Saturday, March 3, 2007
Conservative Edge Discusses New Media Influence
Earlier last month we reported on campaign Shenanigans by an unknown perpetrator who was circulating YouTube videos that were critical of Fletcher. These videos would have a false name in the profile so as to lead you to believe that a particular person or campaign had created the video. Another one has surfaced, this time childishly critical of Robbie Rudolph's hair. Again - it has a false name on the profile to cover up the real identity of whoever is behind it. Someone is also buying up domain names that sound like a campaign website and attaching them to negative articles or other attacks.
For instance, if you follow the link, http://fletcherrudolph.com it will forward you to the front page of Anne Northup's site. If you go to www.northuphoover.com it would take you to an old negative article about Anne Northup on the Courier Journal. (It's been updated to a negative YouTube video about Northup) Billy Harper answered our open question about a campaign issue within 2o minutes by creating a YouTube video on his rolling bus tour.
Fletcher's campaign emailed us his answer within a couple of hours of recieiving the request. (Interestingly Northup's team has yet to respond) New media is changing the way voters get the message of a candidate - or the nefarious message of a detractor. Its a new world we are all living in politically and there are going to be twists and turns both exciting and scary.
What we hope for here at the Conservative Edge is that real leaders will step up and harness this new media for good and use it, not to attack people viciously or assign false blame, but to elevate the debate to the level that all Kentuckians deserve. That is our real mission here and we thank all of those on our aggregator to the right of this post and all of those grass roots people who believe in positive core conservative values for ther tireless efforts to change Kentucky for the better.
For instance, if you follow the link, http://fletcherrudolph.com it will forward you to the front page of Anne Northup's site. If you go to www.northuphoover.com it would take you to an old negative article about Anne Northup on the Courier Journal. (It's been updated to a negative YouTube video about Northup) Billy Harper answered our open question about a campaign issue within 2o minutes by creating a YouTube video on his rolling bus tour.
Fletcher's campaign emailed us his answer within a couple of hours of recieiving the request. (Interestingly Northup's team has yet to respond) New media is changing the way voters get the message of a candidate - or the nefarious message of a detractor. Its a new world we are all living in politically and there are going to be twists and turns both exciting and scary.
What we hope for here at the Conservative Edge is that real leaders will step up and harness this new media for good and use it, not to attack people viciously or assign false blame, but to elevate the debate to the level that all Kentuckians deserve. That is our real mission here and we thank all of those on our aggregator to the right of this post and all of those grass roots people who believe in positive core conservative values for ther tireless efforts to change Kentucky for the better.
Wolf’s Den Roasts RINO Anne
In an article in the Courier-Journal this morning entitled: "Carroll Calls On Pence to Resign", former governor, now state senator, Juliann Carroll(D-Frankfort) called on Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence to resign for comments he has made on the Uncle Gov. Ernie Fletcher administration. Carroll, speaking on the state senate floor, said that Pence had been "disloyal to Gov. Ernie Fletcher and the state" He added: "It is time, it is past time, that he show at least some humility and at least some character … and resign," This hasn't been the best of times for Lt. Pence. First, he decided he had enough of Uncle Gov. Ernie's shenanigans and he wasn't going to run as Uncle Ernie's running mate in 2007.
Then he threw his support last week to RHINO Annie saying, in a nutshell, that Ol' Uncle Gov. Ernie had as much chance of winning re-election as the proverbially snowball has in hell. Let me say first that when a Democratic state senator defends a Republican governor, it do make my ulcer laden stomach queasy. Stomach aside, what is really happening here, in my opinion, is that Lt. Pence is being attacked for having the audacity to say the emperor has no clothes. You remember the old story.
The emperor was looking for some new clothes. Some scoundrals came to him and deluded him into thinking that, for a price, they would make him the finest clothes in the land. He agreed and they took the money and went away happy. A few days later the emperor came looking for his clothes. Having none to give him, and fearing a seperation of their collective heads from their bodies, they came upon a bold strategy.
