Hillary Clinton calls for 55 MPG fleet average by 2030
Calling for higher fuel economy standards will be a hallmark of the 2008 presidential elections, mark our words. Politicians used to shy away from the issue, knowing that while the act of improving fuel economy might be popular with the people, automakers themselves would resist. Each democratic candidate is calling for increased federal fuel economy standards, but Hillary Clinton topped most today during a speech in Iowa when she called for national fleetwide average of 55 MPG by 2030. To reach that lofty number, Clinton said she would make available $20 billion in low-interest loans to the automakers to retool old plants, as well as invest $2 billion in battery research, offer consumers up to $10,000 in tax credits for purchasing a plug-in hybrid and add 100,000 plug-in hybrids to the federal fleet by 2015. (NOTE: There likely won't be a mass-produced plug-in hybrid until after the next president's term is half over.)
Continue after the jump.
[Source: The Detroit News, photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty]
We hardly bat an eye at any of these proposals, especially ones coming from presidential hopefuls that want to one-up their opponents. One thing Sen. Clinton said in her speech, however, irked us, which was that she believes engine technology has stagnated to the point that Henry Ford would immediately recognize the engine in a car made today. Was she hoping Henry Ford would pop the hood of a Fusion to find a glowing, blue orb that magically produces power without emissions? Implying that the internal combustion engine is hardly different from the days of the Model T is truly a misinformed statement. Fuel injection, variable valve timing, direct injection and host of other technologies have managed to eek out more and more efficiency from the good ol' internal combustion engine, and we suspect (and hope) it will still be around in 2050 when we're all getting 50 miles per gallon.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
Joe K. 4:05PM (11/05/2007)
Who says we'll still be on gallons then Hitlery?
Reply
Willem B 10:59AM (11/06/2007)
Let's go hybrid:
Oh wait... that only makes things worse:
http://clubs.ccsu.edu/Recorder/editorial/editorial_item.asp?NewsID=188
naggs 3:28PM (11/07/2007)
it brings me great pleasure to know that the real result of everything that the current adminstration has done to conslidate power is that the most powerful president in the history of the country will be the clintons.
4 MORE YEARS! 4 MORE YEARS!
too bad mccain convinced you idiots not to go thru with the 'neuclear option' and abolish the ability of a minorty to block a vote. if that had gone thru, we would be on the precipice of 8 years of only the democratic view having any meaning in washington. what this country needs is some good old fashioned tax and spend democrats!with solid majority in both houses and the broadly expanded power of the executive (thanks to cheney) the clintons will be able to undue everything the current adminstration has done in 6 months flat
rember, if you dont agree with the president you should leave the country, you gay hating, bible thumping, terrorist recruiters!
vdk 4:05PM (11/05/2007)
now that;s what i call a president...
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Ted Kennedy Is My Chauffer 4:50PM (11/05/2007)
No, that's what's called a socialist who'll say anything to get herself elected
cowboy bob 5:14PM (11/05/2007)
Pullleeeease! Politicians are just whores to whatever buzz is out there.
Bob-o 6:20PM (11/05/2007)
Seriously. Hillary, your ass is showing.
geo.stewart 8:53PM (11/05/2007)
yes, let's all push for something that sells to the public, has little to no basis for possibility, calls on others to do all of the work, and that they will be long gone by the time it fails.
Show me a feasible roadmap with a development plan, and signoff from required parties and I would say that is a leader.
Mike 7:46AM (11/06/2007)
Wait! Wait! I call for a 155mpg fleet average by 2030, elect me! Elect Me! I wanna be president, I wanna, I wanna!
PacMan 4:06PM (11/05/2007)
Ron Paul, vote for freedom. Help drop the money bomb! Go to RonPaul2008.com and make a donation toward freedom! Take back America and join the rEVOLution!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
PacMan 4:11PM (11/05/2007)
Maintain our freedom and support Ron Paul!
jgp 4:15PM (11/05/2007)
Maintain freedom? Ron Paul has proposed a bill that would bar the Supreme Court from striking down any state law that interferes with freedom of religion, right to privacy, or homosexuality.
Sounds more like a fascist than a freedom-lover to me.
Russell 4:16PM (11/05/2007)
Maintain our freedom and support Rue Paul!
LOL
Russell 4:17PM (11/05/2007)
LOL I m not gay, just sounded funny
joe 4:49PM (11/05/2007)
jgp:
"Ron Paul has proposed a bill that would bar the Supreme Court from striking down any state law that interferes with freedom of religion, right to privacy, or homosexuality."
Are you implying that you want legislation in place that would "interfere with freedom of religion, right to privacy, or homosexuality?"
Who's the fascist here? ;)
jgp 4:55PM (11/05/2007)
Er...what? Ron Paul wants the Supreme Court to be barred from striking down such legislation.
I'm firmly against Ron Paul (and any iota of support I had for him went away when I found out about that).
paul34 5:19PM (11/05/2007)
Although I'm no supporter/against Ron Paul, how is that bill somehow "fascist"? As far as I can see, it only helps to protect true American freedoms. America no longer really exists today... it seems he's interested in bringing it back.
Protecting our freedoms and keeping the government small? Oh how fascist! /sarcasm
icetraxx 5:25PM (11/05/2007)
to jgp:
The federal government cannot interfere with any of the state's sovereign rights including health, safety, and welfare of the people as long as they do not interfere with inter-state commerce or other parts of the constitution. This is how the constitution has outlined the states rights, and Ron Paul is a strict constructionist. The federal government continually oversteps its power by using the 'commerce' clause to interfere with things that really belong to the states to decide. Ron Paul looks like a good, honest presidential candidate to me.
WetheSheeple 6:41PM (11/05/2007)
Ron Paul is for abolishing the unconstitutional Federal Reserve and the Federal Income tax. Two of the biggest scams in the last century. People think it matters if they vote Democrat or Republican, as if they don't get it. The bankers are in control of this country. They are the ones that control America. The Federal Reserve is a private cartel that has a partnership with the Federal Gov't. People don't understand what fiat currency is and why our currency will eventually collapse. Judging the way our economy is heading with our debt load, I'd say it's not too far out. Besides, Ron Paul is the only one who isn't a CFR (Council of Foreign Relations) poster boy, like Hillary, Obama, Edwards, McCain and the rest of the canidates. People today obviously don't care or or just ignorant of the Constitution. Remember people, the Constitution IS THE SUPREME LAW, PERIOD!!
Check out these two videos, Fiat Empire and America:Freedom to Fascism.:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5232639329002339531
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173
Ron Paul is one of the true patriots left in this country who do care about freedom and people's rights. Do yourselves a favor and spend a couple hours watching these 2 videos then decide if he is still the best candidate.
naggs 3:11PM (11/07/2007)
banning the supreme court from forcing states to obey the constitution would be a very bad idea
the are lots of states that would vote to outlaw gay people or allow blanket searches of all cars along a road to stop illegal immigration. basically 51% of people would agree to overide the constitution all the time. the constitution puts the rights of the individual ahead of the rights of groups and only the federal government is capable of doing that.
some of the things ron paul says makes a lot of sense but others are way out there.
at least he is a real republican, its been a while since one of those ran for president