AAISkinsFan

"Europeans are smarter than Americans"?...wow, that thread title will surely get you a variety of responses. I think manufacturers realize gas is well above $7 a liter in Europe and sans Environmental roadblocks they can flood the market with fuel efficient diesels. Probably more politics than smarts.

Thanks flint...I can function just with just one headphone if need be. This policy is assinine.

As what...a coyote? I hope you do. I'll be ready for your sorry ass!

Perhaps a little due dilligence on your part might have avoided your poor investment choice...

Lol, dude makes look timid! I'll take 2-1 odds that this is the next CEO of Ford after Mulally:

Wow! Thanks dark.

It'll be interesting to see what the final #'s are after it's all said and done and how Wall Street reacts if they fall well short of the #'s they wanted. Maybe this is why Ford borrowed more cash by putting plants up as collateral. Source

Pretty ironic they disclosed the amount to the media on the last day to sign up for buyouts, huh? Leclair/Fields announced this at the last conference call, but didn't give a specific amount and wouldn't get into details about which assets were being put up for collateral at the time. When the media grilled Leclair, he just brushed them off. I'm sure he could have answered it then, but hey, why not strike a little fear into Ford employees on fence concerning the buyout. With their credit rating in the dumps it made sense to do it I guess. If they knew they would have to float more debt next year at a high interest rate then why not get the funds at a more reasonable rate with a secure loan now? I personally would have been more comfortable if they sold off Aston Martin or Jaguar though...time will tell!

Sorry...it's spelled Chaldean. They are Chrisitans from the ancient city of Babylonia (or present day Iraq). This is home to the largest population of Chaldeans in the US. How could I have forgotten the Armenians? Plenty of influence from their culture as well. As mentioned, there is plenty to experience up here. Lots of culture and alot to choose from as far as entertainment, sports and seasonal activities. If you want to get away you can head over to Canada or down to Toledo as well. Chicago is about 3-3 1/2 hours away as well.

As mentioned, Dearborn is loaded with Middle Eastern quisine. If you live in Monroe...I've heard from some folks the restaurants in Toledo are pretty awesome as well, if you want to commute. There is a Deli in Southfield (Star Deli on the corner of 12 Mile and Telegraph) that is phenomenal. Best Jewish Deli around IMO. The Reuben is out of this world and the portions are huge. Having transferred from Chesapeake myself about the only thing I miss from the coast is the seafood. I wish I could have brought Steinhilbers and Alexanders on the Bay up here... You have a little of everything up here: Greek, Italian, Polish, Mexican, Caldean and just about anything else you could think of. I like it more than VA in many respects... Good luck to you!

What plant are we talking about?

Good stuff Castro! The company has the Union between a rock and a hard place. Nothing to bargain with but pride and the ability to prove we can show up and produce a quality product (well, at least most of us ). Thing is, all this uncertainty regarding our future is frustrating the hell out of us and it is affecting quality in a negative way. It's divide and conquer bro! Reading these boards proves that is exactly what's happening...Sad. Outsourcing, 2 tier pay scales, new MOA's, Mulaly bitching about excessive health care costs, more concessions on top of the health care and pay raise restructuring we voted on modifying just a year ago, legacy costs, Ford having to ask for a secure loan by putting up factories for collateral...it just doesn't stop. I'd like to be a fly on the wall of one of those Ford Executive Board of Directors meetings...

A fine looking establishment there! If I lived close by I'd be a patron. Good luck!

Thanks Steve...looking forward to it.

Relax cal...I'm pretty sure he was being facetious. Good points in the bold though.

I would like to personally thank all who have served and sacrificed for the freedoms we enjoy. I never take it for granted. As we sit back behind the relative safety of our keyboards and joke, laugh, debate, cuss each other out...it is all made possible by the brave men and women who put their lives on the line presently and those that have done so in the past. Once again, thank you all, and Happy Veterans day. Came across this story after reading about Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham receiving the nations highest military decoration, the medal of honor for his heroism. Amazing...just amazing... Read it here. Here is a presentation from one Dunhams former Captain posted anonomously on fallenheroesmemorial.com. Puts a lump in your throat. Source

Thanks for posting this NB...I spent 10 years at Norfolk and can remember the days not to long ago of being thankful for building a great quality truck and being grateful for the job security it provided. Many discussions were had with my coworkers about how lucky we were to be building a great selling, high quality truck and how vital it was to Fords bottom line...amazing how quickly things change. I wish you all the best down there and keep your heads up. The work ethic displayed down there was, for the most part, excellent. Those who carry that work ethic post Ford will most certainly do well, no matter the venue they choose. Take care, brother!

Good article mettech. I agree with what he says totally...of course, he is a potential 2008 presidential candidate . This midterm spoke volumes to the dissatisfaction with the current administration. The Democrats really didn't need a platform to run on. The lies, the scandal, the corruption and heavy influence from lobbyists. Sad thing is these issues are not exclusive to the Republican party. All we can do is hope for the best...

