Big three CEOs flew private jets to plead for public funds

In a society where we've made technological advances that give you the ability to meet with people from all over the globe via the internet, why do these people need to fly every week?

If they "need" to be in Detroit in order for their company to function, then they need to suck it up and move to Michigan. These people need a history lesson to remind them how they got to their ivory tower in the first place. America was built by people who sacrificed and worked for a living.

These people need to get a life. You live beyond your means and your business fails - tough luck. That's capitalism. Why would we give more money to people who have obviously not managed their own money properly? Do we really think that they are going to have an epiphany and see the errors of their ways? They might ... if they were living in the suburbs of Detroit.

We have had a culture in this country, for oh...about...8 years that has basically determined that if you have money -- a whole lot of money--like an oil tanker full of gold -- you are above the law. You are above basically morality. And, it does not matter HOW you got the money. Somehow the only crime involved is if you need MORE money and you don't get it, that is a crime.

Actually, this is quite funny. In an ironic way.

CEO's need to get with it. Why are they always making mistakes?

yeeeeee-haw!!!

I haven't trusted these guys since I saw Moore's "Roger & Me" many, many years ago. Lay offs, plant closures, and then million dollar bonus! And now they're they're after us, the tax payer.

It just show clearly they don't give a damn!

bailout is just to help them financing their huge bonus and other privilege, common, Xmas is soon

I say let them sell the jets and pay for their own bailout!!!! Don't give them a damn dime, costs to run those jets could pay salaries or get their asses out of a bind and they have the audacity to fly around in private jets while half the nation is out of work AND out of their homes!!!! What complete asses, these men make millions, yet, not one had the brain to figure out they should not be flying around in private jets while begging for taxpayer dollars!!!

These CEO's have been in lock step with the oil companies, building cars and trucks with laughable mileage. These companies should be held accountable for their lack of foresight, not hold the American people for ransom. Not A Dime To The Three!!!!!!!!!!

The stench of their corruption is overwhelming.

Let them go down! Give the money to Tesla, to build electric cars! The big 3 had all of the time in the world to move into hybrid vehicles. They have to stop playing second fiddle to Japan and Germany, when it comes to hybrid, electric and fuel cell vehicles... This is our new economy, we just have to embrace it and lead the way!

Not only are these CEO's retarded but any American worker for these companies that doesn't go ape shit over this is even more retarded. This is America, we didn't get to be "Super Power" by letting people in fancy suits tell us what to do with our money. Alot of poeple need to reference to Revolutionary war to see what America is all about. The Brits said, even though you are across the pond you should do what we say, America said in so many words, . . . . Fuck Off!!!!
If the Union Auto worker is so proud to be American, then get off fat lazy beer swilling ass and tell the CEO's to go "F" themselves and let the dumb-ass CEO's see if they can do it with out you. Oh Yea, "so called" hard working union guy, "get off you ASS!" is one thing you really need to do. You Union doosh bags are also to blame for your "American" car company thats going out of business. There is a reason that "American" cars are built in Mexico and Canada. Now wonder Japanese companies are flurishing in the U.S. - there country is too small.
Guess what, I currently work for a company that USE to be owned by Ford, thank a God that Ford sold them off, we are much better off. We are run by people with business brains, not CEO's worried about getting a great bonus or daily perk.

I am extremely proud to be an American, BUT, let us not forget how we got here. . . . HARD BACK BREAKING FUCKING WORK. We have taken a break from that work for too long. . . .

Of course they have security issues. They are laying off thousands of people for the holidays, while they sport a corporate jet and will make millions in salaries and bonuses this year. I bet there are a few blue collars that would love to chit-chat with them.

These guys have special security issues to worry about. I personally wouldn't want one of them on my flight.

I say we don't bail them out and see what they fly next. Or is it that their best friends are in Congress passing their bailout package. Cronies!

Classic. This is the epitome of the American CEOs. They fly to Washington to negotiate the political payoffs. Once Congress hands over the blank check, poof, its off to the executive vacations.... in the corporate jet, of course.

So, I wonder which politicians will be on the front line to get paid, this time.

Frivolous and irresponsible corporate leeches don't deserve to be bailed out. I hate it for the millions of hard-working people being left out in the cold, but their needs to be accountability.

Sad thing is just how much this WILL affect so many aspects of our lives and economy if our auto industry fails all together. Damn we need to get our heads out of our asses and quick!

The Auto industry brought on their own problems, now they want us tax payers to help them recover from their screw ups! Anyone with knowledge of basic economics could have seen this coming back in the 80's. Making big cars back then was the thing to do, but when times changed (as they always do), the car industry didn't. The union demanded higher pay (for unskilled workers), & upper management gave in to the union demands. I could go on & on about this but its all common knowledge. What should be asked is, "What the hell is our government doing bailing out private businesses. Why don't come of these CEO's bail them selfs out with the 28,000,000 a year salaries they get. If they all came together with their millions, they could do it without my money. Whatta Crock!

