Trump Touts Economy; Previews New Stimuli

Today, President Donald J. Trump returned to Michigan to underscore the progress made in revitalizing our economy, celebrate the resurgence of the American auto industry, and chart the path forward to deliver continued relief to American families.

President Trump heralded the economic revival after one year back in office. “After less than 12 months in office, I’m back in Michigan to report to you on the strongest and fastest economic turnaround in our country’s history.” (Watch)   “Biden gave us a colossal stagflation catastrophe, but my Administration has rapidly and very decisively ended that. We have quickly achieved the exact opposite of stagflation — almost no inflation and super high growth.” (Watch)   “After real wages plummeted by $3,000 under Sleepy Joe Biden, real wages are up by $1,300 in less than one year under President Trump.” (Watch)   “We have gas stations in the Detroit area where you can fill up for less than $2.30 a gallon — whereas two years ago, it was $4.50.” (Watch)   “The stock market is now the highest in history… boosting 401(k)s and retirement accounts for millions and millions of Americans.” (Watch)   “The Trump Tariffs have delivered us trillions of dollars of new investment… They brought hundreds of billions of dollars pouring into the United States Treasury, helped curb inflation, and helped cut the federal budget deficit by a staggering 27%.” (Watch)   “Under Biden, we had the highest trade deficit ever recorded — losing more than $1 trillion every single year... We’ve slashed that gaping trade deficit by, in a short period of time, 62%.” (Watch)   “Just as I promised you, I’ve imposed a 25% tariff on all foreign automobiles… U.S. auto factories are now seeing more than $70 billion of new investment.” (Watch)

President Trump laid out bold new plans to ensure all Americans feel the benefits of the Trump Economy. “Next week, I’m going to provide much more detail about our housing policies so that every American who wants to own a home will be able to afford one… This will include a ban on large institutional investors buying up single-family homes all over the country... I’ve also announced that the U.S. government is purchasing $200 billion dollars of mortgage bonds to bring down mortgage rates.” (Watch)   “I proudly called for credit card companies to cap interest rates at 10% for one year because they’re getting 28% and 30% and 30% — and it’s unfair. The rates are way too high.” (Watch)   “To provide further relief to hardworking Americans, we will also be confronting one of the biggest factors in driving up prices — the monstrosity known as the Unaffordable Care Act… Later this week, I’ll announce our healthcare affordability framework that will reduce premiums for millions.” (Watch)

President Trump toured the manufacturing home of Ford’s iconic F-150 truck in Dearborn. Workers erupted in applause and showed off the plant’s booming production as company leaders confirmed the positive impact of President Trump’s agenda: Ford CEO Jim Farley: “We’re adding a combustion truck, an affordable one, in Tennessee… That’s what these policies are doing for Ford. We’re going to actually expand one of our existing plants and make a different kind of truck there.”   Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford: “We have a great relationship with the President and his whole staff. They’ve been great to work with for us. He, personally, is incredibly responsive every time we need something or call — and we very much appreciate it. We couldn’t be more excited. We’re adding market share. We’re growing as a company. We’re adding jobs…”

President Trump addressed the Minnesota Somali Fraud Scandal. “Another urgent priority for bringing down the cost of living is to stop the colossal fraud that is bleeding American taxpayers absolutely dry… Our country has been losing over half a trillion dollars to fraud every single year, but those days are over.” (Watch)   “I’m creating a brand-new division at the Department of Justice — a legal strike force led by a really tough, smart, new [assistant] attorney general for fraud… We intend to imprison any fraudster, politician, or public official involved in these sick plots to loot and pillage our country.” (Watch)   “We’re also going to revoke the citizenship of any naturalized immigrant — from Somalia or anywhere else — who is convicted of defrauding our citizens.” (Watch)   “We’ve frozen all children’s payments to those states… We will now require proof of attendance in order to receive federal funding for childcare... Additionally, from this moment forward, if you’re on public assistance, like almost all Somalis are... You can’t wire money out of the country back to your bank account from where you came.” (Watch)   “Starting February 1, we’re not making any payments to ‘sanctuary’ cities or states having ‘sanctuary’ cities because they do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens — and it breeds fraud and crime and all of the other problems that come.” (Watch)   “As we liberate our country from this cultural scourge and the plague of corruption and fraud, we’ll rediscover the natural energy and native spirit that truly makes America great again.” (Watch)

