• The Wall Street Journal, Brandweek , Tuesday, October 21, 2008 10:45 AM

I don't know if it will deliver unto you the same sort of gratification you get from, say, voting for an American icon, er ...idol, but The Wall Street Journal this morning is running a poll about whether Chrysler should merge with General Motors. As of 7:40 a.m. EST, sentiment was running towards nay in one form or another.

"Yes" received 68 votes (34.9%); "no, it should merge with another company" got 75 nods (38.5%), and just plain "no, it should remain independent" received 52 affirmations (26.7%). There were 195 votes; for the record, we abstained.

It's all part of a more traditional form of journalism that gives the reader what it thinks we need to know, that being the fact that Chrysler is considering joining the existing manufacturing and development alliance between Nissan and Renault. Still, Chrysler's majority owner, Cerberus Capital Management LP, would prefer a deal with GM in which it takes control of Chrysler, sources say.

A Brandweek article maintains that whoever purchases or aligns with Chrysler will be doing so primarily to wrap its paws around brand Jeep.

Late-breaking word has it that billionaire financier Kirk Kerkorian is shedding his stake in Ford to focus on the gaming, hospitality, and oil and gas industries. There may or may not be a moral there, but there's definitely a developing story .

Read the whole story at The Wall Street Journal, Brandweek »