Thank heavens someone ’round these here parts can suss out Cyrillic. ‘Tis beyond my own feeble powers. But just because I enjoy puzzlez, could I ask two quick questions?

The МЕЖДУНАРОДНЫЙ I infer (from Greek) to be something on the order of m-e-ch/k-(ical/arahin) as in ‘mechanical thingies’. And the автомобильНЫЙ somewhat more ‘au/ae-tom-bulin’ or some such?

Sorry to be so OT, but on a scale of 1 being, “well done, there!” and 10 being, “Whatcha thinkin’, that was Coptic I was writin’?” how’d my guesses span out…?

I do agree that there could be a transformational opportunity for auto dealers, and your comment is the first that I’d glimpsed of such a notion. I still think they have no business whatsoever on floodplains.

Suppose the dealerships became like those in some mythical Russia, several cars to chose from, but only a few; downsized lots; and totally outsourced repair. The unions likely would be combattive about losing the influence of strong presence in the lucrative repair shop portal of dealerships, and the mechanics would earn less. But gas caps prices would appear way below $125./ in 1979 dollars, would be my guess.

Recently I did a survey of Russian language car sites, which very much resemble US car sites. I did this is extraordinarily rusty Russian language. But the hype is the same. It is like a kiddie tour of Hollywood. For the curious, if you know how to set your browser to cyrillic, search on МОСКОВСКИЙ МЕЖДУНАРОДНЫЙ автомобильНЫЙ САЛОН, which is a venue of a yearly auto show in the capital.

After reading bmaz’s perspectives, I have appreciated what the dealerships do more completely, but from personal experience see Corker room for compromise only in those areas in which dealerships garner the bulk of their income.

All of this is apart from the vast bulk of complex influences which congress is examining. It was simply some personal recognition there is some small way dealerships might transform as well, at least for some bridge timespan until the eco versions of current machines become available. It is a world a lot like utilities, but its reliance on yearly cashflow in the competitive big ticket consumer market makes automobiles stand apart as an exceptionally cashflow sensitive sector. I imagine Bush’s branch of the Republican Party missed this repercussion of their policies of domestic economic rapine.

In my region, car dealers, ‘real estate developers’ (mostly of the strip mall variety) and also ‘commercial real estate’ (owning local office buildings) all go hand-into-interwoven hand.

Wasn’t Corker a real estate developer?
If so, he probably has friends who are auto dealers.
Anyone know whether Corker ever helped build an auto dealership? Or was a percentage owner…?

(I doubt it, as it would raise conflict of interest issues, but thought I’d pose the question in case anyone [knows anyone] who knows… It’s equally likely that Corker’s mindset is simply right out of 1985 and he really doesn’t grasp all the implications for pensions, patents, and the state budgets involved.)

he was clearly “Face Guarding”, and that’s a penalty at all levels of fottball

I’m not sure how we resolve this (is that a “spot foul” or just a ten yarder ???

all I know is the guy who threw the shoes is owed another throw …

(had to be said, wink)

Senator Corker will always be the Angry Elf of Christmas Present for me.

what a jerk.

Toyota is delaying, indefinitely, the opening of their Prius plant in Miss.

They really did “fluff Corker’s cork”

Corks are small. Two inches at the most? How does one fluff a cork? Sounds like a terrible task.

But then this is Corker we are discussing so “terrible” fits.