Auto executives take case for bailout to Congress

U.S. auto executives were set to take their case for a $25 billion industry bailout to the U.S. Congress on Tuesday as they hope to overcome political opposition from influential congressional Republicans and the White House. The hearings come as government and business officials around the globe look for new ways to bolster struggling automakers. Ahead of [...] "eliotcobb.com"

It’s Not Your Money! There’s a lot of talk about stimulus using Government money to bail out the economy. But will this really work. And who’s actually paying for this. When do we get a say? Barack Obama claims that the House of Representatives’ new stimulus plan is needed to save the economy. Democrats promise to be [...] "eliotcobb.com"

Sen. Joe Lieberman will keep his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security Committee despite hard feelings over his support for GOP nominee John McCain during the presidential campaign. The Connecticut independent will lose a panel post on the Environment and Public Works panel as punishment for criticizing Obama this fall. Lieberman’s colleagues in the Democratic caucus voted [...] "eliotcobb.com"

The chiefs of the “Big Three” US automakers travel to Congress Tuesday to plead with lawmakers to save their talismanic American industry, despite fading hopes for a quick congressional bailout. The chairmen and CEOs of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler will testify to the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee as Democrats mount a long-odds [...] "eliotcobb.com"

The top US military officer said Monday he was “stunned” by the reach of the Somali pirates who seized a Saudi supertanker off the east coast of Africa, calling piracy a growing problem that needs to be addressed. But Admiral Michael Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said there were limits to what [...] "eliotcobb.com"

Barack Obama’s first televised post-election interview gave Sunday night’s “60 Minutes” its biggest audience in at least nine years. The CBS News program was seen by 24.5 million viewers and earned a 6.4 preliminary adults 18-49 rating. That marks the show’s largest viewership since 1999. Veteran correspondent Steve Kroft interviewed Obama about a range of domestic and [...] "eliotcobb.com"

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson told Congress on Tuesday that the administration remains firmly opposed to dipping into the government’s $700 billion financial bailout fund for a $25 billion rescue package for Detroit’s Big Three automakers, no matter how badly they need the help. “There are other ways” to help battered automakers, Paulson told the House Financial [...] "eliotcobb.com"