If they were only hybrid jets!

Did you see when they were asked to take $1 in salary until the companies were profitable again?

The ones that didn't should be fired, if not, the American government should be fired.

Wow, these guys slept on a plane for 20,000 dollars, and I'm getting a college education for about the same.

Now play lets who wants to be a millionaire?

This question is for a millionaire:
How do billion dollar companies get to the edge of bankruptcy?

A) The Japanese
B) Greed
C) We're fucked if this shit keep happening
D) The jerks at the top

"We want to continue the vital role we've played for Americans for the past 100 years, but we can't do it alone,"CEO - Rick Wagoner of GM

WTF,
Ok, in the last 100 years GM was doing it all on their own. No one was at their side say we will pick up if you fall down.

Didn't Ford make the first car?

Now play who wants to a millionaire?

It doesn't sound like Congress is going to bail them out. Mainly because we've already been burned by the $700 billion banking bailout. (It has no oversite because they haven't hired anyone to do that yet!) Either way it goes we are ALL going to pay. This is not going to be pretty!

C'mon people. These guys know sacrifice. These private flights were operated at a lower cost with no peanuts and only domestic beer.

I will say it again, call their bluff. They are jumping on the entitlement bandwagon. Let them fail, we will suffer but be stronger because of it in th elong run. Then throw men like this in jail.

On the brighter side, this reminds me of the concerts for a greener earth... 50,000 people use jets, cars, and busses to get there, use up millions of pounds of resources and leave half of it scattered on the gound, then cheer for three days about helping Mother Earth.

We are a rediculous species, and we all do things like this.

If they were smart they would have just beamed themselves in with a hologram and ask for the money!

this is a perfect microcosm of everything that is wrong with these companies. most people are completely unaware of the fact that GM sells more cars than any company on earth. year after year they sell more cars that does toyota or honda, the problem with them is their culture of waste and entitlement. their executives have mismanaged the company so badly that even though they continually outsell their competitors , they still can't turn a profit.

and when the republicans go on tv and try to blame the UAW, I get sick to my stomach and have to restrain myself from throwing my shoe through the wall.

Sell those jets, and the company cars.

The Captain always stays with the sinking ship...

This is exactly why these companies need to file bankruptcy & reorganize without these overpaid executives and get back on track. These overpaid executives are the reason these companies went under in the first place, insisting on making large gas-guzzling SUV's when the US has made it pretty darn clear that's not what we want and surprise, surprise, they can't sell the darn things, so they're sitting in lots all over the country. CEO's are suppose to make good decisions or get fired, not drive their companies into the ground with stupid decisons and then try to get Americans to bail them out so they can still receive those ridiculous salaries with astronomical bonuses. These guys need gone.

Lots of small companies go out of business every day. It's not the place of government, on taxpayers behalf, to keep private industry afloat. If it was I'd open a stage coach company and petition the govt. to help me out as nobody is using these anymore. Maybe some bells & whistles would bring the business back. I've not heard anything about Japaneese car companies crying.

InformedTexan,
Not enough to make up for the brazen flaunting of "I can so I will" or the 51,000 jobs that are MIA due to their shitty leadership.
The Ford CEO makes $24 mil a year?
That is the definition of obscene!

I wonder how many jobs exist due to the production, maintenance, design, and sale of these jets. I also wonder how companies can attract the smartest and best executives to their corporations. Perhaps I think too much...

That is just absolutely revolting!

These guys are completely lost. They have no sense of decency or shame, let alone common sense. They believe themselves entitled to these perks no matter that they've run their companies into the ground. God forbid they take Delta, American or some other public carrier. Personally I'd rent a fuel efficient vehicle and drive there if I was begging for the kind of money they want. A pox on them all.

After the meeting the CEO's of the three automakers met with the top executives of AIG to attend a half million dollar junket to discuss how they are going to get and spend more bailout money.

Don't give those mother fuckers a CENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The perks and jets don't amount to anything.

Don't be distracted from the bottom line: Jobs - productivity - worth.

Keep the perks -- just get rid of the jerks. Throw the bums at the top out. They made the decisions to make all those SUV's.

Lol.

"It appears that the senior management of the automakers simply don't get it," said Schatz.

says it all.

i have so many things that i want to say, but if it were to be repeated on tv, it would just be a 15 minute bleep.
you'd be amazed at the way i can combine the 7 words you can't say on the public airwaves.........

And they say beggers can't be choosers. These people just chose to thumb their entitled noses in our collective faces. If this doesn't give you an appreciation of irony you just don't get it.

These punks have fleeced the nation. The 'bailout' is the BIGGEST HEIST in world history.

I am not surprised these punks are in it to win. $7000 per tax payer fer this bailout.

those sons of bitches!

Isn't it nice that they had to let go of 51,000 employees in the past three years when their private jet costs alone could have paid for many of their salaries.