Introducing the Pelosi GTxi SS/Rt Sport Edition

By Michelle Malkin  •  November 21, 2008 09:38 AM


Pocketa-pocketa-pocketa.

The car of your future, brought to you by Iowahawk.

Tire gauge not included.

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Comments


  1. #553491
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:21 pm, Digshot said:

    Similarly outfitted and sized cars. Similar MPG. The Chevy runs about $5000 more, but the Toyota gets significantly higher ratings by more or less everyone.

    By the way, I can buy a Camry HYBRID for a starting MSRP of $26,150 that gets 33 city 34 highway.

    Chevy is overpriced due to it’s ridiculous UAW inspired overhead. Period

    They need to declare bankruptcy, reorganize, and come out more efficient or they die. And we as taxpayers get to subsidize the $25 billion dollar funeral.

    The current line-up of vehicles from these companies isn’t representative of how they’ve done business for decades, even as recent as a few years ago. The Americans simply did not invest enough in technology or new ideas relative to the European or Asian manufacturers. That’s why they’re here, but we’re not there. The only people on Earth that buy SUVs are Americans. They’ve managed to flail around a bit and get some models to market, but it’s too little too late.

    I don’t know how these problems could be any more obvious, but here you are blaming unions.

  2. #553498
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:24 pm, Flyoverman said:

    Can anyone name one major problem confronting America domestically that was NOT caused by either a) lack of Congressional action (e.g. Social security, illegal immigration, etc.) or b) Congress attempting to social engineer society (e.g. CAFE Standards, subprime loan expansion, etc)?

    Even if you can, list those caused by Congress and those NOT caused by Congress. Congress is the hands down most frequesnt reason things are screwed up beyond belief.

    Digshot, that’s why your premise does not hold water.

  3. #553500
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:25 pm, right4life said:

    The Americans simply did not invest enough in technology or new ideas relative to the European or Asian manufacturers

    how can they when have to pay the retired UAW members pensions, health care etc??

  4. #553502
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:26 pm, Digshot said:

    you do realize that in order to do that, cars are made lighter, and more people die.

    Is that what you’d consider a good reason to not raise mpg standards?

  5. #553506
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:28 pm, Flyoverman said:

    I don’t know how these problems could be any more obvious, but here you are blaming unions.

    Total costs per hour for salary benefits and pension benefits for a Big Three Union auto worker is $78 per hour.

    Comparble cost of a U.S. Toyota auto worker is $48 per hour.

    Unless you want GM, Ford, and Chrysler to replace every other one of theirworkers with a robot, good luck competing.

  6. #553510
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:30 pm, Speakup said:

    Ahhh, shades of Cyclops Ecce Homo ca.1957.

    And of course there’s Super Cyclops.

    You can enjoy clicking around the Cyclops main page and think of what the liberal cabal has in store, such as wind up cars.

  7. #553514
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:32 pm, Digshot said:

    Can anyone name one major problem confronting America domestically that was NOT caused by either a) lack of Congressional action (e.g. Social security, illegal immigration, etc.) or b) Congress attempting to social engineer society (e.g. CAFE Standards, subprime loan expansion, etc)?

    Even if you can, list those caused by Congress and those NOT caused by Congress. Congress is the hands down most frequesnt reason things are screwed up beyond belief.

    Digshot, that’s why your premise does not hold water.

    I don’t deny that Congress is incompetent and misguided. I’m talking about what Congress should have done, what it should be doing. I’m not defending the status quo, is that what you think?

  8. #553516
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:32 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    If it’s ever in wreck, a little botox will straighten your fenders…

  9. #553518
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:35 pm, scituate_tgr said:

    I understand that the last Yugo is rolling off the assembly line today. My how the mighty have fallen.

  10. #553520
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:35 pm, Digshot said:

    how can they when have to pay the retired UAW members pensions, health care etc??

    I think American workers deserve pensions and health care. They had enough money to keep lobbying Congress and rolling out new SUVs, didn’t they?

  11. #553522
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:36 pm, right4life said:

    Is that what you’d consider a good reason to not raise mpg standards?

    yeah I’m silly like that..I think people’s safety is more important than saving a few miles per gallong :roll:

  12. #553527
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:37 pm, madchef said:

    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:21 pm, Digshot said:

    I don’t know how these problems could be any more obvious, but here you are blaming unions.

    There are 2 million retired UAW workers collecting 80% of there salary upon retirement. This is the same arrangement that the steel workers had and it killed that industry.

  13. #553531
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:38 pm, right4life said:

    I think American workers deserve pensions and health care

    well you pay for it then. I hope you have been buying GMC Ford, etc to do your share!!

    They had enough money to keep lobbying Congress and rolling out new SUVs, didn’t they?

    did you ever think that if they didn’t have to spend money lobbying congress, because congress interferes in every aspect of their business, they might have the money to design those cars you want???

  14. #553542
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:43 pm, DBNinKY said:

    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:26 pm,

    Digshot said:

    you do realize that in order to do that, cars are made lighter, and more people die.

    Is that what you’d consider a good reason to not raise mpg standards?

    Try following or be followed by an overloaded eighteen wheeler along the steep inclines and curvy highways of eastern KY for just a quarter of a mile, then let’s see if you can make that statement.

    The only people on Earth that buy SUVs are Americans.

    Hey, tell it to all those Dem voting soccer moms; they’re the ones that gave rise to the luxury SUV market.

