It looks like a bailout for the Big Three is going to happen, though it might cost GM's Rick Wagoner his job.

This looks like a wasted opportunity for the GOP.  It might have been able to get from the Democratic majority a slash in the corporate tax rate for Michigan companies and companies in other car-dependent states like Ohio, but instead it gets....well, nothing.

As the GOP heads into opposition, it has to learn to use the rare moments of its leverage to obtain from Democrats a key concession or at least demonstrate to the public what it is fighting for.