Again the Democrats withdraw legislation because it can't meet a 60 vote threshold rather then a simple majority.

The Republicans want the bill to be defeated because mass layoffs of union workers would benefit the GOP and weaken the support unions can give Democrats in future elections. Aren't Democratic Senators willing to actually fight this?

Why don't the Democrats make the Republicans actually filibuster?

Senator Reid needs to be reminded that it only takes 50 votes to pass legislation and not 60!

They are cutting the head off of the snake, this really makes me happy, millions of union workers layed off as well as drying up the union spigots that fund all the dems politicians.

Happy Holidays!

I just said it in another thread, it's time to let the GOP put their mouths to work if they want to obstruct... If the obstruction was a clear, obnoxious, vocal effort rather than a veiled threat, I have a feeling the Dems could siphon off at least a few of those 48 who voted against cloture. Sadly, we're talking about a Democratic caucus led by Harry "The Cave-man" Reid, so I won't be counting on it. It's going to be a long 2 years if the Dems aren't willing to force the GOP's hand; if they won't do it with 51-52 votes, I don't expect much out of them even with 58-59.

Dems should put together the bill that works for American workers and force the hand of the southern (AL, MS, TN, SC?) gop Senators and force them to filibuster. The political theater would be extreme, and I think the nation would pay tremendous attention.

Not that we need the attention, but we need the loan to tide over the industry!

They are the ultimate traders.

IF the last 8 years were not proof enough.

Greetings

Once more the Dems give little no reason to give them a vote and majority. Once again with Harry Reid leading craven cowards who run before the fight even starts

Give billions to rich fat cats on wall street but cut wages for blue collar workers and benefits of retirees

is this a great country or what?

This is garden variety home cooking. Look where McConnell and other GOP Senators who are leading the charge on this are from. Look at where Toyota, Nissan and Honda have set up their U.S. based plants. Hmmm, correlation or causation?

In case you all missed it, those useless, spineless two-faced losers had already capitulated in dropping their demand that the "Big Three" no longer participate in lawsuits against states requiring higher emission standards (because a president with the lowest approval ratings in history refused to play ball otherwise). And then they couldn't even get a vote and all they can do is blame the Republicans. I ask you: WHAT ARE THE DEMOCRATS GOOD FOR? Seriously. Is there a single principle - a single issue - that they will ever see through?

And on top of all that, does anyone actually think $14 billion is going to "save" the auto industry? If so, may I interest you in my fleet of Hummers?

These companies need to be made profitable. And the Democrats, together with the UAW and the Sierra Club haven't understood that concept. They all want their little piece of the pie.

So here is what has to happen, whether via a bankruptcy filing, or not. The UAW has to get its whole package of wages and benefits in line with reality. GM, and to a lesser extent Chrysler and Ford, have to get their product lines in tune with what will sell. That means reducing brands, cutting out dealers, and reducing costs everywhere.

And it is absolutely crazy that after all this, Congress won't slay the one sacred cow that has caused so many problems for Detroit -- the CAFE scheme of mileage/production requirements that have cost Detroit billions. No other country in the world has been stupid enought to impose anything like CAFE. They don't bother -- they tax gasoline, to the extent that their greenest politicians have the guts and the power to do so.

Getting rid of CAFE would cost the U.S. Treasury nothing, and would help the Detroit Three significantly and almost immediately.

When you heard the Detroit Three CEO's say, "Bankruptcy is not an option," don't believe them. It isn't just an option, it is an inevitability under present circumstances. And the Detroit Three could survive it. The only reason that Jack Wagoner said that GM couldn't survive it was as a favor to the UAW, which was there working its own side of the legislative aisle. Bankruptcy's worst sting will be felt by the UAW. That is, after the GM shareholders. Tonight, the UAW behaved the same way it has in years of negotiations with the Detroit Three for decades. Take whatever you think you can get. Forget the consequences.

First of all, it seems pretty clear that neither Democrats nor Republicans want to save the auto companies. This is a doomed industry in the US.

Even though I can't see the Big 3 around in twenty years, I'm unclear why they'd disappear all at once. GM's fall would certainly benefit Ford and Chrysler (and US-based Toyota, etc).. and many suppliers would remain in business, supplying the remaining companies.

Over the next couple decades as Ford and Chrysler finally fail they'll have been replaced in the US by Toyota, Honda, etc.

btw I grew up outside of Detroit and used to work at the GM Tech Center in Warren. I think a lot of GM employees could see this coming a long time ago.

It is a disaster. That smart-ass, well-coiffed Senator from Tennessee will go down in history alongside Herbert Hoover and Benedict Arnold.

Unless, things change in the next few days. Things will change, I predict. And that Senator will settle into obscurity.

Senator Corker, a born-again, forked-tongued, NeoConfederate nihilist. Pointman for the Greater Depression.

The GOP is trying to break the UAW, the last major industrial union in the US with millions to hand out to candidates.

GM, Ford and Chrysler have been so stupid for the past 30 years. If the economy were better I would say let them go but to lose 6 million jobs now would be a disaster. Better to prop them up for now than to let them collapse and bring down a entire sector of the industrial base.

We've spent $700 billion to bail out the banks and the financial institutions; what's another $34 billion? Obama will need to spend $2 to 3 trillion to prevent a complete economic collapse.

Please also note that Senator Shelby has both a Honda and a Toyota plant in his state.

The GOP are not patriots but saboteurs.