  15. #553544
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:43 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    There are 2 million retired UAW workers collecting 80% of there (sic) salary upon retirement.

    Don’t forget the ‘Job Banks’. When the Big 3 close a factory to cut costs, they’re forced to provide a ‘job bank’ for the employees of that plant to come to everyday and work crossword puzzles, or whatever, and receive full pay.

    Digshot, is that what workers deserve?

  16. #553548
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:44 pm, Digshot said:

    yeah I’m silly like that..I think people’s safety is more important than saving a few miles per gallong :roll:

    That doesn’t even make sense. A car’s fuel-efficiency can act as a singular indicator of the car’s overall safeness? Is that a law of car design? I don’t buy that.

  17. #553561
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:49 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    Is that a law of car design? I don’t buy that.

    Laws of physics. Heavy car, low mpg. Light car, higher mpg. Imagine a Range Rover hit by a dumptruck, versus a Honda Fit. Which would you rather be in?

  18. #553566
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:51 pm, 30 pcs of silver said:

    On November 21st, 2008 at 10:34 am, Digshot said:
    Ah yes, laughing at fuel efficiency. One of the things that made Republicans in the Bush era so annoying and destructive. You’re keeping this in the platform for 2012 then?

    Bush Signs Energy Bill Raising Fuel Economy Standards

    “Taken together, the new regulations will mean higher costs for the industry, and perhaps consumers, and it will require automakers to begin emphasizing efficiency over power. That means it will have to build fewer SUVs and high-powered sports cars in favor of hybrids and compact cars with small engines.”

    Brilliant!

  19. #553567
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:51 pm, FamilyMan said:

    Digshot
    Do you know that the US government spends fifty billion dollars a year on the Department of Energy.
    What one half a trillion dollars in ten years.
    WHAT THE HECK HAS THAT TAX MONEY BROUGHT US?
    HMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!

  20. #553569
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:52 pm, Digshot said:

    Try following or be followed by an overloaded eighteen wheeler along the steep inclines and curvy highways of eastern KY for just a quarter of a mile, then let’s see if you can make that statement.

    What do you want me to say? I drive a small car and I know I can’t tango with a semi, either. This is a reason to not solve the problem?

    Hey, tell it to all those Dem voting soccer moms; they’re the ones that gave rise to the luxury SUV market.

    Whatever?

  21. #553571
    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:52 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    That doesn’t even make sense. A car’s fuel-efficiency can act as a singular indicator of the car’s overall safeness? Is that a law of car design?

    Actually, it is. Safety features typically add weight to the car. Stiff frames, shielding, air bags with the accompanying compressed air containers, etc. The more weight the engine has to push the more fuel is consumed. It’s simple physics.

  22. #553588
    On November 21st, 2008 at 1:01 pm, DBNinKY said:

    This is a reason to not solve the problem?

    No, it is to say that there is a necessary market for large, safe autos – even Toyota now makes them – and that imposing stronger CAFE laws does nothing to help US car makers’ bottom line; renegotiating cost of labor contracts with the UAW will -

  23. #553591
    On November 21st, 2008 at 1:04 pm, ironman said:

    Why not just mount a 3 h.p. motor on a Radio Flyer enclosed with a rollbar? All the bases will be covered….compact,fuel efficient and safe! ;-)

  24. #553640
    On November 21st, 2008 at 1:47 pm, KaosKlerik said:

    On November 21st, 2008 at 9:58 am, txvet2 said:
    Will we get a $500,000 coupon to help pay for the changeover, like we did for TV converter boxes?

    Actually that one made sense since the government was mandating a change in how signals are broadcast. It’s not like getting a rebate to help upgrade all your DVD’s to bluray.

    In the first case the government forced a change. In the second one market forces developed a better mousetrap.

  25. #553680
    On November 21st, 2008 at 2:07 pm, Digshot said:

    Actually, it is. Safety features typically add weight to the car. Stiff frames, shielding, air bags with the accompanying compressed air containers, etc. The more weight the engine has to push the more fuel is consumed. It’s simple physics.

    So what are you saying? ‘People crash cars so we shouldn’t make them lighter?’ That’s an argument against saving our economy and the environment?

  26. #553684
    On November 21st, 2008 at 2:09 pm, KaosKlerik said:

    On November 21st, 2008 at 10:52 am, Digshot said:
    To assert that it’s some special American freedom to drive around in a big car…
    What makes you think you’re entitled?

    THIS makes me think I’m “entitled”.

  27. #553689
    On November 21st, 2008 at 2:12 pm, right4life said:

    So what are you saying? ‘People crash cars so we shouldn’t make them lighter?’ That’s an argument against saving our economy and the environment?

    its real simple…people DIE to ’save’ our economy and environemnt.

    but then what are people to the abortion-loving left? admit it, you think people are just a blight on the face of Gaia :roll:

  28. #553719
    On November 21st, 2008 at 2:22 pm, KaosKlerik said:

    On November 21st, 2008 at 2:07 pm, Digshot said:

    Actually, it is. Safety features typically add weight to the car. Stiff frames, shielding, air bags with the accompanying compressed air containers, etc. The more weight the engine has to push the more fuel is consumed. It’s simple physics.

    So what are you saying? ‘People crash cars so we shouldn’t make them lighter?’ That’s an argument against saving our economy and the environment?

