CNN

Have you all not noticed that Obama is not President yet. As I have said many times , Bush is still the decider. why criticize Obama before he is even sworn in.
I guess though you all who are criticizing would just as soon see hundreds of people out of work so that you can blame Obama for the high unemployment rates once he is sworn into office. Does Bush have any other ideas? They are still bailing out AIG even as we hear about them still living it up. All this does is continue to show poor leadership from the Bush administration.

BUSH ANGER: OBAMA AIDES LEAK CHAT DETAILS

BUSH ANGER: OBAMA AIDES LEAK CHAT DETAILS
BUSH ANGER: OBAMA AIDES LEAK CHAT DETAILS

Yeah right. Like Bush is going to do what Obama says. These past 8 years have shown the country what a rigid, arrogant, judgment laddened person he is who operates not out of the good of the country but out of his own personal agenda and that's the way he will leave office. He should actually crawl out of the White House. Power corrupts. Just remember that when Obama takes over.

to Ted in the Netherlands.......we don't need your kind of respect – you people need to be ashamed and put Joran vandersloot or whatever his name is .... in jail. Don't come preaching about our folks mister. Clean up your own country

Last 40 years the Big Three US Automakers is the largest automakers in world. The Big Three US Automakers let the chance got always from them. Because The greed from CEO all The Big US Automakers. All the profit they make and they take the money share with each other instead invested into the company. Now they want us to bail them out.

wasn't this a "private" meeting? someone has diarrhea mouth and I bet his initials are B.O. stinks doesn't it?

Please voice your opinions directly to the President Elect...www.change.gov. If you don't tell him how you feel, it won't get changed! Please, everybody, either lead, follow OR GET OUT OF THE WAY! Enough complaining. It is time to do something about how you feel.

Too many American jobs depend on the auto industry either directly or indirectly for us NOT to seek a bailout.
And the last I heard auto executives are not partying on taxpayer dollars the way AIG officials are.
Maybe we should strip away all of AIG's bailout and direct that to the Big Three instead.

We should bail the AUTO and have them USE the money to create better cars and employ millions of Americans. There's many businesses that will be directly affected, when they go down.

What a great day yesterday!! Seeing Barack and RuPaul in the white house!!

GM sunk their own ship when they failed to anticipate the consumer demand for fuel efficient vehicles. If anything, i would like to see their 2010 Volt series at least be launched and put on the market and see how well it does.

I blame the failure of leadership at GM along with their millions in wasteful spending on concept cars that never reach market.

No more bailouts. How about some of these CEO's giving back the outrageous bonus money they were paid. You could support several factory workers from just one bonus. No more money for the fat cats while the general population looses their homes and savings.
NO last minute deals for Bush. Let him swallow the poison pills and not the American people!

yes we have to help them or it will effect so many hundreds of thousands other americans..but the money should be given with a caveat for them to produce only 'green' cars at subsidized prices to the american public

I'm sorry for everyone who voted for Obama. You got straight duped. He campaigned for change and everyone bought into it. The auto makers are failing because they don't make cars that Americans want. Their financial troubles are the result of capital market. Obama is rewarding a company that can't keep up. I'm in debt too and am not asking for anyone to help. If Obama really wants to bail people out then how about the people who over extended and can't pay their credit cards. Reward their bad behavior.

Every stream have head water so are our ecomonic and the Auto. industral were the engine that power the high standar of life for all American. The Bailout money is only a grant in what it will bring to our economic.

Do a MANAGED BAILOUT on the Auto Industry. Give the Big 3 Auto Makers 30 days to put forth a plan to completely retool their plants to produce Hybrids and other fuel efficient vehicles. Then give them a bail out with the CEO's taking a weekly or monthly pay check and a performance bonus not to exceed 4 times his annual salary payable only if the mfg. turns a net profit. Give this same bonus to other high level Execs. NO NET PROFIT.....NO BONUS.

The day of BIG is gone. We must compete with auto mfgs. from over seas now so to do that we must make a better product for the same or less than they do. That is the only way the existing auto companies are going to survive.

So much for a "private" conversation . . .

its not the lack of car sales at GM that has caused this problem they have a huge retirement fund to maintain which has exploded over the last 25 years due to early retirements etc etc this is why they are in trouble now!!!!!

The Country cannot afford to lose anymore jobs. The U.S. auto industry must be saved. Some downsizing must be considered; but the American companies must be salvaged or merged together under one entity with subsidiaries to distinquish the vehicle brands.

Obama did not accept PAC money from the Auto Industry. The Union members were free to donate to the campaign as Americans. Cry some more Repukes. We won, you lost too bad!

Jim,

I know a lot of Harvard magna cum laude graduates (in fact, 90% of folks graduating from Harvard do so "with honors" so it doesn't mean that much).

I have worked alongside HLS grads and I don't find them to be any smarter. I do find them to be more liberal, and HLS is notorious in the Boston area for being "Kremlin on the Charles," a place where conservatives are shunned for their views and professors will mark them down for being so.

In one "Joe the Plumber" moment, while on a due diligence for a merger transaction, an HLS grad turned to me and asked "what does HVAC" mean? Even this non-HLS lawyer knew what HVAC meant and so I told him it meant "heating, ventilation and air conditioning."

Although I support Obama, I am very much against a preemptive bailout of the auto industry. If all US auto makers go under, then we can see about salvaging them and restucturing them into one or two smaller companies. After all, we need that industry were we ever have to engage in a wide scale war.

I think that the only reason Obama wants Bush to do this is that he knows that if it doesn't happen then GM will fail after he takes office. He also knows that the Republicans then try to use that failure against him. If Obama can get Bush to support the auto bailout then it keeps Obama from taking the blame for the failure and saddles Bush with the blame for the bailout. Poliitics.

If the automakers go under, blame union stranglehold and not party policies for the demise.

I just bought a new Chevy truck. I love it, it's perfect. Probably the best deal I'll ever get on anything, especially the quality. It's time to start purchasing again, don't wait too long for someone to tell you it's time and miss the best deals. You don't all have to be sheep.

I want to make a quick correction. The front page link to this article said, "Details of Bush-Obama meeting revealed". This should say, "Details of Bush-Obama meeting LEAKED!" That is the correct and ONLY way to put it.

I think that we are doomed, trillion in debt, 750 billion in loans to wall street, A president out of touch with the country,,,,,Bush is the worst president in history and the people who voted for him, twice mind you, should shutup, You guys made us this bed and I sick of sleeping in it.Now Obama has all this pressure on him to fix it, I feel sorry for him.How will we ever overcome this.Signed, 25 yr old college graduate with 45,000 dollars in debt, no insurance, and not a job in sight.And you mean to tell me Al gore won the popular vote?

This is the thanks that Bush gets. He is trying to make the transition as smooth as possible for the Obama team and they leak details of the "private conversation" for obvious political reasons. The Dems want Bush to sign it so they don't get blamed by the majority of Americans who don't want bailouts.

Stay strong W, don't fall for this game of Rom Emanuel and the Dems, if they want the bailout let them bring it up for a vote and let the chips fall where they may.

@ Truth Hurts: I sent an email to 'Faux News' complaining about giving "HATE A VOICE"...... very disturbing!

Bailing out BANKS was BUSH's idea! And now, no one wants to bailout the auto industry, that will leave millions of Americans unemployed?

How is this fair?! WALL STREET has made BILLIONS, but we wont help the everyday-workers in Detroit?

REAGAN BAILED OUT CHRYSLER OR DON'T YOU REMEMBER???

Much as I like Obama I think the auto industry was greedy and got into this mess. They kept manufacturing gas guzzlers and poor quality cars because there was a market for it. Forward thinking companies left them behind eating dust. While I understand that this will mean huge job losses I think instead of bailing them out, that money is better utilized if invested in energy efficient automobile manufacturing companies. Create new jobs in newer technology instead of pumping up badly mismanaged companies with more money.

You say that Palin doesn't know the difference between a country and a continent. She doesn't live in Africa, although I bet Obama knew the answer. Well so what. Obama thinks there are 56 states in the United States. What country was it that he was just elected Pres of????. I bet Palin knew there were only 50 states in the United States of America! Go stuff your fat face and quit picking on Palin. I get so tired of your hick comments!

The Bush administration has no problem of giving out $700 billion dollars to wallstreet cats, but has no intention of helping the companies that employee one of 10 mainstreet employees. Think about all the employees at ur local dealership, part supplies, and not mention thousands manfacturing jobs!

Lisa–

When the clowns in Det-riot build a decent, reliable, efficient car that will not cost me more over its lifetime versus a Toyota or Subaru, then I'll consider it.

Of course, the dems always threaten to close the ports, which the unions will love, and we can go back to being in high-cost, ill-designed, shoddily-built cars that rust out in 2 years, just like in the 70s'. There's a reason for every urban legend–remember why you weren't supposed to buy an american car built on a Friday or Monday?

More corporate bailouts funded by taxpayer dollars with zero transparency and accountability. The modern way for politicians to reward corporate campaign donations – and Obama has billions to answer for. Just what America needs. Bring on the Depression.

Obama is right to be concerned about the big three US auto manufacturers. There's a few problems with how Obama wants to help the US auto industry. $75 Billion is enough to keep the factory and dealership doors open. Its a whole lot of crap that they are going to use that money to retool the factories. It is true that they have sunk a great deal of money in to R&D with alternative energy, and more efficient cars and trucks. The real problems that the auto industry is facing today is a bad economy where purchasing a new car is not as much a priority to consumers. The other huge issue are the unions.

I worked in mortgage financing for over ten years, and have originated mortgage loans for GM factory workers. Some one who dropped out of high school, and is making close to six figures, and has a 401K ritirement account for almost $500,000 is a bit too much to pay out to a union factory worker. The unions are bankrupting Ford, GM, and Chevrolet, driving our US auto industry in to the ground. Obama , who recieved the union vote during the election campagn is trying to do a pay back for being elected President. he wants to look like he is doing something for them, but not really! I am for tax incentives for the big three, and incentives for car buying consumers rewarding them for manufactureres producing, and consumers purchasing more efficent cars.

If this bail out is approved, I will no longer be paying taxes.

It is time that the board rooms regain control of the labor force. This namby-pamby attitude towards unions has outlived it usefulness. The automakers want a bail out? Then what do I, as a taxpayer get in return? I demand a sensible approach to managing the company. Just because it was done this way in 1930 doesn't hold water today. One thing union leadership (as I use that term loosely) forgets that unemployed workers don't pay dues. No dues, no big salary for the union head(less)!

