Toyota: Fast Cars, Slow Learning Curve

From Politico:

Toyota: Democrats 'not industry friendly'

Internal Toyota documents derided the Obama administration and Democratic Congress as “activist” and “not industry friendly," a revelation that comes days before the giant automaker's top executives testify on Capitol Hill amid a giant recall.


According to a presentation obtained under subpoena by the House Oversight and Government Relations committee, Toyota referred to the “changing political environment” as one of its main challenges and anticipated a "more challenging regulatory" environment under the Obama administration's purview.


This document, in addition to piles of other records, will be front and center this week as the Japanese automaker girds to face lawmakers hungry for answers about a recall that has the company teetering.

Capitalism STILL Rules the Day!

Ford Fusion Hybrid Wins 2010 Car of Year Award

DETROIT — Ford Motor Co.'s market momentum got a lift Monday by winning both the 2010 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards.

Ford's Fusion Hybrid midsize sedan took top car honors and its versatile Transit Connect compact van snagged truck of the year at the Detroit auto show.

Ford, the only U.S.-based automaker to avoid bankruptcy protection, has fared better than its two Detroit rivals, with overall sales down 15 percent last year compared with a 36 percent drop for Chrysler and a 30 percent decline for GM.

Ford's final month of 2009 was strong, with a 33 percent increase in sales thanks to strong demand for midsize cars. Last year, it gained U.S. market share for the first time since 1995, helped by critical raves for its fuel-efficient cars, like the midsize Fusion. Its compact Focus and popular Escape crossover also boosted sales.

Don't Blame Me, I Voted for McCain!

Job Woes Hit Blue States Hardest, Spelling Trouble for Democrats

FOXNews.com

States that voted for President Obama in 2008 are now among the worst hit by the recession, which could spell trouble for Democrats who were hoping to ride his coattails in 2010.

States that voted for President Obama in 2008 are now among the worst hit by the recession, which could spell trouble for Democrats who were hoping to ride his coattails in 2010.

Data released Friday showed that employers shed fewer jobs in November than in October, and the jobless rate dipped to 10 percent from 10.2 percent. That figure, while still high, gave the Obama administration some needed relief amid increasing public pressure to stem unemployment.

American Independence - Gone in a Pen Stroke! Thanks, Obama!

Atlas has shrugged:

The Declaration of Independence Repealed April 2, 2009
OBAMA TURNS OVER ECONOMY TO INTERNATIONAL BODIES

Obama Declares war on First and Second Amendment:
 Democrats Destroy Economy Blame Republicans:

Obama Begins Turnover of USA Sovereignty to International Body by Sher Zieve

Moving as quickly as he can to gut the USA and then divide its body parts amongst like-minded globalists, the USA’s Supreme Leader Barack Hussein Obama used the G-20 conference to begin his turnover of USA sovereignty to said internationalists and start the move toward a one-world government.

Obama has signed off on international legislation the-Financial Stability Board-that would regulate ALL firms, including those within the USA and places them under the responsibility of an international governmental agency.

On FNC’s Greta Van Susteren’s program, author and columnist Dick Morris noted "literally from April 2nd of this year, that is today, it’s a whole new world of financial regulation in which, essentially, ALL of the U.S. regulatory bodies and ALL U.S. companies are put under international regulation, international supervision.
It really amounts to a global economic government."

What Defines "Diversity?"

As many of my inner circle know, the Bitter American has a Facebook page. One of the applications addresses our ethnic diversity. Currently, most are Italian, Irish or Jewish (who IS that 3% Lithuanian??)

Recently, the Bitter American sent out invitations to add the application to some newer "friends." Some added it, some chose to postpone applying it. Then I got a disturbing message from a now non-friend about it.

In it, he accused me of being a "faux Conservative" because I "embraced that 'diversity' nonsense."

Thus lies the crux of this blast of bile into the blogosphere: in the post-9/11 world, our definitions and interpretations of everyday society have become skewed along ideological lines. A liberal's truth is a conservative's lie and vice versa.

