Lee Iacocca

The latest email going around is a shortened version of Iacocca's rant on leaders. I did my due diligence and checked it out on Snopes (link in the title to read the piece in its entirety). Most of what was said in the email I received was true. I did read the whole piece though and have a few bones to pick with Mr. Iacocca. To him I would have to say:

I will agree wholeheartedly that there are a bunch of Bozos running our country. Corporate gangsters, yeah they are pretty lousy. I'm unsure how exactly the government can protect us from them. The government is of course one of the biggest thieves of our money. Aren't there all sorts of government oversight organizations that are supposed to be on this watch? Yes, I'm sure there are. We sure as hell don't need another "government" oversight formed.

The car manufacturers don't think they need to build cars that are ultra efficient or run on alternative fuels, also efficiently. If they did, then they would have. Congress has had no problem telling car makers all the little extras they would like to see them build in to a car. They (Congress) don't give a rip if folks can afford that car. And the unions have pushed American cars almost out of reach of most regular working Americans that would like to purchase an "American" car.

Katrina? Well I think the big break down there was at the local level-correct me if I'm wrong-they re-elected the mayor-Mr. "We're all gonna die" Clarence Ray Nagin. That is Bush's fault? While the federal departments didn't seem to be equipped to handle this disaster one would have to honestly say, those there in New Orleans, those on the ground had the greatest responsibility and of course had the greatest failure. The real disaster was not Katrina, it was the levies failing. Levies that they knew could not handle a really big storm. The bigger disgrace is that we are still paying for hotels, etc. for folks that lost homes, etc. At some point people do have to try to do some things for themselves. The millions and millions and millions we have sent to Louisiana is like throwing money down a black hole. Happy to hear no matter how bad things are they had their Mardi Gras. Really, are there any priorities? If we ever had an actual honest oversight board I think the books on Katrina and Louisiana would be a helluva read!

Stay the course. I would have to say I don't buy the "stay the course" argument unless I see a plan. Congress has no plan except to get re-elected or gain power. That of course is why nothing, absolutely nothing constructive gets done.

I think maybe you are getting senile. I do not believe that the President was given a free pass to ignore the constitution, tap our phones or lead us to war on a pack of lies. Once again the mantra that has no fact basis is reiterated as though it is fact. During war, and like it or not, as of September 11, 2001 we have been at war, historically, extreme measures are put in place as protections. I don't recall that all the immigrants that heralded from the middle east were rounded up and interred, as the Japanese were during World War 2. I've searched the archives and have not found evidence of the government "tapping" the telephones of innocent citizens. And finally, Congress was behind Mr. Bush in regards to Iraq. Remember the vote? We do have a process here in the United States. The Middle East has been a mess for many, many years. At least you didn't say it was Bush's fault that they hated us. They hate us. They always have. They always will. Amazingly Iraq is not as big a mess as it was. If we had a press that actually did its work we might know a few more of the stories coming out of that country. The vast majority of the men and women fighting or serving over there do believe their mission is a worthy one and do believe they are making a difference.

Don't assume what I have said so far means I am not outraged. I am rendered speechless at times I am so outraged! (And trust me, those that know me find the fact I could be speechless absolutely stunning!) Do you know who was really outraged on 9/11? Those iPod toting young folks you alluded to. In droves they signed up to serve this country and indeed represent the military overseas. And now as everyone becomes weary of the war they are denigrated, slandered or just forgotten. This is very disheartening to those of us from the Viet Nam era. Soldiers are not the enemy, they are simply doing their duty. Do we still have a huge disengaged population? Of course, always did, unfortunately we always will. Our founding fathers didn't expect what was so hard fought for (remember that war?) would be so callously disregarded. Many young people don't get the connection but I wouldn't limit it just to the young. Most people don't get the power these stupid politicians have. Clueless politicians telling businesses how to run, choosing how to spend our hard earned dollars, deciding who they think deserves more, etc. It is outrageous and quite honestly it isn't going to change. And as they continue to take from those that have and give to those that they think deserve, the numbers skew and soon there will be no turning back. We are inches away from the majority being those that want from others rather than those that want to produce. Politicians do what they do because they know they can. They have written themselves raises and sanctuary and getting rid of them is near impossible. It is all about the money. Today, even when you think you like or admire a politician, hell, they have sold their soul for that seat and they are not serving you. They are serving the devil that bought them the seat!