You know this whole economic crisis is a little like taking your car to the mechanic. The only ones qualified to say what's wrong with the car are the people who are going to make money off of there BEING something wrong with the car. In this case is bankers and auto executives and so called "economic experts," all of whom seem to be happy enough to tell us the sky is falling unless we give them more money. At some point you just have put your foot down and say "NO. I'm not giving you any more money!"

Great! and while your at it outlaw unions. And another thing maybe some of us don't feel like paying mortgages for people who bought more house than they could afford or submitted fraudulent information with the help of some Nigerian or other 3rd world crook.
Sure while the rest of us wait to see if we'll still have jobs reward the ones who were over paid or under achieving.
Kill the goose that laid the golden egg just like unions killed the auto makers.
Socialism for all. Redistribute the wealth. Every single mortgage holder in default should be re-evaluated by a legitimate credit analyst period.

There will be a very very long line of people that Obama, Reid, and Pelosi have to pay back for the landslide on November 4 – the UAW is just the trickle before the flood

Always remember, a politician's first job is to get elected. His next job is to get re-elected. EVERYTHING comes after these absolute laws – lust for power is the oxygen and gravity that cannot be ignored once you enter the game.

The fact is, everyone needs to be bailed out because every job has one thing in common – the holy grail of every politician – a VOTE.

Remember while all but a few House republicans were smiling for the press after the $700 billion pay off, the Fed was working over time pushing over $2 TRILLION out the window with NO accountability to the taxpayers.

Barney Frank went on record yesterday saying he looked it over and it is all OK. This is the same thing he said about Fannie and Freddie.

How far down this path do those in power expect us to go before we wise up?

Theres your president elect people. This is failure number one by him. GOOD JOB AMERICA!!

ps Happy Veterans Day!!!

President Bush, President-elect Obama, and Congress, My youngest child has numerous student loans for her studies in the medical field. could you please give her a bailout. She is a hard worker, and has always held jobs, along with her schooling. It just would be good for you to show her that America is made up of not only Wall Street and Main Street, but Center Street, where the average hard-working family lives and struggles to make ends meet.

The argument to bailout the auto industry can be made on both sides of the fence. Bailouts are occurring globally now. The US automakers should not be on welfare from the government but with the hundreds of billions being pumped into the financial industry, the US can ill afford to let approximately 2.5M jobs being lost that are connected with the US auto industry at the present time. The US automakers can compete, the plan is simple, just make a better vehicle, dont have to be miles ahead of the Japanese, but just a bit better so that they will stand out instead of focusing on a product just to sell. I bought a new Acadia in 2007 and although I replace my vehicles after I put on 100K, the Acadia is good vehicle, but can recognize that if GM has just gone one step further with the Acadia, hands down it would be one fine vehicle. We are moving from a carbon based to a green based economy, the hand writing is on the wall. For those of you that say no bailouts to the auto industry, howz about you instead of buying a Honda, a Toyota, a Nissan, or anything but an American vehicle, stop whining about the auto bailout and buy a semblance of an American vehicle. And just an FYI, contrary to the published facts, I get almost 27 mpq on the highway in my Acadia and it has the 275HP 6 cylinder.

It's basically a Catch 22, but we literally have to bail them out. The alternative is too damaging.

No matter which one of the folks is in charge: Molly Hatchett said it best..." we are running down the road and flirtin' with disaster". Wake up America, it is going to continue to be a long and bumpy ride over the next few years.

obama = PUKE!

Stick to your guns W, you can save that legacy!
No one will remember that you had the worst approval rating ever. EVER!

No one will remember the renditions, the lies to go to war, the incompetence.

No one will recall how your cabinet endorsed the other party's candidate.

No... it will all be about a trade deal with Columbia. Your belief in that is another sign of your greatness King George.

president elect. You need to put in place a job for the Clintons. If not for Clintons supporters you would not have made into the white house. That simple.

stop the insanity

If the auto industry had been making electric cars, they'd be having NO problems right now!

WHY did our government have to kill th electric car??

Not that I don't know the answer to that!

BRING BACK THE ELECTRIC CAR!!

It will save the Earth, along with saving these dirty corporations.

Instead of a bailout for GM and Chrysler why not just let them go under. They could help new progressive projects like Tesla Motors, now that would be something. I would rather suffer for the next 70 days then accept the CAFTA idea. People need jobs, the problem will fix itself. That is what Obama will do, it's worth having a slim Christmas. We should only do trade with countries that have equal opportunity to ourselves. Coorporations that don't agree can take their business elsewhere. I try to only buy things that are made in the USA and have not shopped at Walmart for the last 7 years. We need to stop these coorporations from saying we don't have the education to perform the jobs. We need to stop the export/import exchange for countries that don't regulate human conditions and consider environmental impacts. Work USA and Buy USA only!

No More Bailouts!!!! Let the companies figure out how they are going to make it. I work for a company that is laying off employees at the end of the year. Will probably include me in this layoff. I can guarantee that we are not making the salaries of the union workers for the big auto companies. Want to help your company.....take a cut in pay!!!! Guess Obama is going to help out his unions friends.

No matter the Bush administration says about there not being a Quid Pro Quo, it seems very clear that he is holding the U.S. automakers hostage until he, Bush, gets the free trade agreement for Colombia. Bottom line, Bush just continues to prove he was the WORST president in the history of this great nation and the faster he leaves the presidency and the Whitehouse the better for America. I hope that president-elect Obama can see through Georgie porgies’ scam and shoots down the Colombian free trade agreement and still rescues the automakers. That would be a coup and show the country that the president-elect means business and isn't playing the Washington games that got us in this mess in the first place. By the way, Georgie don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out.

Bailout contingent upon reorganization including getting rid of the unions. The cost to manufacture with the union demands make for a vehicle price several thousand more than what it is worth.

Union thuggery supported and encouraged by the Democrat Party and their liberal goons. This is just a repeat of what happened to US steel manufacturing decades ago. Rendered completely uncompetive as a result of socialist do-gooders, it eventually just went away.

It's not going to be fun watching the rust belt extend it's way into the midwest; I feel sorry for the soon-to-be unemployed. But your reap what you sew, and this auto industry debacle is just another typical example of what happens when the left meddles in economics.

A direct bailout should not occur – but instead the government should provide low interest loans to the auto industry with the stipulation than the money is used in conjunction with Obama's energy initiatives in building cars that are highly fuel efficient and/or built with alternative fuels. No more Hummers and cars that get 8 miles to the gallon.

This would be a win-win. The auto makers would start building cars that are competitive with Japanese models and they would play a big role in getting off foreign oil, plus millions of people could potentially keep their jobs.

Letting the auto makers die is going to be more disasterous for the economy than giving them some sort of relief.

BUSH ANGER: OBAMA AIDES LEAK CHAT DETAILS

Cann the unions, then we can talk about a loan to the auto industry! This issue alone will prove that President-elect Obama isn't about real change because he's in the pocket of the union and he'll definitely tow their line!

so, why don't the oil companies with the records profits step in and work with the big 3?

I hope GM can stay afloat until it produces the Chevy VOLT electric car. Let the American public decide to buy a more efficient, cleaner vehicle and Big Oil can look back at how they did nothing for the Big 3 in their darkest hour,,,,,when in fact, its the guzzlers Detroit decided to make which madeBig Oil so wealthy and now has come back to hurt them..... idiocy all 'round....

Here we go, we are going to become a socialist nation under Barack Osama bin Biden. I'm so upset that the banks were bailed out with MY HARD earned money. Some people should go under....survival of the fittest.

I'm sorry but if American Automakers are too greedy to make fuel efficient cars than they deserve to go out of business. It's GE's fault for not staying up with the technology. As far as I am concerned GE and all the other automakers should go out of business because they make an much inferior product to those autos coming from Japan.

Since I work for a family business, is the government going to bail us out when we fail? Are they going to bail out every business that fails? According to their logic, some are worthy of bail out and others aren't. Well I have news for them NO ONE SHOULD HAVE BEEN BAILED OUT.

Jim in Minn is right. Palin is not fit to be VP. We need Joe Biden to bail out the auto industry and create that three-letter word: J-O-B-S.
Just like FDR said in his 1929 televised presendital speech that I watched again last week down at Katies – never mind. We need to get Al Gore back to invent something like the internet to get the economy moving like he did in the 90's. But he's too busy curing the planets fever with a $2k a month electric bill to keep his pool warm.

Just hours after President Bush and President-elect Obama met in the Oval Office of the White House, details of their confidential conversation began leaking out to the press, igniting anger from the president, sources claim.

"Senator Obama would be wise to keep close counsel," a top Bush source warned.

"BUSH AND OBAMA AT ODDS OVER AID FOR AUTO INDUSTRY," splashed the NEW YORK TIMES in an exclusive Monday evening, quoting "people familiar with the discussion."

The two met at the White House in private, without staff.

Most of the reviews I have read are just complaints. GM and Ford are trying to make hybrids. Unions are what destroy domestic companies. Toyota and Honda do not need to lisen to unions. As for hybrids from honda, they are just as good as domestic hybrids. Please be more informed about automakers before you start running your mouth. O, and for those that don't know yet, look at the new electric ford f-150. That truck might tickle your fancy.

My understanding is that they already had 25 billion on the table for the auto industry and that they are not asking for new money, they will use a portion of the 700 billion if needed, so no new funds are being requested.

How can you say it's okay that over 200,000+ more people should be unemployed when their is an opportunity to keep them on payrolls. Where do you think their unemployment benifits come from – our taxes. If they have to extend those benifits for an additional 13 weeks, we would still be paying for them. Whereas we can keep these Americans dignity and it would cost us a lot less.

Think about if it was you who was losing your job. We are our brothers and sisters keepers.

John in Ohio YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY MAKING MORE AFFORDABLE FUEL-EFFICIENT CARS (SPECIALLY GM), ALL WHAT'S NEEDED SHOULD NOW BE CONSIDERED FOR JAPANESE PLUG-IN ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY TO BE ADQUIRED BY AMERICAN CAR ENGINEERS, IF NOT THE AUTO INDUSTRY IS DESTINED TO A DECADENT DARK AGE

The only thing that bothers me about bailing out the American auto companies is that If we do so, yeah we can keep workers there, but how long are they going to stay afloat if they still can't sell cars?