    No, but nice strawman, could have used it at Halloween for a decoration.

    Manufacturers trade safety features for fuel economy for performance (speed or cargo capacity).

    High performance, high safety = low MPG
    High MPG, high safety = Low performance

    If I HAD to, I would rather slam into a telephone pole in my Dodge Dakota than my sister’s Toyota Corrolla. She gets about double the mileage I do, but how many extra trips will it take her to get 20 bags of mulch back to the old homestead?

    There are high safety, high milege, low performance cars out there and people do buy them, BUT given a choice not everyone does.

    The choice part is the key. Conservatives understand that, Liberals don’t.

  29. #553726
    On November 21st, 2008 at 2:24 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    So what are you saying? ‘People crash cars so we shouldn’t make them lighter?’ That’s an argument against saving our economy and the environment?

    No, I was merely pointing out that there’s a relationship between fuel economy and safety, that you seemed to be denying.

    Consumers make decisions based on trade-offs all the time. A Ford Expedition is safer than a Ford Focus, which gets better gas mileage.

    It all depends on your priorities. If everyone put safety as a top priority there would be no motorcycles. I don’t have a problem with consumers having a choice. I have a problem with the government limiting those choices.

    As an American, I think I should be able to open a restaurant you can smoke in named “Trans-Fats R Us”. If you don’t want to eat there… don’t.

  30. #553729
    On November 21st, 2008 at 2:25 pm, KaosKlerik said:

    On November 21st, 2008 at 1:04 pm, ironman said:
    Why not just mount a 3 h.p. motor on a Radio Flyer enclosed with a rollbar? All the bases will be covered….compact,fuel efficient and safe!

    THREE H.P.?!

    My God man, what would Ralph Nader say about such an overpowered vehicle?

  31. #553736
    On November 21st, 2008 at 2:28 pm, iowavette said:

    PLEASE stop hammering Detroit about trucks and SUVs. Your heroes at Toyota just closed the San Antonio Tundra plant. Their market tanked along with GM and Ford. Along with quality problems, the Tundra is 200 lbs heavier than equivalent Silverados and F-150s and gets much worse gas mileage. I’ve idled next to Toyota, Nissan and their luxury brand derivative SUVs that dwarf my SRX crossover. The SRX AWD weighs 4,300 lbs. An Escalade AWD weighs 5,700 lbs. Both the Infiniti QX56 and the Lexi LX570 weigh 6,000 pounds and change and get the same or worse mileage than the Escalade and worse than my SRX. Cars are not a hobby for most but a little research would go a long way in improving one’s understanding of the overall story.

    In the meantime, big, powerful and red, white and blue, that’s what I like and will continue to buy as long as the social engineers allow.

  32. #553737
    On November 21st, 2008 at 2:28 pm, J S Ragman said:

    The Americans simply did not invest enough in technology or new ideas relative to the European or Asian manufacturers.

    That’s because they figured that the average UAW assemblyline worker wasn’t bright enough to put a very advanced machine together.

  33. #553739
    On November 21st, 2008 at 2:29 pm, Dexter Alarius said:

    Why not just mount a 3 h.p. motor on a Radio Flyer enclosed with a rollbar? All the bases will be covered….compact,fuel efficient and safe!

    The trucker says to his ride-mate after rolling over you, “Did you feel something?”

  34. #553745
    On November 21st, 2008 at 2:31 pm, ironman said:

    I’ll drive a 1970 426 hemi Barracuda or a Chevy Chevelle with a twin 4 barrel 454 because I CHOOSE to!!! I’ll burn high octane gasoline and smoke the tires if I WANT to and I won’t pay Al Gore money for indulgencies(carbon credits) either!That is(becoming was) the great part about being an American and besides,it pisses off the tree huggers!

  35. #553754
    On November 21st, 2008 at 2:35 pm, ironman said:

    On November 21st, 2008 at 2:25 pm, KaosKlerik said:
    On November 21st, 2008 at 1:04 pm, ironman said:
    Why not just mount a 3 h.p. motor on a Radio Flyer enclosed with a rollbar? All the bases will be covered….compact,fuel efficient and safe!
    THREE H.P.?!

    My God man, what would Ralph Nader say about such an overpowered vehicle?

    A man’s gotta know his limitations!;-)

  36. #553758
    On November 21st, 2008 at 2:36 pm, right4life said:

    I’ll drive a 1970 426 hemi Barracuda or a Chevy Chevelle with a twin 4 barrel 454 because I CHOOSE to!!!

    thats very intolerant of you! :P

  37. #553771
    On November 21st, 2008 at 2:41 pm, ironman said:

    What can I say right4life…I’m not bad,I was just drawn that way :-)

  38. #553780
    On November 21st, 2008 at 2:46 pm, Digshot said:

    No, but nice strawman, could have used it at Halloween for a decoration.

    Manufacturers trade safety features for fuel economy for performance (speed or cargo capacity).

    High performance, high safety = low MPG
    High MPG, high safety = Low performance

    If I HAD to, I would rather slam into a telephone pole in my Dodge Dakota than my sister’s Toyota Corrolla. She gets about double the mileage I do, but how many extra trips will it take her to get 20 bags of mulch back to the old homestead?

    There are high safety, high milege, low performance cars out there and people do buy them, BUT given a choice not everyone does.

    The choice part is the key. Conservatives understand that, Liberals don’t.

