Looks like all we'll be hearing about for the next few days is the death of the American car industry.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

President Obama will unveil his plan to help the auto industry tomorrow. And General Motors chairman and chief executive G. Richard Wagoner is resigning at his request.

Wagoner's resignation was one of the White House conditions for more federal aid. "He agreed and will do that," a senior administration official said Sunday evening.

Wagoner, 56, joined the company in 1977 and has been chairman and chief executive since 2003.

In related news, Chrysler may have to merge with Italian-owned Fiat. A structured bankruptcy may be in the future for both Chrysler and GM. [More...]

I do not disagree with President Obama's admonitions to the auto industry:

Obama, in an interview with CBS' "Face the Nation" broadcast Sunday, said the companies must do more to receive additional financial aid from the government. "They're not there yet," Obama said.

. . . Obama said the government would require a "set of sacrifices from all parties involved, management, labor, shareholders, creditors, suppliers, dealers. Everybody's gonna have to come to the table and say it's important for us to take serious restructuring steps now in order to preserve a brighter future down the road."

(Emphasis supplied.) Here's my question -- how about some tough words and conditions for Wall Street BEFORE you bail them out, AGAIN, President Obama?

Speaking for me only

Senator Jim Webb introduced the National Criminal Justice Act of 2009 on Friday (text of bill here pdf.) It would create a bipartisan commission to study the criminal justice and prison systems for 18 months, after which it would make recommendations.

Lots of people are excited about it, from FAMM to Glenn Greenwald.

I think we know the answers already and I wish we would start making the reforms now, not starting an 18 month period of study followed by recommendations. I'm concerned this will just put tempt Congress to put reform bills on the back burner, using Webb's Commission as an excuse for delay. "Let's wait until the report comes out before making any changes."

Scott Lemieux writes about Will Saletan and his strange ruminations on the choice issue. After Saletan reasserts his pro-choice view, he then writes:

If you cause an unintended pregnancy and an abortion because you didn't want to wear a condom, you should be ashamed.

Lemieux writes "[Saletan] has argued that shaming people who get abortions is a good pro-choice tactic, which makes no sense at all." It really does not make sense. Suppose you actually believed that Saletan made sense with this shame thing. How precisely does he plan to enact this "policy of shame?" Is he planning on organizing a finger wagging group outside of abortion clinics? Will they stand next to the folks holding "Baby Killer" signs? More . . .

"Have another hit....of fresh air." (Quicksilver Messenger Service and "Fresh Air" at the closing of the Fillmore in 1971. Here's a version with great audio.)

Cigarette and tobacco taxes go way up Wednesday. Of course, it will hurt the poor and addicted the most. It's also a nanny state move.

You may like it when politicians ban something you hate, but sooner or later they will go after something you like," Reason.tv editor Nick Gillespie says.

[More...]

I seldom watch the Sunday Talk shows anymore. They just seem irrelevant to me. Do you folks still watch?

In any event, here's an Open Thread.

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