Commence Kabuki.
With the Detroit automakers in the late stages of supplication, a predictable ritual will now take place. The CEOs of GM, Ford, and Chrysler will do as instructed: travel like common men from Detroit to Washington and present the government with new-and-improved restructuring plans showing that this time, they really are serious about slaughtering sacred cows and right-sizing their businesses. Members of Congress will deliver a few lashings about overpaid CEOs and overentitled union workers. Then, in the end, the feds will pony up at least $25 billion—and maybe $50 billion or more, eventually—to help stave off automotive Armageddon.
There are many routes to a Detroit bailout, however, and some go straight through Follyville. Here's how the feds could mishandle the automaker rescue package:
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/flowchart/2008/12/2/the-7-worst-ways-to-rescue-detroit.html