Trump Touts Revival Of US Auto Industry

President Donald J. Trump took office on a promise to revitalize the American auto industry — and after just one year, he has unquestionably delivered. Today, as President Trump visits Michigan and tours the home to the assembly of Ford’s iconic F-150 pickup truck, the nation celebrates the U.S. auto industry’s robust resurgence under his leadership.   Under President Trump’s America First agenda, the American auto industry is primed for unprecedented expansion:

Automakers Are Thriving Amid Record-Breaking Sales The past year marked the strongest year for new vehicle sales since 2019. Ford achieved its best annual sales in six years, General Motors reported soaring overall vehicle sales with its strongest SUV performance in decades, and Stellantis saw Jeep brand sales rise for the first time since 2018.

Vehicles Are More Affordable for American Families New data indicates that prices for both new and used vehicles have decreased since President Trump took office — a trend complemented by recent declines in vehicle maintenance, repair, and insurance costs, as well as gas at its lowest average price in nearly five years. Additionally, for the first time, Americans can deduct interest on auto loans for vehicles made-in-America — positioning the market for even greater demand.

Major Investments in Domestic Manufacturing President Trump’s policies have catalyzed big investments from leading automakers to expand their U.S.-based production. Companies including Ford,  Stellantis, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, and many others are investing billions in American facilities, creating good-paying jobs and strengthening supply chains here in America — like right here in Michigan.

Tariffs Are Driving U.S. Production — Without Inflation Contrary to Fake News doomcasting, President Trump’s tariffs have had no impact on vehicle prices — while his Section 232 tariffs on heavy duty trucks have instead fueled a revival in domestic manufacturing, with Ford CEO Jim Farley calling it a “really big deal.” As Bloomberg noted: “[D]espite many analysts anticipating a bump up in prices for the 2026 model year, with automakers expected to do a lot more to pass along the tariff increases, that just really hasn’t happened.”

Streamlined Regulations Are Making U.S. Production More Competitive President Trump has reversed onerous Biden-era fuel economy standards that would have added nearly $1,000 to the cost of the average new vehicle, delivering billions in savings for consumers. The Trump Administration also eliminated the unpopular vehicle stop-start requirement, authorized the production of affordable and efficient “tiny cars,” rescinded state-level electric vehicle mandates, and implemented other reforms to eliminate hidden cost increases imposed by Democrat policies. These moves have earned wide praise from automakers and auto dealers alike as victories for “common sense and affordability.”

We Suppose This Is How It All Started!

Yes, The Others Failed; Only Trump Succeeded!

A very perceptive and articulate friend ("Captain Conservative") writes as follows:

Dating back to President Eisenhower, Republicans have gotten the bait and switch when it comes to Supreme Court nominees.  The GOP voter has fallen flat more times than Charlie Brown trying to kick that football.

Republican Supreme Court Justices who have been confirmed, more often than not, turned left and rarely looked back.  The same phenomenon never happens the other way.  Beyond that bitter pill, those turncoats also legislated from the bench.  Judicial fiat is not democracy.  It is not representative of our republic.

Donald Trump, the mercurial, bombastic, and unrefined former president, has succeeded where all his predecessors failed.  His success will live on for at least a generation; hopefully beyond.

After decades of liberal rulings which stretched both the bounds of credulity and Constitutionality, the High Court is finally returning original intent to America.  The overturning of Roe was thought impossible. Done.  Affirmative Action. Done. Religious freedom. Done.