The Constitution again. Free Speech. These next few years may be the years we decide if indeed Free Speech is one of the "Freedoms" we really cherish and are willing to fight for. Thank God Mr. Iacocca, I come from the democracy, this great experiment, America. You thought Bush was dicking around with the Constitution? Have you heard about the fairness doctrine? The inability to even ask our President a question without being called a racist? Card check law? Excuse me, these things really infringe on my free speech rights! Ask Joe the Plumber about free speech.

I agree with you wholeheartedly in that we rise and fall together. Sadly, as you alluded to, there are not many real leaders. My theory is the media has made it impossible. They are the ones with the power and the politicians jump as they pull the strings. Oh FDR, Lincoln and Truman knew the wrath of the media but the media was not 24/7 as it is today. I will say that nothing has changed since the "old days": you are a winner if the media has decided they are going to give you a pass or you are toast if they slaughter you . Obviously this is timeless and something you know if you are a student of history. Clearly history has shown us that Truman was a leader that did care about his country, above himself. Come on Lee, can you actually imagine any single one of the "Leaders" today dropping the bomb? And Lincoln, hey, 50% of the population HATED him. Today we look at him as one of the greatest leaders this country has ever had. The civil war was pretty ugly, pretty costly and even though necessary, pretty dog gone unpopular.

Your "C" list. I really found this section interesting.

Curiosity. I'm hoping the leader of the free world {and like it or not that is what the President of the United States is} devours the reports put on his desk by those charged with the daily briefs, filled with fact, not conjecture. You honestly believe the leader of the free world should see what CNN has to say? Get dam real. Obviously you have a problem with Fox News, did you explain that anywhere? Newspapers and news reports are biased whether we like it or not and some more than others. This is the 21st century. Our President does not need to get his "news" from the paper or TV. He lives the news. And while it is nice to be liked the Presidency is not a popularity contest. It is sort of like being a Mom or a Dad or a teacher. Sometimes no one likes you but you have to do what is best. 70 percent may have said Bush stunk but he was elected twice-kind of skews those numbers, doesn't it? And I don't believe Congress has had numbers of approval as high as Mr. Bush. Finally there is not one, no not one, politician that doesn't look at polls.

Creative. I don't think we want to use the word Biden and Creative in the same sentence. That said I am not sure what the point of Mr. Iacocca's section here was. I do believe that one does follow their instincts. Now maybe that isn't something Mr. Iacocca believes. And I do not know what adaptation to change that he was looking for in this section.

Communicate. I do believe that there has been communication. No one is going to come out and tell you how ugly war is. I do not believe that we have been told all is well either. If there is anything that has not been communicated well it would be how grateful many, many, many of the Iraqi's are to have an opportunity. How sad that the turn out at the first real election in Iraq was more than 10 times the kind of turn out at an American election. Additionally they apparently know how to have an election that is not froth with fraud (think ink finger). Was it simply a "photo op" that had a family of a fallen soldier being graciously and honestly thanked by one freed Iraqi woman through that effort? While both were invited to the State of the Union Address, no one, I repeat, no one, could have foreseen that moment. That particular moment spoke volumes.

Character. Personally I don't think power has much to do with character. The right thing? The right thing is what it is inside you. I think it is safe to say that people can disagree on what is the right thing to do. It is an intrinsic thing in my opinion. I would say to this rant by Mr. Iacocca that it is a fallacy that the United States has been responsible for hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi citizens dying. We have saved and liberated hundreds of thousands of Iraqi citizens Mr. Iacocca and as an American I really do take offence to that statement. Prove that our government and our soldiers were responsible for such losses.

Courage. Balls you say? I do know about balls and yes I am a woman that some have said "has balls". Excuse me, "staying the course" even though it wasn't popular took balls in my opinion. Standing up for what you believe in takes balls. And please, there is not a politician alive that does not "sanitize" their town halls, etc. Here I really have to say Pah-lease!

