Iraq is so sad, how many years before they stop dying? I can't see this ever ending, the Iraqi people might become extinct first.

Pelosi wants this automotive bailout bill passed as soon as possible so that if anything goes wrong in the future, it will be Bush's fault. Not Obamas. We can see right through you Pelosi!!!!

Your insight is staggering... without the bailout, there won't be any auto industry to go wrong in the future, so that's one thing Obama won't have to worry about.

Actually steph, the Big 3 have admitted that they have the cash flow to make it through to the election. If they aren't given a bailout, there is a good chane they'll be Obama's mess.

BTW - Love your new avi Hainan!

If America cared about the auto industry, they would buy American automobiles. Since they don't, you can be sure that your constituents don't care if it is bailed out or not.

But, we know our law makers can't pass up any chance to expand the role of government and get into bed with industry.

Then I guess we can expect you all to blame Obama for their problems starting on January 20.

"passed as soon as possible " That's what I said steph. Not that she wants it, just wants it passed SOONER. The auto industry isn't going to die if they wait a month to pass it when Obama is in office. They want to do it now so Obama can wash his hands of it. Because she is mad that she made so many concessions and Senate Repubs are still not buying into this partial socialization of America.

I will blame Obama the same way dems blame Bush for EVERYTHING that has happened following his inaugurations. Even if it is proven to be an after effect of something Clinton did. The status quo is that whoever is in office at that time is responsible. So I will continue to go with that.

And thanks Kranky--- The last one was just one of my hubbys pics that was on the desktop. I wanted to get an avi asap and so I just picked it so I would have one to buy me time to find one i really liked.

It's not about the car industry, but if the industry is to go down and completely crash, the amount of American workers that will be out of the job is staggering and further the recession. As much as I am opposed to bailing out anyone the ramification of what would happen, is a mess that no one wants on their hands.

If GM, Ford, and Chrysller goes under, you are going all of the workers to be out of a job, manufactures, mechanics that deal with those types of cars specifically, tire shops, and the list goes on and on. When these goes down, unemployment goes up even further, that's going even more of our tax payer dollars will be going into paying for welfare and unemployment benefits.

While I didn't agree with the financial bailout, the auto industry is a unfortunately a necessary evil.

I don't agree with either bailout, and I find it hard to believe that the amount of layoffs that would supposedly result from not bailing out the auto industry is accurate. It would just force UAW workers to give up some of their insanely good benefits and wages in order to keep a job.

I disagree with all the bailouts, specifically because they haven't helped the people. If the big 3 go under, the companies willl be purchased, and then run in a fashion (sans union) that makes them profittable. If they are run well, they will also be focused on R&D, instead of the bottom line.

UnDave, if they go under they will be bought by foreign companies and the American government will lose out on taxes and will be forced to imposed trade and tariffs on the companies and treat it as a MNE that's operating in the US, just like they did when Anhuesr-Busch was sold to a German company. It's no longer an American brand and company. Shareholders could lose their dividends, which isn't something that they want either. They could always file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but the process is long and the board would rather sell to a foreign entity and get their severance pays and benefits.

Does anyone here think that an autoindustry bailout would work? If so, please speak up and give me something to believe in.

I have two problems with the bailout.

First - it is my belief that government intervention in the marketplace only wrecks havoc. See bailout #1.

Second - I do not believe that the Big 3's problems are soley issues with cash flow. There was a great article posted in a comment yesterday that was written in 2003 about all of the problems with the current management style, labor relations, industrial set-up, etc. I do not believe that throwing money at these companies will do anything other than delay an inevitable outcome.

When I read about everyone worrying about millions of people out of work if we don't bail out the big 3 I think they are assuming the the companies would file a chapter 9 bankruptcy.

Some parts of the auto industry have already failed and gone through bankruptcy. Delphi, a spin-off of GM, declared bankruptcy 3 or 4 years ago. They filed chapter 11 on one day and everyone reported to work as scheduled on the next day. They offered early retirements to as many workers as possible and restructured the business. They consolidated product lines and closed some plants. And yes, some people that didn't qualify for early retirement lost their jobs. But it was over the course of one to two years, not all at once. And during that time frame, other people saw the writing on the way and found other jobs, further reducing the number of people that ultimately got laid off.

"way" should be "wall".

"I will blame Obama the same way dems blame Bush for EVERYTHING that has happened following his inaugurations. Even if it is proven to be an after effect of something Clinton did."

hmm... so you dont agree that some people do that but your going to do the same thing anyways? Kinda childish dont ya think?

ZEZE your comment is scary but so true. It really sad...

If you think going with the status quo is childish, fine.

Now, my thoughts on him aside, I think people should refrain from asking blagojevich(sp?)to step down until the investigation is over with.

My biggest concern with the bailout is its a handout designed to buy time, and won't necessarily save any company. (I am cynical about how fast these jetsetting "CEO's" will actually restructure and revamp when they've ignored the need to do so for ..uh..generations.

Ergo, the company might fold anyway, the Americans working for said company will lose their jobs anyway, the government will have spent the money to "buy time" and probably for nowt.

Organic, I fail to see how you can have your cake and eat it too. You either believe in the free market, or you don't. I won't make exceptions for an inferior product in the name of nationalism. That's just..wierd.

What?

I love how the government bails out an industry without an actual product, but refuses to bailout an industry that America was built on. Henry Ford would be rolling in his grave.(this coming from someone who disagrees on BOTH bailouts and also drives a Honda)

Honestly, I dont see an easy way out of this, the bailout will just stall the inevitable.

They will eventually collapse and get bought up and it will have negative effects on our economy as a result - but the bailout won't work. The only reasons i have for sort of, kind of supporting it is that it is an indirect way of helping people who would be laid off otherwise.

I wish they would just send the money out straight to them to keep them afloat until foreign companies come in and rehire them but that would be too simple.

Shadow, well put. The bailout is the same 'alarm' as the housing industry and who really won in the end, while vacationing at expensive hotels and jetting cross country? Ultimately it's us that will suffer while other idiots continue to buy trucks and Stupid Useless Vehicles and those damn Hummers.

Buying American cars because you want to support American auto-makers is the free market. That's why they call it voting with your dollars. So if you don't buy American cars (as so many Americans obviously don't), then you probably shouldn't support the bailout. Now that's what I call trying to have your cake and eat it too.

I agree, Mich, which is why I don't buy the cars, and I am generally unable to support the bailout.

Organic, my point was directed not directly against you but I could have been more pointed in how I worded it, simply that I would never support an inferior product simply BECAUSE it was American. Its not my role in this world to support massive corporations, and it certainly isn't my role to support those who have steadfastly treated their consumers with disregard and contempt.

(So I should have referenced, for instance, that dealership guy that was posted about recently..he definitely DID care that people "buy American".)

I worry about the AFTERMATH either way, and I worry about the people that will lose their jobs either way. If a bailout doesn't happen, I worry what will happen. BUT....

Ultimately, I've come to decide that throwing money at bad companies when good ones are struggling as it is, is beginning to give me that little throw up feeling in my mouth. Everything seems so horribly backwards when we throw money at companies who have acted with such blatant ignorance and

*blatant ARROGANCE and contempt for their own consumer.