We should all thank President Donald J. Trump for these landmark decisions.  This has brought balance back to the court and America. Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush, and Bush II all failed where Trump really triumphed. 

In Good Condition, Imagine Its Worth Today!

 

Public/Private Effort Spawns Incredible Succuss!

Growing up in Detroit, HUD Secretary Ben Carson saw firsthand what a special place the “Motor City” is. “It used to be the most prosperous city in the United States, if not the world. Largely due to their manufacturing capacity,” he says. Today, Secretary Carson returned to his hometown with President Trump, where they took a close look at how the rebirth of American manufacturing is revitalizing the city—and helping all of America defeat the Coronavirus. “Now in cooperation with this President and this Administration, Detroit is engaged in producing personal protective equipment, PPE, as well as things like ventilators at the automobile factories,” Secretary Carson said. “This Administration is doing everything it can to make sure we have PPE for everybody who needs it in this country.” At Ford Motor Company’s Rawsonville plant today, President Trump saw firsthand how one company quickly repurposed its assets to support frontline medical workers. 🎬 President Trump: “America is very proud of Ford!”   Ford Motor’s story resembles that of many great companies across America. In March, Ford and General Electric announced a partnership to meet President Trump’s call to increase our national ventilator stockpile. As a result, the two firms are producing 50,000 of these critical machines in just 100 days. Coronavirus isn’t the first time American manufacturing has stepped up during a time of need. During World War II, our nation’s factory floors became essential suppliers of military equipment. Ford’s Willow Run assembly plant in Michigan, for instance, famously helped lead the charge by producing a B-24 bomber every hour. Once again, many American workers will go down as heroes during a global crisis. To help mobilize this historic effort, President Trump recently rolled out a new plan to strengthen our strategic national stockpile. Working with Congress, he secured $16 billion to grow our reserve of critical supplies such as ventilators, masks, respirators, and pharmaceuticals—ensuring America is fully prepared to meet any future challenge. While in Michigan, President Trump also participated in a listening session with African-American leaders. Earlier this week, he hosted a meeting of his White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, discussing how the Administration can continue to support distressed, underserved communities during the pandemic. “Before the virus, African-American unemployment reached its lowest level in history, and African-American poverty reached its lowest level in history,” President Trump said today. Soon, our country will be rebuilding stronger than ever before. “You’re going to see some incredible numbers,” the President said. Our Transition to Greatness will lift up the African-American community once again 🎬 Press Sec: Better trade deals brought back American jobs and manufacturing!

Video of the Day

President Trump boards Marine One | May 21, 2020

Hey, Don't Let The Door Hit You In The _ _ _!

Every modern day President of the United States (except one) has departed Washington when his time in office has ended.
This includes Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, H. W. Bush, Clinton and W. Bush. And if we wanted to stretch this back a whole century, we probably could.
Every single one of them -- except one!
Think about that for a moment. These presidents saw no need to hang around the nation's capital after their term or terms ended. Indeed, every one of them made a point of leaving town: to Independence, Missouri; to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; to Stonewall, Texas; to San Clemente, California; to Denver, Colorado; to Los Angeles; to Houston; to New York City and to Dallas.
But President Obama refuses to go home to Chicago. He's decided to stay in Washington.
It almost makes you want to take Obama by the lapels, give him a good shake and shout: "When it's over, it's over!"
Did David Letterman hang around after Colbert took over The Late Show? Did Regis Philbin hang around after Kelly took over Live? Did Charles Osgood hang around after Jane Pauley took over Sunday Morning? No, no, and no. They all went their merry ways. And that's the way it should be.
We all know that Washington only has room for one POTUS at a time. It's something that's monumentally evident.
So, why is Obama hanging around? Why has he moved into a stately Washington mansion (8,200 square feet, eight bedrooms) in one of the choicest sections of town and just a short distance from the White House? And why is former White House counselor and Obama's longtime svengali Valerie Jarett living in the same house? Huh? What's up with that?
Well, many people think the Obamas are set on running a sort of shadow government with this house as their base of operations. After all, there's lots of room for offices, plenty of security and they've just finished building walled barricades outside the place.
It certainly sounds like a base of operations to us -- especially since Obama has pretty much retained control of his vast Organizing for America network, complete with a huge, sophisticated database. And let's not forget that (thanks to successful congressional foot dragging engineered by the Democrats) an unprecedented number of Obamatons remain inside the federal government, many at the highest levels.
We have two words for this: It stinks!
And we have one tiny bit of advice for Barack Obama: Get the hell outta town. Now!

