Liasson: ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program ‘is like a mini-Katrina.’
Liasson: ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program ‘is like a mini-Katrina.’
Last night, Fox News aired a clip of a woman at a Philadelphia town hall meeting over the weekend berating Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) about health care reform. “What I see is a bureaucratic nightmare, senator. … And you want us to believe that a government that can’t even run a Cash for Clunkers program is going to run one-seventh of our U.S. economy,” the woman complained. “I think that there is anger out there, real anger,” said NPR’s Mara Liasson, responding to the clip. She then called the woman’s concern “legitimate” and compared the Cash for Clunkers program to Hurricane Katrina:
LIASSON: I thought that woman actually asked a pretty legitimate question — especially Cash for Clunkers is like a mini- Katrina here. I mean it’s not good to start a program and not be able to execute it.
Watch it:
Nearly 2,000 people died and thousands more were injured or displaced as a result of Hurricane Katrina and the Bush administration’s incompetent response. However, “Cash for Clunkers” — the government program giving people a $4,500 voucher to trade in an old vehicle for a newer, more fuel efficient one — has been so successful that Congress is considering appropriating more money for it to continue.
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Good grief. Got ridiculous – and highly inappropriate – hyperbole?
August 5th, 2009 at 10:41 amIgnorant hysteria.
The calling-card for the piss-soaked Rightards.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:43 amCan someone explain to me exactly what damage was done when the Cash for Clunkers program faced overwhelming demand?
August 5th, 2009 at 10:46 amLIASSON: … Cash for Clunkers is like a mini- Katrina here.
– - There’s a car bazaar going on in the Superdome?
August 5th, 2009 at 10:47 amhttp://www.foxnews.com/bios/talent/mara-liasson/
August 5th, 2009 at 10:48 am
‘Cash for Clunkers’ program ‘is like a mini-Katrina.’
– - I’m waiting for John “Stash” Bolton to denounce the program as “rewarding bad behavior” of Detroit.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:49 amSeems like a lot of folks dig socialized car shopping…
August 5th, 2009 at 10:51 amWOW >>>> i am now afraid of buying a car seeing it might flood and well kill me as bad as Katrina.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:52 amWith this comment it’s clear how little life is valued by Americans. To compare Katrina to cars is just sick. We have lost the value of human life with this group over the 8 years span of the Bush Administration. What’s interesting is more Republican voters are buying the cars as they have the money to replace their old ones while the GOP is attacking the Plan. Most Americans are barely making ends meet and can’t afford anything new or used right now.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:52 amOf course Republicans can’t stand a positive, overwhelmingly successful government run program because it disproves their mantra of “govt can’t do anything right”
and I partially agree: govt CAN’T do anything right…when run by Republicans
August 5th, 2009 at 10:53 amWhy can’t even supposedly intelligent people understand that the CARS program was successful beyond any expectations, instead of legitimizing the drooling fools who comprise Fox viewers?
August 5th, 2009 at 10:57 amIf $3 billion were allocated for the program from the start,
it probably wouldn’t have been authorized. But when people used up the allotment in a week, it should be an obvious indicator that the program is a huge success and should be extended.
So many advantages from car dealers, to manufacturers, to the affiliated industries, to the people who are employed, to people who needed a push to get rid of their gaz-guzzling, oil-burning cars, to a contribution in the reduction of pollution.
What is so hard to understand? I think it is willful ignorance.
More moron talk blah blah blah Obama is a failure I am so sick of this repiggie notion that all Americans want their their negative take on the United States
August 5th, 2009 at 10:58 amOh wait I see>>> if you buy a cash for clunky then they (gov.) gets your name and places you in a Katina relocation /interment camp. thats why its as bad..
now i see >>>>> dam ware is my tin foil hat i know theres another hiding message coming in from wakcoville control>>>>>
August 5th, 2009 at 10:59 amSo, Tracist, I guess you think your tax dollars are much better spent when they go to Eric Prince at Blackwater…? Or to Halliburton and KBR?
Why am I not surprised by this?
August 5th, 2009 at 10:59 amRepublicans hate small businesses. That is why they want to force them to keep having to pay for health insurance for their employees in order to keep them, rather than let a single payor option remove the requirement
They apparently also hate any sort of incentive from the govt that helps small businesses.
They are not very bright
August 5th, 2009 at 11:00 ampoor little tracist
still bitter from getting regularly beaten up in school
August 5th, 2009 at 11:02 amand I thought Tracy_5 was a guy with a girls name of principle…
August 5th, 2009 at 11:02 amyea! and he can’t even figure out what kind of DOG to get for his kids! how can we expect him to run a health care program!
-paraphrasing another idjit who thinks it’s clever.
aaargh!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:03 amIt’s clear that the repubs have decided to cast every action of the Obama administration as a failure. The current “disruption” plan is what we’ll see for the rest of the Obama term. The repubs simply have nothing to offer and have bought into the idea of making Obama “fail” in every aspect of his administration, regardless of the reality. Unfortunately, the Dems aren’t aggressive or skilled in their ability to counter or to take the initiative in framing issues, so they will be stuck with Reid as their strongest voice “for reason,” while being chewed up by lies.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:04 amLIASSON: I thought that woman actually asked a pretty legitimate question — especially Cash for Clunkers is like a mini- Katrina here. I mean it’s not good to sit on your ass for three days partying like George Bush did and then expect a disgraced Arabian Horse Society treasurer to rescue thousands of people from the biggest natural disaster in 60 years.
I mean, where’s the photo-op of Obama specially floodlit standing in front of a pile of old junkers? Where’s the footage of Obama tele-coordinating the blame? Why isn’t Hillary Clinton shopping for shoes in New York? Come to think of it, maybe this is more like 9-11.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:05 amWhen that idiot compared getting the family dog to the health care debate, it confirmed his idiocy.
To that dolt: The health care debate is going on in Congress! Obama has yet to see a bill submitted for his signature.
It is simply amazing to watch the repugs and their mindless followers to decry anything that might benefit the general public.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:07 amShould we be surprised at a 400% increase in death threats against Obama?
August 5th, 2009 at 11:08 amJon Stewart dissects the “cash for clunkers” and selective propaganda use by Fox News.
Master Rebators – The Crank Cycle
August 5th, 2009 at 11:09 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
The Senate has cleared the way for a vote extending the “cash-for-clunkers” program, which offers car buyers rebates of up to $4,500 for trading in their gas-guzzlers for new, higher-mileage models, setting aside Republican opposition to the plan.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:12 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
How much was originally proposed for the CARS program before the republicans slashed and porked the Stimulus Package?
August 5th, 2009 at 11:14 amHmmm, I wonder how many of those who bought Hummers a few years ago and got a Bush tax break for doing so are turning in those 10/mph vehicles for a Focus.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:14 amI doubt the thousands who were able to buy new, fuel efficient cars think cash for clunkers is a failure. I doubt the auto dealers who are finally moving what would soon be obselete inventory off their floor plans think it is a failure. I doubt the auto workers and employees of parts suppliers who are now working on new vehicles think the program is a failure and I can promise that people working in ancillary businesses in towns with parts or assembly plants think the program is a failure. If the private sector found a way to tap into pent up demand the way the federal government just did, company executives would be claiming their bonus checks by now. Trying to think of anyone who thought the government response to Katrina was a good idea. . .
August 5th, 2009 at 11:14 amPubertyCheck
Why do you hate America?
August 5th, 2009 at 11:15 amReality, your Check bounced for the new car.
You’ll have to return the Hummer & go back to your AMC Pacer.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:16 amThis is what happens when your “fair and balanced” panel has a pseudo Liberal on it like Liasson….it only catapults the mis-information even further.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:17 amKatrina = unqualified disaster.
Cash for Clunkers = unqualified success.