If we bail out the auto industry, and that industry has such a wide net with so many people who would be feeling the implosion, there needs to be contractual tradeoffs with the manufacturers. Hybrid/plug ins and eco-friendly cars to a standard by 2XXX plus conversion parts for existing autos to help with reducing a strict oil dependency.

Handouts in general don't work well. They don't teach people how to sustain themselves. It's the contractual obligations that come with the funding such as education, reductions in emission to XXX in this case, or community service of some sort.

"Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a life time (or woman)."

Give a man a bailout, save him for a day. Give him a bailout and make it with stipulations, and he learns to be accountable (or woman).

They needed to do this with the financial institutions. Bailouts only with stipulations. There needs to be lessons learned. This is parenting 101.

Last thing we need is anymore stimulus checks for taxpayers, Or anymore bailouts. NO more Bailouts for Banks, Auto, Air, Rail, Shipping Industries! All are major Industries key to the economy, all are union industries, and unions have ruined America. Our elected dems need to Stop the bailouts. Automakers are bleeding cash, so its ok to bleed the taxpayer? enough is enough

You hit the nail on the head 1/20/13,,,,,,

This is nothing more than the Messiah paying back a favor. The Unions backed him, now he want to kiss thier butt to have all those overpaid Union workers keep thier jobs.
AND the white collar CEOS running the companies into the ground.

Get ready to fall America, everyone will get bailed out that Obama owes, and he owes a LOT of people.

Those of you who voted for him, now you will see the real Obama,,
Palling around with his buddies who got him millions of dollars to buy the elections, and forgert all about you poor folk who fell in ove with his fancy speeches.

Wow. Obama can't even keep his mouth shut about a private meeting with the President. I would venture to say that Bush will in the future limit his conversations with Obama to the weather and other small talk. That One's arrogance is incredible. I can't wait to watch the media turn on him at some point in the next year or twoo- and they will.

I find that we need to help the auto industry, because it will create more jobs. I may not be the biggest fan of bailouts, but we would not be in this situation if it was not for the last eight years of failed policies. Although the bailouts do seem to correct or save those who did wrong, we cannot forget that there are the little people within those companies who work hard and are losing their jobs. I find that our best thing is to do a bailout, but that we also hold accountable those who created this mess. Ergo, i believe that they should be taken out of their positions as CEOs and hire new individuals who will help make these goverment actions more successfull. We should learn from our mistake with AIG, we bailed them out, but we should have also fired those who got us in this mess. Had we done that, then the AIG executives would not have been spending our money on resorts and spa days.

As for the colombia free trade agreement, we cannot go through with this, i believe in free trade, but I do not believe in the abuse of free trade. This will only hurt America more.

Obama had sugested using money from the original 700 billion dollar bailout and redirecting some of it to the auto industry. not a whole new bailout. and they would get the bailout with condition to make fuel efficient and electric vehicles. i think this is a good idea. if we let them go under then our problems will be much much bigger and we'll only be buying foreign. i have no problem with foreign cars but why buy something from someone else that we can make ourselves. you dont think they'll hike up the prices if the american competition is gone?

I agree with those who say no bailout for the auto industry. Enough with the bailouts already !!!! Let the auto industry go and take a loan from the banks. Isnt that what the bailout money to the banks was for? Enough of this already !!! And to the one who is shouting "buy american", we will buy american if those cars werent so crappy. They dont last and they are unreliable cars. So maybe if these auto makers start making good quality cars, they will make money. Simple.

The US automakers have been hamstrung for years by the labor unions that have made them non-competitive. If we bail out the Auto Makers we should also throw out the unions so that the auto makeers can be competitive.

A key legacy item for the outgoing administration? That legacy ship has sailed, imploded, and sunk. Nothing can be done in the last few months to dress up that piece of dung that is the W legacy!

what an "ungracious" moron " is Obama. And arrogant as well. Does he not know protocol? this was a confidential meeting between Presidents? The problem is, the press gave him 90% (except for fox) approval rating and he will use that for all it is worth. Heaven help us. I have a Mazda.

All I know is that the President-elect Barack Obama will be one of the greatest presidents ever in the history of United States.

In six months time, things will be changing for the better, economy will improve, President elect Obama will be very successful in ruling USA, and the country again will regain its glory.

Many nations in the world will also help this country out to achieve its success.

So, Americans unite together behind President elect Barack Obama to achieve this goal.

I knew Presedent Bush should have taped this meeting with obama. obama is such a liar. Seems obama doesn't know what confidential means. I hope they don't give him real defense briefings. Give him something that makes him feel good for now. Wait till you're out of office please President Bush. I guess you've figured out obama is to immature to keep things confidential.

How stupid are the people on this blog. You have to bail out the auto industry for a variety of reasons and here is why.

First if you don't then you lose jobs in every sector of manufacturing. Steel, textiles, rubber, plastic not to mention 1.7 Million Americans are out of a job.

So that doesn't sound bad right? Oh wait I forgot to mention that it would get worse. With the big 3 out of the way Honda, Toyota, Hyundaii, would be able to charge what they wanted for a Car. Who is to stop them from charging 100k US just for a Camry? And yes we would have to pay for it because THERE IS NO AMERICAN EQUIVLIENT.

Also if the big 3 go under you can forget about supplying vehicles to the US military. Guess what that is tied together as well.

So sure let the big 3 fail and this entire country will be a bankrupt 3 world country overnight.

i do not agree with a bailout of the auto industry due for a the reason of the moving of jobs out of this country by the auto industry why dont they ask these other goverments for bailouts because they will just take more jobs out of this country so they have better profits thank you

That's right people; let the US automakers fail so the Japanese can own us once again. I don't like the bailout, but I say give it to them with a long list of restrictions and requirements such as producing hybrids.

There are an awful lot of people in this ticker that just don't get it!!! If these auto companies go under so do all the jobs that come with them. We are trying to dig ourselves out of a mess created by an idealistic administration and his cohorts in Congress over the past 8 years. The last thing that we should be doing is eliminating even more jobs. Especially jobs that pay well. The ripple effect would be felt for 4 or 5 years longer than is necessary if we lose this industry.

Free trade with Colombia? Great idea Bushie. You/ve destroyed jobs in the US, why not Colombia as well? The only difference is Colombia uses violence to force workers to accept substandard wages whereas here in the US we use the threat of unemployment. It's the WalMart mentality. Watch for falling prices! (and declining wages). We all have a stake in the Auto industry bailout whether we like it or not. I didn't hear Americans complaining when they were flocking to dealerships to buy gas guzzling SUV's that we probably couldn't afford.

Barry is a joke and there will be 65 million regrets come inauguration day. He cant even keep his mouth shut and keep White House tradition. he MUST be voted out in 2012!!!!

America, VOTE OUT OBAMA in 2012 !!!!

If anyone deserves to be bailed out it's not the CEO's of these financial companies who take OUR money and spend it on spa weekends, it's the hardworking people who make our cars and who are part of a 100 year old US institution. GM and Ford cars have shown a lot of improvement quality-wise, as well as a desire to produce more fuel efficient vehicles. Give them a chance to get back on their feet and make good quality cars, and in a few years American auto makers will be back on top.

I am astonished at how foolish some people are. They lose an election and suddenly are against every single thing that smells like what the Republicans pushed through. As I recall, it was Paulson, not Obama, who insisted it was necessary to commit 700 billion to the bailout. Sure, Obama was the statesman when he and McCain went to the White House meeting, but it doesn't change fact. Then Palin screeched that Obama is the Socialist! What should happen now is that someone needs to keep an eye on how that huge amount of money is actually being used. So far, it doesn't seem to have been used wisely!

Who was the dufus that leaked this info? Wasn't their meeting yesterday to have been confidential?

I could care less. I still roll around in my Infiniti regardless.

Well as crazy and hard as it may seem. Its true if we dont help these companies than a lot of people will lose there jobs. Its not pretty nor is it fair. I mean I am in the mortgage business and I know several people in financial area who has lost their jobs because of this. If the car industry goes down. Trust me it will be really bad. The economy is really bad right now cause people are losing jobs and their is no confidence with the consumer so people are not spending money. Its econ 101 no jobs=no money being spendt=weak econonmy. We have to create jobs some kind of way and preserve the ones that are out there.

Way to go NObama team! Like a bunch of little sissy HS girls. This is what we are in for people!!!

BUSH ANGER: OBAMA AIDES LEAK CHAT DETAILS
Tue Nov 11 2008 09:28:10 ET

Just hours after President Bush and President-elect Obama met in the Oval Office of the White House, details of their confidential conversation began leaking out to the press, igniting anger from the president, sources claim.

"Senator Obama would be wise to keep close counsel," a top Bush source warned

For those of you that think the auto Industry should'nt be bailout. You are not giving these companies anything. They are indebted to pay all these monies back, this bailout is not free. Like all these other businesses that are bailout, they will not be looking for a bonus, from off the top of the taxpayers money either. If they think enough of their employees to pay them a decent wage to take care of their families, not like most companies. This company will definitely pay the taxpayers back for the money entrusted to them.

Seven days and as much, if not more blunders from the incoming POTUS and his lacheys. Thanks to all of the uninformed voters, we are now going to be "RULED" upon by an uninformed President. The leaks are a foreshadowing of problems on the horizon. The world economic market is rebounding, but speculators within our country are already giving up because change will not be for the better, except for the special interests of the liberal side. We need to demand a recount and eliminate the votes of those that were not qualified or were verified by unscrupulous means. I was registered to vote in a state that I left 14 years ago. I want to know if a vote was cast using my identity. We need to find out if this man is a legitimate winner or someone that stole not only his party's nomination, but also the general election. I voted for a loser, but not the one moving in to the White House.

Bailing out a manufacturing industry is not like bailing out a service industry, i.e. the financial industry. Wall Street barely disquised their unregulated theft of Main Street money to pay for bonuses and executive retirement packages, spa retreats and inflated commissions. Union demands no doubt have contributed to the fall of auto makers, but the big ax is from the economy...folks can't afford to buy new cars and if they can, they don't because of economic fears. The government bailed out the airline industry long ago to save jobs and created jobs in the process with the regulation that went with the bailout. I say help the auto makers out, but make sure they tow the line and develop alternative fuel vehicles, create jobs, and contribute to turning the economy around in a big way.

no bailout November 11th, 2008 12:36 pm ET

Why should be give auto makers money to make more huge gas guzzlers that no one wants to buy anymore since that's all they know how to do? Really, liberals? This is what you want? What about the environment?
Seems like these auto makers would finally have an incentive to build hybrids and other fuel efficient cars if the only way they could get money is to actually sell something people want
--------------------------------
Have you not been paying attention??? Seriously?!?! Obama's plan is to bail out the auto industry but with one main rule.... that they have to be building fuel efficient cars. So us "liberals" are all ovewr this. Turn your thinker on and start reading about his plans before you prematurely blast on him.