    Again, if you think I’m saying that I want the government to tell us what kinds of cars we’re allowed to drive, I’m not. It may be that in the conservative universe of solutions to energy problems there exists only ‘MORE OIL!,’ but try to wrap your head around something else for a change. You really think I’m sitting here arguing that the big problem is that our government lets people choose what to drive?

    You guys have disconnected. Calls for even the slightest of regulations are labeled as socialist or communist. Well if not that, what are we supposed to use our government for? If it’s not the government’s job to protect the economy, national security, the land we live on, the air we breathe, and water we drink, whose job is it? The free market’s? Look around. That isn’t working. How can you guys stand amongst all this ruin and still be extolling the virtues of laissez-faire capitalism?

    Oh yeah, because it’s the union’s fault.

  39. #553795
    On November 21st, 2008 at 2:58 pm, Digshot said:

    PLEASE stop hammering Detroit about trucks and SUVs. Your heroes at Toyota just closed the San Antonio Tundra plant. Their market tanked along with GM and Ford. Along with quality problems, the Tundra is 200 lbs heavier than equivalent Silverados and F-150s and gets much worse gas mileage. I’ve idled next to Toyota, Nissan and their luxury brand derivative SUVs that dwarf my SRX crossover. The SRX AWD weighs 4,300 lbs. An Escalade AWD weighs 5,700 lbs. Both the Infiniti QX56 and the Lexi LX570 weigh 6,000 pounds and change and get the same or worse mileage than the Escalade and worse than my SRX. Cars are not a hobby for most but a little research would go a long way in improving one’s understanding of the overall story.

    In the meantime, big, powerful and red, white and blue, that’s what I like and will continue to buy as long as the social engineers allow.

    Hey, it’s okay to make SUV’s and trucks, just don’t let that be all you make. It makes sense for Toyota to make SUVs, they’ve got their other bases covered, and it behooves them to compete with their competitors on a model-to-model basis. On the other hand, The Big Three put all their eggs in the SUV basket, and now they’re paying the price. At no point did they ever sell enough cars or export enough internationally to sensibly justify making so many SUVs for so long, especially against the backdrop of what was happening geo-politically. I could have run all three of these companies by myself and they would be in better shape.

  40. #553812
    On November 21st, 2008 at 3:03 pm, BOB said:

    On November 21st, 2008 at 12:49 pm, AlohaGuy said:
    Is that a law of car design? I don’t buy that.
    Laws of physics. Heavy car, low mpg. Light car, higher mpg. Imagine a Range Rover hit by a dumptruck, versus a Honda Fit. Which would you rather be in?

    The dump truck?

    Actually, if it’s all about safety they better keep making them bigger, even an Escalade is no match for an 80,000 lb.
    semi.

    I don’t think it’s as much a safety issue as it is people just like SUVs, and when they started to get heat for it, they pulled out the safety issue.

  41. #553817
    On November 21st, 2008 at 3:05 pm, dadinseattle said:

    Our elected leaders are bound and determined to scam us into socialism and make us dependent on them.

    The Green Sickness must be fought against with everything we have!

  42. #553837
    On November 21st, 2008 at 3:15 pm, right4life said:

    Well if not that, what are we supposed to use our government for? If it’s not the government’s job to protect the economy, national security, the land we live on, the air we breathe, and water we drink, whose job is it? The free market’s? Look around. That isn’t working.

    How can you guys stand amongst all this ruin and still be extolling the virtues of laissez-faire capitalism?

    after decades of government regulation of every area of our lives, and you ADMIT it isn’t working?? isn’t this like blaming capitalism for pollution in the soviet union? :roll:

    yeah the government sure did a good job protecting us on 9/11…

  43. #553839
    On November 21st, 2008 at 3:16 pm, right4life said:

    n the other hand, The Big Three put all their eggs in the SUV basket,

    thats just a lie. they make cars, they’re just too expensive, and not well made.

  44. #553844
    On November 21st, 2008 at 3:20 pm, right4life said:

    Actually, if it’s all about safety they better keep making them bigger, even an Escalade is no match for an 80,000 lb.
    semi.

    but sure is more of a match than an escort

    The evidence is overwhelming that CAFE standards result in more highway deaths. A 1999 USA TODAY analysis of crash data and estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that, in the years since CAFE standards were mandated under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, about 46,000 people have died in crashes that they would have survived if they had been traveling in bigger, heavier cars. 5 This translates into 7,700 deaths for every mile per gallon gained by the standards. 6

    link

    so the liberals who care about us all, don’t mind seeing more of us die to save their beloved gaia

  45. #553859
    On November 21st, 2008 at 3:24 pm, Digshot said:

    The dump truck?

    Actually, if it’s all about safety they better keep making them bigger, even an Escalade is no match for an 80,000 lb.
    semi.

    I don’t think it’s as much a safety issue as it is people just like SUVs, and when they started to get heat for it, they pulled out the safety issue.

    That’s exactly right, and the ‘My safety! My safety!’ screams are insincere. If you live your life thinking that the reason you’re still breathing is because you drive around in an SUV, you’re crazy. SUVs also create a whole slew of road safety issues that have killed thousands of people themselves.

  46. #553863
    On November 21st, 2008 at 3:26 pm, right4life said:

    SUVs also create a whole slew of road safety issues that have killed thousands of people themselves.

    post your proof.