They simply told the emperor that his new clothes were made of a material that only the wisest and most loyal of his subjects could see. He bought the line and went in front of his court nekked as a jay bird. His court, not wishing to offend him, all admired his new clothes. When he went out into the land of the great unwashed, the people, it was a different story.
They at first said nothing out of fear. Then a little boy looked at the emperor and with a loud voice declared "The emperor has no clothes!!!" His subjects began laughing which caused the emperor embarrassment and caused the two scoundrals to lose their heads. Thus it is with Lt. Pence. While the rest of the Republican party in Kentucky kowtow's and supports Uncle Gov. Ernie, Pence has said with a loud voice "the emperor has no clothes. He can't win."
His exact quote was: " ...he(Gov. Fletcher) betrayed his 2003 campaign promise to "clean up the mess in Frankfort" by the way he responded to the criminal investigation of political patronage in his administration. ...(Gov Fletcher)prevented the details of hiring decisions from becoming known through a blanket pardon he issued to all those involved other than himself, by taking the Fifth Amendment before a grand jury and by reaching an agreement to have his own misdemeanor charges dismissed."
Even though I don't support his decision to throw his support to RHINO Annie, I must admit that Lt. Steve Pence may be the last of a dying breed of politician. He has said he will not resign. He is principled enough to know that when there is something rotten in a government you must loudly and constantly expose it and not let the members of the royal court dissuade you or try to shut you up. Come to think of it, we could use a few more like Lt. Pence in politics today. Just a few more....
Then he threw his support last week to RHINO Annie saying, in a nutshell, that Ol' Uncle Gov. Ernie had as much chance of winning re-election as the proverbially snowball has in hell. Let me say first that when a Democratic state senator defends a Republican governor, it do make my ulcer laden stomach queasy. Stomach aside, what is really happening here, in my opinion, is that Lt. Pence is being attacked for having the audacity to say the emperor has no clothes. You remember the old story.
The emperor was looking for some new clothes. Some scoundrals came to him and deluded him into thinking that, for a price, they would make him the finest clothes in the land. He agreed and they took the money and went away happy. A few days later the emperor came looking for his clothes. Having none to give him, and fearing a seperation of their collective heads from their bodies, they came upon a bold strategy.
They simply told the emperor that his new clothes were made of a material that only the wisest and most loyal of his subjects could see. He bought the line and went in front of his court nekked as a jay bird. His court, not wishing to offend him, all admired his new clothes. When he went out into the land of the great unwashed, the people, it was a different story.
They at first said nothing out of fear. Then a little boy looked at the emperor and with a loud voice declared "The emperor has no clothes!!!" His subjects began laughing which caused the emperor embarrassment and caused the two scoundrals to lose their heads. Thus it is with Lt. Pence. While the rest of the Republican party in Kentucky kowtow's and supports Uncle Gov. Ernie, Pence has said with a loud voice "the emperor has no clothes. He can't win."
His exact quote was: " ...he(Gov. Fletcher) betrayed his 2003 campaign promise to "clean up the mess in Frankfort" by the way he responded to the criminal investigation of political patronage in his administration. ...(Gov Fletcher)prevented the details of hiring decisions from becoming known through a blanket pardon he issued to all those involved other than himself, by taking the Fifth Amendment before a grand jury and by reaching an agreement to have his own misdemeanor charges dismissed."
Even though I don't support his decision to throw his support to RHINO Annie, I must admit that Lt. Steve Pence may be the last of a dying breed of politician. He has said he will not resign. He is principled enough to know that when there is something rotten in a government you must loudly and constantly expose it and not let the members of the royal court dissuade you or try to shut you up. Come to think of it, we could use a few more like Lt. Pence in politics today. Just a few more....
Elendil Berates Traitor Pence
I know this is old news by now, but I had been teaching a class this week and hadn't had any time to post. Not that this <>comes as any suprise. Especially after he chose not to seek re-election with Fletcher last year.
