BigJames80

IppoJ

To top it, he's got one car for the family. That's a lot better than mine or most families here in the midwest - 4 cars for 4 people: Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra, Dodge Caravan, and Dodge Neon.

He's trying to play out the role model card which is what all politicians should do anyway. Nothing wrong in that and it's a positive environmental statement. Now how he manages to get his family around is a whole different matter.

superbmtsub

It'd be a little out of place to debate their domestic policy regarding [pick your favorite social issue] here.

There's nothing wrong with owning a 300C. If you read what most of us people actually wrote, we're taking issue with owning a hemi 300C while dissing on big 'Merican powerful cars (which the 300c is to a T).

"Clueless right wing clowns" are the most likely to be in favor of him owning a 300C (second maybe to an F350). It would be a knee-jerk liberal response to scream hyrid or bio-fuel every time someone says cars (think the secret word from PeeWee's Playhouse).

You'll also notice Bush gets called out here all the time for not really giving a crap about cars.

Mad_Science

thunder

Since there's nothing else to bash Obama for, the general consensus of the clueless right-wing clowns is to talk about his choice of car. WOW. That is great guys. Your work is commendable.

I cant imagine what you would do if Obama was about as reasonable/sane/thoughtful as Bush?

superbmtsub

http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/column...

doesn't mention the 300C, just skewers him in other more meaningful ways

bored383

Your argument that having one car is inherently more green because of the choices it forces a family to make is weak because it assumes one will always make the more green choice over hopping in car #2.

Additionally, if you've only got one car, you're more likely to pick a car that fits your most demanding (but least frequent) need. Lets say you occasionally need to tow and occasionally go to the snow. That means your one car that always drive is a 4x4 truck or SUV. If you've got multiple cars, the beast gets driven like 3k miles a year, while the commute miles can go on the diesel VW (see below).

It also assumes that those who would be in car 2 have the luxury of these other options, which might be cheaper, but frequently aren't flexible or fast enough for day to day errands. We can bicker about lifestyle and outing planning all day, though.

One could argue that for every option like walking or PT, there's another less green option, like borrowing the neighbor's H2 or calling a rootin' tootin' pollutin' cab. A V8 92 crown vic is worse than taking your own econobox.

Re: production of more autos. Used cars FTW. They're production pollution already happened. You're also delaying the mess that comes from disposing of them. Admittedly, there's a chance they're not as clean, but I'm thinking something like this:
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/car/326778237.html

Mad_Science

tsunami racer

danio3834

nutbastard

Spence

no_slushbox

TPSreports

When I first read this story I knew the 300 was made at Brampton, which is definitely in Ontario, Canada.

TPSreports

Cars don't pollute while they're sitting in your driveway.

The most eco-friendly thing you could do is have a fleet of like 6 cars, each incrementally more capable than the rest. Driving just 1 or 2 around? take the Smart. 3-4 around town? Prius. 3-4 on the freeway? diesel VW.

That way you're never using more capacity than you need.

So, yeah...he owns only one car? The car that's the direct result of what he's criticizing about American auto makers? Comes off like a stereotypical nonsensical flavor-of-the-week loving Democrat...way to go "Barry"

Mad_Science

Raddy21

IppoJ

powerglide

Frank Novak

Seriously - he can't be pres for no other reason than that he has no real executive experience to speak of. Senators are lousy choices to be President.

I am watching Bill Richardson on the Democratic side. He has both executive experience and also more diplomatic cred than Obama.

bored383

AND...here's the big thing. The article states that the 300C is his family's ONLY car. Yes, he has a one car household for a family of four. HOW is that not socially and ecologically responsible? When you think about the total environmental impact, it's probably better to have ONE slightly un-fuel efficient car made in North America than TWO fuel efficient cars with toxic batteries shipped halfway across the world. GO OBAMA, I say.

ekimap

GoatBoy

fastm3driver

I for one am glad that the Big Three haven't focused on tiny, tinny economobiles like what is common in Europe. But to say they "were spending their time investing in bigger, faster cars," while the "foreign competitors were investing in more fuel-efficient technology for their vehicles," is to ignore the increasing size & horsepower of cars & trucks from Honda, Toyota, Nissan, etc... Patting the foreign carmakers on the back for the bad joke that is hybrid technology doesn't help get American carmakers get any closer to where they ought to be.

All Obama's doing is running the playbook handed to him.

thunder

piththeelder

Jonny Lieberman

Go Barack O. I'm witcha!

DustyButt

Rabbi Dave

CafeRacer1200

However, if they only own one car, and it's actually a car, that's not hugely consumptive. Hard for me to admit it, but I don't exactly see huge hypocrisy here.

(Though, they only fill that flex-fuel vehicle up on E-85 right? :) )

78TLC

Sam_Glamgee

@danio3834: Sweet. Does the PM get to have a mistress like in France?

no_slushbox

Can you name the truck with four wheel drive,
Smells like a steak, and seats thirty five?
Canyonero! Canyonero!
Well, it goes real slow with the hammer down
It's the country-fried truck endorsed by a clown
Canyonero! Canyonero!
Hey, hey!
Twelve yards long, two lanes wide,
Sixty five tons of American pride!
Canyonero! Canyonero!
Top of the line in utility sports,
Unexplained fires are a matter for the courts!
Canyonero! Canyonero!
She blinds everybody with her super high beams
She's a squirrel-squashin', deer-smackin' drivin' machine
Canyonero! Canyonero! Canyonero!
Whoa, Canyonero! Whoa!

PeteJayhawk

Yeah i think you've got a shot, we turn them over almost every year up here lol

danio3834

I didn't understand your analogy.

Bumblebee

@danio3834: Do you think I would have a shot a Canadian Prime Minister? It sound like that might be fun.

no_slushbox

Rabbi Dave

Rabbi Dave

(Commenting on the article, which is far less important: Obama is just following in ol' Gore's footsteps with the "oh, I care so much about the environment" [then turns around and snorts the ashes of a thousand dead baby seals])

dculberson

NICKNICK

Right on. Those are some great analogies

danio3834

danio3834

Would people rather buy less fuel efficient cars from automakers? Depending on gas prices probably, but "Consumers" would also rather buy coca and weed from American farmers instead of soy, and they would rather buy sexual services from the cute girl working at McDonalds than a Big Mac. Where's the your "Consumer Choice" on those issues Bush & Co.?

no_slushbox

BuckDiablo

I will fix Barrack's quotation for him: "For years, while Japanese competitors were investing in more fuel-efficient technology for their vehicles, German automakers were spending their time investing in bigger, faster cars," I'm not sure what the American automakers were doing, mainly pimping-out SUVs and creating financial companies that could be spun off when the shit hit the fan.

no_slushbox

By unstable regimes you mean Canada?

And i wouldnt say most people are eco maniacs, but i would say the whole global warming frenzy has spun a little out of control.

danio3834

Remember when Bush said a few months ago, "I think American automakers should build cars Americans want to buy"?

He did something unusual there: He correctly described the reality of a situation. Obama, on the other hand, seems to be confused about how supply and demand works.

Bumblebee

Most of the people in the country aren't eco maniacs, they just have the sense to recognize that oil ain't getting cheaper, the regimes we buy it from ain't getting any more stable, and the planet ain't getting any cooler.

BuckDiablo

thefrontpage

Appeal to the rest of the country who isnt an eco maniac

danio3834

Automanic

danio3834