Washington Times to shut down

By GottaLaff

The Washington Times may go online-only:

The Washington Times, a daily launched in 1982 by Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church, is set to lay off much of its editorial and production staff tomorrow, according to reputable sources within the paper.

The struggling paper, which reportedly has lost billions of dollars in its 27 year history, may be on the verge of a shutdown within 60 days.

Rev. Moon's paper just cratered.

H/t: Babzter

Lieberman, Graham Threaten to Shut Down Senate

By GottaLaff

The bffs have a new mission:

Sen. Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) threatened to hold up any and all legislation in the Senate until Congress passes its legislation to prohibit the release of photos showing detainee abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I posted about the Dems' challenging the block here. Seems there's a showdown a-brewin', as predicted in that post.

Auto plants shutting down

By GottaLaff

All 30 Chrysler plants will close for one month, per CNN. Ford is adding a week to its normal 2-week holiday shutdown schedule. 46,000 Chrysler workers will be affected.

The CNN money guy is saying this could trigger bankruptcy.

Chrysler union workers will be paid, but not full salary.

Chrysler announced Wednesday it is closing all its North American manufacturing plants for at least a month, the starkest move taken by U.S. automakers as they anxiously await word about government loans.

[...] Chrysler and General Motors fear they might not have enough money to pay their bills in a matter of weeks.

Attempting to cut costs, GM was halting construction of a plant tied to one of its most important projects, the Volt. Ford also said it will shut down 10 plants for an extra week in January because of sluggish sales.

Chrysler said it would extend the normal two-week holiday shutdown that begins Friday to at least Jan. 19 at all 30 of its factories due to slumping sales.

It's been more than a month since the White House started "looking at" what they could, or would, do.

Sluggish auto sales worldwide are taking a toll on foreign automakers as well. Honda Motor Corp. said Wednesday that it would halt expansion in Japan, Turkey and India and cut 450 temporary workers in Japan through February.

Nissan Motor Co. said it would reduce Japanese production by 78,000 vehicles and also cut 500 temporary workers there.

Even More Newspaper Layoffs

Rob Tornoe via Greg. More here.