In keeping with his elite Northeastern liberal ways, Joe Biden typically rides AMTRAK back and forth from DC and Delaware, claiming last summer, ““I am the reason Amtrak keeps moving.” When Joe isn’t single-handedly keeping our nation’s rail system in business, he drives a 1967 Corvette, which might indicate that he moonlights as some sort of pimp.

When asked what type of car he drove, John McCain couldn’t remember. Thankfully, a younger, less mentally decayed aid was able to point out that not only did McCain own a Cadillac CTS, but that he even passed his last vision test at the DMV. McCain did remember that his first car was a 1958 Corvette, although why he didn’t start driving well into his 20s we don’t understand.

In keeping with her role as a rugged frontier mother of five and sworn enemy of Communist Russia, Sarah Palin drives a Chevy Suburban. The eight-seat vehicle may not be big enough for her growing family though, which will number nine when her 17-year-old daughter gives birth and gets married. Palin’s suburban is provided by the state of Alaska; in keeping with her hard-partying ex-beauty queen nature, she previously drove a Ford Mustang.

In addition to his gas guzzling V8 Chrysler 300, Obama once owned an equally unfrugal 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee. We’re unable to confirm if either vehicle was ever used for drug dealing, but we’d like to ask that question, and strongly insinuate an answer anyway.

Of course, both candidates and their running mates aspire to trade up to the ultimate in wasteful government spending: a fleet of armored Cadillac Limos. While we don’t have official MPG figures on these vehicles, we can only assume that their environment-killing credentials are topped by Air Force One and Marine One, respectively. [via the LA Times]

Let's take a look at some of Carter's laundry list of brilliant ideas on energy policy as an example of what happens when politicians create artificial winners and losers in technology out of a quest for providing specifics. Set the Wayback Machine for 1977 — President Carter proposed a $142 billion energy plan to achieve energy independence by 1990. The plan included "creation of this nation's first solar bank, which will help us achieve the crucial goal of 20 percent of our energy coming from solar power by the year 2000," an import quota of 8.5 million barrels of oil per day and creation of the $20 billion Synfuels program, which was supposed to produce 2.5 million barrels of synthetic fuels per day by 1990. All these specifics? Totally useless. His one useful energy policy, other than asking Americans to put on a sweater? Dismantling Nixon's crude oil price controls — another example of specific policy created to put meat to bones which needed none.

Now let's take a look at what Sen. Obama (D-Shiny, Happy, Hopeful people) proposes:

"And for the sake of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet, I will set a clear goal as President: in ten years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East.

Washington's been talking about our oil addiction for the last thirty years, and John McCain has been there for twenty-six of them. In that time, he's said no to higher fuel-efficiency standards for cars, no to investments in renewable energy, no to renewable fuels. And today, we import triple the amount of oil as the day that Senator McCain took office.

Now is the time to end this addiction, and to understand that drilling is a stop-gap measure, not a long-term solution. Not even close.

As President, I will tap our natural gas reserves, invest in clean coal technology, and find ways to safely harness nuclear power. I'll help our auto companies re-tool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America. I'll make it easier for the American people to afford these new cars. And I'll invest 150 billion dollars over the next decade in affordable, renewable sources of energy - wind power and solar power and the next generation of biofuels; an investment that will lead to new industries and five million new jobs that pay well and can't ever be outsourced.

America, now is not the time for small plans. "

Other than an extra $8 billion dollars, we're not entirely sure what's different between the two plans. Maybe it'll be the extra few bucks that'll make the difference this time.

That's not to say we don't applaud Obama for his ten-year call for energy independence; we do. We'd just prefer to see something more akin to a Manhattan Project than a rehashing of what's been done before. The Manhattan Project was the result of Roosevelt sinking a huge investment into a bunch of brilliant scientists given just one direction — build the bomb. And lo and behold, it succeeded. We kind of feel like maybe that's what's necessary now — instead of sending the brilliant brains into a room with the task of "wind power and solar power and the next generation of biofuels," send them in with one task, "energy independence in ten years." Preferably with a menacing tone. If he gives them specifics that reek of an attempt to pacify the Democratic Party base, it's just too limiting. Just like Carter's call to action at the close of that 70's show of his. [Text of speech from Marketwatch]

Photo Credit: Stan Honda / AFP

[CarandDriver.com via Wonkette]

The energy plan also calls for an increase fuel economy standards 4% per year, up to $4 billion in retooling tax credits and loan guarantees for domestic auto plants and parts manufacturers to support their manufacture of the new fuel-efficient cars, a mandate for all new vehicles to be flex-fuel vehicles, and a call for America to develop next-generation biofuels and the required infrastructure.

Jalopnik Snap Judgment: We're as wary of campaign promises as the next guys, but some of the elements of Obama's proposal make sense. While a plug-in White House fleet is just a nice PR move, significant tax credits that encourage people to take a chance on new technology is good for both consumers and automakers. Additionally, while we don't think any US automaker bailouts are a good idea, providing loan guarantees and retooling tax credits for domestic manufacturers will provide them with needed breathing room as they realign their product mix. Do they deserve that breathing room after gorging themselves on trucks for a decade? Debatable, but to paraphrase: You go to market with the car companies you have, not the car companies you want. [Green Car Congress; Photo Credit: Gizmodo]

Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said "The Obama campaign will not be sponsoring a car in the Sprint Cup Series, though we will continue to look for ways to reach out to voters and convey Senator Obama's message of change." We're not sure how carbureted pushrod V8 machines turning left all day for a crowd of flat-earth enthusiasts doesn't speak change, but that's why we just write about cars.

More likely, Team Obama decided its ad dollars would be better spent at venues where the senator had a better chance of attracting voters, such as Ducks Unlimited meets, Hummer enthusiast clubs and of course NRA rallies. Which is a shame, because we were all about Obama and McCain proxies drifting and bumping around Talladega, only to have Nader sneak through the slot and eke out the race win, but still lose in the total points tally. [Seattle Times]

NASCAR, for its part, has been trying to reach out to minority audiences so it's no surprise this sponsorship will include a fundraiser with NASCAR fan Randy Moss and Fergie. The team is run by staunch Republicans, but they're not going to turn down the money and, after years in racing, seem to know how to spot a winner. (h/t to Brian) [CNN.SI]

Sen. Obama continued with a message of alternative energy development, an industry for which many experts say Southeast Michigan's workforce is ideal. "We're going to create alternative fuels for our plug-in hybrids," he said. "We are going to help the auto companies. If you are ready for change, we are going to create a brighter energy future right here in America."
[MLive]

(Photo Credit: Jae C. Hong/Associated Press via NY Times)

Individual donors that stand out include GM CEO Rick Wagoner, who gave to Romney, and Roger Penske of Penske Corp., who gave to Giuliani. The good thing for all involved is that, after the primaries, everyone can make sure their company gives enough to the remaining candidates to make sure no one feels left out. [Automotive News]

"For years, while foreign competitors were investing in more fuel-efficient technology for their vehicles, American automakers were spending their time investing in bigger, faster cars,"

Obama talks of hybrids, but his ride has a Hemi [Freep]

Related:
Obama to Automakers: Increase Economy, We'll Help Defray Health Costs [internal]