When the Ford Explorer came out in 1990, it was a hot commodity and early on, dealers struggled to keep them on the lots. My father was an automotive reviewer at a local newspaper at the time and his boss was trying to track down an American SUV to replace his Isuzu Trooper. He wanted an Explorer and wouldn’t consider …

I don't know if you heard about this at all or not, but this week was the Detroit Auto Show. We were there. We wrote some articles and did some tweets and even engaged in some go-karting.

With gas prices at $7,50 a gallon, it doesn't make too much sense to have an American car in Europe. I guess that's why Detroit tries to sneak into the old continent with Chryslers rebadged as Lancias these days.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." (Photo Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

We just read Car & Driver's recent salute to five vehicles demonstrating all that's right and good with American car companies. Although they're right to be pointing out five great products, the Amerigasmic rah-rah fest left a bad taste in our mouths. Not because it's slightly sycophantic, but merely because it's too…