CNN

Gotta love this *change*. Spend, spend, spen, SPEND.

Sounds like the mantra for the next four years has already started.

I'd LOVE to make $75/hour as an unskilled worker. I have a management consulting job and don't make that much.

Time for Detroit to cut the fat in the worker's pay. And make them earn the same as the rest of the world. The unions are what has ruined the American car market.

Get rid of the unions – and I mean ALL of it. And then, and ONLY then, might I support help for Detroit.

Oh, and before you say I'm anti-Detroit – I spent the better part of my life there.

O.K. guys Obama promised change and now you are begining to see some of what he means by change. You ask for it, voted for it and now change is on the horizon. Bet it is not what you had in mind!

Of course they're going to bail them out. They are in the pockets of the union leaders. We really need to bail out those autoworkers making $75/hr (with their benifits) while the average Amercan makes $25/hr and the average toyaota/honda worker makes a better car at $45/hr.

why does the big three think america can't survive without them, america became great before cars were invented.

Reid must have gotten a bunch of money from Chicago to make this imperative. Dodd already had his...........

@ RAVI,,,,,,,,,the auto industry and workers pay taxes too, if they bail out the auto industry, and rightfully so, we deserve a bailout and we deserve to keep our jobs, it's the only real living wage in this courrpt country, the small business owner aren't paying a living wage, and if they can bailout wallstreet and there cronnies, they can bail out the auto industry, pay now or pay 100 times more in govt. pension and healtcare cost that your precious govt will be liable for, IT'S THE ECONOMY STUPID

The only thing the Dems knows to do is throw money at a problem. Now they want the Repubs to join in with their votes so they can take the blame.

See if China wants to buy them,I don't want to borrow more money from China just to finance the Big 3 bailout-Does anybody talk about the compounding interest on the money on all of these bailouts and loans,it's much greater than the loans themselves.A little common since would be good.

This is congress: a show, a display of toughness when the camera is on them and then wimps behind the scenes giving every crying baby a financial pacifier. Congress is a fraud.

It's truly pathetic that Dems, who are supposed to be against fat cat CEOs and big corporations, are prepared to use our tax dollars to simply prolong the painful death of the Detroit 3.

Forcing them to file for bankruptcy might be painful in the short run, but for me that is the only appropriate option. Bankruptcy protection would allow GM and the other two to get that blood thirsty parasite called the UAW off their necks.

they never offered to help any of us when we had to buy their over priced cars and trucks, let them start from the bottom, a lot of americans are having to give up their homes and can't feed their families a decent meal. why on earth should we be expected to take food from our family to bail out a bunch of crooks.

Boy, I feel confident now!!! LOL!! Especially with the clowns like Dodd and Reid in charge. Help us all. Isn't there anyone there who has more than a half of a brain cell?

This Congress is pathetic. Dodd? Pelosi? Frank? Reid? Are coming up with a 'plan'? The best plan would be for these idiots to resign.

They have already released over 700B into the atmosphere. There are no paper trails for the McCain-Rescue Bailout Project! The 3G's are asking for 34B. There is an easier paper trail with the automakers than with the banks, etc. With GM the money is more tangible and more visible. It's directed to actual people, and seems to be a more concrete request.

The uninformed person who suggested that we don't need them, and that imports will be just fine is undereducated about the situation. If the big 3 go down, import prices will go up! If you think there's a problem now, you haven't seen the stuffing hit the fan yet! Blessed are the merciful. The big 3 need some mercy right now!

P.S. Bush is leaving another load of his 'stuff' for the new president. I think he is either very foolish or very evil, to have let the economy get so grossly out of hand! Republicans are quick to evoke their Two-Faced Strategy. They pretend to be on board until it looks like the plans won't work, then they come out in public and blame the Dems.

Pray******Pray****Pray Don't laugh now, you may cry later!

Chris Dodd is an idiot. He is part of the gang that got us into this mess, why would any intelligent person listen to what he has to say now?

Dodd is the biggest windbag Ive ever seen,he never mentions the Money Paulson stole,but whines like a school yard bully that just got beatup by a freshman.

Nationalize GM and restructure it to make energy efficient cars. Let Chryslar go under. Ford will probably survive on it's own.

You know congress want to rake these guys over the coals for this bailout and I agree that no more money should be alotted to failing bussiness no matter who they are but where are the hearing for Fannie and Freddie? Why haven't congress put Dodd and Frank and whole list of other weasels in the hot seat for their dealings with these investment banks. Why in the hell haven't any of the major media outlets been barking at the obvious corruption going on in our government? There has been a lot of talk about the jets these guys flew to the first hearing but what about the jet that Pelosi uses on a regular basis and in paid for with our tax dollars. where is the out rage CNN stop your pandering to these politicians and start asking relavant and tough questions. Start to regain the respect of the United States by holding these corrupt political nitwits accountable to the people through the information you provide.

People see how the vote turns out and you will see that the Democratic party is a party of and for the people and workers .

