Quotes of the Day – Big Government Edition

March 31, 2009

Comments

“It was easier for Obama to fire the CEO of a private company than it is to fire most federal employees.” – Radley Balko

“I don’t know if you know this or not but starting today the United States government will stand behind your warranty on a newly purchased General Motors car. Now, that’s going to be cool, isn’t it? You take your car in for a problem and you’re going to have to argue with the government representative you’re dealing with as to whether or not it’s really a problem and whether you caused it. You think dealing with the DMV is a struggle now, wait ’til this kicks into gear.” – Rush Limbaugh

Regular readers know I’ve become increasingly annoyed with Limbaugh in recent years (although I was a faithful listener for nearly a decade) but it’s an amusing thought. One wonders, indeed, how the government will manage warranty service if, as seems likely, GM goes through bankruptcy proceedings.

Hat tip to Kate McMillan for the Limbaugh link. Graphic via Limbaugh.

24 responses to “Quotes of the Day – Big Government Edition”

Michael

March 31, 2009 at 1:35 pm

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.
odograph

March 31, 2009 at 1:36 pm

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.)
James Joyner

March 31, 2009 at 1:56 pm

(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.
odograph

March 31, 2009 at 2:00 pm

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?
Steve Verdon

March 31, 2009 at 2:33 pm

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?
DC Loser

March 31, 2009 at 2:36 pm

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?
Dantheman

March 31, 2009 at 2:37 pm

“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.
Steve Verdon

March 31, 2009 at 2:37 pm

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.
Steve Verdon

March 31, 2009 at 2:54 pm

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.
Christopher

March 31, 2009 at 4:48 pm

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”.
Phil Smith

March 31, 2009 at 5:12 pm

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.
sam

March 31, 2009 at 6:21 pm

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

Well that settles it.
odograph

March 31, 2009 at 6:36 pm

See Tyler Cowen’s “Words of wisdom” post today. I think it share my vibe to a good extent.
markm

March 31, 2009 at 7:17 pm

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.
markm

March 31, 2009 at 7:20 pm

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

…kind of sounds like a prelude to nationalized health care…just sayin’.
An Interested Party

March 31, 2009 at 10:39 pm

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

…or the way that HMOs currently operate…
Brett

March 31, 2009 at 11:09 pm

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.
odograph

April 1, 2009 at 6:55 am

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.
John Burgess

April 1, 2009 at 8:39 am

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!
anjin-san

April 1, 2009 at 9:57 am

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

Oh, wait…
Floyd

April 1, 2009 at 1:47 pm

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….
avwh

April 1, 2009 at 1:49 pm

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”)
Christopher

April 1, 2009 at 1:57 pm

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?