Thank you, Mr. President...

you did the right thing.



I hoped that, one day soon, I'd be able to say something like that, if not that very thing, to or about President George W. Bush and that day has come.

A little while ago, the sitting President made 17.4 billion dollars of loan money available to the "Big 3" automakers, to ensure they won't go bankrupt--not right away, anyway. He/we took it from the TARP boondoggle originally planned for the banks.

So, yes, Mr. President, you/we did the right thing and thank you for that.

But then, could you really have these 3 huge pillars of American production capacity go bankrupt on your and Republican watch?

No, not really.

We are, as the President said, already in a bad way, so to speak, and just can't let these guys go down.

Sure there are all kinds of strings attached and that's as it should be. This kind of largesse shouldn't be without some quid pro quos and responsibilities, in sharp contrast to the unrestrained monies they've thrown--so far--to Wall Street and the investment banks, which is totally inexplicable and, yes, irresposible but that's another story.

For now, we can breathe a small sigh of relief.

For now.