Requirements...requirements...requirements. Put in a plan to make plug-in electric hybrids (such as the Volt) or other such VIABLE, fuel-efficient vehicles mainstream as part of this. Maybe raise CAFE to 50 MPG by 2012 or the interest rate on the loan goes up. But do give them the loan, just make sure there are sensible conditions. Throw $50 Billion at research to advance fuel-saving technologies (if we can spend $600B+ in Iraq, we can CERTAINLY spend $50B for our security, right?

I would think reducing America's oil consumption by 75% would go much further in preventing terrorist attacks and obtaining of nuclear weapons by Iran than boots on the ground could ever do.

This clown is one of the main people who got us into this mess!

Dodd and Frank! Two crooks!

NO BAILOUT!!!!

The Big 3 need to file bankruptcy. Period!!! Americans are sick of the bailouts!

The people do NOT want a bailout of auto industry. Obama took a lot of money from big corporations. Let's see who Obama sides with.

I bet there are a lot more strings attached than there were for AIG or any other white-collar industry the government has handed cash over to in the last few months.

Everyone acts as if going bankrupt is theend of the world for these workers. If part of the competition fails then supply and demand will cause the others to succeed, therefore they will need to hire more people to keep up with demand. Yes there may be a cut in pay, but they will have a job. By cut in pay I mean from maybe $75.00 an hour for a spot weld to $ 40.00 for the same spot weld.

maybe Dodd will get a low interest rate Caddy, to park in his low interest morgaged mansion. mega dittos, Dave central ill.

If congress gives them a Bailout, then the american people will find out who voted....Then, they will Vote whomever OUT, when their time is up, believe me !!!

Larry in Houston
TX

This clown was one of the main people that got us into this mess. Why anyone is asking him something more complex than where the bathroom is or how to tie a shoe is beyond me.

Frank, if the UAW weren't a bunch of blood sucking leeches, there would be no need for a bailout. Paying someone 95% of their salary for 2 years after a layoff is just as obscene as the fat cat executive bonuses. The whole industry is bloated, and needs to file chapter 11. People working at US Honda and Toyota plants make about half what union workers do and are happy for what they consider good jobs. Give the UAW a choice between $45/hr and no job, and I bet they pick $45/hr. If not, there are plenty of people ready to take their place.

GREAT job Senator Dodd with the critical speech you gave to the auto executives. Make sure they are not given a blank check like Paulson got.

Bail our General Motor and Ford. Chrysler is privately owned and will take the money and line it's own pocket's. If they get the money (Chrysler) I wouldn't be surprised to see their fat cats at some spa ala AIG. Chylser is toast unless somebody like Nisan or GM merge to take them over.

Why does everyone blame the democrats for everything?
Good Grief.... put the blame where it lies...blame the idiots in the white house!!!

[...] that a bridge loan to punt the issue to Obama is possible. A final deal reportedly could involve a "big role" for government in restructuring the companies with even a "car czar" appointed for oversight - [...]

I thought that Congress and the Senate worked for the American people???? All the polls show that most Americans don't agree with the "Loan". So why is it that when the American people speak, our government ignores us and do what they want anyway? Did anybody hear from the CEO's that they were going to stop laying people off if they get this money? We heard the same thing that the Banks said when they got their money, NOTHING.

The republicans are there and they do not trust the Automakers or the UAW who want tax payers to pay for their UAW contracts. The democrats are wanting to re-introduce the K-Car from the 70's, for those of you too young to remember they were powerless pieces of tin that fell apart and you hoped you were not hit by a moped because you may lose! I have heard a few news people call the new K-Cars, "the Pelosi"!

"Democratic leadership" You're kidding right?

This is a terrible situation to be in and I don't know what the answer is....but....why pour more money into GM when it's ovbious they don't have a chance to succeed?
Ford and Chrysler has a better chance, but, with so many people losing their jobs and filing bankruptcy, and the tanked mortgage mess, who can afford to buy a new car right now?
So, what to do.

This is a terrible situation to be in and I don't know what the answer is....but....why pour more money into GM when it's ovbious they don't have a chance to succeed?
Ford and Chrysler has a better chance, but, with so many people losing their jobs and filing bankruptcy, and the tanked mortgage mess, who can afford to buy a new car right now?
So, what to do.

There is a lot of emotion out there against the bailout. We want to help, but don't want to be laughed at by the CEOs on Wall Street after receiving our bailout money. What exactly do the big three plan to do with this bailout money? We want to know the plan.

And, we must get rid of at least one out of three. We cannot afford to keep three unproductive companies, period. It would be more productive to move these auto workers to work on infrastructure than keeping them in an unwanted industry. I would love to buy American. But who wants to buy a car with more troubles and less fuel efficiency? The White House is absolutely right. The big three have to work on energy efficient cars and stop producing more unwanted cars.

NO BAILOUT, NO BAILOUT, NO BAILOUT.

Dodd in charge? You can thank him and old bathhouse Barney Frank for their part in the mess we are in. Good Lord, we are scr$w$d!