  47. #553868
    On November 21st, 2008 at 3:28 pm, right4life said:

    so your logic is we should get rid of SUVs because they are unsafe…but we should also get rid of heavy cars because they are….uh ok.

  48. #553872
    On November 21st, 2008 at 3:29 pm, Digshot said:

    after decades of government regulation of every area of our lives, and you ADMIT it isn’t working?? isn’t this like blaming capitalism for pollution in the soviet union? :roll:

    yeah the government sure did a good job protecting us on 9/11…

    Nobody with any sort of credibility could possibly make a coherent argument that we’ve been trending towards more regulation over the past few decades. Especially Bush, he’s taken us from a state of general prosperity to the brink, primarily by ruining our government.

    And no, our government didn’t do a good job protecting us from 9-11. And who was in charge on that day? Where do you think Bush learned how to make such massive mistakes?

  49. #553883
    On November 21st, 2008 at 3:33 pm, LuxEternam said:

    Digshot Said:

    I don’t know how these problems could be any more obvious, but here you are blaming unions.

    Have the big three made mistakes design mistakes….yes. But so have Nissan, Toyota…etc.

    What I can’t believe is that you refuse to assign the Unions any culpability whatsoever.

    GM’s biggest cost is labor/benefits. They and the other US manufacturers have been strapped over a barrel and screwed by the UAW.

    You can flail around and close your eyes to the cold, hard facts Digshot…but it makes you look like an idiot.

    And by the way…Toyota, Nissan etc. were all making comparably sized SUVs as the Big 3 and selling them just as fast as the US manufacturers. They were just making a profit because of lower overhead. The Big 3 weren’t because of the huge costs associated with their UAW labor contracts.

  50. #553894
    On November 21st, 2008 at 3:41 pm, Digshot said:

    so the liberals who care about us all, don’t mind seeing more of us die to save their beloved gaia.

    While the environmental component of the energy problem is very important to me, I can argue without it, too. The economic case is strong enough on its own. A petroleum based economy is a relic, ancient by the standards of modern convenience, and it will soon go the way of betamax. I’d like the United States to be responsible for leading humanity away from oil and reaping the rewards, and you seem to think that oil might be some magically un-ending miracle resource that we should double-down on.

    We don’t have to talk about the environment, I’m comfortable on economic turf.

  51. #553895
    On November 21st, 2008 at 3:41 pm, Simon86 said:

    I bought a Ford Focus in Febraury for one reason….35mpg.
    I looked at larger cars and trucks, but driving 106 miles per day, I had to go with fuel economy.
    Is is safer? I don’t know. All I know is that it got me through the summer gas prices pretty easily.

  52. #553919
    On November 21st, 2008 at 3:46 pm, right4life said:

    Nobody with any sort of credibility could possibly make a coherent argument that we’ve been trending towards more regulation over the past few decades.

    what country have you been living in?? can you possible give me one example of less government regulation?

    Especially Bush, he’s taken us from a state of general prosperity to the brink, primarily by ruining our government.

    what?? bush is a big gov socialist. remember that big drug entitlement? this bailout??? please.

    you are in serious denial.

  53. #553922
    On November 21st, 2008 at 3:47 pm, right4life said:

    St. Louis, Mo. and Arlington, Va., June 20, 2007 — Spurred on by steady increases in staffing and spending within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. government is budgeting yet another increase in the amount of tax money it spends on federal regulatory activities, according to an annual regulatory spending analysis compiled by the Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government, and Public Policy at Washington University in St. Louis and the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.

    Federal regulatory agencies will spend $46.6 billion of U.S. taxpayers’ money in 2008, an inflation-adjusted increase of $1.7 billion over the 2007 budget. In addition, the number of regulatory employees will pass the quarter-million mark, with a 3% increase over 2007’s estimated 244,210 employees, according to the study, “Growth in Regulation Slows: An Analysis of the U.S. Budget for Fiscal Years 2007 and 2008.”

    “Despite the spending restraint evident in the 2008 budget request, regulatory expenditures and staffing are significantly larger in 2008 than they were in 2000,” concludes study co-author Melinda Warren of the Weidenbaum Center.

    link

  54. #553928
    On November 21st, 2008 at 3:51 pm, right4life said:

    A petroleum based economy is a relic, ancient by the standards of modern convenience, and it will soon go the way of betamax.

    again I’ve heard this drivel for 30 years…what is going to replace oil??

    can you tell me?? ethanol doesn’t give nearly the bang per buck, and more people starve. tell me what replaces oil????

    and you seem to think that oil might be some magically un-ending miracle resource that we should double-down on.

    we have more oil reserves than saudi arabia..

    While oil shale is found in many places worldwide, by far the largest deposits in the world are found in the United States in the Green River Formation, which covers portions of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. Estimates of the oil resource in place within the Green River Formation range from 1.2 to 1.8 trillion barrels. Not all resources in place are recoverable; however, even a moderate estimate of 800 billion barrels of recoverable oil from oil shale in the Green River Formation is three times greater than the proven oil reserves of Saudi Arabia. Present U.S. demand for petroleum products is about 20 million barrels per day. If oil shale could be used to meet a quarter of that demand, the estimated 800 billion barrels of recoverable oil from the Green River Formation would last for more than 400 years1.

    link

  55. #553930
    On November 21st, 2008 at 3:52 pm, right4life said:

    let me highlight that last sentence..