The Meme Of The Moment: What WILL It Be?

Patrick Henry said: "Give me liberty or give me death." 

Franklin said: "A republic, if you can keep it."

Lincoln said: "Of the people,  by the people, for the people." 

FDR said: "The only thing we have to fear." 

Churchill said: "Blood, sweat, toil and tears." 

JFK said: "Ask not what your country can do for you . . . " 

MLK said: "I have a dream." 

Reagan said: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" 

These words are enshrined. They are seared into our consciousness. They are part of history.

But can you tell me one profound thing that Barack Obama said? Huh? 

He's been billed as a great orator but if you listen -- really listen -- he hasn't said very much that's artful or memorable or worthy of the ages. 

As Gertrude Stein once said: "There's no there, there, when you get there."

And that's a shame, because Barack Obama certainly had his opportunities. Still, virtually nothing worth treasuring is remembered from his two inaugural addresses or his annual State of the Union speeches or his many, many other moments of speechifying.

And pretty much the same could be said of Bill Clinton whose most famous line was, sadly: "I did not have sex with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky."

And Nixon? Well, he's to be remembered for "I am not a crook." 

Truly, a well-turned phrase can make all the difference. It was President Gerald Ford who, in the wake of Watergate, reassured us that "our long national nightmare is over." And then, with customary humility (and a refreshing bit of humor) the accidental president confessed: "I'm a Ford, not a Lincoln." Clever, that.

And let's not forget Lyndon Johnson who, in the aftermath of JFK's assassination echoed Kennedy's "let us begin" line with this: "Today in this moment of new resolve, I would say to all my fellow Americans, Let Us Continue. This is our challenge–not to hesitate, not to pause, not to turn about and linger over this evil moment but to continue on our course so that we may fulfill the destiny that history has set for us." These are words that were not only right for the moment but that have clearly stood the test of time as well.

To be fair, even George W. Bush gave us great, reassuring words in an ominous moment when, after September 11, he declared: "Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done." No one who heard Bush utter those words should have had any doubt that we would soon be at war with those who brought such horror upon our land.

Where do these words come from? How are the right words found for the right time, the right occasion, the right moment? Indeed, they often emerge from the crucible of crisis. But they also reflect the hope or the tough love or the straightforward, unvarnished resolution of visionary leaders. And the words must be carefully strung together by diligent speechwriters -- craftspersons in the magic of artful articulation.

Good speechwriters know that every great speech has three vital components: a solid theme; a clear purpose and a sound structure.

The theme is the overarching idea of the speech. The theme must be so clear and simple that you ought to be able to express it in one sentence. The theme of FDR's first inaugural address? Very simply, it was: "We're in a helluva mess but we're gonna pull through this together, fearlessly and with unquestioned resolve." That's precisely what people needed to hear. It's what they were thirsting for.

The purpose of the speech boils down to what you want the audience to think, feel or do once they've heard the speech. In other words, why are you giving this speech? What do you hope to accomplish?

The purpose of FDR's first inaugural address was to reassure and rally the nation and the Congress to his cause -- to pull everyone together for the struggle ahead. 

The structure must be clear to the audience. It's their roadmap. That means a speech must have a definite beginning, middle and end. In the beginning,  you forge a vital, human link with your audience. In the middle, you deliver your core message, usually with two or three simple points. In the end, you conclude and call the audience to action.