What did suprise me was Pence's decision to go to the media and do the Norhtup's campaigns dirty work. I don't know how else to explain his interview with the Lexington Herald. One in which he tried to paint the Fletcher administration in Nixonian terms.
I'm quite confident that there was a fear about how high it would go up in this administration," Pence said.
He also said that the deal Fletcher later struck with Attorney General Greg Stumbo to end the hiring investigation was made "to keep anything else from coming out."
Where is your proof? How come you didn't go to the AG or the media of there was this great cover up? Heck Pence was on the inside of the administration. He should have plenty of proof of misdoing. But instead he comes out and talks broadly of "coverups" to protect "high ups" in the Governors office. Give me a break.
This is a new low in political betrayal. It is so bad that former Governor and now state senator Jullian Carrol called out Pence on the floor of the senate. I don't agree very much with Carrol, but he does have the unique insight of actually having been a governor. And as such, he understands the need for loayalty among those in your inner circle. I am sure that Pence's disloyalty infuriated him as much as it does me.
And it showed Carrol's speech on the floor.
"He’s become a Brutus to the people of Kentucky," Carroll said ...
"It is time, it is past time, that he show at least some humility, that he show at least some character, and offer his resignation to the governor of Kentucky as lieutenant governor," Carroll said of Pence.
"He has nothing to do. He has got troopers following him around and protecting him. He’s driving around in a vehicle for which you and I are paying the gas bill, and we’re paying for his own staff. I’m not sure he even has a staff these days."
His speech was so effective that members from both sides of the isle in the senate gave him a standing ovation.
"The lieutenant governor is really serving no practical purpose," said Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown.
Sen. Alice Forgy Kerr, R-Lexington, said, "While I was surprised that the comments came from a member of the opposite party who probably shouldn’t be meddling … I tend to agree with him.
"An important characteristic, to me, that a person should have is loyalty. I feel that we have not seen any loyalty in Lt. Gov. Pence’s actions."
Sen. Dan Seum, R-Louisville, said, "I don’t always agree with Julian Carroll but I tend to agree with him on this. It’s supposed to be a team effort. But when the going got tough, Mr. Pence got gone."
I am sure that a majority of Republicans in the state feel the same as these state senators about Pence. I know the Norhtup strategy is to trash Fletcher. But I think they made a mistake by sending Pence out to help with the assault.
Personally, I feel it will have the opposite effect. People at the end of the day understand loyalty. And at some point the rhetoric from the Northup campaign will strike as disloyalty. Which is why when push comes to shove, I think Northup's campaign will fade and Fletcher will easily win the primary.
What did suprise me was Pence's decision to go to the media and do the Norhtup's campaigns dirty work. I don't know how else to explain his interview with the Lexington Herald. One in which he tried to paint the Fletcher administration in Nixonian terms.
I'm quite confident that there was a fear about how high it would go up in this administration," Pence said.
He also said that the deal Fletcher later struck with Attorney General Greg Stumbo to end the hiring investigation was made "to keep anything else from coming out."
Where is your proof? How come you didn't go to the AG or the media of there was this great cover up? Heck Pence was on the inside of the administration. He should have plenty of proof of misdoing. But instead he comes out and talks broadly of "coverups" to protect "high ups" in the Governors office. Give me a break.
This is a new low in political betrayal. It is so bad that former Governor and now state senator Jullian Carrol called out Pence on the floor of the senate. I don't agree very much with Carrol, but he does have the unique insight of actually having been a governor. And as such, he understands the need for loayalty among those in your inner circle. I am sure that Pence's disloyalty infuriated him as much as it does me.
And it showed Carrol's speech on the floor.
"He’s become a Brutus to the people of Kentucky," Carroll said ...
"It is time, it is past time, that he show at least some humility, that he show at least some character, and offer his resignation to the governor of Kentucky as lieutenant governor," Carroll said of Pence.
"He has nothing to do. He has got troopers following him around and protecting him. He’s driving around in a vehicle for which you and I are paying the gas bill, and we’re paying for his own staff. I’m not sure he even has a staff these days."
