Return of the Mac?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB1D9wWxd2w
A terrifically horrible 1990’s song leads off the return of thecampaignjunkie mailbag. I have gotten hundreds of emails over the past couple months but with my total attention being turned to the Presidential campaign - I had little time to answer people or post any questions. (Man, I wish I could have those videos embed, so that you could be listening to stuff when reading. Anywhoo, small distraction.
From Jerry in Idaho - There are some rumblings out there that Hillary Clinton could be chosen for Secretary of State. What are your thoughts?
Great Question Jerry. Until today, I was unsure that anyone actually lived in Idaho or that they had internet. Guess someone has to farm the potatoes [sic - thanks Dan Qualye]
I think this is one of those famous float a name that everyone would be like holy shit no way, so that he can get easier confirmation on his actual nominee. This makes absolutely no sense - you didn’t want her in the White House as your running mate because of the Bill show and now you are going to take the Bill show anyway and allow him to go overseas with Hillary. Hum? Sounds like a potential disaster to me and a total distraction for his Presidency. He didn’t want Bill overshadowing him, but that is exactly what would happen. So my two cents - political distraction for a easy confirmation for another nominee.
From T-Mac in Jersey (yes he signed it T-Mac) - There has been some talk about bailing out automakers. What are your conclusions?
I like that I get to pick and chose these questions and not answer all of them. That way you all only get to read the good stuff and not my answer to questions like, “Why doesn’t Palin move to Ohio and run for Governor?” - um because we don’t want her.
Anyway, I will restate my positions on ANY bailout. Bad. There ya go - a great one word answer.
J has had some magnificent thoughts on these bailouts which I was hoping he would share with all of us but in a nutshell he contends that these bailouts are the best thing for Republicans right now because it will hamstring an Obama administration from pushing universal health care, 401K into social security (a terrifically bad idea), and additional spending. He contends that Clinton was not able to pass it with a budget surplus so with this huge of a budget deficit would put it out of reach. (Is that about right J?)
Now, while I agree with J’s premise that hamstringing an Obama administration is great, it is a toss up for me. Government controlling the auto industry or Obama pushing universal health care? Both bad. Government involved in auto industry has to take the cake though.
There are two things wrong with the auto industry: 1) Unions 2) Free trade. By the way, for context I am a pro-union Republican but I am a pragmatist. You cannot have people making $30 bucks an hour plus the superb benefits making cars.
I read an article the other day about the United States car industry pre-Union heyday (and don’t quote me on the exact numbers here). Cars cost around $1,000 a piece to make which included the cost of the salaries, benefits, operating costs etc. but not marketing. Now, a car costs around $7,000 just to make - once you add in marketing etc. you are looking at $10,000 to produce the car and get it to the lot. Freaking ridiculous. Unions need to be pragmatic about these things. In my experience, Unions would rather cut off their nose than see people take a pay cut/benefit reduction. They would rather see a plant close than do what is necessary to keep people working.
That is reason NUMBER ONE why the government just cannot take this over. It is a ZERO end sum game. No matter what the government does, besides buying and giving away cars to the poor (that just might happen though), the US auto industry is doomed to fail with their current structure. Plus, can you imagine GM Union leaders renegotiating with the US Government. They could get whatever the hell they wanted. You think a Congressman is gonna stick his neck out and say no we cannot pay these people more. (Next on Fox: US CONGRESSMAN TO LAY OFF 30,000 PEOPLE) - ha ha lmao not gonna happen. Plus, with Dem leaders in the Union pocketbook - it will only acerbate the problem.
It is time for FAIR TRADE not FREE TRADE. Japan, Korea, China, India has to open their markets to our goods and services. Two things about fair trade - number one, just because they open their markets does not mean they will buy the cars but they will have the opportunity to buy the cars which is far different than it is now. If they even buy a couple thousand, that is a couple thousand more than before. In other words, something is better than nothing. Number two - when American workers compete on a world market, American workers will always win. (Thank you Duncan Hunter. And Congrats to Duncan Hunter Jr. for his impressive win out there in California. I won that one in the pool.)
That is why I am a pragmatic pro-union Republican. I don’t think people should make $7 an hour for skilled labor but they shouldn’t make $30 either. Why can’t anyone discuss these things anymore without people flipping off a handle?
From John in Chicago - What is next for thecampaignjunkie?
Thanks for all the questions I could not get to today. That union question took up a lot more space than I thought. I get so pissed about it though, no one is reasonable anymore. You cannot discuss issues without someone getting upset.
What is next? I really, really, really, really want to run the next Ohio Republican Gubernatorial campaign. I am trying to work all of my contacts and angles on this one. I have got the plan in my head. Congressman John Kasich, please call me. Please. We can do this. We can take back this state and conservatism can blossom here again. I know it.
Think about this Congressman. You ran for President in 2000. A win in 2010 puts you in perfect second term position should a Republican fail to win in 2012 and should you govern like I know you would, a perfect segway to get you back to 1600 Penn. Ave. and I want to be there, I want to be a part of it. Thanks for your time Congressman John Kasich. Please call me.
If that doesn’t work out, I am going back to school, racking up huge amounts on my credit cards and hoping that Obama bails me out…
And here is another awful 1990’s song to remind us - you guessed it - we get knocked down, but we get up again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm4iU0yx9GY
thecampaignjunkie out…