It all sounds very simple, but it's not. It's tough, hard, often grueling work. And an undisciplined speaker can make it much, much harder.

Both Obama and Clinton tinkered with their speeches too much. Clinton kept changing lines right up until the very moment of delivery. Obama always thought he knew better and was often less punchy and more hesitant in delivery than many thought. Quite simply, he was over-confident. Ford and LBJ were legislative wizards who were accustomed to operating in the backchannels of government. They had to learn to be public speakers -- and it showed.

JFK, FDR and Reagan were the greatest presidential public speakers of the modern era. They were master wordsmiths themselves; they loved language; they were natural performers; they had finely-tuned ears; they understood modern media and they were steadfastly disciplined. Consequently, they triumphed.

Donald Trump is a masterful performer. He understands modern media. He has a good ear for the sound of things and a natural ability to speak in clear, straightforward terms that everyday people can understand. But he's not known as a great reader or lover of language. He's not a wordsmith himself and he's not particularly disciplined.

Tomorrow is a Very Big Day for him.

Will he be up to the challenge of delivering a memorable, maybe even a historic inaugural address? That's a very tall order.

Stay tuned . . . . we're about to find out, America.

Remembering Shirley Temple: Star, Diplomat, Citizen

She was a charmer, no doubt about that.

She was a cutie and a beauty - someone who seemed to be a natural-born star. And she was unquestionably one of Hollywood's most bankable assets. During the Great Depression she not only helped keep one of America's biggest Hollywood studios afloat but she warmed the hearts of millions.

A child sensation herself, she inspired children and reassured adults.

She sang. She danced. She acted. And she made it all seem effortless.

But make no mistake about it, Shirley Temple worked hard for every cent that she earned and every bit of success that she enjoyed. She came upon her good fortune the old-fashioned way - by the sweat of her brow, no matter that the sweat never showed up on the silver screen.

She was not only a film and television star but she was also an outstanding citizen and a great representative of our nation, not just by example but by the leadership she provided and the positions she held. As an adult she served as U.S. ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia. She also served as Chief of Protocol of the United States from 1976-1977.

The little girl that we knew as Shirley Temple (America's Sweetheart) became the accomplished wife, mother and diplomat known as Shirley Temple Black.

Yes, Shirley Temple Black was a child star. But as far as anyone knows she never did drugs, she did not engage in histrionic behavior, she underwent no highly publicized personal upheaval and she remained married to the same man for 54 years and was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Of all the stars in Hollywood's glittering galaxy, Shirley Temple was the one most worthy of the term "beloved."

And the public had good reason to love her.

She delivered what she promised. As a child star, she gave us a joyous exuberance - an enviable spirit of decency, generosity and innocence. As an adult, her emphasis on the same enduring values showed us how to be global citizens while maintaining and strengthening our own national pride. 

Shirley Temple began her career as a curly-haired moppet, four years old. From 1935 to 1938, she was the top box-office attraction in the United States. Her films took in $20 million in just a few years and she saved her studio, 20th-Century Fox, from bankruptcy.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt commented that it was “a splendid thing that for just 15 cents, an American can go to a movie and look at the smiling face of a baby and forget his troubles.”

Her movies became classics of pre-World War II cinema and they remained popular with children and adults for decades. Indeed, children still watch Shirley Temple movies, now colorized, digitalized and on high-definition, wide, flat-screen TVs. In 1999, the American Film Institute included Shirley Temple on its list of the 50 Greatest Screen Legends. She was a Kennedy Center honors recipient in 1998. In 2010 she received the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Life Achievement Award.

She stopped making movies in 1949, but later worked in television. “Shirley Temple's Storybook,” a monthly TV anthology series in which she narrated and sometimes appeared in adaptations of children's tales was one of her television outings.

She then became active in Republican politics and, as Shirley Temple Black she was appointed by President Richard Nixon to her first ambassadorial post. She later assumed the protocol position under President Gerald Ford. She also served as a delegate to the United Nations under President Nixon and as ambassador to Czechoslovakia under President George H. W. Bush.