Conviction. Well here I 100% agree with you on Congress. Truly, they are so hapless they may actually get the stupid masses perhaps ready for a Tea Party as called for by Mr. Santelli. Thank God that congress doesn't like to spend a lot of time at work. They are breaking our backs as it is, imagine how much worse it would be if they spent another dam month in Washington! Yikes!!! I do not have facts in front of me concerning the vacation "days" that Bush has taken. I do remember that Regan and his days at the "ranch" were truly fodder for the chattering class. I have to be a bit catty here, at least he wasn't getting blow jobs in the Oval Office by a girl young enough to be his daughter! If you say you don't like his work-product, fine. But honestly, number of days, hours, etc. worked versus what? Get the dam job done. Talking, no matter how eloquent one can speak, is not getting the job done!

Charisma. Mr. Iacocca doesn't like Bush so perceived no charisma. I didn't see him as out of place at any of the summits. He is a President, not a rock star. At least folks weren't wondering who the hell he was going to be chasing around his hotel room that night!

Competent. Once again, the smartest man to walk the earth, Al Gore, didn't win, Bush did. So what does that mean? I'm not really sure. The social security problem has brewed for a very long time. Social security was not to be the health care and disability lifeline for the aged as well as every other person that didn't have other options, as our government has done. It was to be a supplement savings, not an entire way of live and certainly not the bucket of social services it has become. Bush, Clinton, Bush, Regan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy, etc. ALL have a hand at bankrupting that program. Congress has really been the spender-bees here although I agree, Bush should have wielded the veto pen. I do see that as party pay-back and yielding to fear of unpopularity. We have been paying for wars for years and years and years and years. Bush should have pulled the military out of all the dam countries we are in from wars past, especially those that were reticent to participate in the Iraq war but eager to reap benefits of that war.

Common Sense. Very few people are gifted with common sense. I don't know that I could say one way or the other if Bush has common sense or not. Honestly I don't see him as out of touch as many of the others we call leaders. Like it or not many did welcome the Americans as liberators. Like it or not unions run the school systems and it is not for the children it is for their purposes. No disagreement with misplaced loyalty to lousy employees. And the mission accomplished? He was honoring a specific group returning and my disappointment was actually their inability to articulate that, rather let it be something that was used "against" the war effort. Please, don't quote Clinton when talking about common sense. Clinton grew up in a dysfunctional family and he went on to be dysfunctional partner in his own family. Clinton's reality is more in his head than in reality.

The biggest-Crisis. Do you really believe that Bush should have jumped up at that grade school and began to fret, as did Mayor Nagin as the waters continued to rise? Hindsight is a terrific view. Check your timeline. Bush entered the classroom at 9:03am. He was told approximately 2 or 3 minutes later that a second plane had hit the towers. He left the classroom at 9:13am. Quite honestly I cannot imagine the President of the United States jumping up, telling those kids we were under attack and then having a news conference. Those few minutes he "sat" there his aids were able to at least collect a few pieces of information and he could end the session without alarming the children. And to say he was a coward and just flew around is just stupid. Do you think there is a plan in place to protect the president? Do you think it would have been prudent to go to Washington when clearly there were still planes unaccounted for and reports had at least one heading for Washington? This statement has always made my head want to explode. Honestly, does anyone believe that we don't whisk the President away to keep him or her safe, no matter what? The Secret Service pretty much makes that kind of determination in a scenario such as 9/11. And had he galloped back to Washington everyone would have lamented what a stupid cowboy he was. Sure didn't see any congress people hanging around when they heard planes were headed in their direction. As a matter of fact they were all running away from the Capitol.

A Hell of a Mess. I do agree that we are in a hell of a mess. I think we are winning the war. If Iacocca thought we were running the biggest deficit in the history of the country in 2008, holy shit, he must me frothing at the mouth now! Are we losing our manufacturing edge to Asia? Entitlement has crippled companies and they can not compete with countries that are dying for a piece of the pie. Most "high costs" that stifle our economy are precipitated by government intrusion. High gas prices? Well let's discuss this one. We can't drill here. We tax the hell out of gasoline and we love to punish the oil companies. Bad, evil, money making oil companies. Oh wait, shit, that was the only stock my portfolio held that actually was making money I am planning on for retirement. Hapless Jimmy Carter sat there in his cardigan sweater telling us to turn down the heat and walk places. We have been crippled energy-wise since the Carter days! Not one plan, not one, came out of that catastrophe back in the 70's. Schools are a mess because unions have taken the professionalism out of teaching and made it something else. Real teachers are leaving in droves. Putting aside unions as a problem that plagues our education system, we have government bodies that expect teachers to be "parents" to the children they are supposed to be educating. Schools and educators are expected to give kids breakfast, teach them hygiene and report on misdeeds by the parents. They can not touch the children nor can they actually reprimand kids in their classrooms. If they hurt a child's feelings they could lose their jobs! Really, are our leaders going to come from this system? Parents that either don't care enough to see to it their kids eat or brush their teeth or parents so namby-pamby they don't want their precious ones to ever have hurt feelings!

