The Blatantly Terrified

Ford CEO Alan Mulally: “While the domestic auto industry has made mistakes in the past, the current problems have been exacerbated by one of the worst economies in nearly three decades.”

Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli: “We are willing to provide full financial transparency, and welcome the government as a stakeholder -- including as an equity holder.”

General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner: “Our industry... needs a bridge to span the financial chasm that has opened up before us. What exposes us to failure now is the global financial crisis, which has severely restricted credit availability and reduced industry sales to the lowest per-capita level since World War II. This is about much more than just Detroit.”