The Senate on Thursday night abandoned efforts to fashion a government rescue of the American automobile industry, as Senate Republicans refused to support a bill endorsed by [President Bush] and Congressional Democrats.Republican senators demanded steep cuts in employee pay which the Democrats, the White House, and the unions were unwilling to put in the bill.
I am on the fence with this issue. I think the domestic auto companies are cry-babies who have been stuck in 20th century group think for way too long, and have thus run their businesses into the ground. My gut tells me that the failure of one or two of the big three would serve as a tremendous reset moment that would put the entire industry back on track. If the others see Ford and/or Chrysler go down, they would bend over backwards to become more innovative - and therefore more competitive and perhaps even lucrative.
At the same time, the Republicans in the Senate, it seems to me, are using this as way to bust the unions. After the shellacking the GOP received at the polls last month, the only thing they seem to know how to do at the moment is play to the base. And that base hates the auto unions with a passion. The gall of these fascists to ask American blue collar workers to take a pay cut as the nation begins what promises to be a long, deep recession. A pay-freeze? Sure. But don't lecture Americans about cutting the pay of workers by way of a tax increase, and then turn around and demand that those same workers take a real-wage pay cut.
As always, the Republicans are letting their hypocrisy flag fly at full mast!
Update: Josh Marshall asks a good question. Why this key national decision was left in the hands of lame duck senate Republicans.
