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So now the auto manufacturers want $34 billion, and in return they're willing to adjust their values, well at least a hair.

Mulally and Wagoner both said they'd work for $1 per year -- something Chrysler's plan said Nardelli already does -- if their firms took any government loan money, while Ford offered to cancel management bonuses and salaried employees' merit raises next year, and GM said it would slash top executives' pay. Ford and GM both said they would sell their corporate aircraft. (AP)

Clearly they've learned a little. Riding into Washington on plush corporate jets just doesn't get the appropriate level of humility to beg for cash. But then again, they're now asking for more. Further, like the good-scoundrels they are, they're cloaking their errors in the future of "america" a nifty byline lifted from our lowest-rating-evar president himself.

''Failing to act now will hurt many American families and undermine our country's economic recovery, far outweighing the costs related to supporting an industry that touches every district in every state of the nation,'' Chrysler said.

They forgot "Teh Chillen's Don't Forget teh Chillens!" Honestly, could you be more pathetic? Probably not.

It's amazing how it's the "country's" economy that's at stake here. If you ask me, giving them $34 billion *would* do just that. I rather think that not giving them the money would put less of our economy at stake... at least in the near future. Still it's my opinion that Congress shouldn't give them jack/shit until they explain how they're going to unlimber themselves from the union straight-jacket.

GM, according to its quarterly report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, owes creditors $45 billion and it must pay more than $7.5 billion early in 2010 to a UAW-administered trust fund that will take over retiree health care payments. [...]Ford owes more than $26 billion, with $6.3 billion due to its UAW trust fund at the end of 2009.

So basically of that $34 billion already at least $14 billion (actually more Chrysler didn't have to say what they owed) is already spent. Nice. I don't see it happening - just hand over that much money to give it away without an explanation as to how the situation won't be repeating itself when the money runs out? Not likely.

They'd be better off just telling everyone in the UAW they're exempt from taxes for life.