Well, well, GM CEO Rick Wagoner had a little chin wag with the boys over at Automotive News [AN, sub]. "General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner says GM's financial distress is so dire that it must line up financial assistance from Washington before President-elect Barack Obama takes office in January. 'This is an issue that needs to be addressed urgently,' Wagoner said." And that's just for starters. "Now is the time to 'overshoot, not undershoot; when it comes to assistance for the auto industry," Wagoner pronounced, revealing that he'd rather be safe than sorry with your money. Makes sense to me, in a "TTAC earns a rep writing Gneneral Motors Death Watches" sort of way. In exchange for the money, Rick's "willing to offer the government preferred stock, set limits on executive compensation and speed the introduction of fuel-efficient vehicles." How… beneficent.