Why are bailing out companies that have simply blinded themselves to building fuel inefficient cars & SUVs, and rewardint the top officers with huge pay packages. The Japanese have been building some of the best made, fuel efficent cars for years.
The only thing is big cars just make more for the bottom line.
When will this stop? No more excuses!

Also no more for AIG either,, they seem to like to party on the taxpayers dime!!

If Pres. Bush wants to leave any kind of a legacy, yes he should help the auto industry by creating loans not bail outs and have the auto industries pay them back. Also, He could reallly to something wonderful and free the two border agents that have been wrongfully imprisoned and give them a full pardon. What a wonderful Christmas present for their families.

It is not a question of the auto industry "deserving" a bailout. This money would be a loan, to be paid back to the taxpayers. If the ship has a hole below the waterline, the captain doesn't decide if it deserves to be plugged. He takes responsibility and acts.

I appreciate what President Obama is saying about the auto industry. It's collapse would be devastating to our economy. One of the issues the industry has is the burden of their legacy expenses – union concessions, pensions, health care, etc. Their Eurpoean and Asian competitors building autos in the U.S. don't have these expenses. Yet, this is only one of the problems faced by the Big Three. There more fundamental problem is the quality of their products. They just don't build the feature-rich, dependable autos that their foreign competitors do. Will bailing them out going to change this? No, unfortunately it won't. The U.S. auto industry must undergo radical changes in nearly every aspect of their business models. They are still tryng to build and market cars the way they did in the 1950s. It just won't work anymore. If the government bails them out and relieves them of some of their legacy expenses, they should be required to close overseas production plants and bring those jobs back onshore.

I find this whole bailout process fascinating in that what constitutes a socialistic venue is being applied to financial concerns whereas the same application to help foreclosure people is frowned upon. This just might be George W. Bush's redistribution process through the chaotic mess he has essentially allowed. Indeed, a comparison of the S&L debacle with this ongoing mess would be the thing to do.

ATTACH STRINGS!!! If automakers get a free lunch with no requirements to improve fuel economy, they'll be back building SUV's as soon as oil goes below $50/barrel. And as soon as it crosses $100/barrel, they'll be back for another handout.

If some of the bailout money is used for the auto industry, it should be as an investment in new jobs by creating more fuel efficient vehicles and the like.

As for what Truth Hurts says, I agree. It is downright scary that hatred and bigotry is being fueled. Please CNN, use the same type of reports like the Fact Finders did in the election. Put these people and their hatred out for all to see and shun. I won't go to their sites at all because they scare the tarnation out of me. Please expose them for the ignorant ones they are.

Obama is trying to make Michigan’s Governor happy for all she did to get him elected!

We the people have no obligation at all to Bail out an Industry that should have helped itself years ago by building cars that are fuel efficient!

Please stop Obama from filling one of many Promises that are not good for the American people or its future!

This novice is going to require Daily watching from all of us!

We need to see major concessions between the UAW and the Big Three Automakers before any taxpayer investment is made to the auto industry.

I have a suggestion for OBAMA...

Instead of asking congress for a bail out, why don't you ask all Americans to make their next car purchase an AMERICAN made car from GM, Ford or Chrysler. That should stop the bleeding...

My husband retired from GM. The only way to rebuild or help GM is to charge a tax on them when they send parts back to the States. This way maybe they will return home (state side ) and bring work back to our own country.

I continue to believe that bailouts should be accompanied by one stipulation, in particular. Whoever led the company into its current mess should be fired. If their lack of ability and/or foresight was such that they got their company into its current situation, why would anyone think they could lead them out of it?
In the case of Wall Street, it was pure greed and short-sightedness.
In the case of Detroit, it was stupidity and short-sightedness – and a lack of hindsight. They complain that they were merely producing the vehicles that consumers wanted to buy and had no clue that gasoline would rise so sharply. Does this sound familiar? All you have to do is go back and look at what happened in the 70's, with the fuel shortage and gas lines, when Detroit was producing big iron. They got caught short then and maybe – perhaps – they could be excused. But now? There is no excuse for failure to develop and build fuel efficient vehicles. Even if people weren't buying them in large numbers, it was only a matter of time. They needed to have that development current and products in the pipeline. They needed to have production lines that could be switched over in such an eventuality. And, they've had 30 years to work on it. Shame on them. And shame on us for bailing them out with no strings attached.

What did the "senior aid" mean by adding the demise of GM to Bush's legacy. My God, is there anything that the Dems and their MSM press buddies do not blame Bush for? Maybe the lack of vision at GM, union greed, and skyrocketing oil prices had something to do with it. Just like Katrina – a inept Dem mayor and governor, who are responsible for coordinating federal resources, screw up and Bush gets blamed for it. I wonder if "the One" will get the same treatment? Likely not, he will cry racism to scare any critics away.

Sure, the American auto industry has failed to prepare for, what was then, the future. But remember, to get rid of a pest, vermin, or terrorist threat, one needs to eliminate the food source. in the case of the big three, the food source has always been the American consumer. They keep on buying those big gas guzzling mouth-breather cars, SUV's, and trucks.

Americans are the worst kind of enablers when it comes to the big three.

How can we justify years of bad behaviour by the auto companies by bailing them out. Is there no accountability any more

Mr. President-Elect, you look fabulous! Keep making me proud!

Hey Obama. The auto industry doesn't need anything real or tangible like a taxpayer bailout. Just implement your plan to bring change to Washington, with a spirit of hope and coming together, and an attitude of "yes we can!" LOL.

Where does it end ? ... or is this just the beginning. Obama is not in office yet and already he wants to spend more tax payer dollars. We bail out financial institutions ; now they increase interest rates. Now the we pay twice.... OH, that's right.... Obama is going to 'rob from the rich to give to the poor'. Looks to me like he's got it backwards....

Mr Obama is my choice. But we cannot agree on everything.
The big 3's problem did not start just recently. This is not even a Union problem, it is simply they are BAD companies.

If the union wants to save them, fine let them. Even a bridge LOAN is a bad idea because it is too risky. These 3 will go bankrupt. It is just a matter of when. WE don't need to be supporting zombie companies.

The airlines are next. Get ready.

To all you people going on about how Obama camp leaked this info, it's possible they did..but where is the evidence for this in this article ???

The article mentions "officials" as the source and quotes a senior Bush administration official. Sounds more like the info came from bush people to me and you people are interpreting the way you want to..wether or not you turn out to be right and it seems not its clear you hav ean agenda and an ax to grind.

This is exactly what I would expect from Obama who has promised no secret deals and closed door hidden agendas. Bush being angry over "leaks" of his secret deal – Colombia trade deal for auto bailout – is what got Bush and the republicans the whipping they just took in the elections Go Obama – Keep it open

I'm not 100% sold on these bailouts, but on the flipside, who are the ones that really get hurt if these companies go under – the workers. Is it their fault that gas was running $4/gallon and demand for cars has stalled? If GM goes under that will cause some catastrophic job losses for a lot of people and will further devastate communities that rely on that income.

If the government can protect the workers of these companies somehow, then I don't think they should be bailed out, but if thousands of workers are going to put on the street, should the government just sit idle at let it happen?

One one hand I am so sick of having to bail out these big companies. But on the other, it seems so many jobs are tied to these three companies that it makes some sense to help them out. Having said that, I think there needs to be some strong strings attached.

Like this next AIG bailout, apparently they threw some lavish party that was supposed to be kept secret (I briefly heard it on the news this morning, so I don't have all the details).

If we bail them out, we need to make sure it's actually going to do some good and go where the money really needs to go.

To all you people going on about how Obama camp leaked this info, it's possible they did..but where is the evidence for this in this article ???

The article mentions "officials" as the source and quotes a senior Bush administration official. Sound more like the info came from bush people to me and you poeple are interpeting the way you want to..wether or not you turn out to be rikght and it seems not its clear you hav an agenda and an ex to grind.

Bush wants them to fail in hopes that it would make any rescue efforts by Obama even harder.

The Auto industry should be getting the HELP, Wall Street on the other hand should have been given a violin to play.

I do feel that union demands have helped push the auto industry over the edge. My brother – now deceased – was a union member. Every month he received a leaflet/magazine from the union telling him what products to buy, what cigarettes to smoke, who to vote for locally and nationally. But, American auto makers have certainly been left behind by the times. My heart goes out to those that may lose their jobs and retirement if something isn't done.

I said this yesterday, and it is worth repeating today:

REPEA: or severely overwrite NAFTA and bring back our manufacturing jobs to the USA. And I would like to add, no deals with Columbia, Mexico or who have you that is even remotely similar to NAFTA because NAFTA is not working.

This is a bit extreme but: close our bordres for 10-20 years and clean up house before we open our doors again.

Being a former engineer with the auto industry, I have no sympathy with North American car manufacturers who have long ignored the crying need for fuel efficient vehicles and a long term program for alternative fuel vehicles.

Having said that, Obama must do whatever is necessary to support initiatives for alternative fuel vehicles, but not bailouts.

If the American auto companies would make more efficient cars I would be the first in line to ask for a bail out.
I watched 60 minutes were the CEO for GM was all smiles and mocking a man who had created a car that runs on electricity. This is what makes Americans upset and don't want the automakers bailed out, it is the same as AIG. They want more money for what the Christmas party??
The bailouts should be tied to several demands.
1) The current CEO needs to go if they are in trouble he didn't do his job correctly and none of us would have been treated differently in our jobs.
2) No bonus for anyone until the company is turned around.
3) No golden parachutes unless the company is profitable.
4) Expenses out of the normal course of business needs to be approved by the bailout panel. To avoid the situation that occured with AIG. ( 200K spend on a working retreat to a health spa)
I don't know how the people in charge in AIG have not been fired yet!!!

The White House has to realize its all about jobs. No jobs equals no recovery. The next incentive package needs to have a 'buy American' part to it where there is a tax reduction for buying products with substantial American labor and/or material content .

