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industry news
President Bush Focused On Gas Prices, Has No Idea How Much Gas Will Cost
It's a tough job being the president. The amount of information relevant to running a country of our size is daunting. So when President Bush says that he's unaware that gas could hit $4 a gallon this spring, despite all the news coverage about the issue, we'll cut him some slack. He probably hasn't filled up a car in years. It's just funny that a few minutes later he can't answer a question about funding for his presidential library because he's "focused elsewhere, like on gasoline prices..." Once again, as someone who spent more than a decade in the oil industry and was governor of the state that's home to the country's energy industry he can't be expected to know the price could go up. [Think Progress]
industry news
State Of The Union: Bush Pays Weak Lip Service To Automotive Technological Innovation
As opposed to previous years, the president used only a small part of his State of the Union address to talk about the importance of reducing our dependence on foreign oil. We've read and reread the portion of the speech dedicated to energy and... well... there isn't much there. Mostly, he talked about funding the American Competitiveness Initiative, which is a holdover from the 2006 SOTU. He also alluded to the need to sign an international greenhouse gas agreement, which is the Kyoto Protocol, but said: "This agreement will be effective only if it includes commitments by every major economy and gives none a free ride." In case you didn't get that, he's talking about China and India, which have exemptions as economies that are still developing. The full text of his section about hybrids and batteries below the jump: More »
industry news
Motor City Mitt Leading Among Auto Execs
Those involved in the automotive industry, known for having a firm grasp on the future, have backed Mitt Romney nearly 2-to-1 in donations compared with other Republicans and Democrats. This is no surprise, as Mitt Romney's dad, George Romney, was the former head of American Motors and governor of Michigan (two enterprises that have really prospered over the last four decades). Giuliani came in second with $228,000, and McCain third with $151,000. On the Democratic side, Clinton beat Obama $123,000 to $112,000. More »
offbeat news
Rudy Giuliani Needs Parking Lessons
Apparently still traumatized by the events of that morning, or possibly just reeling from the loss of his presidential ambitions, it looks like Rudy Giuliani has gone on something of a parking rampage on the LSU campus. A minor character in the hit show Seinfeld, Giuliani rose to fame after trade marking the phrase "9/11." We actually sympathize with Giuliani, if we'd been forced to trade our Corvair in for a previous generation Focus, we'd probably go a bit crazy, too. [Via Inphiltrate Nonfiction]
found on ebay
When we found out from Eric at CorvairProject.com that the '66 Chevrolet Corvair convertible once owned by presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani is for sale, we spent a few minutes just imagining how great a Giuliani-versus-Nader presidential race would be. The debates might start out with Rudy trying to slap his customary "Hero of 9/11" label on every statement, but they'd quickly degenerate into a snarling match over GM's omission of a rear swaybar and collapsible steering column on the early Corvairs. Giuliani last owned the car in 1996 and it's been sitting ever since, so it probably needs months of some work.[eBay Motors]
Rudy Giuliani's Corvair For Sale, Squeegee Men Tremble
When we found out from Eric at CorvairProject.com that the '66 Chevrolet Corvair convertible once owned by presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani is for sale, we spent a few minutes just imagining how great a Giuliani-versus-Nader presidential race would be. The debates might start out with Rudy trying to slap his customary "Hero of 9/11" label on every statement, but they'd quickly degenerate into a snarling match over GM's omission of a rear swaybar and collapsible steering column on the early Corvairs. Giuliani last owned the car in 1996 and it's been sitting ever since, so it probably needs 
commenter of the day
Commenter of the Day: Ron Paul Edition
