longtooth

With everything else going on, a welcome diversion. Apocalypse Wow.

From your keyboard to Rick Wagoner's in-box. Cool would be cool.

When I came on-board in Wilmington in mid-Fall '06 the order book for the '07s was full through the end of the model year and to that point, only 3 Sky-pilots (good Eric Burdon song btw) had been built. The future looked rosy as the dictate from Bob Lutz was to ramp-up production to sustain production in excess of 40K units per year. Talk was that Wilmington would become the 'niche-boutique' of the Corporation. I honestly could see it. The older more seasoned workers were very competent and accomplished not only at what they did, but in mentoring the younger workers and passing on their considerable skills as well. Then the economic slowdown began to take it's toll on discretionary spending making the purchase of marvelous toys like Solstice and Sky an unobtainable luxury. Sad. I think that the initiative was lost in Wilmington not pursuing a second niche product, such as a Nomad-concept-type vehicle or a mini-car a la the Cooper.

You may get to see something like this. I think Wilmington assembly, and thus Solstice and it's siblings, is very near the end of the line.

I think that discretionary spending is being reined-in or adjusted on a daily basis. I can't wait to hear the wailing and gnashing of the merchants this Christmas selling season. For any doubter that would claim things aren't as bad as they're being made out to be, these sales should be an indicator of the health of the economy-at-large.

I think Ford is seeking to establish a foothold for Flex. From what I've seen of it it seems a competent, thrifty hauler with styling that wouldn't be critiqued so harshly were it a Toyota. That being said, the quirky styling works for me.

Things have already surpassed any circumstance I've lived through. Coming out of the recession of '80-'82 which was sparked by the 2nd Oil-Shock of 1979 was fairly close to what we're seeing now, but the scope of this dwarfs the involvement of the rest of the globe circa 1980. I simply don't know what to expect and I've been trying to prepare myself for various scenarios short of Earth being invaded by flesh-eating robots. :mind-blowing:/

The speculation on-the-job amounts to just running it through the end of the model year and then merely 'quitting-it'. No Bowling Green. I think that Wilmington's going to be closing before next August. Just my opinion.

AP GM extends shutdown of Delaware assembly plant Friday October 24, 4:38 pm ET By Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer GM extends shutdown of Delaware assembly plant due to sagging demand for 2-seat roadsters http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081024/gm_factory.html?.v=2 I guess the niche is full for now in Europe and the Pan-Asian Pac-Rim sites that Daewoo serves. Good grief.

The underlying message being that Americans/Canadians don't want to risk soiling (or gnarling) our hands. As though we cruise the the ether as high-minded philosophers, spawning high-concept sh*t as free-flowing as our beer-farts that we can sub-contract other societies to manufacture. The malaise afflicting North America gives contrary testimony to that. (imo)

The Article:Backseat Driver Let's Bail Out GM Jerry Flint 10.22.08, 6:00 PM ET Forbes Magazine dated November 10, 2008 http://www.forbes.com/free_forbes/2008/111...artner=yahoomag Seems as compelling a case and rationale as I've ever read.

Yes, great, pointed satire. The videos on the site are well done also.

Priceless satire..."End Of Days".... Did you read "Dollar Bill Found On Trading Floor"? (or similarly titled piece)

Try seeking a life outside this realm. Read the legend of Cassandra.

Sure thing, I trust your judgement C LS6. If I do transgress, just give me a holler. -longtooth

Or not.

Well it certainly fits my timeline. It's compelling Kabuki theatre for Wall Street's consumption and perhaps in two or three years may be hailed as the right move at the right time. Right now 'my' Wilmington's scaling back to a single shift in seven weeks. Next move'd be to grant them closed-plant status ahead of their anticipated cessation of operations in the nebulous future of 2011. Sounds like a long way off but it is not. Doraville, GA assembly (now closed as of 09-26-08) had their closed plant status adjudged in August of 2006. I was able to transfer out of there and into Wilmington under those provisions a full 24 months before they shut their doors. In nearby Newark, DE, Chrysler's on-again-off-again Durango/Aspen assembly line churns out a few Hybrids so as to satisfy the weak demand for an otherwise functional and attractive BOF-SUV. Only 4 years ago, Durango was a hot-ticket. Now see how times have changed. With the overall economy in a pre-reconstructive shambles even if gas were a buck-a-gallon I believe sales of many vehicles would still be slow. We're mired in this slump through the end of next year at least. Let's see if a 'regime-change' post-election will help to stir things up. Or bring us to the brink of another Civil War.

'BIZ, I think that the banks/financiers etc. are jones-ing for this (GM/Chrysler) real bad for a myriad reasons. I think it will become a reality before the champagne corks pop on New Year's Eve. It remains for we the little people to begin the process of accepting and adjusting so as to be ahead of the curve (or curb if you'd like).

"Drawn out" you say? It's ceaseless. Should Obama prevail the shrieks of indignant Neo-Con Radio/Television hosts will create a din that will make the wailing of the damned in hell sound as lark's song. Viva la Canada.

Wall Street is developing a huge GM/Chrysler boner it seems. So the momentum is building and is pushing a pressure wave of inevitability before it. Lenders eager for Chrysler-GM deal- WSJ Fri Oct 17, 2008 1:02am EDT Oct 17 (Reuters) - Potential lenders are providing strong support for General Motors Corp (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Chrysler LLC's merger talks and are eager to see a deal done, the Wall Street Journal said. Major banks that have long lent to both companies, such as JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) are keen to do a deal to help reduce exposure to the auto industry, the paper said... read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews...20081017?rpc=44 I'm a GM-lifer. The relationship's been symbiotic. I labored, they compensated me. I did love many aspects of my job throughout the years. The camaraderie and the challenges of the Fisher Body years, the stint in GMSPO, the two assembly plants where I worked. Now GM is preparing to morph into something unrecognizable to but a few. I've a 'vested' interest (literally) in their survival/success. I also have a curiosity for seeing what comes next. So I'll stayed tuned for the next episode in the saga.

McCain lacks the bearing, stature and presence of a statesman. Qualities (among others) Barack Obama possesses in abundance. McCain seems schizophrenic and the hot monkey-p*ss stink of fear (fear of seeing his dream evaporate) surrounds him.

Most noteworthy is that those notorious credit-pimps, CapitalOne, has cut off financing. If they've become suddenly tight-*ssed with doling out $$$, some further tweaking is still needed to the credit market.

McCain's new strategy: When in worry, when in doubt, run in circles, jump and shout. It isn't as if every undecided voter will swing to McCain as a compass will 'twig' to Magnetic North. Lately his bold pronouncements fall way short of the mark, i.e. ; 'I'm suspending my campaign in order to solve the financial crisis' (this promptly caused the negotiations regarding the $700 billion rescue to stall) or; My Friends I will insure your bank against loss as it pertains to your mortgage. You'll still be on the hook, but your bank will be protected'. That sort of bold initiative. These remarks by McCain are primarily aimed at demographic groups that pundits are pleased to call the "WalMart* Moms" and "NASCAR Dads". The 25% of the Conservative base still loyal to President Bush. It is too little and too late, but many millions will watch the final debate and form their own opinions. Many opinions on both sides are already set in cement and most polls are showing that undecided voters are 'leaning' Obama. As long as people are talking Economy and are concerned with their rapidly dwindling fortunes, the sentiments favor the Democrats as McCain has become inextricably linked to Bush and the Neo-Conservatives.

Your Fed seems so benevolent these days. What's another pound on an elephant?

Not really, and it will cost one-tenth of an equivalent Federal Jobs program to employ and secure the potential number of workers/families affected and actually recirculate within the Economy many times over CMG.