Try Nixon...and his sorry ass should have left instead of Colin Powell. Good riddance.

I hear ya bro. All I can say is:

Rumsfeld was incompetent and stubborn. The SORRIEST SECDEF since McNamara. Adios you old neocon geezer. Sadly, his replacement, Gates is an old Bush family friend. Oh...and ovaltine. Here's a little old school for ya: Generals gathered in their masses, just like witches at black masses. Evil minds that plot destruction, sorcerers of death's construction. In the fields the bodies burning, as the war machine keeps turning. Death and hatred to mankind, poisoning their brainwashed minds. Oh lord, yeah! Politicians hide themselves away. They only started the war. Why should they go out to fight? They leave that role to the poor, yeah. Time will tell on their power minds, making war just for fun. Treating people just like pawns in chess, wait till their judgement day comes, yeah. Now in darkness world stops turning, ashes where the bodies burning. No more War Pigs have the power, Hand of God has struck the hour. Day of judgement, God is calling, on their knees the war pigs crawling. Begging mercies for their sins, Satan, laughing, spreads his wings. Oh lord, yeah! --Black Sabbath, War Pigs

Funny, you label me a Dem and don’t know me from Adam. I voted for GW in 2000. The Iraq war and the events leading up to it were an epiphany for some Reps, myself included. They actually broke ranks with this administration and didn’t buy the rhetoric. As far as labeling and judging they are pretty much one and the same, correct? No need to apologize, I’m not offended in the least. I enjoy the banter. It’s what we’re here for right? Now if your blood is too thin for that…then you know what you can go and do. Agreed, we have to weed through what we think/accept as fact and base our decisions on matters accordingly. As far as spin is concerned, both sides master it, but Mr Rove isn’t know as Turd blossom for nothin. He is as cut throat as they get. If you don’t believe me go check “The Googleâ€. And while your at it google nucular... Now, I wonder who the congressional Republicans were that led John Negroponte, Bush’s director of national intelligence, to post those documents on that web site. Damn librul media… Lower your blood pressure dude. Lol! - my ilk? Morality and hypocrisy? Are you labeling me again howie? OK…here goes: 1) I agree with airport profiling and you’re damn right – I do condemn the controlling of American ports by the UAE. Weren’t two of the 9/11 terrorists from the UAE? Were they a private company or state owned? 2) I don’t want to live in a godless society howie. I believe in school prayer and enjoy having God in the pledge of allegiance. I believe it is those who twist the word of God who get us into these global conflicts. I also don’t think the students at the University of North Carolina should be forced to study the Koran. But hey, each side has their nuts, the extreme left have theirs and the extreme right have theirs…you know, like the members of the church from Kansas that were traveling to slain soldiers funerals and protesting. Nice, huh? 3) Foley and NAMBLA can kiss my ass! 4) Young gays shouldn’t be beaten…it is their choice in how the want to live. Young heterosexual males being raped is equally reprehensible howie. 5) I don’t agree with late term abortions, but do think abortion is a womans right. Ideally, if those on death row are guilty beyond a doubt, then by all means let them be executed. Unfortunately, some on death row were found to have been innocent. It isn’t a perfect system so until it is, I won’t support it. I’ll let God be the judge. Yes, it was a moral agenda. I just moved here from Pat Robertsons home town…trust me, it was a MORAL AGENDA!! I thought Al Gore sucked as well, but come 2004 it was obvious GW sucked even more. I actually had to vote for the lesser of two evils and vote for Kerry. How effing sad is that? C’mon howie…you said the BBC was one of your news sources. How did you miss this? Source I wouldn’t expect a wingnut newssource to report on this. How bout doing your own legwork next time, ok? Evil intent, hardly, just good ole spin. And you’re right, I keep my wife happy. Never had a problem in that respect. Thanks for the compliment! This isn’t a newsgroup, it’s a forum. A predominantly blue collar forum at that. What line of work are you in howie? Thanks for the acknowledgment on my Rovesque communication tactic line. I haven’t seen it anywhere, dern, I was hoping I came up with an original. No, I don’t have a highlighted guidebook. Do you cut and paste from FreeRepublic or LittleGreenFootballs? Your diction does resemble that nonsensical crap. You can lead a horse to water…oh, never mind. I concur. It is nice to see what makes others formulate their thoughts. If nothing else, it helps me solidify my position in the way I see things. I hope I’ve done the same for you. Keith has the balls to speak out. Nothing wrong with that. I guess that makes him unpatriotic, huh? What did you expect, Victor Hanson, Charles Krauthammer, Bill ‘O Reilly, Bill Bennett, Cal Thomas, Rush Limpbaugh. LOL, hey, how bout Rick Santorum!!! Oh, shit, he just got his ass kicked in PA. Well thanks for the dialogue. Hey, how bout those election results howie? Apparently, we are in for big change. Wow! Good. It is a duty. I did so as well. Oh, and next week, as a vet I'd be honored if you just said thanks...ya'll take care now, ya hear?