In the meantime, the Big 3 have their own employees as well as the employees of their suppliers to be concerned about, and the government needs to do what it can to ensure their survival, if not as three companies, then as two or one combined. They are definitely too big to fail.

I wish they would bail me out so I can go to some expensive parties and vacations on that money

The problem that affected the Auto Industry is that no one is willing to commit to car payments while people are losing jobs. The demand for cars went down because joblessness is going up.

Bring cash to consumers and they will buy. When they do, the demand for goods and services will go up. If they don't spend, they will put that money in their savings which will help the banking industry's liquidity anyways.

When demand goes up, jobs will be created to meet production. When jobs go up, people will be more confident committing to 5 – 6 year car loans.

The leaders of this country does not get it. They think US automakers are losing money because people don't like their cars. It's not that; no one wants to get into a car loan when people are losing jobs!

Apparently those who are saying, NO MORE BAILOUTS don't realize that if GM goes under, we are talking about 5 million people out of JOBS!!! Than it will have dominoe affect to other sectors and then next thing you know the other 2 Big ones FORD And CHRYSLER will go under with close to 10 million more jobs lost. So basically we are talking about close to 20 million jobs lost if those 3 go under. Do you really want that to happen? Then all of obama's energy plans will not go thru cause the car dealerships will be bankrupt which means all the jobs he talked about will not happen. The country is already in debt if giving them money will help save them GIVE THEM THE MONEY NOW!! The key to bringing us out of this recession is if people have GOOD PAYING JOBS so that they can SPEND MONEY. If their are no jobs, NOBODY WILL SPEND MONEY which means we will be in the 2000 version of the THE GREAT DEPRESSION!!!

Obamedia isn't even in office yet, and he already has his sights set on bankrupting the country.

Eight years of disastrous economic, political, and social policy is going to take a dozen years to repair. Good luck President-elect. You were handed dung on a plate.

Hey Lisa when they stop building poorly engineered crap I will buy American cars. Still driving a Honda with 175,000 miles on it, had it inspected and it needed brake pads and wiper blades. Besides my Mazda also a great car was built in Kentucky by UAW workers. Why can't GM using the same workers in this same country build a care that is as good as these...had many US cars in my life and they never last past 80,000 miles and weren’t that hot for the 80,000 miles I drove them.

Looks like Rohm is bringing his penchant for leaking to the press, that he enthusiastically did, when he was in the Clinton White House to his new job.

As for Detoit – let them figure it out themselves. All the jobs won't be lost, they will go into bankruptcy, trim the fat and bloated benefits of the union and managment employees, and come out a stronger industry. The only place the auto industry is in trouble in the USA is in Detroit. The other companies operating in other states are doing OK.

Thomas, Pelosi already took impeachment off the table; and I agree. We must heal as a nation. We learned a grave lesson from Bush; and we will be stronger for it. History will be the judge of Bush, and the legacy he leaves his offsprings.

The only source of true defense against anti-trust is in the federal level governmenting.

The economy requires a retooling of road infrastructure to a modern tone; such creates the need for a new brand of automobiles.

Just taking the inner lanes, for now.

Drive everywhere, and trade.

there used to be a saying "as general motors goes so does the country" i don't know if that is actually the case anymore but i don't think now is the time to let GM, Ford or any big american business go under. yes they did some stupid mgmt judgment and it should be given with strings attached, no bonuses etc. but it must be given. take that columbia free trade and shove it. america first now and always. look what wal mart has done to this country, now we can buy all of the crappiest, lead filled poison we want.

Bailing out the auto industry is a horrible idea. The Big 3 are mismanaged and too technologically inferior to foreign competitors that any money given to bail them out will be wasted. I voted for Obama, but an American auto industry bailout is a short-sighted answer to a problem that has persisted for many years. We need to put that money into areas of the economy that won't squander it.

"Oh-No" and Ben–

Although the unions have not helped the industry, ask yourself why they exist? They exist because management could not be trusted to treat the workers fairly. The Big 3 along with most of corporate America has been pleased to take care of itself and its friends. Workers are expendable, if Americans want a living wage, just send the jobs overseas and then blame the unions.
Unions have given you a 40 hour workweek, vacation time, and health benefits. But, sure, listen to Rush and Hannity. Maybe they should get a real job.

Why would "the demise of GM' be part of Bush's legacy? THAT'S RIDICULOUS!!! Who's the CEO? I don't think leading GM was one of the president's responsibilities!!!!

I read the article on Fox and read some of the comments. This is reprehensible to say the least. Fox has it's readers in a frenzy to go out and buy guns, One poster said Obama is getting the gas chambers ready for those who disagree with him. IMO, Fox has crossed the line with this story.

Obama wants to use more of the taxpayer money for the auto industry now. I thought the Democrats reduced the deficit not expanded it.

it is suprising how many hard "democrats" still drive foreign cars because it suits them. and a bailout for auto industries would help them how ?

Obama is shrewed. His camp leaked this discussion to prove, yet again, Bush is out of touch and putting jobs abroad over jobs in the US.
Yes, like many I have my doubts about an auto bailout but I'll give Obama the benefit of the doubt on this one.

Obama stumped calling for the re-tooling of Detroit to make the cars of tommorow today. I suspect any bailout would be a short-term cash infusion until a more detailed plan can be put forth (after Jan 20th) for the long-term remake of the auto industry.

The great weakness of the Democratic Party in rural
America is the Abortion issue. The great weakness of the Republican Party in rural America is the Free Trade issue. In the rural South, Republicans show pictures of fetuses, and say thank the Democrats for this aborted fetus. Democrats need to stand in front of closed rural factories, and say thank the Republicans for this closed rural factory. Now that Clinton is gone, Democrats could make Free Trade an issue that hits home with rural voters. Southern rural voters know that they cannot compete with child labor in China.

Is bailing out automakers with $25 billion loans to keep them afloat going to put Main St back to work? You bail out the Big 3 – but who can afford a major purchase?

If this goes through there needs to be huge strings attached to it:

High fuel efficiency (which we know is possible).
Affordable Altenative Fuel vehicles within 10 years.
No Golden Parachutes for executives. If stock options are tied to their bonuses they may not be implemented until after the bailout money is repayed.

As I sit here reading your comments, I just can't find anything worthy of saying about this article. You see, today is Veterans day. A day I really feel deeply about due to I am a veteran. I would like to use this space to say first off, for all of the people who ever wore a uniform and/or still do from one of the branchs of the United States military, I salute you. And let's not forget about those who never wore a uniform, but worked as civilian in varies government positions, that have supported and continue to provide the support that our military needs to operate effectively. Another salute goes out to thoses families, who have endured such hardships, while we are out there protecting and defending the United States and it's interest. A Soldier, Marine, Sailor and Airman is only as good as the support we give them. So while we are going back and forth about President Obama versus President Bush, let's take a moment silence to remember those who served and serve proudly, fought and continue to fight hard and those who died with honor for this great nation. We are the United States of America.

we could get our auto jobs back in the states.

This will probably not be posted but here goes anyway. What is the village idiot Bush wanting to do now? Do more out sourcing of American jobs to Columbia? You bet you no agreement with Columbia, take care of the American people first Jim Hall Kansas City Missouri.

If we, as a nation, decided that we want Change, why are we trying so hard to maintain the status quo of big business?

The unions drove the U.S. auto industry off of a cliff and now we have to pay for it?!?!.....GM, Ford, and Chrysler all need to go through bankruptcy to get it together. GM is set up to support a network of 10,000 dealers in the U.S. which is not sustainable; Toyota has approx 1000 dealers in the U.S........Big, bloated, and inefficient; just like our government. And now Obama wants to spend more money and create more government. Guess what, you are avoiding the inevitable (the market needs a MAJOR correction). MORE GOVERNMENT IS NOT THE ANSWER!!!! It is why we are in the mess to begin with (Fannie, Freddie, bailouts, stimulous checks). And for everyone who says the service industry isn't as valuable as the manufacturing industry, let me know what your life would be like without doctors, lawyers, bankers, insurance workers, and teachers.

DO IT George....We cant buy imports forever and we need to help these plants. This shouldnt be an issue to stutter on. GET TO IT.

IMPEACH BUSH NOW!
IMPEACH BUSH NOW!
IMPEACH BUSH NOW!
IMPEACH BUSH NOW

We the people Elected Barack Obama as our next President,Impeach bush now so we can save our country from the BUSH DISASTER PEOPLE COME TOGETHER UNITE AND LETS GET BUSH IMPEACHED AND OBAMA IN

The unions have driven the American auto industry in the ground. We have no choice but to bail out this industry because so many people benefit job-wise directly and indirectly as a result. Think about it: every little item that goes into a car whether it an air filter or muffler has to be manufactured somewhere. American people depend heavily on this industry.

What has to change in the way they do business. Unreasonable pension costs as a result of the unions have contributed to their demise. President-elect Obama is right to put some conditions on the bailout but he must also wake up to the impact of unions on this industry. Today, it just isn't necessary to motivate employers to provide good pay, benefits and safe working conditions.

Finally, its time for President Bush to be called on the carpet for his continual poor decision making when it comes to supporting agreements such as the Columbia Free Trade agreement on the backs of the American people. Even as it exits, he's still contributing to the problem and has his priorities out of line.

When is he going to be on Meet the Press or Reliable Sources to answer these questions and others that the American people want to know?

The UAW and their tactics KILLED the US AUTO BUSINESS. Growing up near Detroit in the 50" thru mid-70's, I saw their demands escalating each time they renewed their contracts.

You cannot pay $28 per hour ($75 an hour with benefits) and compete with the "world auto market."

The unfortunate thing is, that the $50 billion Nancy Pelosi and Obama are wanting to pay will GO TO THE UNIONS (their democrat supports) through their pensions and health care...ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

NO BAILOUT FOR GM, FORD OR CHRYSLER.

DO NOT BAIL them out! They deserve everything they're getting. They have mismanaged their companies and don't build vehicles people want to buy! I say Exxon and the other oil companies can bail them out with their record profits since they've been in collusion with one another to quash alternative fuel vehicles. All the executives should be fired, then tried and put in prison!!!

I didn't believe the first bail out plan would work and I don't think compounding the dilemma with more bailout plans makes sense. We are a capitalistic society. Businesses have to survive or fail on their own merits.
Lets use the bailout money to create jobs for the 1 out of 10 people who would loose their jobs if we don't bail out the auto industry. We have construction projects, social projects and other projects where jobs could be created. It would be a win-win situation.

