I would be surprised if it didn't pass. Politicians are very suggestible. Also, if it doesn't pass now it will pass within the first month or two of an Obama administration.
I think there is a sense of urgency surrounding the situation that overwhelms the widespread reservations people have about a bailout (read: nationalization) of the auto industry. More people are clamoring loudly in support of it than there are people groaning against it.
I am not so much concerned with the tax dollars allocated to the company as I am with more government regulation, and now probably government planning, in the companies.
Of course we all know how well those Soviet cars worked!
Yeah, if there is anybody who knows how to make Ford, GM, and Chrysler profitable, it's a congressional subcommittee. They'll know what cars to make in what quantities, what technologies to use, etc.
Do legislators have no idea what the connotations of "czar" are? Just ask any Russian. Why don't we start calling "Mr. President" "Mein Fuhrer" to emphasize how cuddly he is and how he's going to take care of the nation, fixing all of our problems for us. Nothing objectionable about that, right?