In every sense of the term, throughout her distinguished life Shirley Temple was more than America's Sweetheart, she was America's Ambassador - an ambassador for the very best in all of us.

Obama And Jobs: Facts Speak For Themselves

Did Obama White House Force Ford To Pull Ad?

From the National Tea Party Alert:

It was a great ad, part of a series that The Ford Motor Company is running featuring unscripted responses from real Ford owners. This one caught the attention of many due to it's raw honesty. In it, a journalist asks Chris, “Was buying American important to you?” Chris’ answer couldn’t have been better scripted by Ford.
“I wasn’t going to buy another car that was bailed out by our government. I was going to buy from a manufacturer that’s standing on their own: win, lose, or draw. That’s what America is about is taking the chance to succeed and understanding when you fail that you gotta pick yourself up and go back to work. Ford is that company for me."

The ad itself has been pulled (more on that below), but there is a response by "Chris", the star of the ad itself posted here.News came out that the ad had been removed at the request of the Obama Administration, which didn't appear to be thrilled about the blatantly pro-capitalism message espoused in the spots:

That's what some of America is about, evidently. Because Ford pulled the ad after individuals inside the White House questioned whether the copy was publicly denigrating the controversial bailout policy CEO Alan Mulally repeatedly supported in the dark days of late 2008, in early '09 and again when the ad flap arose. And more.
With President Barack Obama tuning his re-election campaign amid dismal economic conditions and simmering antipathy toward his stimulus spending and associated bailouts, the Ford ad carried the makings of a political liability when Team Obama can least afford yet another one. Can't have that.
The ad, pulled in response to White House questions (and, presumably, carping from rival GM), threatened to rekindle the negative (if accurate) association just when the president wants credit for their positive results (GM and Chrysler are moving forward, making money and selling vehicles) and to distance himself from any public downside of his decision.In other words, where presidential politics and automotive marketing collide — clean, green, politically correct vehicles not included — the president wins and the automaker loses because the benefit of the battle isn't worth the cost of waging it.

Strangely, the article quoted above quotes an anonymous source as saying, "...there was not any pressure to take down the ad." However, the article is clear that the ad was removed in response to "questions from the White House", as if such questions are to be interpreted in any other way.
Regardless, this is a stunning abuse of power by an administration which promised to change the way things are done in Washington D.C. On second thought: considering that there isn't any evidence to believe that any prior administrations had ever demanded that a private company pull it's advertising, perhaps this is the change that they've promised.

Mercury Brand Dies; My Love Lives On

Ford has announced that's it will discontinue production of the Mercury brand.
Yeah, I know that Ford has had its share of problems.
But I'm still not happy about this. Not one bit.
I hated it when they killed off the Sable model. And I hate this even more.
I've been driving American cars for a long time. And I'm proud to count four Mercurys in my family right now.
Of course, I don't plan to drastically alter my buying patterns. So, I suppose I'll have to switch to Ford since a Lincoln is probably beyond my means.
That's what I liked about Mercury -- it was somewhere in between.
But Ford is still a good, solid, safe, reliable car produced by an innovative company.
To be honest I've never been able to understand the appeal of Japanese and other foreign cars -- even those which carry a "made in America" label.
American brand cars are certainly competitively priced and more often than not an American car has more interior room than its comparable Japanese model.
Though I'm hardly an expert, I do not notice a huge difference in the way the vehicles ride. And to me Japanese cars in particular are uninspired when it comes to styling. There doesn't seem to be anything distinctive about them. They seem to lack panache.
And here's the real stickler: the apparent snob appeal of certain foreign cars. What does it say about a person who is so insecure that he or she needs to be defined by a beefy Lexus or a boxy Camry or a strange, little, overpriced Mini Cooper?
I look at some of these people and I want to say: "Get over it. It's only a car!"
Not to suggest that cars can't be sexy. But if that's what you want, what's wrong with a new Ford Mustang? They're better looking than ever and pack lots of vrooom.
But most of us are happy with a trusty family sedan, minivan or SUV.
Which brings me back to my Mercurys. They're still good cars.
And Ford will still stand behind my reliable, sporty, spiffy Mercury Milan.