Sure…I see the similarites.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:17 am/snark
pubertycheck hates America because it has passed him by
he longs for the days when women were in the kitchen, minorities ‘knew their place’ and ignorant hicks like him could get by just by ‘not being black’
the world confuses him because he simply cannot keep up
August 5th, 2009 at 11:18 amtracist not only got beaten up in school, he gets beaten up intellectually here on TP every time he visits
poor little guy, no wonder he’s so bitter
August 5th, 2009 at 11:19 amOT, the Sierra Club has asked the Justice Department to investigate charges against Bonner & Assoc. for mail fraud for sending out forged signatures on stolen letterhead asking members of congress to stop climate change legislation.
PEACE
August 5th, 2009 at 11:20 amMara, go find Juan Williams, resign from NPR, both of you sign a life long contract with WTFox TV, & STFU.
Thanks, dear.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:20 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
I couldn’t even respond to this if someone said this to me at this point. I’m so tired of repeating myself and nothing seems to sink in for any of them.
It’s hard to fight something when these people continue to push lies and lies and lies and lies and lies. Telling them the facts doesn’t stop these people, although I suppose it indirectly (through the news, coverage) might win over some more critical thinking types.
Cash for clunkers is doing well, I don’t know how anyone doesn’t see that. The advertisements for it have picked up here in Chicago lately too.
I think the problem is that people are trying to equate dealing with the DMV to dealing with government healthcare and they just aren’t that directly comparable. I mean, let’s face it, if the DMV was private it’d be even worse.
I think these people need to move somewhere where they get no ’socialist’ programs. No cops, no fire department, no street cleaning, no garbage pickup, no Medicare. If they even thought for one second how many things are handled on the city, county, state or federal level they’d realize how stupid this is.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:25 amWhy is dbadass so hard to spell?
August 5th, 2009 at 11:26 amTracy_5: I am getting sort of antzy.I have some anchors right now but a friend just scored a job on a research vessel and I so wish I was them. Moss should not grow on moving objects…
Reality Impaired
Per the DOT (via the http://www.money.com web site) the top ten cash for clunker purchases and country of origin (as opposed to what country’s stock exchange the equity trades on) are as follows:
1. Ford Focus (US)
2. Toyota Corolla (Canada/Japan/US)
3. Honda Civic (US)
4. Toyota Prius (Japan)
5. Toyota Camry (Japan/US)
6. Ford Escape (US)
7. Hyundai Elantra (South Korea)
8. Dodge Caliber (US)
9. Honda Fit (Japan)
10. Chevrolet Cobalt (US)
By my count that is exactly three of the top ten built entirely out of the US. Most Camrys sold in the US in fact are made in Mitch McConnell’s very own state of Kentucky. Considering that GM and Chrysler are severely deficient in quality small cars their sales numbers are actually pretty good. Either way, a lot of US workers are benefitting from the program which raises the question: why do you hate the American worker so much?
August 5th, 2009 at 11:28 amNPR has been a big part of my life and it disturbs me greatly that they have such an obviously biased reporter who pretends to be objective.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:29 amComparing death and destruction and the Shock doctrine to a complete success…………maybe who`s ever in charge of the cash for clunkers program should resign in the middle of the $for clunkers success.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:31 amMarie says:
….setting aside Republican opposition to the plan.
This statement should be at the end of every announcement by democrats.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:34 amJust more sad-sacks with no pride in themselves.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:34 amAs I tell everyone and anyone who espouses cable news’ greatness:
IF IT’S ON 24/7, IT AIN’T NEWS, IT’S INFO-TAINMENT FOR THE MICROCEPHALIC AMONG US.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:37 amThis is about stimulating a critical sector of our economy, and maintaining a certain number of well-paying manufacturing jobs.
It’s not surprising that Tracist is against it.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:37 amTracy__5 says:
This comment has been voted down.
HA-HA-HAAA!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:38 amFCUKING LOSER…
The only thing wrong with the “Cash for Clunker’s” program was that it was too successful. How you can compare that to Katrina is beyond me.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:38 amall Faux commentators are morons…plain and simple as that…don’t try to understand their ignorant statements…it will only make your head hurt…just sayin
August 5th, 2009 at 11:39 amThe right-wing is mad as hell and marching on Washington. They’re just out Seattle right now.
Read that at Huff.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:39 amTracist, it`s OK to keep prooping up Wall st and it`s minions who have screwed us and caused all of this mess with health care and it`s profits over helping the economy………..
August 5th, 2009 at 11:40 amYou ain’t got a heart if it doesn’t hurt. Country Roads – John Denver
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eaaR1Ay5P0
August 5th, 2009 at 11:42 amObviously I agree with the absurd comparison of people dying in the stadium and being chased away from evacuating by armed sheriffs and possees vs. perhaps running out of money for a rebate. (Not to mention that the program has been wildly successful and has removed inventory from the car lots and replaced inefficient cars with more efficient cars.)
But I can’t help wondering if this isn’t intentional. Katrina was a Bush “success”. By making this absurd comparison, they minimize the size of the Katrina total failure. They protect themselves from accountability.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:42 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
“from what I have been told”?
August 5th, 2009 at 11:45 amLIASSON: I thought that woman actually asked a pretty legitimate question — especially Cash for Clunkers is like a mini- Katrina here. I mean it’s not good to start a program and not be able to execute it.
The program was an overwhelming success. The fact that the money ran out in 4 days is indicative of the success. Just because Liasson and Fox say its a failure does not make it so. They only need to ask the people who bought cars under the program, the auto dealers or the autoworkers who will go back to work.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:46 amMara Lies on Fox.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:46 amMara Liasson working for the GOP TV Network completely undermines her credibility on NPR. Same for Juan Williams.
NPR should ditch them both and get some reporters who don’t whore themselves to the biggest source of lies in the media.
dbadass says:
“from what I have been told”?
That’s like “some people say”. He heard it from his wife’s hairdresser’s brother in law’s mechanic, so it must be true.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:48 amImagine a boy with a girls name calling others “wimp”.
The irony is as thick as the stupid with this one…
August 5th, 2009 at 11:50 amTracist must get tired of getting hit on by so many men online cuz his name implies he has a vagina.
Or maybe he’s just trolling for “teh gay”?
August 5th, 2009 at 11:52 amMythology says:
Source? Link?
Maybe the idiots from FAUX would see this as more successful if the Government offered a free gun with each transaction:
http://www.max71.com/
(notice the shout outs to FOX News, Fox and Friends, Fox Business and CNBC)
August 5th, 2009 at 11:52 amThat’s like “some people say”.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:52 am–
“Everybody’s talkin’ at me”…
Tracy__5 says:
——————————————————————————–
#55
“FCUKING LOSER…”
And I am sure a wimp like yourself was in on the voting
I’m sure you’ll trade in your 8mpg hummer for a Toyota built in America just for the 4500 bucks so you can replenish your teabag supply.
But since you hate America and the American worker so much, perhaps you should point that new American made Toyota towards either adjacent border and GO THERE!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:54 am#46 paleolib says
1. Ford Focus (US)
2. Toyota Corolla (Canada/Japan/US)
3. Honda Civic (US)
etc.
In addition to which is is being reported that 62% of the trade-ins are trucks/SUVs, for economical cars:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-us-cash-for-clunkers,0,7526763.story
And note that the top 5 cars were best-sellers anyway BEFORE the program—ooh sounds like a continuation of the old pre-’socialist’ competitive market to me.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:54 amTrolls really enjoy debating with themselves.
Must be from so much experience “master-debating” themselves…
August 5th, 2009 at 11:56 amA mini-Katrina? What? Are auto dealers turning their backs on poor black people who want to turn their clunkers in for new efficient vehicles?
I loved the Jon Stewart segment on “Cash For Clunkers” tying it to the health care debate and the fears perpetrated by the right wing fear mongers….”Cash For Grannies”….
August 5th, 2009 at 11:56 am61 Tracist
You either are not very good at math or don’t own a car at all.
Let’s say you do own a car and drive the estimated 10,000 miles a year.
