Carlisle Jeep-Chevrolet-Cadillac is being taken from this guy and it's not clear WHY.

http://tinyurl.com/kvbbmj
The owner of a soon-to-be closed car dealership got choked up today while speaking out against General Motors' and Chrysler's plans to close hundreds of dealerships across the country. Frank Blankenbeckler testified before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee that within 24 hours he received letters from both Chrysler and General Motors letting him know that his Jeep-Chevrolet-Cadillac dealership in Waxahachie, Texas was on the chopping block. "My grandfather paid for Carlisle Chevrolet from his labors. My father paid my grandmother for Carlisle Chevrolet through his efforts. It took me nearly 20 years to pay my parents for Carlisle Chevrolet," Blankenbeckler said. "It took GM and Chrysler a mere 24 hours to take Carlisle Chevrolet from me." Blankenbeckler said that he believed Chrysler and GM were using bankruptcy to bypass state laws and violate his constitutional rights. But when he talked about his father, he came close to tears. "I am hurt. I feel violated. And I am extremely upset," he said. "I wear my father's bronze star lapel pin on my coat. He was truly a member of the greatest generation. I am glad that he is not alive to witness this terrible injustice. To have risked his life for a country to do what they are doing would have destroyed him." **** More to the point, he cited paying >$1M in taxes, community philanthropy, good customer scores and 90 employees. Googling the matter, it's not clear why the other dealers in Waxahachie, TX ( none of whom prior to this handled Jeep or Chevrolet or Cadillac ) were being given the Carlisle business. Could it be political contributions or connections? Googling Waxahachie, one finds:
Thornhill Ford Mercury, Heartland Chrysler, John Thornhill Buick Pontiac GMC,Smith Chrysler Dodge, Carlisle Chevrolet Cadillac. If there's Chrysler duplication ( Smith and Heartland ), it isn't even Carlisle. STRANGE!**** Yoda's advice to Mr. Blankenbecler: contact Toyota/Lexus, Honda/Acura, Nissan/Infiniti, Hundai, etc and contribute to taking jobs away from "American" automobile manufacturers. Also, Hummer and Saab seem to be passing to other owners. ADDENDUM: Yoda called Mr. Blankenbeckler to communicate his advice directly. Both Messrs Frank Blankenbeckler were still in Washington but interesting information was gleaned from their manager. To wit, when Yoda asked about political affiliations and contributions, the manager said he didn't know BUT that a picture of President Bush was on Mr. B's wall. FURTHER, the business that Carlisle is losing is going "across the street" to a new organization called "Autoplex" that was organized and substantially owned by Mike McClarty, President Clinton's ex-Press Secretary; clearly someone well-connected with Democrats and more likely to make campaign contributions to them. Coincidental? Perhaps.