    Present U.S. demand for petroleum products is about 20 million barrels per day. If oil shale could be used to meet a quarter of that demand, the estimated 800 billion barrels of recoverable oil from the Green River Formation would last for more than 400 years1.

  56. #553939
    On November 21st, 2008 at 3:54 pm, Digshot said:

    Have the big three made mistakes design mistakes….yes. But so have Nissan, Toyota…etc.

    What I can’t believe is that you refuse to assign the Unions any culpability whatsoever.

    GM’s biggest cost is labor/benefits. They and the other US manufacturers have been strapped over a barrel and screwed by the UAW.

    You can flail around and close your eyes to the cold, hard facts Digshot…but it makes you look like an idiot.

    And by the way…Toyota, Nissan etc. were all making comparably sized SUVs as the Big 3 and selling them just as fast as the US manufacturers. They were just making a profit because of lower overhead. The Big 3 weren’t because of the huge costs associated with their UAW labor contracts.

    Hi, America is not Japan. Their businesses have a different strategy to sell cars in America than ours do. You think the problem with American car companies has been the profit margin on SUVs? That’s ridiculous. The companies launched line after line of SUV, and that’s the union’s fault?

    Again, there’s nothing wrong with making SUVs, or any product that a niche customer base might want to buy. But our competitors are competing internationally where we are not. Our niche products don’t sell globally. Our auto industry was made rigid, and it’s not the fault of unions. If you’ve got enough money to commission a fourth and fifth line of SUV, you’ve got enough money to compete against the Civic.

  57. #553961
    On November 21st, 2008 at 4:08 pm, Flyoverman said:

    But our competitors are competing internationally where we are not.

    You need to do some research.

  58. #553966
    On November 21st, 2008 at 4:13 pm, Yashmak said:

    Man, I don’t care how ugly it is. . .if it got 268mpg, I’d be hard-pressed not to buy one :)

  59. #553970
    On November 21st, 2008 at 4:16 pm, right4life said:

    still waiting to hear what will replace oil….gee what a surprise :roll:

  60. #553994
    On November 21st, 2008 at 4:34 pm, ironman said:

    A petroleum based economy is a relic, ancient by the standards of modern convenience, and it will soon go the way of betamax.

    Petroleum is gonna be here for a while kiddo…probably at least 100-150 more years or so.Oil for lubing the machinery will be here as long as there will be machinery.But I guess when we become an idealist utopian society,we can replace oil with fairy dust and light our way with rainbows.

  61. #554102
    On November 21st, 2008 at 6:18 pm, IndependentTom said:

    lol…the crux of the debate hasn’t been addressed for some time….

    basically?…..can the collectivist government mandate what we drive?….the answer is yes….

    is the big 3 culpable?….yes..due to lobbying efforts in the last 40 years they have essentially killed any outside the box thinking….

    is the UAW culpable?…yes…to a limited degree…

    bottom line?

    I have an econobox..40mpg..

    I have a pickup….20mpg

    I have a motorcycle…50mpg

    the econobox gets the most use…

    simple eoconomics…..

    I won’t submit to the gov. telling me what I can drive….nor will I submit to PC control of my life….

    and btw Ironman…bet my Harley will smoke your rides in an eighth….either of them..

  62. #554118
    On November 21st, 2008 at 6:34 pm, Yashmak said:

    I have a motorcycle…50mpg

    – IndependentTom

    Damn straight. Except my motorcycle gets the most use.

    and btw Ironman…bet my Harley will smoke your rides in an eighth….either of them..

    And even in a race, it’d probably still get 35-40mpg.

  63. #554123
    On November 21st, 2008 at 6:43 pm, ironman said:

    My cars get good gas mileage…10-12MPG is nothing to sneeze at! ;-)

  64. #554254
    On November 21st, 2008 at 10:14 pm, Cal City Conservative said:

    IndependentTom said:

    and btw Ironman…bet my Harley will smoke your rides in an eighth….either of them..

    OT:

    I’m not Ironman but Tom and Yashmak I would stomp a mud hole in your butt and walk it dry in ANY race with my FJR.

    Fast and Harley are two words that should NEVER be used with each other in the same sentence.

    Primitive noisy junk maybe, but not fast, yep I despise them….

  65. #554257
    On November 21st, 2008 at 10:16 pm, Digshot said:

    Petroleum is gonna be here for a while kiddo…probably at least 100-150 more years or so.Oil for lubing the machinery will be here as long as there will be machinery.But I guess when we become an idealist utopian society,we can replace oil with fairy dust and light our way with rainbows.

    Even if that estimate is accurate, why is that an excuse to blow through the remainder of the supply? How can you fail to see the advantages of pulling back on the throttle a little bit? The suggestion that we should drill our way out of this is based on faulty, drug-addict logic. If we know we’re running out of something that might be hard to replace, we should try to slow consumption of whatever that may be. Doesn’t that make sense?

  66. #554309
    On November 21st, 2008 at 11:33 pm, Kevin K. said:

    Digshot said: (#138)

    Well if not that, what are we supposed to use our government for? If it’s not the government’s job to protect the economy, national security, the land we live on, the air we breathe, and water we drink, whose job is it? The free market’s? Look around. That isn’t working. How can you guys stand amongst all this ruin and still be extolling the virtues of laissez-faire capitalism?

