The Big Three U.S. auto companies made their case for the bailout today, appealing to the mostly dismayed Senate leadership for a $25 billion loan from a larger $700 billion financial bailout package. The debate quickly heated as the head of the powerful United Auto Workers union, Ron Gettelfinger and the Big Three CEOs pleaded for the money.

"If one of these companies goes into bankruptcy, I'd be willing to bet it takes two, or possibly all three, with them," Gettelfinger said. The argument wasn't compelling enough to move many of the lawmakers, CNN reports. "We have little evidence this $25 billion will do anything to promote long-term success," said Republican Senator Michael Enzi of Wyoming. Other legislators, particularly Democrats representing car-producing states, sided with the automakers.

Weather the $25 billion will change the fate of the Big Three or simply postpone the inevitable remains an open question. One thing is clear though: If approved, turning the bailout into an opportunity will require nothing short of attaching it to the most stringent CAFE standard increase on record, enabling domestic automakers to at last deliver the kind of vehicles the taxpayers are willing to pay for.