The exact amount of taxes going to the federal and state government varies by state, but for the sake of simplicity, let’s say 10% across the board goes to the federal gov.
10,000 x .10 = 1,000
In addition to allowing the car company employees to retain their jobs and in turn enabling them to pay their mortgages, essentials like food and utilities, disposable income toward other goods AND PAY TAXES.
But I know all this gets in the way of GOPiggie talking points doing nothing and expecting President Obama to fail.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:58 amTracy__5 says:
#54
“This is about stimulating a critical sector of our economy, and maintaining a certain number of well-paying manufacturing jobs.”
They why is the congress lying to us by saying it’s about the environment?
It can’t be about both? I mean, you’re taking gas-guzzlers off of the roads and replacing them with new cars.
However, I do encourage people to be smart about their purchases. If you’re going to trade in a car under 18 MPG for a new car, be sure to get one that won’t be a less-than-18-MPG car a few years down the road. Get one that will remain ecologically-feasible in the future, and take CARE of the blasted thing.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:58 amBuh-bye Tracist.
You’re free to organize another cross burning now.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:59 amDNFP says:
Oh, I saw what you did there…:D
August 5th, 2009 at 12:00 pmTracists
Do you know where tax revenues come from? Well paid workers pay much in taxes, poorly paid workers pay little and unemployed workers pay none. The economic benefit comes from putting blue collar workers back in the shop. The environmental benefit comes from the fact that in practice the average trade in yields a 10 mpg improvement and the clunker gets taken out of circulation instead of staying on the road. I know after eight years of failure it is hard to believe the government actually can improve lives but there you have it.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:00 pmOf course the republicons are going to attack this program, why? because it’s working. If we passed a health care reform bill with a public option and a year from now 40 million Americans were now covered and the rest of us suddenly enjoyed lower health insurance costs, the republicons would still be attacking it.
I can just hear them now saying how since health care reform was passed, thousands of multi-millionaire CEO’S in the health care industry and in the health insurance industry are now struggling to survive day to day. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!
August 5th, 2009 at 12:00 pmOr maybe he’s just trolling for “teh gay”?
That’s not acceptable, changing the spelling. It’s still bigoted.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:04 pmThat’s not acceptable, changing the spelling. It’s still bigoted.
You’re clueless as to the reference I’m making.
“google it” before making wild, uninformed allegations, mmmkay???
August 5th, 2009 at 12:09 pmBush must be so proud that when the right wing noise machine tries to make Obama look bad they use an example of a Bush screw-up.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:09 pmPurple State says:However, I do encourage people to be smart about their purchases.
The top sellers in the program:
1. Ford Focus (US)
2. Toyota Corolla (Canada/Japan/US)
3. Honda Civic (US)
4. Toyota Prius (Japan)
All very economical by US standards.
However to really get a fast leg-up on economy without much re-tooling expense the US needs to look at diesel ( whilst still working on hybrids). Europe has the lead on this.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:10 pmHow about a Jag XJ that will average over 40 US MPG?
A VW Golf that gets 60 US MPG?
And low emissions, and biofuel ready too.
The “what I have been told” is from people I know who work at dealerships. A buddy of mine is a salesman.
I used poor word choice in my first comment (my apologies). I meant to imply that the concern with the program is that dealership owners will not be quickly reimbursed (and many of them are having some cash flow problems now).
Here’s a link: http://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/cash-for-clunkers-buyers-flood-li-car-dealers-1.1344163
You can read toward the bottom that dealership owners are concerned about slow payment.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:10 pmThis is false-equivalency.
The model to compare is Medicare, Medicaid or the VA.
All of those are govt run and are very, very effective and very, very popular.
Instead, it is the Repubs that cut the legs out from under a more robust Cash for Clunkers program by scaling it back.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:11 pmralph the wonder llama says:
Can someone explain to me exactly what damage was done when the Cash for Clunkers program faced overwhelming demand?
_______________
uh… the GOOP’s credibility took another direct hit?
August 5th, 2009 at 12:11 pmMythology says:
You can read toward the bottom that dealership owners are concerned about slow payment.
________________
But then… “slow payment” would still e preferable to “no payment”, wouldn’t it?
August 5th, 2009 at 12:12 pmNews Flash for all republicans and other free market lovers…the longer the ‘free-market’ policies are worshipped and adhered to, the more socialist the U.S. citizenry will become…
:)
August 5th, 2009 at 12:14 pmYou can read toward the bottom that dealership owners are concerned about slow payment.
Well then, they should forego the Fed’s assistance and see how long they can avoid filing bankruptcy…
August 5th, 2009 at 12:14 pmdbadass says:
“from what I have been told”?
___________
I believe it’s called “hearsay”.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:14 pmI know you like to lie but GM is out of bankruptcy which makes you a liar. That was one thing this program was designed to do and it worked.
You just can’t accept success.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:14 pmLiasson is an unfeeling, uncaring person. Perfect for Fox, but what a despicable comparison. All those people who died, were injured, lost everything in Katrina, and she makes it into a flippant, political, partisan comment.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:14 pmHere’s a sampling from a good posting from ‘Seeing the Forest’ on this program:
Yes, the program achieved its goals in record time. So the House has approved an additional $2 billion and the Senate should take it up this week. This means even more help to dealerships and manufacturers and even more fuel economy for the country!
What could be wrong with that?
Well if you are a conservative, plenty is wrong with that. First of all it makes government look good — and conservatives just hate government.
What I’ve never understood is how republicans run for office to basically apply for the job of running the government by going around spouting anti-government rhetoric – and some people actually vote for them!
That’s like hiring someone to sell your product who tells you in the interview that he hates your product.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:15 pm“teh gay”
I’ve given alot of thought to that way of it (months) on other blogs and trying to decide. After seeing it just earlier in comments here and used, it’s bigoted.
It wont be used in my presence again without a comment in response from me.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:16 pmIt wasn’t just for GM and they have changed their business practices. You can’t prove your lies. You just lie.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:20 pmIt wont be used in my presence again without a comment in response from me.
So if I ad the moniker “Mr” to my login name, I too can feign lofty, ivory tower intelligence?
Makes sense to me, thanks!
If you’re too PC to use the word GAY, please stay active on TP, you’ve got some learnin’ to un-do…
August 5th, 2009 at 12:20 pmThere have been multiple, clear purposes stated in this very thread.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:22 pmDNFP says:
——————————————————————————–
Tracist must get tired of getting hit on by so many men online cuz his name implies he has a vagina.
Or maybe he’s just trolling for “teh gay”?
Nah, that term is no longer acceptable by me by “progressives.”
August 5th, 2009 at 12:24 pmTracy__5 says:
And for how long should we continue to pump money into these failed companies?
Money spent in the US is far more preferable than money pissed away in Iraq. That is the simple logic that escapes neocons.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:27 pmTalk to Obama about “teh gay.”
August 5th, 2009 at 12:28 pmDNFP, I think what Mr. Cobb is trying to say is that we don’t need to stoop to trollish levels to combat trolls. That’s all.
Let people like Reality Check hoist themselves on their own four-letter petard.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:29 pmFrom your own post I dub thee a liar. You said that GM had not changed their business practices and were doomed to failure.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:29 pmNah, that term is no longer acceptable by me by “progressives.”
So? You’re not the judge and jury of “progressives”.
I’ll let the LGBT community decide when it’s not “cool”.
Since you’re clueless to the context of it’s origination, I don’t expect you to see the meaning of it’s continued use.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:30 pmWhen one only references right wing sources of course the information is going to be baseless, false, lies and delusions and fear.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:30 pmDNFP is a representative of the gay and lesbian community going back years here at TP.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:33 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Unbiased source: The cash for clunkers program seems to be directly related to new car sales and also is stimulating the economy and could lead to new jobs.
Democratic source: The cash for clunkers program, though under funded, looks to be reviving the auto industry and helping the economy.
