But this begs the question: if the media did not historically rely on the billions in advertising dollars that carmakers generally spend, would they be more harsh?  I don’t know.  But it’s a good question to ask.

In fact, I think they are hoping that their billions in ad spend will at least silence the critics.  I would imagine “thought leaders” to come out against this, with guns blazing, but the tone from writers and journalists is actually quite calm or non-existent, it seems that it’s the unexpected who are doling out the criticism.  For example, former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (whose father was a politician in Michigan!) came out against any bailout.  Bye-bye Michigan’s electoral votes, by the way, come 2012.  But the truth is I respect him more for it: the bailout is a bad idea much like the financial bailout was a bad idea.

Meanwhile, we pause for this announcement from our sponsors:

This message has been brought to you by the Socialist States of America, bailing out one industry at a time.