His speech was so effective that members from both sides of the isle in the senate gave him a standing ovation.
"The lieutenant governor is really serving no practical purpose," said Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown.
Sen. Alice Forgy Kerr, R-Lexington, said, "While I was surprised that the comments came from a member of the opposite party who probably shouldn’t be meddling … I tend to agree with him.
"An important characteristic, to me, that a person should have is loyalty. I feel that we have not seen any loyalty in Lt. Gov. Pence’s actions."
Sen. Dan Seum, R-Louisville, said, "I don’t always agree with Julian Carroll but I tend to agree with him on this. It’s supposed to be a team effort. But when the going got tough, Mr. Pence got gone."
I am sure that a majority of Republicans in the state feel the same as these state senators about Pence. I know the Norhtup strategy is to trash Fletcher. But I think they made a mistake by sending Pence out to help with the assault.
Personally, I feel it will have the opposite effect. People at the end of the day understand loyalty. And at some point the rhetoric from the Northup campaign will strike as disloyalty. Which is why when push comes to shove, I think Northup's campaign will fade and Fletcher will easily win the primary.
Do You Hear?
Steve Pence Audio
www.whas11.com/news/politics/index.html
State Senator Julian Carroll Audio
Carroll says explain disloyalty or resign
Carroll says he could have done his thing quietly
Carroll Says he didn't have a Lt. Governor and Kentucky doesn't need one
The falicy in his argument
Fletcher had the right to choose who his Lt. Governor was
www.whas11.com/news/politics/index.html
State Senator Julian Carroll Audio
Carroll says explain disloyalty or resign
Carroll says he could have done his thing quietly
Carroll Says he didn't have a Lt. Governor and Kentucky doesn't need one
The falicy in his argument
Fletcher had the right to choose who his Lt. Governor was
Biting Legislation
Rep. Yonts tries to restore his mine safety bill
In an attempt to reclaim a mine safety bill he says was hijacked during the committee process, Rep. Brent Yonts, D-Greenville, filed an amendment Friday. The measure restores many of the provisions that were stripped out of the bill in committee.
This was Governor Fletcher’s responsibility. His inaction shrieks callousness and incompetence.
Senate seeks changes in retirement systems
Senate Republican and Democratic leaders are calling on the Democratic-controlled House to join them in overhauling the state’s retirement systems in hopes of saving the state more than $200 million over the next year. In the final days of this year’s legislative session, the Senate "will move in a bipartisan way to find a solution to the problem" of the more than $12 billion unfunded liability in the state employees’ retirement system and the $7 billion debt in the county employees retirement system, Senate President David Williams said today in a floor speech. "Until that resolution is made, I see very little else happening in this session of the General Assembly as far as expending dollars," said Williams, R-Burkesville.
Another Fletcher failure. Retirement reorganization is critical. Why is the Governor apathetic?
House passes bill to ease burden on jails
The Kentucky House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill that would help reduce the financial burden of jails on counties. But the bill wasn't exactly what many judge-executives and jailers were hoping for - one that would pay counties for housing prisoners for the time they serve prior to being convicted.
Counties did not receive their desired response? Partial assistance is sufficient.
House approves measure to raise interstate speed limit
The speed limit on some sections of Kentucky’s interstates and parkways could be raised to 70 mph under a measure approved Friday by a divided House of Representatives. The Senate already has passed the bill, but now must approve changes made in the House..
Kentucky cannot drive, 65!
School districts would create bullying policy under bill
School districts would have to create a policy to deal with bullies, under a measure adopted by the House of Representatives on Friday. The bill has been controversial in the past, but it has become much more palatable, said its sponsor, Rep. Mike Cherry, D-Princeton. The measure passed the House, 91-4. It was amended to note that the Golden Rule, treating others as you treat yourself, should be the model for improving attitude and conduct in all Kentucky schools.
The Golden Rule as a behavioral standard? Is this 1607?
In an attempt to reclaim a mine safety bill he says was hijacked during the committee process, Rep. Brent Yonts, D-Greenville, filed an amendment Friday. The measure restores many of the provisions that were stripped out of the bill in committee.
