Bush: Stop Using All The God-Damned Gas!

You people are the problem. Quit it! Well, U.S. President Bush wants us all to stop using so much gas. Yeah, you SUV-man. Yeah, you HEMI-boy. Not you, hot-mama. You're just perfect the way you are.

The Detroit News reports: Bush plan to cost Big 3. Of course some folks no-likey the idea of higher fuel economy:

U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Hills, called the plan "a debacle. We don't need the hammer of job-killing (fuel efficiency) increases."
"This proposal would lead to more job cuts and plant closings in Michigan. It would discriminate against the Big Three and accelerate the push of Toyota and Honda to grab more market share," he said.

Oh, no! The company that makes the better product will get more sales! How can it be? Detroit had plenty of time to get their shit together and didn't. How about stop worrying about getting re-elected and focus on bigger issues. Here's another forward-thinking leader:

Another Republican, Rep. Mike Rogers of Brighton, called increasing fuel standards "the wrong direction" and said he hopes to work with the White House in modifying the plan.

Yeah, Mike, Bush'll get right back to you. And good idea about the fuel standards, you dipshit. If increasing fuel economy is the wrong direction, we suppose the right direction is using more fuel? All we know is that you must stop keeping these ideas to yourself and let the world know of your brilliance! Yes, in a time when the world is heating up like an oven we should start using more fossil fuels. We thank you for setting us straight. Jerk ass.

The Detroit Free Press reports: President targets oil, energy use. This article had some reactions from car makers:

Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday before the speech that it supported the proposals "with standards set at maximum feasible levels," the standards used by federal regulators last year.

Maximum feasible levels? What does that means? Honda and Toyota already have good cars that get that kind of gas mileage, so the maximum is going to be higher by 2017. We're guessing you guys won't really be ready, will you?

Toyota Motor Co., which sided with Detroit automakers in last year's fuel economy debates, said in a statement that it "supports the direction" of the president's proposals.

OK, that was pretty benign.

DaimlerChrysler Chairman Dieter Zetsche said in a speech Tuesday that the European market was able to achieve an average fuel economy of 36 m.p.g. through high fuel taxes and widespread use of diesel engines, rather than just setting limits on automakers.
Higher fuel economy standards alone "simply won't get it done," Zetsche said. "It's an attempt to regulate supply and not use market forces to stimulate demand for more fuel-efficient vehicles. Trying to sell people what they don't want isn't a viable business case."

Deiter droppin' the hammer! And way to suggest to have a higher tax on gas! Not going to hear a lot of U.S. auto makers suggest that one.

General Motors Corp. spokesman Greg Martin said the company would "continue to work closely with the administration and Congress to make sure that any fuel economy increases are technically achievable and do not compromise safety, performance or limit consumer choice."

Weak. "We're going to ask the White House to cut the shit because we like making the Escalade. The next version of the Escalade will have an always-running feature where you can't shut off the engine. You know, in case ninjas break into your house... so you can make a fast getaway. Shut up, could happen!"

Comments

[Will]

Look people, the facts are that we are addicted to gasoline and most of us addicts are in denial. We are going about fixing the problem the wrong way. This is no different than a drug addiction. Not buying gas on a certain day won't fix it folks! Just like refusing to buy crack on thursdays, the crack dealer knows we'll be back on friday, so he doesn't care or lose any income. We have to simply reduce consumption. How can we do that? Well...let's make the teens ride the school bus instead of all individually drive to school (roads will be safer too), stop using the drive thru's, turn the a/c off and roll down your windows, walk to close by locations (that will help reduce the obesity epidemic too). I am proud to be an American and I like the smell of gasoline, smokin' tires, classic rods and a 4-barrel carb, but not if I can't afford to gas it up because there are a million teens running the roads, a/c rats afraid to break a sweat, and obese people driving a block to McD's for a drive thru burger or twelve.

[DAVE]

Must you use the Lord's name in vain?

[Harry L]

It has recently occurred to this observer that Monster Trucks are symbolic of America in a lot of ways.
They are big, powerful, intimidating and loud. Im sure the same limp wristed foreigners that resent the U.S. nowadays also hate the idea of Monster Trucks. Sure, they are a bit wasteful, but only in America do we have the means to indulge in such a hobby. Let some sniveling Euro Trash drive about in his little foreign death trap, risking neck injury every time he drives over a 5 mph speed bump. A monster trucker will be happy to drive over the bump ( and the little foreign car) to make that sale at Wal Mart.
Lets be honest, they are just jealous we have the wide open spaces, low gas taxes, and technological know-how to enjoy Monster trucks. Most of them aren't big enough to climb in the darn things anyway!
In Japan they have those forklift things in parking lots so they can stack multiple layers of cars on top of each other because they don't have enough space. When a monster trucker takes up three spaces at the Winn Dixie parking lot, he's really saying he's proud to be an American. If you drive a hybrid can opener, you are telling the world that you belong in a ghetto in France.