Republican source: The cash for clunkers program is socialism, it is a failure, it will destroy the America we once knew and loved.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:34 pmPoor stupid Troll-cyst, ALL auto dealers are taking advantage of the CARS program.
You can’t point only to GM and cry foul, you stupid little wiper of other people’s bottoms…
But it does reinforce the GOPig concept of “anything good for America under Obama’s watch = BAD.”
August 5th, 2009 at 12:34 pmMara needs to go back and study some SAT prep materials.
Her analogy is among the worst I’ve witnessed.
Here’s an analogy analagous to hers:
“Mara Liasson is like Ann Coulter”
…hope she can appreciate that.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:36 pmSomeone also seems clueless as to the concept of “trolling” and it’s intent to de-rail a thread’s topic.
Good work Mr. Corncobb…
August 5th, 2009 at 12:36 pmWhy is it that republicans have no problem handing out billion dollar no bid contracts to the likes of Halliburton, KBR, BlackwaterUSA and Bechtel but whine like stuck pigs when the democrats try to save the auto industry?
August 5th, 2009 at 12:37 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Why is it that the republicans are whining about the cash for clunkers program being under funded and whining about how GM runs it’s business BUT never complains about how KBR and other defense contractors have robbed the American taxpayer by over charging the military and have killed some of our brave soldiers due to shoddy electrical work?
August 5th, 2009 at 12:41 pmI don’t know of any gay guys who casually write “teh gay.” Only heteros.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:42 pmOrdinarily, I like Mara Liasson’s reportage, but that’s just sucking up and regurgitating Bircher/NeoCon talking points.
There is no comparison.
The post-Katrina FEMA response couldn’t even get started. Cash for Clunkers got started and is too popular. Sure, there seems to be an undercommitment of funding for “Cash…” but that’s pretty small potatoes compared to the serious undercommitment of resources and screwed up logistical system associated with Katrina. And if that makes you pout, then tell me where all the people are camped out in the NOLA convention center and waiting on rooftops for rescue as a result of “Cash…”
Effing idiots. Comparing turds and ice cream cones.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:42 pmLet’s see… from losses to profits in two years…
how exactly do you define “change”, Tracist?
However you do, it obviously doesn’t include an actual… y’know… shift in outcome…
August 5th, 2009 at 12:43 pmok little mouth. prove it or admit you are a liar. Prove that only GM benifits from the cash for cars program.
Remember, your reputation is at stake here. You will be admitting that you are a liar forever and ever.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:44 pmIf the GOP doesn’t change it’s strategy of fear, lies, hate and obstruction it is doomed to failure….too late! LMAO!
August 5th, 2009 at 12:44 pmMr. Cobb says:
“teh gay”
I’ve given alot of thought to that way of it (months) on other blogs and trying to decide. After seeing it just earlier in comments here and used, it’s bigoted.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
________________
No, it’s not. Unless you mean “bigoted against bigots.”
“Teh gay” is a reference to homophobia, not homosexuality. It is used to lampoon those who seem to believe that homosexuality is some sort of communicable disease, and fear that gay marriage will lead to an epidemic of “teh gay” in their communities.
The term makes fun of ignorant, homophobic, and bigoted people. If you belong to any of these groups, you can understandably take offense. If not, you’re fighting the wrong fight.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:47 pmPissant RWs. They are in panic-mode because Obama developed something that the people like. They will never own up to Bush’s failure on Katrina. Anyone showing loyalty to a POTUS that gets up after hiring an incompetent FEMA director and says, “Good job, Brownie,” while people are dying and suffering deserves to be reminded at every opportunity. They know that CFC is not causing anyone to die and that most people buying the cars are happy for the help. I am so happy I have never been a person who is vulnerable to indoctrination and fantasy.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:47 pmWhat’s needed is a cash for clunkers newsperson program. They
August 5th, 2009 at 12:48 pmcould get rid of old (Billo), inefficient (Beck,Liasson), polluters of the public airwaves, and replace them with new,
(Madow), efficient (KO,Schultz) disseminators of information.
Tracy__5 says:
Yeah right! Read…for once.
http://www.brandingstrategyinsider.com/2009/07/old-gm-threatening-new-gm.html
_________
Oh, go blow it out your ears.
That’s just ONE person’s opinion, you twit.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:48 pmFred, do you mean Tracist’s hard-earned reputation as a liar might be on the line?
August 5th, 2009 at 12:50 pmDealerships “buy” the cars from the manufacturer and they are financed “by” the manufacturer as well. They have to pay interest on those vehicles. How would NOT SELLING CARS be better for their cash flow than selling cars that have been sitting there and they had to pay interest on? “A buddy” of yours if he exists is one salesman at one dealership that could be having cash flow problems for many reasons. In addition, whenever a car is sold by the dealer they get money back from the manufacturer so that would be more cash in. That “somebody told me, some people say” crap works with the Fox and dittohead crowds but we’re not that stupid.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:50 pmMathazar says:
What’s needed is a cash for clunkers newsperson program.
____________
Hell, what the righties need is a “Cash for GOOPers” trade in program, where they can trade in out-dated, inefficient models like Blount, boHHHHHHner, McConnell or Grassley for newer ones that stand a chance of actually ***Doing Something***.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:51 pmTracy__5 says:
Yeah right! Read…for once.
ok little mouth. prove it or admit you are a liar. Prove that only GM benifits from the cash for cars program.
Remember, your reputation is at stake here. You will be admitting that you are a liar forever and ever.
Another ignorant butthead. According to MSNBC Ford has sold over 140,000 cars under the Cash for Clunker Program.
I got your back, Fred.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:51 pmUnlike the poster Kwacy 5, I read as much about what goes on in this country as I can get my hands on, especially after the disaster that was GWB.
She is an airhead and this is airheaded analysis. That is why Fox features her. Duh!
August 5th, 2009 at 12:52 pm“I thought what was good for the country was good for General Motors and vice versa”. Charles Erwin Wilson, GM president (1953).
It is difficult to dispute the words of a capitalist, unless of course, the critics of the Cash for Clunkers are disavowing capitalism.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:52 pmShayne says:
That “somebody told me, some people say” crap works with the Fox and dittohead crowds but we’re not that stupid.
____________
Careful, Shayne. You’re using “logic” and “facts” here. You don’t want to overwhelm poor dear.
There’s prolly a good reason that one chose the name “Mythology”.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:53 pmMr. Cobb says:
I don’t know of any gay guys who casually write “teh gay.” Only heteros.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
As a representative of the heterosexual community going back years here at TP, I take offense at your use of the term “heteros.” It boils down a vast group of people, with a plethora of differing worldviews and perspectives, and pidgeonholes us into one faceless category just because of our inborn opposite-gender preference.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:53 pmThe term makes fun of ignorant, homophobic, and bigoted people. If you belong to any of these groups, you can understandably take offense. If not, you’re fighting the wrong fight.
Nah, if I see the terms “teh gay” or “cocksucker” used here again in the future, I will respond. That’s the deal.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:55 pmMr. Cobb says:
Nah, if I see the terms “teh gay” or “cocksucker” used here again in the future, I will respond. That’s the deal.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
_______________
Ok, cocksucker – have fun with that.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:56 pmDo they have prototypes in development?
‘Cause I sure ain’t seen no models like that around.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:57 pmIt boils down a vast group of people, with a plethora of differing worldviews and perspectives, and pidgeonholes us into one faceless category just because of our inborn opposite-gender preference.
You’ve never had a problem “boiling us down” like that forever.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:59 pmTracy the troll has been rendered useless. She must be reading through her 1000 page right wing talking points/attack manual to bring us some new idiocy.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:59 pmDid majii just call Tracy__5 little mouth?
little mouth.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:01 pmperfect.
Tracy 5 says: You call that change?
Watching your trollturds getting flushed is “change”.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:01 pmMr. Cobb, you have been given every chance to be reasonable and hear other points of view. Why would you be such a cocksucker?