American Cars Most Dependable

For years, I've purchased American cars -- Ford and Mercury brands, to be exact.
And for years I've said they are good, reliable cars.
And for years I've also said that you don't have to buy a foreign brand.
And all along I've encouraged others top buy American.

Now from Bengt Halvorson at the Car Connection comes the proof of what I've been saying:
No, buying American won't get you an undependable disaster-on-wheels; in fact, it's likely to get you a more reliable, trouble-free car.In the latest proof of this, from marketing-information authority J.D. Power and Associates, seven of the ten models with the lowest number of problems, on average, come from Ford and GM.
That list of most dependable vehicles, from J.D. Power's 2010 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), includes the Buick LaCrosse, Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS, Ford Five Hundred, Lincoln MKZ, Mercury Milan, and Mercury Montego.
The study gauges dependability by counting problems experienced—broken into 198 different classifications—by the original owners (more than 52,000 in all) of three-year-old (2007 model year) vehicles. From that, J.D. Power calculates the total number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles to find overall dependability.
Power pointed out that Cadillac, Ford, Hyundai, Lincoln, and Mercury all do well in dependability but their consumer perceptions lag and these brands are often avoided as a result, as the firm has found in its annual Avoider Study. J.D. Power ranked vehicle models in 19 different segments, such as "large pickup" or "compact premium sporty car."

1960 Ford: Wonderful New World!

1960 was a promising time for America.
American industry and ingenuity reigned supreme.
And Ford was right there introducing a "great, wide, wonderful world."
Many companies have come and gone. And two of the Big Three American car companies are barely surviving financially.
But Ford is still here -- and showing a profit.
After more than 100 years, Ford is still producing great cars, And BTW: I'm hopeful that the other two American car companies will soon be in the black as well.
Go on -- Go out and buy an American-made car from an American company.
A great, wide, wonderful world begins at home!

We We're A Ford Family

From Katherine Timpf at the Washington Times:
Amid bankruptcies and forecasts of Detroit doom, one of the Big Three is hanging tough. Ford tough.
Once defined by the revolutionary Model T, Ford is motoring on without federal bailouts, Treasury-led restructurings or bankruptcy judges. Ford Motor Co.'s U.S. market share grew last month, and sales surpassed even mighty Toyota's.
Ford's shares have outperformed those of Honda and Toyota over the past year. Shares of archrival General Motors Corp., now in bankruptcy, are nearly worthless.. . .
The company's decision to go it alone prompted shareholder Jason Kozlowski of Toledo, Ohio, to buy Ford stock three months ago.
"I'm thinking because they didn't take the bailout money, because they decided to do their own thing, that they will eventually pull out of it," he said. "It looks like they're going to hold their own."
Auto analyst Colin Langan of UBS, which does investment banking for Ford, agreed.
Mr. Langan said Ford will benefit in the long run by avoiding the involvement of the government and the United Auto Workers union in its restructuring, giving it more flexibility and the ability to focus on profits.
"I think [GM's bankruptcy] is an opportunity for Ford to stand out from U.S. competitors," Mr. Langan said.
Ford's increasing global presence, as well as the scheduled U.S. arrival of new models like the Fiesta next year, bode well for the company's future.
"I really looked at [Ford's] prior turnarounds and elements in past successful turnarounds, and every turnaround has had a new product," Mr. Langan said.
"I think there are definite, clear opportunities for Ford to gain market share."
Indeed, Ford's U.S. market share in May reached its highest level since 2006, rising to 17.4 percent from 15.2 percent a year ago. But Ford spokesman Bill Collins said GM's bankruptcy has not affected Ford's plans.
"Things have not changed in the way we're running the business," Mr. Collins said.
Ford's domestic sales totaled 155,994 vehicles last month as its Fusion hybrid and Flex crossover models set sales records. Ford even outsold Japanese rival Toyota, which notched 135,661 U.S. sales. Ford's May results were the best since July, when it sold 161,530 vehicles.
With investors still wary of stocks and especially shares of automakers, Ford's common stock has surged from a low of $1.26 last year to close at a 52-week high of $6.41 on Tuesday. Ford shares, while virtually unchanged over the past year, have handily outperformed those of Japanese rivals Toyota and Honda, whose shares have fallen 24 percent and 18 percent, respectively.

