As the Senate meets today (Monday) to discuss what to do with the eviscerated U.S. auto industry, some strong words from one of the Senate’s most powerful member suggested a much-debated bailout could come with some strings attached for top executives.

With the U.S. “Big Three” of General Motors Corp. (GM), Ford Motor Co. (F), and Chrysler Corp. seeking as much as $34 billion in bailout money, there’s a lot at stake for the American auto industry. There would also be quite a bit at stake for Congress, given the personal stakes that elected officials own in the automakers, FoxBusiness.com reports.

Financial journalists, most of whom spend more time writing about derivatives than carburetors, have been scathing about the possibility of an auto industry bailout, even though they’ve happily accepted multiple bailouts for the financial sector.

The U.S. “Big Three” of General Motors Corp. (GM), Ford Motor Co. (F), and Chrysler Corp. submitted their turnaround plans to Congress yesterday (Tuesday), hoping for approval of a massive loan package they say is central to their survival.

Two days before the chief executives of Detroit’s Big Three – General Motors Corp. (GM), Ford Motor Co. (F), and Chrysler Corp. – march back to Capitol Hill to again petition Congress for a $25 billion bailout, details about each company’s plan to scale back operations are emerging.

GM is essentially already bankrupt, says Horacio Marquez. And it has been for years. This clearly makes the company one to avoid for investors. But Horacio says there are still some ways for those with a big risk appetite to make big profits with the giant automaker.

The private jets were the last straw. I speak of the chosen mode of transportation for the “Big Three” automaker CEOs last week. When the heads of GM, Ford and Chrysler made their trek to Washington, they did so in the style of fat cats. They should have flown coach.

Expect more pain in the housing market next year, says Don Miller. Rising unemployment will keep the foreclosures coming. And as the backlog of inventories swells, Don says homebuilders still look ripe for shorting in this environment.

While investors remain extremely concerned about the volatility of the U.S. stock market, the weakness of the American economy and the uncertainty of the global financial markets, last week brought “slight” relief from the excessive panic of the eight-trading-session losing streak.

Volkswagen AG (PINK: VLKAF), PSA Peugeot Citroen SA (OTC ADR: PEUGY), and Fiat SPA (OTC ADR: FIATY) beat earnings estimates in the last week. At the same time, however, Ford Motor Co. (F), one of the largest industrial companies in America, missed earnings estimates. By a lot.