The best idea I’ve heard yet, from James Bennet, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic.
Obama should install Mitt Romney as GM’s chairman. Romney grew up outside Detroit and around cars; his father, George W. Romney, saved American Motors from collapse in the 1950s—by killing failing brands and focusing on compact cars! George Romney successfully took on the Big Three with a “dinosaur fighter” strategy. The son would bring to GM that legacy, the turnaround expertise and credentials he developed at Bain & Company, and the outsider’s eye that GM desperately needs. He would also usefully jack up even further the stakes and the drama of the undertaking.
There was much more to saving American – and Chrylser in the 80s – than killing brands and selling smaller cars (I’d hardly call the Caravan a smaller car, or the Jeep Cherokee, or the Javelin). But he’s on the right track. Romney was my pick for President, precisely due to his business acumen, but being smart means picking your battles – does fighting with the government, the UAW and the few creditors left sound like a winner?
Why would Romney do it? Maybe because the chance to renew an American icon, preserve America’s manufacturing capacity, and save tens of thousands of jobs would mean something to him. Maybe because it would give him a platform to demonstrate what an effective leader he can be. Maybe because, along the way, it would allow him to save the Republican Party by proving that it stands for something besides…whatever it is that it stands for right now.“I’m a son of Detroit,” Romney told Fox News Sunday. “I drive American cars. I love American cars. My heart bleeds for the people in Michigan, in Detroit, for all those auto workers.” Obama should help ease his pain.
One problem – Romney has actual business experience – he isn’t one of Obama’s whiz kids straight from Yale grad school with a brand new suit, an iPhone and doesn’t blast “Death Cab for Cutie” in between White House meetings.
Romney is focused on running for President and has been a vocal and public critic of Obama’s policies, that alone is a deal-breaker, but the real death knell – it makes too much sense.
Romney?! Mitt Romney?? That clown can’t carry Brian Deese’s jock. And besides isn’t Romney mormon?
Brian Deese’s first duty as lead automotive adviser to the President – learn how to change his own oil.
Second duty – learn where the oil goes.
That’s thinking with your dipstick Jimmy!
I think Brian Deese was actually an intern of mine once…when I was working in DC. Holy sh*t did I just say that? He may not have lasted long. There is only so much video game playing and writing Mom and Dad to ask for more money that could be tolerated. Interns do have to work.
Third duty. Get a driver’s license.