In answer to the question "Where are the Republicans" They are still trying to figure out what happened in the election. I suppose now they are working on 2012. They didn't do anything for 8 years why should they start earning their keep now?

Why not let the Big 3 go chapter 11, reorganize union contracts, cut dealers and then come back stronger than before. The airlines used bankruptcy and people didn't stop flying. Why can't the car companies use the courts? I do not buy their argument that people will be afraid to buy their product. We are afraid to buy their product because it will not last. Who can afford to buy a new car and make repairs that are larger than the monthly payment. Most Americans that's who. Wake up Detroit, when you can build a car that will not see the service garage for 4 years after you drive off the lot, then you will have Americans flooding back to your dealerships.

Is this Chrysler CEO the same Nardelli that made so much money at home Depot then left a screwed up [once proud buisness] organization that is a pitiful example of how not to run a buisness and bought up good profitable businesses that have turned into flops in the real world. let Chrysler go down the tubes and maybe someone with standards necessary to make and sell a decent product.

JUST GET IN LINE DEMS HAVE MONEY FOR EVERY HAND THATS OUT STRETCHED....VERY SAD ,,, VERY SAD

I think it would be prudent to add this to President Obama's New Year's "To Do" List. Don't be so hasty and loose with the purse strings Congress!

I hope the Big 3 fail, they shouldn't get a dime! America is strong and will bounce back from this crisis. I'm not in favor of supporting a failing business, not at the expense of hard working taxpayers like myself.

Please include the following language somewhere:

"Prior to release of said Baoilout Funds, said Executives must don pink tutus and fairy wings, then sing and dance the teacup song on the Capitol steps for 40 days and 40 nights"

i thought the bailout for the financial institutions was supposed to free up credit. why cant one of them fatcat banks give em a line of credit?

I don't understand how the banks had easy access to the bail out money and the autor makers have to sweat so hard to get theirs. The banks don't have as much laborers as the the autor makers. So for them to get the money when they don't produce anything and the auto makers do is beyond me. Every year we lose jobs to the rest of the world, we've lost our competitive edge and now the government wants the only remaining companies to fail and people to lose their jobs. If this happens, no matter who is running for office the next time, will surely lose Michigan and Ohio. People ought to make a political statement on this issue in the next four years.

Don't do it Dodd!

If you bail out these fools you will never be reelected!

Let them crash and burn like you would let any other common man business.

Hey Frank I can't pay my light bill this month can someone bail me out? Hey Frank I gambled away my money making stupid decisions, can someone bail me out? Hey Frank someone sold cars cheaper and more fuel efficient and everyone bought them forcing me to lose money, can someone bail me out?

The auto industry Must be saved, period! Any company, any, who had a 33% down turn in business can not survive. The turn down in business was because of their products, people who want to buy cars simply can't auto loans. The banks who caused our economic problems get money without any problem, yet the companies that the banks caused to go under get no money. What's wrong with this picture? Unlike the banks who got a true bailout, the auto companies are asking for a LOAN. Isn't time that Congress helped blue collar America as much as they help white collar America? So wake up, the loss of jobs will be much higher than the 3 million people involved in the auto industry. When 3 million people can no longer purchase goods, it affect drugstores, bakeries, hardware stores, grocery stores, gift shops, etc. etc. The list is endless, so the true loss of jobs will be closer to 10 million! America can not afford to let the Big 3 fail!!

Amazing there are no comments on this story. I'm sure CNN is holding back the comments due to bias for the bailout.

NewFlash: Americans don't want the bailout. But of course Congress is going to approve the funds anyway. Pelosi and Reid leading the way. I am speechless. These guys just don't get it.

Dodd, Pelosi, and Reid, not to mention most of the leading house repubs should be in prison. If an arson sets fire to your house are you going to call him to help you put it out? That's basically the same thing we are doing now.

Even though the majority of Americans do not want a bail out.
Taxation without representation!

Kick 'em all out!

Where are the republicans? This needs to be worked out with all parties.

We should not have Reid nor Dodd participating in anything to do with bail out. Dodd is under investigation for activity with home mortgage sweet deal and Reid is just plain looney! Maybe we should put both in a car together, let them travel for miles and miles with the heat blasting and see if Reid likes the smell then!

Boy, this makes me feel better. Dodd and Reid to come up with solutions? Didn't they make of movie with those two, ie. "Dumb & Dumber".

Since the money given to AIG and Citibank wasn't used to loosen up credit but was used for acquisitions, I think we should just let those two companies go bankrupt and concentrate of helping companies that would actually employ people and help the economy

let them go under...if they are as strapped as they say they are then this will be a drop in the bucket...how about merge all three into one...
or better yet give us , the taxpayers a one time check and let us stimulate the economy. We would pay bills, save, invest, and buy cars, and from that letting the market work it owuld become apparent that the Big 3 do not ahve the vehicels that we want,,,,,or need...they got themselves into this ..let them get out themselves.

When do the American people get a bailout?

But Congress will do it anyway because they're scared and have no backbone. Pitiful that we elect these characters but they don't do what we want.