This was Governor Fletcher’s responsibility. His inaction shrieks callousness and incompetence.
Senate seeks changes in retirement systems
Senate Republican and Democratic leaders are calling on the Democratic-controlled House to join them in overhauling the state’s retirement systems in hopes of saving the state more than $200 million over the next year. In the final days of this year’s legislative session, the Senate "will move in a bipartisan way to find a solution to the problem" of the more than $12 billion unfunded liability in the state employees’ retirement system and the $7 billion debt in the county employees retirement system, Senate President David Williams said today in a floor speech. "Until that resolution is made, I see very little else happening in this session of the General Assembly as far as expending dollars," said Williams, R-Burkesville.
Another Fletcher failure. Retirement reorganization is critical. Why is the Governor apathetic?
House passes bill to ease burden on jails
The Kentucky House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill that would help reduce the financial burden of jails on counties. But the bill wasn't exactly what many judge-executives and jailers were hoping for - one that would pay counties for housing prisoners for the time they serve prior to being convicted.
Counties did not receive their desired response? Partial assistance is sufficient.
House approves measure to raise interstate speed limit
The speed limit on some sections of Kentucky’s interstates and parkways could be raised to 70 mph under a measure approved Friday by a divided House of Representatives. The Senate already has passed the bill, but now must approve changes made in the House..
Kentucky cannot drive, 65!
School districts would create bullying policy under bill
School districts would have to create a policy to deal with bullies, under a measure adopted by the House of Representatives on Friday. The bill has been controversial in the past, but it has become much more palatable, said its sponsor, Rep. Mike Cherry, D-Princeton. The measure passed the House, 91-4. It was amended to note that the Golden Rule, treating others as you treat yourself, should be the model for improving attitude and conduct in all Kentucky schools.
The Golden Rule as a behavioral standard? Is this 1607?
Friday, March 2, 2007
Pence Will Not Resign
Pence will not resign. He has neither humility nor character. He also has no staff, no political responsibilities, and no reason to remain Leutenant Governor. State Senator Carroll reinforced my feelings. However, Pence will not resign. He is determined to serve, persisting as a fake in the Governor’s house.
Pence is squandering taxpayer funds. One would assume the aforesaid runs opposite conservative principals. Clearly, Pence has no principals. He is simply seeking retribution…. Not as Fletcher’s LG, as Northup’s second running mate.
From Louisville Courier-Journal:
Sen. Julian Carroll, a former governor, called today on Republican Lt. Gov. Steve Pence to resign, saying he has shown disloyalty to Gov. Ernie Fletcher and the state. "It is time, it is past time, that he show at least some humility and at least some character … and resign," Carroll, D-Frankfort, said in a five-minute speech on the Senate floor.
Carroll said Pence, with no staff left, has nothing to do and is wasting taxpayer money. The speech drew applause from Republicans and Democrats alike. Pence and Fletcher have parted ways politically over the governor’s handling of the investigation into his administration’s hiring practices.
Pence said later, "The former governor could not name a specific area where I have failed in my official duties. He believes that my official duties include campaigning for and supporting a governor who has engaged in the conduct Ernie Fletcher has engaged in," Pence said, referring to Fletcher’s blanket pardon and other actions responding to a special grand jury investigation of administration hiring practices.
Fletcher said later that he asked Pence to resign last year when Pence announced he would not continue as his running mate in the 2007 elections and resigned as the administration’s Justice Cabinet secretary.
"I’ve made my request and he denied that and I understood that and I accepted that. But now he has a decision to make given other requests," Fletcher said. Earlier this week Pence endorsed former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup of Louisville in the May 22 Republican primary for governor.
Pence is squandering taxpayer funds. One would assume the aforesaid runs opposite conservative principals. Clearly, Pence has no principals. He is simply seeking retribution…. Not as Fletcher’s LG, as Northup’s second running mate.
