Ford says St. Paul plant to stay open through 2011

Thank you Senator Coleman for your efforts to help keep the Ford plant open. This is another example of you effective leadership in helping the people of St Paul and Minnesota. Hats off to you!

Why will take so long. Will anyone want a gas powered car in 2012 I don't want one now. Ford should get ahead of the curve and go to a plug in car that will travel 200 miles at 70 mph.

I wonder if Mayor Coleman is throwing a temper tantrum in his office right now?

Keillors Smarter Brother wrote:

Thank you Senator Coleman for your efforts to help keep the Ford plant open. This is another example of you effective leadership in helping the people of St Paul and Minnesota. Hats off to you!

You forgot to say, "AND he brought back hockey!" I love that ad!

Gee, I knew that Norm put his money up for the hockey teem. I didn't realize that he kept the Ford plant going also.

After seeing Ford's plans I'm glad they don't get any of my tax dollars.

I hope Norm can could stop all this corporate socialism.

If a banker wont put up the money maybe it’s not a good investment.

Carl & Ziggy knew building a stadium with their money was a bad investment.

Norm Coleman's trip to meet with Ford executives on behalf of St Paul was apparently not in vain!

Why does this site think I am in Jeffersonville, OH? Actually, it should be in northern Minnesota! Technology has a fault.

This is good news for St Paul Ford employees. Their patience has paid off. Hopefully it will keep going past 2011.

Senator Coleman had nothing to do with this. The Ranger is posting a growth in sales numbers for Ford. The St. Paul plant is the only plant tooled to produce this model. That's the only reason the plant is staying open.

The urban planners must be beside themselves, they had so looked forward to the plant shutting down so that they could build subsidized housing and choo-choo stations there. Thwarted by an evil corporation again!

mntr3a wrote:

Why will take so long. Will anyone want a gas powered car in 2012 I don't want one now. Ford should get ahead of the curve and go to a plug in car that will travel 200 miles at 70 mph.

Yea, 200 miles in three hours and then you can sit around for six hours waiting for the batteries to charge before you go the next 200 miles.

Thanks Senator Coleman for being G.W. Bush's rubber stamp for seven years. The war in Iraq, death of the fourth amendment, economy in the toilet, four dollar a gallon gas, global warming, and now three more years of the Ford plant... what a guy.

GJB wrote:

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Yea, 200 miles in three hours and then you can sit around for six hours waiting for the batteries to charge before you go the next 200 miles.

Correct, I wouldn't be able to get to Bemidji or Fargo very easily. Heck, you'd barely make it past Brainerd.

Yes, it is ultimately a profit decision, Ford employee, related to the efficiency of the plant and the product that is still selling.

But, you cannot ignore Norm Coleman's contribution either. He alone made the trip to Ford when our other politicians had seemed to throw up their hands.

(still not Jeffersonville, OH)

Lake26er wrote:

Thanks Senator Coleman for being G.W. Bush's rubber stamp for seven years. The war in Iraq, death of the fourth amendment, economy in the toilet, four dollar a gallon gas, global warming, and now three more years of the Ford plant... what a guy.

Actually, Coleman has broken fron party lines on a few issues - this is really what we need in politics: the fortitude to break from the party line and do what's right. I applaud any politician who consistently votes against what the majority of their party does.

The plant was scheduled to close because Ranger sales numbers were on a free fall prior to the rise in gas prices. Plus St. Paul's plant location did not fall within expense goals related to marketplace. A politician's trip to the corporate office did nothing to influence the decision. You can say that it made an impression on MN citizens that "Norm cares".

The Ford plant is one of the last remaining landmarks from Highland Park...and my childhood. I remember playing foortball on the grass there as you round the curve on the River Blvd. drive. It is so important to St Paul's econmoy to keep the plant open and keep people employed. I, for one, am very pleased to have the plant open and operational.....and once again, thanks to Norm, he is THE man!!!!!

Football at the Ford Plant....ah, the memories of my youth...and all my friends who played there...and the workers who would watch us play while on their breaks....back then, well, it didn't get any better!!!! I even bought a Ranger from there years ago to show my support...

Lake26er wrote:

Thanks Senator Coleman for being G.W. Bush's rubber stamp for seven years. The war in Iraq, death of the fourth amendment, economy in the toilet, four dollar a gallon gas, global warming, and now three more years of the Ford plant... what a guy.

You watch too many Al Franken ads...wake up and do some research and think for yourself...would you be saying the same thing if your spouse was working there? I doubt it.....

Norm also takes out the garbage for Laurie..not sure how he does that since she lives in california..another hypocritical republican

Thanks to Ford for keeping this plant open for a few more years. While this is good news for the employees and their families, it is great news for the City of Saint Paul. This extension will give us time to replace our current "do nothing" Mayor with one who has a vision for the City other than dog parks.

We will all be better off without Chris Coleman!