August 5th, 2009 at 1:01 pmralph the wonder llama says:
‘Cause I sure ain’t seen no models like that around.
_______________
They’re trying, but their recent attempts at introducing new models (The Kantor, The Vitter, and The Palin…) haven’t been very successful.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:02 pmRachel Maddow throws around “teh gay” all the time, in speech and graphics.
I seriously doubt Rachel would do anything to demean or impugn the lgbt world.
Who’s responsible for this silly tangent?
Probably some cocksucker.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:03 pmCobb must mistake us for people who give a sh#t what some spamming troll has to say.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:03 pmMr. Cobb says:
You’ve never had a problem “boiling us down” like that forever.
August 5th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
______________
Which “us” do you mean? Concern trolls?
August 5th, 2009 at 1:04 pmI know wing-nuts don’t understand this, and Mara may not
August 5th, 2009 at 1:04 pmeither, but the government runs Medicare, Medicaid, the VA (Some regions have issue, though.) and numerous state run health programs just fine. I wonder why the woman in question and Liason didn’t use Medicare as her example?
Mara Liasson, Juan Williams and Fred Anderle the three reasons I no longer to give to NPR
August 5th, 2009 at 1:05 pmTracy__5 says:
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Of course it’s popular. Why go to effort of selling it when you can go get a handout from the government and get far more for it otherwise? I mean WTF $4000 for a 1991 Chevy truck with 224,000 miles? What a steal!
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/story/794417.html
Well since you are a principled person, I trust you would NEVER get such a handout for your clunker…
August 5th, 2009 at 1:06 pmSnort …
Hey wait a minute, you don’t call a person who does something awesome for men like feeding them a manfeeder …
August 5th, 2009 at 1:06 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Tracy__5 says:
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Of course it’s popular. Why go to effort of selling it when you can go get a handout from the government and get far more for it otherwise? I mean WTF $4000 for a 1991 Chevy truck with 224,000 miles? What a steal!
You can always trade it in for an Edsel. Only suggesting. :)
August 5th, 2009 at 1:08 pmget on the topic or get all your posts erased, Cobby.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:09 pmYeah, she doesn’t appear to be very intelligent or well informed. /snark.
If you are not gay, why are you fighting this battle. If you are, why do you not understand plain English?
August 5th, 2009 at 1:12 pmTracy__5
Still waiting for your proof or admission that you are a liar.
It’s on you. You made the claim.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:13 pmHave you ever worked for a corporation? I didn’t think so. You state because they aren’t going to make a profit until 2011 they haven’t changed their business model. No corporation initiating major changes would expect to make a profit from those changes immediately. Change is expensive and that’s why corporations get into a rut and stick with things they should change. Dog you people are stoooopid.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:14 pmMr. Cobb says:
I don’t think she understands. See, like most lesbians in “their Ivory towers” they don’t realize the “gay guys.” We who brung them to this.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
______________
You “brung them to this?” What is that supposed to mean?
Are you saying that gay men gave “teh gay” to lesbians? Is there some kind of licensing agreement or something? Or is it just a trial membership?
This is quite fascinating. So what happens if their license to gay is revoked — do they have to give back the toasters they got when they joined?
August 5th, 2009 at 1:14 pmI see. So the “old school” definitions like
> to become different:
> to become altered or modified:
> to become transformed or converted
don’t really work for you, huh?
No wonder you have such trouble communicating the wisdom of your ideas around here.
We’re all stuck in the traditional paradigm of using words the way they’re commonly understood.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:15 pmwatchdog
and another liar shows up. What you said is a lie.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:15 pm119 Tracy
Oh, PULEEEEEZE.
You are citing 2 MARKETING WHORES.
I would give a bit more credence to the report by the financial analysts than to the opinion of mirage builders.
Have you at least considered that all the cars sold so far under the cars for clunkers program had to be in design and planning for at least a couple of years?
Why where they in planning for at least two years?
Because of high gasoline prices.
We, the progressives, have been proposing and promoting higher fuel efficiency for decades.
It was the MARKETING WHORES pushing the concept of FREAKING MINI TANKS to take the kids to school.
It is the POLITICAL MARKETING WHORES pushing the idea that “DROOLING HERE, DROLL NOW! will solve the USA dependence on oil, while the rest of the world seeks alternative sources.
That was one reason for GM to dump HUMMER.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:15 pmThe MINI TANKS ARE NO LONGER SELLING.
I don’t believe they’re taking stolen grocery carts for trade ins. That’s how Tracy rolls.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:16 pmWell, OK, do you believe that “teh lesbians” would have brought about a gay guy broadcasting the news and opinions?
August 5th, 2009 at 1:17 pmCash for clunkers??
WOnder how much cash for that old clunker LIE -a -son ?
August 5th, 2009 at 1:18 pmoh yeah of course Shayne, they always think that way…to make an exception for themselves for doing the same thing…It’s not a handout if I do it…
August 5th, 2009 at 1:19 pmThis is too funny – I can’t keep up.
While reading Tracy today I’m reminded of the President just said today.
America wasn’t made by whiners and complainers.
Best line of his speach, which was excellent all the way around. When the real working people of the U.S. support you (and they do) you know the r’s are in deep shi*.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:20 pmwatchdog says:
Nearly 2,000 people died and thousands more were injured or displaced as a result of Hurricane Katrina and the Bush administration’s incompetent response.
This statement could not be further from the truth. Most of the people that died do so because they did not heed the mandatory evacuation warnings. And New Orleans local government failed at executing an effective evacuation strategy. To say that all these deaths occurred because of the federal government short failings is extremely disingenuous at best.
oh yes, cover up for an administration that did nothing to help the situation and then sought to pass the buck onto the local governments…of course someone like you would swallow everything Bush said…
August 5th, 2009 at 1:21 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Makes one wonder why watchpoop would want to reargue the travesty that was, to paraphrase jim Demint, the Bush administration’s “Waterloo”.
Everyone knows what happened, and even Republican strategists trace the beginning of the GOP’s collapse to Bush’s FEMA response to Katrina.
And now watchpoop wants to try to revise history?
No wonder he’s the morning “cut ‘n paste” troll. I guess Troll Central won’t trust him with much else. Just that and picking up the dry cleaning.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:22 pmSo what you’re saying is that lesbians would have gotten nowhere without homosexual men? And I guess you believe that Rachel Maddow wouldn’t have become a Rhodes Scholar if she wasn’t an affirmative action candidate getting a pass because she’s a lesbian. You have some nerve implying lesbians haven’t done as much for the cause as men have. STFU.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:24 pmTo conflate:
con·flate [ k?n fláyt ] (past and past participle con·flat·ed, present participle con·flat·ing, 3rd person present singular con·flates)
verb
Definition:
1. transitive and intransitive verb combine things: to join or merge two or more things into a unified whole
2. transitive verb mix things: to fuse or bring things together
I’m afraid you’ve mistakenly conflated two separate sets of facts.
(No shit, this is exactly what the Publicans are doing here)
[15th century. < Latin conflat-, past participle of conflare "melt together" < flare "to blow"]
con·fla·tion [ k?n fláysh'n ] noun
August 5th, 2009 at 1:26 pmYou crack me up. Rebel without a clue.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:27 pmThat’s the unfortunate part of the moden “journalism”. They have to sensationalize everything otherwise the people won’t pay attention.
I’m not a big fan of the “cash for clunkers” program, since it’s the US tax payers that are paying for it(remember, anything that the government done is essentially paid by us one way or another) and it’s still promoting living outside of one’s means.
