Obama: Dark Days Ahead, but Cultural Focus Will Re-Emerge

Barack Obama stressed that the economy will see darker times before things turn around, but promised in a Meet the Press interview that his White House will bring back a focus on culture and science. The president-elect also vowed to kick his smoking habit for good. Elsewhere on the talk circuit, Detroit jostled with Condoleezza Rice for the spotlight:

• UAW president Ron Gettelfinger, on This Week, stressed that automakers are in dire need of congressional intervention, while Rice praised her presumed succesor, Hillary Clinton.
• Rice expressed regrets on Fox News Sunday over faulty intelligence on Iraq.
• On Face the Nation, Sen. Chris Dodd called for GM CEO Rick Wagoner to resign.