    The last time I looked at our constitution, the basic purposes of the federal government were to conduct foreign policy, defend our country, coin money, ensure interstate commerce was fairly conducted, referee between/among the states, and arrange a legal system that was in conformity with the principles of the Constitution.

    SOME regulation is necessary, and will make up for the deficiencies of Adam Smith’s “invisible hand”. However, not to the extent that the federal government has its hands in everything, as it seems to either have now or is about to.

    And on cars, I drive something fairly economical gas-wise, but if I had a reason to have to actually carry things around, I’d get something larger with worse mileage. But it should be MY choice of what the market has available, not the government’s set of options from which I gratefully select like a serf.

  67. #554313
    On November 21st, 2008 at 11:35 pm, SHoward said:

    Cal City Conservative said:

    Primitive noisy junk maybe, but not fast, yep I despise them….

    Come now, CalCityConservative, not all Harley’s are noisy…..

  68. #554353
    On November 22nd, 2008 at 12:14 am, ironman said:

    IndependentTom said:

    and btw Ironman…bet my Harley will smoke your rides in an eighth….either of them..
    OT:

    I’m not Ironman but Tom and Yashmak I would stomp a mud hole in your butt and walk it dry in ANY race with my FJR.

    Fast and Harley are two words that should NEVER be used with each other in the same sentence.

    Primitive noisy junk maybe, but not fast, yep I despise them….

    The beauty of a big block engine is that it can be built with enough HP to push a car faster than a bike.Check out this 68 Dodge outrunning a crotchrocket!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD4izK-sjS4

  69. #554370
    On November 22nd, 2008 at 12:26 am, ironman said:

    On November 21st, 2008 at 10:16 pm, Digshot said:

    There may be a limited supply of oil in the world,but what is best for this country now and for the near future(10-20 years) would be to drill.Not as an addiction,but for survival of this country.We can’t keep sending nearly a trillion bucks a year to the Middle East for the duration it will take to develop an alternate fuel scource and get it fully implemented.Converting 18 wheeler transports to natural gas requires drilling if we were to go to Boone Pickens plan.Either way,we have to drill..it’s suicide not to.

  70. #554404
    On November 22nd, 2008 at 1:37 am, Cal City Conservative said:

    On November 22nd, 2008 at 12:14 am, ironman said:

    IndependentTom said:

    and btw Ironman…bet my Harley will smoke your rides in an eighth….either of them..
    OT:

    I’m not Ironman but Tom and Yashmak I would stomp a mud hole in your butt and walk it dry in ANY race with my FJR.

    Fast and Harley are two words that should NEVER be used with each other in the same sentence.

    Primitive noisy junk maybe, but not fast, yep I despise them….

    The beauty of a big block engine is that it can be built with enough HP to push a car faster than a bike.Check out this 68 Dodge outrunning a crotchrocket!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD4izK-sjS4

    That’s not a Harley, and also there are a few that as shown can do that. That is the exception not the rule. Also I would hope so, that looks like a 600. Remind me how much bigger that engine is??

    Put a guy who knows how to ride and race on a ZX14 beside that Dodge and bye bye Dodge. Have to say that Dodge did get with the program though!!!

    Also SHoward the quiet Harleys are FEW and FAR between.

  71. #554446
    On November 22nd, 2008 at 4:07 am, RUSH73 said:

    If every American wanted 3 Hummers in their driveway who’s to say they’re wrong. The arguement against SUV’s is ridiculous. We shouldn’t have to drive the same small cars Europe does due to their $10 a gallon fuel. We should be drilling here for all of our own oil and have $1 a gallon gas.

    If we had’ve done that in the first place and not let people who couldn’t afford a house get one we wouldn’t be in this economic mess.

    The worst pick yet from the next Socialist Congress is the replacing of Congressman John Dingell of Michigan for Henry Waxman of California for Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee. A pro-auto industry congressman replaced by a radical environmentalist favored by Pelosi…..just great!!!

  72. #554469
    On November 22nd, 2008 at 8:48 am, Jimmie said:

    I bet they will call it the… peoples car….or citizens wagon…or something catchy …something to let us little people know how much the GREAT ONES really care about us. And we will all understand why they need the big cars for themselves….in order to better take care of us they have to suffer in luxury, if only to remind we little ones….how GREAT they are.

  73. #554471
    On November 22nd, 2008 at 9:10 am, pueblo1032 said:

    Sorry to be late on this, just woke up… Better get used to the new REGIME… After the AUTO BAIL-OUT, the government will dictate the kind of vehicle they will be ALLOWED to build… With gas below 2 bucks, watch for taxes to go up, raising the price to say $3.50, you are used to paying over 4 bucks anyway… When it goes back up, and it will, TOOOO BAAAAD!!! Looks like I bought my last AMERICAN CAR this year… Remember, ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!!!

  74. #554508
    On November 22nd, 2008 at 10:24 am, ironman said:

    On November 22nd, 2008 at 1:37 am, Cal City Conservative said:

    I’ll give the win to you brother! My point is that here in America we should be able to drive anything we want….any size car,truck,motorcycle,or suv with as big a motor as you want.I’m with RUSH73,we shouldn’t have to be forced into little European or Jap sub-compacts because the enviroidiots in Washington(read:Socialist union hacks) have crippled this country by banning drilling.But it looks like the newly elected Politburo will see to it that we’ll be puttering about in a Pelosi GTxi SS/RT type piece of $h*t.