But, considering $3bb for that vs $600bb+ for the Iraq war, I don’t think it’s a bad decision, even if it ends up costing $10bb for the program and it’s an investment in the future. I don’t own a car myself (no need) but I hope part of the requirements is that the new car bought is a fuel efficient one.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:28 pmTo right-wing Republicans the two things are equivalent. The Cash for Clunkers made the Democrats look good, and Katrina made Republicans look bad. In both cases, Republicans lose, and that is all they care about.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:28 pmAs far as journalists go, Mara Liasson is a “clunker”. That goes for Juan Williams, too. NPR distorts the truth just as bad as FOX News.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:29 pmIt’s at 105 little mouth
Thanks for being so cooperative in showing what a lying pos you are.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:32 pmyo, watchpup…had the levees not failed, many of those nearly 2000 people in Louisiana would not have died.
So, since they were at the mercy of the levees that are maintained (or not) under the federal watch, calling that accusation “extremely disingenuous” is crap.
Go lie somewhere else, cur.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:34 pmOnce again, after months of thought about it, the term will not be used again.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:34 pmI have come to the conclusion that poor Tracy doesn’t even know that he is lying. He comes here every day and lies through his teeth about everything and anything, including his personal life, even though we always catch him in his lies. No normal person would continue to lie to people who know you are lying.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:37 pmdelafield says:
As far as journalists go, Mara Liasson is a “clunker”. That goes for Juan Williams, too. NPR distorts the truth just as bad as FOX News.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
___________
“Just as bad?”
Come on, be fair. Just because they have a handful of right-leaning analysts doesn’t make NPR into Fox Lite. They at least make an effort to be objective…
August 5th, 2009 at 1:40 pmHas anyone else noticed that sometimes mr. corncob sounds a lot like our old pal Daryll/Parodaryll? These absolute terms – “I banish that term, and shan’t tolerate its use!”
And cobb, as a queer myself, I actually employ “teh gay” as a means of conveying the utter idiocy of the religio-righty numbskulls, many of whom think homosexuality is (a) immoral, (b) illegal, (c) contagious, or (d) just plain old icky the way that girls had cooties when I was in 2nd grade.
Grow up, get a sense of humor and deal.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:40 pmMr. Cobb says:
Once again, after months of thought about it, the term will not be used again.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
______________
Which term won’t be used again? “teh gay?” The one I just used?
August 5th, 2009 at 1:41 pmSo, a poster INSISTS that from now on, “teh gay” term will not be used?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
teh gays
teh gays
teh gays
teh gays
teh gays
teh gays
In fact, if I ever respond directly to this particular poster, I’ll have to use “teh gay” in every single sentence.
Mucking foron!
August 5th, 2009 at 1:46 pmMr. Cobb says:
Nah, if I see the terms “teh gay” or “cocksucker” used here again in the future, I will respond. That’s the deal.
I’m 50% in agreement with Cobb. Not about “teh gay” but about the use of “cocksucker” (how does TP not filter that?) as an insult. Some of my best friends and favorite lovers have been cocksuckers.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:46 pmhey dumbass, it was on tv. We all saw it. When local governments are overwhelmed it is FEMA’s responibility to pick up the slack.
They didn’t and it’s all because bush and brownie failed at their jobs. They did it deliberatly and it ’s clear for all to see. They want the government to be shown as incapable and so they deliberatly failed to prove it.
Why would you even bring this failure of bush up. It’s known internationally as his waterloo.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:46 pmShe works for Faux:
http://www.foxnews.com/bios/talent/mara-liasson/
So it is kinda faux lite in that respect when she is allowed to say things like she did for this thread…
August 5th, 2009 at 1:48 pmbarracks9, I don’t think cornCobb is Parodyll.
As far as I can tell, cornCobb hasn’t gone all sanctimonious and holier than thou on us.
Besides, with your revelation, Parodyll would be all flustered and frustrated, and not able to type.
;-)
August 5th, 2009 at 1:49 pmThe only reason Republicans consider Katrina a failure is because the normal people all blamed George W. Bush. Republican hacks strove mightily to turn the disaster into a Republican success by shifting the blame to Democrats in Louisiana, but for once the public was paying close attention and it didn’t work. Had Bush not been held responsible for his miserable failure, they would have gladly sacrificed the lives of a couple thousand dark people for the propaganda value alone.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:52 pmYes, in fact that is in the Republican party platform. They couldn’t figunre out why they finally got blamed for doing so.
August 5th, 2009 at 1:57 pmThe point is watchpoopy, we all know what happened. Even if you were really there give me one good reason that I should believe you. You have proven that you will lie to make your point.
I don’t believe you were there or anything you say. You seem to think you are dealing with right wingers who believe what they are told without any evidence.
That is why you are on the outside looking in. Just as you were for 50 or 60 years after hoover did basically the same things the right just did to us.
Enjoy your time in the darkness. I see you will be there a long time because you don’t seem to be capable of learning from your mistakes.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:03 pmEveryone was watching the reporters who were able to get into New Orleans, but Bush couldn’t get any help in there. It turns out that most people aren’t so dumb they couldn’t figure out what was going on when it was right on their TV. Finally, Bush and the Republicans overplayed their hand, and people began to understand what those monstsers are all about.
It was beginning of the end for Bush and the GOP, because everyone woke up and started paying attention.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:05 pmhey watchpoopy, thanks for bringing up one of the biggest failures of the right to try to counter one of the biggest successes of the left. HA.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:11 pmMara Lyingson had another wingnutty side remark on Monday’s Nice Polite Republicans that made me cringe. After playing the latest pro-health insurance reform ads she asked if “bashing” the insurance companies was likely to prove “unwise” by the Democrats.
I know by now that, predictably, whenever Mara uses the nonsense word “bashing” she’s about to whip out the victim card in defense of someone truly reprehensible.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:19 pmTracy__5
back with more lies I see. What’s the problem. You can’t rebut the last lie you got caught in. Why start a new set of lies?
they have changed their business model. You can’t prove otherwise and if you try you will look like a fool, again!
August 5th, 2009 at 2:31 pmwatchdog says:
I was there cowboy I know how it went down. Each city government is responsible for warning and executing an evacuation strategy. New Orleans fail miserably at doing so. You are repeating what you have been told by this propaganda Blog.
Right…and I was there for the opening of the Civil War as well…
The fact is that Bush did much less than he could have. Yet to you he is blameless…the fact is he was warned in a briefing before, but like most of the time in his administration, he was also inadequately prepared…Don’t cover up for him, you propaganda mouthpiece…
August 5th, 2009 at 2:37 pmIt’s the right-wing way, Fred.
Just pretend you didn’t get caught. It has proven to be an effective strategy with roughly 20-29% of the population.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:39 pmAlso, he could have shortened his vacation in order to deal with the situation much like the GOP did with Terri Schiavo…but of course he couldn’t be bothered to do so…
August 5th, 2009 at 2:40 pmhey t5, when everyone else is wrong and you are the only one that is right, well…….you know.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:41 pm“Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government. To the extent the federal government didn’t fully do its job right, I take responsibility,” Bush said at a joint White House news conference with Jalal Talabani, the president of Iraq.” QT and WMP links posted on webpage.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:41 pmTracy_5:
August 5th, 2009 at 2:42 pmShouldn’t you have a cooler car?
Tracy_5:
August 5th, 2009 at 2:42 pmShouldn’t you have a cooler car?
or two cooler cars it seems…
August 5th, 2009 at 2:43 pmI’m disappointed in Mara Liasson. I expected objectivity and a modicum of analytical ability from an NPR reporter.
And I gotta ask: in what alternate universe is a program that succeeds BEYOND the expectations of its designers a disaster?
Disagreeing with the concept of subsidizing car purchases is one thing, but I personally think using that sort of emotionally charged hyperbole is unprofessional and irresponsible.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:44 pmOf course it’s easy to toe the GOP line for a journalist, but they should know that they would still get attacked anyway for being too liberal…
August 5th, 2009 at 2:45 pmkaath9, she is a fox reporter.
http://www.foxnews.com/bios/talent/mara-liasson/
August 5th, 2009 at 2:51 pmWell that shouldn’t be a surprise…If McCain was president and had proposed this, she and the others on Fox News would be proclaiming this program as the greatest thing since sliced bread
August 5th, 2009 at 2:54 pmt5 from your link liar.