My girlfriend has a friend who thinks he might be a libertarian. However, he wants drugs and prostitution legalized, then taxed. The revenue would go towards universal health care, education and free puppies. Or whatever. Man, would Ron Paul hate that. However, we think he would wholeheartedly endorse today's COTD. More »
industry news
CAFE Bill passes House, stalls in Senate
A bill that would raise the fuel economy standard for cars and trucks to 35mpg by 2020 has stalled in the Senate after passing in the House of Representatives. The bill, which is heavily contested by lobbyists for the American auto industry, failed to reach cloture by 7 votes. It's expected that Democrats will push for those cloture votes over the weekend. [Source: Automotive News]Photo credit: Katmere
news
Bush Threatens to Veto Energy Bill, No Likey CAFE Standards
President Bush is content with letting his presidency be remembered for stretching the truth to get us into an economically and strategically harmful conflict in the Middle East. But he'll be damned if he'll be remembered for letting congress raise the corporate average fuel economy mandates to 35 mpg! The industry is raising standards on their own, anyways. Haven't the Dems seen the Hybrid Escalade? More »
ad watch
Toyota has decided to pull and re-edit the above the "farting cows" commercial we showed you last week after California Senator Dianne Feinstein complained that it made unfair fun of Fresno (it didn't). The advertisement for the Prius indicated in the future "gas stations will become nothing more than low-budget tourist stops. Like ghost towns... or Fresno." A councilman said he'd forgive Toyota if they opened up a Prius plant in Fresno, to which Toyota replied: "God, no one from our company would want to live in Fresno... it's a ghost town." [via Modesto Bee]
Senator Feinstein to Toyota: Stop Making Fun of Fresno
Toyota has decided to pull and re-edit the above the "farting cows" commercial we showed you last week after California Senator Dianne Feinstein complained that it made unfair fun of Fresno (it didn't). The advertisement for the Prius indicated in the future "gas stations will become nothing more than low-budget tourist stops. Like ghost towns... or Fresno." A councilman said he'd forgive Toyota if they opened up a Prius plant in Fresno, to which Toyota replied: "God, no one from our company would want to live in Fresno... it's a ghost town." [via Modesto Bee]
rules of the road
[Knowing your rights as a motorist is as important as knowing which pedal to hit when a tree looms. In a new, weekly feature called "Rules of the Road," Jalopnik's own political and legal wonk Matt Hardigree will cover the auto-related statutes that govern operation, registration and ownership of our cars. Read it. In addition to preventing minor inconveniences, it could determine whether or not you'll become roommates with a guy named "Ashcan" who has a penchant for frottage. — ed.] No one on this site, and no decent person I've ever met, thinks drinking and driving is a good idea. That disclaimer noted, we'll move on to address a common drink-related legal area. Whether returning from a tailgate party or merely transporting boozed-up friends from one kegger to the next, winding up with an uncorked bottle of Boones Farm in your car is a common eventuality. That means you'll be walking the fine legal line. It falls under the scope of the complex maze of state-level open container laws.
More »
A Guide to Open Container Laws
[Knowing your rights as a motorist is as important as knowing which pedal to hit when a tree looms. In a new, weekly feature called "Rules of the Road," Jalopnik's own political and legal wonk Matt Hardigree will cover the auto-related statutes that govern operation, registration and ownership of our cars. Read it. In addition to preventing minor inconveniences, it could determine whether or not you'll become roommates with a guy named "Ashcan" who has a penchant for frottage. — ed.] No one on this site, and no decent person I've ever met, thinks drinking and driving is a good idea. That disclaimer noted, we'll move on to address a common drink-related legal area. Whether returning from a tailgate party or merely transporting boozed-up friends from one kegger to the next, winding up with an uncorked bottle of Boones Farm in your car is a common eventuality. That means you'll be walking the fine legal line. It falls under the scope of the complex maze of state-level open container laws.
