Automakers Look to White House to Revive Bailout Hopes

JEFFREY BROWN:

And back live now, we look further at where things stand with Paul Ingrassia, co-author of "Comeback: The Fall and Rise of the American Automotive Industry." He's a former Detroit bureau chief for the Wall Street Journal, where he won a Pulitzer for his coverage of the industry.

And Csaba Csere, editor-in-chief of Car and Driver magazine.

Well, Paul Ingrassia, you have written critically of the companies and the union in the past. As you listen to Mr. Gettelfinger now and the CEOs recently, where are we in terms of their willingness, do you think, to make changes?

PAUL INGRASSIA, Former Wall Street Journal Detroit Bureau Chief:

Well, we're obviously at an impasse, Jeff. I mean, I think what you saw happen last night was that the UAW was really betting that we're going to get a better deal from the political system than we're going to get from the marketplace or from the bankruptcy court.

So that's why they basically bet that the Bush administration would blink, which seems to be happening in this case.

The irony is, of course, that the UAW spent most of the last eight years being very critical of the Bush administration, which, you know, is neither here nor there, but it is a remarkable irony in this case.

So I think where we go from here is really more lobbying, because everyone sort of feels that, you know — I mean, you heard it from Mr. Gettelfinger — everyone feels that we've given it the office. And it's true. Everyone has given something, but obviously the solution still is not at hand.