There isn't a bureaucrat around that would protect the rights of the majority of travelers for fear of being labeled a racist or a hater. Excuse me, last I heard it wasn't a dam old lady that commandeered four airplanes with the intent of using them as weapons, or bombed the Cole, or the American Embassy in Beirut in 83, the American Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya & Tanzania in 98 or Yemen in 2008. But profiling would be "racist". We cannot even get this hapless bunch of politicians to pass a stinking travelers bill of rights. Oh that is because the airlines don't want it. The people do, but hell, we are the little people. The protection most of us have in the air now is the hope there will be enough passengers on board that will not sit still for such a takeover! But rest assured, because airlines line the pockets of politicians, you can be held hostage by the Airline for hours and hours and hours, without water, food or compensation for that lost time. Now that is outrageous!

The auto industry was floundering when Mr. Iacocca rescued one of them. How did it happen that the Big 3 are no more? Is that a serious question? Greedy companies that figured protectionism by the government would keep them safe is surely part of it. Is the backbone of our country honestly an industry that didn't have enough pride or fore site to reach the future? If so we are in a world of hurt. Sadly an entire state has been decimated by this industry and the blame and subsequent care of those folks falls on the United States Government? Crazy time indeed.

Mediocrity is accepted when something is better than nothing. That is what has become the norm for many Americans. They have no dream. Whose fault is that? To listen to Iacocca he blames Fox News for scaring politicians to inaction. Has he seen how many channels are available to people? Clearly Fox has some pretty good numbers but really, do you honestly blame Fox for the hapless crew we call Congress? May I remind you and everyone that Congress had lower numbers than even Bush did? Action by congress has now put our children's children's children in debt! America was not Robin Hood Land, it was the land for dreams. People come from all over the world (surely our borders attest to this) to get a piece of that dream. And there are those of us that are here that believe in that dream. We aren't the millionaires or the high charged company executives that go begging to the government for money, we are simply the chumps that keep it all going. But be careful, even chumps have a breaking point and I would say many of us are just about there. We are tired of being called racists. We are tired of being portrayed as stupid. We are sick to death of being talked down to. And we are REALLY done with the stinking elite that think they know better than we do about every aspect of our lives.

Hillary Clinton

I know, this is really catty (meow, meow), but someone needs to tell Hillary that red, dark lipstick is out. Come on woman, you wanted to be leader of the free world! Read Charla's book or something. Mature women (and yes, I am a "mature" woman) should not wear that aging dark lipstick. Get out there and get a pleasant pink for God's sake!! It isn't the 80's or the 90's!

Is Obama on drugs???

Really, listening to his speech (God, isn't he just the greatest speaker in the history of the world?), I don't know who he was talking about. Bi-partisan bill? With who? A responsible bill that is going to spend billions and billions and billions without one ounce of accountability and no way to measure any kind of success? No pork? No special interest? Transparency? Truly, is there anyone in the world with half of a Washington pea brain that believes that? I think what most of us learned is that the Chicago politician is either smart like a fox or a stupid dupe. Clearly he appears to have been rolled by his party. The items in this bill-a bill that not one single person that voted on it actually read-are not meant to stimulate this laboring economy. It is payback. And I don't think we are going to realize for years to come what the real cost will be. On the flip side, just as when he was campaigning and never really had to explain anything, he created panic {I was reminded of the "We're all going to die"-Ray Nagen-Mayor of New Orleans} and knew to get this done he had to jam it through and dam, jam it through he did. Then when people became unduly worked up our leader comes out with the stern Dad talk. Does he believe what he says or does he just talk to hear himself talk? I'm not sure which is more frightening.

Obama tries to set the tone but Congress is tone deaf

The tone I am hearing is a very clueless one. Rather tone-deaf I would say.