From Louisville Courier-Journal:
Sen. Julian Carroll, a former governor, called today on Republican Lt. Gov. Steve Pence to resign, saying he has shown disloyalty to Gov. Ernie Fletcher and the state. "It is time, it is past time, that he show at least some humility and at least some character … and resign," Carroll, D-Frankfort, said in a five-minute speech on the Senate floor.
Carroll said Pence, with no staff left, has nothing to do and is wasting taxpayer money. The speech drew applause from Republicans and Democrats alike. Pence and Fletcher have parted ways politically over the governor’s handling of the investigation into his administration’s hiring practices.
Pence said later, "The former governor could not name a specific area where I have failed in my official duties. He believes that my official duties include campaigning for and supporting a governor who has engaged in the conduct Ernie Fletcher has engaged in," Pence said, referring to Fletcher’s blanket pardon and other actions responding to a special grand jury investigation of administration hiring practices.
Fletcher said later that he asked Pence to resign last year when Pence announced he would not continue as his running mate in the 2007 elections and resigned as the administration’s Justice Cabinet secretary.
"I’ve made my request and he denied that and I understood that and I accepted that. But now he has a decision to make given other requests," Fletcher said. Earlier this week Pence endorsed former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup of Louisville in the May 22 Republican primary for governor.
NTU Criticizes Northup
The National Taxpayers Union has issued its 2006 Congressional Scorecard.
Here's how Kentucky's delegation did:
Chandler, F, 16%
Davis, B-, 59%
Lewis, B, 62%
Northup, C+, 54%
Rogers, C+, 54%
Whitfield, C, 50%
Here's how Kentucky's delegation did:
Chandler, F, 16%
Davis, B-, 59%
Lewis, B, 62%
Northup, C+, 54%
Rogers, C+, 54%
Whitfield, C, 50%
Ford Floundering… Fletcher’s Response?
Can you hear the celebration? Governor Fletcher is cheering Ford’s demise. His delight is two-pronged.
Despite Ford’s destitution, they remain subject toFletcher’s Alternative Minimum Tax. Simultaineously, Fletcher will campaign on Ford. His extensive Fordfare generates a caring facade. However, Fordfare is inadequate. The AMT will ravage any assistance.
Fordfare is not serious aid. If Fletcher were serious, he would repeal the AMT. He would also utilize Republican principals and restore Ford. However, the aforementioned will not occur. Amidst Ford’s failure, Fletcher is rejoicing.
Explorer February sales down 26% from last year
Ford Motor Co.’s Explorer sport utility vehicles and F-Series pickups saw some improvement in February after plunging in January. Ford sold nearly 13,000 Explorers in February, a 26 percent decline from a year ago, but up from about 10,000 in January.
Ford makes the vehicle at the Louisville Assembly Plant on Fern Valley Road. F-Series pickup sales, including the Super Duty models built at the Kentucky Truck Plant on Chamberlain Lane fell 12 percent in February to 55,251, an improvement from the 14 percent January decline. The truck plant began producing 2008 models in December, and while supplies are still low, Ford said early results are very promising. The average 2008 truck sat on dealer lots for only six days before being sold.
Overall, Ford sales were down 13.5 percent as the automaker continued to slash unprofitable sales to rental car companies. The decline had been expected because Ford ceased production last year of the Taurus sedan and has cut back on other rental models. The automaker’s cars performed well in February with 46 percent increase in sales of the Fusion mid-sized sedan and an 8 percent increase in Focus small cars.
Ford says engine dispute will hurt March sales
Even if Ford Motor Co. loses only a day or two of production of 2008 F-Series Super Duty trucks, March sales will be hurt, the automaker said. Orders from dealerships for the Louisville-built truck have been stronger than expected and the vehicles that were on lots last month didn’t stay longer than six days on average. At the end of the month Ford had only 12,000 of the trucks available for sale.
"The units that we have out there are turning quickly," Ford sales analyst George Pipas said today. He added that there aren’t enough trucks in inventory to keep up with sales and that the few days of lost production will hurt. Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant on Chamberlain Lane worked partial shifts today and is scheduled to be down tomorrow.