The new GM will also have to overhaul its business model,
August 5th, 2009 at 3:14 pmTracy__5 says
Oh we have Balls and we do call out our own went they do make mistakes, however its kinda hard to call them out went most of the time you have to refute ever thing the other side talks about.
But then again I am betting that you couldn’t under stand this as your head is so far up your 4th point of contact you are unable to see or hear.
August 5th, 2009 at 3:25 pmLet’s see, what kind of people do I know that have a 300 dollar car and a 1000 dollar sound system? hmmm.
August 5th, 2009 at 3:38 pmYou won’t get the last word t5. I will come back next week if I have to in order to call you a liar.
August 5th, 2009 at 3:46 pmI’m very serious about the First Amendment, but even I have had enough with the marriage of NPR and Fox News (Mara Liasson and Juan Williams, and recent opinion pieces at the NPR website by wingnuts). I am punishing my local NPR station until NPR gets its act together.
August 5th, 2009 at 3:48 pmTracy__5 s
I understand what I posted. It remains to be seen if you are in the same reading impaired boat that Fred is in.
oh i am sure that Fred`s boat is the one that floats well and isnt full of Sh!T.
But then again with your head up your 4th point of contact i can see why your boat is full of crap and smells as bad.
August 5th, 2009 at 3:56 pmUm, no, Tracist — it’s a statement of fact easily supportable by the evidence, just in this thread. Fred has proven that. Those of us who are capable of reason and abstract thought can see that.
August 5th, 2009 at 4:18 pmCash (i.e, taxpayer money) for clunkers. What a crock. How about cash for clothes, food, housing, shoes, washing machines, TVs, technology gizmos and anything else you can think of. We can go on forever giving taxpayer money for stuff. Sheer madness. What the heck is happening to our country. The Land of the Free, HOme of the Brave, and those that grab any handout from Uncle Sammy.
August 5th, 2009 at 4:20 pmt5 is a liar.
August 5th, 2009 at 4:28 pmI’ve always thought highly of NPR news programs until recently. The presence of people like Mara Eliason and Juan Williams, together with the obligation NPR feels to report on the hallucinations of such as John Bolton, who is not happy Clinton got the girls out of North Korea, have lead me to do other things at All Things Considered and Morning Edition time.
NPR is now Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me, Garrison Keillor, Michelle Martin’s program, and the like for me.
August 5th, 2009 at 4:35 pmTracy__5
Relax, before you blow a gasket, if you slow down we may be able to fine some mike and a cookie for you then give you a blankie and let you nap some.
I know its hard to fight a battle went you are so totally unarmed mentally and physically.
but we can help you if you like.
August 5th, 2009 at 4:58 pmTracist seems determined that repeating “the sky is green, the sky is green” over and over again will convince us that it’s true.
Problem for Tracist is, we have eyes and windows. So we can see the sky is not actually green.
August 5th, 2009 at 5:02 pm252 opps fat fingers should have been Milk and cookies
August 5th, 2009 at 5:03 pmMara Liasson and Juan Williams are why I won’t listen to NPR anymore.
August 5th, 2009 at 5:16 pm249. Fred says: t5 is a liar.
Or at least too fraking confused to be worth paying much attention to, Fred.
So, Tracy(underscore)(underscore)5. If this here program is all about saving GMs nuts from the fire, it must be counted an abject failure. There’s a report out, just a statistical snapshot mind you, that the top items being bought in the clunker trade in are, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius and one other – might have been the Toyo Corolla.
The Focus is number one, at the moment, and I don’t have the others in their actual order of sales from top down, but I certainly don’t see any GM product in the top 5. Maybe in the top 10? There’s no reason the Malibu or Aveo wouldn’t work.
As to the environmental issue, my understanding is of the program requirement is that the trade go from a less efficient, greater polluting vehicle to one with better milage and less emissions – and in that regard, sure, if you’re driving a Suburban or an Excursion or some other over-the-top moosemobile, a Hummer H3 may very well be a better vehicle in terms of environmental consequences.
August 5th, 2009 at 5:17 pmIn fact, paleoLib put the list on at #46 and GM did get on at 10th place with the Cobalt. I hadn’t seen the complete list that paleoLib put up – just saw the top 5 on CNN while I was mucking up the local environment on a treadmill…
August 5th, 2009 at 5:22 pmOh yeah, T__5, I did a search through the thread and Fred and several others are correct. You did say that this was done for the benefit of GM.
For your benefit, we quote from entry 49:
Tracy__5 says:
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
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#28
“…which offers car buyers rebates of up to $4,500 for trading in their gas-guzzlers for new, higher-mileage models, setting aside Republican opposition to the plan.”
And apparently the Hummer H3T (14 city/ 18 highway) qualifies. This isn’t about the environment. This is about continuing to prop up GM
August 5th, 2009 at 5:28 pmre #260. There’s another point here, T_5. Even though paleoLib was already on the thread with a list that put GM’s best at 10, with Ford at 1, you went ahead and asserted that this was being done for GM’s benefit. Did you see paleoLib’s list and just go ahead on anyway; i.e., are you incapable of recalling what you should have just seen? Ever consider pushing the refresh button before you compose a thread posting or before you commit the posting to the thread?
Feel free to keep digging though. I’ve done it before and I’m sure a number of others have too; it always feels good when you stop. :)
August 5th, 2009 at 5:37 pmVirtual Pebble, your effort is admirable, but it will be for naught.
You see, Tracist can look at the statement you quoted, which to any English-speaking human with a moderate reading and comprehension ability says exactly what Fred reported it said, but because Tracist doesn’t see the word “ONLY” in there, he thinks it lets him off the hook. Much like a little kid thinks that covering his eyes lets him not be seen by other people in the room.
August 5th, 2009 at 5:37 pmTracy__5
well once again we will try to help you, but like any other infliction you have to at lease be able to recognize that you have to learn and grow. And we will not hold any thing again you if you would only try to learn and grow.
and if you do pull your head out of your 4th point of contact you will see that the yellow and brown sky you are looking at will become clear and blue. Honest and no I would not BS you
only doing the American thing and help others.
August 5th, 2009 at 5:42 pmThanks, Ralph. I appreciate that, and your assessment of the situation with T_5. Been there, done that, and would rather not own up to having an entire closet of those t-shirts…
From my perspective though, the lead blog on the thread and some of the commentary has just put me off Mara Liasson and NPR. Dang.
August 5th, 2009 at 5:45 pmTracy_5
see theres the problem i am not argeeing with any one on any thing, I am only trying to be helpful as it looks as if you need to be helped. You seem to be getting your self all tie up and confusing your self.
as i have seen not only once but many times that someone has point out things to you.
but i can understand honestly i can.
heres another cookie and some warm milk.
August 5th, 2009 at 6:13 pm“especially Cash for Clunkers is like a mini- Katrina here. I mean it’s not good to start a program and not be able to execute it.”
Bad comparison, but Liasson’s point is the administration of the program has been horrendous. The program was rushed onto the scene and is full of problems. The CARS bill tried to do too much too fast and the handling of paperwork has been filled with errors. Getting $4500 for a vehicle that you would be getting rid of in a year or two anyways is a no brainer if you can afford to buy a new car. When I found out that my near dead 1997 Intrepid would qualify I settled on a Hyundai Elantra for the full $4500 credit. Picked it up on Friday the 24th only to find out on the following Monday they had changed the MPG on my clunker from 18 to 19. Bummer…. by Thursday however CARS program said if you had already finish your deal by the 24th you were okay. It’s now the 5th and the dealership I went through just got its first two approvals. They have done about 50 deals! I still don’t know for sure if this Elantra is mine for sure. When a private business operates like that it goes out of business but our government just keeps on going, further in debt that is. Can’t imagine the problems if they take over health care.