Big Corporations gave Obama big money donations, now it is time for the PAYBACK.

You didn't really believe all that small contributer nonsense, did you?

Someone please re-read Animal Farm. The pigs are moving into the farmhouse..... again.

This is getting ridiculous. Who are we going to bail out next???!!

If this is what we have to expect from Obama, God help us. Didn't he learn anything from the Fannie Mae disaster that government intervention into free enterprise destroys the system.

How stupid is Congress!!??? I didn't think it could get worse but the democrats are quickly proving me wrong.

I am furious that our government keep insisting on funding the golden parachutes of the CEOs and corporations that got us into this mess.

No more bailouts!!

You want to give AIG an additional 25 Billion!? Are you kidding? Didn't they just blow several million on fancy trips!?!

Keep the auto industry afloat – but just enough to do that. Do not shower them with enough money to flourish; there is no reason other than their own profits that all Americans aren't driving 300 mile per gallon cars, after all.

Meaby he`ll get a lifetime supply of free blow --–

let them sink enough is enough

Bush Pathetic there he goes again rather then worry about his own country and the American People,And saving millons of peoples Jobs he worries about Columbia, that man is a DISGRACE TO OUR COUNTRY AND US AS THE PEOPLE, IMPEACH HIM NOW AND LET OBAMA IN THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, but the big 3 got themselves into this mess, it's not up to us to get them out. They aren't competitive and haven't been for years. If they go out of business, Toyota and Honda are mfg. in America so hopefully they can expand here. I am so tired of rewarding bad behavior

Why Columbia ?????? Because they have great cocaine !!!!!!!

Why should be give auto makers money to make more huge gas guzzlers that no one wants to buy anymore since that's all they know how to do? Really, liberals? This is what you want? What about the environment?
Seems like these auto makers would finally have an incentive to build hybrids and other fuel efficient cars if the only way they could get money is to actually sell something people want.

The leak we know where it came from "Obama". He can't keep his mouth shut. This is great for our country. What else is he going to do. You people that voted for Obama just wait and see how he is going to take this country down. But I guess you don't care.

You people are morons to think that bailing out a dying industry that won't CHANGE will somehow save jobs in the US. Get a clue!

NO MORE BAIL-OUTS FOR ANY COMPANY!!! I am in debt. And I have to figure it out and even though I am just one person and my debt compared to a huge company is a nano-debt, I am still in debt with no one other than myself to save me!

Let GM and Ford go into Chapter 11, allow them to break the contracts with Unions, allow them to work out their debt the way we all do by working with creditors and such. With both companies burning through over a billion dollars a month, any additional bail-out would just prolong the direction to chapter 11.

Granted they have upwards of 200,000 workers and many more in other industries, but we have to struggle to survive and the auto makers and unions (as well as banks and others) caused their problems, as did I. The current economic situation is only making it worse.

NO BAIL-OUT for companies that either should go under or should change overall management!

Why is a trade agreement with Colombia okay, but trade embargos are still held against Cuba? The human rights and government record of Cuba is horrid enough to maintan embargos against them, but Colombia's record is just fine? Bush should check with Amnesty International and ask what they think of Colombia's record, and even compare it to Cuba!
Maybe if Bush and his good ole' boys thinks Colombia is such a fabulous nation, they should all get together and go for a little motorcycle ride through the Colombian mountainside, and see how safe he feels!

I voted for Obama but I do not agree with the auto makers bailout. I no longer buy american cars, because I learned my lessons over the years: they are simply not good quality. So I stick to Honda or Toyora.

Bailout of banks and financial institutions was one thing. Bailing out the car industry is simply wrong. Ford, etc have had many years to come up with good, desirable cars, and they have not done so. DO NOT BAILOUT the car industry!

Barry only wants to help the lazy union members who supported him.....Maybe the union that spent 45 million endorsing Obama can fess up some money for GM they caused this mess

At least a few people here see where a major problem lies with the US automakers. It's the UAW...if you could cut them out of the picture then things would change dramatically.

In the New York Times report of this story, it was mentioned that Obama supports the bailout of the auto industry only on the condition that they are required to produce more energy-efficient vehicles. Too bad CNN left out this important detail. In any case, there you have it. Bush's condition is a free-trade agreement with a terrorist regime, while Obama's condition is that they produce better cars. What a contrast...

Apparently there are two kinds of people in the world:
Those who divide the world into two kinds of people and those who don't.

Either someone else is using "Truth Hurts" or he just did a complete 180 overnight on his perception of the President-Elect.

Let me get this straight, Bush wants to hold up relief for a major employer in the US until he gets a trade deal with a narco state? Really?!!? God, I hate this guy. January 20th can't come soon enough.

I say bail them out and Have all CEOs and top execs do community service for 8 years.

Of course, Obama and the Dems want to help the auto makers ... the unions helped them get elected and now want payback. So, if we put billions into GM and they still can't sell cars ... then what will their workers be doing? ... they will be laid off while the corp execs that have no ideas will continue to get paid!

Of course Obama wants the Auto business bailout to go through BEFORE he's in office, so that he can't get blamed WHEN it fails...which it will. Bailing out FAILED companies makes no sense. Bailout the workers directly through re-education! Offer all the Execs jobs teaching at inner city high schools!

Lisa – and why should we buy lower quality products when we can buy great imports at a great price? You miss the point – if GM/Ford/Chrysler made vehicles that were high quality, fuel efficient at an affordable price, THEY wouldn't be in this mess. I guess Americans see Capitalism as GREAT only if it favors their industries. The problem with American industries is they're not prepared for Global competition, they think being global is selling to Western Europe.

As a hard working taxpayer, I do not want my tax dollars to bailout big auto. They made the decisions, they made the mistakes, let them take the fall. Put my money to work for good. I do not want to fund CEOs or the able bodied feeding off my hard work. Oh and why is only one news channel reporting the disgust expressed regarding the leak of info from Monday's meet?... Hmmm

Glenn in California is either very young or blind to the facts. I challenge him to come up with any facts that substantiates his claim. As bad as things are now there are not nearly as bad as the economic legacy that Carter left. I lived through that. Many blame Bush for implementing the current economic bailout; Obama only wants to push this through so that should it fail the Dems will have one last thing to blame on Bush. If he is so behind a bailout for the auto industry, let him put himself out there in front of congress and push a bill through. That's where the last economic bailout started and where this would should. If the Dems believe so firmly in this then let them put the money where their mouths are.

I voted a pretty Democratic ticket this time around, and I drive a 2000 Ford Ranger...and I believe that bailing out the auto industry at taxpayer expense would be a huge mistake. Let the companies merge, or reorganize, or whatever they must (yes, including "fail") and let them do it without (more) taxpayer support.

Bailout the auto giants? Not with my money. These guys have had long enough to fix their problems. The original bailouts were dumb, as it has already been proven. If Obama gets his way he will leave our children with debt piled so high they will never dig out of it.

Helping the US automakers should have been done before the bank bailout. We need to stop the bleeding of American jobs. I think everybody that buys a foreign car should pay a 10% tax on that price. Everybody that buys an American car should get a tax break at tax time. We need to start rebuilding the American business and the American worker.

I don't get the free trade with Columbia, they already freely trade unmentionables. What is it that they have that we need so badly?

WOW this is scary, we are going to bail out big industries and banks but let the little guy fend for themselfs.

Bailouts are not the answer to our enconomy, no matter who we bail out it is only prolonging the inevatable.

Big business needs to take the hit and let the bailout packages go to the little guys who will suffer

“as long as funding will continue to go to viable firms and with strong taxpayer protections”

Now that is funny – how can businesses losing billions and producing poor quality products be considered viable. Let them all perish. The market will replace them with businesses that are doing the right thing, have sound business plans and products, and the consumer will be better off because of it.

How can anybody claim that CNN has a pro-GOP bias? @12:06, are we watching the same channel? Not showing the Obama infomercial was CNN's effort to be less biased and having a McCain interview merely worked towards balancing things out. You are an idiot to say the least. This network loves Obama (not as much as CBS or MSNBC, but quite a bit). Election is over. Mr. Obama will be in charge and commenting on his actions is fair game. Nothing to do with partisanship, race, etc. All about accountability. I did not vote for President-elect Obama, but I hope that I am wrong and he does a great job. It is in our best interests to hope as much.

After all this time, Bush still doesn't get it. He will let GM go under. That shouldn't be negotiable when people are losing jobs everyday and we've lost more than 1 million jobs this year. The auto industry is part of the backbone, if not the primary vertebrae of this country. If anyone needs a bailout, it's these guys. And I'm curious to know how the trade pact with Columbia will effect Amercians. Is it going to produce more jobs in the U.S.?

make sure Bush cleans his mess before he leaves

Looks like BARRY cant keep his mouth shut when he is supposed too. He has NO RESPECT for the White House or the USA. BARRY is a dangerous man!!!!

GM is failing becuase of the Union strong arming them into accepting over the top benefits and pensions year after year. End of story...

Being one who hasn't bought an Amercian vehicle since the 70's when I didn't know better, I say let them fail. I don't buy German and Japenese because they are cheaper I buy them because they are better.
The problem with the big three is simple. The product stinks!
This is gonna be a tough one for Mr Obama. Putting money into a sinking ship that will sink no matter how much money the country puts in without a major i.e bankrupcy reorganization will be futile. Get the Unions to by a sizeable fortune not my money!

GM is tanking because their product is not as good as others on the market. No offense to our workers at GM. They have not failed, but their leadership has. A bailout now would only mean a short term solution for a failing company. I think the best answer is to make it cost effective for foreign companies to build auto plants here in the U.S. where we have both a labor and consumer rich environment. Everyone complains about outsourcing, but it works both ways. Honda and Toyota have already done this due to the popularity of their vehicles in the U.S. Reduce barriers to foreign investment and you will create jobs without asking the taxpayers to invest in an extremely risky company.

Ride on my Obama, my President. President Bush should at this stage allow the Dems to bring into play,their vissionary know-how and ability to stem the tides of time to help salvage the situation right now,rather than wait till january 20th 2009. Americans are sufering minute by munite and can no longer continue to wallow in pain while the Bush lifeless policies last till january. The time demands and urgent attention and the only solution available at the moment is for Bush to play wise and give up his seat in the oval office,by allowing Obama take the decisions,while he will be signing the documents at least untill 20th january 2009.