The company hopes to get full production up next week now that Navistar International has been ordered to resume shipping diesel engines to the plant. Navistar on Monday announced it had stopped shipping engines to the plant because of a dispute over payments from Ford.
Pipas said the work stoppage did not affect February sales, but he expects to see an impact this month. In February, Ford sold 55,251 F-Series trucks. Pipas did not release Super Duty figures, but they typically make up about 40 percent of the truck line’s sales. F-Series sales fell 12 percent in February, an improvement from the 14 percent decline in January.
Ford sued Navistar in January, saying the engine maker failed to pay for its share of recalls on the 6-liter diesel engine sold in 2002-2007 model year Ford trucks. In its suit, Ford said it was withholding funds for the new 6.4-liter engine to recoup those expenses. Late yesterday, a judge in Michigan issued a restraining order, forcing Navistar to restart engine production and Ford to restart full payments.
Despite Ford’s destitution, they remain subject toFletcher’s Alternative Minimum Tax. Simultaineously, Fletcher will campaign on Ford. His extensive Fordfare generates a caring facade. However, Fordfare is inadequate. The AMT will ravage any assistance.
Fordfare is not serious aid. If Fletcher were serious, he would repeal the AMT. He would also utilize Republican principals and restore Ford. However, the aforementioned will not occur. Amidst Ford’s failure, Fletcher is rejoicing.
Explorer February sales down 26% from last year
Ford Motor Co.’s Explorer sport utility vehicles and F-Series pickups saw some improvement in February after plunging in January. Ford sold nearly 13,000 Explorers in February, a 26 percent decline from a year ago, but up from about 10,000 in January.
Ford makes the vehicle at the Louisville Assembly Plant on Fern Valley Road. F-Series pickup sales, including the Super Duty models built at the Kentucky Truck Plant on Chamberlain Lane fell 12 percent in February to 55,251, an improvement from the 14 percent January decline. The truck plant began producing 2008 models in December, and while supplies are still low, Ford said early results are very promising. The average 2008 truck sat on dealer lots for only six days before being sold.
Overall, Ford sales were down 13.5 percent as the automaker continued to slash unprofitable sales to rental car companies. The decline had been expected because Ford ceased production last year of the Taurus sedan and has cut back on other rental models. The automaker’s cars performed well in February with 46 percent increase in sales of the Fusion mid-sized sedan and an 8 percent increase in Focus small cars.
Ford says engine dispute will hurt March sales
Even if Ford Motor Co. loses only a day or two of production of 2008 F-Series Super Duty trucks, March sales will be hurt, the automaker said. Orders from dealerships for the Louisville-built truck have been stronger than expected and the vehicles that were on lots last month didn’t stay longer than six days on average. At the end of the month Ford had only 12,000 of the trucks available for sale.
"The units that we have out there are turning quickly," Ford sales analyst George Pipas said today. He added that there aren’t enough trucks in inventory to keep up with sales and that the few days of lost production will hurt. Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant on Chamberlain Lane worked partial shifts today and is scheduled to be down tomorrow.
The company hopes to get full production up next week now that Navistar International has been ordered to resume shipping diesel engines to the plant. Navistar on Monday announced it had stopped shipping engines to the plant because of a dispute over payments from Ford.
Pipas said the work stoppage did not affect February sales, but he expects to see an impact this month. In February, Ford sold 55,251 F-Series trucks. Pipas did not release Super Duty figures, but they typically make up about 40 percent of the truck line’s sales. F-Series sales fell 12 percent in February, an improvement from the 14 percent decline in January.
Ford sued Navistar in January, saying the engine maker failed to pay for its share of recalls on the 6-liter diesel engine sold in 2002-2007 model year Ford trucks. In its suit, Ford said it was withholding funds for the new 6.4-liter engine to recoup those expenses. Late yesterday, a judge in Michigan issued a restraining order, forcing Navistar to restart engine production and Ford to restart full payments.
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