are pathetic! And you should remember how our military defeated you and your Jap friends, who before the Americans came were killing, maiming, enslaving and raping their way across half the world. Why don't you just go back to Japan and live there if you hate it here so much?