Of course he did. Obama wants to bail out every single industry. And he is going to do so by increasing ALL of our taxes, not just the top 1%

Too bad, many are "worshipping" Obama like an idol, it is the bad sign for America and the world. Even the liberal media and comedians are fearful for their freedom, that they are used to under the previous administrations. How an inexperienced Commander-in-Chief is dealing with the dictators throughout the world, from Russia, China and North Korea, to Iran and Syria, remains to be seen.

What a punk. He leaked this info which breaks Presidential protocol. Again this man proves he belongs nowhere near the power he has inherited (the media provided him)

Hey, Mr. President-Elect,

Can I have a million dollars? I need a bail-out, too. Times are tough.

Hey, a million isn't much compared to the billions we're throwing around to bail out Wall St. and big business. And I deserve help more than they do.

It's just a million and I promise to pay it back when I get back on my feet.

I'll take a check.

The bail outs must stop or the taxpayers will never catchup to what the democratic Congress for 42 years and the republican Congress for 12 years raiding social security and borrowing money from our non allies and all spending like kids in a candy store. I have even heard idiots on radio talk shows that think they do not need to make their house and car payments because Obama will take care of them!
The automakerss should not be bailed out so they can pay for the UAW benefits with our taxpayer money.

Less than a week as President Elect and he (Obama) shows his niavete' regarding negotiations and discussions which are "private". Obama must grow up to be President

This is a tough one. I believe in the short term Obama is correct-they need a helping hand because they provide so many American s with jobs. On the other-hand, bailouts cannot be a longterm fix. The Auto Industry and Manufacturing in the US needs reform. We need to retool our Manufacturing Industries in the US to become competitive again.

For once Bush is thinking. Where is this going to end? Stop all this bailout of big companies who have miss use company money and padded pockets of exc. Let them go under and then mabe others will see they better get together. I am sure there is another co ready to come in and reopen the plants and who cares where their from as long as jobs are here in america. Mabe if unions hadent out lived their orig. intent and keep on demanding more so they to can pad their exc. pockets mabe we would not be here today. LET THEM GO, HARD WORKING PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF PICKING UP THE TAB . GIVE US A BREAK.

The United States may be one major bankruptcy away from financial collapse but Bush wants to hold the economy hostage for a free trade act with Columbia. Why is this man allowed to continue to govern? The republicans certainly don't owe him anything when you look at those who have been thrown out of office. For the democrats, it's a no-brainer. Impeach Bush and Cheney now. They deserve it and America can't afford to wait to move on the economy.

let's make one thing clear: screw Colombia

if we're going to oppose dictatorial regimes, let's start acting consistent

Ah, Obama, the friend of big business. If nothing happens this year to bail out the auto industry, Obama will step in with taxpayer dollars, for sure.
I suppose, being such a pragmatist, he'll delay on changing EPA standards on auto emissions, tougher standards proposed by California, because this would not be the time to add to the burdens of the auto industry. If the California liberals balk, Rahm Emanuel will silence them.

I own a small business can I have some bail out money too? What is happening here? ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! with all this bailout money. The car manufacturers need to do like the rest of us who sell things to make a living. Start making cuts and slashing prices to cover your expenses.

You have to act quickly to bail out the auto industry. No added republican garbage. Enough of the added crap to "make everyone happy". This is what is wrong with Washington, and the Bush administration is trying to strong arm congress. Can't wait till they are all gone.

You'd think that any bailout would be contingent on removing all levels of senior leadership that drove the companies into the ground....as well as the elimination of the unions that have gouged the auto makers for years – yet...neither will happen as the Democrats run the house now – and union pandering is their middle name

Come on "W" ... Barry needs to pay-off the union contributors ... please!!!

Nice play Bush, offer to send more jobs out of the country and ignore American workers.

Eight years is quite enough so, I wouldn't expect Bush to change now he got what he and the rich wanted reduced taxes, cheap labor and now a depression to make sure labor stays cheap.

Why are we talking about Columbia when people are hurting back home, DHL just closed shop in Ohio, charity begins at home, that is tax payers money it does not belong to the government.

Good man Obama!

They are History as we know them. Throwing more money at them is not the answer. The only thing that can be done at this time is to “Manhatanize” a project (24 hr a day) that re-tools the American auto industry to build affordable, quality hybrids, natural gas, hydrogen and electric production cars, trucks, heavy equipment & busses emedieatly. They can also build other stuff like wind turbines, thermo plants, solar panels and anything that will get us free of oil. What they will have to weigh & consider is the value to the Nation in moving away from fuel based transportation, and forget extensive profit margins out of the gate. Other than that is to go to a more global solution with Toyota, Honda and others. One way it will be valuable to the Nation is that by reducing our demand on fuel means less money for Russia, Iran and Venezuela. That will slow their rhetoric and save us money from having to protect Oil interest abroad.

El Presidente ..... getting right to business

People said that Palin was not qualified, let the comedy of errors begin.....

That's right, show by example that you are ready to lead us out of this mess Mr. Obama. Prove all the smears wrong.

And, if he does prove all the smears false, what will the GOP hate-machine come up with next election cycle to stoke fear, uncertainty, and doubt?

Good job Mr. President elect

HEY CNN- all the reporters on your channel: Campbell Brown, Cooper, Griffin, Sanchez, Malveaux,Yellin, Dobbs, Beck, Bennett are all against an Obama win, for whatever reason and worked hard to stop Obama from a victory by making up false stories about him. Also Your channel didn't accept the 30minutes commercial that Obama's camp would pay for but instead you happily took McCain's interview on the same night that Obama's commerical was airing. How biased! Then you start selling T-shirts with Obama's name on it!
Basically you guys are now making money off of Obama's victory which you worked so hard to stop. Do you guys have any morals???
DISGUSTING!

Mr. Bush, it's game over, man! You've had eight years to lead us and it has not gone so well. Don't try to stick us with another disastrous trade deal and hold American workers hostage in the meantime.

Try to go out with as much grace as you can. Going along with what President-elect Obama wants to do and maybe, just maybe, you can polish up your legacy a bit.

Look at Obama, already demonstrating strategic and sound decisions! He's going to bring substantial positive change and make an excellent president.

All those naysayers need to give chaneg a chance...give him a chance!

I voted for Bush twice and strongly believe he should back off the Free Trade Agreement with Columbia.

i know he will try and make sure that the transition move smoothly and secondly bush knows that the way he handled the transition program will be part of his legacy.

This President has one goal. To get Americas economy on track
again. His energy is amazing. We can espect a lot of him in the near future. He will be also great and a changer on foreign policy.
I am not an American but I am realy proud to see Barack in the White House. He will be your most respected and loved President ever.
Tho the whiners I say. Ger over it and be proud to be respected again in the world.

Ted van Tol
The Netherlands

Really waiting for President Obama's reign to steer the country to the right path.

Wow, I actually have to agree with GWB on this one.

The auto industry does not deserve to be bailed out.

They got themselves into this trouble and they should have to come up with a plan to get themselves out. In fact, the problem is that the government has helped them too much over the last few decades. Now they have grown dependent on having this help. The government should stop bailing out bad business and interfering in the market place.

No more bailouts for bad business practice. It is good to let bad businesses fail bc it lets everyone learn something from them.

Tough love is what is needed not welfare for another big business!!!

yeah, we really need to reward the bloated, inefficient, unproductive, and mis-managed US auto-industry.

Until the break the unions and continue to have bloated operating costs, the US auto-industry will not be able to compete with the efficientlty run, productive foriegn run auto-industry in the US. Workers at Toyota, Subaru, Honda, Mercedes, plants in the US make a comfortable living, but aren't breaking the backs of their employers by demaning wages and benefits higher than the market dictates.

Bush's "legacy" will go down as the worst presidency ever, with or without GM going under. At this point, it's just a matter of degree of how bad Bush will be remembered.

Is it Jan. 20, 2009 yet? It can't come soon enough for our country.

Why is it that Toyota, Honda, and Hundai don't seem to be in trouble? Could it be that they were just more efficient a predicting market trends for smaller cars, hybrids, etc.? Or is it that they don't have unions bleeding them dry? Either way, American car manufactureres got themselves in this mess by mismanagement. If they are allowed to fail, a more competitive car industry will emerge.

It has always been traditional for these types of meetings and exchanges in transition of the President to be of advice and confidential in nature. I am very sorry to hear that Mr. Obama's team does not understand tradition or confidence. This may be the media's dream come true as they will has access to all the things that by their very essence are confidential if not top secret. This is sad.

Apparently it has become," Survival of the biggest" instead of,"Survival of the fittest". That's only the start of how backwards things will be done starting in 2009. Can't wait to see the rest of the Change we are in for!

If it was an oil company that was in trouble, Bush would be all over it! Of course, if it was an oil company, it would never have gotten this far to begin with, because Bush and Cheney would have already handled it and not let it get this far!!!

We should do all we can to support the auto industry if they are going to make cars in the USA. If we are going to give them money or loan them money and they make the cars in some foreign country, then I would oppose the bailout.
Why should we bailout of some foreign country. I see too much foreign goods on the shelves of all the stores now. I have to go to many stores sometimes to get what I want that made in America.
I am tired of having to go without or have to buy chineses made goods or from somewhere else.
I want America made goods and am willing to pay the price for them.

I know this is controversial, I know it will cost jobs, but we should not bail out the auto industry. I think it should go under and be born afresh with new teams, new designs, better use of power and fuel. The industry did this to itself by poor designs, extraordinary pay packages, continued union demands despite a poor economy, and no attention to competition. We cannot afford to bail out every company that made poor decisions, and I don't see the government coming in to bail out other industries and the thousands of small companies that are suffering. Sorry to seem cold-hearted, but I will say that our economic condition breaks my heart.

All these people that drive foreign vechiles here in the US are to blame for this mess! You need to be driving a Chevy, Ford. Wake up America! BUY AMERICAN

Such a bailout should include stipulations that GM will change management, reduce models, and overhaul its entire work process. It can't go on "business as usual". I worked indirectly for GM, and I have never seen such a un-coordinated and confusing way of doing very simple tasks.

Such a bailout should include stipulations that GM will change management, reduce models, and overhaul its entire work process. It can't go on "business as usual". I worked indirectly for GM, and I have never seen such a un-coordinated way of doing very simple tasks.

