12/3 Roundup: Big Bad Three, Very Large Shoes, BHO Doesn't Want No Sissy Dog

Leader: Big Bad Three

- Detroit's Big Three returned to Washington with their official supplications. GM and Chrysler were at pains to make clear that they could collapse completely within a few weeks without billions in aid. GM needs $4 billion immediately, and eventually will need $18 billion.  Chrysler needs $7 billion. GM acknowledged the need for major cuts: Saab, Saturn and Pontiac are on the chopping block, along with thousands of dealerships and tens of thousands of employees.

- Ford is in a slightly less precarious position, saying they could squeeze through the next year without any help, but is asking for a $9 billion (and possibly up to $13 billion) standby loan that it hopes never to use. The automaker says it has already done most necessary internal restructuring, but will entertain the idea of selling itself to Volvo.

- Steve Pearlstein of the WaPo looks at Chrysler's offer, and finds it unattractive. It looks to him like the corporation is just trying to tide itself over until it can be merged into GM or bought by a foreign auto maker.  After being vomited up a few years ago by the German company formerly known as DaimlerChrysler, I'm not sure anybody is clambering to get their hands on this property.

Politics

- Time has an article on why the above mess may all wind up on Obama's plate.  Yuck.

- The Washington Post has another editorial arguing immigration reform should be a top priority for Obama.

- The state of Hawaii has endorsed a plan advanced by Shai Agassi to create the necessary infrastructure for electric cars to roam free.

- David Gregory will step into Tim Russert's very large shoes at Meet the Press.

- Rep. Xavier Becerra, a moderate on trade, looks to be Obama's choice for US Trade Representative.

- Sen. Mel Martinez will retire from the Senate in 2010 after just one term representing Florida. Jeb Bush of the Bush family just might consider replacing him.

- In Georgia's runoff election, Jim Martin got curb-stomped by Sen. Saxby Chambliss, which the Democratic Strategist sees as retroactive evidence of an "Obama Effect" in play on November 4th.

- Howard Fineman comments on Obama's meeting with the nation's governors.  The poor states need to be bailed out, he says.

- Obama will announce Bill Richardson as his choice for Secretary of Commerce today.

International

- Condoleeza Rice has arrived in New Delhi in the hopes of easing subcontinental tensions after the Mumbai bombings.  The NY Times has an excellent report looking at the origins of the terrorists and their attack-- now indisputably within Pakistan.

- A Thai court has decided that the ruling party must disband, and all those people sitting on the road to the airport got up and walked away.

One More Thing

- Bad news for those looking for jobs in the administration:  Add this guy to your list of competitors.

- Last, Barack Obama doesn't want no sissy dog: