This is one of the stupidest things I've ever seen

I agree entirely with Barbara on this. Maybe people get confused and think Rick Wagoner (or Mullaly (sp?) or Nardelli are getting special perks, rather than the company CEOs, who have a lot to do and for whom driving down is an utter waste of very valuable time. (Maybe Senate hearings in these circumstances should be done by video?). There are probably plenty of personal perks related to executive access to corporate fleets that are egregious, but using an aircraft to attend the hearing (and work on other things going to and fro) is not one of them, in my opinion.

Would having the three of them on a single aircraft raise collusion or antitrust issues?

Not taking a private jet does not mean driving 9 hours to the hearings. What was wrong with them hopping on a commercial airline flight? Fly first class and pay for it out of your own pocket if you want to turn it into some PR gimmick. I'm sure the GM CEO can afford a $1000 plane ticket.

Barbara, this was no more stupid then these clowns flying down from Detroit in their respective corporate jets to beg the American taxpayer for billions of dollars last month. Just as that was their show last time, this is their show this time. It just gives you a good idea of the groupthink that passes for innovation in Detroit.

With a cell phone and a laptop, why couldn't Wagoner put in an honest day's work en route like the rest of us mortals?

Well, I can see why he would do this--first of all, even though it seems like a waste in many ways, he should use the product he hawks as a symbol of his brand, and he may be working on the whole ride there.

In terms of carbon footprint, flying is probably worse, and really, until we can teleport ourselves, the only other option is a live webcast-conference call, which isn't the way Washington works.

Not to justify corporate waste, but if only those comfy town cars came in a hydrogen version that American car makers like to talk about at auto shows but not put on our roads.

Just a different way of seeing things, so even though it seems dumb on one hand, I can see the need to ride in a vehicle as hands-on product research and a chance to see how the little people live.

Thanks for considering.