The Auto Industry, the economy, the wars, jobs, health care, on and on and yet there is so much attention given to Sarah Palin and what she did, what she will do and what she has to say. When is she ever going to fade into obscurity where she rightfully belongs? After seeing her in action I'm sure there are few who don't believe she is obnoxiously self-focused, arrogant and aggressive with little conscience and will say/do anything to get as much attention as she can ... all of that besides not being too bright. So now with all of her excuses and rationalizations, which she quickly offers about everything, how can anyone want to be bothered with any of it? Time to move on and let the trivial fall by the way side.

Such a bailout should include stipulations that GM will change management, reduce models, and overhaul its entire work process. It can't go on "business as usual". I worked indirectly for GM, and I have never seen such a un-coordinated way of doing very simple tasks.

If Bush doesn't do that and let millions in the auto industry loose their jobs, well that would be hes last legacy and republican's can forget about winning an election for generations.
This people don't have a heart. They will let the country suffer just because of their stupid fiscal and spending ideology in this time of crisis. I am quite sure they can let their own children suffer or die if they make a mistake in life.
NO TIME FOR IDEOLOGY, ITS TIME TO SAVE THE NATION PERIOD

It's puzzling why Bush doesn't see the economy the way all Americans do and the need to act on behalf of Americans instead of foreign governments. Enough is enough, the audacity of Bush to be more concerned about Colombias well being than the loss of jobs held by millions who work in the auto industry. Just think, this Colombia trade agreement is the same thing McCain was pushing for vs. jobs for Americans.

President Obama, I know you are too smart to take any advice from a loser like Bush. Please, go ahead and do what you want. I know the decisions you make will be for the benefit of the country. Bush only cares about war and rich people. Forget him.

Obama Transition Chief: He’s Ready to ‘Rule’

“rule” is a word “that reflects the worst fears that people have for Obama the ‘arrogant,’ the ‘messiah,’ that he’s here to ‘rule’ instead of govern.
Someone needs to inform the obama team that American politicians are not kings and do not ‘rule’ from office.”

The auto industry is in trouble because of all the unions and funding of retired legacy employees. It is also in trouble because of federal regulations on miles per gallon requirements that they can not afford to produce. Lower the freakin taxes to nothing and get the unions out of the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So the "lberal" wants handouts for big business, and the "conservative" is pushing global trade.

That's a funny looking two-party system.

So he wants my tax money to bail out GM and pay for their retired workers' primo health care for LIFE while my husband and I (both retired) pay just under $13,000 for ours. Yeah, that's real fair.

The professionalism of Obama's campaign was contradicted yesterday by the amaterurism of revealing his and President Bush's private conversation. The president-elect might want to reconsider this breach of trust if he expects to hear candid opinions once he takes office.

I hope the president does veto a bailout for the auto industry, the only reason the dems are worried for the auto industry is the union votes,which that is the reason the big 3 are bankrupt in the first place this is what you get with liberal policies

For all of you right wingers wondering why we continue to blame Bush for what is happening in this country, here is a perfect example.

After 8 years of coddling Detroit and not forcing the automakers to become more efficient, Bush is now ready to throw them to the wolves even though, as noted, one in 10 American jobs is connected to the auto industry. After 9/11, with the supply of Middle East oil in jeopardy, Bush could have started a revolution in Detroit. Instead, he told the public to go out and shop and the automakers gave us the Excursion and the Hummer. And, no, this is not about "freedom of choice" to drive what you want. This is about national security-and Bush blew it again.

If Bush would have set a higher fuel efficiency for American cars at the beginning of his term, would there have been such a crisis. His whole presidency is one that lacked vision from the war in Iraq, to unfair trade policies, to deregulating and lack of oversight of the banking/mortgage industry and huge tax deductions for the rich at a time of war..

That the 700 billion dollar bailout package can't include money for an industry which effects 1.7 million workers is ridiculous. Time for gov't to stop tagging on unrelated things like a free trade deal when America's economy is in free fall. Time to end the gotcha politics and put the well being of Americans first.

I am glad the Obama camp leaked this to show the continued incompetency of the present administration.

January 20th can't come soon enough...

As much as I don't want to spend taxpayer money on the auto industry I don't see why the banks are the only ones bailed out. Not much point to have the chance to get a loan if you don't have a job to use that loan.

1 in 10 people make their living from the auto industry. That is a ton of people.

Get these people working on an electric or hydrogen car and get us off oil for good. It hits two birds with one stone, gets America working again and gets the national security issue of sending our oil money overseas to foreign countries that don't like us anyway.

In other words Bush will try to the very end to ruin this country a little further.

There uis just no justification for sending taxpayer monies to GM and Ford to pay for lucrative union packages, benefits, and pensions – No way. we have given bankc billions. Let GM and Ford take their case to these bankc - If the baks feel justified in lending funds, they can do so. If the banks feel it is too riskly, then the Government ought not to jump in. GM and Ford are Union heavy, labor heavy, management heavy, and have sat on their collective bargaining butts on hybrids, fuel emmission standards and mileage. If they cannot compete with Japan and germany, it is time to let them be taken over by those firms - or go out of business. No bailout -– Huge mistake.

YES! A thousand time YES!

If the neocon repugs, their appointees and the congress can help bail out their rich buddies on Wall Street they owe the same to the American auto industry and all the working people that it supports as well.

Hey congress – Help Main Street survive this time!

allowing GM fail is not an option.

If any money HAS to go to the automakers, it has to have a very strong string attached. No more gasoline powered vehicles in the long run, and develop electric, hydrogen, or any other means of powering cars in less than 10 years. Otherwise, they ought go under out of their own fault and lack of vision. Can't pay them for lack of innovation because we have to stop lining the pockets of our country's enemies.

I'm actually responding to the previous article on Palin, because your comment period for that one has expired. The degree of hate that CNN readers and viewers have toward Sarah points out once again that we are 2 Americas, no matter what Obama or anyone else says. Believe me, nearly half of the country detests him in much the same way. Let's just divide the nation in half, and put those leaning to the left on one side of the Mississippi River, and those leaning to the right (including me) on the other, and then everyone will finally be happy!

Bankers and credit mongers were reviled in early modern society because then, as now, they didn't really produce anything.
True value will always be in the making of things.
Sure the automakers have messed up, but a lot of it isn't their fault, more of it is their fault, that is true. However, their sin has been stupidity and incompetence, the wall street pieces of human garbage though are guilty of an active systemic sin of greed.
They all bought into the idea that "Greed is good," spoken Gordon Geko, Michael Douglas' character in Wall Street.

Cause here's the thing: Greed is not good, it is briefly useful, like pride, but it is always a failure of imagination that requires it.
Bailout the automakers we need to get back to being builders, rather than bankers.
Look what happened to Iceland, their economy was fueled by banking and they are now bankrupt.

Pretty outrageous that Bush refuses to consider the auto industry on its own merits.

Will someone tell me what the relationship is between the American auto industry collapse and free trade with Colombia??

The security and future of MILLIONS of Americans is tied into the American auto industry. We need to fix it, not let it fold.

A perfect example of why Americans have contempt for Mr. Bush.

Who are these Democratic Aides and Bush administration officials?

These are not concrete details out of the mouths of President Bush or President-elect Obama.

It's all hearsay and in my book that amounts to diddley squat.

Give me a break! This isn't news, CNN–it's more like Entertainment Tonight news.

Get it together and report on concrete news. Sheesh.

Although the auto industry has been negligable in paying attention and acknowledging what improvements they needed to make
in manufacturing cars according to need, they are victims of
the financial crisis.
They are not criminals as the financial institution are. Although
imagine their CEO's are overpaid they are not using taxpayer
dollars to pay bonuses.
Saw last night where the treasury dept slipped through an
additional 140 bilion dollars to banks, etc, during the
announcement of the crisis, hoping it would not be discovered.
Why is this not being shouted from the roof tops and why are
allowed to pay bonuses with our taxpayer dollars.
It is an outrage and must be stopped.

CNN,

You need to bust Fox News out about spewing hate and accusations towards people. They do not have no valid evidence that Obama is like hitler or any other negative views they have. It is quite frankly racism to me. Have no other White candidate or President ever came up under this scrutiny. Obama has been vetted and his background has been dug up over and over and over. And if it was any worries by the CIA

OBAMA, DON'T FALL THE BANANA IN THE TAILPIPE.....TREAD WITH CAUTION ESPECIALLY AROUND THISSSSSS GUY.

Countless studies have shown that every manufacturing job creates 7 more jobs in other sectors. The same cannot be said for the service industries. This is why China's economy is growing at a rate of 10 to 12 percent annually. Ours is going backwards. Our government needs to do what is necessary to save jobs. Period.

This is what makes politics so painful. 1 in 10 jobs tied to the US auto industry and a sitting President who is inert. Frankly I was surprised Cheney wasn't part of the meeting.

Dear Gov. Palin,
Regarding your hope to run in the 2012 primaries.
First off, you will be taking on a Harvard magna cum laude incumbent.
You are a former beauty pageant contestant who doesn't know the difference between a country and a continent.
You should stick to governing the vast wilderness of a state that elects a convicted felon (7 counts).
Trees and mountains don't require intellect.
Do us all a favor, stay in Alaska.
Jim, Minneapolis

You go Mr. President Elect!

If the auto industry doesn't make affordable fuel efficient cars like the Japanese have been, if the auto industry cant provide plug-in electric cars, then it can and should fail.

The Big Three have had several years to correct their ways but have not seen the light. Mis-mangement, waste, not offering a product the consumer wants..........let them fail I much as I hate it. Enough is enough, why should the American Tax Payers pay thier mistakes.........If I don't pay my bills I don't have someone bailing me out. SORRY!

CNN,

Please print this. I want you guys from CNN and Bloggers here to check out Fox News Website. They have a Republican Congress from GA accusing Obama of being like Hitler. He claimed he is not comparing him to Hitler but if you read the article. The article say different. This is the reason why the republicans lost. They are always fear-mongering, spewing hate and false accusations. Now if you read some of the bloggers comments they are saying things like. Go out and get guns. If Obama is like this he will be dealt with like Kennedy. What Fox is doing by printing this article is stirring up the republican base again with hate towards Obama and Democrats. They will be starting a civil war if they continue with these type of articles!!

NO to CAFTA – and Modify NAFTA – to heck with what the village idiot wants. Soon he will be ONE PERSON, just like me. His vote will not count any more than mine.

Please...NO MORE BAILOUTS!! This is getting old very quickly. What ever happened to taking responsibility for our actions. The government is set up to serve and protect, not make us all pay for the sins of others. Hey how about bailing out the hard working American people for a change!