More »
3:45 PM on Fri Nov 9 2007
By Matt Hardigree
14,623 views,
66 comments
Latest by kittikin: @brandonvalentine: Thanks! I will. more »
industry news
President Bush Hates CAFE Too
Word out of the White House is President Bush is united with Detroit automakers and Toyota in opposing the proposed Senate CAFE changes. But rather than just lobby Congress with the persistence of a
news
DC Cabs To Get Meters Like The Rest Of The Country
Years ago I made the rookie, post-collegiate mistake of taking a cab in Prague. Burning a hole in my pocket were 700 or so Czech crowns, the then equivalent of five bucks. I only had a mile or so to go, but the cabbie started driving all over the place, eventually taking me far up into the hills. As the meter clicked past 670 crowns, I showed him I only had 700. He stopped the cab, got out and chucked my backpack ten feet down the slope. As luck would have it, I had $50 US on me. Suddenly he started speaking English, "No problem, no problem," and even retrieved my grimy, mud-caked backpack. When we got to where I was going (he made a beeline), he plucked $40 American dollars and a 100 crown note from my hand. He even smiled. And if you've ever taken a cab in DC, you know that not only will they bilk you for more, but you will never, no matter what get a smile. Until now. More »
government
Michelle Obama, the wife of Democratic Presidential candidte Barack Obama, was involved in a car accident yesterday when a motorcycle rammed into the side of a van she was traveling in. The van was being driven by a staff person from her husband's campaign. Neither the van or the motorcycle were believed to have a Hemi. More importantly will be which one of you will name the year and brand of the van first. [via MSNBC]
Michelle Obama Involved In Car Accident, Unhurt
Michelle Obama, the wife of Democratic Presidential candidte Barack Obama, was involved in a car accident yesterday when a motorcycle rammed into the side of a van she was traveling in. The van was being driven by a staff person from her husband's campaign. Neither the van or the motorcycle were believed to have a Hemi. More importantly will be which one of you will name the year and brand of the van first. [via MSNBC]
alternative energy
Hard-hitting journalist Stephen Colbert has uncovered a vile plot by hybrid owners; they're intentionally running over blind people in order to use them for fuel. This stunning revelation comes only a day after the National Federation for the Blind publicized concerns over hybrid vehicle safety. Through in-depth investigative reporting, the heroic Colbert discovered that blind people make an excellent source of fuel, one that could potentially reduce our dependency on foreign oil. In a stunning new development, the Associated Press has learned that inattentive people could also be at risk of being turned into a green fuel source by Big Environment. Linda Murphy, who has perfect vision when she wears her glasses, revealed to AP that she too has had close calls with hybrids, "I'm walking right in back of it and it's moving and I didn't realize it until it nearly touched me, I never realized how dependent I was on my ears until I almost got hit." Remember kids, look both ways or Al Gore'll get you.
More »
Colbert: Hybrid Fuel is Blind People
Hard-hitting journalist Stephen Colbert has uncovered a vile plot by hybrid owners; they're intentionally running over blind people in order to use them for fuel. This stunning revelation comes only a day after the National Federation for the Blind publicized concerns over hybrid vehicle safety. Through in-depth investigative reporting, the heroic Colbert discovered that blind people make an excellent source of fuel, one that could potentially reduce our dependency on foreign oil. In a stunning new development, the Associated Press has learned that inattentive people could also be at risk of being turned into a green fuel source by Big Environment. Linda Murphy, who has perfect vision when she wears her glasses, revealed to AP that she too has had close calls with hybrids, "I'm walking right in back of it and it's moving and I didn't realize it until it nearly touched me, I never realized how dependent I was on my ears until I almost got hit." Remember kids, look both ways or Al Gore'll get you.
More »
fuel economy
John Edwards Needs To Get Rid Of His Cadillac SRX, Pot-Black Paint
Y'all remember John Edwards railing against SUV's earlier this week? Yeah — we do too. Somehow as we were reading his comments, we kinda knew this was coming. Really, we were just waiting for someone to dig up something like this on the former Senator, Presidential contender and man who wants to kill all trucks and SUV's: More »
presidential politickin'
John Edwards, candidate for President and owner of an impenetrable hair shell, wants us bad 'mericans to stop driving those gas-guzzlin' SUV's. He told a group of machinist union members today in Disney World that he wants 'mericans to start sacrificing, and getting rid of SUV's is the way to start. So trade yours in today and pick up one of them new-fangled hybrids or even just a small car that gets higher gas mileage. Wait — did he just ask us to do something. We tell ya — the world's gone all topsy-turvy on us. We mean, what's up with Democrats these days — "asking" instead of "legislating?" It's a brave new world out there. [via MSNBC]
John Edwards Wants You To Take SUV's Away From Yourself
John Edwards, candidate for President and owner of an impenetrable hair shell, wants us bad 'mericans to stop driving those gas-guzzlin' SUV's. He told a group of machinist union members today in Disney World that he wants 'mericans to start sacrificing, and getting rid of SUV's is the way to start. So trade yours in today and pick up one of them new-fangled hybrids or even just a small car that gets higher gas mileage. Wait — did he just ask us to do something. We tell ya — the world's gone all topsy-turvy on us. We mean, what's up with Democrats these days — "asking" instead of "legislating?" It's a brave new world out there. [via MSNBC]
nhtsa's press nazi