Letter from Senator Kohl regarding Stimulus Bill

Dear Ms. Draeger:
Americans everywhere are suffering due to the economic downturn, with jobs, life savings, and basic needs at stake. Our economy has officially been in a recession since December 2007, and America has lost 2.6 million jobs in that time, the biggest loss since 1945. I support a broad recovery package to help struggling families through these difficult times and jumpstart our faltering economy through sound investments. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this issue, and welcome this opportunity to respond. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 strikes a balance between government investments and tax breaks to foster economic development and help Americans make ends meet. The package invests in energy independence, education, health care, transportation, job training, and small businesses. Additionally, the legislation includes tax breaks such as the "Making Work Pay" tax credit, which reduces payroll taxes for middle class Americans and increases take home pay on every paycheck. Existing federal benefits for disabled veterans and seniors will also be increased to help these vulnerable populations, and the earned income tax credit will be expanded to assist the nation's struggling working families. I am working hard to ensure the recovery package helps those Americans who need it most. I led efforts in the Senate to include $1 billion for job training programs to help displaced workers update their skills, because putting people back to work is fundamental to restarting the economy. As Chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, I supported a temporary boost in food stamps. I also fought for school breakfasts and lunches, and the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC). With people losing their jobs, I am committed to keeping resources in place to help families put food on the table. Most economists agree that a food stamp increase, because of the way food stamps are distributed and spent, is one of the quickest ways for government to stimulate the economy. While I believe an expansive recovery package is necessary to confront the recession, it is critical for Congress to spend these funds prudently and avoid waste, fraud, and abuse. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act does not include any earmarks. The legislation uses formula-based funding that flows directly to the states. Formula funding allows state and local officials - who best know state and local needs - to direct resources to the highest priority projects. They can also direct resources to projects that are most "ready to go." I will keep your thoughts in mind as the legislation comes before the full Senate. I have heard from many Wisconsinites with a wide range of viewpoints on this issue, and I appreciate every letter and phone call I receive because they help me to know what is important to people back home. Please do not hesitate to contact me again in the future if I can be of any further assistance to you. Sincerely,
Herb Kohl
U.S. Senator
My Reply:
Mr. Kohl, with all due respect, your reply to my letter concerning the out of control spending package is simply stupid! Food stamps do not stimulate the economy. While I believe there certainly is a place for WIC and food stamps, this economic recovery bill is not it. Critical for Congress to safe guard where the money goes and how it is spent? Are you kidding me? Number one, it is quite apparent that many in Congress haven't a clue why lower taxes make sense because they simply don't pay them. Or they write in loop holes to profit from various tax laws. Direct funds to "ready to go" projects? Pet projects I guess, that sure is the way the package looks. And this line from your letter; "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act does not include any earmarks." lets me know you are clueless. Those of us that work hard, pay our taxes, help our kids and our parents and save for our retirement are just sick and tired of this. Where on God's green earth do you think this money is going to come from? Are you going to sell the Bucks and give everybody money? No, it will come from us, our children and our grandchildren. And we pass on to them NO opportunity for any kind of American Dream. All the meddling from government in business and peoples personal lives is one of the reasons we are in this mess. When you are broke the only way to get back on your feet is to STOP SPENDING. We little people know that. Clearly the economy is really in the tank now because there isn't anyone with an ounce of sense and a few dollars that will spend now. You guys have backed us in to the poor house and the few pennies we have left we have to hold on too. Outrageous, simply outrageous!

Tom Daschle

What I did not see in this article about Tom Daschle is the penalty portion of not paying ones taxes. Also want to know how many years they are going to go back. I've got a news flash for you. Ordinary people and ordinary businesses that are audited pay back tax, interest and yes a pretty dog-gone hefty penalty if they are found to have "under paid or under declared". What bullshit this is. Daschle knew darn well he didn't pay tax on imputed income. No one goes through this whole stinking tax preparation process and doesn't know. He didn't claim because he thought he could get away with it. And he did.

Is there anyone besides congress that thinks this is not just a "little" error? Puh-lease! We have the foxes and the wolves guarding the hen house here and man oh man, it is a good old boys club!

Change and Hope. What exactly is the change here? And what are we hoping for? SUCKERS! Looks like Mr. Hope & Change can actually stand up and be for the same old same old.

Does make you ask yourself why in the heck you pay your taxes? And if you get caught not paying, will you get to say oh sorry, here is the money. A little interest but no penalty? No procto on the previous ten years? If you believe that I have some land over here................