Just to be clear, the GM ads that were withdrawn were brand/model specific, what’s called a “national” ad. To my knowledge, no GM dealer pulled their ads. There was a lot of misinformation at the time, including the laughable statement that GM was the Times’ largest advertiser. Not even close by linage or dollar amount.

CEOs are WELL PAID for the burdens they endure. They’re even given fat last paychecks when they fail. [Bob Nardelli at Home Depot.] What justification to stock holders can Rick Wagoner offer for not doing a better job three or six or nine years ago?

And this just smacks of not really thinking this through:
“Many of the outspoken, in my view, are just getting their licks in for being told years ago that their probably ill-maintained and abused car was “out of warranty.” ”

I’ve owned only one GM car in my life and it wasn’t under warranty and didn’t fail in any way. Yet, I’m critical of the Detroiters on various points and laud them on others. However, the resistance, particularly at GM, to re-think the structure of the company regarding the number of brands and models is inexcusable. GM has yet to make a good small car. The Aveo is a Daiwoo, made in factory with serious quality issues.

Jerry Flint’s advantage is having watched the Detroit portion of the industry up-close for many years. He knows the players and the culture. I would say he knows enough.

I don’t think you can count soreheads about GM as being legit “I told you so” candidates. Most of the commentary about the industry in general and GM in particular is uninformed, biased and simply lacking in any insight. Many of the outspoken, in my view, are just getting their licks in for being told years ago that their probably ill-maintained and abused car was “out of warranty.”

Auto CEOs carry tremendous burdens, responsible for the lives of thousands of persons with their everyday decisions, counseled by the smartest people money can buy, almost all the products of many years of climbing the ladder. It’s easy to criticize when you have no responsibility and no idea of what the choices were among alternative policies or products. For sure, people can and do make mistakes. But if CEOs are really any good, they also must somehow keep their egos out of the way, something the critics haven’t apparently learned. Detroit is in the midst of a Perfect Storm that NO ONE foresaw, with the possible exception of economist Peter Shiff, to whom no one listened.

Funny, the newspaper biz is in the dumps now, not so clearly predicted, and indeed not so long ago the investors were fighting over them like so many starved dogs. Whom to blame???

As for Flint, he’s one of the best, head and shoulders above the rest in knowledge and insight, but he also doesn’t know as much as he thinks he does–especially about the inner workings of car companies. No journalists do, unless they’ve been on both sides of the desk. And make that 50 years, not 15, for Flint writing about the industry.