Ford Kills Mercury Sable

From Bryce G. Hoffman at the Detroit News:
Ford Motor Co. will end production of the Mercury Sable sedan this week, stripping its mid-market brand of yet another model."
The last Sable will roll down the line on Thursday," said Ford spokeswoman Angie Kozleski.
That will leave Mercury with just four models -- including the Mountaineer and Grand Marquis, both of which are scheduled to be killed over the next couple of years. Mercury is supposed to get a new small car, but Ford has no other models planned for the brand at this time.
Ford only sold 1,158 Sables last month, down 37.8 percent compared to April 2007.
The Sable shares a common platform with the Ford Taurus, a new version of which is already being produced on the same assembly line in Chicago.
Analyst Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics LLP said Ford decided to pass on a new Sable so that it could invest more money into the new Taurus. The same goes for advertising dollars.
"They had to make a choice, and their choice is to polish the Blue Oval," he said.
But Hall said he thinks Mercury still has a role to play for the Dearborn automaker.
"Keeping Mercury allows them to do specialty vehicles that appeal to different demographics," he said, noting that models like the Milan and Mariner have been hits with Latinos and women.

Goodbye Saturn, Pontiac

From Micheline Maynard at the New York Times:
The brand that was once hailed as an important part of the future of General Motors now will be part of its past.
GM said Tuesday that it would phase out its Saturn brand by 2012. It does not plan to develop any more new vehicles for Saturn, which began 19 years ago as an effort to attract owners of small Japanese cars.
G.M. also said it was considering its options for the Pontiac division. The Pontiac name, part of the car business since 1932, could remain on some models, but may no longer be a separate division. G.M. said Pontiac would be a “focused brand” with fewer models.
The disclosures by G.M., contained in a viability plan submitted to the government, means that G.M. plans to cut its brands in half, to four: Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC.
It said last fall that it would try to find buyers for Hummer and Saab. On Tuesday, it said it would decide on Hummer’s fate by March 31.
But is four the right number?
After all, most of its big competitors, including Toyota, Honda and Chrysler, build their businesses around three brands or fewer in the United States. Ford is moving to shed its foreign brands and plans to focus primarily on three — Ford, Lincoln and Mercury.

Drive One, Buy One!

The car that put the world on wheels, the Ford Model T, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2008, and Ford is planning a year-long series of celebrations to honor the iconic vehicle. At the same time Ford is producing new vehicles that are setting the pace for value, quality, dependability and downright good looks.

I know because I've driven a Ford product for more than 20 years. And every person in my immediate family also drives a Ford vehicle. I believe in American cars and American products and Ford is the quintessential American company. And now Ford has a new advertising campaign that says it all: Drive One. Like most successful ad campaigns this is simple and direct. But it also makes a key point: Drive it. Try it. Don't knock it if you haven't tried it.

One hundred years ago, the Ford Model T changed the world with its technology and the same concept has lived with Ford ever since.

Ford is committed to keeping pace with changing markets throughout the world. In 2010 Ford will introduce its new Verve (concept car pictured) in North America. This is a small, entry-level car targeted to a group of young people aged 13 to 28 years – dubbed “Millennials.” Today, this group stands 1.7 billion strong worldwide and will represent 28 percent of the total U.S. population by 2010. The Verve is expected to arrive in Europe and Asia later this year.