Just in case someone might be reading this, I’ll make this short, the first thing I checked when I got up today was the state of the proposed bridge loan for GM and Chrysler (as I’ve done to start every day for several weeks now). Henry Paulson and George Bush have finally decided to do the right thing, making most republicans in the “trenches” very unhappy, at least on the surface. Just a caution here. Originally, they were talking about something in the neighborhood of $14 Billion dollars as a package to keep both companies afloat until President Elect Obama takes over. That was the amount blocked in the Senate vote a week or two ago. Now they are offering the companies $17.4 Billion. Wow, they’ve thrown in an extra $4 Billion dollars! Cause for celebration, right? Uh, wait a minute, don’t forget these guys don’t skip a beat.

Now think about this clearly. They’ve offered $17.4 Billion, but there’s only about $14 Billion left of the original amount allocated by Congress before they go back for the authority to spend the second $350 Billion of the original “TARP” “bailout” money. Ah, ha, now I get it. It’s not that they want to save the auto companies, they want to get their hands on that second $350 Billion. Here’s how it works. Paulson, today December 19th, makes a request for authority to use the second allotment of funds. Congress, which is in recess until January 2nd, when it has to swear everybody in, has 15 days to reject Paulson’s request – both houses have to reject his request it or he gets the money. Now, fifteen days from now will be, let’s see, hmmmmmm by golly January 2nd! Can you imagine our congress having it together enough to block that request on the day they are due back in Washington? I mean, let’s face it, with all the democratic pickups they still don’t have the 60 votes in the Senate to stop debate.

So there you have it. The price “We the People” will pay for the republicans passing on the opportunity to break the United Auto Workers will be George Bush and Henry Paulson getting their grubbly little fingers on another $350 Billion taxpayer dollars. I don’t know about you, but I think Henry wouldn’t have a bit of trouble getting most of that money “into circulation” in the 18 days he would have left in office. And do you think, with all the arrogance these guys have shown, that they won’t be doling as much of this “dough” out to their buddies as they can? I hope I’m wrong, I really do – so far they haven’t put a penny where it’s needed most, and that is to help out the homeowners who are losing their homes in this country by the millions. The one thing I was really counting on was the second half of the so-called “bailout” money would be spent by the Obama “team” to help those Americans who are losing their homes, but could stay there with modified loans. Do you think Bush is just wanting to speed up this process? Let me finish by asking this question; Would you trust George and Henry with another $350 Billion?

OK, a few days have passed and it looks like even Paulson didn’t have the guts to try to get the additional $350 Billion, although I’ll believe this when I see it. I still have hope that this money will be used to help my friends (and I’m sure yours) who are hard working responsible people and have got caught in this squeeze.