General Motors won't start the hard sell of its shares to investors, called a "road show," until Nov. 3, one day after mid-term elections, and the actual IPO now expected Nov. 18. Why? Politics, of course.

President Barack Obama, noted Jeep Grand Cherokee afficionado, responding to an interview question today about kicking the SUV habit. He's right. SUV sales are up 19% year-to-date 2010. Americans do like their cars big... like their men. [via @DavidShepardson]

U.S. President Barack Obama gets out of a Chevrolet Volt following a groundbreaking ceremony in Holland, Michigan today. He reportedly asked "When can Americans buy one?" We already did, Mr. President. We already did.

President Obama will not be coming to the Detroit Auto Show because, as you know — even when you invest billions of our dollars in the auto industry, only a crazy person would fly into Detroit in January. God, why is the damn auto show in January? A real President would have changed that. [Detroit News]

A study by the obviously pro-government National Taxpayers Union claims each new GM vehicle costs the average taxpayer $12,200. Their bizarre assumptions and our analysis below.

President Obama is congratulating Jimmie Johnson today on turning left better than any other NASCAR driver. In return, he was given this car, which was, in turn, given to Joe Biden.

Treasury Secretary Geithner announced today Steve Rattner, former Wall Street financier worth more than $188 million, is stepping down after five months in Washington as the President's "car czar." He does know the U.S. automakers ain't fixed yet, right?

In a 91-5 vote, the U.S. Senate passed a scaled-back $1 billion "Cash For Clunkers" bill. Democrats beat back a Republican attempt to strip the proposal from a $106 billion military spending package. President Obama's expected to sign it. [AutoNews]

GM will officially declare bankruptcy tomorrow morning before the markets open. Additionally, the Obama Administration has put turnaround expert Al Koch in charge of, well, turning the company around. Fritz Henderson will remain GM CEO.

When Obama unveiled new fuel standards we decried the end of fun cars and pointed out how far most automakers are from meeting new-for-2016 fuel standards. It turns out, thanks to Hummer-sized loopholes like your car's air-conditioning, automakers should be able to meet them with little fear.

The just-announced fuel economy policy changes demand 39 MPG for cars and 30 MPG for light trucks. A look at the data shows not a single automaker currently meets the new guidelines proposed today. Update.

According to Politico, the Obama administration's announcing a new national auto standards policy for 2016. The plan supposedly marries U.S. fuel economy and emissions standards to California polices and be supported by automakers and policymakers.

President Obama's Auto Task Force cut Chrysler's planned bankruptcy marketing budget, $134 million for nine weeks of advertisements, in half. Apparently the Obama Administration's like Bo Jackson from those old Nike "Bo knows" commercials.

We're told the White House and Democrat Congressional leaders have reached an agreement on the so-called "Cash For Clunkers" bill, sending lovers of Malaise Era steel into a complete panic. [Reuters]

Bloomberg's reporting President Obama plans to officially announce a Chrysler bankruptcy tomorrow if they cant get things together by then. We don't have more details other than the 17-word wire service report. [Bloomberg via StreetInsider]