Micha Elyi

How To Save the Big 3 Automakers

Obama appoint Romney to be Car Czar? You've got to be kidding, Mr. Schwarz. First, Obama isn't the sort of politician you wish he were (a mistake that millions of voters recently made so you're not alone there). Second, the agony and pain that will be required to wring out the fat from the bloated Detroit 2-1/4 carmakers and condition them to be lean, trim makers of quality, value-for-money, technologically up-to-date manufacturers will be intense. Whoever your imagined Car Czar is will need plenty of firm, unwavering support from the President and Democrats in Congress. Voting "present" won't cut it. When a weak willed Obama blinks in a stare-down with unionists who see their plush jobs about to be flushed down the drain forever, they'll crush Obama so fast that a trillion dollar bailout won't buy Obama and his Democrats in Congress back into the good graces of union workers anywhere.

Most likely, we'll see Obama follow the pattern that he set in the financial crisis -- stand around tut-tutting, then bash anyone who risks their own political capital (like McCain did) to get Washington moving on a clean up package to deal with the mess. Buh-bye Detroit.