Ford! Ford! Ford!

Man, it's all Ford all the time!

More Cannings: The Detroit News reports: Ford to widen salaried job cuts. Why? To pay for this: The Detroit News reports: Ford's $35M man. We knew Ford was into green*, but we didn't know that green was money! Sweet mercy! $35 million and he hasn't done anything yet. How do we get that kind of gig? (*They're not really into green, but they say they are.) We know that Ford pays out the moolah just to get people to stay, but that's how they... What? They didn't offer the money to Anne Stevens to stay? We just made that up, but anyone know if it is true? Otherwise, The Car Connection reports: More Departures Coming from Ford? (scroll down to the pic of the lady "shaking hands" with a sell-out green actor who is sitting on a "green" SUV). Finally, The Detroit News reports: Ford’s late to empower the car guy.

"We have a lot of car guys here already,” Ford said. “What they need is permission to be bold." This remark by the ex-CEO is questionable on several levels. Firstly, to address the 'permission needed" part; is Ford saying that as head of the company he was somehow unable, unwilling or lacking the confidence to encourage the ‘car guys’? If so, it represents a serious failing on his behalf. At any automaker, the product experts who really understand the fundamentals and finesse involved in developing compelling cars and trucks are a critical resource. Giving these people protection and support against the sometimes numbing influence of finance, purchasing and marketing departments is a key part of the CEO’s job. If the car guys do not receive the appropriate backing, the result is exactly the sort of bland and/or misdirected product malaise that is afflicting Ford today.

You have a lot of cars guys? YOU HAVE A LOT OF CARS GUYS? What? Oh, you left out the word shitty?

Sorry for the big block of text, man that's awful lookin'.