  75. #554670
    On November 22nd, 2008 at 2:26 pm, IndependentTom said:

    Gotta go with ironman here as well…

    all respect to the ZX-14….I once had one of the two-stroke Kawasaki triples clean my clock…lol

    And used to own a little Honda 500 Interceptor that would absolutely dance up the canyons in Arizona..

    But right now?…I like my Harley…and no one should tell me I can’t have it….not government…not community…

    That’s what this thread is about…individual choice without coercion…

    from anyone…

  76. #554678
    On November 22nd, 2008 at 2:45 pm, IndependentTom said:

    oh..and btw digshot….

    your last post about burning through resources?…I’m not sure if the rhetoric has any relation to the true state of affairs….this isn’t a slam at you…..just a remark that it’s hard to choose who to believe…..

    I’m not above building a smoking golf cart….or converting to biofuels…

    but having government insinuate itself into my life more than they already are?

    doesn’t work for me….

    you apparently don’t believe in market forces…

    that’s your right….

    but don’t pretend to think that you know what’s best for society as a whole..

    you don’t….

  77. #554695
    On November 22nd, 2008 at 3:34 pm, BOB said:

    On November 21st, 2008 at 3:26 pm, right4life said:
    SUVs also create a whole slew of road safety issues that have killed thousands of people themselves.
    post your proof.

    They tump over easily, they block the view of people in smaller vehicles, causing accidents. They squash people in smaller vehicles. They make parking more difficult. They promote road rage, especially when occupied by one person, usually female, talking on her cell phone. The “styling” is pretty much non-existent IMO. They are so behemoth they make people who don’t even like them buy one as a defense against the sheer size of the bizzillions of them on the road. Statistically, they turn left in front of motorcycles more often.

    But, they will keep selling unless the price of gas goes way up and stays there.

  78. #554739
    On November 22nd, 2008 at 5:56 pm, right4life said:

    They tump over easily, they block the view of people in smaller vehicles, causing accidents. They squash people in smaller vehicles. They make parking more difficult

    ok, they do turn over a little more easily than a car…as far as blocking the view…so do 18 wheelers….so????

    squashing people?? :roll: yeah like 18 wheelers don’t please….

    make parking more difficult??? huh???

    They promote road rage, especially when occupied by one person, usually female, talking on her cell phone

    uh…..you have issues with this I see…

    Statistically, they turn left in front of motorcycles more often.

    well maybe they off a few more hell’s angels or mongols…see they’re doing us a favor!! :P

  79. #554771
    On November 22nd, 2008 at 7:40 pm, BOB said:

    OK, so I wasn’t totally serious, don’t know how to do smileys here.

    Personally though, I never have liked SUVs, still don’t.

  80. #554809
    On November 22nd, 2008 at 10:54 pm, ironman said:

    When I perfect my Eludium Q34 Hydramatic-Triplephased-Antimatter- Multidimensional Mini Thermonuclear Reactor(with port and starboard Swiss Army oar attachments)©,I’ll drop it in the ‘ol Dodge…..no bike on Earth will stand a chance! :-)

  81. #555321
    On November 24th, 2008 at 9:53 am, tiredofit08 said:

    or you can get one of these today….one seaters but they’ll do 75 on the highway…

    http://www.myersmotors.com/

  82. #555658
    On November 24th, 2008 at 12:40 pm, Socky said:

    I’m glad there are people like digshot around to confirm my stereotype of liberals as people with no sense of humor whatsoever.

    (Feigned laughter and golf claps when Jon Stewart rattles off “Bush is an idiot” variant 4,789,113 does not count.)

  83. #555896
    On November 24th, 2008 at 2:07 pm, Wearyman said:

    I drive a leased 2008 Jeep Liberty. MPG is around 16 city, 23 highway. Not great, but not horrible either. Here’s the kicker; I didn’t want to buy the Gasoline Liberty. I wanted the diesel.

    The problem? GOVERNMENT rules prevented Jeep from selling the immensely popular and fast-selling Diesel Liberty (2003 – 2007 model years) in many states, including mine. Thus, Jeep dropped the diesel engine from the lineup.

    Why would the government prevent a fast-selling super-efficient vehicle from being sold? Old, outdated environmental laws that were aimed at 1970’s era diesels and old, high-sulfur diesel fuel that hasn’t been made or sold in almost a decade.

    So, I can’t buy a Diesel Jeep Liberty. I don’t get to make my own bio-diesel in my backyard shed and save serious money while helping the environment by burning low-carbon emission fuel I make from waste oil. I HAVE TO burn gasoline because here in Buffalo NY it snows large amounts and at least ONE 4×4 or AWD per family is required by the weather. My wife drives a Hyundai Elantra, I drive a Jeep.

    This is the problem Digshot. The government isn’t nimble enough to respond to changing conditions like the market can. And it’s NOT a matter of just “electing the right people”. Government BY IT’S NATURE is NOT NIMBLE and CAN NEVER BE. it doesn’t matter who is running the government, it will always SUCK. And with the corruption in our government, it’s guaranteed to never be successful.

    This is why government regulation is bad. Because the market conditions change on a daily basis, but regulations change once every decade, government regulations intended to assist the market or protect consumers end up hurting everybody but the government bureaucrats paid to administer the regulatory system.

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