To the Bitter American, "diversity" is the epitome of our "melting pot" moniker. America was first settled by peoples who wanted to start anew or escape oppression in their native lands. We started a country based on ideals not heard of in most of Europe or Asia. And when we finally got our country on stable feet, the word got out to more and more countries. People from all over the world came to our shores, seeking that "American Dream," each bringing a different perspective on how to address and attain that dream. That is what makes us strongest. I'm fairly sure the Greek interpretation of America differs from the Russian, and from the African or Asian. (Side note - I recently read in a travelogue that in most of Southeast Asia it is better to say you don't adhere to any organized religion than to admit you are an atheist. In their minds, atheism = communism and communism = hell on Earth.)

Now, to the Bitter American, having grown up in a mostly Italian- and Irish-Catholic neighborhood, the opportunity to meet those of different ethnicities and beliefs is exciting and a part of the maturation process. It helps my intellectual growth.

Unfortunately, to others on both sides but abetted by a leftist media, "diversity" means making sure you have enough blacks, women, handicapped and gay/transgendered people (whether you need them or not) to fulfill a made-up and unachievable quota. It stunts growth and hurts our economy. Nothing good come from it and its doomed to fail from the beginning.

**THAT'S MY OPINION AND YOU'RE ENTITLED TO IT!**

Why a United Europe Will NEVER Beat the United States

European complaints fail to break gas stalemate

By Jim Heintz
Associated Press

MOSCOW - Vigorous complaints from European leaders failed yesterday to thaw the deep-rooted economic and political dispute between Russia and Ukraine that has blocked natural gas shipments to much of Europe in the dead of winter.

With the crisis moving into its second week, Moscow and Kiev both held rigidly to allegations that the other country was to blame for upending Europe's winter heating plans. The European Union appeared to have little leverage other than pleading for a restoration of the gas that heats their homes and powers their factories. Even EU threats of a possible wave of lawsuits did not move either nation into action.

In an apparent indication that no resolution is on the horizon, Russian President Dmitry A. Medvedev proposed European gas-consuming countries send their leaders to Moscow on Saturday for a summit.

Both Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin accused Ukraine of holding Europe hostage, while Kiev said Russia was deliberately erecting technical obstacles to delivering gas to Europe through Ukrainian pipelines.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso called the situation "unacceptable and incredible" and said he would urge EU energy companies to sue if a resolution does not come soon.

That suggestion was embraced by Ukraine's president. "We are ready to support any European efforts to force our Russian partners to resume full contract supplies," Viktor Yushchenko said in Poland after meeting with Polish President Lech Kaczynski.

The crisis has deepened European concerns about Russia's willingness to use its energy riches as a political tool. It also raised questions about the reliability of Ukraine, whose pro-Western leaders want to join the EU but are mired in dangerous disputes with Russia and intramural rivalries that have nearly paralyzed the government.

About 20 percent of Europe's gas comes from Russia via Ukrainian pipelines. Bulgaria and Slovakia are entirely dependent on Russia for gas, and the cutoff has inflicted wide hardships there.

Russia stopped selling gas to Ukraine on Jan. 1 because of a price dispute, then accused Ukraine of stealing Europe-bound gas and tuned off the taps entirely Jan. 7.

The Bitter American biliously blasts:

Pleading and lawsuits??? Well, that explains the Blitz in WWII, doesn't it??

Those Who Forget History,....

From TheStreet.com:


This post originally appeared on RealMoney Silver on Dec. 16.

When I understudied for Doug Kass in The Edge, his RealMoney Silver trading diary, way back in February, my theme was "That '70s Show," with the concern at that time being surging inflation caused by the Fed's massive money creation in the second half of 2007.

Well, Fonzie, those certainly were "Happy Days," being pre-Bear Stearns, Fannie Mae Lehman Brothers, American International Group), General Motors and Madoff. Inflation did surge in the first half of 2008, but the financial crisis subsequently intervened, and now we are plunging into what could be the worst recession of the post-War era.

The following quote effectively sums up the feeling:

Not for many years has a Christmas season begun with so many tidings of spreading discomfort and lack of joy about the U.S. economy.... The nation is now also plunging deeper into a recession that seems sure to be the longest and could be the most severe since World War II.... For many Americans, the Yuletide will be a time of less elaborate meals, infrequent parties, fewer and cheaper presents.