August 5th, 2009 at 6:39 pmWe’ve had a “Cash for Clunkers” program for years. It was called Congress giving itself a pay raise.
August 5th, 2009 at 6:44 pmtracy 5 still here lyin?
August 5th, 2009 at 7:02 pmWhy the rush on health care? Because the congress is sooo concerned with Joe Public? It’s got to be because they don’t want the watchdog groups to have time to look at the details and let the general public in on what’s to come. Push it through with as little information made public as possible. I can’t believe the government is capable of running health care.
August 5th, 2009 at 7:03 pmOK, Tracy_5, let’s try this.
Fred’s evidence is right there in your post #49.
In it, you wrote:
“…which offers car buyers rebates of up to $4,500 for trading in their gas-guzzlers for new, higher-mileage models, setting aside Republican opposition to the plan.”
And apparently the Hummer H3T (14 city/ 18 highway) qualifies. This isn’t about the environment. This is about continuing to prop up GM.
That’s not just a direct quote, Tracy, that’s a dead on cut and paste (and italicize). After the final initials GM, you went to another paragraph, so the phrase “This is about continuing to prop up GM.” is the final sentence in the paragraph and it ends on a full stop – a period. You do NOT say anything about propping up anyone else. Syntactically, you have asserted that the only thing going on is a propping up of GM; you may not have meant “only”, but it is implicit in the syntax of the statement. You wrote it and Fred and everyone else that has dropped it on you is correct; if you want to be clearly understood, you must be explicit, or you can take your lumps when you get on the wrong side of the interaction of syntax and semantics. But quit playing dumb; it doesn’t advance the argument.
We all depend on syntax as well as grammar and semantics to understand each other; we’re not a bunch of nitwits wearing tin hats to keep each other’s thoughts out – we’re not “mind readers” (well, I’m not; everyone else can speak for themselves…).
August 5th, 2009 at 7:08 pmOr a navy or an air force or an army or a network of firefighters and policemen or teachers or….
well, you’re not really so dumb that you can’t fill in some of the blanks for yourself are you?
or safe water and food, or an emergency response group(you can’t count the one at katrina, that was under bush’s boy brownie the horse trainer), etc.
government won’t work if you don’t want it to. You let bush prove that to everyone didn’t you?
August 5th, 2009 at 7:20 pmvp takes tracy 5 down again. How many times have you been proven to be a bold faced liar here just today t5? 3, 4 or was it even more than that?
August 5th, 2009 at 7:21 pmFred says “Or a navy or an air force or an army or a network of firefighters and policemen or teachers or….”
You don’t work for the government, do you? While the government is capable of handling anything, it does all things in the least efficient and quite costly way. Medicare is an example of a government program which is full of fraud, waste, and abuse and as such is running out of money.
Since I am new to this environment, I must say that my biggest concern with “Cash for Clunkers” is that we are destroying vehicles which have the potential to replace true clunker vehicles. We have all seen the poorest in our communities driving cars which really should be condemned. Why cannot the government collect the trade-ins, stage them regionally, and offer the vehicles to those who truly cannot afford a car payment? For example, a lady in government housing not far from me drives a 1982 Monte Carlo that is being held together by bailing wire and gum. She cannot afford a new car, but couldn’t she benefit from a 1999 Ford Explorer that gets at least 8 mpg better than she currently gets?
August 5th, 2009 at 8:14 pmOr use some stimulus money to hire mechanics to remove all usable parts so that others can get affordable parts for their vehicles? Wouldn’t making the parts available provide further stimulus in providing an after-market area that would need people to work?
It would seem to me that while we claim to be saving the environment, namely the air, we are neglecting our land and water with this program. We are destroying the motors, which will require them to be landfilled, right? How is that environmentally sound?
I am sure I will catch grief for this admission, but as a man of faith conservation and good stewardship are dear to my heart. This program, while meant to be beneficial to the automotive industry, man, and the Earth, is only really benefitting the car dealerships while leaving the truly needy still driving their gas guzzling, smoke belching vehicles, and creating more landfill.
Jesus smothered in hollondaise sauce, these people will say anything.
August 5th, 2009 at 8:28 pmI did not post #277
August 5th, 2009 at 8:59 pmEveryone loves free money.
Why not just give everyone $1,000,000 so that everyone will be rich?
August 5th, 2009 at 9:42 pmOk, Wiley, I’ll bite. Tell me what is factually incorrect about anything I stated? Tell me why destruction of vehicles is favorable to providing for the needs of others?
Sorry to the other Reggie for making him feel defensive. I did not think it possible that those who claim to want to protect the planet would think that a program like this, so wasteful, is appropriate without stepping back to consider the ramifications to the environment. The hypocrisy knows no bounds. I am no Republican, just a guy watching as the japanese laugh all the way to the bank. The free market has spoken, as it should have, to the bankrupted 2 that they don’t make the cars Americans want which is why they found themselves in trouble. Hopefully it brings about genuine change in the direction they take their future designs.
August 5th, 2009 at 10:28 pmI have been name-jacked and did not post #277 and #281.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:54 pmWhat the hell are you talking about, Reggie? I wasn’t talking to you.
August 6th, 2009 at 12:04 amTracy__5 says:
#238
The frugal type….I hope. Don’t spend money unnessarily, but then again I guess a liberal like yourself couldn’t possibly understand that one.
I didn’t know George W. Bush was a liberal! Color me shocked!
August 6th, 2009 at 12:15 amwiley says:
It wasn’t me who wrote that comment, it appears that someone has name-jacked me on this thread.
August 6th, 2009 at 12:21 amMy God!!! How many people have died in this Cash for Clunkers debacle??? The Obama administration must answer for this. How dare they short-change a program this way? Didn’t they know how many would die in the carnage of not being able to trade in your used car? HEADS MUST ROLL!
August 6th, 2009 at 4:03 am/sarcasm
Oh. Trying to get you and me to fight, huh? The Games People Play. Cheap tricks used by the intellectually impaired, in their effort to make liberals fight amongst themselves, because they don’t have the balls or the ammunition to fight fair.
August 6th, 2009 at 6:58 amTo Wiley #287 & Reggie: This is the former “Reggie” which created the conspiratorial theories flying from Wiley. In an effort to placate I have changed my log-in name to protect the innocent from being blasted for my words.
By the way, Wiley, bring whatever fight you will. Since you obviously believe in your mind I am attempting to start in-fighting, let me express it in terms you can understand: I am not a right-wing fanatic, just someone trying to live my life to the best of my ability. I am trying to determine what is motivating the political class (regardless of lean) to act in ways which are contrary to their core beliefs.
And please be careful in making assumptions about others because it leaves you open to the very criticism you have of those who lean the other way politically.
August 6th, 2009 at 9:07 amReggie @ 277 is an idiot(medicare is one of the most successful programs in the history of the world, not just the US and it’s not going broke. Spread your lies elsewhere.) that makes no sense and tracy 5 is liar. Been proven repeatedly on this thread.
August 6th, 2009 at 9:14 amFred @ 289: I hate to burst your bubble, but Medicare is becoming insolvent. This is not some right-wing conspiracy, but it has been a problem recognized since before Bill Clinton was in office. A big contributor to its insolvency is known over-payment for services and medical equipment. NBC news recently ran a story about a wheelchair and its associated costs: private insurance ($340), medicare ($1140). This is not a fabrication. You can find out all of this information from any source you wish to use (left, right, center, anarchist, lbertarian, whatever!).
August 6th, 2009 at 9:54 amFred @289: Call me an idiot if you will, I never said Medicare was unsuccessful. I said it is running out of money. Two different and distinct things! It has managed to stay successful and solvent up until recently due to a large tax base and a smaller medicare population. Now, the tax base is relatively flat to declining while the medicare population begins to increase with the retirement of the boomers. It does not require a rocket scientist to determine that with an increasing load with stable input it will eventually drain the coffers.
August 6th, 2009 at 10:11 am