RideLust

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich, left, listens to Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, speaking about the Senate’s rejection of an emergency $14 billion loan bailout for US auto companies, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Late Thursday night word came down the pike that, just as many Senate Republicans had warned, the U.S. Senate had struck down the emergency aid package for the automotive industry. 60 votes were needed for the bill to receive official approval, and the final vote count stood at 52 “yay”, 35 “nay”, and 13 abstaining.

With rescue efforts officially at a stalemate in Congress, Michigan Sen. Carl Levin (D-Detroit) said the decision to save Detroit is now solely at the mercy of President Bush’s executive powers. Addressing the press immediately after the vote with tears in her eyes, Sen. Levin’s fellow, Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) begged, “There are those who think they can play games with this…President Bush please use the authority you have to make sure we do not add another 2.5 million people to the unemployment rolls.”

Although Stabenow’s call for action is certainly a moving overture, my unsolicited advice would be to stow it, sister. You think Republicans are playing games with you? Well guess what, you’re probably right. Do you know why they’re playing games with you? Because both GM and Chrysler have admitted they have at least enough money to stave off bankruptcy until March 2009, and although there’s no way in hell that the Bush administration is going to allow one more dime of taxpayer money be poured into the sinking economy, Bush’s stance on the matter is only relevant until January 19. As soon as President-elect Savior takes office, Detroit is going to be given more money than they’ll know what to do with, and you know that, Stabenow – those crocodile tears aren’t fooling anyone.

Source: Detroit News
Image: AP Photo by Haraz N. Ghanbari